Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-14

dyin' with his boots on"
at this sally the chief and his men
laughed.
You said Duane-Buck Duane?"
Duane who was a gun fighter some
years back?"
Yes" replied Duane.
Never met him. and glad / didn't"
said Bland, with a grim humor. $50
you got in trouble and had to go on the
dodge? What kind of trouble?"
Had a fight"
Eight? DO you mean gun play?"
questioned Bland. lie seemed eager,
curious, speculative.
Yes. 1T ended in gun play, I'm sorry
to say answered Duane.
Guess L needn't ask the son of
Duane if he killed his man." went on
bucked against trouble in my camp.
But as it is. guess you'd be wise to
make yourself scarce"
do you mean I'm politely told to
move on asked Duane, quietly.
Not exactly that" aid Bland, as il
lrrltated. If this isn't a free place
there isn't N on earth. Every man
is equal here. Do you want to join my
band?"
NO. I don't"
We'll, even if you did 1 imagine that
wouldn't stop Bosomer. He's an ugly
fellow. He's one of the few gunner
I've met who wants to kill somebody
all the time. Most men like hat are
fourflushes. But Bosomer is all n
color, and that's red. Merely for your
own sake l advise you to hit the trial."
Thanks. But if that's all I'll stay"
returned Duane. Even as he spoke he
felt thai he did not know himself.
Bosomer appeared at the door, push
ing men who tried to detain him, and
as he jumped clear of a last reaching
nand he uttered a snarl like an angry
dog. Manifestly the short while he
nad spent inside the saloon had been
DEVOTED to drinking and talking him
self into a frenzy. Bland and the other
outlaws quickly moved aside. letting
saw Duane standing motionless and
Watch1ui a strange change passed
quickly in him. He halted in his tracks
n as he did that the men who had
1o.lowed him out piled over n am
other IN their hurry to get to one side.
duane saw all the swift action, felt
lntultlvely the meaning Of it, and in
Bosomer's sudden change of front. The
out,aW was keen, and he had expected
a shrinking. or at least a frightened
antagonist. Duane knew he was
neither. He felt like iron, and vet
.hflll after thrill ran through him. It
was Amos as if this situation had
"HP a W llIl. some.
now he understood his yellow eyed
Bosomer. The outlaw had come out
10 XIII him. And now. though some
what checked by the stand of a strang-
ef, he still meant to kill. Like so MANY
desPeradoes of his ilk, he was victim
ri a passion to kill for the sake of
hllilhg. Duane OWNED that no sudden
amnesty was driving Bosomer. III
was just his chance. In that
murder would have been joy to him.
Very likely he had forgotten his pre-
.eNt Tor a quarrel. Very probably his
laculties were absorbed in conjecture
a.; to Duane's possibilities.
Eut he did not speak a word. He
remained motionlcss for a long mo-
Tnent, his eyes pale and steady HE
r-ght hand like Il cav.
ihat instant save Duane a power to
real in his cnemy's eyes the thought
tlat preceded action. But Duane aid
net want to kill another man. still he
would have to fight, and he decided to
grippe Bosomer. When Bosomer's
hand-moTed Duane's gun was spouting
IRE. Two shots only-both from
iouane,s sun-and the outlaw fell with
MS right arm shattered. Rosoner
cursed harshly and f%loundered in the
dust. trying to reach the gun with his
left hand. His comrades, however,
seeing that Duane would not kin nm.
less forced, closed in upon Bosomer
and prevented any further madness on
his. part.