"Don’tdraw！"warnedDuane。
　　"Lawson，gitawayfromyourgun！"yelledLaramie。
　　ButLawsonwascrazedwithfury。Hetuggedathiship，hisfacecordedwithpurplewelts，malignant，murderous。Duanekickedthegunoutofhishand。Lawsongotup，raging，andrushedout。
　　Laramieliftedhisshakinghands。
　　"What’dyouwinghimfor？"hewailed。"Hewasdrawin’onyou。
　　Kickin’menlikehimwon’tdoouthere。"
　　"Thatbull—headedfoolwillroarandbutthimselfwithallhisgangrightintoourhands。He’sjustthemanI’veneededtomeet。Besides，shootinghimwouldhavebeenmurder。"
　　"Murder！"exclaimedLaramie。
　　"Yes，forme，"repliedDuane。
　　"Thatmaybetrue——whoeveryouare——butifLawson’sthemanyouthinkheishe’llbeginthetsecretundergroundbizness。Why，Lawsonwon’tsleepofnightsnow。Hean’Longstrethhavealwaysbeenafterme。"
　　"Laramie，whatareyoureyesfor？"demandedDuane。"Watchout。
　　Andnowhere。SeeyourfriendMorton。Tellhimthisgamegrowshot。Togetheryouapproachfourorfivemenyouknowwellandcanabsolutelytrust。Imayneedyourhelp。"
　　ThenDuanewentfromplacetoplace，cornertocorner，bartobar，watching，listening，recording。Theexcitementhadprecededhim，andspeculationwasrife。Hethoughtbesttokeepoutofit。AfterdarkhestoleuptoLongstreth’sranch。Theeveningwaswarm;thedoorswereopen;andinthetwilighttheonlylampsthathadbeenlitwereinLongstreth’sbigsitting—
　　room，atthefarendofthehouse。WhenabuckboarddroveupandLongstrethandLawsonalighted，Duanewaswellhiddeninthebushes，sowellscreenedthathecouldgetbutafleetingglimpseofLongstrethashewentin。ForallDuanecouldsee，heappearedtobeacalmandquietman，intensebeneaththesurface，withanairofdignityunderinsult。Duane’schancetoobserveLawsonwaslost。Theywentintothehousewithoutspeakingandclosedthedoor。
　　Attheotherendoftheporch，closeunderawindow，wasanoffsetbetweenstepandwall，andthereintheshadowDuanehid。SoDuanewaitedthereinthedarknesswithpatiencebornofmanyhoursofhiding。
　　Presentlyalampwaslit;andDuaneheardtheswishofskirts。
　　"Something’shappenedsurely，Ruth，"heheardMissLongstrethsay，anxiously。"Papajustmetmeinthehallanddidn’tspeak。
　　Heseemedpale，worried。"
　　"CousinFloydlookedlikeathunder—cloud，"saidRuth。"Foroncehedidn’ttrytokissme。Something’shappened。Well，Ray，thishadbeenabadday。"
　　"Oh，dear！Ruth，whatcanwedo？Thesearewildmen。Floydmakeslifemiserableforme。Andheteasesyouunmer——"
　　"Idon’tcallitteasing。Floydwantstospoon，"declaredRuth，emphatically。"He’drunafteranywoman。"
　　"Afinecomplimenttome，CousinRuth，"laughedRay。
　　"Idon’tcare，"repliedRuth，stubbornly。"it’sso。He’smushy。
　　Andwhenhe’sbeendrinkingandtriestokissme——Ihatehim！"
　　Therewerestepsonthehallfloor。
　　"Hello，girls！"soundedoutLawson’svoice，minusitsusualgaiety。
　　"Floyd，what’sthematter？"askedRay，presently。"Ineversawpapaasheisto—night，noryouso——soworried。Tellme，whathashappened？"
　　"Well，Ray，wehadajarto—day，"repliedLawson，withablunt，expressivelaugh。
　　"Jar？"echoedboththegirls，curiously。
