CHAPTER XX
A low cry greeted Duane. The room was light. He saw Ray Longstrethsitting on her bed in her dressing-gown. With a warning gesture to herto be silent he turned to close the door. It was a heavy door withoutbolt or bar, and when Duane had shut it he felt safe only for themoment. Then he gazed around the room. There was one window with blindclosely drawn. He listened and seemed to hear footsteps retreating,dying away.
Then Duane turned to Miss Longstreth. She had slipped off the bed, halfto her knees, and was holding out trembling hands. She was as white asthe pillow on her bed. She was terribly frightened. Again with warninghand commanding silence, Duane stepped softly forward, meaning toreassure her.
"Oh!" she whispered, wildly; and Duane thought she was going to faint.When he got close and looked into her eyes he understood the strange,dark expression in them. She was terrified because she believed he meantto kill her, or do worse, probably worse. Duane realized he must havelooked pretty hard and fierce bursting into her room with that big gunin hand.
The way she searched Duane's face with doubtful, fearful eyes hurt him.
"Listen. I didn't know this was your room. I came here to get away--tosave my life. I was pursued. I was spying on--on your father andhis men. They heard me, but did not see me. They don't know who waslistening. They're after me now."
Her eyes changed from blank gulfs to dilating, shadowing, quickeningwindows of thought.
Then she stood up and faced Duane with the fire and intelligence of awoman in her eyes.
"Tell me now. You were spying on my father?"
Briefly Duane told her what had happened before he entered her room, notomitting a terse word as to the character of the men he had watched.
"My God! So it's that? I knew something was terribly wrong here--withhim--with the place--the people. And right off I hated Floyd Lawson. Oh,it'll kill me if--if--It's so much worse than I dreamed. What shall Ido?"
The sound of soft steps somewhere near distracted Duane's attention,reminded him of her peril, and now, what counted more with him, madeclear the probability of being discovered in her room.
"I'll have to get out of here," whispered Duane.
"Wait," she replied. "Didn't you say they were hunting for you?"
"They sure are," he returned, grimly.
"Oh, then you mustn't go. They might shoot you before you got away.Stay. If we hear them you can hide. I'll turn out the light. I'll meetthem at the door. You can trust me. Wait till all quiets down, if wehave to wait till morning. Then you can slip out."
"I oughtn't to stay. I don't want to--I won't," Duane replied, perplexedand stubborn.
"But you must. It's the only safe way. They won't come here."
"Suppose they should? It's an even chance Longstreth'll search everyroom and corner in this old house. If they found me here I couldn'tstart a fight. You might be hurt. Then--the fact of my being here--"
Duane did not finish what he meant, but instead made a step toward thedoor. White of face and dark of eye, she took hold of him to detain him.She was as strong and supple as a panther. But she need not have beeneither resolute or strong, for the clasp of her hand was enough to makeDuane weak.
"Up yet, Ray?" came Longstreth's clear voice, too strained, too eager tobe natural.
"No. I'm in bed reading. Good night," instantly replied Miss Longstreth,so calmly and naturally that Duane marveled at the difference betweenman and woman. Then she motioned for Duane to hide in the closet. Heslipped in, but the door would not close altogether.
"Are you alone?" went on Longstreth's penetrating voice.
"Yes," she replied. "Ruth went to bed."
The door swung inward with a swift scrape and jar. Longstreth halfentered, haggard, flaming-eyed. Behind him Duane saw Lawson, andindistinctly another man.
Longstreth barred Lawson from entering, which action showed control aswell as distrust. He wanted to see into the room. When he had glancedaround he went out and closed the door.
Then what seemed a long interval ensued. The house grew silent oncemore. Duane could not see Miss Longstreth, but he heard her quickbreathing. How long did she mean to let him stay hidden there? Hard andperilous as his life had been, this was a new kind of adventure. Hehad divined the strange softness of his feeling as something due to themagnetism of this beautiful woman. It hardly seemed possible that he,who had been outside the pale for so many years, could have fallen inlove. Yet that must be the secret of his agitation.
Presently he pushed open the closet door and stepped forth. MissLongstreth had her head lowered upon her arms and appeared to be indistress. At his touch she raised a quivering face.
"I think I can go now--safely," he whispered.
"Go then, if you must, but you may stay till you're safe," she replied.
"I--I couldn't thank you enough. It's been hard on me--this findingout--and you his daughter. I feel strange. I don't understand myselfwell. But I want you to know--if I were not an outlaw--a ranger--I'd laymy life at your feet."
"Oh! You have seen so--so little of me," she faltered.
"All the same it's true. And that makes me feel more the trouble mycoming caused you."
"You will not fight my father?"
"Not if I can help it. I'm trying to get out of his way.'
"But you spied upon him."
"I am a ranger, Miss Longstreth."
"And oh! I am a rustler's daughter," she cried. "That's so much moreterrible than I'd suspected. It was tricky cattle deals I imagined hewas engaged in. But only to-night I had strong suspicions aroused."
"How? Tell me."
"I overheard Floyd say that men were coming to-night to arrange ameeting for my father at a rendezvous near Ord. Father did not want togo. Floyd taunted him with a name."
"What name?" queried Duane.
"It was Cheseldine."
"CHESELDINE! My God! Miss Longstreth, why did you tell me that?"
"What difference does that make?"
"Your father and Cheseldine are one and the same," whispered Duane,hoarsely.
"I gathered so much myself," she replied, miserably. "But Longstreth isfather's real name."
Duane felt so stunned he could not speak at once. It was the girl's partin this tragedy that weakened him. The instant she betrayed the secretDuane realized perfectly that he did love her. The emotion was like agreat flood.
"Miss Longstreth, all this seems so unbelievable," he whispered."Cheseldine is the rustler chief I've come out here to get. He's only aname. Your father is the real man. I've sworn to get him. I'm bound bymore than law or oaths. I can't break what binds me. And I must disgraceyou--wreck your lifer Why, Miss Longstreth, I believe I--I loveyou. It's all come in a rush. I'd die for you if I could. Howfatal--terrible--this is! How things work out!"
She slipped to her knees, with her hands on his.
"You won't kill him?" she implored. "If you care for me--you won't killhim?"
"No. That I promise you."
With a low moan she dropped her head upon the bed.
Duane opened the door and stealthily stole out through the corridor tothe court.
When Duane got out into the dark, where his hot face cooled in the wind,his relief equaled his other feelings.
The night was dark, windy, stormy, yet there was no rain. Duane hoped assoon as he got clear of the ranch to lose something of the pain he felt.But long after he had tramped out into the open there was a lump in histhroat and an ache in his breast. All his thought centered around RayLongstreth. What a woman she had turned out to be! He seemed to havea vague, hopeless hope that there might be, there must be, some way hecould save her.