Canyoublamemeforbeinggladtoseeayoungfellow——agentleman——liketheboysIusedtogowith？Itellyouitmakesmefeelfull——Iwanttocry。I’msickforsomebodytotalkto。
　　Ihavenochildren，thankGod！IfIhadI’dnotstayhere。I’msickofthishole。I’mlonely——"
　　Thereappearedtobenodoubtaboutthetruthofallthis。
　　Genuineemotionchecked，thenhaltedthehurriedspeech。Shebrokedownandcried。ItseemedstrangetoDuanethatanoutlaw’swife——andawomanwhofittedherconsortandthewildnatureoftheirsurroundings——shouldhaveweaknessenoughtoweep。Duanebelievedandpitiedher。
　　"I’msorryforyou，"hesaid。
　　"Don’tbeSORRYforme，"shesaid。"Thatonlymakesmeseethe——thedifferencebetweenyouandme。Anddon’tpayanyattentiontowhattheseoutlawssayaboutme。They’reignorant。
　　Theycouldn’tunderstandme。You’llhearthatBlandkilledmenwhoranafterme。Butthat’salie。Bland，likealltheotheroutlawsalongthisriver，isalwayslookingforsomebodytokill。HeSWEARSnot，butIdon’tbelievehim。Heexplainsthatgunplaygravitatestomenwhoaretherealthing——thatitisprovokedbythefour—flushes，thebadmen。Idon’tknow。AllI
　　knowisthatsomebodyisbeingkilledeveryotherday。HehatedSpencebeforeSpenceeversawme。"
　　"WouldBlandobjectifIcalledonyouoccasionally？"inquiredDuane。
　　"No，hewouldn’t。Helikesmetohavefriends。Askhimyourselfwhenhecomesback。Thetroublehasbeenthattwoorthreeofhismenfellinlovewithme，andwhenhalfdrunkgottofighting。You’renotgoingtodothat。"
　　"I’mnotgoingtogethalfdrunk，that’scertain，"repliedDuane。
　　Hewassurprisedtoseehereyesdilate，thenglowwithfire。
　　BeforeshecouldreplyEuchrereturnedtotheporch，andthatputanendtotheconversation。
　　Duanewascontenttoletthematterrestthere，andhadlittlemoretosay。EuchreandMrs。Blandtalkedandjoked，whileDuanelistened。Hetriedtoformsomeestimateofhercharacter。Manifestlyshehadsufferedawrong，ifnotworse，atBland’shands。Shewasbitter，morbid，overemotional。Ifshewasaliar，whichseemedlikelyenough，shewasafrankone，andbelievedherself。Shehadnocunning。ThethingwhichstruckDuanesoforciblywasthatshethirstedforrespect。Inthat，betterthaninherweaknessofvanity，hethoughthehaddiscoveredatraitthroughwhichhecouldmanageher。
　　Once，whilehewasrevolvingthesethoughts，hehappenedtoglanceintothehouse，anddeepintheshadowofacornerhecaughtapalegleamofJennie’sfacewithgreat，staringeyesonhim。Shehadbeenwatchinghim，listeningtowhathesaid。
　　Hesawfromherexpressionthatshehadrealizedwhathadbeensohardforhertobelieve。Watchinghischance，heflashedalookather;andthenitseemedtohimthechangeinherfacewaswonderful。
　　Later，afterhehadleftMrs。Blandwithameaning"Adios——manana，"andwaswalkingalongbesidetheoldoutlaw，hefoundhimselfthinkingofthegirlinsteadofthewoman，andofhowhehadseenherfaceblazewithhopeandgratitude。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　ThatnightDuanewasnottroubledbyghostshauntinghiswakingandsleepinghours。Heawokefeelingbrightandeager，andgratefultoEuchreforhavingputsomethingworthwhileintohismind。Duringbreakfast，however，hewasunusuallythoughtful，workingovertheideaofhowmuchorhowlittlehewouldconfideintheoutlaw。HewasawareofEuchre’sscrutiny。
　　"Wal，"begantheoldman，atlast，"how’dyoumakeoutwiththekid？"
　　"Kid？"inquiredDuane，tentatively。
　　"Jennie，Imean。What’dyouAn’shetalkabout？"
　　"Wehadalittlechat。Youknowyouwantedmetocheerherup。"
　　Euchresatwithcoffee—cuppoisedandnarroweyesstudyingDuane。
