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。