"Searchmyhouse！"exclaimedMissLongstreth;andredsucceededthewhiteinhercheeks。Sheappearedastonishedandangry。
　　"Whatfor？Why，howdareyou！Thisisunwarrantable！"
　　"Aman——BoSnecker——assaultedandrobbedJimLaramie，"repliedDuane，hurriedly。"IchasedSneckerhere——sawhimrunintothehouse。"
　　"Here？Oh，sir，youmustbemistaken。Wehaveseennoone。IntheabsenceofmyfatherI’mmistresshere。I’llnotpermityoutosearch。"
　　Lawsonappearedtocomeoutofhisastonishment。Hesteppedforward。
　　"Ray，don’tbebotherednow，"hesaid，tohiscousin。"Thisfellow’smakingabluff。I’llsettlehim。Seehere，Mister，youclearout！"
　　"IwantSnecker。He’shere，andI’mgoingtogethim，"repliedDuane，quietly。
　　"Bah！That’sallabluff，"sneeredLawson。"I’montoyourgame。Youjustwantedanexcusetobreakinhere——toseemycousinagain。Whenyousawthecompanyyouinventedthatexcuse。Now，beoff，orit’llbetheworseforyou。"
　　Duanefelthisfaceburnwithatideofhotblood。Almosthefeltthathewasguiltyofsuchmotive。HadhenotbeenunabletoputthisRayLongstrethoutofhismind？Thereseemedtobescorninhereyesnow。Andsomehowthatcheckedhisembarrassment。
　　"MissLongstreth，willyouletmesearchthehouse？"heasked。
　　"No。"
　　"Then——Iregrettosay——I’lldosowithoutyourpermission。"
　　"You’llnotdare！"sheflashed。Shestooderect，herbosomswelling。
　　"Pardonme，yes，Iwill。"
　　"Whoareyou？"shedemanded，suddenly。
　　"I’maTexasRanger，"repliedDuane。
　　"ATEXASRANGER！"sheechoed。
　　FloydLawson’sdarkfaceturnedpale。
　　"MissLongstreth，Idon’tneedwarrantstosearchhouses，"saidDuane。"I’msorrytoannoyyou。I’dprefertohaveyourpermission。Aruffianhastakenrefugehere——inyourfather’shouse。He’shiddensomewhere。MayIlookforhim？"
　　"Ifyouareindeedaranger。"
　　Duaneproducedhispapers。MissLongstrethhaughtilyrefusedtolookatthem。
　　"MissLongstreth，I’vecometomakeFairdaleasafer，cleaner，betterplaceforwomenandchildren。Idon’twonderatyourresentment。Buttodoubtme——insultme。Somedayyoumaybesorry。"
　　FloydLawsonmadeaviolentmotionwithhishands。
　　"Allstuff！Cousin，goonwithyourparty。I’lltakeacoupleofcowboysandgowiththis——thisTexasRanger。"
　　"Thanks，"saidDuane，coolly，asheeyedLawson。"Perhapsyou’llbeabletofindSneckerquickerthanIcould。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"demandedLawson，andnowhegrewlivid。
　　Evidentlyhewasamanoffiercequickpassions。
　　"Don’tquarrel，"saidMissLongstreth。"Floyd，yougowithhim。
　　Pleasehurry。I’llbenervoustill——theman’sfoundoryou’resurethere’snotone。"
　　Theystartedwithseveralcowboystosearchthehouse。Theywentthroughtheroomssearching，callingout，peeringintodarkplaces。ItstruckDuanemorethanforciblythatLawsondidallthecalling。Hewashurried，too，triedtokeepinthelead。Duanewonderedifheknewhisvoicewouldberecognizedbythehidingman。Bethatasitmight，itwasDuanewhopeeredintoadarkcornerandthen，withagunleveled，said"Comeout！"
