第6章

"Listen，dear，"hesaidtothewoman，andhemeanthiswordsforthegirl。"I’mgoingtotakeyouawayfromthisoutlawdenifIhavetokillBland，Alloway，Rugg——anybodywhostandsinmypath。Youweredraggedhere。Youaregood——Iknowit。

There’shappinessforyousomewhere——ahomeamonggoodpeoplewhowillcareforyou。Justwaittill——"

Hisvoicetrailedoffandfailedfromexcessofemotion。KateBlandclosedhereyesandleanedherheadonhisbreast。Duanefeltherheartbeatagainsthis，andconsciencesmotehimakeenblow。Ifshelovedhimsomuch！Butmemoryandunderstandingofhercharacterhardenedhimagain，andhegavehersuchcommiserationaswasduehersex，andnomore。

"Boy，that’sgoodofyou，"shewhispered，"butit’stoolate。

I’mdonefor。Ican’tleaveBland。AllIaskisthatyoulovemealittleandstopyourgun—throwing。"

Themoonhadrisenovertheeasternbulgeofdarkmountain，andnowthevalleywasfloodedwithmellowlight，andshadowsofcottonwoodswaveredagainstthesilver。

Suddenlytheclip—clop，clip—clopofhoofscausedDuanetoraisehisheadandlisten。Horseswerecomingdowntheroadfromtheheadofthevalley。Thehourwasunusualforriderstocomein。Presentlythenarrow，moonlitlanewascrossedatitsfarendbyblackmovingobjects。TwohorsesDuanediscerned。

"It’sBland！"whisperedthewoman，graspingDuanewithshakinghands。"Youmustrun！No，he’dseeyou。That’dbeworse。It’sBland！Iknowhishorse’strot。"

"Butyousaidhewouldn’tmindmycallinghere，"protestedDuane。"Euchre’swithme。It’llbeallright。"

"Maybeso，"shereplied，withvisibleeffortatself—control。

ManifestlyshehadagreatfearofBland。"IfIcouldonlythink！"

ThenshedraggedDuanetothedoor，pushedhimin。

"Euchre，comeoutwithme！Duane，youstaywiththegirl！I’lltellBlandyou’reinlovewithher。Jen，ifyougiveusawayI’llwringyourneck。"

TheswiftactionandfiercewhispertoldDuanethatMrs。Blandwasherselfagain。DuanesteppedclosetoJennie，whostoodnearthewindow。Neitherspoke，butherhandswereoutstretchedtomeethisown。Theyweresmall，tremblinghands，coldasice。

Heheldthemclose，tryingtoconveywhathefelt——thathewouldprotecther。Sheleanedagainsthim，andtheylookedoutofthewindow。Duanefeltcalmandsureofhimself。HismostpronouncedfeelingbesidesthatforthefrightenedgirlwasacuriosityastohowMrs。Blandwouldrisetotheoccasion。Hesawtheridersdismountdownthelaneandwearilycomeforward。

Aboyledawaythehorses。Euchre，theoldfox，wastalkingloudandwithremarkableease，consideringwhatheclaimedwashisnaturalcowardice。

"——thatwaswaybackinthesixties，aboutthetimeofthewar，"hewassaying。"Rustlin’cattlewasn’tnuthin’thentowhatitisnow。An’timesisrougherthesedays。Thisgun—throwin’hascometobeadisease。Menhaveanitchforthedrawsameastheyusedtohaveferpoker。TheonlyrealgambleroutsideofgreasersweeverhadherewasBill，an’IpresumeBillisburnin’now。"

Theapproachingoutlaws，hearingvoices，haltedarodorsofromtheporch。ThenMrs。Blandutteredanexclamation，ostensiblymeanttoexpresssurprise，andhurriedouttomeetthem。Shegreetedherhusbandwarmlyandgavewelcometotheotherman。DuanecouldnotseewellenoughintheshadowtorecognizeBland’scompanion，buthebelieveditwasAlloway。

"Dog—tiredweareandstarved，"saidBland，heavily。"Who’sherewithyou？"

