第13章

DuanegatheredshewasonavisittowesternTexas。Theothergirl’sdeepvoice，sweetlikeabell，madeDuaneregardhercloser。Shehadbeautyashehadneverseenitinanotherwoman。Shewasslender，butthedevelopmentofherfiguregaveDuanetheimpressionshewastwentyyearsoldormore。ShehadthemostexquisitehandsDuanehadeverseen。ShedidnotresembletheColonel，whowasevidentlyherfather。Shelookedtired，quiet，evenmelancholy。Afinelychiseledovalface;

clear，olive—tintedskin，longeyessetwideapartandblackascoal，beautifultolookinto;aslender，straightnosethathadsomethingnervousanddelicateaboutitwhichmadeDuanethinkofathoroughbred;andamouthbynomeanssmall，butperfectlycurved;andhairlikejet——allthesefeaturesproclaimedherbeautytoDuane。DuanebelievedheradescendantofoneoftheoldFrenchfamiliesofeasternTexas。Hewassureofitwhenshelookedathim，drawnbyhisratherpersistentgaze。Therewerepride，fire，andpassioninhereyes。Duanefelthimselfblushinginconfusion。Hisstareatherhadbeenrude，perhaps，butunconscious。Howmanyyearshadpassedsincehehadseenagirllikeher！Thereafterhekepthiseyesuponhisplate，yetheseemedtobeawarethathehadarousedtheinterestofbothgirls。

Aftersuppertheguestsassembledinabigsitting—roomwhereanopenfireplacewithblazingmesquitesticksgaveoutwarmthandcheeryglow。Duanetookaseatbyatableinthecorner，and，findingapaper，begantoread。Presentlywhenheglanceduphesawtwodark—facedmen，strangerswhohadnotappearedbefore，andwerepeeringinfromadoorway。WhentheysawDuanehadobservedthemtheysteppedbackoutofsight。

ItflashedoverDuanethatthestrangersactedsuspiciously。InTexasintheseventiesitwasalwaysbadpolicytoletstrangersgounheeded。Duaneponderedamoment。Thenhewentouttolookoverthesetwomen。Thedoorwayopenedintoapatio，andacrossthatwasalittledingy，dim—lightedbar—room。HereDuanefoundtheinnkeeperdispensingdrinkstothetwostrangers。Theyglancedupwhenheentered，andoneofthemwhispered。Heimaginedhehadseenoneofthembefore。InTexas，whereoutdoormenweresorough，bronzed，bold，andsometimesgrimofaspect，itwasnoeasytasktopickoutthecrookedones。ButDuane’syearsontheborderhadaugmentedanaturalinstinctorgifttoreadcharacter，oratleasttosensetheevilinmen;andheknewatoncethatthesestrangersweredishonest。

"Heysomethin’？"oneofthemasked，leering。BothlookedDuaneupanddown。

"Nothanks，Idon’tdrink，"Duanereplied，andreturnedtheirscrutinywithinterest。"How’stricksintheBigBend？"

Bothmenstared。IthadtakenonlyacloseglanceforDuanetorecognizeatypeofruffianmostfrequentlymetalongtheriver。Thesestrangershadthatstamp，andtheirsurpriseprovedhewasright。Heretheinnkeepershowedsignsofuneasiness，andsecondedthesurpriseofhiscustomers。Nomorewassaidattheinstant，andthetworatherhurriedlywentout。

"Say，boss，doyouknowthosefellows？"Duaneaskedtheinnkeeper。

"Nope。"

"Whichwaydidtheycome？"

"NowIthinkofit，themfellersridinfrombothcornerstoday，"hereplied，andheputbothhandsonthebarandlookedatDuane。"Theynoonedheah，comin’fromBradford，theysaid，an’trailedinafterthestage。"

WhenDuanereturnedtothesitting—roomColonelLongstrethwasabsent，alsoseveraloftheotherpassengers。MissRuthsatinthechairhehadvacated，andacrossthetablefromhersatMissLongstreth。Duanewentdirectlytothem。

