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

And here's baby all clean and white.
Baby. what time l had trying to
puzzle out the way your clothes went
on! Well Mrs. Laramie, didn't l tell
you-friends would come? So will
the brighter side"
Yes, I've more faith jhan I had"
replied Mrs. Laramie Granger
Longstreths daughter has come TO me.
There for a while after Jim'S death
I thought I'd sink. We have nothing.
How could 1 ever take care of my
little ones? But I'm gaining courage
to"
Mrs. Laramie, do not distress your
self any more" said Miss LongstretA.
Il shall see you are we'll cared for.
[ promise you"
Miss LOngstreth, that's nne!" ex-
claimed Duane. It's what Tve-ex-
pected of you"
her, for the wilderness Of her face
burned out in beautiful blush
And it's good of you, too. Miss
Herbert, TO come" added Duane.
Let ME thank you both. I'm glad
l have YOU girls as allies in part of
my lonely task here. More than glad
for the sake of this good woman and
the little ones. But both of you be
careful about coming here alone.
There's risk. And now I'll be going.
Good-by Mrs. Laramie. I'll drop Ia
again tonight. Good-by."
MIR. Ranger, wait ~ called Miss
LongStreth as he went out. She was
white and wonderful. She stepped
out of the door close to him.
i have wronged YOU" she said, i'm
pulsively.
Miss Longstreth! How can you
say that?" he returned.
Il believed what my father ana
Floyd Lawson said about you. Now
l see-I wronged you"
You make me very glad. But.
Miss Longstreth, please don't speak
OF wronging me. l have been "a
gunman, l am a ranger-and much
said of me is true Ny duty is hard
on others-sometimes on those who
are innocent, alas! But God knows
that duty is hard too, on me-"
81 did wrong you. If you entered
my home again l would think it an
honor. /"
"Please-please don't, Miss Long
streth,'' interrupted Duane.
But, sir, my conscience fiays me-"
she went on. There was no other
sound like her voice. "WiI you take
my hand? Will you forgive me?"
She gave it royalty, while the other
was there pressing at her breast.
Duane took the proffered hand. He
did not know what else to do.
Then it seemed to dawn upon him
that there was more behind this white,
sweet, noble intensity Of her than
just the making amends for a fancied
or real wrong. Duane thought the
man did not live on earth who could
have resisted her then.
II honor you for your goodness to
this unfortunate woman" she said
and now her speech came swiftly
less you were her friend. 1t was the
deed of a man. But Mrs. Laramie
isn't the only unfortunate woman in
the world. |, too, am unfortunate
All, how / may soon need a friend
VIII you be my friend? I'm so alone.
I'm terribly worried. | fear-I fear
Oh, surely I'll need q friend soon
soon. Oh, I'm afraid of what you'll
find out sooner or later. | want to help
You. Let us save life if not honor.
Must l stand alOne-all alone? VIII
yOu-Wili you be-" Her voice failed.
1t seemed to Duane that she must
have discovered what he had begun
to suspect-that her father and Law
son were not the honest rancherS
they pretended to be. Perhaps she
knew more, Her appeal to Duane
shook him deeply. He wanted to help
her more than he had ever wanted
anything. And with the meaning at
the tumultuOuS sweetness she stirred
in him there came the realization OF
a dangerous situation.
Il must be true to my duty" he
said, hoarsely.
eff you, knew me you'd know /
could never ask you to be false to it's
"Well. then-TH do anything for
you"
ooh. thank you! I'm ashamed THAI
L believed my cousin Floyd! He lied
he lied. I'm all in the dar;;.
strangely distressed. Ny father wants
me to go back home. Floyd is tryin,;
to keep me here. They've quarreled.
Oh, I know something dreadful will
happen. / know I'll need you if-if--
VIII you help me-"
Yes replied Duane, and his look
brought the blood to her face.
CHAPTER Xxx.