　　"Reckonyoucheeredher，allright。WhatI’mafearedofismebbeyoudonethejobtoowell。"
　　"Howso？"
　　"Wal，whenIwentintoJenlastnightIthoughtshewashalfcrazy。Shewasburstin’withexcitement，an’thelookinhereyeshurtme。Shewouldn’ttellmeadarnwordyousaid。Butshehungontomyhands，an’showedeverywaywithoutspeakin’
　　howshewantedtothankmeferbringin’youover。Buck，itwasplaintomethetyou’deithergonethelimitorelseyou’dbeenkinderprodigalofcheeran’hope。I’dhatetothinkyou’dledJennietohopemore’neverwouldcometrue。"
　　Euchrepaused，and，asthereseemednoreplyforthcoming，hewenton:
　　"Buck，I’veseensomeoutlawswhosewordwasgood。Mineis。Youcantrustme。Itrustedyou，didn’tI，takin’youovertherean’puttin’youwisetomytryin’tohelpthetpoorkid？"
　　ThusenjoinedbyEuchre，DuanebegantotelltheconversationswithJennieandMrs。Blandwordforword。LongbeforehehadreachedanendEuchresetdownthecoffee—cupandbegantostare，andattheconclusionofthestoryhisfacelostsomeofitsredcolorandbeadsofsweatstoodoutthicklyonhisbrow。
　　"Wal，ifthetdoesn’tfloorme！"heejaculated，blinkingatDuane。"Youngman，Ifiggeredyouwassomeswift，an’suretomakeyourmarkonthisriver;butIreckonImissedyourrealcaliber。Sothet’swhatitmeanstobeaman！IguessI’dforgot。Wal，I’mold，an’evenifmyheartwasintherightplaceIneverwasbuiltferbigstunts。Doyouknowwhatit’lltaketodoallyoupromisedJen？"
　　"Ihaven’tanyidea，"repliedDuane，gravely。
　　"You’llhavetopullthewooloverKateBland’seyes，antevenifshefallsinlovewithyou，which’sshorelikely，thetwon’tbeeasy。An’she’dkillyouinaminnit，Buck，ifsheevergotwise。Youain’tmistakenhernone，areyou？"
　　"Notme，Euchre。She’sawoman。I’dfearhermorethananyman。"
　　"Wal，you’llhavetokillBlandan’ChessAllowayan’Rugg，an’
　　mebbesomeothers，beforeyoucanrideoffintothehillswiththetgirl。"
　　"Why？Can’tweplantobenicetoMrs。Blandandthenatanopportunetimesneakoffwithoutanygun—play？"
　　"Don’tseehowonearth，"returnedEuchre，earnestly。"WhenBland’sawayheleavesallkindsofspiesan’scoutswatchin’
　　thevalleytrails。They’veallgotrifles。Youcouldn’tgitbythem。
　　Butwhenthebossishomethere’sadifference。Only，ofcourse，himan’Chesskeeptheireyespeeled。Theybothstaytohomeprettymuch，exceptwhenthey’replayin’monteorpokeroveratBenson’s。SoIsaythebestbetistopickoutagoodtimeintheafternoon，driftovercareless—likewithacoupleofhosses，chokeMrs。Blandorknockheronthehead，takeJenniewithyou，an’makearushtogitoutofthevalley。Ifyouhadluckyoumightpullthetstuntwithoutthrowin’agun。
　　ButIreckonthebestfiggerin’wouldincludedodgin’someleadan’leavin’atleastBlandorAllowaydeadbehindyou。I’mfiggerin’，ofcourse，thetwhentheycomehomean’findoutyou’revisitin’Katefrequentthey’lljestnaturallylookferresults。Chessdon’tlikeyou，fernoreasonexceptyou’reswiftonthedraw——mebbeswifter’nhim。Thet’sthehellofthisgun—playbusiness。Noonecanevertellwho’stheswifteroftwogunmentilltheymeet。Thetfactholdsafascinationmebbeyou’lllearnsomeday。Blandwouldtreatyoucivilonlesstherewasreasonnotto，an’thenIdon’tbelievehe’dinvitehimselftoameetin’withyou。He’dsetChessorRuggtoputyououtoftheway。StillBland’snocoward，an’ifyoucameacrosshimatabadmomentyou’dhavetobequicker’nyouwaswithBosomer。"
　　"Allright。I’llmeetwhatcomes，"saidDuane，quickly。"Thegreatpointistohavehorsesreadyandpicktherightmoment，thenrushthetrickthrough。"
　　"Thet’stheONLYchancefersuccess。An’youcan’tdoitalone。"
　　"I’llhaveto。Iwouldn’taskyoutohelpme。Leaveyoubehind！"