"Excuseme，"saidDuane，addressingthem。"Iwanttotellyouthereareacoupleofrough—lookingmenhere。I’vejustseenthem。Theymeanevil。Tellyourfathertobecareful。Lockyourdoors——baryourwindowsto—night。"

"Oh！"criedRuth，verylow。"Ray，doyouhear？"

"Thankyou;we’llbecareful，"saidMissLongstreth，gracefully。Therichcolorhadfadedinhercheek。"Isawthosemenwatchingyoufromthatdoor。Theyhadsuchbrightblackeyes。Istherereallydanger——here？"

"Ithinkso，"wasDuane’sreply。

Softswiftstepsbehindhimprecededaharshvoice:"Handsup！"

NomanquickerthanDuanetorecognizetheintentinthosewords！Hishandsshotup。MissRuthutteredalittlefrightenedcryandsankintoherchair。MissLongstrethturnedwhite，hereyesdilated。BothgirlswerestaringatsomeonebehindDuane。

"Turnaround！"orderedtheharshvoice。

Thebig，darkstranger，thebeardedonewhohadwhisperedtohiscomradeinthebar—roomandaskedDuanetodrink，hadhimcoveredwithacockedgun。Hestrodeforward，hiseyesgleaming，pressedthegunagainsthim，andwithhisotherhanddoveintohisinsidecoatpocketandtoreouthisrollofbills。ThenhereachedlowatDuane’ship，felthisgun，andtookit。Thenheslappedtheotherhip，evidentlyinsearchofanotherweapon。Thatdone，hebackedaway，wearinganexpressionoffiendishsatisfactionthatmadeDuanethinkhewasonlyacommonthief，anoviceatthiskindofgame。

Hiscomradestoodinthedoorwithagunleveledattwoothermen，whostoodtherefrightened，speechless。

"Gitamoveon，Bill，"calledthisfellow;andhetookahastyglancebackward。Astampofhoofscamefromoutside。Ofcoursetherobbershadhorseswaiting。TheonecalledBillstrodeacrosstheroom，andwithbrutal，carelesshastebegantoprodthetwomenwithhisweaponandtosearchthem。Therobberinthedoorwaycalled"Rustle！"anddisappeared。

Duanewonderedwheretheinnkeeperwas，andColonelLongstrethandtheothertwopassengers。Thebeardedrobberquicklygotthroughwithhissearching，andfromhisgrowlsDuanegatheredhehadnotbeenwellremunerated。Thenhewheeledoncemore。

Duanehadnotmovedamuscle，stoodperfectlycalmwithhisarmshigh。Therobberstrodebackwithhisbloodshoteyesfasteneduponthegirls。MissLongstrethneverflinched，butthelittlegirlappearedabouttofaint。

"Don’tyap，there！"hesaid，lowandhard。HethrustthegunclosetoRuth。ThenDuaneknewforsurethathewasnoknightoftheroad，butaplaincutthroatrobber。DangeralwaysmadeDuaneexultinakindofcoldglow。Butnowsomethinghotworkedwithinhim。Hehadalittleguninhispocket。Therobberhadmissedit。Andhebegantocalculatechances。

"Anymoney，jewelry，diamonds！"orderedtheruffian，fiercely。

MissRuthcollapsed。ThenhemadeatMissLongstreth。Shestoodwithherhandsatherbreast。Evidentlytherobbertookthispositiontomeanthatshehadvaluablesconcealedthere。ButDuanefanciedshehadinstinctivelypressedherhandsagainstathrobbingheart。

"Comeoutwithit！"hesaid，harshly，reachingforher。

"Don’tdaretouchme！"shecried，hereyesablaze。Shedidnotmove。Shehadnerve。

ItmadeDuanethrill。Hesawhewasgoingtogetachance。

Waitinghadbeenasciencewithhim。Buthereitwashard。MissRuthhadfainted，andthatwaswell。MissLongstrethhadfightinher，whichfacthelpedDuane，yetmadeinjurypossibletoher。Sheeludedtwolungesthemanmadeather。Thenhisroughhandcaughtherwaist，andwithonepullrippeditasunder，exposingherbeautifulshoulder，whiteassnow。

