Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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■ * • ' * •»*!!'♦* • •< . ^ i. 4 • * r ^ ■'•y DUAHEl Sixth Installment WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE ItuslnUdljVti on the draw, kills Cal and finds himself an Buck Bain in self-defense outlaw. Flying from pursuit, he meets Luke Stevens, another outlaw, and the two be come pals. Luke narrowly escapes capture and Duane is shocked to find his brother outlaw severely wounded. * Duane buries Stevens. Then he goes on to Bland’s camp, where he gets into a fight with a man called Bosomer and wounds the latter. He makes a friend of an outlaw at Bland’s called Euchre, who tells him of Mrs. Bland and the girl Jennie. Duane meets Jennie, and promises to try his utmost to jet her away from Bland s camp. To avert suspicion, it is planned that he pretend to care for Mrs. Bland. Euchre introduces him to the latter and he encages in conversation with her. Buck plays the game, making Mrs. Bland think he loves her. To avert Bland’s suspi cion, Mrs. Bland pretends to her husband that Buck has come to visit Jennie. Bland urges Buck to become a regular member of his outlaw gang. A quarrel later develops in which Duane kills Bland and rushes, on with Jennie after a terrific struggle wiih Mrs. Bland. He plans to leave Jennie in good hands until a relative or friend is located, and then go on alone on the .trail. He . keeps careful guard over her. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY About the middle of the afternoon Jennie awoke.- They cooked a meal, ^and afterward sat beside the little fire. • She had never been, in his observation of her, anything but a tragic figure, an unhappy girl, the farthest removed from serenity and poise. That char acteristic capacity for agitation struck him as stronger in her this day. He attributed it, however, to the long strain, the suspense nearing an end. , Yet sometimes, when her eyes were on him, she did not seem to be thinking of her freedom, of her future. “This time tomorrow you’ll be in ShelbyviHe,” he said. “Where will you be?” she asked quickly. ‘‘Me? Oh, 111 be making tracks for some lonesome place,” he replied. The girl shuddered *Tve been brought up in Texas. I remember what a hard lot the men of my family had. But poor as they were, they had a roof over their heads, a hearth with a fire, a warm bed— somebody to love them. ‘‘And you. Duane, oh, my God I What your life must het You must - ride and hide and watch eternally. No decent food, no pillow, no friendly word no clean clothes, no woman's band! Horses, guns, trails, rocka^ holes—these must be the important things m your life. You must go on riding. hi«l: > killing until you meet S# f _ f ^ _ ended with a sob and <hvnyf her bead on her knees. Duane was amazed, deeply touched. My girl, thank you for that thought of me," he said with a tremor in his voice. "You don’t know how much that means to me.” She raised her face and it was tear- stained. eloquent beautiful. *Tve heard tell—the best of men go to the had out there. You won’t. Pro mise me you won’t I never—knew any man—like you. I—I—we may never see each other again—after to day. I’ll never forget you. I’ll pray for you and I’ll never give up trying lo—to do something. “Don’t despair. It’s never too late. It was my hope that kept me alive- out there at Bland’s—before you came. I was only a poor weak girl. But if I could hope—-so can you. Stay away from men I Be a lone wolf! Fight for your life I Stick out your exile— snd maybe—some day ” Then she lost her voice. Duane clasped her hand, and with feeling as deep as hers promised to remember her words. In her despair for him she had spoken wisdom—pointed out the only course. Duane’s vigilance, momentarily bro ken by emotion, had no sooner reas serted itself than he discovered the bay horse, the one Jennie rode had broken his halter and gone off. The soft wet earth had deadened the sound of his hoofs. His tracks were plain in the mud. There were clumps of mesquit in sight, among which the horse might have strayed. It turned out however, that he had not done so. Duane did not want to leave Jennie alone in the cabin, so near the road. So he put her up on his horse and bade her follow. The rain had ceased for the time being, though evidently -4he -storm-was--net yet over. The- footprints and trades showed that cam pers had lately been. Rushing across this, he broke his passage out to the open. But he was too late. His horse had disappeared. Jennie was gone. There was no rider in sight There was no sound. It came to him then like a blow that he loved