第14章

"Searchmyhouse！"exclaimedMissLongstreth;andredsucceededthewhiteinhercheeks。Sheappearedastonishedandangry。

"Whatfor？Why，howdareyou！Thisisunwarrantable！"

"Aman——BoSnecker——assaultedandrobbedJimLaramie，"repliedDuane，hurriedly。"IchasedSneckerhere——sawhimrunintothehouse。"

"Here？Oh，sir，youmustbemistaken。Wehaveseennoone。IntheabsenceofmyfatherI’mmistresshere。I’llnotpermityoutosearch。"

Lawsonappearedtocomeoutofhisastonishment。Hesteppedforward。

"Ray，don’tbebotherednow，"hesaid，tohiscousin。"Thisfellow’smakingabluff。I’llsettlehim。Seehere，Mister，youclearout！"

"IwantSnecker。He’shere，andI’mgoingtogethim，"repliedDuane，quietly。

"Bah！That’sallabluff，"sneeredLawson。"I’montoyourgame。Youjustwantedanexcusetobreakinhere——toseemycousinagain。Whenyousawthecompanyyouinventedthatexcuse。Now，beoff，orit’llbetheworseforyou。"

Duanefelthisfaceburnwithatideofhotblood。Almosthefeltthathewasguiltyofsuchmotive。HadhenotbeenunabletoputthisRayLongstrethoutofhismind？Thereseemedtobescorninhereyesnow。Andsomehowthatcheckedhisembarrassment。

"MissLongstreth，willyouletmesearchthehouse？"heasked。

"No。"

"Then——Iregrettosay——I’lldosowithoutyourpermission。"

"You’llnotdare！"sheflashed。Shestooderect，herbosomswelling。

"Pardonme，yes，Iwill。"

"Whoareyou？"shedemanded，suddenly。

"I’maTexasRanger，"repliedDuane。

"ATEXASRANGER！"sheechoed。

FloydLawson’sdarkfaceturnedpale。

"MissLongstreth，Idon’tneedwarrantstosearchhouses，"saidDuane。"I’msorrytoannoyyou。I’dprefertohaveyourpermission。Aruffianhastakenrefugehere——inyourfather’shouse。He’shiddensomewhere。MayIlookforhim？"

"Ifyouareindeedaranger。"

Duaneproducedhispapers。MissLongstrethhaughtilyrefusedtolookatthem。

"MissLongstreth，I’vecometomakeFairdaleasafer，cleaner，betterplaceforwomenandchildren。Idon’twonderatyourresentment。Buttodoubtme——insultme。Somedayyoumaybesorry。"

FloydLawsonmadeaviolentmotionwithhishands。

"Allstuff！Cousin，goonwithyourparty。I’lltakeacoupleofcowboysandgowiththis——thisTexasRanger。"

"Thanks，"saidDuane，coolly，asheeyedLawson。"Perhapsyou’llbeabletofindSneckerquickerthanIcould。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"demandedLawson，andnowhegrewlivid。

Evidentlyhewasamanoffiercequickpassions。

"Don’tquarrel，"saidMissLongstreth。"Floyd，yougowithhim。

Pleasehurry。I’llbenervoustill——theman’sfoundoryou’resurethere’snotone。"

Theystartedwithseveralcowboystosearchthehouse。Theywentthroughtheroomssearching，callingout，peeringintodarkplaces。ItstruckDuanemorethanforciblythatLawsondidallthecalling。Hewashurried，too，triedtokeepinthelead。Duanewonderedifheknewhisvoicewouldberecognizedbythehidingman。Bethatasitmight，itwasDuanewhopeeredintoadarkcornerandthen，withagunleveled，said"Comeout！"

