Wichita eagle., 1888-02-02
A WESTERN IDYL.

tons' and looked about him ruefully. Ben
toms was rough story and-a-half structure,
built Of logs and slabs, standing on the bank
of the Arkansaw river, thirty miles from
Grey Earth City, Dukes destination A
''shanty' boat was drawn up at the rude
landing place, and three hard looking sub
jects were smoking on the deck. Behind the
house were thick forests, sioping upward till
they blended into indistinctness 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 life, Jim!H said a
very audible voice
And the speaker, heavily built young
man, wearing q faded rcd shirt and high
boots into which the legs of his trousers were
tucked, expectorated violently over tee rail,
as though To show his contempt for the new
conner, who having turned, was cycling him
steadily.
~ beg your pardon" remarked Duke,
mildly, ''but will you please step ashore and
repeat that rernarkf'
For, as his friends could have told you, the
young college athlete was one whose quick
temper and utterly fearless disposition never
was known 10 let an insult pass ,nnoticed
Buck Cummings, the youngest and most
notorious Desperate in western Arkansaw,
was momentarily paralyzed at the speakers
audacity. But he pulled himself together in
another instant, as Duke Ridge coolly began
taking of his coat.
Repeat it," he said, with foarse chuckle,
that was echoed by his two companions.
.sWelIn-
But checking the vituperative epithets
which began escaping his lips, Buck drew
his revolver from its holster and handed it TO
one of the men beside him.
II might forgit myself an blow a hole
through him before / mash hiln!' he re-
marked.
Then, springing ashore, Buck confronted
bis youthful antagonist, who, with his guard
held low. left foot advanced, head turned
triie TO the right and keen gray eyes fixed
unswervingIy on Buck Cummings bloodshot
orbs stood coolly awaiting the onset
Now, do not purpose going into detail
1t is enough to say that Buck Cummings
mad onrUsh was met with what the fancy
term a left upper cut, y and, caught severely
under the chin, he was nearly lifted from his
feet and sent topping over the bank down
on the deck of the shanty boat.
I'm beTe-Quck!n cried a clear female
voice behind him.
remarkably pretty girl holding open the door
of the building behind him. 1t was lucky he
obeyed unquestioningly; for scarcely had the
door closed behind him and a heavy oak bar
been dropped into place at the top Tor bot
TOM than two sharp reports from without
were followed by the thud Of two bullets,
which buried themselves deep into the plank
ing
'-an lv limo for
TO open fire" said tall, resolute looking wo-
man, the only other occupant of the plainly
furnished ROOM
What is it all aboutg' demanded Duke,
greatly hewildered
The girls sweet face, framed in masses of
short, curly black hair, crimsoned painfully
as she glanced at the woman by the window
Its Buck Cum,nin's, said the tall woman,
who was Mrs. William Brant, pretty kitty's
stepmothor, IAN he's purtendin' TO DO dead
in love with my Kit here, which would nigh
Gs soCn hev RATHER or horned frog round
her. He knowed my old man was away TO
the settlement fer stores, an TUX the chance
fer TO make us call. Kit she slammed the
door into his face this mornin', an it's been
KEEP barred ever since till ies' now
an the while Mrs. Brant was speaking her
sharp eyes were following the movements of
the men without as she stood by the one
window.
But fear / have placed you in dangerl"
exclaimed Duke, CHANGING with respectful
admiration at the young girl.
There won't be no greet of trouble"
grimiy returned Mrs. Brant. Buck Cum
minis won't dast show his face inside the
door now there's nan round the premises,
an he amt Goin' to wait till John gifts back;
there's an old grcdge betwixt EN-, an he
knows John swore to sbootshim on sight"
This was al entirely new phase of exist
ence 20 Duke Ridge. His father, wealthy
ChicaSoan, had bought into a large cattle
ranch in southern Missouri, toward which
Duke was making his way by easy stages, en-
inving the novelty of his ever changing sur
roundings with the keencst possible zest.
Buck Cummings and his two companions
had withdrawn 20 the ''shanty boat" so that
Mrs. Brant, putting down her rifle, became
communicative after the manner OF women
in the west leading lives completely 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 had
had advantages of good society and schooling
before the misfortunes which had sent Mr..
Brant into the wilderness, where he had given
Kitty a stermother.
The sun went down, and neither did the
boat pull out from the bank, nor was the
welcome roll of the wheels of John BrantS
tilted wagon heard approaching the house
I'm going 10 try to find out what those
fellows are up to- said Duke, at length;
''for 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 take fathers spare re-
volver, suggested Kitty.
But Duke unwiseiy declined, and Slipping
through the partly open door, stole to the
hank under cover OF the darkness
The boat was nike al ordinary fiat" the
''shanty' or cabin being st the stern, raised
some three feet above the flush deck In the
END fronting the bow WAS the one window or
aperture intended for small, narrow sash.
Through this came the Light of a smoking
cabin lamp, cloud Of tobacco smoke and the
murmur OF voices. Creeping over the rail,
Duke wormed himself along the dirty deck
10 the sqCare opening.
'Wot's the use waluln' hoarolongerF' one
of the trio. an Ill favored, black bearded fell
low addressed as Ben was saying If you're
20 sot on carryin Off the gal an marvin her
outer hand, whether she's willin' or not why
uot set TO work one time wells another,
Buck!'
THAT blasted tenderfoot, comm So onex-
pected, has kinder upset M calciatiors.r
growled Cummings. filing a cracked mug
three-quarters iull of fiery corn whisky frora
n jug on the table before them and swallow
inc ii al a draught.