　　"Wal，I’lltakemychances，"repliedEuchre，gruffly。"I’mgoin’tohelpJennie，youcangambleyourlastpesoonthet。
　　There’sonlyfourmeninthiscampwhowouldshootme——Bland，an’hisright—handpards，an’thetrabbit—facedBenson。IfyouhappenedtoputoutBlandandChess，I’dstandagoodshowwiththeothertwo。Anyway，I’moldan’tired——what’sthedifferenceifIdogitplugged？Icanriskasmuchasyou，Buck，evenifI
　　amafraidofgun—play。Yousaidcorrect，’Hossesready，therightminnit，thenrushthetrick。’Thetmuch’ssettled。Nowlet’sfiggerallthelittledetails。"
　　Theytalkedandplanned，thoughintruthitwasEuchrewhoplanned，Duanewholistenedandagreed。WhileawaitingthereturnofBlandandhislieutenantsitwouldbewellforDuanetogrowfriendlywiththeotheroutlaws，tositinafewgamesofmonte，orshowawillingnesstospendalittlemoney。ThetwoschemersweretocalluponMrs。Blandeveryday——EuchretocarrymessagesofcheerandwarningtoJennie，Duanetoblindtheelderwomanatanycost。Thesepreliminariesdecidedupon，theyproceededtoputthemintoaction。
　　Nohardtaskwasittowinthefriendshipofthemostofthosegood—naturedoutlaws。Theywereusedtomenofabetterorderthantheirscomingtothehiddencampsandsoonerorlatersinkingtotheirlowerlevel。Besides，withthemeverythingwaseasycome，easygo。Thatwaswhylifeitselfwentonsocarelesslyandusuallyendedsocheaply。Thereweremenamongthem，however，thatmadeDuanefeelthatterribleinexplicablewrathriseinhisbreast。Hecouldnotbeartobenearthem。Hecouldnottrusthimself。Hefeltthatanyinstantaword，adeed，somethingmightcalltoodeeplytothatinstincthecouldnolongercontrol。JackrabbitBensonwasoneofthesemen。
　　BecauseofhimandotheroutlawsofhisilkDuanecouldscarcelyeverforgettherealityofthings。Thiswasahiddenvalley，arobbers’den，arendezvousformurderers，awildplacestainedredbydeedsofwildmen。Andbecauseofthattherewasalwaysachargedatmosphere。Themerriest，idlest，mostcarelessmomentmightintheflashofaneyeendinruthlessandtragicaction。Inanassemblageofdesperatecharactersitcouldnotbeotherwise。TheterriblethingthatDuanesensedwasthis。Thevalleywasbeautiful，sunny，fragrant，aplacetodreamin;themountaintopswerealwaysblueorgoldrimmed，theyellowriverslidslowlyandmajesticallyby，thebirdssanginthecottonwoods，thehorsesgrazedandpranced，childrenplayedandwomenlongedforlove，freedom，happiness;theoutlawsrodeinandout，freewithmoneyandspeech;theylivedcomfortablyintheiradobehomes，smoked，gambled，talked，laughed，whiledawaytheidlehours——andallthetimelifetherewaswrong，andthesimplestmomentmightbeprecipitatedbythatevilintothemostawfulofcontrasts。Duanefeltratherthansawadark，broodingshadowoverthevalley。
　　Then，withoutanysolicitationorencouragementfromDuane，theBlandwomanfellpassionatelyinlovewithhim。Hisconsciencewasnevertroubledaboutthebeginningofthataffair。Shelaunchedherself。Ittooknogreatperspicuityonhisparttoseethat。Andthethingwhichevidentlyheldherincheckwasthenewness，thestrangeness，andforthemomenttheall—satisfyingfactofhisrespectforher。Duaneexertedhimselftoplease，toamuse，tointerest，tofascinateher，andalwayswithdeference。Thatwashisstrongpoint，andithadmadehisparteasysofar。Hebelievedhecouldcarrythewholeschemethroughwithoutinvolvinghimselfanydeeper。