the girl. For three long and terrible years Buck Duane rode up and down the Texas border. His fame grew steadily until he was the most noted and most misrepresent ed outlaw of his day. Hundreds of men in the border towns claimed friendship with him. Every honest rancher between Browns ville and El Paso would have been glad to shake his hand and hide him. Every outlaw along the river feared him; every crooked gambler in the monte dens played fair when Duane happened to drop in; every imitation bad man in the southwest of Texas wanted to kill him, bragged on his name, hunted him when fired by drink. The better half of that widely scat tered populace especially in localities Duane had visited, was loath to be lieve him perpetrator of the crimes laid to him. The ignorant and out lawed class fastened on his name all the rustling, hold-ups, robberies, mur ders, when direct evidence did not point to someone else. In a sense, the reputation of every haps a quarter of a mile to come upon a grove of mesquits. The brightness of several fires made the surrounding darkness all Hie blacker. Duane saw the moving forms of men and heard - horses. He advanced naturally, ex pecting any moment to be halted. “Who goes there?” came the sharp call out of the gloofp. Duane pulled his horse. The gloom was impenetrable. “One man—alone,” rallied Duane. • “A stranger?” , “Yes.” —— , “What do you want?* — “I’m trying to find the ranger camp.” “You’ve struck it What’s your errand ?” “I want to see Captain MacNelly.” “Get down and- advance. Slow. Don’t move your hands. It’s dark, but I can see.” Duane dismounted and, leading his horse, slowly advanced a few paces. He saw a dully bright object, a gun, before he discerned the man who held it. A few more steps showed a dark figure blocking the trail. Here Duane halted. “Come closer, stranger. Let’s have a look at you,” the guard ordered curtly. /Duane advanced again until he stood before the man. Here the ray of lights from the fire flickered upon Duane’s face fantastically. “Reckon you’re a stranger all right SI 000 Reward. Alive or Dead! famous outlaw developed by these wild years had suffered more or less from this natural exaggeration and tntsrep- s resentatioo. But no outlaw before him hud ever had such a host of ad mirers and partisans who ftreely gave the lie to any accusation of robbery or crime attributed to him. It was widely known that he had never earned a dollar in his out law career. It was sworn by many and reputable men that he had never stolen one. Few towns or villages on that border had no storekeeper who had not a tale to tell about Duane, the Lone Wolf. One afternoon, from the top of a long hill, Duane saw the green fields and trees and shining roofs of a town he considered must he Shirley; and af the bottom of the hill he came upon an intersecting road. There was a pla card nailed on the cross-road sign-post Duane drew rein near it and leaned dose to read the faded prim; $1,000 REWARD FOR BUCK DUANE DEAD OR ALIVE. Peering closer to read the finer, more faded print, Duane learned that he was wanted for the murder of Mrs. Jeff Aiken at her ranch near Shirley. The month of September was named, but the date was illegible. The reward was offered by the woman's husband, whose name appeared, with that of a sheriff’s, at the bottom of the pla card. Duane read the thing twice. When he straightened he was sick with the horror of his fate, wild with passion at those misguided fools who could believe that he had harmed a woman. When Duane reached the crossing of the roads the name Fairfield on the sign-post seemed to be the thing that tipped the oscillating balance of decis ion in favor of that direction. He an swered here to unfathomable impulse. In Duane’s state of mind clear rea soning, common sense, or keenness yet’ AH this in keepii tracks led up a wash to a wide flat where mesquit, prickly pear, and thorn- bush grew so thickly that. Jennie could not ride into it. Duane was throughly concerned. He must have her horse. Time Avas fly ing. It would soon be night. He could not expect her to scramble quick ly through that brake on foot. There fore he decided to risk leaving her at the edge of the thicket and go in alone. Suddenly there came an unmistak able thump of horses’ hoofs off some where to the fore. Then a scream rent the air. It ended abruptly. Duane leaped forward and tore his way through the thorny brake. He heard Jennie cry again—an appeal ing call, quickly hushed. It seemed more to his right, and he plunged way. He burst into a glade where a smol dering fire and ground covered with sonmg, common sense, or keenness w were out of