land's. He loves her. Thet's the
strange part of it.

"'Has Duane been comin' here to see my wife?' Bland asked, fierce-like.

"'No,' said Jennie.

"'He's been after you?'

"'Yes.'

"'He has fallen in love with you? Kate said thet.'

"'I--I'm not--I don't know--he hasn't told me.'

"'But you're in love with him?'

"'Yes,' she said; an', Buck, if you only could have seen her! She
thronged up her head, an' her eyes were full of fire. Bland seemed dazed
at sight of her. An' Alloway, why, thet little skunk of an outlaw cried
right out. He was hit plumb center. He's in love with Jen. An' the look
of her then was enough to make any feller quit. He jest slunk out of the
room. I told you, mebbe, thet he'd been tryin' to git Bland to marry Jen
to him. So even a tough like Alloway can love a woman!

"Bland stamped up an' down the room. He sure was dyin' hard.

"'Jennie,' he said, once more turnin' to her. 'You swear in fear of your
life thet you're tellin' truth. Kate's not in love with Duane? She's let
him come to see you? There's been nuthin' between them?'

"'No. I swear,' answered Jennie; an' Bland sat down like a man licked.

"'Go to bed, you white-faced--' Bland choked on some word or other--a
bad one, I reckon--an' he positively shook in his chair.

"Jennie went then, an' Kate began to have hysterics. An' your Uncle
Euchre ducked his nut out of the door an' come home."

Duane did not have a word to say at the end of Euchre's long harangue.
He experienced relief. As a matter of fact, he had expected a good deal
worse. He thrilled at the thought of Jennie perjuring herself to save
that abandoned woman. What mysteries these feminine creatures were!

"Wal, there's where our little deal stands now," resumed Euchre,
meditatively. "You know, Buck, as well as me thet if you'd been some
feller who hadn't shown he was a wonder with a gun you'd now be full of
lead. If you'd happen to kill Bland an' Alloway, I reckon you'd be as
safe on this here border as you would in Santone. Such is gun fame in
this land of the draw."

CHAPTER IX

Both men were awake early, silent with the premonition of trouble ahead,
thoughtful of the fact that the time for the long-planned action was at
hand. It was remarkable that a man as loquacious as Euchre could hold
his tongue so long; and this was significant of the deadly nature of
the intended deed. During breakfast he said a few words customary in the
service of food. At the co