Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-09-14

behind the cabin. He saw and wait
ed. and he recognized the man. Ii
was Davis friendly puncher working
for the COwman.
THAT you, Davs?"
For goodness sake. Buckley" re-
turned the man hOrSely. why are you
staying here? Get away! Don't you
know old Kingsland by his time? He's
sending one Of the boys down to camp
for the sheriff.
Davis" Bucky said gravely, rising
to his feet and gripping the mans
shoulder. I'D he Il coward to run
now. I've only paid back half the
debt. Samsons dead. but Kingsland
Is still alive. It's a debt | owe to my
boy and Molly-and God"
And while the man listened. open
cared. Bucky whispered long and ear
nestly: and afterward they shook
hands and parted.
When Kingsland returned. n mo-
ment later. Bucky was sitting cross
legged in the doorway. his head and
shoulders outlined against the glow of
the candles. while the red tip Of his
cigarette burned steadily in the gloom
Twice the cOwman's hand slipped 10
his hip. and twice he seemed to re-
consider before his fingers touched the
gun.
"I just saw that your pony was fed
and rubbed down." he explained brief
ly Midnight will be plenty of time
to get away. And by that time nell
| be as good as new"
Thanks" Buck replied, tossing
away the cigarette. "By midnight I
reckon I'll need him too"
A, - o,.,ooI- = l,,.. oo,.o,,o5 oo,,,
man rode up the solitary street of the
camp. tossed his reins over a conve-
nient post. and burst into the crowded
saloon. The sheriff. with a dozen pun
chers, was hanging over n card table
The abrupt. unceremoniOus entrance
of the man startled them.
The fellow made straight for tho
sheriff and thrust into his hands a
crumpled note. With wond" ing eyes
the officer smoothed the paper out
and read the contents aloud:
Sheriff Crowley:-Bucky Smith is
at my shack. I'm keeping him here
pretending to aid him. I'm giving him
my clothes wear, hat and all. He
believes it will help him get aw;iv.
Don't let him slip through your fin
gers. Kingsland."
| a pregnant silence followed the
reading. broken n moment later by a
chorus Of shouts as every man made a
dash for his pony, the sheriff In the
| lead.
There was no light in the shack
when the posse cautiously crept up by
the corral, after leaving all the horses
mile or so down the trail: but the
moon was shining vividly, and every
post and fence rail stood out as IL
etched in silver.
| Crowley. the sheriff. managed to
gain the shelter Of a haypile. Crouch
ed in the friendly shade. he waited
nervously. He was unable to tell the
time, but presently. as a cloud swung
over the moon, he saw the sliding
form Of man come out from the
shed leading a pony.
"Rucky." he declared under his
breath. and reached for his gun. The
figure dressed in Kingsland's wide
brimmed hat and his peculiar long
! coat. mounted the saddle and began
to ride quietly down toward the trail.
Opposite the hay pile the sheriff
stepped boldly out, his gun leveled
Hands up. Bucky!" he warned.
I'm on to you"
But the figure on horseback laugh
ed and made as If to ride on. Crowley
repeated his demand.
Hands upi Hurry, or I'll"
But again the laugh rang out, while
a quick spur was touched to the pony's
side. It leaped sideways. The sher-
ifs finger tightened on the trigger
and he pumped three shots as fast as
he could pull. Bucky was not to es-
cape If he could prevent 1t.
The man on the horse fell Imply to
the ground. Crowley dashed forward
the smoking gun still I'm his fingers. A
dozen Of the boys came hurrying into
view. crowding around. The moon
slipped from under the cloud. flooding
everything. The sheriff bent over and
| lifted he huddled figure. The hat fell
off. and one of the men. who was near
broke into an oath.
my stars!' he gasped brokenly.
ITS Kingsland!
Tn the deserted street of the camp
| two men met. One was Davis, who,
since delivering the decoy message,
| had remained there. The other. hat
less. sitting wearily in his saddle and
weakened by his mad ride down the
trail was Bucky
| Their hands met in a firm, under
standing grip. And then, turning,
lthey rode side by side. in moody ST.
lence. on their course toward the east.