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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1928)
HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, DEC. 27, 1928 PAGE THREE 1 MXVWWWATV& flluslnfed iyVereeCChrhfy WHAT HAPPENED BEFOBE Buck Duane, quick on the draw, kills Cal Blnln in self-defense and becomes an outlaw. After adventures on the road he goes to Bland's camp. There he woundB a man named Bosomer and becomes a bosom friend of another named Euchre. He meets Mrs. Bland and also a girl Jennie, held prisoner by ' Bland, whom he rescues after a series of Intrigues In which he is forced to deceive Mrs. Bland. This leads to Duune's killing of Bland, the outlaw leader, and rushing off with Jennie, who is lost later. Du ane roams the roads for years as an derer, a gunman, a victim of cir cumstances he had loved and lost and suffered worse than death in that loss he had gone down the endless bloody trail, a killer of men, a fugitive whose mind slowly and inevitably closed to all except the instinct to survive and a black de spair. And now, with this woman in his arms, her swelling breast against his, in this moment almost of res- outlaw, finally going to meet Captain L0.Di ' A i MacNelly of the Rangers, who had PaBsion and Jy possible only to asked to see him. MacNelly is kind to mm, ana oners mm a pardon II ne will accept an offer to become a Ranger and go after Cheseldlne's gang. MacNelly had become interested in Duane after a Miss Lee had spoken in his behalf. Duane promises MacNelly to do him any service. Meanwhile MacNelly gives Duane much welcome news. NOW 00 ON WITH' THE STORY "The Governor got mad and flay ed us alive. Most rangers were lazy, useless gun-fighting shysters! Reed lost his temper. He's hot for the service. But I kept cool, and told the Governor straight out that If he'd pardon you I'd break up Ches eldlne's gang on the river. That sort of floored the Governor. He got Interested. "I talked to him for an hour, ex plained how there were only two ways to exterminate Cheseldine and the like. Either with an army or with the ranger service, employing such a scout as you. The army Idea wasn't possible. But he was impres sed by the other. He said: 'Set an outlaw to catch an outlaw, eh?' "Then he pondered a while and at last rang -for his secretary. 'My political enemies say I'm not liberal-minded he went on. 'Now, I'm going to make this a test case of the ranger service. I'll pardon this gun sharp Duane on condition you make him a ranger. That is, he'll not be pardoned until he is a ranger. Then we'll see how the scheme works out'." "MacNelly, I want to Bee this Miss Lee," said Duane. "I was thinking of that It's a good chance. Maybe there'll never be another one." He paused a mo ment, chewing his cigar. "All right; I see no reason against your meet ing fier," he went on. "But let me arrange the matter as suits me. Tomorrow I'll send a ranger over to Shirley. There's a train and stage, too. Now, let's turn in, Du ane. We've talked a deal. And I was tired before we began. Make yourself a bed there. Good night." Duane stepped upon the porch and rang the bell. After what ap peared to be a long time a negro maid opened the door. "A caller to see Miss Lee," said Duane. The maid asked him In and led him to a parlor. It was a large room, light enough, yet full of un familiar shapes. He stood there un certain, waiting. The maid return ed to say that Miss Lee would be right in. Whoever Miss Lee was, she must have connection with wealthy peo ple. Duane felt long-absent asso ciations become vivid In his mind. Slowly he turned. A slender wo man in white stood in the door, one hand clinging to the curtains, the other at her breast She was whiter than her dress as white as a flow er. Her eyes were dark, strained, staring, beautiful. The look of them Duane had seen before. Duane's lips uttered her name, yet he had a vague sense of not hearing his own voice. The move ment of his lips, his hand, seemed to animate her. She had been as still as a statue, and now she was as if shot through and through with life. That supporting hand upon the curtain appeared to uphold her quivering form. "Oh, Duane, don't you know me?" She moved, she swept out her hands and the wonder of her eyes dimmed in a flood of tears. She stepped blindly. Duane's sight, straining with all the abnormal keenness of stunned faculties leap ing back to power, caught a slight but unmistakable limp in her step. " In a flash all that had been strange about her vanished. He was back In another world one he had scared over In his heart and closed forever. "My God! Who are you?" he cried hoarsely. Then she met him, arms out stretched. "Jennie! Jennie! Jennie!" she sobbed. Swift as light Duane caught her up and held her crushed to his breast The past, like deadening scales, fell from him. He stood hold ing her tight, with the feel of her warm, throbbing brease and the clasp of her clinging arms as flesh and blood realities to fight a terri ble fear that this was only another and the worst of those moments haunted by fantoms. Despite a stunned consciousness, ho never lost the true sense of the exquisite life of that moment. He felt her and the might