The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-01-11

yard. The way they ran mt the sight
of Duane limited to both the loneliness
and the fear Of their isolated lives.
Duane saw IL Oma come to the door,
then n The latter looked keenly,
then stepped outside. lie was n sandy
haired, freckled Texan.
"liowdy, stranger he called, MS
Duane halted. Get down, you an
your woman. Say, now, air you sick
or shot or what2 Let me"
Duane, Keeling In his saddle, bent
searching eyes upon the rnncher. He
thought he saw good will. kindness,
honesty. lie risked all on that one
sharp glance. Then he almost plunged
from the saddle.
The rancher caught him, helped him
TO n bench.
Martha, come out here !" he called.
"Thls mans sick. No; he's shot, or l
don't know blood-stnins."
Jennie had slipped Off her horse and
to Duane's side. Duane appeared
about to faint.
"Air you his wlfe?" asked the
ranchcr.
"No. I'm only y girl he saved from
outlaws. oh, he's Sc pale! Duane,
Duane"
Buck Duane," exclaimed the ranch
or, excltedly. 1.-The man who killed
Bland an Alloway? Say. I owe him
a good turn. an I'll pay II, young
woman"
The rancher's wife came out, and
with a ann ut once kind and prac-
teal essayed to make Duane drink
from n flask. He was not so far gone
that he could not recognize its con-
tents, which he refused. and weakly
asked for water. When that was given
hln he found his voice.
"Yes, I'm Duane. I've only over.
done n.yself-just all in. The wounds
I got at BANDS are healing. VIII you
take this girl in-hide her awhile till
the excitement's over among the out
laws?"
II shore WILL" replied the Texan.
"Young man you amt in any shape
to travel. I'll take you In along with
the girl, an hide both of you till you
get we'll"
Duane's last fading sensations Of
that hard day were the strange feel
Of n bed, a relief ut the removal Of his
heavy boots, and Of Jennie's soft, cool
hands on his hot face.
He lay Ill for three weeks before he
began TO mend, and II was another
week then before he could walk ou,
n little In the dusk Of the evenings
After that his strength returned rapid.
ly. And II was only ut the end of this
long siege that he recovered his spirits
During most Of his Illness he had been
silent, moody.
Jennie, I'll be riding or soon," he
said, one evening. II can't impose on
this good man Andrews much longer
I'll never forget his kindness. His
wife, too-she's been so good to us
Yes, Jennie. you and / will have to
say good.by very SOON"
"Don't hurry away" she replied.
Lately Jennie had appeared strange
to him. She had changed from the
girl he used to see at Mrs. BANDS
house. He took her reluctance to say
good-by as another indication OF her
regret that he must 60 back to the
brakes. Yet somehow 1t made him
observe her more closely.
ITS likely that we won't see each
other again." he said. 'That's strange
to think OF. We've been through some
hard days, and / seem to have known
you n long time"
Jennie appeared shy. almost sad, sc
Duane change the subject to some
thing less personal.
Andrews returned one evening from
q several days trip to Huntsville.
"Duane, everybody's talkin' about
how you cleaned up the Bland OUTFIT
he said, important and all full OF news
'It's ZONE exaggerated. accordin' tc
what you told me; but you've shore
made friends on this side of the
Nueces. I reckon there amt n towr
where you wouldn't find people L
welcome you"
"Dld you hear of any outlaws hunt
Ing me?" asked Duane.
"Nobody from BANDS outfit is hunt
In you, thet's Shore" replied Andrews
"Fisher said there never wars a hosi
straddled to go on your trail. Nobod,
had any use for Bland. Anyhow. hi.
men would be afraid to trail you. An
you could go right In TO Huntsville
where you'd be some popular. Reckon
you'd be safe. too, except where somt
of them fool saloon loafers or bat
~cowpunchers would try to shoot you
for the glory In It. Them kind OF mer
will bob up everywhere you 60
Duane"
"Tll be able to ride and take care o,
myself in a day or two." went OF
Duane. "Then I'll go-rd like to tall
to you about Jennie"
"She's welcome to q home here witt
u.s."
"1hank you, Andrews. You're /,
kind man. But | want Jennie to &c
farther away from the Rio Grande
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