The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-05-18
CHAPTER XVI.
THE TWIST OF CIRCUMSTANCE.


THE TWIST OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
For some minutes after Jess had re-
luctantly left him, obdurate, indeed, to
her opportunities, Buck stood thinking.
Il reckon I'm the special agent Of
Providence for the job" he said quiet
ly to himself. Il always wondered how
1t d feel to know you was at the end
OF your rope. 1t sure must put a
premium on wickedness."
Yet he had no sense of doing any
wrong thing In what he now set about
doing. Neither did Bucks conscience
trouble him for what he had done. a..
He made for the little metal house
some distance off, where he knew Card
ross men had stored their explosives,
hesitated not an instant to break open
the lock with the heavy crowbar he
had found in the tool shed, and there
after went about his task with cool
ness and thoroughness which he meant
should not miscarry.
He laid his mines, using such pur-
posed openings as he found in the
masonry OF the dam, trusting to heavy
charges to do the work effectually.
He set the alarm with which Card
ross battery was furnished, and then
going for his horse, Buck rode up
stream and waited. He could only trust
that no one would approach the dam
from the Loop direction during the few
intervening minutes.
The shock Of the ensuing explosion
shattered the glass in windows miles
away.
1t almost knocked down the horse
upon which Buck sat waiting in a
growing uneasiness lest after all he had
not builded we'll And 1t did more than
that. 1t shattered the retaining locks
behind which Raccoon river was pent
up, and the released water went roar
Ing down over the shattered dam, over
flowing the, natural bed Of the stream
and tearing through the underbrush In
wild sweep Of rushing, crashing de-
vastation.
Buck, sitting his horse, laughed
grimly.
Now" he soliloquized, with a humor
that might have sounded CHASTITY had
any been there to hear IL, IF my life
goes out at the end Of a rope, I'll know
I've done more damage than KILN one
worthless cayute."
He rode for miles before the freshet
he had loosened, spending itself grad
ually, gave him the desired opportunity
to cross over and head his horse for
home, for he had waited on the wrong
side of the destruction he had wrought.
And so when he at last, sober a nd
somewhat weary, reached the stables of
the Loop, 1t was to learn from many
excited voices Of the utter demolition
OF Cardross' dam, and the finding of
Cardross own mangled body beneath
the debris.
Oddly this unexpected twist in the
coil OF events struck Buck dumb. He
heard Skull Williams saying:
"Cardross must ha' repented of his
meanness, poor devil, an gone out there
to undo all he had done. He'd ordered
no one to go out there today. Queer,
amt 1t, Buck?
Skull looked with reminiscent mean
ing OF their own interrupted designs at
the white face Of Buck Brannon. n
Another on the outskirts of the little
group was watching Buck, an agony
of entreaty in her eyes.
Where he stood, Buck ungirthed his
saddle and slipped the bride from his
faded horse. Striking the animal gen.
tly on its flank, he sent 1t on to its stall,
dropping the saddle by the wall of the
stable. In silence still he passed
through the group Of men and Joined
You've often swore you loved me,
Buck" the girl murmured brokenly.
II your words wasn't Just chaff, for
the love OF God keep a still tongue in
your head now. Don't stand here talk
in, TO me. They're watching u.s." i
uncertain, Buck turned and moved
away.
Now, amt that just like Buck
exclaimed Skull Williams
softly. He had no cause to love Blass
his DEATH"
Buck was not, though.
An act for which he had no sense
OF guilt was, by force Of circumstance
taking on the horrid secrecy of crime.
With the passing Of every minute Buck
felt his feet slipping deeper in the mire.
he mad not foreseen that his full con-
fession would involve Jess Kilrain.
He knew the men were watching him,
talking about him, and a quick intu-
ltlon made him aware Of what they
said.
He wheeled in his tracks and came
back to them.
I'm glad Blass Cardross is dead"
he cried. He Was a scoundrel an a
coward, an all the more SO cause he
needn't ha' been with all the good that
was in him. Doin't think I'm erwin
cause he's dead, Skull. 1 amt"
He caught up his saddle and bride
and plunged through the open stable
door, leaving them not a little shocked.
If the truth were told.
Skull Jerked his ugly head
An that's Buck, too" he said, more
wisely than he knew. He's plumb rot
ten with honesty"
Don't talk so much, Skull williams"
came Jess Kilrain's nervous voice as
she turned to leave. you rattle like
real deaths head"
In the low laughter that followed
Perry Green rose and detached himself
from the group. He strolled leisurely
into the stable, where he stopped be-
fore Buck engaged In rubbing down
his lathered accouterments. A quiz
zical CLEAN came into the big fellows
eyes.
Buck" he asked softly, how many
sticks OF dandermite would you reckon
safe an effectual charge to blast the
walls Of Jerusalem the Golden, an turn
loose the River Jordan?"
Buck frowned. In spite Of himself
he laughed.
I'm in the devil Of a mess, Perry"
he said; but faint just as you're fig
germ" .s :. = =.
The big cowpuncher nodded. He was
very grave now.
go slow, old man." he offered, "an'
take 1t easy. If skunk gifts smashed
when you chop down q hollow tree.
faint sayin' he wouldn't ha' soused
you first II he'd got the chance"
In the meanwhile. Martin Kilrain was