"That’sEuchreontheporch。DuaneisinsideatthewindowwithJen，"repliedMrs。Bland。

"Duane！"heexclaimed。Thenhewhisperedlow——somethingDuanecouldnotcatch。

"Why，Iaskedhimtocome，"saidthechief’swife。Shespokeeasilyandnaturallyandmadenochangeintone。"Jenhasbeenailing。Shegetsthinnerandwhitereveryday。DuanecamehereonedaywithEuchre，sawJen，andwentloonyoverherprettyface，sameasallyoumen。SoIlethimcome。"

Blandcursedlowanddeepunderhisbreath。Theothermanmadeaviolentactionofsomekindandapparentlywasquietedbyarestraininghand。

"Kate，youletDuanemakelovetoJennie？"queriedBland，incredulously。

"Yes，Idid，"repliedthewife，stubbornly。"Whynot？Jen’sinlovewithhim。Ifhetakesherawayandmarrieshershecanbeadecentwoman。"

Blandkeptsilentamoment，thenhislaughpealedoutloudandharsh。

"Chess，didyougetthat？Well，byGod！whatdoyouthinkofmywife？"

"She’slyin’orshe’scrazy，"repliedAlloway，andhisvoicecarriedanunpleasantring。

Mrs。Blandpromptlyandindignantlytoldherhusband’slieutenanttokeephismouthshut。

"Ho，ho，ho！"rolledoutBland’slaugh。

Thenheledthewaytotheporch，hisspursclinking，theweaponshewascarryingrattling，andhefloppeddownonabench。

"Howareyou，boss？"askedEuchre。

"Hello，oldman。I’mwell，butallin。"

Allowayslowlywalkedontotheporchandleanedagainsttherail。HeansweredEuchre’sgreetingwithanod。Thenhestoodthereadark，silentfigure。

Mrs。Bland’sfullvoiceineagerquestioninghadatendencytoeasethesituation。Blandrepliedbrieflytoher，reportingaremarkablysuccessfultrip。

Duanethoughtittimetoshowhimself。HehadafeelingthatBlandandAllowaywouldlethimgoforthemoment。Theywereplainlynon—plussed，andAllowayseemedsullen，brooding。

"Jennie，"whisperedDuane，"thatwascleverofMrs。Bland。

We’llkeepupthedeception。Anydaynowbeready！"

Shepressedclosetohim，andabarelyaudible"Hurry！"camebreathingintohisear。

"Goodnight，Jennie，"hesaid，aloud。"Hopeyoufeelbetterto—morrow。"

Thenhesteppedoutintothemoonlightandspoke。Blandreturnedthegreeting，and，thoughhewasnotamiable，hedidnotshowresentment。

"MetJasperasIrodein，"saidBland，presently。"HetoldmeyoumadeBillBlackmad，andthere’sliabletobeafight。Whatdidyougooffthehandleabout？"

Duaneexplainedtheincident。"I’msorryIhappenedtobethere，"hewenton。"Itwasn’tmybusiness。"

"Scurvytrickthat’dbeen，"mutteredBland。"Youdidright。

Allthesame，Duane，Iwantyoutostopquarrelingwithmymen。

Ifyouwereoneofus——that’dbedifferent。Ican’tkeepmymenfromfighting。ButI’mnotcalledontoletanoutsiderhangaroundmycampandplugmyrustlers。"

"IguessI’llhavetobehittingthetrailforsomewhere，"saidDuane。

"Whynotjoinmyband？You’vegotabadstartalready，Duane，andifIknowthisborderyou’llneverbearespectablecitizenagain。You’reabornkiller。Iknoweverybadmanonthisfrontier。Morethanoneofthemhavetoldmethatsomethingexplodedintheirbrain，andwhensensecamebacktherelayanotherdeadman。It’snotsowithme。I’vedonealittleshooting，too，butIneverwantedtokillanothermanjusttoridmyselfofthelastone。Mydeadmendon’tsitonmychestatnight。That’sthegun—fighter’strouble。He’scrazy。Hehastokillanewman——he’sdriventoittoforgetthelastone。"

"ButI’mnogun—fighter，"protestedDuane。"Circumstancesmademe——"

"Nodoubt，"interruptedBland，withalaugh。"Circumstancesmademearustler。Youdon’tknowyourself。You’reyoung;

you’vegotatemper;yourfatherwasoneofthemostdangerousmenTexaseverhad。Idon’tseeanyothercareerforyou。