Shecriedout。TheprospectofbeingrobbedorevenkilledhadnotshakenMissLongstreth’snerveashadthisbrutaltearingoffofhalfherwaist。

TheruffianwasonlyturnedpartiallyawayfromDuane。Forhimselfhecouldhavewaitednolonger。Butforher！Thatgunwasstillhelddangerouslyupwardclosetoher。Duanewatchedonlythat。Thenabellowmadehimjerkhishead。ColonelLongstrethstoodinthedoorwayinamagnificentrage。Hehadnoweapon。Strangehowheshowednofear！Hebellowedsomethingagain。

Duane’sshiftingglancecaughttherobber’ssuddenmovement。Itwasakindofstart。Heseemedstricken。DuaneexpectedhimtoshootLongstreth。InsteadthehandthatclutchedMissLongstreth’stornwaistlooseneditshold。Theotherhandwithitscockedweaponslowlydroppedtillitpointedtothefloor。

ThatwasDuane’schance。

Swiftasaflashhedrewhisgunandfired。Thud！wenthisbullet，andhecouldnottellontheinstantwhetherithittherobberorwentintotheceiling。Thentherobber’sgunboomedharmlessly。Hefellwithbloodspurtingoverhisface。Duanerealizedhehadhithim，butthesmallbullethadglanced。

MissLongstrethreeledandmighthavefallenhadDuanenotsupportedher。Itwasonlyafewstepstoacouch，towhichhehalfled，halfcarriedher。Thenherushedoutoftheroom，acrossthepatio，throughthebartotheyard。Nevertheless，hewascautious。Inthegloomstoodasaddledhorse，probablytheonebelongingtothefellowhehadshot。Hiscomradehadescaped。Returningtothesitting—room，Duanefoundaconditionapproachingpandemonium。

Theinnkeeperrushedin，pitchforkinhands。Evidentlyhehadbeenoutatthebarn。Hewasnowshoutingtofindoutwhathadhappened。Joel，thestage—driver，wastryingtoquietthemenwhohadbeenrobbed。Thewoman，wifeofoneofthemen，hadcomein，andshehadhysterics。Thegirlswerestillandwhite。

TherobberBilllaywherehehadfallen，andDuaneguessedhehadmadeafairshot，afterall。And，lastly，thethingthatstruckDuanemostofallwasLongstreth’srage。Heneversawsuchpassion。LikeacagedlionLongstrethstalkedandroared。

Therecameaquietermomentinwhichtheinnkeepershrillyprotested:

"Man，what’reyouravin’aboot？Nobody’shurt，an’thet’slucky。IsweartoGodIhadn’tnothin’todowiththemfellers！"

"Ioughttokillyouanyhow！"repliedLongstreth。AndhisvoicenowastoundedDuane，itwassofullofpower。

UponexaminationDuanefoundthathisbullethadfurrowedtherobber’stemple，tornagreatpieceoutofhisscalp，and，asDuanehadguessed，hadglanced。Hewasnotseriouslyinjured，andalreadyshowedsignsofreturningconsciousness。

"Draghimoutofhere！"orderedLongstreth;andheturnedtohisdaughter。

BeforetheinnkeeperreachedtherobberDuanehadsecuredthemoneyandguntakenfromhim;andpresentlyrecoveredthepropertyoftheothermen。Joelhelpedtheinnkeepercarrytheinjuredmansomewhereoutside。

MissLongstrethwassittingwhitebutcomposeduponthecouch，wherelayMissRuth，whoevidentlyhadbeencarriedtherebytheColonel。Duanedidnotthinkshehadwhollylostconsciousness，andnowshelayverystill，witheyesdarkandshadowy，herfacepallidandwet。TheColonel，nowthathefinallyrememberedhiswomen—folk，seemedtobegentleandkind。HetalkedsoothinglytoMissRuth，madelightoftheadventure，saidshemustlearntohavenerveoutherewherethingshappened。

