The Benson signal., 1917-01-20

OUT Oh Tie porch. Oudu0 WOrIu0O ul6
way to the edge of the shrubbery and
crouched low to watch for his oppor-
tunity.
Longstreth looked haggard and thin.
had come out with gun in his hand.
This he laid on a table near the wall.
He wore no belt.
Lawson was red, bloated, thick
Tipped, all fiery and sweaty from drink,
though sober on the moment, and he
had the expression of a desperate man
in his last stand. 1t was his last
stand. though he was ignorant Of that.
"What's your news? You needn't be
afraid Of my feelings" said Lawson.
cray confessed to an interest in this
ranger" replied Longstreth.
Duane thought Lawson would choke.
He was thick-necked anyway, and the
rush Of blood made him tear at the
soft collar of his shirt. Duane awaited
his chance, patient, cold, all his feel
ings shut in wise.
"But why should your daughter meet
this ranger?' demanded Lawson,
harshly.
sShe's in love with him, and he's in
love with her."
Duane reveled In Lawson's condi-
ton. The statement might have had
the force of juggernaut. Was Long
streth sincere? What was his game?
Lawson, finding his voice, cursed
Ray, cursed the ranger, then Long
streth.
"You damned selfish fool!" cried
Longstreth in bitter scorn. "All you
think of is yourself-your loss of the
girl. Think once Of me-my home
my life!"
Then the connection subtly put out
by Longstreth apparently dawned up
on the other. Somehow through this
girl her father and cousin were to be
betrayed. Duane got that impression,
though he could not tell how true it
was. Certainly Lawson's jealousy was
his paramount emotion.
"To hell with you'll" burst out Law
son, incoherently. He was frenzied.
| nave u0T, VI uOUOOy clSC WILL
"You never WILL" returned Long
streth stridently. $50 help me God
I'd rather see her the rangers wife
than yours !"
While Lawson absorbed that shock
Longstreth leaned toward him, all OF
hate and menace in his mien.
Lawson, you made me what am, y
continued Longstreth. 'I backed you
shielded you. You're Cheseldine-if
the truth is told! Now it's ended. i
quit you. I'm done"
Their gray passion-corded faces
were still as stones.
Gentlemen Duane called in far
reaching voice as he stepped out.
| you're both done"
They wheeled to confront Duane.
"Don't move! Not muscle! Not
| fnger!" he warned.
Longstreth read what Lawson had
not the mind to read. His face turned
from gray to ashen.
"What dye mean" yelled Lawson,
fiercely, shrilly. 1t was not in him to
obey a command, to see impending
| death.
All quivering and strung, yet with
perfect control, Duane raised his left
hand to turn back lapel of his open
| vest. The silver star flashed brightly.
Lawson howled like a dog. With
barbarous and insane fury, with sheer
impotent folly, he swept a clawing
hand for his gun. Duane's shot broke
| his action.
Before Lawson even tottered, before
he loosed the gun, Longstreth leaped
| behind him, clasped him with left arm,
quick as lightning jerked the gun
from both clutching fingers and sheath.
Longstreth protected himself with the
body of the dead man. Duane saw
red flashes, puffs of smoke; he heard
quick reports. Something stung his
| left arm. Then a blow like wind light
of sound yet shocking in impact,
struck him, staggered him. The hot
rend of lead followed the blow.
Duane's heart seemed to explode, yet
his mind kept extraordinarily clear
and rapid.
Duane heard Longstreth work the
action of Lawson's gun. He heard the
hammer click, fall upon empty shell.
Longstreth had used up all the loads
in Lawson's gun. He cursed as man
cursed at defeat. Duane waited, cool
and sure now. Longstreth tried to lift
| the dead man, to edge him closer to-
ward the table where his own gun
lay. But, considering the peril of ex-
posing himself, he found the task be-
yond him. He bent peering at Duane
under Lawson's arm, which Topped
out from his side. Longstreth's eyes
were the eyes of a man who meant
to kill. There was never any mistak-
ing the strange and terrible light OF
eyes like those. More than once
Duane had a chance to aim at them,
at the top of Longstreth's head. at q
strip of his side.
LOngstreth flung LawsOn's body off.
But even as it dropped, before Long
streth could leap, as he surely In