　　"Wehadtosubmittoadamnableoutrage，"addedLawson，passionately，asifthesoundofhisvoiceaugmentedhisfeeling。"Listen，girls;I’lltellyou—allaboutit。"Hecoughed，clearedhisthroatinawaythatbetrayedhehadbeendrinking。
　　Duanesunkdeeperintotheshadowofhiscovert，and，stiffeninghismusclesforaprotectedspellofrigidity，preparedtolistenwithallacutenessandintensity。JustonewordfromthisLawson，inadvertentlyutteredinamomentofpassion，mightbethewordDuaneneededforhisclue。
　　"Ithappenedatthetownhall，"beganLawson，rapidly。"YourfatherandJudgeOwensandIwerethereinconsultationwiththreeranchersfromoutoftown。ThenthatdamnedrangerstalkedindraggingSnecker，thefellowwhohidhereinthehouse。HehadarrestedSneckerforallegedassaultonarestaurant—keepernamedLaramie。Sneckerbeingobviouslyinnocent，hewasdischarged。Thenthisrangerbeganshoutinghisinsults。LawwasafarceinFairdale。Thecourtwasafarce。Therewasnolaw。Yourfather’sofficeasmayorshouldbeimpeached。Hemadearrestsonlyforpettyoffenses。Hewasafraidoftherustlers，highwaymen，murderers。Hewasafraidor——hejustletthemalone。Heusedhisofficetocheatranchersandcattlemeninlawsuits。Allthistherangeryelledforeveryonetohear。Adamnableoutrage。Yourfather，Ray，insultedinhisowncourtbyarowdyranger！"
　　"Oh！"criedRayLongstreth，inmingleddistressandanger。
　　"TherangerservicewantstorulewesternTexas，"wentonLawson。"Theserangersareallalowset，manyofthemworsethantheoutlawstheyhunt。Someofthemwereoutlawsandgun—fightersbeforetheybecamerangers。Thisisoneoftheworstofthelot。He’skeen，intelligent，smooth，andthatmakeshimmoretobefeared。Forheistobefeared。Hewantedtokill。Hewouldkill。Ifyourfatherhadmadetheleastmovehewouldhaveshothim。He’sacold—nerveddevil——theborngunman。MyGod，anyinstantIexpectedtoseeyourfatherfalldeadatmyfeet！"
　　"Oh，Floyd！Theunspeakableruffian！"criedRayLongstreth，passionately。
　　"Yousee，Ray，thisfellow，likeallrangers，seeksnotoriety。
　　HemadethatplaywithSneckerjustforachancetorantagainstyourfather。HetriedtoinflameallFairdaleagainsthim。Thataboutthelawsuitswastheworst！Damnhim！He’llmakeusenemies。"
　　"Whatdoyoucarefortheinsinuationsofsuchaman？"saidRayLongstreth，hervoicenowdeepandrichwithfeeling。"Afteramoment’sthoughtnoonewillbeinfluencedbythem。Donotworry，Floyd。Tellpapanottoworry。Surelyafteralltheseyearshecan’tbeinjuredinreputationby——byanadventurer。"
　　"Yes，hecanbeinjured，"repliedFloyd，quickly。"Thefrontierisaqueerplace。Therearemanybittermenhere——menwhohavefailedatranching。Andyourfatherhasbeenwonderfullysuccessful。Therangerhasdroppedpoison，andit’llspread。"
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　StrangersrodeintoFairdale;andotherhard—lookingcustomers，newtoDuaneifnottoFairdale，helpedtocreateachargedandwaitingatmosphere。Thesaloonsdidunusualbusinessandwereneverclosed。Respectablecitizensofthetownwereawakenedintheearlydawnbyrowdiescarousinginthestreets。
　　Duanekeptprettycloseundercoverduringtheday。Hedidnotentertaintheopinionthatthefirsttimehewalkeddown—streethewouldbeatargetforguns。Thingsseldomhappenedthatway;
