The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-01-25

butt himself with all his gang rigns
into our hands. He's Just the man
I've needed to meet"
"If Lawson's the mon you think he
is he'll begin thet secret underground
business. Why. Lawson won't sleep OF
nights now. He an Longstreth have
always been after me-"
Laramie, what are your eyes for2'
demanded Duane Watch out. And
now here. See your friend Morton.
Tell him this game grows hot. To
| gether you approach four or five men
you know well and can absolutely
trust. / may need your help.
Then Duane went from place to
place, corner to corner bar to bar,
watching, listening. recording. The
excitement had preceded him, and
speculation was rife. He thought
best to keep out of II. After dark
he stole up TO Longstreths ranch.
The evening was warm; the doors
were open; and In the twilight the
only lamps that had been lit were in
Longstreth's big sitting-room, at the
far end OF the house. When G buck
board drove up and Longstreth and
Lawson allghted, Duane was well
hidden in the bushes, so well screened
that he could get but a fieeting
glimpse a. iongs.reth as ne went In.
For all Duane could see, he appeared
TO be calm and quiet man. intense
beneath the surface, with an air OF
dignity under insrlt. Duane's chance
to observe Lawson was lost. They
went into the house without speaking
and closed the door.
At tile other end of the porch. close
under window, was an csfset be-
tween step and wall, and there In
the shadow Duane hid. SO Duane
waited there In the darkness with
patience born of many hours of hid
Ing.
Presently n lamp was lit; and
Duane heard the swish of sk'rss.
Something's happened surely.
Ruth" he heard Miss. Longstreth say.
anxiousy. "Papa just met me in
the hall and didn't speak, He seemed
paie, worried"
cousin Floyd looked like a
thunder-cloud," said Ruth. "For once
he didn't try to kiss me. Something's
happened"
"Oh, dear Ruth, what can we dor
These are wild men. Floyd makes life
miserable for me. And he leases you
\ unmer-"
81 don't call II teasing. Floyd wants
| to spoon" declared Ruth. emphati-
| cally. He'd run after any woman"
"a fine compliment for me, Cousin
| Ruth" laughed Ray.
81 don't care" replied Ruth, stub
bornly. ITS so. He's mSshy. And
J when he's been drinking and tries to
kiss mel hate him |"
There were steps on the hall floor.
I "Hello, girlsl" sounded out Law
I sons voice, minus its usual gayety.
: 'F'loyd. what's the matter?" asked
Ray, presently. 81 never saw papa as
k he Is tonight, nor you $3.50 worried.
l. Tell me, what has happenedf"
II eve had to submit 20 damnable
!. outrage" replied Lawson, passionate
II ly. as II the sound of his voice aug.
mented his feeling. "Llsten, girls; I'll
Q tell yop about It," He coughed, clear
GU Ills tiiiout III u WuJ tnit Dtifuyto
r, he had been drinking.
g Duane sank deeper into the shadow
o of his covert, and. stlffening his
g muscles for protracted spell Of
rigldity, prepared TO listen with all
II acuteness and intensity. Just one
e word from this Lawson. Inadvertently
n uttered In a moment of passion. might
be the word Duane needed for his
o clue.
n ut happened at the town hail." be-
, gan Lawson, rapidly. 'Your father
3. and Judge Owens and 1 were there
n in consultation with three ranchers
n from out of town. Then that damned
g ranger stalked In dragging Snecker.
n the fellow who hid here In the house.
D He had arrested Snecker for alleged
" assault on, restaurant-keeper named
n Laramie. Snecker being obviously in
II nocent he was discharged. Then this
y, ranger began shouting insults. Law
y was farce in Fairdale, The court
l. was farce. There was no law Your
e father was afraid OF the rustlers,
N highwaymen, murderers. He was
afraid or-he just let them alone. He
d used his Office to cheat ranchers and
le cattlemen in lawsuits. All this the
ranger yelled for everyone to hear.
o A damnable outrage. Your father.
)" Ray, ipsulted in his own court by a
N rowdy rangerw
'e "Oh" cried Ray Longstreth. In
r mingled distress and anger.
{. "The ranger service wants to rule
J! western Texas" went on Lawson.
d ''These rangers are all low set.
This Is one of the worst OF the lot.
p He's 10 be feared. He would XIII. II
& your father had mnde the least move
e. he would have shot him. He's a
n cold-neryed devil-the born gunman.