　　Hecameforthintotheflare——atall，slim，dark—facedyouth，wearingsombrero，blouseandtrousers。Duanecollaredhimbeforeanyoftheotherscouldmoveandheldtheguncloseenoughtomakehimshrink。ButhedidnotimpressDuaneasbeingfrightenedjustthen;nevertheless，hehadaclammyface，thepallidlookofamanwhohadjustgottenoverashock。HepeeredintoDuane’sface，thenintothatofthecowboynexttohim，thenintoLawson’s，andifeverinDuane’slifehebeheldreliefitwasthen。ThatwasallDuaneneededtoknow，buthemeanttofindoutmoreifhecould。
　　"Who’reyou？"askedDuane，quietly。
　　"BoSnecker，"hesaid。
　　"What’dyouhideherefor？"
　　Heappearedtogrowsullen。
　　"ReckonedI’dbeassafeinLongstreth’sasanywheres。"
　　"Ranger，what’llyoudowithhim？"Lawsonqueried，asifuncertain，nowthecapturewasmade。
　　"I’llseetothat，"repliedDuane，andhepushedSneckerinfrontofhimoutintothecourt。
　　DuanehadsuddenlyconceivedtheideaoftakingSneckerbeforeMayorLongstrethinthecourt。
　　WhenDuanearrivedatthehallwherecourtwasheldtherewereothermenthere，adozenormore，andallseemedexcited;
　　evidently，newsofDuanehadprecededhim。Longstrethsatatatableuponaplatform。Nearhimsatathick—setgrizzledman，withdeepeyes，andthiswasHanfordOwens，countyjudge。Totherightstoodatall，angular，yellow—facedfellowwithadroopingsandymustache。Conspicuousonhisvestwasahugesilvershield。ThiswasGorsech，oneofLongstreth’ssheriffs。
　　TherewerefourothermenwhomDuaneknewbysight，severalwhosefaceswerefamiliar，andhalfadozenstrangers，alldustyhorsemen。
　　Longstrethpoundedhardonthetabletobeheard。Mayorornot，hewasunableatoncetoquelltheexcitement。Gradually，however，itsubsided，andfromthelastfewutterancesbeforequietwasrestoredDuanegatheredthathehadintrudeduponsomekindofameetinginthehall。
　　"What’dyoubreakinherefor，"demandedLongstreth。
　　"Isn’tthisthecourt？Aren’tyoutheMayorofFairdale？"
　　interrogatedDuane。Hisvoicewasclearandloud，almostpiercing。
　　"Yes，"repliedLongstreth。Likeflintheseemed，yetDuanefelthisintenseinterest。
　　"I’vearrestedacriminal，"saidDuane。
　　"Arrestedacriminal！"ejaculatedLongstreth。"You？Who’reyou？"
　　"I’maranger，"repliedDuane。
　　Asignificantsilenceensued。
　　"IchargeSneckerwithassaultonLaramieandattemptedrobbery——ifnotmurder。He’shadashadypasthere，asthiscourtwillknowifitkeepsarecord。"
　　"What’sthisIhearaboutyou，Bo？Getupandspeakforyourself，"saidLongstreth，gruffly。
　　Sneckergotup，notwithoutafurtiveglanceatDuane，andhehadshuffledforwardafewstepstowardtheMayor。Hehadanevilfront，butnottheboldnessevenofarustler。
　　"Itain’tso，Longstreth，"hebegan，loudly。"IwentinLaramie’splacefergrub。SomefellerIneverseenbeforecomeinfromthehallan’hitLaramiean’wrestledhimonthefloor。
　　Iwentout。Thenthisbigrangerchasedmean’fetchedmehere。1didn’tdonothin’。Thisranger’shankerin’toarrestsomebody。Thet’smyhunch，Longstreth。"
　　LongstrethsaidsomethinginanundertonetoJudgeOwens，andthatworthynoddedhisgreatbushyhead。
　　"Bo，you’redischarged，"saidLongstreth，bluntly。"Nowtherestofyouclearoutofhere。"
　　Heabsolutelyignoredtheranger。ThatwashisrebufftoDuane——hisslapinthefacetoaninterferingrangerservice。
　　IfLongstrethwascrookedhecertainlyhadmagnificentnerve。
