The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-11-30

ever felt the meaning Of death he felt
1t then.
"sure this IS your game, Aiken"
said Sibert. "But hea. me minute.
| reckon you'd better hold on till you
hear what he has to say"
Then for the first time the drawn
faced, hungry-eyed giant turned his
gaze upon Duane. He had intelligence
which was not yet subservlent to pas
sion. Moreover, he seemed the kind
Of man Duane would care to have
Judge him in a critical moment Ike
this
Listen" said Duane. grayely, with
his eyes steady CT Aiken's. "Tm Buck
Duane. I never lied TO any man In my
life. ! was forced into outiawry. I've
never had a chance to leave the
country. I've ldlIed ngen 10 save my
own life. I rode thirty miles to-day
deliberately TO see what this reward
was who made 1t. what for When I
read the placard ! went sick to the
bottom Of my soul SO | rode in here
TO find you-to tell you this: | never
saw Shirley before to-day II was inn
possible for me 10 haye-kllled your
wife. Last September I was two /
| hundred miles nortl Of here on the !
upper Nueces / can prove that. Men |
who know Inc VIII tell you couldn't /
murder woman. | haven't any idea
why such deed should be laid at
my hands. It's Just that wild borIer
gossip. And see here Aiken You I'M
derstand I'm miserable man. I'm
about broken, | guess / don't care
any more for life, for anything. If
you can't look me in the eyes, man 10
man, and believe what | say-why by
God you can kill mel"
Aiken heaved a great breath
Buck Duane, whether I'm Inn
pressed or not by what you say need
MT matter You've had accusers,
justly or unjustly, as will soon appear.
The thing is we can prove you in
nocent or guilty. My girl Lucy saw !
my wlfe's assailant."
He motlOned for the crowd of men
to open up /
"SOmebOdy-you, Sibert-go for J
Lucy. That II settle this thing"
Duane heard as a man in an ugly k
dream. The faces around him, the Ii
hum of voices, all seemed far off. His
ife hung by the merest thread. Yet 1
ne did not think of that so much as
If the brand of woman-murderer y
which might be soon sealed upon Il
lin by a frightened, imaginative child. C
Tn crowd trooped apart and closed
gain. Duane caught blurred image n
4 slight girl cllnging to Sibert's
and He could not see distinctly.
liken lifted the child, whispered sooth- W
ngly to her not to be afraid. Then
c fetched her closer to Duane.
Lucy, tell me. Did you ever see d.
his man before? asked Aiken, husklly ~"
nd low. rs he the One-who came "
4 the house that day-struck you
own-and dragged mama-%
Alken's voice failed W.
A lightning flash seemed to clear II
blurred sight. He saw T.,
ale, sad face and violent eyes fixed -
gloom and horror upon his. No -.
orrible moment in Duane's life ever
lualed this one of silence-of sus- Mr.
,nse. ~
1T amt him !" cried the child. NV
Then Sibert was flingng the moose 90,
I Duane's neck and unwinding the mr.
'nds round his arms. The spellbound
ovid awOke to hOarse EXPLANATIONS. 90,
See there, my locoed gents, how
sy you'd hang the wrong man." orc
rst out the cowboy as he made the thi
pe-end hiss. "You-all are a lot of
Sc rangers. Haw hawl" OF
He freed Duane and thrust the bone vie
ndled gun back In Duane's holster.
'YOu Abe, there. Reckon you pulled
'tuntl But don't try the like again.
ID, men, I'll gamble there's a hell of 4
OF Of bad work Buck Duane's named Z
all he never done. Clear
ay there. Where's his boss? Duane, n
; roads open out of Shirley" ~
Sibert swept the gaping watchers hS
de and pressed Duane toward the EI
Sc which another cowboy held. ( II
Duane mounted, felt a IA(N
as he went up. Then the cowboys \ !
ii face softened In smile. E6
/ reckon it amt uncivll of me to H BE
hit that road quick {" he said, \ y
nkly. (,
Ee led the horse out of the crowd. Nj
en- joined him, and between them 7 ~
y escorted Duane across the plaza. SUI
crowd appeared irresistibIy drawn "
follow. n
iken paused with his big hand on y
mes knee. In it, unconsclOusly
pably he still held the gun. Il
Duane, word with you" he said.
elIeve you're not SO black as you've
4 painted. I wish there was time
,ay more. Tell me this. anyway.
you know the Ranger Captain Mac
W"
do not" replied Duane. in sur Ir
met him only week ago over In l.
field" went on Aiken, hurriedly
declared you never killed my wife
int believe him-argued with him. of
almost had hard words over il. nrou
Tin sorry, The last thing he wheI
was: III you ever see Duane small
{ Kill him. Send him into my "V
p after darkr He meant some get
z strange. WHAT can't say. Mac
he was right and | was wrong. ouor
lucy had batted an eye I'd have hand
"a you. Sull wouldn't advise you RIGHT
aunt up MaCNelly's camp. He's IN
er' Wayne ne heleNeS Ihere no throl
cherry in his new ideas of ranger snt ;