　　andwhentheydidhappenso，itwasmoreaccidentthandesign。
　　Butatnighthewasnotidle。HemetLaramie，Morton，Zimmer，andothersoflikecharacter;asecretclubhadbeenformed;
　　andallthememberswerereadyforaction。DuanespenthoursatnightwatchingthehousewhereFloydLawsonstayedwhenhewasnotupatLongstreth’s。Atnighthewasvisited，oratleastthehousewas，bystrangemenwhowereswift，stealthy，mysterious——allthatkindlydisposedfriendsorneighborswouldnothavebeen。Duanehadnotbeenabletorecognizeanyofthesenightvisitors;andhedidnotthinkthetimewasripeforaboldholding—upofoneofthem。Nevertheless，hewassuresuchaneventwoulddiscoverLawson，orsomeoneinthathouse，tobeintouchwithcrookedmen。
　　Laramiewasright。Nottwenty—fourhoursafterhislasttalkwithDuane，inwhichheadvisedquickaction，hewasfoundbehindthelittlebarofhisrestaurantwithabullet—holeinhisbreast，dead。Noonecouldbefoundwhohadheardashot。
　　Ithadbeendeliberatemurder，foruponthebarhadbeenleftapieceofpaperrudelyscrawledwithapencil:"Allfriendsofrangerslookforthesame。"
　　ThisrousedDuane。Hisfirstmove，however，wastoburyLaramie。NoneofLaramie’sneighborsevincedanyinterestinthedeadmanortheunfortunatefamilyhehadleft。Duanesawthattheseneighborswereheldincheckbyfear。Mrs。Laramiewasill;theshockofherhusband’sdeathwashardonher;andshehadbeenleftalmostdestitutewithfivechildren。Duanerentedasmalladobehouseontheoutskirtsoftownandmovedthefamilyintoit。Thenheplayedthepartofproviderandnurseandfriend。
　　AfterseveraldaysDuanewentboldlyintotownandshowedthathemeantbusiness。ItwashisopinionthatthereweremeninFairdalesecretlygladofaranger’spresence。Whatheintendedtodowasfoodforgreatspeculation。AcompanyofmilitiacouldnothavehadtheeffectuponthewildelementofFairdalethatDuane’spresencehad。Itgotoutthathewasagunmanlightningswiftonthedraw。Itwasdeathtofacehim。Hehadkilledthirtymen——wildestrumorofall。ltwasactuallysaidofhimhehadthegun—skillofBuckDuaneorofPoggin。
　　Atfirsttherehadnotonlybeengreatconjectureamongtheviciouselement，butalsoaverydecidedcheckingofallkindsofactioncalculatedtobeconspicuoustoakeen—eyedranger。
　　Atthetables，atthebarsandlounging—placesDuaneheardtheremarks:"Who’sthetrangerafter？What’llhedofustoff？Ishewaitin’fersomebody？Who’sgoin’todrawonhimfust——an’
　　gotohell？Jestabouthowsoonwillhebefoundsomewheresfulloflead？"
　　WhenitcameoutsomewherethatDuanewasopenlycultivatingthehoneststay—at—homecitizenstoarraythemintimeagainsttheotherelement，thenFairdaleshoweditswolf—teeth。SeveraltimesDuanewasshotatinthedarkandonceslightlyinjured。
　　RumorhaditthatPoggin，thegunman，wascomingtomeethim。
　　ButthelawlesselementdidnotriseupinamasstoslayDuaneonsight。Itwasnotsomuchthattheenemiesofthelawawaitedhisnextmove，butjustaslownesspeculiartothefrontier。Therangerwasintheirmidst。Hewasinteresting，ifformidable。Hewouldhavebeenwelcomedatcard—tables，atthebars，toplayanddrinkwiththemenwhoknewtheywereundersuspicion。Therewasarudekindofgoodhumorevenintheiropenhostility。