the question: He went be- pered CAIIQP Vi* that Ha so strange to Duane, much that had hap- Doanrt It's yog?" be whk- Brings Lower Prices on the m The unprecedented public acceptance of the New Frigid' aire has resulted in the greatest increase in volume in die history of the Ipisiness. Quiet operation, surpassing beauty and lasting economy have further increased an already overwhelming prefer ence of buyers everywhere. This tremendous volume has resulted in further produc tion economies. In accordance with the fixed policy of General Motors these economies are being passed on to the public. Savings as great as $90 announcement at the pres* ent time (or it will enable many additional thousands of homes to have the advan*> tages of Frigidaire Automatic Refrigeration for Christmas* The New Frigidaires, and details of prices and terms are now available at Frigid* aire display rooms where* / We therefore announce a sweeping reduction in the prices of household models, amounting to as much as $90, effective December 10th* AcomparisonofFrigidaire value, with any other electric refrigerator will emphasize the importance of this further reduction of prices* We are glad to make this / / , FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, Subsidiary of General Motors, DAYTON, OHIO Williston Hardware Co. What’g your name and your bust nets with the captain ?" 1 Jayne hesitated, pondering what best to say. ’TeH Captain MacNelly I’m the man he’s been asking to ride into his camp after dark." finally said Duane. The ranger bent forward to peer hard at this night visitor. His manner aad been alert and now it became tense, ‘‘Come here—one of you men— quick," he called without turning ia the least toward the camp-fire. “Hello I What’s up, Pickens?” came the swift reply. It was followed by rapid thud of boots on soft ground. ^ dark form crossed the gleams from the firelight. Then a ranger loomed up, to reach the side of the guard. Duane heard whispering, the purport of which he could not catch. The sec ond ranger swore under his breath. Then he turned away and started back. “Here, ranger, before you go, un derstand this. My visit is peaceful— friendly, if you’ll let it be. Mind. I was asked to come here after dark.” Duane’s clear, penetrating voice car ried far. The listening rangers at the camp-fire heard what he said. “Ho, Pickens—tell that fellow to wait,” replied an authoritative voice. Then a slim figure detached itself from the dark, moving group at the camp-fire and hurried out. “Better be foxy, Cap,” shouted A ranger in warning. “Shut up—all of you,” was the reply. This officer, obviously Captain Mac Nelly, soon joined the two rangers who were confronting Duane. He had no fear. He strode straight up to Duane. Williston, S. C. H* FREE Illustrated Catalogue of Plants, Roses, Fruit and Nut Tn-* upon request. On all orders re- eived by January 1st amounting to $5.00 we will >**nd FREE one plant—our selection. FRLTTLAND NURSERIES P. O. Box 910S. Augusta, Ga. LONG TERM MONEY to LEND 6 per cent interest on large amounts) Private funds for small loans.! BROWN & BUSH BARNWELL* SOUTH What does it mean “I’m MacNelly,” he said. “If you’re the man don’t mention your nam*- JF is seemed ing with cause he felt that he was compelled. Dusk had fallen when he rode into a town which inquiry discovered Fairfield. Captain MacNelly’s was stationed just out of the limits on the other side. No one except the boy Duane ques tioned appeared to notice his arrival. Like Shirley, the town of Fairfield was large and prosperous; compared to the innumerable hamlets dotting the vast extent of southwestern Texas. As Duane rode through, being careful to get off the main street he heard the tolling of a church bell that was a mel- eminder of his old home, ere did not appear to be any camp the outskirts of the town. But as tane sat his horse, peering around and undecided what further move to make, he. caught the glint of flicker ing lights through the darkness. Heading toward them, be rode per- eagerTyT “Yes.” “If I give my word you’ll not be arrested—you’ll be treated fairly—will you come into camp and consult with me?” “Certainly” “Duane, I’m sure glad to meet you,” went on MacNelly and extended his hand. . .Amazed and touched, scarcely real izing this actuality, Duane gave his band and felt no unmistakable grip of warmth. “It doesn’t seem natural, Captain MacNelly, but I believe I’m glad to meet you,” said Duane soberly. ‘'You will be. Now we’ll go bade to camp. Keep your identity mum for the present” r ^ He led Doane in the direction of tl* camp-fire. 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