Hecameforthintotheflare——atall，slim，dark—facedyouth，wearingsombrero，blouseandtrousers。Duanecollaredhimbeforeanyoftheotherscouldmoveandheldtheguncloseenoughtomakehimshrink。ButhedidnotimpressDuaneasbeingfrightenedjustthen;nevertheless，hehadaclammyface，thepallidlookofamanwhohadjustgottenoverashock。HepeeredintoDuane’sface，thenintothatofthecowboynexttohim，thenintoLawson’s，andifeverinDuane’slifehebeheldreliefitwasthen。ThatwasallDuaneneededtoknow，buthemeanttofindoutmoreifhecould。

"Who’reyou？"askedDuane，quietly。

"BoSnecker，"hesaid。

"What’dyouhideherefor？"

Heappearedtogrowsullen。

"ReckonedI’dbeassafeinLongstreth’sasanywheres。"

"Ranger，what’llyoudowithhim？"Lawsonqueried，asifuncertain，nowthecapturewasmade。

"I’llseetothat，"repliedDuane，andhepushedSneckerinfrontofhimoutintothecourt。

DuanehadsuddenlyconceivedtheideaoftakingSneckerbeforeMayorLongstrethinthecourt。

WhenDuanearrivedatthehallwherecourtwasheldtherewereothermenthere，adozenormore，andallseemedexcited;

evidently，newsofDuanehadprecededhim。Longstrethsatatatableuponaplatform。Nearhimsatathick—setgrizzledman，withdeepeyes，andthiswasHanfordOwens，countyjudge。Totherightstoodatall，angular，yellow—facedfellowwithadroopingsandymustache。Conspicuousonhisvestwasahugesilvershield。ThiswasGorsech，oneofLongstreth’ssheriffs。

TherewerefourothermenwhomDuaneknewbysight，severalwhosefaceswerefamiliar，andhalfadozenstrangers，alldustyhorsemen。

Longstrethpoundedhardonthetabletobeheard。Mayorornot，hewasunableatoncetoquelltheexcitement。Gradually，however，itsubsided，andfromthelastfewutterancesbeforequietwasrestoredDuanegatheredthathehadintrudeduponsomekindofameetinginthehall。

"What’dyoubreakinherefor，"demandedLongstreth。

"Isn’tthisthecourt？Aren’tyoutheMayorofFairdale？"

interrogatedDuane。Hisvoicewasclearandloud，almostpiercing。

"Yes，"repliedLongstreth。Likeflintheseemed，yetDuanefelthisintenseinterest。

"I’vearrestedacriminal，"saidDuane。

"Arrestedacriminal！"ejaculatedLongstreth。"You？Who’reyou？"

"I’maranger，"repliedDuane。

Asignificantsilenceensued。

"IchargeSneckerwithassaultonLaramieandattemptedrobbery——ifnotmurder。He’shadashadypasthere，asthiscourtwillknowifitkeepsarecord。"

"What’sthisIhearaboutyou，Bo？Getupandspeakforyourself，"saidLongstreth，gruffly。

Sneckergotup，notwithoutafurtiveglanceatDuane，andhehadshuffledforwardafewstepstowardtheMayor。Hehadanevilfront，butnottheboldnessevenofarustler。

"Itain’tso，Longstreth，"hebegan，loudly。"IwentinLaramie’splacefergrub。SomefellerIneverseenbeforecomeinfromthehallan’hitLaramiean’wrestledhimonthefloor。

Iwentout。Thenthisbigrangerchasedmean’fetchedmehere。1didn’tdonothin’。Thisranger’shankerin’toarrestsomebody。Thet’smyhunch，Longstreth。"

LongstrethsaidsomethinginanundertonetoJudgeOwens，andthatworthynoddedhisgreatbushyhead。

"Bo，you’redischarged，"saidLongstreth，bluntly。"Nowtherestofyouclearoutofhere。"

Heabsolutelyignoredtheranger。ThatwashisrebufftoDuane——hisslapinthefacetoaninterferingrangerservice。

IfLongstrethwascrookedhecertainlyhadmagnificentnerve。

Duanealmostdecidedhewasabovesuspicion。Buthisnonchalance，hisairoffinality，hisauthoritativeassurance——thesetoDuane’skeenandpracticedeyeswereinsignificantcontrasttoacertaintensenessoflineabouthismouthandaslowpalingofhisoliveskin。InthatmomentarylullDuane’sscrutinyofLongstrethgatheredanimpressionoftheman’sintensecuriosity。