"CanIbeofanyservice？"askedDuane，solicitously。

"Thanks;Iguessthere’snothingyoucando。TalktothesefrightenedgirlswhileIgoseewhat’stobedonewiththatthick—skulledrobber，"hereplied，and，tellingthegirlsthattherewasnomoredanger，hewentout。

MissLongstrethsatwithonehandholdinghertornwaistinplace;theothersheextendedtoDuane。Hetookitawkwardly，andhefeltastrangethrill。

"Yousavedmylife，"shesaid，ingrave，sweetseriousness。

"No，no！"Duaneexclaimed。"Hemighthavestruckyou，hurtyou，butnomore。"

"Isawmurderinhiseyes。HethoughtIhadjewelsundermydress。Icouldn’tbearhistouch。Thebeast！I’dhavefought。

Surelymylifewasinperil。"

"Didyoukillhim？"askedMissRuth，wholaylistening。

"Ohno。He’snotbadlyhurt。"

"I’mverygladhe’salive，"saidMissLongstreth，shuddering。

"Myintentionwasbadenough，"Duanewenton。"Itwasaticklishplaceforme。Yousee，hewashalfdrunk，andIwasafraidhisgunmightgooff。Foolcarelesshewas！"

"Yetyousayyoudidn’tsaveme，"MissLongstrethreturned，quickly。

"Well，letitgoatthat，"Duaneresponded。"Isavedyousomething。"

"Tellmeallaboutit？"askedMissRuth，whowasfastrecovering。

Ratherembarrassed，Duanebrieflytoldtheincidentfromhispointofview。

"Thenyoustoodthereallthetimewithyourhandsupthinkingofnothing——watchingfornothingexceptalittlemomentwhenyoumightdrawyourgun？"askedMissRuth。

"Iguessthat’saboutit，"hereplied。

"Cousin，"saidMissLongstreth，thoughtfully，"itwasfortunateforusthatthisgentlemanhappenedtobehere。Papascouts——laughsatdanger。Heseemedtothinktherewasnodanger。Yetheravedafteritcame。"

"GowithusallthewaytoFairdale——please？"askedMissRuth，sweetlyofferingherhand。"IamRuthHerbert。Andthisismycousin，RayLongstreth。"

"I’mtravelingthatway，"repliedDuane，ingreatconfusion。Hedidnotknowhowtomeetthesituation。

ColonelLongstrethreturnedthen，andafterbiddingDuaneagoodnight，whichseemedrathercurtbycontrasttothegraciousnessofthegirls，heledthemaway。

BeforegoingtobedDuanewentoutsidetotakealookattheinjuredrobberandperhapstoaskhimafewquestions。ToDuane’ssurprise，hewasgone，andsowashishorse。Theinnkeeperwasdumfounded。Hesaidthatheleftthefellowonthefloorinthebar—room。

"Hadhecometo？"inquiredDuane。

"Sure。Heaskedforwhisky。"

"Didhesayanythingelse？"

"Nottome。Iheardhimtalkin’tothefatherofthemgirls。"

"YoumeanColonelLongstreth？"

"Ireckon。Hesurewassomeriled，wasn’the？JestasifIwastoblameferthattwo—bitofahold—up！"

"Whatdidyoumakeoftheoldgent’srage？"askedDuane，watchingtheinnkeeper。Hescratchedhisheaddubiously。Hewassincere，andDuanebelievedinhishonesty。

"Wal，I’mdoggonedifIknowwhattomakeofit。ButIreckonhe’seithercrazyorgotmorenervethanmostTexans。"

"Morenerve，maybe，"Duanereplied。"Showmeabednow，innkeeper。"

