\"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。