\"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。