The Port Gibson reveille., 1916-10-26

"HOw,n He'll Did You Get His cun2'
grabbed his gun an got the drop on
him."
What the cowboy thought of this
was expressed in laugh. His mates
likewise grinned broadly. Then the
leader turned to Duane.
stranger, I reckon you'd better
speak up for yourself, he said.
That stllIed the crowd as no COM
mand had done. "Fm Buck Duane,
all right" said Duane, quietly. IT was
this way"
The big cowboy seemed to vibrate
with a shock. All the ruddy warmth
left his face; his jaw began to bulge
the corded veins In his neck stood out
In knots. In an instant he had a hard,
stern, strange LOOK. He, shot out a
powerful hand that fastened in the
front Of Duane's blouse.
"Somethin' queer here. But II
you're Duane you're sure in bad. Any
fool ought to know that. You mean
it, then?"
"Pm Duane; yes. But j won't stand
for the blame of things / never did.
That's why Pm here. l saw that pla-
card out there offering the reward.
Until now l never was within half a
days ride Of this town. I'm blamed
for what 1 never did. rode in here.
told who / was, asked somebody to
send for JEFF Aiken"
''An' then you set down an let this
old guy throw your own gun on your
Queried the cowboy in amazement.
'bguess that's it" replied Duane.
swell. It's powerful strange. If you're
really Buck Duane what do you want
to see Aiken for?"
II wanted to face him, TO tell him 1
never harmed his wife,"
Suppose we send for Aiken an he
hears you an doesn't believe you !:
what then?"
''If he won't believe newly, then
my cases SO bad-Td be better of
dead"
A momentary silence was broken by
Sibert.
"If this isn't a queer deal! Boys,
reckon we'd better send for JEFF"
Somebody went fer him. He'll be
comm soOn." replied a man.
Duane stood a head taller than that
circle of curious faces. He gazed out
above and beyond them. It was in this
way that he chanced to see number
Of women on the outskirts of the
crowd. Some were old. with hard
faces. like the men. Some were young
and cOmely. and most Of these seemed
agitated by excitement or distress.
They cast fearful. plying glances up
on Duane as he stood there with that
moose around his neck. WomeA were
more human than men, duane thought.
He met eyes that dilated, seemed
fascinated at his gaze. but were not
ayerted. It was the old women who
were volubIe, loud in expression Of
their feelings
thar comes Jef Aiken now" called
man. loudly.
The crowd shifted and trampled In
eagerness.
Duane saw two men coming fast
one Of whom. in the lead, was Of stall
wart build He had gun in his hand,
and his manner was that Of fierce en-
ergy.
The cowboy Sibert thrust open the
jostling circle of men.
"Hold on, JEFF. he called. and he
blocked the man with the gun. he
spoke so low Duane could not hear
what he said. and his form hid Aiken's
face. At that juncture the crowd
spread out. closed in, and Aiken and
SIbex. were caught In the circle. There
was a pushing forward. a pressing of
many bodies. hoarse cries and fllngIng
hands-a again the insane tumult was
about to break out-the demand for
an outlaws blood. th l.. call for wild
Justice executed a thousand times be-
fore on Texas bloody soil.
Sibert beloved at the dark en-
croaching mass. The cowboys with
him beat and cufred In vain.
"JefT, viii you listenY broke In ST.
bert, hurriedly. bis hands on the other
mans arm.
Aiken nodded cooIiy. Duane. who
had seen many men IN perfect control
Of themselves under circumstances like