Insteadofgoingitalone——alonewolf，astheTexanssay——whynotmakefriendswithotheroutlaws？You’lllivelonger。"

Euchresquirmedinhisseat。

"Boss，I’vebeengivin’theboyegzactlythetsamelineoftalk。Thet’swhyItookhimintobunkwithme。Ifhemakespardsamongustherewon’tbeanymoretrouble。An’he’dbeagrandfellerferthegang。I’veseenWildBillHickokthrowagun，an’BillytheKid，an’Hardin，an’Chesshere——allthefastestmenontheborder。An’withapologiestopresentcompany，I’mheretosayDuanehasthemallskinned。Hisdrawisdifferent。Youcan’tseehowhedoesit。"

Euchre’sadmiringpraiseservedtocreateaneffectivelittlesilence。Allowayshifteduneasilyonhisfeet，hisspursjanglingfaintly，anddidnotlifthishead。Blandseemedthoughtful。

"That’sabouttheonlyqualificationIhavetomakemeeligibleforyourband，"saidDuane，easily。

"It’sgoodenough，"repliedBland，shortly。"Willyouconsidertheidea？"

"I’llthinkitover。Goodnight。"

Heleftthegroup，followedbyEuchre。Whentheyreachedtheendofthelane，andbeforetheyhadexchangedaword，BlandcalledEuchreback。DuaneproceededslowlyalongthemoonlitroadtothecabinandsatdownunderthecottonwoodstowaitforEuchre。Thenightwasintenseandquiet，alowhumofinsectsgivingtheeffectofacongestionoflife。Thebeautyofthesoaringmoon，theebonycanonsofshadowunderthemountain，themelancholyserenityoftheperfectnight，madeDuaneshudderintherealizationofhowfaraloofhenowwasfromenjoymentofthesethings。Neveragainsolongashelivedcouldhebenatural。Hismindwasclouded。Hiseyeandearhenceforthmustregisterimpressionsofnature，butthejoyofthemhadfled。

Still，ashesattherewithaforebodingofmoreanddarkerworkaheadofhimtherewasyetastrangesweetnesslefttohim，anditlayinthoughtofJennie。Thepressureofhercoldlittlehandslingeredinhis。Hedidnotthinkofherasawoman，andhedidnotanalyzehisfeelings。Hejusthadvague，dreamythoughtsandimaginationsthatwereinterspersedintheconstantandsternrevolvingofplanstosaveher。

Ashufflingsteprousedhim。Euchre’sdarkfigurecamecrossingthemoonlitgrassunderthecottonwoods。ThemomenttheoutlawreachedhimDuanesawthathewaslaboringundergreatexcitement。ItscarcelyaffectedDuane。Heseemedtobeacquiringpatience，calmness，strength。

"Blandkeptyouprettylong，"hesaid。

"WaittillIgitmybreath，"repliedEuchre。Hesatsilentalittlewhile，fanninghimselfwithasombrero，thoughthenightwascool，andthenhewentintothecabintoreturnpresentlywithalightedpipe。

"Finenight，"hesaid;andhistonefurtheracquaintedDuanewithEuchre’squainthumor。"Finenightforlove—affairs，bygum！"

"I’dnoticedthat，"rejoinedDuane，dryly。

"Wal，I’masonofagunifIdidn’tstandan’watchBlandchokehiswifetillhertonguestuckoutan’shegotblackintheface。"

"No！"ejaculatedDuane。

"HopetodieifIdidn’t。Buck，listentothishereyarn。WhenIgotbacktotheporchIseenBlandwaswakin’up。He’dbeentoofaggedouttofiggermuch。Allowayan’Katehadgoneinthehouse，wheretheylitupthelamps。IheardKate’shighvoice，butAllowayneverchirped。He’snotthetalkin’kind，an’he’sdamndangerouswhenhe’sthetway。Blandaskedmesomequestionsrightfromtheshoulder。Iwasreadyforthem，an’I

sworethemoonwasgreencheese。Hewassatisfied。Blandalwaystrustedme，an’likedme，too，Ireckon。Ihatedtolieblackthetway。Buthe’sahardmanwithbadintentionstowardJennie，an’I’ddouble—crosshimanyday。

