Evening star., 1909-01-24
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.

We had finished dinner and were pre-
pairing TO resume the march when the
figure of a horseman appeared on a hill
far in front of us, but a vivid black
silhouette nevertheless against g. dazzling
blue sky. The man remained there mo-
tionless for few moments, evidently
watching us, and then came at a rapid
pace down the valley toward our camp.
As he drew nearer l thought / saw some
thing familiar in the figure of the rider.
Surely L knew those heavy shoulders, and
the head covered with t k black hair.
It's our friend Mr.. Bucks, late member
OF the legislature. said Harrison.
When he came nearer ii was unmistak-
ably he. and / remembered then that we
were now marching across the county
which he had represented in the house.
Il think our friend Bucks is more or
less a member of the Horner clan," said
Harrison.
| recalled the same impression an as il
affected me unplea sanity. l turned away,
resolved not to notice him unless his pres
ence demanded notice. But Harrison
came to me ten minutes later and said
that Mr.. Bucks insisted on seeing me on
business OF importance. Everything was
packed and We were just about to start,
hut ! told Harrison 10 bring the man.
! was. standing by great tree when he
came. | noticed at once that his swarthy
face was flushed and he was chnching and
unclinching his hands. both signs OF
anger. l resolved at once that l would
take no insoience from him.
Governor" he exclaimed, what is the
meaning of this?'
.-Of what?'' / asked in the dryest tone
i could command.
''Of these troops, armed men marching
over the soil of peaceful county.
Well. l replied in the same tone,
Il m the governor of the state. and this
10 bAt.n
10 me. 1t is not necessary to explain
them 10 you"
The crimson blood burned through his
dark face. and his eyes famed with the
headlong anger of the tribesman
But these are peaceful countless he
exclaimed. you have no right 10 come
here with troops"
They don't seem to be very peaceful -
j said. when half dozen men have been
murdered: and l have an absolute right
TO come here Moreover. l intend to
put these counties under martial law
He burst Into imprecations and | order
cd his arrest at once-it was a thing I was
10th To do. owing To my former personal
difficulty with him-but j knew that |
must take a high hand in the beginning
nder my orders Appiegate and two men
seized him and searched him-they found
on his person a revolver AMI knife both
OF which were confiScated.
You have forced this action Mr.
Bucks | said, Il have heard that You
are one OF the Horner clansnen and " :.
have certainly found evidence here that
YOU 80 prepared TO do violence. You
will be under arrest as long as ii is neces-
Sary''
Bucks ragged but lie was forced to SUBJ
init Again | say ii was thing | dis
liked TO do. but in view OF the situation
l could see no other course There was.
too. a certain grim but not unpleasant
irony IN the reflection that Bucks had
ridden straight into trap. and then had
closed the trap with his own hand.
You are 20 keep him under strict
guard" | said To Applegaie II make
him your personal charge. but You are
not to treat him with any discourtesy
unless he compels it,
Then We resumed the march, but i kept
away from Bucks. ] did not wish to ap-
pear as one who. taking advantage of his
power, exulted over an enemy.