Tombstone epitaph., 1916-10-15
CHAPTER XII.


 reached familiar country and found rancher who had before befriended him. Here his arm was attended to; he had food and sleep; and in a couple of weeks he was himself again When the time came for Duane to ride away on his endless trail his friend reluctantly imparted the in | formation that some thirty miles south, near the village of Shirley, there was ! posted at a certain cross-road a re- ward for Buck Duane dead or alive. Duane had heard of such notices, but he had never seen one. His friends reluctance and refusal to state for what particular deed this reward was offered reused DuHne's curiosity. Abruptly he decided 10 ride over there and find out who wanted him dead or ! alive. and why.
 Toward afternoon, from the top of | a long hill, Duane saw the green fields and trees and shining roofs of town ! he considered must be Shirley. And at 1 the bottom of the nlll ne came upon an intersecting road. There was a ] post. p'iane drew rein near 1t and ! leaned close to read the faded print. ! "sl 900 REWARD FOR BUCK | DUANE DEAD OR ALIVE" Pecring closer to read the finer. more faded print. Duane learned that he was want | ed for the murder of Mrs. Jcff Aiken at her ranch near Shirley. The month ] s. lf.f ha l.tf, 1 was iIegible. The reward was offered | by the woman'S husband, whose name appeared with that of sherif's at : the bottom of the placard.
 Duane read the thing twice. When he straiChtened he was sick with the horror of his fate. wild with passion at those misguided fools who could . believe that he had harmed a woman.
 A dark. passionate fury possessed him. IL shook him like a storm shakes the oak. When il passed, leaving him | cold. with clouded brow and piercing : eye. him mind was set. Spurring his | horse. he rode straight toward the | village.
 ! Shirley appeared to be a large, pre- | tentious country town A branch Of 1 some railroad terminated there. The | main street was wide, bOrdered by | trees and commOdious houses, and many of the stores were of brick. A | large plaza shaded by giant cotton | wood occupied a central location. Duane pulled his running horse and | halted him, plunging and snOrting, be- fore a group of idle men who lOunged on benches in the shade of a spread ing cottonwood. How many times had | Duane seen just that kind of lazy shirt-sleeyed Texas group! Not often, however had he seen such placid, lolling goOd-natured men change their expression, their attitude so swiftly. His advent apparently was momentous. They evidently took him for an un- usual visitor. So far as Duane could tell, not one of them recognized him, had hint of his identity.
 He slid of his horse and threw the bridIe.
 I'm Buck Duane" he said 'I saw that placard-Out there on q sign-post. It's damn lie, Somebody find this ] I
 His announcement was taken in ab- soiute silence. That was the only effect he noted, for he avoided looking at these villagers. The reason was simple enough; Duane felt himself overcome with emotion. There were tears in his eyes. He sat down on a bench. put his elbows on his knees and his hands to his face. For once he had absolutely no concern for his fate. This ignominy was the last straw.
 1 Presently. however, he became aware of some kind of commotion among these villagers. He heard whispering. low. hoarse voices, then the shuffie of rapid feet moving away. ' All at once a violent hand jerked his gun from its holster. When Duane rose a gaunt man, livid of face, shak- ing like a leaf, confronted him with his own gun.
 Hands up. thar. you Buck Duane 7" he roared, waving the gun.
 That appeared to be the cue for pandemonium to break loose. Several men lay hold of his arms and pinioned them behind his back. Resistance was | useless even if Duane had had the spirit. One of them fetched his halter from his saddle. and with this they bound him helpless.
 l People were running now from the street. the stores, the houses. old men, cowboys. clerks. boys, ranchers came on the trot. The crowd grew. The increasing clamor began to at- tract women as well as men, A group of girls ran up, then hung back in fright and pity.
 The presence of cowboys made a difference. They split up the crowd, got to Duane, and lay hold of him
 with rough, businesslike hands. One of them lifted his fists and roared at
 the frenzied mob to fall back. to stop
 the racket. He beat them back into a
 circle; but 1t was some little time be-
 fore the hubbub quieted down so a
 voice could be heard.
 -shut up. will you-ell?" he was
 yelling. "Give us a chance to hear
 somethin'. Easy now-soho. There
 ain't nobody goin' to be hurt. Thet's
 right; everybody quiet now. Let's see