Thentheprisoner，Snecker，withacoughthatbrokethespellofsilence，shuffledacoupleofstepstowardthedoor。

"Holdon！"calledDuane。ThecallhaltedSnecker，asifithadbeenabullet。

"Longstreth，IsawSneckerattackLaramie，"saidDuane，hisvoicestillringing。"Whathasthecourttosaytothat？"

"Thecourthasthistosay。WestofthePecoswe’llnotaidanyrangerservice。Wedon’twantyououthere。Fairdaledoesn’tneedyou。"

"That’salie，Longstreth，"retortedDuane。"I’velettersfromFairdalecitizensallbeggingforrangerservice。"

Longstrethturnedwhite。Theveinscordedathistemples。Heappearedabouttoburstintorage。Hewasatalossforquickreply。

FloydLawsonrushedinanduptothetable。Thebloodshowedblackandthickinhisface;hisutterancewasincoherent，hisuncontrollableoutbreakoftemperseemedoutofallproportiontoanycauseheshouldreasonablyhavehadforanger。

Longstrethshovedhimbackwithacurseandawarningglare。

"Where’syourwarranttoarrestSnecker？"shoutedLongstreth。

"Idon’tneedwarrantstomakearrests。Longstreth，you’reignorantofthepowerofTexasRangers。"

"You’llcomenoneofyourdamnedrangerstuntsouthere。I’llblockyou。"

ThatpassionatereplyofLongstreth’swasthesignalDuanehadbeenwaitingfor。Hehadhelpedonthecrisis。HewantedtoforceLongstreth’shandandshowthetownhisstand。

Duanebackedclearofeverybody。

"Men！Icallonyouall！"criedDuane，piercingly。"IcallonyoutowitnessthearrestofacriminalpreventedbyLongstreth，MayorofFairdale。ItwillberecordedinthereporttotheAdjutant—GeneralatAustin。Longstreth，you’llneverpreventanotherarrest。"

Longstrethsatwhitewithworkingjaw。

"Longstreth，you’veshownyourhand，"saidDuane，inavoicethatcarriedfarandheldthosewhoheard。"AnyhonestcitizenofFairdalecannowseewhat’splain——yoursisadamnpoorhand！You’regoingtohearmecallaspadeaspade。Inthetwoyearsyou’vebeenMayoryou’veneverarrestedonerustler。

Strange，whenFairdale’sanestforrustlers！You’veneversentaprisonertoDelRio，letalonetoAustin。Youhavenojail。

Therehavebeenninemurdersduringyouroffice——innumerablestreet—fightsandholdups。Notonearrest！Butyouhaveorderedarrestsfortrivialoffenses，andhavepunishedtheseoutofallproportion。Therehavebeenlawsuitsinyourcourt—suitsoverwater—rights，cattledeals，propertylines。StrangehowintheselawsuitsyouorLawsonorothermenclosetoyouwerealwaysinvolved！Strangehowitseemsthelawwasstretchedtofavoryourinterest！"

Duanepausedinhiscold，ringingspeech。Inthesilence，bothoutsideandinsidethehall，couldbeheardthedeepbreathingofagitatedmen。Longstrethwasindeedastudy。Yetdidhebetrayanythingbutrageatthisinterloper？

"Longstreth，here’splaintalkforyouandFairdale，"wentonDuane。"Idon’taccuseyouandyourcourtofdishonesty。IsaySTRANGE！Lawherehasbeenafarce。Themotivebehindallthislaxityisn’tplaintome——yet。ButIcallyourhand！"

