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Updated: June 26, 2025
Allie recovered to find herself lying in a canvas-covered wagon, and being worked over by several sympathetic women. She did not see Durade. But she knew she had not been mistaken. The wagon was rolling along as fast as oxen could travel. Evidently the caravan had been alarmed by the proximity of the Sioux and was making as much progress as possible. Allie did not answer many questions.
So far as Allie could see, Jones, the man in black, a pale, thin-lipped, cold-eyed gambler, was the only guest to win. Durade's manner was not pleasant while he paid over his debts. Durade always had been a poor loser. "Jones, you'll sit in to-morrow," said Durade. "Maybe," replied the other. "Why not? You're winner," retorted Durade, hot-headed in an instant.
A chair scraped, noisily breaking the silence, which instantly clamped down again. "Durade, you're done!" It was the cold, ringing voice of Hough. Allie ran to the door, peeped through the crack. Durade sat there like a wild beast bound. Hough stood erect over a huge golden pile on the table. The others seemed stiff in their tracks. "There's a fortune here," went on Hough, indicating the gold.
This meeting made her aware of an impulse to run back to Durade, instinctively, just as she had when a child. He had ruined her mother; he had meant to make a lure of her, the daughter; he had showed what his vengeance would be upon that mother, just as he had showed Allie her doom should she betray him.
Stealthy steps sounded out in the hall. They revived Allie's fear of Durade and his men. It struck her suddenly that Larry must be ignorant of the circumstances that had placed her there. The cowboy unlocked the door peeped out. As he turned, how clear and cold his blue eyes flashed! "I'll get you out of heah," he whispered. "Come." They went out. The passage was empty. Allie clung closely to him.
"Some wan back of me sez thot's Durade. Wal, it was! An' sudden he seen who the gurl wuz watchin' Lee. "Thot Durade turned green an' wild-eyed an' stiff. But thot couldn't hould a candle to Lee. Shure he turned into a fiend. He bit out a Spanish name, nothin' loike Durade. "An' loike a hissin' snake Durade sez, 'Allison Lee!
At the corner, where the halls met, he halted to listen. Only the low hum of voices came up. "Larry, I must tell you," whispered Allie. "Durade and his gang are after me. Fresno Mull Black Dayss you know them?" "I reckon," he replied, swallowing hard. "My Gawd! you poor little girl! With that gang after you! An' Stanton!
Her mirror told Allie the horror of that night. Her face was white; her eyes were haunted by terrors, with great dark shadows beneath. She could not hold her hands steady. Late that afternoon there were stirrings and sounds in Durade's hall. The place had awakened. Presently Durade himself brought her food and drink. He looked haggard, worn, yet radiant.
Durade apparently made an effort to swallow his resentment, but the gambling pallor of his face had never been more marked. He went out with Jones, and the others slowly followed. Fresno approached Allie. "Hullo, gurly! You sure look purtier than in thet buckskin outfit," he leered. Allie got up, ready for fight or defense. Durade had forgotten her. Fresno saw her glance at the door.
"The truth the truth! Oh, I've deceived you all your life!" "Deceived me! Oh, mother! Then tell me now." "Child you'll forgive me and never hate me?" cried the mother, brokenly. "Mother, how can you talk so! I love you." And Allie clasped the shaking form closer. Then followed a silence during which Mrs. Durade recovered her composure.
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