Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-15
BY HARRY HALE.

pulled up q very duStv brOnChO IN front
OF 'sBenton's" and looked about him
ruefullv. Benton's was a rough, story
and a half structure, built of logs and
slabs, standing on the bank of the Ar
kansaw River, thirty miles from Gray
Earth City, Dukes destination. A
landing place. and three hard-looking
subjects were smoking on the deck. Be-
hind the house were thick forests slop-
ing upward till they blended into indis-
tinctness with the cloud mists that were
sweeping downward from the mountain
SUBMITS.
"a blasted tenderfoot dude-that's
what he is, you kin bet your sweet lite.
Jim y said very audible voice.
And the speaker, a heavily built young
man, wearing faded red shirt and high
boots. into which the legs of mis- trousers
were tucked, expectorated violently over
the rail, as though to show his contempt
for the newcomer, who, having turned,
was eyeing him steadily.
81 beg your pardon, " remarked Duke,
mildly, but will you please step ashore
and repeat that remark %
For, as his friends could have told
you, the young college athlete was one
whose quick temper and utterly fearless
disposition never was known to let an
insult pass unnoticed.
But Cummings, the youngest and most
notorious desperate in Western Arkan
saw, was momentarily paralyzed at the
speaker saudacity. But he pulled him
self together iNanother instant, as Duke
Ridge cody began taking off his coat.
Repeat it?" he said, with hoarse
Oh NV tvr0
companions. "Well !'
But checking the vituperative epithets
which began escaping his lips, Buck
drew his revolver from his hostler and
handed it to one of the men beside
him.
Il might forgit myself an blow hole
through him before | smash him p he
remarked
Then, springing ashore, Buck con-
fronted his youthful antagonist, who,
with his guard held low, lett foot adj
vanced, head turned trif1e to the right
and keen gray eyes fixed unswervingly
on Buck Cummings bloodshot orbs,
stood coolly awaiting the onset.
Now, | do not purpose going into de-
tail 1t is enough to say that Buck Cum
mings' mad onrush was met with what
the fancy term cleft upper cut" and,
caught severely under the chin, he was
nearly lifted from his feet and sent top
ping over the bank down on the deck
of the shanty boat.
''In here-quick % cried clear female
voice behind him.
Turning quickly, Duke saw a young
and remarkably pretty girl holding open
the door of the building behind him. 1t
was lucky he obeye1 unquestioningly;
for scarcely had the door closed behind
and a heavy oak bar been dropped into
place at the top Tor bottom) than two
sharp reports, from without were fol
lowed by the thud of two bullets, which
buried themselves deep into the plank
ing.
They've only been waiting for an ex-
-cuse TO open fire, !" said tall, resolute
looking woman, the only other occu-
pant OF the plainly furnished room.
What is it ali about?" demanded
Duke, greatly bew1ldered.
The girls sweet face, framed in masses
of short, curly black hair, crimsoned
painfully as she glanced at the woman
by the window.
cts Buck Cummin's." said the tall
woman, who was Mrs. William Brant,
pretty Kittys stepmother, IAN he's
<purtendin' to be dead in love with Kit
here, which would nigh as soon have
RATHER or a honored frog round her.
He knoWed my old man was away to the
settlement for stores, an TUX the chance
fer to make us a call Kit she slammed
the door in his face this mornin' an it's
been KEEP barred ever since till JUS
now"
Ali the while Mrs Brant was speaking
her sharp eyes were following the move
mems of the men without as she stood
by the one window.
''But | fear have placed you in dan
ger ~ exclaimed Duke, glancing with
respectful admiration at the young girl.
There won't be no greet of trouble
grimly returned Mrs. Brant. ''Buck
Cummin's won't dast to show his face
inside the door now there's a man round
the premises, an he amt goin' TO wait
till John gifts back; there's an old gredge
betwixt 'em, an he knows John sWOre
to shoot him on sight.
This was an entirely new phase of ex-
istence to Duke Ridge. His ather, a
wealthy Chicagoan, had bought into a
large cattle ranch in Southern Missouri,
toward which Duke was making his way
by easy stages, enjoying the novelty OF
his eVer-cuanglng surroundings with the
keenest possible interest. Buck Cum
mings and his two companions had with
drawn to the S'shanty boat, SO that Mrs.
DTdul, DulUIuS dOWh hC1 41AAO1 OSNoAA1O
communicative after the manner of
women in the West leading lives COM
pletely isolated from society.
Thus Duke learned that Kitty's
mother-Mr Brant's first wife-was an
English lady of good family, and that
Kitty herself bsd had advantages OF good
society and schooling before the mlstor-
tunes which had sent Mr.. Brant into the
wilderness, where he had given Kitty
stepmOther.
The sun went Gown, and neither did
the boat pull out from the bank, nor was
the welcome roll Of the wheels OF John
Brant's tilted wagon heard approaching
the house.
Pm going to try and find out what
those fellows are up to- said Duke, at
length; TOR l feel sure that they are
planning some sort Of mischief"
If you think you won't come to grief
noways," rather doubtfully remarked
Mrs. Brant.
"You had better better take fathers
spare revolver" suggested Kitty.
L. 4 liz