Nogales international., 1928-11-30
WHAT. HApPENED BEFORE

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE
Buck Duane, quick on the draw, kills Cal
Balm in self-defense and finds himself an
outlaw. Flying from pursuit, he meets Luke
Stevens, another outlaw, and the two be-
come pals. Luke narrowly escapes capture
and Duane is shocked to find his brother
outlaw severely wounded.
Duane buries Stevens. Then he goes on
10 Bland's camp, where he gets into a hight
with man called Bosomer and wounds the
latter. He makes friend of an outlaw
at BANDS called Euchre, who tells him OF
Mrs. Bland and the girl Jennie.
Duane meets Jennie, and promises to Try
his utmost to get her away from Bland's
camp. To avert suspicion, it is planned
that he pretend to care for Mrs. Bland
Euehre introduces him to the latter and ne ;
engages in conversation with her.
NOW GosoN WITH THE STORY
Evidently the outlaws wife liked
Euchre, for her keen glance rested
with amusement upon him.
"As for Jen, III tell you her story
some day" went on the woman, Its
common enough story along this
river. Euchre here is teNder-hearted
DID FOOL. and Jen has taken him in"
When Euchre had shuffied into the
house Mrs. Bland turned to Duane
with curiosity and interest in her
gaze. @
"Ill tell you,. Duane" she said
earnestly. I'm sure glad if you mean
10 bide while. I'm miserable wo-
man, Duane. I'm an OUTLAWS wife,
and I hate him and the Fife Ihave to
lead. I come of good family in
Brownsville. .
81 never knew Bland was an outlaw
till long after he married me. We
were separated at times, and | I'M
agined he was away on business. But
the truth came out. Bland shot my
own cousin, who told me. My family
cast me off, and / had to flee with
Bland.
Il was only eighteen, then. I've
lived here since. / never see decent
woman or man. ! never hear anything
about my old home or folks or friends.
I'm buried here-buried alive with a
lot of thieves and murderers. Can you
blame me for being glad to see a
young feliew-a gentleman-like the
boys I used to go with?
II tell you it makes me feel full
II want to cry. I'm sick for some
body to talk to. I have no children,
thank God. If | had I'd not stay
here. I'm sick of this hole, I'm lone
iy@"
There appeared to be no doubt about
the truth of all this. Genuine emotion
checked - then halted the hurried
speech. She broke down and cried
1t seemed strange to Duane that ar
outlaws wife-and a woman who fit.
ted her consort and the wild nature o1
their acknowledgement have weak
ness enough to weep.
"Would Bland object if / called
on YOU occasionally" inquired
Duane.
mo, he wouldn't. He likes me to
have friends. Ask him yourself when
he comes back. The trouble has been
that two or three of his men fell in
love with me, and when half drunl;
got to fighting. You're not going to
do that"
Pm not going to get half drunk,
that's certain" replied Duane,
Without any solicitation or encour~
agement from Duane, the Bland wo-
man fell passionately in love with him.
His conscience was never troubled
about the beginning of that affair. She
launched it herself. 1t took no great
perspicuity on his part to see that. :,
&, He was playing game of love.
Playing with life and death! Some
times he trembled, not that he feared
Bland or Alloway, or any man, but at
the dee2s ef life he had come to see
into. He was carried out of his old
, mood.
Not once since this daring motive
had stirred him had he been haunted
| by fantoms of Balm beside his bed.
Rather had he been haunted by Jennie s
sad face-her wistful smile-hel eyes.
He never was able to- speak word
to her. What little communication he
had with her was through Euchre, who
carried short messages. But he caught
glrnpseS Of her every time he went to
the Bland house. She contrived some
| how to pass door or window, to give
him look when chance afforded.
And Duane discovered with surprise
that these moments were more thrilling
to him than any with Mrs Bland. OF
ten Duane knew Jennie was sitting
Just inside the window, and then he
felt inspired IN his talk, and it was all
made for her. So at least she came
TO know him while as yet she was al
most stranger.
Jennie had been instructed by Eu.
chre to listen, to understand that this
was Duane's only chance to help keen
her mind from constant worry, to ga
tller the import of every word which,
had a double meaning.
! Euchre said that the girl had begun
10 wither under the strain, to burn up
with intense hope, which had famed
within her. But all the difference Du-
ane could see was a paler face and
darker, more wonderful eyes. The
eyes seemed to be entreating him to
| hurry, that time was flying, that soon
It might be too late.
Then there was another meaning in
hen--a light-a strange fire wholly
/ lexplicable to Duane. 1t was only a
II sE1, gone in an instant. But he re-