　　Hewasplayingatagameoflove——playingwithlifeanddeathsSometimeshetrembled，notthathefearedBlandorAllowayoranyotherman，butatthedeepsoflifehehadcometoseeinto。Hewascarriedoutofhisoldmood。NotoncesincethisdaringmotivehadstirredhimhadhebeenhauntedbythephantomofBainbesidehisbed。RatherhadhebeenhauntedbyJennie’ssadface，herwistfulsmile，hereyes。Heneverwasabletospeakawordtoher。WhatlittlecommunicationhehadwithherwasthroughEuchre，whocarriedshortmessages。ButhecaughtglimpsesofhereverytimehewenttotheBlandhouse。
　　Shecontrivedsomehowtopassdoororwindow，togivehimalookwhenchanceafforded。AndDuanediscoveredwithsurprisethatthesemomentsweremorethrillingtohimthananywithMrs。Bland。OftenDuaneknewJenniewassittingjustinsidethewindow，andthenhefeltinspiredinhistalk，anditwasallmadeforher。Soatleastshecametoknowhimwhileasyetshewasalmostastranger。JenniehadbeeninstructedbyEuchretolisten，tounderstandthatthiswasDuane’sonlychancetohelpkeephermindfromconstantworry，togathertheimportofeverywordwhichhadadoublemeaning。
　　Euchresaidthatthegirlhadbeguntowitherunderthestrain，toburnupwithintensehopewhichhadflamedwithinher。ButallthedifferenceDuanecouldseewasapalerfaceanddarker，morewonderfuleyes。Theeyesseemedtobeentreatinghimtohurry，thattimewasflying，thatsoonitmightbetoolate。
　　Thentherewasanothermeaninginthem，alight，astrangefirewhollyinexplicabletoDuane。Itwasonlyaflashgoneinaninstant。Butheremembereditbecausehehadneverseenitinanyotherwoman’seyes。AndallthroughthosewaitingdaysheknewthatJennie’sface，andespeciallythewarm，fleetingglanceshegavehim，wasresponsibleforasubtleandgradualchangeinhim。Thischangehefancied，wasonlythatthroughremembranceofherhegotridofhispale，sickeningghosts。
　　OnedayacarelessMexicanthrewalightedcigaretteupintothebrushmattingthatservedasaceilingforBenson’sden，andtherewasafirewhichleftlittlemorethantheadobewallsstanding。Theresultwasthatwhilerepairswerebeingmadetherewasnogamblinganddrinking。Timehungveryheavilyonthehandsofsometwo—scoreoutlaws。Dayspassedbywithoutabrawl，andBland’svalleysawmoresuccessivehoursofpeacethaneverbefore。Duane，however，foundthehoursanythingbutempty。HespentmoretimeatMrs。Bland’s;hewalkedmilesonallthetrailsleadingoutofthevalley;hehadacarefortheconditionofhistwohorses。
　　UponhisreturnfromthelatestofthesetrampsEuchresuggestedthattheygodowntotherivertotheboat—landing。
　　"Ferrycouldn’trunashorethismornin’，"saidEuchre。"Rivergettin’lowan’sand—barsmakin’ithardferhosses。There’sagreaserfreight—wagonstuckinthemud。Ireckonwemighthearnewsfromthefreighters。Bland’ssupposedtobeinMexico。"
　　Nearlyalltheoutlawsincampwereassembledontheriverbank，lollingintheshadeofthecottonwoods。Theheatwasoppressive。Notanoutlawofferedtohelpthefreighters，whoweretryingtodigaheavilyfreightedwagonoutofthequicksand。Fewoutlawswouldworkforthemselves，letaloneforthedespisedMexicans。
　　DuaneandEuchrejoinedthelazygroupandsatdownwiththem。
　　Euchrelightedablackpipe，and，drawinghishatoverhiseyes，laybackincomfortafterthemannerofthemajorityoftheoutlaws。ButDuanewasalert，observing，thoughtful。Henevermissedanything。Itwashisbeliefthatanymomentanidlewordmightbeofbenefittohim。Moreover，theseroughmenwerealwaysinteresting。
　　"Bland’sbeenchasedacrosstheriver，"saidone。
　　"New，he’sdeliverin’cattletothetCubanship，"repliedanother。
　　"Bigdealon，hey？"
　　"Somebig。Ruggsaysthebosshedanorderferfifteenthousand。"
　　"Say，thatorder’lltakeayeartofill。"
　　"New。HardinisincahootswithBland。Between’emthey’llfillordersbigger’nthet。"
　　"WonderedwhatHardinwasrustlin’inherefer。"