CHAPTERXVII

Duaneleftthehall，elbowedhiswaythroughthecrowd，andwentdownthestreet。Hewascertainthatonthefacesofsomemenhehadseenill—concealedwonderandsatisfaction。Hehadstrucksomekindofahottrait，andhemeanttoseewhereitled。ItwasbynomeansunlikelythatCheseldinemightbeattheotherend。Duanecontrolledamountingeagerness。ButeverandanonitwasshotthroughwitharemembranceofRayLongstreth。Hesuspectedherfatherofbeingnotwhathepretended。Hemight，veryprobablywould，bringsorrowandshametothisyoungwoman。Thethoughtmadehimsmartwithpain。Shebegantohaunthim，andthenhewasthinkingmoreofherbeautyandsweetnessthanofthedisgracehemightbringuponher。Somestrangeemotion，longlockedinsideDuane’sheart，knockedtobeheard，tobeletout。Hewastroubled。

UponreturningtotheinnhefoundLaramiethere，apparentlynonetheworseforhisinjury。

"Howareyou，Laramie？"heasked。

"ReckonI’mfeelin’aswellascouldbeexpected，"repliedLaramie。Hisheadwascircledbyabandagethatdidnotconcealthelumpwherehehadbeenstruck。Helookedpale，butwasbrightenough。

"ThatwasagoodcrackSneckergaveyou，"remarkedDuane。

"Iain’taccusin’Bo，"remonstratedLaramie，witheyesthatmadeDuanethoughtful。

"Well，Iaccusehim。Icaughthim——tookhimtoLongstreth’scourt。Buttheylethimgo。"

Laramieappearedtobeagitatedbythisintimationoffriendship。

"Seehere，Laramie，"wentonDuane，"insomepartsofTexasit’spolicytobeclose—mouthed。Policyandhealth—preserving！

Betweenourselves，IwantyoutoknowIleanonyoursideofthefence。"

Laramiegaveaquickstart。PresentlyDuaneturnedandfranklymethisgaze。HehadstartledLaramieoutofhishabitualsettaciturnity;butevenashelookedthelightthatmighthavebeenamazeandjoyfadedoutofhisface，leavingitthesameoldmask。StillDuanehadseenenough。Likeabloodhoundhehadascent。

"Talkingaboutwork，Laramie，who’dyousaySneckerworkedfor？"

"Ididn’tsay。"

"Well，saysonow，can’tyou？Laramie，you’repowerfulpeevishto—day。It’sthatbumponyourhead。WhodoesSneckerworkfor？"

"Whenheworksatall，whichsureain’toften，heridesforLongstreth。"

"Humph！SeemstomethatLongstreth’sthewholecircusroundFairdale。IwassomesoretheotherdaytofindIwaslosinggoodmoneyatLongstreth’sfarogame。SureifI’dwonI

wouldn’thavebeensore——ha，ha！ButIwassurprisedtohearsomeonesayLongstrethownedtheHopeSojoint。"

"Heownsconsiderablepropertyhereabouts，"repliedLaramie，constrainedly。

"Humphagain！Laramie，likeeveryotherfellowImeetinthistown，you’reafraidtoopenyourtrapaboutLongstreth。Getmestraight，Laramie。Idon’tcareadamnforColonelMayorLongstreth。AndforcauseI’dthrowagunonhimjustasquickasonanyrustlerinPecos。"

"Talk’scheap，"repliedLaramie，makinglightofhisbluster，buttheredwasdeeperinhisface。

"Sure。Iknowthat，"Duanesaid。"AndusuallyIdon’ttalk。

Thenit’snotwellknownthatLongstrethownstheHopeSo？"

"Reckonit’sknowninPecos，allright。ButLongstreth’snameisn’tconnectedwiththeHopeSo。Blandyrunstheplace。"

"ThatBlandy。Hisfarogame’scrooked，orI’malocoedbronch。

Notthatwedon’thavelotsofcrookedfaro—dealers。Afellowcanstandforthem。ButBlandy’smean，back—handed，neverlooksyouintheeyes。ThatHopeSoplaceoughttoberunbyagoodfellowlikeyou，Laramie。"