Onceinbedinthedark，Duanecomposedhimselftothinkovertheseveraleventsoftheevening。Hecalledupthedetailsoftheholdupandcarefullyrevolvedtheminmind。TheColonel’swrath，undercircumstanceswherealmostanyTexanwouldhavebeencool，nonplussedDuane，andheputitdowntoacholerictemperament。HeponderedlongontheactionoftherobberwhenLongstreth’sbellowofrageburstinuponhim。Thisruffian，asboldandmeanatypeasDuanehadeverencountered，had，fromsomecauseorother，beenstartled。FromwhateverpointDuaneviewedtheman’sstrangeindecisionhecouldcometoonlyoneconclusion——hisstart，hischeck，hisfearhadbeenthatofrecognition。DuanecomparedthiseffectwiththesuddenlyacquiredsensehehadgottenofColonelLongstreth’spowerfulpersonality。WhyhadthatdesperaterobberloweredhisgunandstoodparalyzedatsightandsoundoftheMayorofFairdale？

Thiswasnotanswerable。Theremighthavebeenanumberofreasons，alltoColonelLongstreth’scredit，butDuanecouldnotunderstand。Longstrethhadnotappearedtoseedangerforhisdaughter，eventhoughshehadbeenroughlyhandled，andhadadvancedinfrontofacockedgun。Duaneprobeddeepintothissingularfact，andhebroughttobearonthethingallhisknowledgeandexperienceofviolentTexaslife。AndhefoundthattheinstantColonelLongstrethhadappearedonthescenetherewasnofurtherdangerthreateninghisdaughter。Why？ThatlikewiseDuanecouldnotanswer。Thenhisrage，Duaneconcluded，hadbeensolelyattheideaofHISdaughterbeingassaultedbyarobber。Thisdeductionwasindeedathought—disturber，butDuaneputitasidetocrystallizeandformorecarefulconsideration。

NextmorningDuanefoundthatthelittletownwascalledSanderson。Itwaslargerthanhehadatfirstsupposed。Hewalkedupthemainstreetandbackagain。Justashearrivedsomehorsemenrodeuptotheinnanddismounted。AndatthisjuncturetheLongstrethpartycameout。DuaneheardColonelLongstrethutteranexclamation。Thenhesawhimshakehandswithatallman。Longstrethlookedsurprisedandangry，andhespokewithforce;butDuanecouldnothearwhatitwashesaid。

Thefellowlaughed，yetsomehowhestruckDuaneassullen，untilsuddenlyheespiedMissLongstreth。Thenhisfacechanged，andheremovedhissombrero。Duanewentcloser。

"Floyd，didyoucomewiththeteams？"askedLongstreth，sharply。

"Notme。Irodeahorse，goodandhard，"wasthereply。

"Humph！I’llhaveawordtosaytoyoulater。"ThenLongstrethturnedtohisdaughter。"Ray，here’sthecousinI’vetoldyouabout。Youusedtoplaywithhimtenyearsago——FloydLawson。

Floyd，mydaughter——andmyniece，RuthHerbert。"

Duanealwaysscrutinizedeveryonehemet，andnowwithadangerousgametoplay，withaconsciousnessofLongstreth’sunusualandsignificantpersonality，hebentakeenandsearchingglanceuponthisFloydLawson。

Hewasunderthirty，yetgrayathistemples——dark，smooth—shaven，withlinesleftbywildness，dissipation，shadowsunderdarkeyes，amouthstrongandbitter，andasquarechin——areckless，careless，handsome，sinisterfacestrangelylosingthehardnesswhenhesmiled。Thegraceofagentlemanclungroundhim，seemedlikeanechoinhismellowvoice。Duanedoubtednotthathe，likemanyayoungman，haddriftedouttothefrontier，whereroughandwildlifehadwroughtsternlybuthadnotquiteeffacedthemarkofgoodfamily。

ColonelLongstrethapparentlydidnotsharethepleasureofhisdaughterandhisnieceintheadventofthiscousin。Somethinghingedonthismeeting。Duanegrewintenselycurious，but，asthestageappearedreadyforthejourney，hehadnofurtheropportunitytogratifyit。

CHAPTERXVI

Duanefollowedthestagethroughthetown，outintotheopen，ontoawide，hard—packedroadshowingyearsoftravel。Itheadednorthwest。Totheleftrosearangeoflow，bleakmountainshehadnotedyesterday，andtotherightslopedthemesquite—patchedsweepofridgeandflat。Thedriverpushedhisteamtoafasttrot，whichgaitsurelycoveredgroundrapidly。

