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。