"Thanks，"repliedhe;andDuaneimaginedhisvoicealittlehusky。"Didn’tyouhearIusedtorunit？"

"No。Didyou？"Duanesaid，quickly。

"Ireckon。Ibuilttheplace，madeadditionstwice，owneditforelevenyears。"

"Well，I’llbedoggoned。"ItwasindeedDuane’sturntobesurprised，andwiththesurprisecameaglimmering。"I’msorryyou’renottherenow。Didyousellout？"

"No。Justlosttheplace。"

Laramiewasburstingforreliefnow——totalk，totell。Sympathyhadmadehimsoft。

"Itwastwoyearsago—twoyearslastMarch，"hewenton。"IwasinabigcattledealwithLongstreth。Wegotthestock——an’myshare，eighteenhundredhead，wasrustledoff。IowedLongstreth。Hepressedme。Itcometoalawsuit——an’I——wasruined。

IthurtDuanetolookatLaramie。Hewaswhite，andtearsrolleddownhischeeks。Duanesawthebitterness，thedefeat，theagonyoftheman。Hehadfailedtomeethisobligations;

nevertheless，hehadbeenswindled。Allthathesuppressed，allthatwouldhavebeenpassionhadtheman’sspiritnotbeenbroken，laybareforDuanetosee。Hehadnowthesecretofhisbitterness。ButthereasonhedidnotopenlyaccuseLongstreth，thesecretofhisreticenceandfear——theseDuanethoughtbesttotrytolearnatsomelatertime。

"Hardluck！Itcertainlywastough，"Duanesaid。"Butyou’reagoodloser。Andthewheelturns！Now，Laramie，here’swhat。I

needyouradvice。I’vegotalittlemoney。ButbeforeIloseitIwanttoinvestsome。Buysomestock，orbuyaninterestinsomerancher’sherd。WhatIwantyoutosteermeonisagoodsquarerancher。Ormaybeacoupleofranchers，iftherehappentobetwohonestones。Ha，ha！Nodealswithrancherswhorideinthedarkwithrustlers！I’veahunchFairdaleisfullofthem。Now，Laramie，you’vebeenhereforyears。Sureyoumustknowacoupleofmenabovesuspicion。"

"ThankGodIdo，"hereplied，feelingly。"FrankMortonan’SiZimmer，myfriendsan’neighborsallmyprosperousdays，an’

friendsstill。YoucangambleonFrankandSi。Butifyouwantadvicefromme——don’tinvestmoneyinstocknow。"

"Why？"

"Becauseanynewfellerbuyin’stockthesedayswillberustledquicker’nhecansayJackRobinson。Thepioneers，thenewcattlemen——theseareeasypickin’fortherustlers。Lordknowsalltheranchersareeasyenoughpickin’。Butthenewfellershavetolearntheropes。Theydon’tknowanythin’oranybody。

An’theoldranchersarewisean’sore。They’dfightifthey——"

"What？"Duaneputin，ashepaused。"Iftheyknewwhowasrustlingthestock？"

"Nope。"

"Iftheyhadthenerve？"

"Notthetsomuch。"

"Whatthen？What’dmakethemfight？"

"Aleader！"

"Howdythar，Jim，"boomedabigvoice。

Amanofgreatbulk，witharuddy，merryface，enteredtheroom。

"Hello，Morton，"repliedLaramie。"I’dintroduceyoutomyguesthere，butIdon’tknowhisname。"

"Haw！Haw！Thet’sallright。Fewmenouthyargobytheirrightnames。"

"Say，Morton，"putinDuane，"Laramiegavemeahunchyou’dbeagoodmantotieto。Now，I’vealittlemoneyandbeforeI

loseitI’dliketoinvestitinstock。"

Mortonsmiledbroadly。

"I’monthesquare，"Duanesaid，bluntly。"Ifyoufellowsneversizeupyourneighborsanybetterthanyouhavesizedme——well，youwon’tgetanyricher。"