　　Duanecouldnotpossiblyattendtoalltheconversationamongtheoutlaws。Heendeavoredtogetthedriftoftalknearesttohim。
　　"KidFuller’sgoin’tocash，"saidasandy—whiskeredlittleoutlaw。
　　"SoJimwastellin’me。Blood—poison，ain’tit？Thetholewasn’tbad。Buthetookthefever，"rejoinedacomrade。
　　"DegersaystheKidmightpullthroughifhehednursin’。"
　　"Wal，KateBlandain’tnursin’anyshot—upboysthesedays。Shehasn’tgottime。"
　　Alaughfollowedthissally;thencameapenetratingsilence。
　　Someoftheoutlawsglancedgood—naturedlyatDuane。Theyborehimnoillwill。ManifestlytheywereawareofMrs。Bland’sinfatuation。
　　"Pete，’pearstomeyou’vesaidthetbefore。"
　　"Shore。Wal，it’shappenedbefore。"
　　ThisremarkdrewlouderlaughterandmoresignificantglancesatDuane。Hedidnotchoosetoignorethemanylonger。
　　"Boys，pokeallthefunyoulikeatme，butdon’tmentionanylady’snameagain。Myhandisnervousanditchythesedays。"
　　Hesmiledashespoke，andhisspeechwasdrawled;butthegoodhumorinnowiseweakenedit。Thenhislatterremarkwassignificanttoaclassofmenwhofrominclinationandnecessitypracticedatgun—drawinguntiltheyworecallousandsoreplacesontheirthumbsandinculcatedintheverydeepsoftheirnervousorganizationahabitthatmadeeventhesimplestandmostinnocentmotionofthehandendatornearthehip。
　　Therewassomethingremarkableaboutagun—fighter’shand。Itneverseemedtobegloved，nevertobeinjured，neveroutofsightorinanawkwardposition。
　　Thereweregrizzledoutlawsinthatgroup，someofwhomhadmanynotchesontheirgun—handles，andthey，withtheircomrades，accordedDuanesilencethatcarriedconvictionoftheregardinwhichhewasheld。
　　Duanecouldnotrecallanyotherinstancewherehehadletfallafamiliarspeechtothesemen，andcertainlyhehadneverbeforehintedofhispossibilities。Hesawinstantlythathecouldnothavedonebetter。
　　"Orfulhot，ain’tit？"remarkedBillBlack，presently。Billcouldnotkeepquietforlong。HewasatypicalTexasdesperado，hadneverbeenanythingelse。Hewasstoop—shoulderedandbow—leggedfrommuchriding;awirylittleman，allmuscle，withasquarehead，ahardfacepartlyblackfromscrubbybeardandredfromsun，andabright，roving，crueleye。Hisshirtwasopenattheneck，showingagrizzledbreast。
　　"Isthereanyguyinthisheahoutfitsportenoughtogoswimmin’？"heasked。
　　"MyGawd，Bill，youain’tagoin’towash！"exclaimedacomrade。
　　ThisraisedalaughinwhichBlackjoined。Butnooneseemedeagertojoinhiminabath。
　　"LaziestoutfitIeverrustledwith，"wentonBill，discontentedly。"Nuthin’todo！Say，ifnobodywantstoswimmaybesomeofyou’llgamble？"
　　Heproducedadirtypackofcardsandwavedthematthemotionlesscrowd。
　　"Bill，you’retoogoodatcards，"repliedalankyoutlaw。
　　"Now，Jasper，yousaythetpowerfulsweet，an’youlooksweet，erImighttakeittoheart，"repliedBlack，withasuddenchangeoftone。
　　Hereitwasagain——thatupflashingpassion。WhatJaspersawfittoreplywouldmollifytheoutlaworitwouldnot。Therewasanevenbalance。
　　"Nooffense，Bill，"saidJasper，placidly，withoutmoving。
　　BillgruntedandforgotJasper。Butheseemedrestlessanddissatisfied。Duaneknewhimtobeaninveterategambler。AndasBenson’splacewasoutofrunning—order，Blackwaslikeafishondryland。
　　"Wal，ifyou—allareafraidofthecairds，whatwillyoubeton？"heasked，indisgust。
　　"Bill，I’llplayyouagameofmumblypegfertwobits。"
　　repliedone。
　　Blackeagerlyaccepted。Bettingtohimwasaseriousmatter。
　　Thegameobsessedhim，notthestakes。Heenteredintothemumblypegcontestwithathoughtfulmienandacordedbrow。Hewon。Othercomradestriedtheirluckwithhimandlost。
