Part 9 (1/2)
”I'll try,” said Duane, simply. ”That won't be easy, though. I must have time to think. You must help me. There are many things to consider.
Horses, food, trails, and then the best time to make the attempt. Are you watched--kept prisoner?”
”No. I could have run off lots of times. But I was afraid. I'd only have fallen into worse hands. Euchre has told me that. Mrs. Bland beats me, half starves me, but she has kept me from her husband and these other dogs. She's been as good as that, and I'm grateful. She hasn't done it for love of me, though. She always hated me. And lately she's growing jealous. There was' a man came here by the name of Spence--so he called himself. He tried to be kind to me. But she wouldn't let him. She was in love with him. She's a bad woman. Bland finally shot Spence, and that ended that. She's been jealous ever since. I hear her fighting with Bland about me. She swears she'll kill me before he gets me. And Bland laughs in her face. Then I've heard Chess Alloway try to persuade Bland to give me to him. But Bland doesn't laugh then. Just lately before Bland went away things almost came to a head. I couldn't sleep. I wished Mrs. Bland would kill me. I'll certainly kill myself if they ruin me.
Duane, you must be quick if you'd save me.”
”I realize that,” replied he, thoughtfully. ”I think my difficulty will be to fool Mrs. Bland. If she suspected me she'd have the whole gang of outlaws on me at once.”
”She would that. You've got to be careful--and quick.”
”What kind of woman is she?” inquired Duane.
”She's--she's brazen. I've heard her with her lovers. They get drunk sometimes when Bland's away. She's got a terrible temper. She's vain.
She likes flattery. Oh, you could fool her easy enough if you'd lower yourself to--to--”
”To make love to her?” interrupted Duane.
Jennie bravely turned shamed eyes to meet his.
”My girl, I'd do worse than that to get you away from here,” he said, bluntly.
”But--Duane,” she faltered, and again she put out the appealing hand.
”Bland will kill you.”
Duane made no reply to this. He was trying to still a rising strange tumult in his breast. The old emotion--the rush of an instinct to kill!
He turned cold all over.
”Chess Alloway will kill you if Bland doesn't,” went on Jennie, with her tragic eyes on Duane's.
”Maybe he will,” replied Duane. It was difficult for him to force a smile. But he achieved one.
”Oh, better take me off at once,” she said. ”Save me without risking so much--without making love to Mrs. Bland!”
”Surely, if I can. There! I see Euchre coming with a woman.”
”That's her. Oh, she mustn't see me with you.”
”Wait--a moment,” whispered Duane, as Jennie slipped indoors. ”We've settled it. Don't forget. I'll find some way to get word to you, perhaps through Euchre. Meanwhile keep up your courage. Remember I'll save you somehow. We'll try strategy first. Whatever you see or hear me do, don't think less of me--”
Jennie checked him with a gesture and a wonderful gray flash of eyes.
”I'll bless you with every drop of blood in my heart,” she whispered, pa.s.sionately.
It was only as she turned away into the room that Duane saw she was lame and that she wore Mexican sandals over bare feet.
He sat down upon a bench on the porch and directed his attention to the approaching couple. The trees of the grove were thick enough for him to make reasonably sure that Mrs. Bland had not seen him talking to Jennie.
When the outlaw's wife drew near Duane saw that she was a tall, strong, full-bodied woman, rather good-looking with a fullblown, bold attractiveness. Duane was more concerned with her expression than with her good looks; and as she appeared unsuspicious he felt relieved. The situation then took on a singular zest.
Euchre came up on the porch and awkwardly introduced Duane to Mrs.