The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-10

fShCu WIN my tApidudtlOuS III TeKdTu
to certain property"
Lawson halted in his restless walk
and leaned against the stone mantel-
piece. He had his hands In his peck
cts. He squared himself as IL this
was his last stand. He looked desper-
ate, but on the moment showed an
absence of his usual nervous excite
ment.
"Lopgstreth, that may well be true,'
he said. mo doubt all you say is
true. But it doesn't help me. / want
the girl. If l don't get her-I reckon
Wen all go to hell"
Longstreth gave a slight start,
barely perceptible, like the switch of
an awakening tiger. He sat there head
down, stroking his mustache. Duane's
conviction was that Longstreth right
then and there decided that the thing
to do was to kill Lawson.
Lawson no more caught the fateful
significance of a line crossed. a limit
reached, a decree decided than If he
a no been present. He was
obsessed with himself. How, Duane
wondered, had a man of his mind yer
lived so long and gone SO far among
the exacting conditions of the South
west? The answer was, perhaps,
that Longstreth had guided him, up
held him, protected him. The COM
ing of Ray LoEgstreth had been the
entering-wedge of ~dissension.
You're too impatient" said Long
streth. "Ray might be won.. She
might marry you to save me, but she'd
hate you. That isn't the way. Wait.
Play for time. Let's plan to sell out
here-stock, ranch, property-and
leave the country. Then you'd have
a show with her."
81 told you we've got to stick"
growled Lawson. 1.-THE gang won't
stand for our going. 1t can't be done
unless you want to sacrifice every
thing"
"You mean double-cross the men?
Go without their knowing? Leave
them here to face whatever comesf'
Il mean just that"
~ 20 CApdShf bu1 hOS iAo DdNf
returned Longstreth, "If / can't get
the gang to let me off, I'll stay and
face the music. All the same, Law
son, did il ever strike you that most
of the deals the last few years have
been yours?'
there wouldn't have been any. You've
had cold feet, and especially since
this ranger has been here"
"Well, call it cold feet If you like.
But ! call it We reached u
limit long ago. Then we had to go
on. Too late to turn back"
81 reckon we've all said that. None
of the gang wants to quit. They all
think, and l think, we can't be touch
ed. We may be blamed, but nothing
car be proved. We're too strong"
There's where you're dead wrong"
rejoined Longstreth, emphatically. IT
imagined that once, not long ago. l
was bull-headed. Who would ever
connect Granger Longstreth with a
rustler gang? I've changed my mind.
bCedA W I'LL lCdcOlC0
out things. We're crooked, and we
can't last. It's the nature Of life, even
here, for conditions to grow better.
The wise deal for us would be to
divide equally and leave the country,
all of u.s."
"But you and I have all the stock
all the GAIN" protested Lawson.
"Tll split mine."
Il 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 / told you
he'd be dead soon-any time-same
as Laramie is?'
Yes, you mentioned the-the sup
position" replied Longstreth, sarcastic
cally. Il inquired. too, just how that
very desired event was to be brought
about"
THE gang will lay him out"
"Bahi" 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 a man
like this ranger. The only way to
get rid of him is for the gang 70
draw on him, all at once. Then he's
going to drop some of them. To tell
you the truth, | wouldn't care much.
I'm pretty sick of 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, / don't like your talk"