The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-22
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warning thought that such work as
seemed haunting and driving him
could never be carried out in the mood
under which he labored. He hung on
to that thought. Several times he
slowed up. then stopped, only to go on
again. At length, as he mounted a
low ridge. Fairdale lay bright and
green before him, not far away, and
the sight was a conclusive check.
There were mosquitoes on the ridge,
and Duane sought the shade beneath
them. 1t was the noon-hOur, with hot,
glary sun and no wind. Here Duane
had to have out his fight. Duane was
utterly unlike himself he could not
bring the old self back; he was not
the same man he once had been. But
he could understand why. It was be-
cause of Ray Longstreth. Temptation
assailed him. 10 have her his wife !
II was impossible. The thought was
insidiously alluring. Duane pictured
n home. He saw himself riding through
the cotton and rice and cane, home to
a stately old mansion, where long
cared hounds bayed him welcome,
and a woman looked for him and met
him with happy and beautiful smiles.
There might-there would be children.
And something new, strange. con-
founding with its emotion. came to life
deep in Duane's heart. There would
be childreni Ray their motherl The
kind of life a lonely outcast always
yearned for and had! He saw
IL all. felt It all.
But beyond and above all other
claims came Captain MacNelly's. 1t
was then there wa something cold and
deathlike in Duane's soul. For he knew
whatever happened, of one thing he
was sure-he would have to kill either
LOngstreth or Lawson. Longstreth
might be trapped into arrest; but LAW
son had M sense. no control. no fear.
He would snarl ike a panther and so
for his gun. AMI he would have to be
killed. This, of all consummations. was
the n 10 be calculated upon.
Duane came out of it all bitter and
callous and sore-in the most fitting Of
moods TO undertake a difficult and
deadly enterprise. He had fallen upon
his old. strange. futile dreams, now
rendered poignant by reason of love.
He drove way those dreams. In their
place came the images Of the olive
skinned Longstreth with his sharp
eyes, and the dark, evil-faced Lawson,
and th~n returned tenfold more thrill
ing and sinister the old strange pas
sion to meet Poggin.
It was about one O'Clock when
Duane rode into Fairdale. The streets
for the most part were deserted. He
went directly to find Morton and Zim-
mer. He found them at length. rest
less. somber. anxious, but unaware of
the part he had played at Ord. They
said Longstreth was home too. 1t
was possible that Longstreth had ar
rived home in ignorance.
Duane told them to be on hand In
town with their men in case he might
need them. and then with his teeth
locked he set off for Longstreth's
ranch.
Duane strobe through the bushes
and trees, and when nearing the porch
he heard loud, angry, familiar voices.
Longstreth and Lawson were quarrel
ing again. How Duane's lucky star
guided hint He had no plan for ac-
ton but his brain was equal to a
hundred lightning-swift evolutions. He
meant to take any risk rather than
kill Dongstreth. Both of the men were
out on the porch. Duane wOrmed his
way to the edge of the shrubbery and
crouched low to watch for his oppor-
tunity.
Longstreth looked haggard and thin.
He was in his shirt-sleeves, and he
had come out with a gun in his hand.
This he laid on a table lear the wall.
He wore no belt.
Lawson was red. blOated. thick
Tipped, all fiery and sweaty from drink,
though sober on the moment, and he
had the expression of a desperate man
in his last stand. 1t was his last
stand. though he was ignorant of that.
whats your news? You needn't be
afraid of my feelings" said Lawson.
cray confessed to an interest in this
ranger replied Longstreth.
Duane thought Lawson would choke.
He was thick-necked anyway, and the
rush of blood made him tear at 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 ranger?' demanded Lawson,
harshly.
'She's in love with him, and he's in
love with her"
Duane reveled in Lawson's condi-
ton. The statement might have had
the force of a juggernaut. Was Long
streth sincere? What was his game?
Lawson. finding his voice, cursed
Ray. cursed the ranger. then Long
streth.
"You damned selfish fo0li" cried
Iop0sfreth In hitter ScOrn. A Won