\"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。