of It was stronger than all the demons of his unhappy years. Jennie was not dead. She was alive alive alive! And he held her as if she had been his soul his strength on earth -his hope of heaven against his lips The strife of doubt all past, the encroaching of old dark moods fell short and faded. He found his sight again. And there rushed over him a tide of emotion unutterably sweet and full, strong, like an Intoxicat ing wine, deep as his nature, some thing glorious and terrible as the him who had endured so much. "Jennie! . Jennie!" he whispered unsteadily. "No dream no ghost but you! I didn't know you." "Yes, Jennie. And you never knew me!" She stirred and lifted her face from his breast. Her hands unclasped from his neck, fell to his shoulders, and caught there. A stain of red came into her white face. "Have I changed so much from that time over the Rim-Rock?" "Changed! You're not the same girl! You've only that old look in your eyes. I saw you limp that told me." "I'm still a little lame." "It was that How everything rushed back! I saw you as on that first day in the cabin. It's all clear er than the thousand times I've dreamed It Euchre and Bland and that fierce woman, his wife, and AI loway! The little shack where you hid and nursed me. Jennie, I went back there lived there a whole year with dreams and ghosts." He shuddered and looked out of the window, far beyond, in cold and sick fancy, to the wilds of desert gorge. Jennie lifted a hand and touched his cheek with ineffable tenderness. I lived there alone alone like a crippled wolf. Oh, the lonely nights the black nights with their faces. But, Jennie, I found one thing my salvation then." He bent over her, looking deep into her dark, wet eyes. "What?" she whispered. "I found I loved you, and one of my bitterest regrets was that you never knew It. Hear it now! I love you! I've always loved you! I learned to love you there in Bland s cabin when we planned to save you. But It never came to me till I d lost you. "Then the memory was all that kept my mind from going. Your eye used to haunt me, Jennie. I could see them dark and sad and watchful as you peered through the window at me with that woman, Kate Bland. It all comes back. Jennie, you must have much to tell me; and I have much to tell you. Can you tell me you care for me? When I think of what you must have done! Jennie, haven't you loved me a little?" She uttered a low laugh that was half sob and her arms slipped up to his neck again. A little! I nearly died of love for you," she whispered. "I've never lived a wakeful hour without loving you, longing for you, praying for you. Oh, Duane, Duane, I love you!" Their Hps met in their first kiss. The sweetness, the fire, of her mouth seemed so new, so strange, so irresistible to Duane. His sore and hungry heart throbbed with thick and heavy beats. He felt the outcast's need of love and he gave up to the enthralling moment. She met him half-way, returned kiss for kiss, clasp for clasp, her face scarlet, her eyes closed, till, her passion and strength spent she fell back upon his shoulder. Duane suddenly thought she was going to faint He divined then that she had understood him, would have denied him nothing, not even her life, In that moment But she was overcome, and he suffered a pang of regret at his unrestraint "Jennie don't mind it I'm rough I was enrnird away," he said. I never knew life could be so sweet" "I don't mind I'm glad," she re plied, slipping out of his arms. "But my breath went and and Come, let's sit down here by the window." She led him to a sofa and they sat down. It seemed then that each looked at the other with different eyes, hers dark and sad, troubled, his glowing and soft, full of won der. Jennie slipped to her knees and trembling hands reached up to Du ane. Don't tell me that McNelly has made you a ranger?" she implored. "That's it" replied Duane and brought himself to face her. He feared a breakdown or at least a storm of weeping. But apparently she grew calmer now, that the truth was out. 'He didn't make you a ranger just for an excuse for the pardon?" No. Irs secret special service." Ah! What is It Duane?" 'I'm to make my way west, find where Cheseldine hides out with his picked men, get In with them, and when they're ready to ride out on another raid or bank robbery I'm to plan a trap so McNelly can kill them or capture them." Oh, Heaven! Duane, was It for that MacNelly got your pardon? He might as well have killed you. To send you on a mission like that! Duane, it's impossible. With your reputation, your known hatred of border criminals with the death of Bland, Alloway, Hardin, all those outlaws against you, why, It would be utterly hopeless impossible." t "No, Jennie, not that It could be done by good management and luck." "I mean you'd never Bucceed and then come back," said Jennie. "You might do the same out there as you did in Bland's camp. But the risk's greater. I remember all about Che seldine. I've never heard his name since we got away from Bland; but now it all comes back Bland and Alloway, Hardin, too, in their talks. "Duane, let me go back to Mac Nelly." "What for?" "To entreat him to release you." "Why, he wouldn't He's keen to