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

They rode as swiftly as they could
fide noiselessly skirting the river,
woods, and heading for that spur Of
chaparral beyond which they had left
the new horses on pasture and beyond
which an instinct told them they would
lind the marauders IL they had not al
ready gone on. So when they reached
that jutting woods they hitched Jess
pony and made their further way with
extreme caution,
That they were not much IL any too
late presently the faint odor of smoke
gave them assurance, the pungent,
sweet smoke of dried sassafras boughs,
and almost at the same moment the
sound of the clearing Of horses nos
trlls came distinct upon the quiet night.
Buck, well in the lead, fell back eau
tiously at the sudden glimpse of their
quarry, and the three men held a wills
pered conference. Hitching their horses,
they crept forward afoot through the
shadow of the trees.
Almost at right angles to the chap
arral grove ran the edge of the larger
woods just within whose shelter the
two men, with Jess and their tethered
horses, still fingered with a reckless
ness scarcely to be credited.
Though their fire burned low II
served to throw into a dim relief the
clustered group Of horses and the three
figures more Immediately about II, the
men standing, Jess sitting huddled on
the fallen trunk Of a cottonwood tree.
The rumbling voices of the men
reached the listeners in the adjacent
grove. Evidently they argued, almost
quarreled. Once the girl lifted her head
and watched them. Apparently they
reached some decision, for the man
who was not Grange turned briskly and
started toward the horses further away.
Grange faced the crouching girl. They
could hear what he said to her.
Swear to me, Jess, that you won't
leave you loose. If you won't swear,
you won't leave 1t nohow, but Wen tie
you so you can't"
Jess paid no attention to the words.
AN we'll fix you SOS you can talk
as much as you is talkin' now" he add
ed, angrily. rs you deaf as well as
dumb" -
Still Jess did not speak.
Grange growled an oath. He
stepped back from the fire, stopped,
and took up a coil of rope. AS he did
so the girl. sprang forward, and as
he faced her she stood erect the brand
ing rod, which had been lying near the
fire, clutched in her hand.
She spoke then in fearless anger and
contempt.
IF you come near me, you cur, I'll
kill you," she cried. What does you
know bout swearin', you lynn thief"
The other man drew near again.
an the name Of all Gods DEVILS" he
cried aloud, air you still waitin' here,
Granger"
He seemed to fly into a sudden fury
of evaporation. He jerked the pistol
from it's holster about his waist, and
the click of the trigger sounded clearly.
"Drap that brandin' bar, GAL" he
shouted to Jess, "or, by God, I'll drap
you" p
1t was then that Perry Green lifted
the restraining hand he had been hold
ing on Bucks arm. There was a flash
and an echoing report from the chap
arral, and the man before Jess flung
wide his arms as he pitched forward,
the pistol he had held whirling against
the feet Of the girl.
Instantly she stopped and seized it
and covered the astounded Grange.
Nov come on with your rope" she
cried to him, but it's going bout your
neck, you coward, an not roun' me-"
Leaping forward, they seized him
with scarce a show Of struggle, bound
him with the rope he held in his supine
grasp, and Buck, with a thrust upon
his chest, sent him sprawling backward
upon the ground, where he lay still as
that other one whom they turned over
contemptuously with their feet.
Kilrain was holding Jess in his arms.
A few minutes later Perry Green
stood over the replenished fire alone,
its light Pickering over the forms upon
the ground before him, equally silent,
though one was living and the other
dead. Buck had gone back through the
woods, guiding his horse upon which
sat Jess, her father riding beside her,
until they should come to the spot
| where they had left Jess own pony.
That was a silent group, too. With
her hands resting on the broad horn
Of Bucks saddle Jess sat bending
slightly forward as she rode.
Something intimate to her was in
the touch of that saddle-something
| intimate in the close presence OF Bucks
own young body as he walked at her
feet, his grasp upon the bit. He had
hardly spoken a dozen words to her,
but there had been no need Of words.
The light in his eyes as he had
looked into her own, his every motion,
now told her Of his service and his
love. She did not have to ask to know
whose hand 1t had been that once again
had been ready and sure to save her
from a threatened peril. She did not
have to ask to know that life held
nothing for this man in all the gamut
of its rich possibilities which he would
not gladly forego for her and for that
love which Jess knew. also, he had
come to know by the fine sympathy OF
love was his now for the asking.
They left him after he had put her
on her pony, his touch strong, yet
tender upon her, his face looking into
hers in the darkness of the midnight
woods through which she and her IA
ther went on together.
Perry Green was still standing over
the fire when Buck got back. Almost
Immediately thereafter, however, he
left his position, and, going over to the
group of horses, returned with one of
those of the captured men. He looked
at Buck.
"sit up there, Grange" Buck COM
manded.
But the man sulked. Perhaps it was
q weak despair that held him dumb and
inert.
"Sit up, damn you'll" called Buck
again, and now the man twisted himself
as he was hidden.
The other two eyed him with grim
disgust
You know" said Buck, what's due
you, Bill Grange! Due you over an
over again! It's the hemp what set
ties such scores as the Loop has against
such as you. But, cause You have
worked an messed with us, an cause
= GA