　　Duanealmostdecidedhewasabovesuspicion。Buthisnonchalance，hisairoffinality，hisauthoritativeassurance——thesetoDuane’skeenandpracticedeyeswereinsignificantcontrasttoacertaintensenessoflineabouthismouthandaslowpalingofhisoliveskin。InthatmomentarylullDuane’sscrutinyofLongstrethgatheredanimpressionoftheman’sintensecuriosity。
　　Thentheprisoner，Snecker，withacoughthatbrokethespellofsilence，shuffledacoupleofstepstowardthedoor。
　　"Holdon！"calledDuane。ThecallhaltedSnecker，asifithadbeenabullet。
　　"Longstreth，IsawSneckerattackLaramie，"saidDuane，hisvoicestillringing。"Whathasthecourttosaytothat？"
　　"Thecourthasthistosay。WestofthePecoswe’llnotaidanyrangerservice。Wedon’twantyououthere。Fairdaledoesn’tneedyou。"
　　"That’salie，Longstreth，"retortedDuane。"I’velettersfromFairdalecitizensallbeggingforrangerservice。"
　　Longstrethturnedwhite。Theveinscordedathistemples。Heappearedabouttoburstintorage。Hewasatalossforquickreply。
　　FloydLawsonrushedinanduptothetable。Thebloodshowedblackandthickinhisface;hisutterancewasincoherent，hisuncontrollableoutbreakoftemperseemedoutofallproportiontoanycauseheshouldreasonablyhavehadforanger。
　　Longstrethshovedhimbackwithacurseandawarningglare。
　　"Where’syourwarranttoarrestSnecker？"shoutedLongstreth。
　　"Idon’tneedwarrantstomakearrests。Longstreth，you’reignorantofthepowerofTexasRangers。"
　　"You’llcomenoneofyourdamnedrangerstuntsouthere。I’llblockyou。"
　　ThatpassionatereplyofLongstreth’swasthesignalDuanehadbeenwaitingfor。Hehadhelpedonthecrisis。HewantedtoforceLongstreth’shandandshowthetownhisstand。
　　Duanebackedclearofeverybody。
　　"Men！Icallonyouall！"criedDuane，piercingly。"IcallonyoutowitnessthearrestofacriminalpreventedbyLongstreth，MayorofFairdale。ItwillberecordedinthereporttotheAdjutant—GeneralatAustin。Longstreth，you’llneverpreventanotherarrest。"
　　Longstrethsatwhitewithworkingjaw。
　　"Longstreth，you’veshownyourhand，"saidDuane，inavoicethatcarriedfarandheldthosewhoheard。"AnyhonestcitizenofFairdalecannowseewhat’splain——yoursisadamnpoorhand！You’regoingtohearmecallaspadeaspade。Inthetwoyearsyou’vebeenMayoryou’veneverarrestedonerustler。
　　Strange，whenFairdale’sanestforrustlers！You’veneversentaprisonertoDelRio，letalonetoAustin。Youhavenojail。
　　Therehavebeenninemurdersduringyouroffice——innumerablestreet—fightsandholdups。Notonearrest！Butyouhaveorderedarrestsfortrivialoffenses，andhavepunishedtheseoutofallproportion。Therehavebeenlawsuitsinyourcourt—suitsoverwater—rights，cattledeals，propertylines。StrangehowintheselawsuitsyouorLawsonorothermenclosetoyouwerealwaysinvolved！Strangehowitseemsthelawwasstretchedtofavoryourinterest！"
　　Duanepausedinhiscold，ringingspeech。Inthesilence，bothoutsideandinsidethehall，couldbeheardthedeepbreathingofagitatedmen。Longstrethwasindeedastudy。Yetdidhebetrayanythingbutrageatthisinterloper？
　　"Longstreth，here’splaintalkforyouandFairdale，"wentonDuane。"Idon’taccuseyouandyourcourtofdishonesty。IsaySTRANGE！Lawherehasbeenafarce。Themotivebehindallthislaxityisn’tplaintome——yet。ButIcallyourhand！"
