The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-04
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ARO1ANCE OF THE BORDER
4YZNE CRY
AUTHOR OF
THE LIGHT OF WESTERN
STARS"
RIDERS OF THE PURPLE
@ ETC.
COPYRIGHT. ~ HARPER AND ssorntss

careless mOment might in the flash Of
an eye end in ruthless and tragic &C
ton. Duane felt rather than saw a
dark, brooding shadow over the valley.
Then, without any solicitation or en-
couragement from Duane, the Bland
woman fell p%assionately in love with
him. She launched herself. And the
thing which evidently held her in check
was the newness, the s~trangeness, and
for the moment the all-satisfying fact
of his respect for her. Duane exerted
himself to please, to amuse, to inter-
est, to fascinate her, and always with
Difference. That was his strong point,
and it had made his part easy so far.
He was playing a game of love
playing with life and DEATH What
little communication he had with Jen-
ME was through Euchre, who carried
short messages. But he caught
glimpses of her every time he went
to the Bland house. She contrived
somehow to pass door or window, to
give him a look when chance afforded.
Duane discovered with surprise that
these moments were more thrilling to
him than any with Mrs. Bland. Jennie
had been instructed by Euchre to
listen, to understand that this was
Duane's only chance to help keep her
mind from constant worry, to gather
the import of every word which had a
double meaning. And all through
those waiting days he knew that Jen-
MES face, and especially the warm,
fleeing glance she gave him, was re-
sponsible for a subtle and gradual
change in him. This change, he
fancied, was only that through remem-
brance of her he got rid of his pale,
sickening ghosts.
One day a careless Mexican threw
a lighted cigarette up into the brush
mating that served as a ceiling for
Benson's den, and there was a fire
which left little more than the adobe
walls standing. The result was that
while repairs were being made there
was no gambling and drinking. Time
hung very heavily on the hands of
some twoscore outlaws. Duane, how
ever, found the hours anything but
empty. He spent more time at Mrs.
BANDS; he walked miles on all the
trails leading out of the valley; he had
a care for the conditions Of his two
horses.
Upon his return from the latest of
these tramps Euchre suggested that
they go down to the river to the boat
landing.
Nearly all the outlaws in camp were
assembled on the river-bank, lOlling in
the shade of the cottonwoods. The
heat was oppressive.
Duane and Euchre joined the lazy
group and sat down with them.
Euchre lighted a black pipe, and,
drawing his hat over his eyes, lay
back in comfort after the manner of
the majority of the outlaws. But
Duane was alert. observing, thought
full. He never missed anything. 1t
was his belief that any moment an idle
word might be of benefit to him More
over, these rough men were always in
teresting.
GLANDS been chased acrost the
river, Sdlu Ohcs
"Naw, he's deliverin' cattle to tibet
Cuban ship" replied another.
big deal on. heyF'
"Some big. Rugg says the boss he'd
an order fer fifteen thousand"
"Say, that order IL take a year to
FILL"
"Naw. Hardin is in cahoots with
Bland. Between 'em they'll fill orders
bigger n thet."
Wondered what Hardin vas rust
lin in here fer"
Duane could not possibly attend to
all the conversation among the out
laws. He endeavored to get the drift
of talk nearest to him.
"Kid Fuller's goin' to cash." said a
sandy-whiskered little outlaw.
$50 Jim was telling me. Blood
poison, amt it? Tibet hole wasn't bad.
But he took the fever" rejoined a
comrade.
'Deger says the Kid might pull
through if he had nursin'."
"Nal, Kate Bland amt nursin' any
shot-up boys these days. She hasn't
got time"
A laugh followed this sally; then
came a penetrating silence. Some of
the outlaws glanced go~od-naturedly at
Duane. They bore him no i'll will.
Manifestly they were aware of Mrs.
BANDS infatuation.
Boys, poke all the fun you like at
me, but don't mention any lady's name
again. My hand is nervous and itchy
shese days"
He smiled as he spoke, and his
speech was drawled; but the good
humor in no wise weakened II. Then
his latter remark was significant to a
class of men who from inclination and
necessity practiced at gun-drawing I'M
til they wore callous and sore places
on their thumbs and ~inculcated in the
very deeps of their nervous %organiza-
Zion "a habit that made even the sim