Thestagemadethreestopsintheforenoon，oneataplacewherethehorsescouldbewatered，thesecondatachuck—wagonbelongingtocowboyswhowereridingafterstock，andthethirdatasmallclusterofadobeandstonehousesconstitutingahamletthedrivercalledLongstreth，namedaftertheColonel。

FromthatpointontoFairdaletherewereonlyafewranches，eachonecontrollinggreatacreage。

Earlyintheafternoonfromaridge—topDuanesightedFairdale，agreenpatchinthemassofgray。ForthebarrensofTexasitwasindeedafairsight。Buthewasmoreconcernedwithitsremotenessfromcivilizationthanitsbeauty。Atthattime，intheearlyseventies，whenthevastwesternthirdofTexaswasawilderness，thepioneerhaddonewonderstosettlethereandestablishplaceslikeFairdale。

ItneededonlyaglanceforDuanetopickoutColonelLongstreth’sranch。ThehousewassituatedontheonlyelevationaroundFairdale，anditwasnothigh，normorethanafewminutes’walkfromtheedgeofthetown。Itwasalow，flat—roofedstructuremadeofredadobebricks，andcoveredwhatappearedtobefullyanacreofground。Allwasgreenaboutit，exceptwherethefencedcorralsandnumerousbarnsorshedsshowedgrayandred。

DuanesoonreachedtheshadyoutskirtsofFairdale，andenteredthetownwithmingledfeelingsofcuriosity，eagerness，andexpectation。Thestreetherodedownwasamainone，andonbothsidesofthestreetwasasolidrowofsaloons，resorts，hotels。Saddledhorsesstoodhitchedallalongthesidewalkintwolonglines，withabuckboardandteamhereandtherebreakingthecontinuity。Thisblockwasbusyandnoisy。

FromalloutsideappearancesFairdalewasnodifferentfromotherfrontiertowns，andDuane’sexpectationswerescarcelyrealized。Astheafternoonwaswaninghehaltedatalittleinn。Aboytookchargeofhishorse。DuanequestionedtheladaboutFairdaleandgraduallydrewtothesubjectmostinmind。

"ColonelLongstrethhasabigoutfit，eh？"

"Reckonhehas，"repliedthelad。"Doanknowhowmanycowboys。

They’realwayscomin’andgoin’。Iain’tacquaintedwithhalfofthem。"

"Muchmovementofstockthesedays？"

"Stock’salwaysmovin’，"hereplied，withaqueerlook。

"Rustlers？"

ButhedidnotfollowupthatlookwiththeaffirmativeDuaneexpected。

"Livelyplace，Ihear——Fairdaleis？"

"Ain’tsolivelyasSanderson，butit’sbigger。"

"Yes，Ihearditwas。Fellowdowntherewastalkingabouttwocowboyswhowerearrested。"

"Sure。Iheeredallaboutthat。JoeBeanan’BrickHiggins——

theybelongheah，buttheyain’theahmuch。Longstreth’sboys。"

Duanedidnotwanttoappearover—inquisitive，soheturnedthetalkintootherchannels。

AftergettingsupperDuanestrolledupanddownthemainstreet。Whendarknesssetinhewentintoahotel，boughtcigars，sataround，andwatched。Thenhepassedoutandwentintothenextplace。Thiswasofroughcrudeexterior，buttheinsidewascomparativelypretentiousandablazewithlights。Itwasfullofmencomingandgoing——adusty—bootedcrowdthatsmelledofhorsesandsmoke。Duanesatdownforawhile，withwideeyesandopenears。Thenhehuntedupthebar，wheremostoftheguestshadbeenorweregoing。Hefoundagreatsquareroomlightedbysixhugelamps，abaratoneside，andallthefloor—spacetakenupbytablesandchairs。ThiswastheonlygamblingplaceofanysizeinsouthernTexasinwhichhehadnotedtheabsenceofMexicans。Therewassomecard—playinggoingonatthismoment。Duanestayedinthereforawhile，andknewthatstrangersweretoocommoninFairdaletobeconspicuous。Thenhereturnedtotheinnwherehehadengagedaroom。