　　Besides，onerangeroracompanyofrangerscouldnothaveheldtheundividedattentionofthesemenfromtheirgamesanddrinksandquarrelsexceptbysomedecidedmove。Excitement，greed，appetitewererifeinthem。Duanemarked，however，astrikingexceptiontotheusualrunofstrangershehadbeeninthehabitofseeing。Sneckerhadgoneorwasundercover。AgainDuanecaughtavaguerumorofthecomingofPoggin，yetheneverseemedtoarrive。Moreover，thegoings—onamongthehabituesoftheresortsandthecowboyswhocameintodrinkandgamblewereunusuallymildincomparisonwithformerconduct。Thislull，however，didnotdeceiveDuane。Itcouldnotlast。Thewonderwasthatithadlastedsolong。
　　DuanewentoftentoseeMrs。Laramieandherchildren。OneafternoonwhilehewastherehesawMissLongstrethandRuthrideuptothedoor。Theycarriedabasket。EvidentlytheyhadheardofMrs。Laramie’strouble。Duanefeltstrangelyglad，buthewentintoanadjoiningroomratherthanmeetthem。
　　"Mrs。Laramie，I’vecometoseeyou，"saidMissLongstreth，cheerfully。
　　Thelittleroomwasnotverylight，therebeingonlyonewindowandthedoors，butDuanecouldseeplainlyenough。Mrs。Laramielay，hollow—checkedandhaggard，onabed。Onceshehadevidentlybeenawomanofsomecomeliness。Theravagesoftroubleandgriefweretheretoreadinherwornface;ithadnot，however，anyofthehardandbitterlinesthathadcharacterizedherhusband’s。
　　Duanewondered，consideringthatLongstrethhadruinedLaramie，howMrs。Laramiewasgoingtoregardthedaughterofanenemy。
　　"Soyou’reGrangerLongstreth’sgirl？"queriedthewoman，withherbright，blackeyesfixedonhervisitor。
　　"Yes，"repliedMissLongstreth，simply。"Thisismycousin，RuthHerbert。We’vecometonurseyou，takecareofthechildren，helpyouinanywayyou’llletus。"
　　Therewasalongsilence。
　　"Well，youlookalittlelikeLongstreth，"finallysaidMrs。
　　Laramie，"butyou’renotatALLlikehim。Youmusttakeafteryourmother。MissLongstreth，Idon’tknowifIcan——ifIoughtacceptanythingfromyou。Yourfatherruinedmyhusband。"
　　"Yes，Iknow，"repliedthegirl，sadly。"That’sallthemorereasonyoushouldletmehelpyou。Praydon’trefuse。Itwill——
　　meansomuchtome。"
　　Ifthispoor，strickenwomanhadanyresentmentitspeedilymeltedinthewarmthandsweetnessofMissLongstreth’smanner。
　　Duane’sideawasthattheimpressionofRayLongstreth’sbeautywasalwaysswiftlysucceededbythatofhergenerosityandnobility。Atanyrate，shehadstartedwellwithMrs。Laramie，andnosoonerhadshebeguntotalktothechildrenthanboththeyandthemotherwerewon。Theopeningofthatbigbasketwasanevent。Poor，starvedlittlebeggars！Duane’sfeelingsseemedtooeasilyroused。HardindeedwouldithavegonewithJimLaramie’sslayerifhecouldhavelaideyesonhimthen。
　　However，MissLongstrethandRuth，afterthenatureoftenderandpracticalgirls，didnotappeartotakethesadsituationtoheart。Thehavocwaswroughtinthathousehold。
　　Theneedsnowwerecheerfulness，kindness，help，action——andthesethegirlsfurnishedwithaspiritthatdidDuanegood。
　　"Mrs。Laramie，whodressedthisbaby？"presentlyaskedMissLongstreth。Duanepeepedintoseeadilapidatedyoungsteronherknee。Thatsight，ifanyotherwasneeded，completedhisfullandsplendidestimateofRayLongstrethandwroughtstrangelyuponhisheart。
