Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-01

little communication ne had with Jen-
ME was through Euchre, who carried
short messages. But he caught
glimpses Of her every time he went
to the Bland house. She contrived
somehow to pass door or window, to
give him look when chance afforded.
Duane discovered with surprise that
these moments were more thrilling to
him than any with Mrs. Bland. Jennie
had been INSTRUCTED by Euchre to
listen, to understand that this was
Duane's only chance to help keep her
mind from constant worry, to gather
the import of every word which had a
double meaning. And all through
those waiting days he knew that Jen-
MES face, and especially the warm.
fleeting glance she gave him, was re-
sponsihle for a subtle and gradual
change in hip This change, he
fancied, was Only that through remem-
brance Of her he got rid of his pale,
sickening ghosts.
One day careless Mexican threw
lighted cigarette up into the brush
mating that served as a ceiling for
Benson's den, and there was fire
which left little more than the adobe
walls standing. The result was that
while repairs were being made there
was no gambling and drinking. Time
hung very heavily on the hands of
some twoscore outlaws. Duane, how
ever, found the hours anything but
empty. He spent more time at Mrs.
BANDS; he walked miles on all the
trails leading out of the valley; he had
a care for the conditions of his two
horses.
Upon his return from the latest OF
these tramps Euchre suggested that
they 60 down to the river to the boat
landing.
Nearly all the outlaws in camp were
assembled on the river-bank, lolling in
the shade of the cottonwoods. The
heat was oppressive.
Duane and Euchre Joined the lazy
group and sat down with them.
Euchre lighted black pipe, and,
drawing his hat over his eyes, lay
back in comfort after the manner of
the majority of the outlaws. But
Duane was alert, observing, thought
full. He never missed anything. 1t
was his belief that any moment an idle
word might be Of benefit to him. More
over, these rough men were always in
teresting.
GLANDS been chased acrost the
river" said one.
"Naw, he's deliverin' cattle to tibet
Cuban ship" replied another.
"Big deal on, hey?"
"Some big. Rugg says the boss he'd
an order fer fifteen thousand"
"Say, that order IL take year to
FILL"
''Naw. Hardin Is in cahoots with
Bland. Between 'em they'll fill orders
bigger n thet."
"Wondered what Hardin was rust
lin in here fer
Duane could not possibly attend to
all the conversation among the out
laws. He endeavored to get the drift
of talk nearest to him.
"Kid Fuller's goin' to cash." sad a
sandy-whiskered little outlaw.
$50 Jim was telling me. Blood
poison, amt it? Thet hole wasn't bad.
But he took the fever" rejoined a
comrade.
" "Deger says the Kid might pull
through if he had nursin'."
oval, Kate Bland amt nursin' any
shot-up boys these days. She hasn't
got time"
A laugh followed this sally; then
came a penetrating silence. Some of
the outlaws glanced good-naturedly at
Duane. They bore him no Ill will.
Manifestly they were aware Of Mrs.
BANDS infatuation.
''Boys, poke all the fun you like at
me, but don't mention any lady's name
again. My hand is nervous and itchy
these days"
He smiled as he spoke, and his
speech was drawled; but the good
humor in no wise weakened it. Then
his latter remark was significant to a
class of men who from inclination and
necessity practiced at gun-drawing un-
til they wore callous and sore places
on their thumbs and inculcated in the
very deeps of their nervous Organiza-
ton a habit that made even the sim
plest and most innocent motion of the
hand end at or near the hip. There
was something remarkable about a
gun-fighter's hand. 1t never seemed to
be gloved, never to be injured, never
out of sight or in an awkward posi-
ton. Grizzled outlaws in that group,
some of whom had many notches on
their gun-handles, accorded Duane
silence that carried conviction Of the
regard in which he was held.
"Orful hot, amt itY' remarked Bill
Black, presently. Bill could not keep
quiet for long. He was typical
Texas desperate, had never been any
thing else. He was stoop-shouldered
and bow-legged from much riding;
wiry little man, all MUSCLE with
square head, a hard face partly black
from scrubby beard and red from sun.
and a bright, rowing, cruel eye. Hi'
shirt was open at the neck. showing
grizzled breast.
--LATEST outfit I ever rustled WITH
went on Bill, discontentedly. "Nuthin
to do! Say, If anybody wants to swim
maybe some of you'll gambler"
He produced a dirty pack Of cards
and waved them at the motionless
crowd.