"Thenwewentintothehouse。Jenniehadgonetoherlittleroom，an’Blandcalledhertocomeout。Shesaidshewasundressin’。An’heorderedhertoputherclothesbackon。

Then，Buck，hisnextmovewassomesurprisin’。HedeliberatelythrongedagunonKate。Yessir，hepointedhisbigblueColtrightather，an’hesays:

"’I’veamindtoblowoutyourbrains。’

"’Goahead，’saysKate，coolascouldbe。

"’Youliedtome，’heroars。

"Katelaughedinhisface。Blandslammedthegundownan’madeagrabferher。Shefoughthim，butwasn’tamatchferhim，an’

hegotherbythethroat。HechokedhertillIthoughtshewasstrangled。Allowaymadehimstop。Shefloppeddownonthebedan’gaspedferawhile。Whenshecometothemhardshelledcusseswentafterher，tryingtomakehergiveherselfaway。I

thinkBlandwasjealous。Hesuspectedshe’dgotthickwithyouan’wasfoolin’him。Ireckonthet’sasorefeelin’feramantohave——toguessprettynice，butnottoBEsure。Blandgaveitupafterawhile。An’thenhecussedan’ravedather。Onesayin’ofhisisworthpinnin’inyoursombrero:’Itain’tnuthin’tokillaman。Idon’tneedmuchferthet。ButIwanttoKNOW，youhussy！’

"Thenhewentinan’draggedpoorJenout。She’dhadtimetodress。Hewassomadhehurthersoreleg。YouknowJengotthetinjuryfightin’offoneofthemdevilsinthedark。An’

whenIseenBlandtwisther——hurther——Ihadaqueerhotfeelin’deepdowninme，an’fertheonlytimeinmylifeI

wishedIwasagun—fighter。

"Wal，Jenamazedme。Shewaswhiter’nasheet，an’hereyeswerebigandstary，butshehadnerve。FusttimeIeverseenhershowany。

"’Jennie，’hesaid，’mywifesaidDuanecameheretoseeyou。I

believeshe’slyin’。Ithinkshe’sbeencarryin’onwithhim，an’IwanttoKNOW。Ifshe’sbeenan’youtellmethetruthI’llletyougo。I’llsendyououttoHuntsville，whereyoucancommunicatewithyourfriends。I’llgiveyoumoney。’

"ThetmusthevbeenahellofaminnitferKateBland。IfevetIseendeathinaman’seyeIseenitinBland’s。Helovesher。

Thet’sthestrangepartofit。

"’HasDuanebeencomin’heretoseemywife？’Blandasked，fierce—like。

"’No，’saidJennie。

"’He’sbeenafteryou？’

"’Yes。’

"’Hehasfalleninlovewithyou？Katesaidthet。’

"’I——I’mnot——Idon’tknow——hehasn’ttoldme。’

"’Butyou’reinlovewithhim？’

"’Yes，’shesaid;an’，Buck，ifyouonlycouldhaveseenher！

Shethrongedupherhead，an’hereyeswerefulloffire。Blandseemeddazedatsightofher。An’Alloway，why，thetlittleskunkofanoutlawcriedrightout。Hewashitplumbcenter。

He’sinlovewithJen。An’thelookofherthenwasenoughtomakeanyfellerquit。Hejestslunkoutoftheroom。Itoldyou，mebbe，thethe’dbeentryin’togitBlandtomarryJentohim。SoevenatoughlikeAllowaycanloveawoman！

"Blandstampedupan’downtheroom。Hesurewasdyin’hard。

"’Jennie，’hesaid，oncemoreturnin’toher。’Youswearinfearofyourlifethetyou’retellin’truth。Kate’snotinlovewithDuane？She’slethimcometoseeyou？There’sbeennuthin’

betweenthem？’

"’No。Iswear，’answeredJennie;an’Blandsatdownlikeamanlicked。

"’Gotobed，youwhite—faced——’Blandchokedonsomewordorother——abadone，Ireckon——an’hepositivelyshookinhischair。

"Jenniewentthen，an’Katebegantohavehysterics。An’yourUncleEuchreduckedhisnutoutofthedooran’comehome。"