ItwasenjoymentforDuanetomakehisremarkstothesemenpregnantwithmeaning。Mortonshowedhispleasure，hisinterest，buthisfaithheldaloof。

"I’vegotsomemoney。Willyouletmeinonsomekindofdeal？

Willyoustartmeupasastockmanwithalittleherdallmyown？"

"Wal，stranger，tocomeoutflat—footed，you’dbefoolishtobuycattlenow。Idon’twanttotakeyourmoneyan’seeyouloseout。BettergobackacrossthePecoswheretherustlersain’tsostrong。Ihaven’thadmore’ntwenty—fivehundredherdofstockfortenyears。Therustlersletmehangontoabreedin’herd。Kindofthem，ain’tit？"

"Sortofkind。AllIhearisrustlers，Morton，"repliedDuane，withimpatience。"Yousee，Ihaven’teverlivedlonginarustler—runcounty。Whoheadsthegang，anyway？"

MortonlookedatDuanewithacuriouslyamusedsmile，thensnappedhisbigjawasiftoshutinimpulsivewords。

"Lookhere，Morton。Itstandstoreason，nomatterhowstrongtheserustlersare，howhiddentheirwork，howeverinvolvedwithsupposedlyhonestmen——theyCAN"Tlast。"

"Theycomewiththepioneers，an’they’lllasttillthar’sasinglesteerleft，"hedeclared。

"Well，ifyoutakethatviewofcircumstancesIjustfigureyouasoneoftherustlers""

MortonlookedasifhewereabouttobrainDuanewiththebuttofhiswhip。Hisangerflashedbythen，evidentlyasunworthyofhim，and，somethingstrikinghimasfunny，heboomedoutalaugh。

"It’snotsofunny，"Duanewenton。"Ifyou’regoingtopretendayellowstreak，whatelsewillIthink？"

"Pretend？"herepeated。

"Sure。Iknowmenofnerve。Andherethey’renotanydifferentfromthoseinotherplaces。Isayifyoushowanythinglikealackofsandit’sallbluff。Bynatureyou’vegotnerve。TherearealotofmenaroundFairdalewho’reafraidoftheirshadows——afraidtobeoutafterdark——afraidtoopentheirmouths。Butyou’renotone。SoIsayifyouclaimtheserustlerswilllastyou’repretendinglackofnervejusttohelpthepopularideaalong。FortheyCAN"Tlast。Whatyouneedouthereissomenewblood。SavvywhatImean？"

"Wal，IreckonIdo，"hereplied，lookingasifastormhadblownoverhim。"Stranger，I’lllookyouupthenexttimeI

cometotown。"

Thenhewentout。

Laramiehadeyeslikeflintstrikingfire。

HebreathedadeepbreathandlookedaroundtheroombeforehisgazefixedagainonDuane。

"Wal，"hereplied，speakinglow。"You’vepickedtherightmen。

Now，whointhehellareyou？"

Reachingintotheinsidepocketofhisbuckskinvest，Duaneturnedtheliningout。Astar—shapedbrightsilverobjectflashedasheshovedit，pocketandall，underJim’shardeyes。

"RANGER！"hewhispered，crackingthetablewithhisfist。"Yousurerungtruetome。"

"Laramie，doyouknowwho’sbossofthissecretgangofrustlershereabouts？"askedDuane，bluntly。Itwascharacteristicofhimtocomesharptothepoint。Hisvoice——somethingdeep，easy，coolabouthim——seemedtosteadyLaramie。

"No，"repliedLaramie。

"Doesanybodyknow？"wentonDuane。

"Wal，Ireckonthere’snotonehonestnativewhoKNOWS。"

"Butyouhaveyoursuspicions？"

"Wehave。"

"Givemeyourideaaboutthiscrowdthathangsroundthesaloons——theregulars。"

"Jestabadlot，"repliedLaramie，withthequickassuranceofknowledge。"Mostofthemhavebeenhereyears。Othershavedriftedin。Someofthemwork，oddtimes。Theyrustleafewsteers，steal，rob，anythin’foralittlemoneytodrinkan’

gamble。Jestabadlot！"

