th of the men
were out on the porch. Duane wormed his way to the edge of the shrubbery
and crouched low to watch for his opportunity.

Longstreth looked haggard and thin. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and he
had come out with a gun in his hand. This he laid on a table near the
wall. He wore no belt.

Lawson was red, bloated, thick-lipped, all fiery and sweaty from drink,
though sober on the moment, and he had the expression of a desperate
man in his last stand. It was his last stand, though he was ignorant of
that.

"What's your news? You needn't be afraid of my feelings," said Lawson.

"Ray confessed to an interest in this ranger," replied Longstreth.

Duane thought Lawson would choke. He was thick-necked anyway, and the
rush of blood made him tear at the soft collar of his shirt. Duane
awaited his chance, patient, cold, all his feelings shut in a vise.

"But why should your daughter meet this ranger?" demanded Lawson,
harshly.

"She's in love with him, and he's in love with her."

Duane reveled in Lawson's condition. The statement might have had the
force of a juggernaut. Was Longstreth sincere? What was his game?

Lawson, finding his voice, cursed Ray, cursed the ranger, then
Longstreth.

"You damned selfish fool!" cried Longstreth, in deep bitter scorn. "All
you think of is yourself--your loss of the girl. Think once of ME--my
home--my life!"

Then the connection subtly put out by Longstreth apparently dawned upon
the other. Somehow through this girl her father and cousin were to be
betrayed. Duane got that impression, though he could not tell how true
it was. Certainly Lawson's jealousy was his paramount emotion.

"To hell with you!" burst out Lawson, incoherently. He was frenzied.
"I'll have her, or nobody else will!"

"You never will," returned Longstreth, stridently. "So help me God I'd
rather see her the ranger's wife than yours!"

While Lawson absorbed that shock Longstreth leaned toward him, all of
hate and menace in his mien.

"Lawson, you made me what I am," continued Longstreth. "I backed
you--shielded you. YOU'RE Cheseldine--if the truth is told! Now it's
ended. I quit you. I'm done!"

Their gray passion-corded faces were still as stones.

"GENTLEMEN!" Duane called in far-reaching voice as he stepped out.
"YOU'RE BOTH DONE!"

They wheeled to confront Duane.

"Don't move! Not a muscle! Not a finger!" he warned.

Longstreth read what Lawson had not the mind to read. His face turned