DuanedidnothaveawordtosayattheendofEuchre’slongharangue。Heexperiencedrelief。Asamatteroffact，hehadexpectedagooddealworse。HethrilledatthethoughtofJennieperjuringherselftosavethatabandonedwoman。Whatmysteriesthesefemininecreatureswere！

"Wal，there’swhereourlittledealstandsnow，"resumedEuchre，meditatively。"Youknow，Buck，aswellasmethetifyou’dbeensomefellerwhohadn’tshownhewasawonderwithagunyou’dnowbefulloflead。Ifyou’dhappentokillBlandan’Alloway，Ireckonyou’dbeassafeonthishereborderasyouwouldinSantone。Suchisgunfameinthislandofthedraw。"

CHAPTERIX

Bothmenwereawakeearly，silentwiththepremonitionoftroubleahead，thoughtfulofthefactthatthetimeforthelong—plannedactionwasathand。ItwasremarkablethatamanasloquaciousasEuchrecouldholdhistonguesolong;andthiswassignificantofthedeadlynatureoftheintendeddeed。

Duringbreakfasthesaidafewwordscustomaryintheserviceoffood。Attheconclusionofthemealheseemedtocometoanendofdeliberation。

"Buck，thesoonerthebetternow，"hedeclared，withaglintinhiseye。"ThemoretimeweuseupnowthelesssurprisedBland’llbe。"

"I’mreadywhenyouare，"repliedDuane，quietly，andherosefromthetable。

"Wal，saddleup，then，"wentonEuchre，gruffly。"TieonthemtwopacksImade，onefereachsaddle。Youcan’ttell——mebbeeitherhosswillbecarryin’double。It’sgoodthey’rebothbig，stronghosses。Guessthetwasn’tawisemoveofyourUncleEuchre’s——bringin’inyourhossesan’havin’themready？"

"Euchre，Ihopeyou’renotgoingtogetinbadhere。I’mafraidyouare。Letmedotherestnow，"saidDuane。

Theoldoutlaweyedhimsarcastically。

"Thet’dbeturriblenow，wouldn’tit？Ifyouwanttoknow，why，I’minbadalready。Ididn’ttellyouthetAllowaycalledmelastnight。He’sgettin’wiseprettyquick。"

"Euchre，you’regoingwithme？"queriedDuane，suddenlydiviningthetruth。’

"Wal，Ireckon。Eithertohellorsafeoverthemountain！I

wishtIwasagun—fighter。Ihatetoleaveherewithouttakin’

apegatJackrabbitBenson。Now，Buck，youdosomehardfiggerin’whileIgonosin’round。It’sprettyearly，which’sallthebetter。"

Euchreputonhissombrero，andashewentoutDuanesawthatheworeagun—and—cartridgebelt。ItwasthefirsttimeDuanehadeverseentheoutlawarmed。

Duanepackedhisfewbelongingsintohissaddlebags，andthencarriedthesaddlesouttothecorral。Anabundanceofalfalfainthecorralshowedthatthehorseshadfaredwell。Theyhadgottenalmostfatduringhisstayinthevalley。Hewateredthem，putonthesaddleslooselycinched，andthenthebridles。

Hisnextmovewastofillthetwocanvaswater—bottles。Thatdone，hereturnedtothecabintowait。

Atthemomenthefeltnoexcitementoragitationofanykind。

Therewasnomorethinkingandplanningtodo。Thehourhadarrived，andhewasready。Heunderstoodperfectlythedesperatechanceshemusttake。HisthoughtsbecameconfinedtoEuchreandthesurprisingloyaltyandgoodnessinthehardenedoldoutlaw。Timepassedslowly。Duanekeptglancingathiswatch。Hehopedtostartthethingandgetawaybeforetheoutlawswereoutoftheirbeds。FinallyheheardtheshuffleofEuchre’sbootsonthehardpath。Thesoundwasquickerthanusual。

WhenEuchrecamearoundthecornerofthecabinDuanewasnotsoastoundedashewasconcernedtoseetheoutlawwhiteandshaking。Sweatdrippedfromhim。Hehadawildlook。

"Luckours——so—fur，Buck！"hepanted。

"Youdon’tlookit，"repliedDuane。

"I’mturriblesick。Jestkilledaman。FustoneIeverkilled！"