　　Finally，whenBillhadexhaustedtheirsupplyoftwo—bitpiecesortheirdesireforthatparticulargame，heofferedtobetonanything。
　　"Seethetturtle—dovethere？"hesaid，pointing。"I’llbethe’llscareatonestoneorhewon’t。Fivepesoshe’llflyorhewon’tflywhensomeonechucksastone。Who’lltakemeup？"
　　Thatappearedtobemorethanthegamblingspiritofseveraloutlawscouldwithstand。
　　"Takethet。Easymoney，"saidone。
　　"Who’sgoin’tochuckthestone？"askedanother。
　　"Anybody，"repliedBill。
　　"Wal，I’llbetyouIcanscarehimwithonestone，"saidthefirstoutlaw。
　　"We’reinonthet，Jimtofirethedarnick，"chimedintheothers。
　　Themoneywasputup，thestonethrown。Theturtle—dovetookflight，tothegreatjoyofalltheoutlawsexceptBill。
　　"I’llbetyou—allhe’llcomebacktothettreeinsideoffiveminnits，"heoffered，imperturbably。
　　HereupontheoutlawsdidnotshowanylazinessintheiralacritytocoverBill’smoneyasitlayonthegrass。Somebodyhadawatch，andtheyallsatdown，dividingattentionbetweenthetimepieceandthetree。Theminutesdraggedbytotheaccompanimentofvariousjocularremarksanentafoolandhismoney。Whenfourandthree—quarterminuteshadpassedaturtle—dovealightedinthecottonwood。ThenensuedanimpressivesilencewhileBillcalmlypocketedthefiftydollars。
　　"Butithadn’tthesamedove！"exclaimedoneoutlaw，excitedly。
　　"This’n’issmaller，dustier，notsopurple。"
　　Billeyedthespeakerloftily。
　　"Wal，you’llhavetoketchtheotheronetoprovethet。Sabe，pard？NowI’llbetanygentheahthefiftyIwonthetIcanscarethetdovewithonestone。"
　　Nooneofferedtotakehiswager。
　　"Wal，then，I’llbetanyofyouevenmoneythetyouCAN’Tscarehimwithonestone。"
　　Notproofagainstthischance，theoutlawsmadeupapurse，innowisedisconcertedbyBill’scontemptuousallusionstotheirbandingtogether。Thestonewasthrown。Thedovedidnotfly。
　　Thereafter，inregardtothatbird，Billwasunabletocoaxorscornhiscomradesintoanykindofwager。
　　Hetriedthemwithamultiplicityofoffers，andinvain。Thenheappearedatalossforsomeunusualandseductivewager。
　　PresentlyalittleraggedMexicanboycamealongtherivertrail，aparticularlystarvedandpoor—lookinglittlefellow。
　　Billcalledtohimandgavehimahandfulofsilvercoins。
　　Speechless，dazed，hewenthiswayhuggingthemoney。
　　"I’llbethedropssomebeforehegitstotheroad，"declaredBill。"I’llbetheruns。Hurry，youfour—flushgamblers。"
　　Billfailedtointerestanyofhiscompanions，andforthwithbecamesullenandsilent。Strangelyhisgoodhumordepartedinspiteofthefactthathehadwonconsiderable。
　　Duane，watchingthedisgruntledoutlaw，marveledathimandwonderedwhatwasinhismind。Thesemenweremorevariablethanchildren，asunstableaswater，asdangerousasdynamite。
　　"Bill，I’llbetyoutenyoucan’tspillwhatever’sinthebucketthetpeon’spackin’，"saidtheoutlawcalledJim。
　　Black’sheadcameupwiththeactionofahawkabouttoswoop。
　　DuaneglancedfromBlacktotheroad，wherehesawacrippledpeoncarryingatinbuckettowardtheriver。Thispeonwasahalf—wittedIndianwholivedinashackanddidoddjobsfortheMexicans。Duanehadmethimoften。
　　"Jim，I’lltakeyouup，"repliedBlack。
　　Something，perhapsaharshnessinhisvoice，causedDuanetowhirl。Hecaughtaleapinggleamintheoutlaw’seye。
　　"Aw，Bill，thet’stoofurashot，"saidJasper，asBlackrestedanelbowonhiskneeandsightedoverthelong，heavyColt。Thedistancetothepeonwasaboutfiftypaces，toofarforeventhemostexpertshottohitamovingobjectsosmallasabucket。