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　Duaneleftthehall，elbowedhiswaythroughthecrowd，andwentdownthestreet。Hewascertainthatonthefacesofsomemenhehadseenill—concealedwonderandsatisfaction。Hehadstrucksomekindofahottrait，andhemeanttoseewhereitled。ItwasbynomeansunlikelythatCheseldinemightbeattheotherend。Duanecontrolledamountingeagerness。ButeverandanonitwasshotthroughwitharemembranceofRayLongstreth。Hesuspectedherfatherofbeingnotwhathepretended。Hemight，veryprobablywould，bringsorrowandshametothisyoungwoman。Thethoughtmadehimsmartwithpain。Shebegantohaunthim，andthenhewasthinkingmoreofherbeautyandsweetnessthanofthedisgracehemightbringuponher。Somestrangeemotion，longlockedinsideDuane’sheart，knockedtobeheard，tobeletout。Hewastroubled。
　　UponreturningtotheinnhefoundLaramiethere，apparentlynonetheworseforhisinjury。
　　"Howareyou，Laramie？"heasked。
　　"ReckonI’mfeelin’aswellascouldbeexpected，"repliedLaramie。Hisheadwascircledbyabandagethatdidnotconcealthelumpwherehehadbeenstruck。Helookedpale，butwasbrightenough。
　　"ThatwasagoodcrackSneckergaveyou，"remarkedDuane。
　　"Iain’taccusin’Bo，"remonstratedLaramie，witheyesthatmadeDuanethoughtful。
　　"Well，Iaccusehim。Icaughthim——tookhimtoLongstreth’scourt。Buttheylethimgo。"
　　Laramieappearedtobeagitatedbythisintimationoffriendship。
　　"Seehere，Laramie，"wentonDuane，"insomepartsofTexasit’spolicytobeclose—mouthed。Policyandhealth—preserving！
　　Betweenourselves，IwantyoutoknowIleanonyoursideofthefence。"
　　Laramiegaveaquickstart。PresentlyDuaneturnedandfranklymethisgaze。HehadstartledLaramieoutofhishabitualsettaciturnity;butevenashelookedthelightthatmighthavebeenamazeandjoyfadedoutofhisface，leavingitthesameoldmask。StillDuanehadseenenough。Likeabloodhoundhehadascent。
　　"Talkingaboutwork，Laramie，who’dyousaySneckerworkedfor？"
　　"Ididn’tsay。"
　　"Well，saysonow，can’tyou？Laramie，you’repowerfulpeevishto—day。It’sthatbumponyourhead。WhodoesSneckerworkfor？"
　　"Whenheworksatall，whichsureain’toften，heridesforLongstreth。"
　　"Humph！SeemstomethatLongstreth’sthewholecircusroundFairdale。IwassomesoretheotherdaytofindIwaslosinggoodmoneyatLongstreth’sfarogame。SureifI’dwonI
　　wouldn’thavebeensore——ha，ha！ButIwassurprisedtohearsomeonesayLongstrethownedtheHopeSojoint。"
　　"Heownsconsiderablepropertyhereabouts，"repliedLaramie，constrainedly。
　　"Humphagain！Laramie，likeeveryotherfellowImeetinthistown，you’reafraidtoopenyourtrapaboutLongstreth。Getmestraight，Laramie。Idon’tcareadamnforColonelMayorLongstreth。AndforcauseI’dthrowagunonhimjustasquickasonanyrustlerinPecos。"
　　"Talk’scheap，"repliedLaramie，makinglightofhisbluster，buttheredwasdeeperinhisface。
　　"Sure。Iknowthat，"Duanesaid。"AndusuallyIdon’ttalk。
　　Thenit’snotwellknownthatLongstrethownstheHopeSo？"
　　"Reckonit’sknowninPecos，allright。ButLongstreth’snameisn’tconnectedwiththeHopeSo。Blandyrunstheplace。"
　　"ThatBlandy。Hisfarogame’scrooked，orI’malocoedbronch。
　　Notthatwedon’thavelotsofcrookedfaro—dealers。Afellowcanstandforthem。ButBlandy’smean，back—handed，neverlooksyouintheeyes。ThatHopeSoplaceoughttoberunbyagoodfellowlikeyou，Laramie。"
