Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-11

ulFlue equally ana leave the country,
all Of u.s.
But you and I have all the stock
all the gain" protested Lawson.
I'll split mine
81 won't-that settles that" added
Lawson, instantly.
Longstreth spread wide his hands
as if it was useless to try to convince
this man. Talk had not increased his
calmneSS, and he now showed more
than Impotence. A dull CLINT cleaned
deep in his eyes.
"Your stock and property will last
a long time-dO lots of good when
this ranger"
Bah ~ hoarsely croaked Lawson.
The rangers name was a match APP
piled to powder. Haven't I told you
he'd be dead soon-any time-same
as Laramie ISL"
eyes, you mentioned the-the sup
position" replied Longstreth, sarcasti-
cally. II inquired, too, just how that
very desired event was to be brought
about"
''The gang will lay him out"
Bah retorted Longstreth, in turn.
He laughed cOntemptuously.
Floyd don't be a fool. You've
been on the border for ten years but
you never in all that time saw man
like this ranger. The only way to
get rid of him is for the gang to
draw on him, all at once. Then he's
going to drop some of them. To tell
you the truth, l wouldn't care much.
I'm pretty sick " this mess"
Lawson cursed in Amusement. His
emotions were all out of proportion
to his intelligence. He was not at
all quick-witted. Duane had never
seen a vainer or more arrogant man.
'Longstreth, I don't like your talk"
he said.
IF you don't like the way talk you
know what you can do" replied Long
streth, quickly. He stood up then,
cool and quiet, with flash of eyes and
set of lips that told Duane he was
dangerous.
"Well, after all, that's neither here
nor there went on Lawson, uncon-
sciously cowed by the other. 1.-THE
thing is, do l get the girl?"
Not by any means except her con-
sent"
you'll make her marry me?"
mo. No." replied Longstreth, his
voice still cold, low-pftched.
"Au right. Then I'll make her."
Evidently Longstreth understood
wasted no more words. Duane knew
what Lawson never dreamed of, and
that was that Longstreth had a gun
somewhere within reach and meant
to use it. Then heavy footsteps
sounded outside tramping upon the
porch. Duane believed those foot
steps saved Lawson's life.
There they are" said Lawson, and
he opened the door.
Five masked men entered. They
all wore coats hiding any weapons.
A big man with burly shoulders
shook hands with Longstreth, and the
others stood back.
The atmosphere of the room had
changed. Lawson might have been a
nonentity for all he counted. Long
streth was another mana stranger
to Duane. If he had entertained a
hope of freeing himself from this
band, of getting away to a safer
country, he abandoned it at the very
sight of these men. There was power
here, and he was bound.
The big man spoke in low, hoarse
whispers, and at this all the others
gathered around him close to the
table. There were evidently some
signs of membership not plain to
Duane. Then all the heads were
bent over the table. Low voices
spoke, Querted, answered, argued.
By straining his ears Duane caught a
word here and there. They were
planning, and they were brief. Duane
gathered they were to have a rendez-
youS at or near Ord.
Then the big man, who evidently
was the leader Of the present con-
vention, got up to depart. He went
as swiftly as he had come, and was
followed by his comrades. Longstreth
prepared for a quiet smoke. Lawson
seemed uncommunicative and I'M
sociable. He smoked f1ercely and
drank continually. All at once he
Strengthened up as if listening.
whats that?" he called suddenly.
Duane's strained ears were pervad-
ed by a slight rustling sound.
Must be a rat" replied Longstreth.
The rustic became a rattle.
Sounds like a rattlesnake to me- y
said Lawson.
Longstreth got up from the table
and peered round the room.
Just at that moment Duane felt
an almost inappreciable movement of
the adobe wall which supported him.
He could scarcely credit his senses.
But the rattle inside Longstreth's
room was mingling with little dull
thuds of falling dirt. The adobe wall,
merely dried mud, was crumbling.
Duane distinctly felt tremor pass