　　Duane，marvelouslykeeninthealignmentofsights，waspositivethatBlackheldtoohigh。Anotherlookatthehardface，nowtenseanddarkwithblood，confirmedDuane’ssuspicionthattheoutlawwasnotaimingatthebucketatall。
　　Duaneleapedandstrucktheleveledgunoutofhishand。
　　Anotheroutlawpickeditup。
　　Blackfellbackastounded。Deprivedofhisweapon，hedidnotseemthesameman，orelsehewascowedbyDuane’ssignificantandformidablefront。Sullenlyheturnedawaywithoutevenaskingforhisgun。
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　Whatacontrast，Duanethought，theeveningofthatdaypresentedtothestateofhissoul！
　　ThesunsetlingeredingoldengloryoverthedistantMexicanmountains;twilightcameslowly;afaintbreezeblewfromtherivercoolandsweet;thelatecooingofadoveandthetinkleofacowbellweretheonlysounds;asereneandtranquilpeacelayoverthevalley。
　　InsideDuane’sbodytherewasstrife。Thisthirdfacingofadesperatemanhadthrownhimoffhisbalance。Ithadnotbeenfatal，butitthreatenedsomuch。Thebettersideofhisnatureseemedtourgehimtodieratherthantogoonfightingoropposingignorant，unfortunate，savagemen。Buttheperversityofhimwassogreatthatitdwarfedreason，conscience。Hecouldnotresistit。Hefeltsomethingdyinginhim。Hesuffered。Hopeseemedfaraway。DespairhadseizeduponhimandwasdrivinghimintoarecklessmoodwhenhethoughtofJennie。
　　Hehadforgottenher。Hehadforgottenthathehadpromisedtosaveher。Hehadforgottenthathemeanttosnuffoutasmanylivesasmightstandbetweenherandfreedom。Theveryremembrancesheeredoffhismorbidintrospection。Shemadeadifference。Howstrangeforhimtorealizethat！Hefeltgratefultoher。Hehadbeenforcedintooutlawry;shehadbeenstolenfromherpeopleandcarriedintocaptivity。Theyhadmetintheriverfastness，hetoinstilhopeintoherdespairinglife，shetobethemeans，perhaps，ofkeepinghimfromsinkingtothelevelofhercaptors。Hebecameconsciousofastrongandbeatingdesiretoseeher，talkwithher。
　　ThesethoughtshadrunthroughhismindwhileonhiswaytoMrs。Bland’shouse。HehadletEuchregoonaheadbecausehewantedmoretimetocomposehimself。Darknesshadaboutsetinwhenhereachedhisdestination。Therewasnolightinthehouse。Mrs。Blandwaswaitingforhimontheporch。
　　Sheembracedhim，andthesudden，violent，unfamiliarcontactsentsuchashockthroughhimthatheallbutforgotthedeepgamehewasplaying。She，however，inheragitationdidnotnoticehisshrinking。Fromherembraceandthetender，incoherentwordsthatflowedwithithegatheredthatEuchrehadacquaintedherofhisactionwithBlack。
　　"Hemighthavekilledyour"shewhispered，moreclearly;andifDuanehadeverheardloveinavoicehehearditthen。Itsoftenedhim。Afterall，shewasawoman，weak，fatedthroughhernature，unfortunateinherexperienceoflife，doomedtounhappinessandtragedy。Hemetheradvancesofarthathereturnedtheembraceandkissedher。Emotionsuchassheshowedwouldhavemadeanywomansweet，andshehadacertaincharm。
　　Itwaseasy，evenpleasant，tokissher;butDuaneresolvedthat，whateverherabandonmentmightbecome，hewouldnotgofurtherthanthelieshemadehimact。
　　"Buck，youloveme？"shewhispered。
　　"Yes——yes，"heburstout，eagertogetitover，andevenashespokehecaughtthepalegleamofJennie’sfacethroughthewindow。Hefeltashamehewasgladshecouldnotsee。Didsherememberthatshehadpromisednottomisunderstandanyactionofhis？Whatdidshethinkofhim，seeinghimoutthereintheduskwiththisboldwomaninhisarms？SomehowthatdimsightofJennie’spaleface，thebigdarkeyes，thrilledhim，inspiredhimtohishardtaskofthepresent。