The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-06-08
CHAPTER II (continued).

IN the SanO, ana THESE IQaQ6 HIN
thoughtful Nevertheless, he followed
the road, proceeding cautiously. He had
not gone very far when the sound OF
rapid hoof beats caught his ears. They
came from his rear. In the darkening
twilight he could not see any great dis
lance back along the road. Voices,
however, warned him that these riders,
whoever they were, had approached
closer than he liked. To GO farther
down the road was not to be thought
of. so he turned a little way In among
the mosquitoes and halted, hoping to es-
cape being seen or heard. AS he was
now q fugitive, Ii seemed every man
was his enemy and pursuer The horse
men were fast approaching. Presently
they were abreast Of Duane's position,
so near that he cold hear the creak OF
saddles, the clink Of spurs.
Shore, he crossed the river below"
said one man.
Il reckon you're right, Bill. He's
slipped u.s." replied another.
Rangers or a posse OF ranchers In
pursuit of a fugitivel The knowledge
gave Duane a strange thrill. Certain
ly they could not have been hunting
him. But the feeling their proximity
gave him was Identical to what 1t would
have been had he been this particular
hunted man. He held his breath; he
cleanched his teeth; he pressed a quiet
ing hand upon his horse. Suddenly he
became aware that these horsemen had
halted. They were whispering. He
could Just make out q dark group close
ly massed. What had made them halt
so suspiciously?
a low but distinct voice. THE idee OF
hearin' a boss heave! You're wuss'n
q ranger An your hell bent on KILN
that rustler. Now, say, let's go home
an eat"
wal, I'll just take look at the
sand" replied the man called Bill.
Duane heard the clink of spurs on
steel stirrup and the thud OF boots on
the ground. There followed a short
silence, which was broken by sharply
breathed exclamation.
Duane waited for no more. They had
found his trail. He spurred his horse
straight into the brush.
At the second crashing bound there
came yells from the road, and then
shots. Duane heard the hiss of bull
let close by his ear, and as II struck a
branch IL made a peculiar singing
sound. These shots and the proximity
OF that lead missile reused In Duane
q quick, hot resentment which mounted
into a passion almost ungovernable. He
must escape, yet 1t seemed that he did
thing grim kept urging him to halt and
return the fire OF these men. After
running couple Of hundred yards he
raised himself from over the pommel,
where he had bent to avoid the singing
branches, and tried to guide his horse.
In the dark shadows under mesquites
and cottonwoods he was hard put to II
to find open passage; however, he sue
ceeded so well and made such little
noise that gradually he drew away
from his pursuers. The sound OF their
horses crashing through the thickets
died away. Duane refined in and list
ened. He had distanced them. Probably
they would go into camp till day
light, then follow his tracks. He
started on again, walking his horse, and
peered sharply at the ground. so that
he might take advantage OF the first
trail he crossed. 1t seemed long while
until he came upon one. He followed
1t until late hour. when, striking the
willow brakes again and hence the
neighborhood OF the river, he picketed
his horse and lay down to rest. But he
did not sleep. His mind bitterly re-
volved the fate that had come upon him.
He made efforts to think OF other
things, but in vain. Every moment he
expected the chill, the sense of loneli-
ness that yet was ominous OF a strange
visitation, the peculiarly imagined
lights and shades of the night-these
things that presaged the coming Of Cal
Balm. Doggedly Duane fought against
the insidious phantom. He kept telling
himself that Ii was just Imagination
that 1t would wear off In time. Still In
his heart he did not believe what he
hoped. But he would not give up; he
would not accept the ghost of his VIC
time as a reality.
Gray dawn found him In the saddle
again headed for the river. Half an
hour of riding brought him to the dense
chaparral and willow thickets. These
he threaded to come at length to the
ford. 1t was a gravel bottom. and
therefore an easy crossing. Once upon
the opposite shore he reigned In his
horse and looked darkly back. This
action marked his acknowledgements Of
his situation: he had voluntarily
sought the refuge of the outlaws; he
was beyond the pale. A bitter and
passionate curse passed his HIPS as he
spurred his horse into the brakes on
that alien shore.
He rode perhaps 20 miles, not spar
ing his horse nor caring whether or
not he left plain train.
Let them hunt mel" he muttered.
When the heat Of the day began to
be oppressive, and hunger and thirst
made themselves manifest, Duane be-
gan &c look about him for a place to
halt for the noon-hours. The trail led
into road which was hard packed and
smooth from the tracks OF cattle. He
doubted not that he had come across
one Of the roads used by border raiders.
He headed into 1t. and had scarcely
travelled a mile when, turning a curve,
he came point-blank upon a single
horseman riding toward him. Both
riders wheeled their mounts sharply
and were ready to run and shoot back.
Not more than a hundred PAGES separ-
ated them. They stood then for mo.
ment watching each other.
"Mawnin', stranger called the man.
dropping his hand from his hip.
"Howdy," replied Duane, shortly.
They rode toward each other, closing
half the gap, then they halted again.
Il seen you amt no ranger" called
the rider, "an' shore amt none."
He laughed loudly, as II he had made
a joke.
How'd you know wasn't a ranger?''
asked Duane, curiously. Somehow he
had instantly OWNED that this horse
man was no officer, or even a rancher
trailing stolen stock.
WAL" said the follow, starting his
horse forward at a walk, "a rancher'd
never git ready to run the other way
from one man."
He laughed again. He was small and
Wiry slouchy of attire and armed to