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

horse. He had quick, dancing brown
| eyes, at once frank and bold, and a
coarse, bronze face. Evidently he was a
good natured ruffian.
Duane acknowledged the truth OF the
| assertion, and turned over In his mind
how shrewdly the fellow had guessed
him to be hunted man.
My names Luke Stevens, an I hail
from the river Who're your said this
stranger.
Duane was silent.
Il reckon you're Buck Duane" went
on stevens. i heerd you was q damn
This time Duane laughed, not at the
doubtful compliment. but at the idea
that the first outlaw he met should
know him. Here was proof of how
swiftly facts about gun play travelled
on the Texas border.
wal, Buck" said Stevens, in a
friendly manner, II amt presumin' on
your time or company. I see you're
headin' fer the river. But will you stop
OF grub?"
I'm out OF grub. and pretty hungry
myself, admitted Duane.
Been pushin' your boss. see. Well,
reckon you'd better stock up before
you hit tibet stretch of country"
He made wide sweep OF his right
| arm, indicating the southwest, and
| there was that In his action which
seemed significant OF vast and bar
fully. = = %
Shore A Teller has lest got to eat
l can rustic along without whisky, but
not without grub. Thet's what makes
IL so embarrassin' travelin. these parts
dodgin' your shadow. Now, I'm on my
way to Mercer. It's a little two-bit
town up the river a ways. Pm goin'
| to pack out some grub"
stevens tone was inviting. Evidently
ne would welcome Duane's companion
snip, but he did not openly say SO.
Duane kept silence. however, and then
| Stevens went on.
Stranger. in this here country two's
a crowd. It's safer. I never was much
on this lone-wolf dodgin', though Pys
done IL or necessity. 1t takes a damn
OF time. Why, I've been thet Sick
was jest achin' fer some ranger to
come along and plug me. Give me a
pardner any day. Now, mebbe ycII're
not tibet kind Of a Teller, an I'm shore
not presumin' to ask. But I fest de-
clares myself sufficient"
You 8, mean you'd like me to 60 with
Stevens grinned. wal. should smile.
Ia be particular proud to be braced
with man OF your reputation"
see mere, my good fellow, that's all
haste - ~
Shore, think modesty becomin' to
youngster" replied Stevens. II hate
TO brag. An I've no use fer these four
flush cowboys tibet are always lookin'
Ter trouble an talkin' gun play. Buck.
don't know much about you. But ey-
cry man who's lived along the Texas
porder remembers q lot about your dad.
II was expected OF you, / reckon, an
nuch OF your rep was established be-
Tore you throwed your gun. Jest heerd
tibet you was lightnin' on the draw. an
when you cut loose with gun why the
hgger on the ace of spades would cover
your cluster of bullet holes. Thet's
the word thets gone down the border.
It's the kind of reputation most sure to
Iiy far an swift ahead of a man in this
country. An the safest, too; I'll gam
bic on tibet. It's the land of the draw.
see now you're only a boy, though
you're shore strappin' husky one. Now.
Buck, I'm not spring chicken, an I've
been long on the dodge. Mebbe a little
OF my society won't hurt you none.
fouH need to learn the country"
There was something sincere and lik-
able about this outlaw.
Il dare say you're right" replied Du-
ane, quietly. And I'll go to Mercer
with YOU"
Next moment he was riding down the
road with Stevens. Duane had never
been much OF a talker, and now he
found speech difficult But his COM
panion did not seem to mind that. He
was jocose. voluble fellow, probably
glad now to hear the sound Of his own
voice. Duane listened, and sometimes
he thought with pang Of the distinc-
ton Of name and heritage OF blood his
father had left to him.