Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-24
The Lone !.
Star Ranger.
n Romance OF me Border
bu ZANE GREY


mie and her children. One afternoon
while Re was there he saw Miss Long
streth Aid Ruth ride up to the door.
They carried q basket. Evidently
they had heard OF Mrs. Laramie's
trouble. Duane felt strangely glad,
but he went into an adjoining room
rather than meet them. III,
.Mrs. Laramie, I've come to see
you," said Miss Longstreth, cheer
fully.
The little room was not very light,
there being only one window and the
doors, but Duane could see plainly
enough. Mrs. Laramie lay, hollow
checked and haggard, on a bed. Once
she had evidently been woman Of
some loneliness. The ravages Of
trouble and grief were there to read
in her worn face 1t had not, however,
any Of the hard and bitter lines that
had characterized her husbands.
Duane wondered, considering that
Longstreth had ruined Laramie, how
Mrs. Laramie was going to regard the
daughter Of an enemy.
$50 you're Granger LongstretRs
gfta?" queried the woman, with her
bright, black eyes fixed on her visitor.
EYES," replied Miss Longstreth,
simply. "This 10 my cousin, Ruth
Herbert. We've come to nurse you,
Stake care Of the children, help you In
any way you'll let u.s."
There was long silence.
"Well. you look little like Long
streth,'' finally said Mrs. Laramie,
"but you're not at all like him. You
must take after your mother. Miss
Longstreth, don't know if can-if
/ i ought to accept anything from you.
Your father ruined my husband"
eyes. know" replied the girl sad
Nv. That's all the more reason you
sshould let me help you. Pray don't
refuse. It wilI-mean much to me-"
II this poor, stricken woman had
Eany resentment 1t speedily melted In
Qthe warmth and sweetness of Miss
[Longstreth's manner, and no sooner
bhad she begun to talk to the children
Ethan both they and the mother were
lwon. The opening Of that big basket
twas an event. Poor, starved little
kbeggars! The havoc was wrought in
that household. The needs now were
scheerfnlnesa Kindness, help. action
Sand these the girls furnished with q
spirit that did Duane good.
NIrs. Laramie, who dressed this
baby7'' presently asked Miss Long.
strefh. Duane peeped In to see .
tiiF1pidated youngsters ION her knee.
That sight, II any other was needed,
completed the full md splendid. es-'
timate OF Ray Longstreth and wrought
strangely upon his heart.
'.The ranger" replied Mrs. Laramie.
'sThe ranger!" exclaimed Miss Long
streth.
eyes. he's taken care Of us all since
since" Mrs. Laramie choked.
ooh! So you've Ind no help but
his" replied Miss Longstreth, hastily.
..No women. Too bad. I'll send
someone, Mrs. Laramie, and I'll come
myself"
ut II he good Of you," went on
the older woman. "You see, Jim had
few friends that Is, right in town.
And they've been afraid to help us
afraid they'd get what poor Jim"
.That's awful" burst out Miss
Longstreth, pussionateiy. "A brave
lot or friends u Mrs Laramie, don't
yousworry any more. Wen take care
OF you. Here. Ruth help me. What
ever Is the matter with baby's dress?"
Manifestly Miss Longstreth had
some difficulty In subduing her emo
tion,
"Why, it's on hind side before" de
clared Ruth. II guess Mr.. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies"
AHe did the best he could" said
Mrs. Laramie. Lord only knows
what would have become Of us"
ssEhen he isis something more
than rangerp queried Miss Long
'stre4h, with little break In her
voice N
..d1e's more than can tell" replied
Mrs Laramie. HE buried Jim. He
paiG our debts. He fetched us here.
He bought food for us. He cooked for
Us md fed MS. He washed and dress
ed The baby. He sat with me the
farst two nights after Jim's death,
when ! thought I'd die myself. He's
10 Mind, so gentle. 80 patient. He has
kept me up Just by being, near. Some
'tamls I'd wake from a doze. an, see
ing him there, I'd know how false
wer& all these tales Jim heard about
hima and believed at first. Why, ne
pla1S with the children just Just
likeSany good man might. When he
has 1.-THE baby up I just can't believe
hes I bloody gunman, as they say.
lie'a good, but he isn't happy. he
has such sad eyes. He looks far OF
when the children climb /.
gould him. They love him. His life
81 i; tel: sees
HE good In things. Once he said some
bod had to be . ranger. Well. I say.
2ThSnk God for q ranger like him !! !"
/ ubaIle did not want to hear more,
Eyo Ne walked into the room. X
n n was thoughtful OF YOU" Duane
Laid s.Womankind are needed here.
e i.ils.s
|you look better already. I'm glad.
And here's baby I'LL clean and white.
gSsaf;S, what q time had trying to-
H,usSle out the way your clothes went
E,o Well, Mrs Laramie. didn't / tell
friends would comet So Will
$h6 brighter side. !" s,s
res TyA more faith thafs had. =