The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-22

Come in and Have a Chair"
the truth, Duane. 1t won't make any
difference in my plan. And when l
say crime / mean what l would call
crime, or any reasonable Texan"
THAT way my hands are clean," re-
piled Duane.
"You never held up a man, robbed
a store for grub, stole a horse when
you needed him bad-never anything
like that?"
Somehow 1 always kept out of that,
just when pressed the hardest"
duane, I'm glad!" MacNelly ex-
claimed, gripping Duane's hand. "Glad
for your mothers sakel But, all the
same. in spite of this, you are a Texas
outlaw accountable to the state.
You're perfectly aware that under ex-
listing circumstances, If you fell into
the hands of the law. you'd probably
hang, at least go to Jail for a long
term"
That's what kept me on the dodge
all these years." replied Duane.
Certainly" MacNelly's eyes mar
rowed and glittered. The muscles
along his brown cheeks set hard and
tense. He leaned close to Duane,
laid sinewy, pressing fingers upon
Duane's knee.
'Listen to this" he whispered,
hoarsely. eff I place a pardon in your
handmade you a free, honest citizen
once more, clear your name of infamy,
make your mother. your sister proud
of you-will you swear yourself to a
service, any service l demand of your"
Duane sat stock still, stunned.
Slowly, more persuasively, with
show of earnest agitation, Captain
MacNelly reiterated his startling
query.
MY God" burst from Duane.
whats this? MacNelly, you can't be
In earnest"
"Never more so in my life. I've a
deep game. I'm playing it square.
What do you say?"
He rose to his feet. Duane, as IL
impelled, rose with him. Ranger and
outlaw then locked eyes that searched
each others souls. In MacNelly's
Duane read truth, strong, fiery pur-
pose, hope, ven ~gladness, and a fugi-
tive mounting assurance of victory.
Twice Duane endeavOred to speak.
failed of all save a hoarse, incoherent
sound, until, forcing back a flood Of
speech, he found a voice.
"Any service? Every servicel Mac
Nelly, / give my word" said Duane.
A light played over MacNelly's face,
warming out all the grim darkness.
He held out his hand. Duane met 1t
with his in a clasp that men uncon-
sciously give in moments of stress.
When they ~unclasped and Duane
stepped back to drop into a chair
MacNelly fumbled for a cigar and,
lighting il, turned to his visitor,
now calm and cool. He had the look
of a man who had justly won some
thing at considerable cost. His next
move was to take a long leather case
from his pocket and extract from II
several folded papers.
Here's your pardon from the Cover
nor" he said, quietly. you'll see
when you look 1t over, that it's condi-
tional. When you sign this paper
have here the condition will be met
He smoothed out the paper, handed
Duane a pen. ran his ~foreinger along
a dotted line.
Duane's hand was shaky. Year:
had passed since he had held a pen
1t was with difficulty that he achieved
his signature. Buckley Duane-hov
strange the name looked!
fright here ends the career of Bucl
Duane, outlaw and gun-fghter," SAID
MacNelly; and, seating himself, h'
took the pen from Duane's fingers ant
wrote several lines In several places
upon the paper. Then with a smile
he handed 1t to Duane.
"That makes you a member of Com
pany A. Texas Rangers"
$50 that's It'll" burst out Duane.
light breaking In upon his bewilder
ment. "You want me for ranger sery
icef"
"Sure. That's IT," replied tn
Captain dryly. "Now TO hear wha
that service Is to be. I've been a bus,
man since l took this job. and. is yol
may have heard. I've done a fey
things. l don't mind telling you tina
political influence put me In here an
that up Austin way there's a good des
-