　　"Theranger，"repliedMrs。Laramie。
　　"Theranger！"exclaimedMissLongstreth。
　　"Yes，he’stakencareofusallsince——since——"Mrs。Laramiechoked。
　　"Oh！Soyou’vehadnohelpbuthis，"repliedMissLongstreth，hastily。"Nowomen。Toobad！I’llsendsomeone，Mrs。Laramie，andI’llcomemyself。"
　　"It’llbegoodofyou，"wentontheolderwoman。"Yousee，Jimhadfewfriends——thatis，rightintown。Andthey’vebeenafraidtohelpus——afraidthey’dgetwhatpoorJim——"
　　"That’sawful！"burstoutMissLongstreth，passionately。"A
　　bravelotoffriends！Mrs。Laramie，don’tyouworryanymore。
　　We’lltakecareofyou。Here，Ruth，helpme。Whateveristhematterwithbaby’sdress？"
　　ManifestlyMissLongstrethhadsomedifficultyinsubduingheremotion。
　　"Why，it’sonhindsidebefore，"declaredRuth。"IguessMr。
　　Rangerhasn’tdressedmanybabies。"
　　"Hedidthebesthecould，"saidMrs。Laramie。"Lordonlyknowswhatwouldhavebecomeofus！"
　　"Thenheis——issomethingmorethanaranger？"queriedMissLongstreth，withalittlebreakinhervoice。
　　"He’smorethanIcantell，"repliedMrs。Laramie。"HeburiedJim。Hepaidourdebts。Hefetchedushere。Heboughtfoodforus。Hecookedforusandfedus。Hewashedanddressedthebaby。HesatwithmethefirsttwonightsafterJim’sdeath，whenIthoughtI’ddiemyself。He’ssokind，sogentle，sopatient。Hehaskeptmeupjustbybeingnear。SometimesI’dwakefromadoze，an’，seeinghimthere，I’dknowhowfalsewereallthesetalesJimheardabouthimandbelievedatfirst。
　　Why，heplayswiththechildrenjust——justlikeanygoodmanmight。WhenhehasthebabyupIjustcan’tbelievehe’sabloodygunman，astheysay。He’sgood，butheisn’thappy。Hehassuchsadeyes。Helooksfaroffsometimeswhenthechildrenclimbroundhim。Theylovehim。Hislifeissad。Nobodyneedtellme——heseesthegoodinthings。Oncehesaidsomebodyhadtobearanger。Well，Isay，’ThankGodforarangerlikehim！’
　　"
　　Duanedidnotwanttohearmore，sohewalkedintotheroom。
　　"Itwasthoughtfulofyou，"Duanesaid。"Womankindareneededhere。Icoulddosolittle。Mrs。Laramie，youlookbetteralready。I’mglad。Andhere’sbaby，allcleanandwhite。Baby，whatatimeIhadtryingtopuzzleoutthewayyourclotheswenton！Well，Mrs。Laramie，didn’tItellyou——friendswouldcome？Sowillthebrighterside。"
　　"Yes，I’vemorefaiththanIhad，"repliedMrs。Laramie。
　　"GrangerLongstreth’sdaughterhascometome。ThereforawhileafterJim’sdeathIthoughtI’dsink。Wehavenothing。
　　HowcouldIevertakecareofmylittleones？ButI’mgainingcourageto——"
　　"Mrs。Laramie，donotdistressyourselfanymore，"saidMissLongstreth。"Ishallseeyouarewellcaredfor。Ipromiseyou。"
　　"MissLongstreth，that’sfine！"exclaimedDuane。"It’swhatI’dhave——expectedofyou。"
　　Itmusthavebeensweetpraisetoher，forthewhitenessofherfaceburnedoutinabeautifulblush。
　　"Andit’sgoodofyou，too，MissHerbert，tocome，"addedDuane。"Letmethankyouboth。I’mgladIhaveyougirlsasalliesinpartofmylonelytaskhere。Morethangladforthesakeofthisgoodwomanandthelittleones。Butbothofyoubecarefulaboutcomingherealone。There’srisk。AndnowI’llbegoing。Good—by，Mrs。Laramie。I’lldropinagainto—night。
　　Good—by。"
