The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-06-08
CHAPTER II (contlnued).

lieved might lead to the village. There
were a good many fresh horse track
in the sand, and these made him
thoughtful. Nevertheless, he followed
he road, proceeding cautiously. He had
not gone very far when the sound Of
rapid hoof beats caught his ears. They
came from his rear. In the darlienin2
twilight he could not see any great dis
lance back along the road. Voices.
however, warned him that these riders,
whoever they were, had approached
closer than he liked. To go farther
down the road was not to be thought
OF, SO he turned u little way in among
the mosquitoes and halted, hoping to es-
cape being seen or heard. AS he was
now n fugitive, it seemed every man
men were fast approaching. Presently
they We're abreast of Duane's position,
SO near that he cold hear the creak of
saddles, the clinlS of spurs.
Shore, he crossed the river below"
said n man.
Il reckon you're right, Bill. He's
slipped u.s." replied another.
Hangers or u posse of ranchers in
pursuit Of a fugitive! The knowledge
gave Duane Il strange thrill. Certain
ly they could not have been hunting
him. But the feeling their proximity
gave him was Identical to what 1t would
have been had he been this particular
hunted man He held his breath; he
cleanched his teeth; he pressed a quiet
ing hand upon his horse. Suddenly he
became aware that these horsemen had
halted. They were whispering. He
could just make out a dark group close
ly massed. What had made them halt
so sus~piciously?
You're wrong, Bill" said a man, in
a low but distinct voice. The idee of
hearin' a boss heave! You're wuss'n
a ranger. An our hell bent on KILN
that hustler Now saw Ipt'S pn hnna
an eat"
wal, I'll just k a look at the
sand" replied the mar called Bill.
Duane heard the ciink of spurs on
steel stirrup II the thud Of boots on
the ground. There followed a short
silence, which was broken by a sharply
breathed exclamation.
Duane waited for no more. They had
found his trail. He spurred his horse
straight into the brush.
At The second crashing bound there
came yells from the road, and then
let close by his ear, and as it struck a
branch it made a peculiar singing
sound. These shots and the proximity
Of that lead missile reused In Duane
q quick, hot resentment which mounted
into a passion almost ungovernable. He
must escape, yet it seemed that he did
not care whetbar he did or not. Some
thing grim kept urging him to halt and
return the fire OF these men. After
running a couple of hundred yards he
raised himself from over the pommel.
where he had bent to avoid the singing
branches, and tried to guide his horse.
In n dark shadows under mosquitoes
anu cottonwoods he was hard put to it
to find open passage; however, he sue
ceeded SO well n made such little
noise that gradually he drew away
from his pursuers. The sound of their
horses crashing through the thickets
Died away. Duane refined in and list
ened He had distanced them. Probably
they would go into camp till day
light, h follow his tracks. He
Started on Egain, walking his horse, and
peered sharply at the ground, so that
he might take advantage OF the first
trail he crossed. It seemed a long while
It until q late hour, when, striking the
willow brakes again and hence the
n~elghborhood OF the river, he picketed
MS horse and lay down to rest. But he
did not sleep. His mind bitterly re-
vowed the fate that had cone upon him.
Ae made efforts to think 81 other
things, but In vain. Every momen he
expected the chill, the sense OF loneli-
ness that yet was ominpus Of a strange
visitation, the peculiarly imagined
lights and shades Of the night-these
things that presaged the coming OF Cal
S0A CudAG IOuRQ aaga1nSI
= insidtous phantom. He kept telling
himself that It was just imagination,
that IT would wear off In time. Still in
ms heart he did not believe what he
hoped. But he would not give up he
would not accept the ghost OF his VIC
time as q reality.
Gray. dawn found him In the saddle
again headed for the river. Half an
nour OF riding brought him to the dense
chaparral and willow thickats. These
ne threaded TO come at length to the
FORD. II was a gravel bottom. and
therefore an easy crossing. Once upon
the opposite shore he reigned In HIS
horse and looked darkly back. This
action marked his Acknowledgement of
his situation. he had Voluntarily
sought the refugeaof the. outlaws. he
Was beyond the pale. bitter and
passionate curse passed his lips as he
spurred ms horse into b brakes on
He rode perhaps 20 miles, not SPAR
ing his horse nor caring whether or
he left a plain train.
Let them hunt mel he muttered.
sssss heat Of the day began to
g oppressive, and hunger and thirst
.laae themselves manifest, Duane be-
sansko look about him for a place to
malt Tor the noon-hours. The trail led
INTO q road which was hard packed and
SMOOTH ROM the racks of cattle. He
doubted notsthat he had come across
one q the roads used by border raiders.
sae headed into II. n had scarcely
sdraSeied r. mile when, turning q curve.
&c came point blank upon e SINGLE
Snorsenlan riding coward him. Roth
riders wheeled their mounts Sharply
sana6Were ready to run and shoot back.
not more than a hundred PAGES separ-
assa enems they stood then for d mo-
.Ment watching each other.
l3n6 ~ -. 4,