He met eyes that dilated, seemed fascinated at his gaze, but were not averted.

It was the old women who were voluble, loud in expression of their feelings.
Near the trunk of the cottonwood stood a slender woman in white.

Duane's wandering glance rested upon her.

Her eyes were riveted upon him.

A soft-hearted woman, probably, who did not want to see him hanged! "Thar comes Jeff Aiken now," called a man, loudly.
The crowd shifted and trampled in eagerness.
Duane saw two men coming fast, one of whom, in the lead, was of stalwart build.