　　"Mr。Ranger，wait！"calledMissLongstreth，ashewentout。Shewaswhiteandwonderful。Shesteppedoutofthedoorclosetohim。
　　"Ihavewrongedyour"shesaid，impulsively。
　　"MissLongstreth！Howcanyousaythat？"hereturned。
　　"IbelievedwhatmyfatherandFloydLawsonsaidaboutyou。NowIsee——Iwrongedyou。"
　　"Youmakemeveryglad。But，MissLongstreth，pleasedon’tspeakofwrongingme。Ihavebeena——agunman，Iamaranger——
　　andmuchsaidofmeistrue。Mydutyishardonothers——sometimesonthosewhoareinnocent，alas！ButGodknowsthatdutyishard，too，onme。"
　　"Ididwrongyou。IfyouenteredmyhomeagainIwouldthinkitanhonor。I——"
　　"Please——pleasedon’t，MissLongstreth，"interruptedDuane。
　　"But，sir，myconscienceflaysme，"shewenton。Therewasnoothersoundlikehervoice。"Willyoutakemyhand？Willyouforgiveme？"
　　Shegaveitroyally，whiletheotherwastherepressingatherbreast。Duanetooktheprofferedhand。Hedidnotknowwhatelsetodo。
　　Thenitseemedtodawnuponhimthattherewasmorebehindthiswhite，sweet，nobleintensityofherthanjustthemakingamendsforafanciedorrealwrong。Duanethoughtthemandidnotliveonearthwhocouldhaveresistedherthen。
　　"Ihonoryouforyourgoodnesstothisunfortunatewoman，"shesaid，andnowherspeechcameswiftly。"Whenshewasallaloneandhelplessyouwereherfriend。Itwasthedeedofaman。ButMrs。Laramieisn’ttheonlyunfortunatewomanintheworld。I，too，amunfortunate。Ah，howImaysoonneedafriend！Willyoubemyfriend？I’msoalone。I’mterriblyworried。Ifear——I
　　fear——Oh，surelyI’llneedafriendsoon——soon。Oh，I’mafraidofwhatyou’llfindoutsoonerorlater。Iwanttohelpyou。
　　Letussavelifeifnothonor。MustIstandalone——allalone？
　　Willyou——willyoube——"Hervoicefailed。
　　ItseemedtoDuanethatshemusthavediscoveredwhathehadbeguntosuspect——thatherfatherandLawsonwerenotthehonestrancherstheypretendedtobe。Perhapssheknewmore！
　　HerappealtoDuaneshookhimdeeply。Hewantedtohelphermorethanhehadeverwantedanything。Andwiththemeaningofthetumultuoussweetnessshestirredinhimtherecamerealizationofadangeroussituation。
　　"Imustbetruetomyduty，"hesaid，hoarsely。
　　"Ifyouknewmeyou’dknowIcouldneveraskyoutobefalsetoit。"
　　"Well，then——I’lldoanythingforyou。"
　　"Oh，thankyou！I’mashamedthatIbelievedmycousinFloyd！Helied——helied。I’mallinthedark，strangelydistressed。Myfatherwantsmetogobackhome。Floydistryingtokeepmehere。They’vequarreled。Oh，Iknowsomethingdreadfulwillhappen。IknowI’llneedyouif——if——Willyouhelpme？"
　　"Yes，"repliedDuane，andhislookbroughtthebloodtoherface。
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　AftersupperDuanestoleoutforhisusualevening’sspying。
　　Thenightwasdark，withoutstarlight，andastiffwindrustledtheleaves。DuanebenthisstepstowardtheLongstreth’sranchhouse。Hehadsomuchtothinkaboutthatheneverknewwherethetimewent。ThisnightwhenhereachedtheedgeoftheshrubberyheheardLawson’swell—knownfootstepsandsawLongstreth’sdooropen，flashingabroadbaroflightinthedarkness。Lawsoncrossedthethreshold，thedoorclosed，andallwasdarkagainoutside。Notarayoflightescapedfromthewindow。
