The Huttig news., 1916-10-21

 cd bN a couple of his mates, had re- stored order again. someone had slipped the noose-eHd of Buanes rope over his head.
 "tp with him - screeched wild eyed youth.
 The mob surged closer was showed hack by the cowboys.
 Abe. if he's Buck Duane how'n heii did you get hold of his gan?n bluntly queried the cowboy.
 "Why-he set down thar-an' he kind of hid his face on his hand. An I grabbed his gun an got the drop on him."
 What the cowboy thought of this was expressed in laugh. His mates likewise grinned broadly. Then the leader turned to Duane.
 Stranger. l reckon you'd better speak Hp for yourself" he said.
 That stilled the crowd as no com mand had done. "fm Buck Duane. ;5ll right. said Duane quietly. Tt Was this way"
 The hig cowboy seemed 10 vbrate Ntil al 9ii11h. All lilt 4HAalA NdiHiA Jeff his face; his jaw began to bulge; the corded veins in his neck stood out in knots. In an instant he had q hard, stern. strange looE. He shot out powerful hand that fastened in the front of Duane's blouse
 "Somethin' queer here But if you're Duane you,re sure ill bad. Any ,I it. thenfa
 "Im puanc; yes. But l won't stand for the blame of things l never did. That's hht I'm here. l saw that pla- card out there offering the reward. ntii neW l never was within half q days ride of this t0Wn I'm blamed for what l never did. l rode in here, told who l was. asked somebody to send fer Jeff Aiken.
 ".tn' then you set down an let this cid guy throw HaHr own gun on yoH?a daelied inc cowboy in amazemcnt.
 "I @uess that's it. replied Duane.
 Well, it's powerful strange, if you're really Puck Duane what do you want to see Aiken for?n
 ''I waafed to face him, 10 tell him never harmed his wife"
 Suppose We send for Aiken an he hears you an doesn't believe you; what then?"
 If he won't believe newly, then my cases so bad-Td be better off dead"
 X momentary silence was broken by Sihcrt.
 If this isn't queer dcal Boys, reckon we'd better send for Jeff"
 Somebody went fer him. He'll be comin' seon,' replied man.
 Duane stood head taller than that circle of curious faces. He gazed out above and beyond them. It was in this way flat he chanced to see a number of women on the outskirts of the crowd. Some were old, with hard faces, like the men. Some were young and comedy, and most of these seemed i agitated hy excitement or. distress. They cast fearful. pitying glances up an Duane as he stood lhere with that moose around his neck. Women were more human than men. Duane thought. He met eyes that dilated, seemed fascinated at lis gaze, but were not averted It was the old women who were yoluble, loud in expression of ,heir feelings.
 "Thar comes Jeff Aiken now," called man, loudly.
 The crowd shifted and trampled in | eagerness.
 Duaua ea,,, tVsa mon cafoiner fast one of whom. in the lead was of stal- wart build He had T gun in his hand, and his manner WaS that of fierce en- orgy.
 The cowboy Sbert thrust open the ioStling circle of men.
 Hold on, Jeff" he called. and he blocked the man with the gun. He spoke so low Duane could not hear what he said and his formsl4id Aiken's face At that jGneture the crowd spread out, closed in, and Aiken and Siber1 were caught iii the circle. There was pushing forward, pressing of many bodies, hoarse cries and tlinging hands-again the insane tumult was about to break out-the demand for an outlaws blood. tn call fer ,- wild justice executed Il thousand times be- fore on TeXas bloody soil.
 Sibert beloved at the dark en- croaching mass. The cowboys with him beat and culfed in vain.
 Jeff, will you Iisten?' broke in Si bert, hurriedly, his hands on the other mans arm.
 Aiken nodded coolly. Duane, who had seen many men in perfect control of themselves under circumstances like these, reeotilized the spirit that domi- mated Aiken. He was white, cold, passiouless. There were lines of bitter grief deep round his lips. If Duane ever felt the meaning of death he felt it then.
 Sure this $ your game, Aiken" said Sibert. But hea. me minute. reckon you'd better hold on till you Mear what he has to say"
 Then for the first time the drawn faced, hungry-eyed giant turned his gaze upon Duane Fe had intelligence which was not yet subSerVient to paS-