Duanesatdownonthestepsofthedingylittlerestaurant。Twomenwereconversinginside，andtheyhadnotnoticedDuane。

"Laramie，what’sthestranger’sname？"askedone。

"Hedidn’tsay，"repliedtheother。

"Surewasastrappin’bigman。Struckmealittleodd，hedid。

Nocattleman，him。How’dyousizehim？"

"Well，likeoneofthemcool，easy，quietTexanswho’sbeenlookin’foramanforyears——tokillhimwhenhefoundhim。"

"Rightyouare，Laramie;and，betweenyouan’me，Ihopehe’slookin’forLong——"

"’S——sh！"interruptedLaramie。"Youmustbehalfdrunk，togotalkie’thatway。"

ThereaftertheyconversedintoolowatoneforDuanetohear，andpresentlyLaramie’svisitorleft。Duanewentinside，and，makinghimselfagreeable，begantoaskcasualquestionsaboutFairdale。Laramiewasnotcommunicative。

Duanewenttohisroominathoughtfulframeofmind。HadLaramie’svisitormeanthehopedsomeonehadcometokillLongstreth？Duaneinferredjustthatfromtheinterruptedremark。TherewassomethingwrongabouttheMayorofFairdale。

Duanefeltit。Andhefeltalso，iftherewasacrookedanddangerousman，itwasthisFloydLawson。TheinnkeeperLaramiewouldbeworthcultivating。AndlastinDuane’sthoughtsthatnightwasMissLongstreth。Hecouldnothelpthinkingofher——howstrangelythemeetingwithherhadaffectedhim。Itmadehimrememberthatlong—pasttimewhengirlshadbeenapartofhislife。Whatasadanddarkandendlessvoidlaybetweenthatpastandthepresent！HehadnorighteventodreamofabeautifulwomanlikeRayLongstreth。Thatconviction，however，didnotdispelher;indeed，itseemedperverselytomakehergrowmorefascinating。Duanegrewconsciousofastrange，unaccountablehunger，asomethingthatwaslikeapanginhisbreast。

Nextdayheloungedabouttheinn。Hedidnotmakeanyoverturestothetaciturnproprietor。Duanehadnoneedofhurrynow。Hecontentedhimselfwithwatchingandlistening。

AndatthecloseofthatdayhedecidedFairdalewaswhatMacNellyhadclaimedittobe，andthathewasonthetrackofanunusualadventure。Thefollowingdayhespentinmuchthesameway，thoughononeoccasionhetoldLaramiehewaslookingforaman。Theinnkeepergrewalittlelessfurtiveandreticentafterthat。Hewouldanswercasualqueries，anditdidnottakeDuanelongtolearnthatLaramiehadseenbetterdays——thathewasnowbroken，bitter，andhard。Someonehadwrongedhim。

Severaldayspassed。DuanedidnotsucceedingettinganyclosertoLaramie，buthefoundtheidlersonthecornersandinfrontofthestoresunsuspiciousandwillingtotalk。ItdidnottakehimlongtofindoutthatFairdalestoodparallelwithHuntsvilleforgambling，drinking，andfighting。Thestreetwasalwayslinedwithdusty，saddledhorses，thetownfullofstrangers。MoneyappearedmoreabundantthaninanyplaceDuanehadevervisited;anditwasspentwiththeabandonthatspokeforciblyofeasyandcrookedacquirement。DuanedecidedthatSanderson，Bradford，andOrdwerebutnotoriousoutpoststothisFairdale，whichwasasecretcenterofrustlersandoutlaws。AndwhatstruckDuanestrangestofallwasthefactthatLongstrethwasmayorhereandheldcourtdaily。Duaneknewintuitively，beforeachanceremarkgavehimproof，thatthiscourtwasasham，afarce。Andhewonderedifitwerenotablind。ThiswonderofhiswasequivalenttosuspicionofColonelLongstreth，andDuanereproachedhimself。Thenherealizedthatthereproachwasbecauseofthedaughter。InquiryhadbroughthimthefactthatRayLongstrethhadjustcometolivewithherfather。LongstrethhadoriginallybeenaplanterinLouisiana，wherehisfamilyhadremainedafterhisadventintheWest。Hewasarichrancher;heownedhalfofFairdale;hewasacattle—buyeronalargescale。FloydLawsonwashislieutenantandassociateindeals。