　　LittledoubttherewasthathistalkwithLongstrethwouldbeinterestingtoDuane。Hetiptoedtothedoorandlistened，butcouldhearonlyamurmurofvoices。Besides，thatpositionwastoorisky。Hewentroundthecornerofthehouse。
　　Thissideofthebigadobehousewasofmucholderconstructionthanthebackandlargerpart。Therewasanarrowpassagebetweenthehouses，leadingfromtheoutsidethroughtothepatio。
　　ThispassagenowaffordedDuaneanopportunity，andhedecidedtoavailhimselfofitinspiteoftheverygreatdanger。
　　Crawlingonverystealthily，hegotundertheshrubberytotheentranceofthepassage。Intheblacknessafaintstreakoflightshowedthelocationofacrackinthewall。Hehadtoslipinsidewise。Itwasatightsqueeze，butheenteredwithouttheslightestnoise。Asheprogressedthepassagegrewaverylittlewiderinthatdirection，andthatfactgaverisetothethoughtthatincaseofanecessaryandhurriedexithewoulddobestbyworkingtowardthepatio。Itseemedagooddealoftimewasconsumedinreachingavantage—point。Whenhedidgettherethecrackhehadmarkedwasafootoverhishead。
　　Therewasnothingtodobutfindtoe—holesinthecrumblingwalls，andbybracingkneesononeside，backagainsttheother，holdhimselfupOncewithhiseyetherehedidnotcarewhatriskheran。Longstrethappeareddisturbed;hesatstrokinghismustache;hisbrowwasclouded。Lawson’sfaceseemeddarker，moresullen，yetlightedbysomeindomitableresolve。
　　"We’llsettlebothdealsto—night，"Lawsonwassaying。"That’swhatIcamefor。"
　　"ButsupposeIdon’tchoosetotalkhere？"protestedLongstreth，impatiently。"Ineverbeforemademyhouseaplaceto——"
　　"We’vewaitedlongenough。Thisplace’sasgoodasany。You’velostyournervesincethatrangerhitthetown。Firstnow，willyougiveRaytome？"
　　"Floyd;youtalklikeaspoiledboy。GiveRaytoyou！Why，she’sawoman，andI’mfindingoutthatshe’sgotamindofherown。ItoldyouIwaswillingforhertomarryyou。Itriedtopersuadeher。ButRayhasn’tanyuseforyounow。Shelikedyouatfirst。Butnowshedoesn’t。SowhatcanIdo？"
　　"Youcanmakehermarryme，"repliedLawson。
　　"Makethatgirldowhatshedoesn’twantto？Itcouldn’tbedoneevenifItried。AndIdon’tbelieveI’lltry。Ihaven’tthehighestopinionofyouasaprospectiveson—in—law，Floyd。
　　ButifRaylovedyouIwouldconsent。We’dallgoawaytogetherbeforethisdamnedmiserablebusinessisout。Thenshe’dneverknow。AndmaybeyoumightbemorelikeyouusedtobebeforetheWestruinedyou。Butasmattersstand，youfightyourowngamewithher。AndI’lltellyounowyou’lllose。"
　　"What’dyouwanttolethercomeoutherefor？"demandedLawson，hotly。"Itwasadeadmistake。I’velostmyheadoverher。I’llhaveherordie。Don’tyouthinkifshewasmywifeI’dsoonpullmyselftogether？Sinceshecamewe’venoneofusbeenright。Andtheganghasputupaholler。No，Longstreth，we’vegottosettlethingsto—night。"
　　"Well，wecansettlewhatRay’sconcernedin，rightnow，"
　　repliedLongstreth，rising。"Comeon;we’llaskher。Seewhereyoustand。"
　　Theywentout，leavingthedooropen。Duanedroppeddowntoresthimselfandtowait。HewouldhavelikedtohearMissLongstreth’sanswer。Buthecouldguesswhatitwouldbe。
　　LawsonappearedtobeallDuanehadthoughthim，andhebelievedhewasgoingtofindoutpresentlythathewasworse。
