The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-03-15

way to the edge OF the %shruhbery and
crouched low to watch for his oppor.
tunity.
~Longstreth looked haggard and thin.
lie VAS In his shirt-sleeves. and he
had come out with u gun In his hand.
This he laid on q table near the wall.
He wore no belt.
Lawson vas red. bloated. thick
Tipped, all fiery and sweaty from drink.
though sober on the moment, and he
had the expression Of n desperate man
In his last stand. II was his last
stand. though he was ignorant Of that.
"What's your newsP Yon needn't be
afraid Of my feelings" said Lawson.
"Ray confessed to nm interest In this
ranger" replied Iongstrcth.
Duane thought Lawson would choke.
He IN t~hick-necked anyway, and the
rush of blood made him tear ut the
soft collar of his shirt. Duane awaited
his chance, patient, cold, all his feel
ings shut In n wise.
But why should your daughter meet
this rangcr?' demanded Lawson.
harshly.
"She's In love with him. and he's In
love with her"
Duane reveled In Inwson's condl-
tlon. The statement might have had
the force Of n juggcrnaut. Was Long
streth sincere? What was his game?
Lawson. finding his voice, cursed
Ray. cursed the ranger then Long
strcth.
you damned selfish fool, :" cried
Longstrcth In bitter scorn "All you
think of Is yourself-your loss of the
girl. Think once of me-my home
my llfe!"
Then the connection suhtly put out
by Longstreth apparently dawncd up
on the other. Somehow through this
girl her father and ~Nrousin were to he
betrayed. Duane got that impression.
though h" could not tell how true It
was. Certainly I.nwson's jealousy was
his paramount emotion.
"To hell with you :" burst ont Law.
son. incoherently. He was frenzied.
"lll have her, or nobody else will !"
'You never will" returned Long
streth. strldently. $50 help me God
I'd rather see her the rangers wife
than yours! !"
While Lawson absorbed that shock
Longstreth leaned toward him, all of
hate and menace In his mien.
Lawson, you made me what am"
continued LonRstreth. ~ backed you
shielded you. You're Chcscldine-if
the truth Is told! Now It's ended. ]
quit you. I'm done"
Their gray passlon-corded faces
were still ms stones.
Gentlemen :" Duane called In far
reaching voice as he stepped out.
You're both done."
They wheeled to confront Duane.
Don't move! Not n muscle! Not n
finger" he warned.
~Iongstrcth read what Lawson had
not the mind TO read. His face turned
from gray to ashen.
what dye mean?" yelled Lawson,
n"rcely, shrilly. II was not In him to
obey n command, to see impending
death.
All quiverirg and strung, yet with
perfect control, Duane raised his left
hand to turn hack n lapel Of his open
vest. The silver star flashed brightly.
Lawson howlcd like n dog. With
barbarous and insane fury. with sheer
lmpotent folly, he swept n clawing
hand for his gun. Duane's shot broke
his action.
Before Lawson even tottcred. before
he looscd the gun, Longstreth leapcd
behind him, claspcd him with left arm,
quick rs lightning jerked the gun
from both clutching fingers and sheath.
LongStreth protected himself with the
body Of the dead man. Duane saw
red flashes, puffs Of smoke; he heard
quick reports. Something stung his
left arm. Then u blow like wind. light
OF sound yet shocking In impact,
struck him, staggered him. The hot
rend OF lead followed the blow.
Duane's heart seemed to explode, yet
his mind kept extraordinarily clear
und rapid.
Duane heard Iongstreth work the
action OF Lawson's gun. He heard the
hammer click, fall upon empty shell.
Longstreth had used up all the loads
In LawsOn's gun. He cursed ns II man
cursed ut defeat. Duane waited, cool
and sure now Longstreth tried To lift
the dead man. TO edge him closer to-
ward the table where his w u
lay. But, considering the peril of ca.
posing himself, he found the task be-
yond him. lie bent peerlng at Duane
under Iawson's arm, which Topped
out from his side. Longstreth's eyes
were the eyes OF n man who meant
to kill. There was never any mlstak-
ing the strange and terrible light OF
eyes like those. More than once
Duane Ind n chance To aim ut them,
ut the top II Longstreth's head, ut u
strip Of his side.
Longstreth flung I.awson's body or.
But even az II dropped. before Long.
stretb could leap, as he surely In
tended, for the gun, Duane covered
him. called piercingly to him: