Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-15
CHAPTER " lContlnuedl

kept lodging rocks which his horses
toosed behind him. And in a short
time he reached the valley, entering
the apex of the wedge. A stream of
clean water tumbkad out of the rocks
here, and most of it ran into irrigation
bitches. His horses drank thirstily.
And he drank with that fullness and
gratefulness common to the desert
traveller finding sweet water. Then he
mounted and rode down the valley,
wondering what would be his reception.
The valley was much larger than it
q appeared from the high elevation.
Well watered, green with grass and
tree, and farned evidently by good
hands, 1T ave Duane a considerable
surprise. Horses and cattle were ev-
erywhere. Every clump of cottonwoods
surrounded a small adobe house. Duane
saw Mexieans working in the fields
and horsemen going to and fro. Pres
emily he passed a house bigger than the
others with a porch attached. A WON
Eli, young and pretty he thought,
watched him from a door. No one else
appeared to notice him.
Presently the trail widened into a
road, and that into a kind Of square
lined by a number of adobe and log
buildings of rudest structure. Within
sight Were, horses, dogs, a couple Of
steers, Mexican woman with children,
and white men, all Of whom appeared
to be doing nothing. His advent Gre
ated no interest until he rode up to
the white men. who were lolling in the
shade OF a house. This place evidently
vas a store and saloon, and from the
inside calne q lazy hum of voices.
AS Duane refined to q halt, one of the
loungers in the shade rose with a loud
exclamation:
Bust me. If tibet amt Luke's hoss!"
The others accorded their interest, if
mt nConrf hU- vstSfv, or T., n SHyp N ~, r1
Duane.
How about 1t, Euchre? Amt tibet
Luke's bay?" queried the first man.
Plain as your nose" replied the fell
low called Euchre.
There amt no doubt about tibet,
then" laughed another, FER Bosomer's
nose is shore plain or the landscape.
These men lined up before Duane
and. as he cody regarded them. he
thought they could have been recog-
nized anywhere as desperadoes. The
man called Bosomer,. who had stepped
forward, had a forbidding face which
showed yellow eyes, an enormous nose,
and a skin the color of dust, with a
thatch OF sandy hair.
Stranger, who are you-an' where
In the hell did o git tibet bay hoss?'
he demanded. Els yellow ayes took
In Stevens horse, then the weapons
hung on the saddle, md finally turned
their glinting, hard light upward to
Duane.
Duaae did not like the tone in which
he had been addressed, and he re-
manned silent. AT least half his mind
seemed busy with curious interest in
regard to something that leaped in
side him and made his breast feel tight.
He recognized 1t as that strange emo
ton which had shot through him often
of late. and which had decided him to
go out to the meeting with Balm, Only
now 1T was different, more powerful.
Stranger, who are your asked an
other man, somewhat more civilly.
My names Duane" replied Duane
curtly.
An how'd you come by the hoss?'
Duane. answered briefly; and his
words were followed by a short silence,
during which the men looked at him.
Bosolner began to twist the ends of his
beard.
'.Heckon he's dead. all right, Or no.
boay'd hey his boss an guns present.
" said Euchre.
Mister Duane began Bosomer, In
low. singing tones, Il happen to be
Luke Stevens \ pardner."
Duane looked him over, from dusty,
worn cut boots to his slouchy som
brero. That look seemed to inflame
Bosomer.
.ssAn' / want the boss al them guns"
he shouted.
$ or anybody else can have them,
for all 1 ARE. I just fetched them in.
but the pack Is mine" replied Duane.
And say, / befriended your pard. If
Soa can'tsuses q civil tongue, you'd bet.
sar cinch it,
civil? Haw, haw!.n rejoined the out
law III don't know you. How do We
know you didn't plug Stevens, and
stole his boss, an Jest happened to
stumble down here?n
"Y0usllNhave to take my word, that's
all" replied Duane, SHARPLY.
wordi. sayvy thet? An was Luke's
Withsathat Bosorner wheeled and
pushing shisA scbfnpanions aside, he
stamped Into the saloon. where his
voice broke out In q roar.
Duane disiaountel and threw his
Stranger, Bosomer Is shore no,
headed said the man Euchre. He did
not appear unfriendly, % were the
Others hoatile.
this juncture several more out
laws crowded out OF the door, and the
4 In the lead was q tall man Of stall
claimed him 4 leader. He had a long
face, q flaming red beard. and clear,
cold blue eyes that fixed in close
scrutiny upon He was not q
Texana;dnstruth, Duane did not recog-
nixe one Of these outlaws az native to
nm Bland satd the tan man, au-
sxesyou d6f1EgghSr&
SHss Duane looked at Bland as he had al
the othSrS.@ssTfls outlaw chief appeared
~ bSxneanonAble.s n hAwas not court
A2ol6. Duane told his story again, this
kaeass4slittie more n detail