do this thing. And I don't blame him. MacNelly's a fine fellow; he's not wanting in sympathy. But he's got a man's job, and you couldn't move him." "Yes, I could. At least, if I could n't persuade him, I could buy your release. The ranger service is poor ly paid. They need money. He could do much with money. I'll pay him ten thousand dollars to release you." Jennie! Oh, you mustn t think of such a thing! He wouldn't con sent Remember, Ira practically bound to Governor Stone as well as Captain MacNelly." What Governor Stone would never know wouldn't hurt him," muttered Jennie. The fire In her eyes had spread. BAYNARD SAGER TEACHER OF VIOLIN Terms $5.00 Monthly. Box 621, Pendleton. Cummings & Witcraft U. S. L. BATTERY SALES Complete Battery Service Rocharge Rental Repair Satisfaction Guaranteed PHONE or leave orders at Phelps Grocery Co. Home Phone 1102 HEPPNER TRANS FER COMPANY International Beauties Here on Tour Among girls picked by their respective countries as outstanding beauties, in the United States oh a theatrical tour, are, standing left to right;- Marcya, Spanish dancer; Jacqueline Cobra, M.iss Spain; Ginette Gaubert, Miss Pans, Angel Jovce, Miss England; Elsie Korin, Miss Austria, Marguerite du Frence, Miss France. In ovals, left to right: Nita Smoleski, Miss Poland; Nathalie Barr, Miss Russia; Kate Reiter, Miss Germany; Joy Ashley, Miss London. ARE YOU SHIPPING TURKEYS? Get our rates for dressed poultry of all kinds be fore you ship. We will pick them up any place on our route. Job Day Valley Freight line (Incorporated) Operating between Heppner and Portland and John Day Highway Points. CITY GARAGE, Local Agent, Phone 172 When you build, we are ready-to-serve you W7HEN you build it Is always a comforting W thing to know that the building materials you buy are golilg to be up to specifications. Cheap, flimsy construction usually goes hand in hand with poor quality materials. Safeguard your building by letting us know what you require and we will work with you . to see that your interests are well protected. We are headquarters for all dependable building Materials and can also help you select a good, reliable contractor! Tell us what you plan to do-we can and will give you helpful advice. '..S, TUM-A-LUM LUMBER COMPANY Yards at Heppner, Lexington and lone Faint red spots appeared In her white cheeks. Her bosom rose and fell with deep, hurried breaths. Du ane! saw in her the fighting spirit of Texas and sensed a bursting storm. "Dear Jennie, look at it this way," he said persuasively. "Thank Heav en I'm a free man now! Think how glad my mother will be. I've a hard Job on hand. But you know I'm pretty well able to tackle it I'll break up Cheseldine's band. There's a chance. Can't you im agine what I'll do with that chance when all the time I'll know you love me are waiting for me?" For all the effect this speech pro duced he might as well have kept silent Her eyes, black now and blazing, were on him. "Duane, return the pardon to MacNelly and go back to the Nue ces. Be an outlaw again. I'll go with you." (Continued Next Week.) Blacksmith Inventor Frank Wilson Lambert, 73, a fclacksmith of Omaha, has in vented a propel ler with curved ends , which he claims will revo. lntionke aviation. Lambert is build ing an airplane in which he hopes' to make a flight to Paris .next year. May peace and pros perity attend 1929, and may that year be generous to your pro jects as you have made 1928 generous to ours. Our greet ings are heartfelt. ELKHORN RESTAURANT ED CHINN, Prop. The New Year bells are clanging and their harmonious notes thrill us with a realization of what your friendship has meant during the past year. Our New Year wishes for you are twice as great as those for ourselves. Central Market HENRY SCHWARZ & SON 11 MARS B efore another grain of sand goes to the bottom of the hour-glass, we want you to know that we are wishing you "A Happy New Year" in all sincerity and gratitude. Your constnt friendship during 1928 has meant more to us than we can say. PHELPS Grocery Co. THE HOME OF GOOD EATS Phone Main 53 We Deliver CASH AND CARRY I TONE' CHAIN STORES OREGON, WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO HEPPNER HOTEL BLDG., HEPPNER, ORE. START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT Form the habit of paying cash for your groceries The savings you make during the course of the next year wi 11 surprise and delight you. PAY CASH AND PAY LESS CRANBERRIES Large, fresh berries 2 Quarts 45c BANANAS Yellow Fruit 3 Lbs. 33c MINCE MEAT EXTRA FANCY KERR'S BEST 2 Lbs. 39c Nalley's Mayonnaise Pints 33c Quarts 60c SPERRY'S FLOUR WHITE DOWN 49 lbs $1.85 Barrel $7.25 CRYSTAL WHITE SOAP 20 Bars 85c PRINCE ALBERT IN GLASS HUMIDOR. 1 Lb v $1.39 An Ideal Present For Him HAMS MILD CURE 29c lb. CHEESE MEADOW GROVE Per Pound 29c BULK LARD 2 lbs 39c 4 lbs 75c 3 lbs $1.45 STONE'S SYRUP CANE AND MAPLE 1-2 Gallon 89c 1 Gallon $1.59 We Deliver Orders Over $3.00 FREE in the City Limits SWEET POTATOES Fancy 4 Lbs 29c STONE'S COFFEE Supreme Blend 1 lb 49c 3 lbs $1.45 Special Blend 1 lb 39c 3 lbs $1.10 PINEAPPLE Broken Slices 4 Cans . 79c No. zy2 Cans. blaze of the sun to one long In dark ncss. He had become an outcast, a wan