Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-14

turned Duane. 'And for whisky, too,
providing You hurry back herewith
out making trouble"
ashore you're downright good
pard," declared Stevens, in admiration,
as he took the money. Il give my
word. Buck. an I'm here to say I never
broke it vet Lay low, an look fer
me back quick"
With that he spurred his horse and
rode out of the mosquitoes toward the
town. At that distance, about a quar-
ter of mile. Mercer appeared to be
Il cluster of low adobe houses set in
q grove Of c0ttonwoodS Pastures of
alfalfa were dotted by horses and
cattle. Duane saw a sheep herder
driving in meager flock.
Presently Stevens rode ont of sight
into the town. Duane waited. hoping
the outlaw would make good his word.
Probably not a quarter of an hour had
elapsed when Duane heard the clear
reports of 4 Winchester rifle, the clat-
ter of rapid hoofbeats. and yelIs IN
mistakably the kind TO mean danger
for a man Ike Stevens. Duane
mounted and rode to the edge of the
mosquitoes.
He saw a cloud of dust down the
road and a bay horse running fast.
Stevens apparently had not been
wounded by any Of the shots, for he
had a steady seat in his saddle, and
his riding, even at that moment,
struck Duane as admirable. He car
ried Il large pack over the pommel. and
he kept looking back. The shots had
ceased, but the ye!ls increased. Duane
saw several men running and waving
their arms. Then he spurred his horse
and got into q swift stride, so Stevens
would not pass him. Presently the
outlaw caught up with him. Stevens
was grinning, but there was now no
fun il the dancing eyes. It was a devil
that danced in them. His face seemed
u shade palcr.
'Was jest comm out of the store"
yelled Stevens. Run plumb into a
rancher-whO knOwed me. He opened
up with a rife. Think they'll chase
u.s."
They covered several miles before
there were any signs of pursuit, and
when hOrsemen did move into sight
out of the cottonwoods Duane and his
companion steadily drew farther away.
"No bosses in that bunch to worry
u.s." called out Stevens.
Duane had the same conviction, and
he did not look back again. He rode
somewhat to the fore, and was con-
stantly aware of the rapid thudding
of hoOfs behind, as Stevens kept close
to him. At sunset they reached the
willow brakes and the river. Duane's
horse was winded and dashed with
sweat and Iather. It was not until
the crossing had been accomplished
that Duane halted to rest his animal.
Stevens was riding up the low, sandy
bank. He reeled in the saddle. With
an exclamation Of surprise, Duane
leaped off and ran to the outlaws side.
Stevens was pale, and his face bore
beads of sweat. The whole front Of
his shirt was soaked with blood.
you're shot !" cried Diane.
oval, who said I wasn't? Would you
mind givin' me a lift-on this here
pack?'
Duane lifted the heavy pack down
and then helped Stevens to dismount.
The outlaw had a bloody foam on his
lips, and he was splitting blood
"Oh, why didn't you say sou cried
| Duane. 81 never thought. You seemed
| all right"
oval, Luke Stevens may be as gabby
| as an old woman, but sometimes he
doesn't say anythiR It wouldn't have
done no good
Duane babe him sit down, removed
| his shirt, and washed the blood from
| his breast and back. Stevens had been
shot in the breast fairly low down,
and the bullet had gone clear through
| him. His ride, holding himself and
| that heavy pack in the saddle, had
| been a feat little short of marvellous.
Duane did not see how it had been
| possible, and he felt no hope for the
| outlaw. But he plugged the wounds
and bound them tightly.
''Feller's name was Brown" Stevens
said. ME an him fell out over a boss
[ stole from him over in Huntsville.
We had shOotin' scrape then. Wal,
as l was standin' my boss back there
| in Mercer seen this Brown, an seen
him before he seen me. Could have
| killed him, too. But I wasn't breakin'
my word to you. I kind Of hoped he
wouldn't spot me. But he did-an'
| fust shot he got me here. What do
| you think of this hole?"
ITS pretty bad" replied Duane ;
and he could not look the cheerful out
law in the eyes.
81 reckon it is Wal, I've had some
bad wounds I lived over. Guess mebbe
I can stand this one. Now, Buck, get
me some place in the brakes, leave me
some grub an water at my hand, an
then you clear out"
Leave you here alone?" asked Du-
ane sharply.
"ShOre. You see I cans keep up
with you. Brown an his friends will
fOller US acrOst the river a ways.
You've got to think of number one in
this game"
"What would you do in 1ay case?"
asked Duane curiously.
''Wal, reckon I'd clear out an save
my hide" replied Stevens.
fD1+ IN