OntheafternoonofthefifthdayofDuane’sstayinFairdalehereturnedtotheinnfromhisusualstroll，anduponenteringwasamazedtohavearough—lookingyoungfellowrushbyhimoutofthedoor。InsideLaramiewaslyingonthefloor，withabloodybruiseonhisface。Hedidnotappeartobedangerouslyhurt。

"BoSnecker！Hehitmeandwentafterthecash—drawer，"saidLaramie，laboringtohisfeet。

"Areyouhurtmuch？"queriedDuane。

"Iguessnot。ButBoneedn’ttohavesoakedme。I’vebeenrobbedbeforewithoutthat。"

"Well，I’lltakealookafterBo，"repliedDuane。

Hewentoutandglanceddownthestreettowardthecenterofthetown。Hedidnotseeanyonehecouldtakefortheinnkeeper’sassailant。Thenhelookedupthestreet，andhesawtheyoungfellowaboutablockaway，hurryingalongandgazingback。

Duaneyelledforhimtostopandstartedtogoafterhim。

Sneckerbrokeintoarun。ThenDuanesetouttooverhaulhim。

ThereweretwomotivesinDuane’saction——oneofanger，andtheotheradesiretomakeafriendofthismanLaramie，whomDuanebelievedcouldtellhimmuch。

Duanewaslightonhisfeet，andhehadagiantstride。HegainedrapidlyuponSnecker，who，turningthiswayandthat，couldnotgetoutofsight。ThenhetooktotheopencountryandranstraightforthegreenhillwhereLongstreth’shousestood。DuanehadalmostcaughtSneckerwhenhereachedtheshrubberyandtreesandthereeludedhim。ButDuanekepthiminsight，intheshade，onthepaths，anduptheroadintothecourtyard，andhesawSneckergostraightforLongstreth’shouse。

Duanewasnottobeturnedbackbythat，singularasitwas。Hedidnotstoptoconsider。ItseemedenoughtoknowthatfatehaddirectedhimtothepathofthisrancherLongstreth。Duaneenteredthefirstopendooronthatsideofthecourt。Itopenedintoacorridorwhichledintoaplaza。Ithadwide，smoothstoneporches，andflowersandshrubberyinthecenter。

DuanehurriedthroughtoburstintothepresenceofMissLongstrethandanumberofyoungpeople。Evidentlyshewasgivingalittleparty。

Lawsonstoodleaningagainstoneofthepillarsthatsupportedtheporchroof;atsightofDuanehisfacechangedremarkably，expressingamazement，consternation，thenfear。

InthequickensuingsilenceMissLongstrethrosewhiteasherdress。Theyoungwomenpresentstaredinastonishment，iftheywerenotequallyperturbed。Therewerecowboyspresentwhosuddenlygrewintentandstill。BythesethingsDuanegatheredthathisappearancemustbedisconcerting。Hewaspanting。Heworenohatorcoat。Hisbiggun—sheathshowedplainlyathiship。

SightofMissLongstrethhadanunaccountableeffectuponDuane。Hewasplungedintoconfusion。Forthemomenthesawnoonebuther。

"MissLongstreth——Icame——tosearch——yourhouse，"pantedDuane。

Hehardlyknewwhathewassaying，yettheinstanthespokeherealizedthatthatshouldhavebeenthelastthingforhimtosay。Hehadblundered。Buthewasnotusedtowomen，andthisdark—eyedgirlmadehimthrillandhisheartbeatthicklyandhiswitsgoscattering。