Nogales international., 1928-12-28
Eighth Installment
WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE
Buck Duane. quick on the draw, kill.
Cal Blain i'll self-defense and becomes ar
goes to Blands camp. There he wounds
man named Bosoner and becomes {
bosom friend of another named Euchre
de meets Mrs. Bland and also girl
Jennie, held prisoner by. Bland, whom he
he is forced to deceive Mrs. Bland
This leads to Duanc's killing of Bland,
she outlaw leader, and rushing off with
iennie. WHO is lost later. Duane roams
,he roads for years as an outlaw, finally
Rangers, who had asked to see him.
MacNellY is kind to him, and offers him
:. pardon If he will accept an offer to
become a Ranger and go after Cheseldine's
gang. MacNeily had become interested in
Duane after Miss Lee had spoken in his
behalf. Duane promises MacNclly to do
him any service. Meanwhile MacNelly
gives Duane much welcome news
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
"The Governor got mad and fayed
us alive. Most rangers we're lazy, use
less gun-6ghting shysters! Reed lost
his temper. He's hot for the service.
But kept cool, and told the Governor
straight out that if he'd pardon you
i'd break up Cheseldine's gang on the
river. That sort of floored the Cover
nor He got interested.
II talked to him for an hour, ex-
planned how there were only two ways
to exterminate Cheseldine and the like
Either with an army or with the ranger
service, employing such a scout as you.
The army idea wasn't possible. But he
was impressed by the other. He said: +:
Set an outlaw to catch an outlaw, eh !?
Then he pondered a while and at
last rang for his secretary. My
political enemies say Pm not liberal
minded, he went on. Now, I'm GO
ing to make this test case of the
ranger service. I'll pardon this gun
sharp Duane on condition you make
him ranger. That is, he'll not be par
doned until he is ranger. Then we'll
see how the scheme works out
"MacNelly, / want to see this Miss
Lee" said Duane.
Il was thinking of that. It's good
chance. Maybe there'll never be an
other one" He paused a moment,
chewing his cigar. "All right; see
no reason against your meeting her."
he went on. "But let me arrange the
matter as suits me. Tomorrow I'll send
a ranger over to Shirley. There's a
train and stage, too. Now, let's turn
in, Duane. We've talked a deal. And
was tired before we began. Make
yourself bed there. Goodnight.
Duane stepped upon the porch and
rang the bell. After what appeared
to be long time negro maid opened
the door.
"A-caller to See Miss Lee" said
Duane.
Tie maid asked him in and led him
to parlor. It was large room, light
enough, yet full of unfamiliar shapes.
He stood there uncertain, waiting. The
maid returned to say that Miss Lee
would be right in.
Whoever Miss Lee was, she must
have connections with wealthy people.
duane felt long absent associations be-
come vivid in his mind.
Slowly he turned. A slender woman
in white stood in the door, one hand
clinging to the curtains, the other at
'iler breast. She was whittier than her
dress-as white as flower. Her eyes
were dark, strained, staring, beautiful.
The look of them Duane had seen be-
fore.
Duare's lips uttered her name, yet he
had vague sense of not hearing his
own voice. The movement of his lips,
his hand. seemed to animate her. She
had been as still as statue, and now
she was as if shot through and through
with life. That supporting hand upon
II ourtain appeared to uphold her
t. ring form.
III. Duane, don't you~-know me?"
re moved, she swept out her hands
e he wonder of her eyes dimmed in
I'd of tears. She stepped blindly.
'e's sight, straining with all the
NAL keeness of stunned faculties
! IS. back to power, caught slight
| ninistakable limp in her step.
a fash all that had been strange
. her vanished. He knew that
{ ing step. He was back in another
Zone he had scared over in his
/ and closed forever.
= Godl Who are your" he
hoarsely.
n she met him, arms out
& Led.
lniei Jennie Jennie p she sob
ift as light Duane caught her up
cid her crushed to his breast. The
+ like deadening scales, fell from
J He stood holding her tight, with
al eel of her warm, throbbing breast
F." the clasp of her clinging arms as
s and blood realities to fight a
lie fear that this was only another
: he worst of those moments haunt
e y fantoms.
Despite a stunned consciousness, he
never lost the true sense of the ex-
uisite life OF that moment. He felt
! er and the might of it was stronger
than all the demons of his unhappy
years. Jennie was not dead She was
all alive-alive And he held her
he had been his soul-his
. earth--his hope of heaven