　　"Thanks，"repliedhe;andDuaneimaginedhisvoicealittlehusky。"Didn’tyouhearIusedtorunit？"
　　"No。Didyou？"Duanesaid，quickly。
　　"Ireckon。Ibuilttheplace，madeadditionstwice，owneditforelevenyears。"
　　"Well，I’llbedoggoned。"ItwasindeedDuane’sturntobesurprised，andwiththesurprisecameaglimmering。"I’msorryyou’renottherenow。Didyousellout？"
　　"No。Justlosttheplace。"
　　Laramiewasburstingforreliefnow——totalk，totell。Sympathyhadmadehimsoft。
　　"Itwastwoyearsago—twoyearslastMarch，"hewenton。"IwasinabigcattledealwithLongstreth。Wegotthestock——an’myshare，eighteenhundredhead，wasrustledoff。IowedLongstreth。Hepressedme。Itcometoalawsuit——an’I——wasruined。
　　IthurtDuanetolookatLaramie。Hewaswhite，andtearsrolleddownhischeeks。Duanesawthebitterness，thedefeat，theagonyoftheman。Hehadfailedtomeethisobligations;
　　nevertheless，hehadbeenswindled。Allthathesuppressed，allthatwouldhavebeenpassionhadtheman’sspiritnotbeenbroken，laybareforDuanetosee。Hehadnowthesecretofhisbitterness。ButthereasonhedidnotopenlyaccuseLongstreth，thesecretofhisreticenceandfear——theseDuanethoughtbesttotrytolearnatsomelatertime。
　　"Hardluck！Itcertainlywastough，"Duanesaid。"Butyou’reagoodloser。Andthewheelturns！Now，Laramie，here’swhat。I
　　needyouradvice。I’vegotalittlemoney。ButbeforeIloseitIwanttoinvestsome。Buysomestock，orbuyaninterestinsomerancher’sherd。WhatIwantyoutosteermeonisagoodsquarerancher。Ormaybeacoupleofranchers，iftherehappentobetwohonestones。Ha，ha！Nodealswithrancherswhorideinthedarkwithrustlers！I’veahunchFairdaleisfullofthem。Now，Laramie，you’vebeenhereforyears。Sureyoumustknowacoupleofmenabovesuspicion。"
　　"ThankGodIdo，"hereplied，feelingly。"FrankMortonan’SiZimmer，myfriendsan’neighborsallmyprosperousdays，an’
　　friendsstill。YoucangambleonFrankandSi。Butifyouwantadvicefromme——don’tinvestmoneyinstocknow。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Becauseanynewfellerbuyin’stockthesedayswillberustledquicker’nhecansayJackRobinson。Thepioneers，thenewcattlemen——theseareeasypickin’fortherustlers。Lordknowsalltheranchersareeasyenoughpickin’。Butthenewfellershavetolearntheropes。Theydon’tknowanythin’oranybody。
　　An’theoldranchersarewisean’sore。They’dfightifthey——"
　　"What？"Duaneputin，ashepaused。"Iftheyknewwhowasrustlingthestock？"
　　"Nope。"
　　"Iftheyhadthenerve？"
　　"Notthetsomuch。"
　　"Whatthen？What’dmakethemfight？"
　　"Aleader！"
　　"Howdythar，Jim，"boomedabigvoice。
　　Amanofgreatbulk，witharuddy，merryface，enteredtheroom。
　　"Hello，Morton，"repliedLaramie。"I’dintroduceyoutomyguesthere，butIdon’tknowhisname。"
　　"Haw！Haw！Thet’sallright。Fewmenouthyargobytheirrightnames。"
　　"Say，Morton，"putinDuane，"Laramiegavemeahunchyou’dbeagoodmantotieto。Now，I’vealittlemoneyandbeforeI
　　loseitI’dliketoinvestitinstock。"
　　Mortonsmiledbroadly。
　　"I’monthesquare，"Duanesaid，bluntly。"Ifyoufellowsneversizeupyourneighborsanybetterthanyouhavesizedme——well，youwon’tgetanyricher。"
　　ItwasenjoymentforDuanetomakehisremarkstothesemenpregnantwithmeaning。Mortonshowedhispleasure，hisinterest，buthisfaithheldaloof。