"Who？"askedDuane，startled。

"JackrabbitBenson。An’sickasIam，I’mgloryin’init。I

wentnosin’rounduptheroad。SawAllowaygoin’intoDeger’s。

He’sthickwiththeDegers。Reckonhe’saskin’questions。

Anyway，IwassuregladtoseehimawayfromBland’s。An’hedidn’tseeme。WhenIdroppedintoBenson’stherewasn’tnobodytherebutJackrabbitan’somegreasershewasstartin’towork。

Bensonneverhadnouseferme。An’heupan’saidhewouldn’tgiveatwo—bitpiecefermylife。Iaskedhimwhy。

"’You’redouble—crossin’thebossan’Chess，’hesaid。

"’Jack，what’dyougiveferyourownlife？’Iaskedhim。

"Hestraightenedupsurprisedan’mean—lookin’。An’Ilethimhaveit，plumbcenter！Hewilted，an’thegreasersrun。I

reckonI’llneversleepagain。ButIhadtodoit。"

Duaneaskediftheshothadattractedanyattentionoutside。

"Ididn’tseeanybodybutthegreasers，an’Isurelookedsharp。Comin’backIcutacrossthroughthecottonwoodspastBland’scabin。Imeanttokeepoutofsight，butsomehowIhadanideeImightfindoutifBlandwasawakeyet。SureenoughI

runplumbintoBeppo，theboywhotendsBland’shosses。Beppolikesme。An’whenIinquiredofhisbosshesaidBlandhadbeenupallnightfightin’withtheSenora。An’，Buck，here’showIfigger。Blandcouldn’tletuplastnight。Hewassore，an’hewentafterKateagain，tryin’towearherdown。JestaslikelyhemighthavewentafterJennie，withwussintentions。

Anyway，hean’Katemusthavehadithotan’heavy。We’reprettylucky。"

"Itseemsso。Well，I’mgoing，"saidDuane，tersely。

"Lucky！IshouldsmilerBland’sbeenupallnightafteramostdraggin’ridehome。He’llbefaggedoutthismornin’，sleepy，sore，an’hewon’tbeexpectin’hellbeforebreakfast。Now，youwalkovertohishouse。Meethimhowyoulike。Thet’syourgame。ButI’msuggestin’，ifhecomesoutan’youwanttoparley，youcanjestsayyou’dthoughtoverhispropositionan’

wasreadytojoinhisband，oryouain’t。You’llhavetokillhim，an’it’dsavetimetogoferyourgunonsight。Mightbewise，too，ferit’slikelyhe’lldothetsame。"

"Howaboutthehorses？"

"I’llfetchtheman’comealongabouttwominnitsbehindyou。

’Pearstomeyououghttohavethejobdonean’JennieoutsidebythetimeIgitthere。Onceonthemhosses，wecanrideoutofcampbeforeAllowayoranybodyelsegitsintoaction。Jennieain’tmuchheavierthanarabbit。Thetbigblackwillcarryyouboth。"

"Allright。Butoncemoreletmepersuadeyoutostay——nottomixanymoreinthis，"saidDuane，earnestly。

"Nope。I’mgoin’。YouheardwhatBensontoldme。Allowaywouldn’tgivemethebenefitofanydoubts。Buck，alastword——lookoutferthetBlandwoman！"

Duanemerelynodded，andthen，sayingthatthehorseswereready，hestrodeawaythroughthegrove。Accountingfortheshortcutacrossgroveandfield，itwasaboutfiveminutes’

walkuptoBland’shouse。ToDuaneitseemedlongintimeanddistance，andhehaddifficultyinrestraininghispace。Ashewalkedtherecameagradualandsubtlechangeinhisfeelings。

Againhewasgoingouttomeetamaninconflict。Hecouldhaveavoidedthismeeting。Butdespitethefactofhiscourtingtheencounterhehadnotasyetfeltthathot，inexplicablerushofblood。Themotiveofthisdeadlyactionwasnotpersonal，andsomehowthatmadeadifference。

Nooutlawswereinsight。HesawseveralMexicanherderswithcattle。Bluecolumnsofsmokecurledupoversomeofthecabins。ThefragrantsmellofitremindedDuaneofhishomeandcuttingwoodforthestove。Henotedacloudofcreamymistrisingabovetheriver，dissolvinginthesunlight。