"HaveyouanyideawhetherCheseldineandhisgangareassociatedwiththisganghere？"

"Lordknows。I’vealwayssuspectedthemthesamegang。NoneofuseverseenCheseldine——an’thet’sstrange，whenKnell，Poggin，PanhandleSmith，BlossomKane，andFletcher，theyallridehereoften。No，Poggindoesn’tcomeoften。Buttheothersdo。Forthetmatter，they’rearoundalloverwestofthePecos。"

"NowI’mpuzzledoverthis，"saidDuane。"Whydomen——apparentlyhonestmen——seemtobesoclose—mouthedhere？

Isthat。afact，oronlymyimpression？"

"It’sasurefact，"repliedLaramie，darkly。"Menhavelostcattlean’propertyinFairdale——lostthemhonestlyorotherwise，ashasn’tbeenproved。An’insomecaseswhentheytalked——hintedalittle——theywasfounddead。Apparentlyheldupanrobbed。Butdead。Deadmendon’ttalk！Thet’swhywe’reclosemouthed。"

Duanefeltadark，sombersternness。Rustlingcattlewasnotintolerable。WesternTexashadgoneonprospering，growinginspiteofthehordesofrustlersrangingitsvaststretches;butacold，secret，murderousholdonalittlestrugglingcommunitywassomethingtoostrange，tooterribleformentostandlong。

Therangerwasabouttospeakagainwhentheclatterofhoofsinterruptedhim。Horseshaltedoutinfront，andoneridergotdown。FloydLawsonentered。Hecalledfortobacco。

IfhisvisitsurprisedLaramiehedidnotshowanyevidence。

ButLawsonshowedrageashesawtheranger，andthenadarkglintflittedfromtheeyesthatshiftedfromDuanetoLaramieandbackagain。Duaneleanedeasilyagainstthecounter。

"Say，thatwasabadbreakofyours，"Lawsonsaid。"Ifyoucomefoolingroundtheranchagainthere’llbehell。"

ItseemedstrangethatamanwhohadlivedwestofthePecosfortenyearscouldnotseeinDuanesomethingwhichforbadethatkindoftalk。ItcertainlywasnotnerveLawsonshowed;

menofcouragewereseldomintolerant。Withthematchlessnervethatcharacterizedthegreatgunmenofthedaytherewasacool，unobtrusivemanner，aspeechbrief，almostgentle，certainlycourteous。Lawsonwasahot—headedLouisianianofFrenchextraction;aman，evidently，whohadneverbeencrossedinanything，andwhowasstrong，brutal，passionate，whichqualitiesinthefaceofasituationlikethismadehimsimplyafool。

"I’msayingagain，youusedyourrangerbluffjusttogetnearRayLongstreth，"Lawsonsneered。"Mindyou，ifyoucomeupthereagainthere’llbehell。"

"You’reright。Butnotthekindyouthink，"Duaneretorted，hisvoicesharpandcold。

"RayLongstrethwouldn’tstooptoknowadirtyblood—trackerlikeyou，"saidLawson，hotly。HedidnotseemtohaveadeliberateintentiontorouseDuane;themanwassimplyrancorous，jealous。"I’llcallyouright。Youcheapbluffer！

Youfour—flush！Youdamnedinterfering，conceitedranger！"

"Lawson，I’llnottakeoffense，becauseyouseemtobechampioningyourbeautifulcousin，"repliedDuane，inslowspeech。"Butletmereturnyourcompliment。You’reafineSoutherner！Why，you’reonlyacheapfour—flush——damned，bull—headedRUSTLER！"

Duanehissedthelastword。ThenforhimtherewasthetruthinLawson’sworkingpassion—blackenedface。

Lawsonjerked，moved，meanttodraw。Buthowslow！Duanelungedforward。Hislongarmsweptup。AndLawsonstaggeredbackward，knockingtableandchairs，tofallhard，inahalf—sittingpostureagainstthewall。