　　"I’vegotsomemoney。Willyouletmeinonsomekindofdeal？
　　Willyoustartmeupasastockmanwithalittleherdallmyown？"
　　"Wal，stranger，tocomeoutflat—footed，you’dbefoolishtobuycattlenow。Idon’twanttotakeyourmoneyan’seeyouloseout。BettergobackacrossthePecoswheretherustlersain’tsostrong。Ihaven’thadmore’ntwenty—fivehundredherdofstockfortenyears。Therustlersletmehangontoabreedin’herd。Kindofthem，ain’tit？"
　　"Sortofkind。AllIhearisrustlers，Morton，"repliedDuane，withimpatience。"Yousee，Ihaven’teverlivedlonginarustler—runcounty。Whoheadsthegang，anyway？"
　　MortonlookedatDuanewithacuriouslyamusedsmile，thensnappedhisbigjawasiftoshutinimpulsivewords。
　　"Lookhere，Morton。Itstandstoreason，nomatterhowstrongtheserustlersare，howhiddentheirwork，howeverinvolvedwithsupposedlyhonestmen——theyCAN"Tlast。"
　　"Theycomewiththepioneers，an’they’lllasttillthar’sasinglesteerleft，"hedeclared。
　　"Well，ifyoutakethatviewofcircumstancesIjustfigureyouasoneoftherustlers""
　　MortonlookedasifhewereabouttobrainDuanewiththebuttofhiswhip。Hisangerflashedbythen，evidentlyasunworthyofhim，and，somethingstrikinghimasfunny，heboomedoutalaugh。
　　"It’snotsofunny，"Duanewenton。"Ifyou’regoingtopretendayellowstreak，whatelsewillIthink？"
　　"Pretend？"herepeated。
　　"Sure。Iknowmenofnerve。Andherethey’renotanydifferentfromthoseinotherplaces。Isayifyoushowanythinglikealackofsandit’sallbluff。Bynatureyou’vegotnerve。TherearealotofmenaroundFairdalewho’reafraidoftheirshadows——afraidtobeoutafterdark——afraidtoopentheirmouths。Butyou’renotone。SoIsayifyouclaimtheserustlerswilllastyou’repretendinglackofnervejusttohelpthepopularideaalong。FortheyCAN"Tlast。Whatyouneedouthereissomenewblood。SavvywhatImean？"
　　"Wal，IreckonIdo，"hereplied，lookingasifastormhadblownoverhim。"Stranger，I’lllookyouupthenexttimeI
　　cometotown。"
　　Thenhewentout。
　　Laramiehadeyeslikeflintstrikingfire。
　　HebreathedadeepbreathandlookedaroundtheroombeforehisgazefixedagainonDuane。
　　"Wal，"hereplied，speakinglow。"You’vepickedtherightmen。
　　Now，whointhehellareyou？"
　　Reachingintotheinsidepocketofhisbuckskinvest，Duaneturnedtheliningout。Astar—shapedbrightsilverobjectflashedasheshovedit，pocketandall，underJim’shardeyes。
　　"RANGER！"hewhispered，crackingthetablewithhisfist。"Yousurerungtruetome。"
　　"Laramie，doyouknowwho’sbossofthissecretgangofrustlershereabouts？"askedDuane，bluntly。Itwascharacteristicofhimtocomesharptothepoint。Hisvoice——somethingdeep，easy，coolabouthim——seemedtosteadyLaramie。
　　"No，"repliedLaramie。
　　"Doesanybodyknow？"wentonDuane。
　　"Wal，Ireckonthere’snotonehonestnativewhoKNOWS。"
　　"Butyouhaveyoursuspicions？"
　　"Wehave。"
　　"Givemeyourideaaboutthiscrowdthathangsroundthesaloons——theregulars。"
　　"Jestabadlot，"repliedLaramie，withthequickassuranceofknowledge。"Mostofthemhavebeenhereyears。Othershavedriftedin。Someofthemwork，oddtimes。Theyrustleafewsteers，steal，rob，anythin’foralittlemoneytodrinkan’
　　gamble。Jestabadlot！"