ThenheenteredBland’slane。

Whileyetsomedistancefromthecabinheheardloud，angryvoicesofmanandwoman。BlandandKatestillquarreling！Hetookaquicksurveyofthesurroundings。TherewasnownotevenaMexicaninsight。Thenhehurriedalittle。Halfwaydownthelaneheturnedhisheadtopeerthroughthecottonwoods。ThistimehesawEuchrecomingwiththehorses。Therewasnoindicationthattheoldoutlawmightlosehisnerveattheend。

Duanehadfearedthis。

Duanenowchangedhiswalktoaleisurelysaunter。Hereachedtheporchandthendistinguishedwhatwassaidinsidethecabin。

"Ifyoudo，Bland，byHeavenI’llfixyouandher！"ThatwaspantedoutinKateBland’sfullvoice。

"LetmelooserI’mgoinginthere，Itellyou！"repliedBland，hoarsely。

"Whatfor？"

"Iwanttomakealittlelovetoher。Ha！ha！It’llbefuntohavethelaughonhernewlover。"

"Youlie！"criedKateBland。

"I’mnotsayingwhatI’lldotoherAFTERWARD！"Hisvoicegrewhoarserwithpassion。"Letmegonow！"

"No！no！Iwon’tletyougo。You’llchokethe——thetruthoutofher——you’llkillher。"

"TheTRUTH！"hissedBland。

"Yes。Ilied。Jenlied。Butsheliedtosaveme。Youneedn’t——murderher——forthat。"

Blandcursedhorribly。Thenfollowedawrestlingsoundofbodiesinviolentstrainingcontact——thescrapeoffeet——thejangleofspurs——acrashofslidingtableorchair，andthenthecryofawomaninpain。

Duanesteppedintotheopendoor，insidetheroom。KateBlandlayhalfacrossatablewhereshehadbeenflung，andshewastryingtogettoherfeet。Bland’sbackwasturned。HehadopenedthedoorintoJennie’sroomandhadonefootacrossthethreshold。Duanecaughtthegirl’slow，shudderingcry。Thenhecalledoutloudandclear。

Withcat—likeswiftnessBlandwheeled，thenfrozeonthethreshold。Hissight，quickashisaction，caughtDuane’smenacingunmistakableposition。

Bland’sbigframefilledthedoor。Hewasinabadplacetoreachforhisgun。Buthewouldnothavetimeforastep。Duanereadinhiseyesthedesperatecalculationofchances。ForafleetinginstantBlandshiftedhisglancetohiswife。Thenhiswholebodyseemedtovibratewiththeswingofhisarm。

Duaneshothim。Hefellforward，hisgunexplodingasithitintothefloor，anddroppedloosefromstretchingfingers。

Duanestoodoverhim，stoopedtoturnhimonhisback。Blandlookedupwithcloudedgaze，thengaspedhislast。

"Duane，you’vekilledhim！"criedKateBland，huskily。"Iknewyou’dhaveto！"

Shestaggeredagainstthewall，hereyesdilating，herstronghandsclenching，herfaceslowlywhitening。Sheappearedshocked，halfstunned，butshowednogrief。

"Jennie！"calledDuane，sharply。

"Oh——Duane！"cameahaltingreply。

"Yes。Comeout。Hurry！"

Shecameoutwithunevensteps，seeingonlyhim，andshestumbledoverBland’sbody。Duanecaughtherarm，swungherbehindhim。Hefearedthewomanwhensherealizedhowshehadbeenduped。Hisactionwasprotective，andhismovementtowardthedoorequallyassignificant。

"Duane，"criedMrs。Bland。

Itwasnotimefortalk。Duaneedgedon，keepingJenniebehindhim。Atthatmomenttherewasapoundingofiron—shodhoofsoutinthelane。KateBlandboundedtothedoor。Whensheturnedbackheramazementwaschangingtorealization。

"Where’reyoutakingJen？"shecried，hervoicelikeaman’s。

"Getoutofmyway，"repliedDuane。Hislookperhaps，withoutspeech，wasenoughforher。Inaninstantshewastransformedintoafury。