　　Themenseemedtobeabsentagoodwhile，thoughthatfeelingmighthavebeenoccasionedbyDuane’sthrillinginterestandanxiety。Finallyheheardheavysteps。Lawsoncameinalone。Hewasleaden—faced，humiliated。Thensomethingabjectinhimgaveplacetorage。Hestrodetheroom;hecursed。ThenLongstrethreturned，nowappreciablycalmer。DuanecouldnotbutdecidethathefeltreliefattheevidentrejectionofLawson’sproposal。
　　"Don’tfussaboutit，Floyd，"hesaid。"YouseeIcan’thelpit。We’reprettywildouthere，butIcan’tropemydaughterandgivehertoyouasIwouldanunrulysteer。"
　　"Longstreth，IcanMAKEhermarryme，"declaredLawson，thickly。
　　"How？"
　　"YouknowtheholdIgotonyou——thedealthatmadeyoubossofthisrustlergang？"
　　"Itisn’tlikelyI’dforget，"repliedLongstreth，grimly。
　　"IcangotoRay，tellherthat，makeherbelieveI’dtellitbroadcast——tellthisranger——unlessshe’dmarryme。"
　　Lawsonspokebreathlessly，withhaggardfaceandshadowedeyes。
　　Hehadnoshame。Hewassimplyinthegripofpassion。
　　Longstrethgazedwithdark，controlledfuryatthisrelative。
　　InthatlookDuanesawastrong，unscrupulousmanfallenintoevilways，butstillaman。ItbetrayedLawsontobethewildandpassionateweakling。Duaneseemedtoseealsohowduringalltheyearsofassociationthisstrongmanhadupheldtheweakone。Butthattimehadgoneforever，bothinintentonLongstreth’spartandinpossibility。Lawson，likethegreatmajorityofevilandunrestrainedmenontheborder，hadreachedapointwhereinfluencewasfutile。Reasonhaddegenerated。Hesawonlyhimself。
　　"But，Floyd，Ray’stheonepersononearthwhomustneverknowI’marustler，athief，ared—handedruleroftheworstgangontheborder，"repliedLongstreth，impressively。
　　Floydbowedhisheadatthat，asifthesignificancehadjustoccurredtohim。Buthewasnotlongataloss。
　　"She’sgoingtofinditoutsoonerorlater。Itellyousheknowsnowthere’ssomethingwrongouthere。She’sgoteyes。
　　MarkwhatIsay。"
　　"Rayhaschanged，Iknow。Butshehasn’tanyideayetthatherdaddy’sabossrustler。Ray’sconcernedaboutwhatshecallsmydutyasmayor。AlsoIthinkshe’snotsatisfiedwithmyexplanationsinregardtocertainproperty。"
　　Lawsonhaltedinhisrestlesswalkandleanedagainstthestonemantelpiece。Hehadhishandsinhispockets。Hesquaredhimselfasifthiswashislaststand。Helookeddesperate，butonthemomentshowedanabsenceofhisusualnervousexcitement。
　　"Longstreth，thatmaywellbetrue，"hesaid。"Nodoubtallyousayistrue。Butitdoesn’thelpme。Iwantthegirl。IfI
　　don’tgether——Ireckonwe’llallgotohell！"
　　Hemighthavemeantanything，probablymeanttheworst。Hecertainlyhadsomethingmoreinmind。Longstrethgaveaslightstart，barelyperceptible，liketheswitchofanawakeningtiger。Hesatthere，headdown，strokinghismustache。AlmostDuanesawhisthought。Hehadlongexperienceinreadingmenunderstressofsuchemotion。Hehadnomeanstovindicatehisjudgment，buthisconvictionwasthatLongstrethrightthenandtheredecidedthatthethingtodowastokillLawson。ForDuane’sparthewonderedthatLongstrethhadnotcometosuchaconclusionbefore。NotimprobablytheadventofhisdaughterhadputLongstrethinconflictwithhimself。