　　"HaveyouanyideawhetherCheseldineandhisgangareassociatedwiththisganghere？"
　　"Lordknows。I’vealwayssuspectedthemthesamegang。NoneofuseverseenCheseldine——an’thet’sstrange，whenKnell，Poggin，PanhandleSmith，BlossomKane，andFletcher，theyallridehereoften。No，Poggindoesn’tcomeoften。Buttheothersdo。Forthetmatter，they’rearoundalloverwestofthePecos。"
　　"NowI’mpuzzledoverthis，"saidDuane。"Whydomen——apparentlyhonestmen——seemtobesoclose—mouthedhere？
　　Isthat。afact，oronlymyimpression？"
　　"It’sasurefact，"repliedLaramie，darkly。"Menhavelostcattlean’propertyinFairdale——lostthemhonestlyorotherwise，ashasn’tbeenproved。An’insomecaseswhentheytalked——hintedalittle——theywasfounddead。Apparentlyheldupanrobbed。Butdead。Deadmendon’ttalk！Thet’swhywe’reclosemouthed。"
　　Duanefeltadark，sombersternness。Rustlingcattlewasnotintolerable。WesternTexashadgoneonprospering，growinginspiteofthehordesofrustlersrangingitsvaststretches;butacold，secret，murderousholdonalittlestrugglingcommunitywassomethingtoostrange，tooterribleformentostandlong。
　　Therangerwasabouttospeakagainwhentheclatterofhoofsinterruptedhim。Horseshaltedoutinfront，andoneridergotdown。FloydLawsonentered。Hecalledfortobacco。
　　IfhisvisitsurprisedLaramiehedidnotshowanyevidence。
　　ButLawsonshowedrageashesawtheranger，andthenadarkglintflittedfromtheeyesthatshiftedfromDuanetoLaramieandbackagain。Duaneleanedeasilyagainstthecounter。
　　"Say，thatwasabadbreakofyours，"Lawsonsaid。"Ifyoucomefoolingroundtheranchagainthere’llbehell。"
　　ItseemedstrangethatamanwhohadlivedwestofthePecosfortenyearscouldnotseeinDuanesomethingwhichforbadethatkindoftalk。ItcertainlywasnotnerveLawsonshowed;
　　menofcouragewereseldomintolerant。Withthematchlessnervethatcharacterizedthegreatgunmenofthedaytherewasacool，unobtrusivemanner，aspeechbrief，almostgentle，certainlycourteous。Lawsonwasahot—headedLouisianianofFrenchextraction;aman，evidently，whohadneverbeencrossedinanything，andwhowasstrong，brutal，passionate，whichqualitiesinthefaceofasituationlikethismadehimsimplyafool。
　　"I’msayingagain，youusedyourrangerbluffjusttogetnearRayLongstreth，"Lawsonsneered。"Mindyou，ifyoucomeupthereagainthere’llbehell。"
　　"You’reright。Butnotthekindyouthink，"Duaneretorted，hisvoicesharpandcold。
　　"RayLongstrethwouldn’tstooptoknowadirtyblood—trackerlikeyou，"saidLawson，hotly。HedidnotseemtohaveadeliberateintentiontorouseDuane;themanwassimplyrancorous，jealous。"I’llcallyouright。Youcheapbluffer！
　　Youfour—flush！Youdamnedinterfering，conceitedranger！"
　　"Lawson，I’llnottakeoffense，becauseyouseemtobechampioningyourbeautifulcousin，"repliedDuane，inslowspeech。"Butletmereturnyourcompliment。You’reafineSoutherner！Why，you’reonlyacheapfour—flush——damned，bull—headedRUSTLER！"
　　Duanehissedthelastword。ThenforhimtherewasthetruthinLawson’sworkingpassion—blackenedface。
　　Lawsonjerked，moved，meanttodraw。Buthowslow！Duanelungedforward。Hislongarmsweptup。AndLawsonstaggeredbackward，knockingtableandchairs，tofallhard，inahalf—sittingpostureagainstthewall。