Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-10-27
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY-CARE
Bv HARRIS DICKSON
Author of
The Black Volts Breed" Etc.



1>0N...-.QN-s.-~9r-s~>0
Copyright 1905, by D. Appleton & Coz -
CHAPTER III.-Continued.
Then he fired; the gar veered sharp
iy to the right, and he fired again.
Both bullets were truly aimed, but
glanced and went skipping harmlessly
up the lake. The fish passed them
and was now 100 feet away.
Missed. both times! how could
you7 Give me the pistol. he's coming
back" Anita had sprung erect, and
stood with one foot on the gunwale-
Her eyes danced, and she frowned at
the wasted shots.
Its no use. Miss Cameron, you
can't shoot into water at that angle"
Rfah kept shouting at them from
the bank. Mister Duke, Mister Duke.
You gotter let i'm tire hissef out. Jess
pull long easy an keep i'm moving.
Him an dat jeg amt gwine to part
cump'py."
The lake was about half a mile
long. Duke kept his skiff nearly in
the middle. and they drifted.
Here he comest" Anita almost
screamed as the gar whizzed back, and
passed them like a rocket. Look!
his arm and pointed. Pull, pull"
Zone gar at a time, and they last
longer" Duke said. deliberately, dip
ping his handkerchief into the water
to wipe his face.
'Nebber min dat'n, Mister Duke;
I'll git him" Old Riah had run up
and down the bank until he could
stand it no longer. He kicked Off
his broganS, threw a landing-hook
into his dugout, and gave the craft
shove which sent her far into the
lake. He crouched in the bottom and
padded with piece of board.
Duke looked on, disguised at the
ease with which Riah handled that
sick black log of his. 1t slipped over
tbs water as if it were creased and
sliding down a hill. Riah slowed up
as he passed the skiff.
-Yourn's gittin' tired, Mister Duke.
Slip up on i'm right easy an ketch
holt O. de jeg hanIe wild yo' hook
Let i'm pull you round fer SPELL"
The first jug wandered aimlessly
around the lake, stopping, going on
again, the big brown gar coming fire.
queiltly to the surface Duke ap-
proached cautiously, padding his
boas from the bow. He laid his oar
aside and caught the hook in the jug
handle. Tie gar started, jerked,
bounded and bucked like a Texas
bronco.
Hold her steady, Miss Cameron"
Anita drew a long breath, and chung
To the tiller ropes.
Their light skiff cleft the water like
a p;ow. Anita gave a quick little
scream.
IF you are afraid, Miss Cameron,
I'll turn him loose?'
Don't you dare turn that fish
loose; hold him tight. He's a beau
-ty." Her bonnet flew overheard, her
hair streamed back: the sun blistered
her. but she did not care; she was
very happy.
Rsah sprang up in his dugout and
waved his hand to them as they
passed. "All abo'd fer de 'scussion.
'Toct! Toot!"
I've are getting free ride" Duke
laughed. STEADY now. Miss Cam
erCo; he's going to turn
They swung round in a wide circle
and started back again. But the fish
was plainly spent. He swan nearer
20 the surface, and moved sluggishly.
Duke drew the hook shorter, short
er and shorter, bringing his evil-look-
ing prize closer to the boat The fish
HurrIeI often and grew weaker. The
man laid his hook aside and cooked
the pistol. Those dirty yellow eyes
leered up at him almost as if they UNI
derstood. Then like a water-logged
craft the fish rolled over on his side
and Duke fred.
There was a terrible CONFUSION
The gar dashed about him furiously
striking the boat with his tail. II
careeped and began to fill. Duke
threw out the jug and righted his
boat The filh darted away, ant
stopped. When the water. subsidet
they could see the gar's white under
side shining in the sun.
Duke bailed the boat, rowed ovel
and took one more shot, but the fisf
was slready dead.
1--WE got mine,'' he shouted. looking
round to see where Riah was. TheI
he and Anita burst into one simuItan
eous whoop.
Riah had captured tartar. He wa
standing upright in his dugout like
circus rider. holding to the line an.
literally flying. His dugout did no
stir up water like the skin: in fact
It scarcely seemed to touch the waite
at all.
Better git outen de road. Miste
Duke" he shouted. -we'se runnir
away"
Suddenly the gar whirled an
snapped Riah on the end of the line
head over heels into the lake. Tn
hlacl face came up instantly BLOWN