The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-07-27

OF a mile back and the others strung
out behind him. Duane needed only one
glance to tell him that they were fast
and hard riding cowboys in a land
where all riders were good. They would
not have owned any but strong, swift
horses. Moreover, it was a district
where ranchers had suffered beyond all
endurance the greed and brutality of
outlaws. Duane had simply been so I'M
fortunate as to run right into a lynch
ing party at a time OF all times when
any stranger would be in danger, and
any outlaw put to his limit to escape
with his life. .H.E#E
Duane did not look back again until
he had crossed the ridgy piece of
ground and had gotten to the level
road. He had gained upon his pursuers.
When he ascertained this he tried to
save his horse, to check a little that
killing gait. This horse was a magnifi-
cent animal, big, strong, fast; but his
endurance had never been put to q
gruelling test And that worried Duane.
His life had made is impossible to keep
one horse very long at a time, and this
one was an unknown quantity.
Duane had only one plan-the only
plan possible in this case-and that was
to make the river bottoms, where he
might elude his pursuers in the willow
trakes. Fifteen miles or so would bring
him to the river, and this was not a
hopeless distance for any good horse If
not too closely pressed. Duane conclud-
ed presently that the cowboys behind
were losing little in chase because
they were not extending their horses. 1t
was decidedly unusual for such riders
to save their mounts. Duane pondered
over this, looking back several times to
see If their horses were stretched out.
They were not, and the fact was dis
turbing. Only one reason presented
itself to Duane's conjecturing, and it
was that with him headed straight on
| that road his pursuers were satisfied
not to force the running. He began to
hope to look for trail or a road turn
ing off to right or left. There was none.
A rough, mesquite-dotted and yucca
spired country extended away on either
side. Duane believed that he would be
compelled to take to this hard going.
One thing was certain--he had to go
round the village. The river, however,
was on the outskirts of the village;
and once in the willows, he would be
safe.
| Dust-clouds far ahead caused his
alarm to grow. He watched with his
eyes strained; he hoped to see a wagon,
a few stray cattle. Shots and yells be-
hind him attested to the fact that his
pursuers likewise had seen these new
Corners on the scene. More than a mile
separated these two parties, yet this
distance did not keep them from soon
understanding each other. Duane
waited only to see this new factor show
signs Of sudden quick action, and then,
with q muttered curse, he spurred his
horse off the road into the brush.
He chose the right side, because the
river lay nearest that way. There were
patches of open sandy ground between
clumps Of cactus and mesquite, and he
found that despite zigzag course he
made better time. 1t was impossible for
him to locate his pursuers. They would
come together, he decided, and take
| to his tracks. ... .,
| What, then, was his surprise and dis
may to run out of a thiciet right into a
| low ridge or rough, broken rock, impos-
sible to get horse over He wheeled to
the left along its base. The sandy
ground gave place to a harder soil,
where his horse did not labor so. Here
the growths of mesquite and cactus be-
came scanter affording better travel
but poor cover. He kept sharp eyes
ahead, and, as he had expected, soon
saw moving dust clouds and the dark
| figures of horses. They were half a
mile away, and swinging obliquely
| across the flat, which fact proved that
they had entertained a fair idea Of the
country and the fugitive's difficulty.
/ q. without an instant's hesitation
Duane put his horse to his best efforts,
straight ahead. He had to pass those
men. When this was seemingly made
| impossible by a deep wash from which
he had to turn, Duane began to feel
cold and sick. Was this the end? AL
ways there had to be an end to an out
| laws career. He wanted then to ride
| straight at these pursuers. But reason
outweighed instinct. He was fleeing
for his life! nevertheless, theNstrongest
instinct at the time was his desire to
fight.
He knew when these three horsemen
saw him, and a moment afterward he
| lost sight of them as he got into the
mesquite again. He meant now to try
to reach the road, and pushed his
mount severely. though still saving
I him for q final burst. Rocks, thickets,
punches of cactus, washes-all oper-
ated against his following a straight
| line. Almost he lost his bearings. and
| finally would have ridden toward his
enemies had not good fortune favored
| him in the matter OF an open burned
over stretch OF ground.
| Ee-e he saw both groups of pursuers.
| one on each side and almost within
gunshot Their sharp yells, as much
as his cruel spurs, drove his horse into
that pace which now meant life or
death for him. And never had Duane
| bestrode a gamer, swifter. stancher
beast. He seemed about to accomplish
the impossible. In the dragging sand
|
pursuit, and on this sandy open stretch
he gained enough to spare little in
| the brush beyond. Heated now and
! thoroughly terrorized, he kept the pace
through thickets that almost tore
! Duane from his saddle. Something
weighty and grim eased off Duane. He
wGs going to get out in 'front.' The
horse had speed, fire. stamina.
Duane dashed out into another open
place dotted by few trees, and here,
right in his path, within pistol range,
stood horsemen waiting. They yelled,
they 5purred toward him, but did not
fire at him. He turned his horse
faced to the right. Only one thing kept
him from standing his ground to fight
it out. He remembered those dangling
limp figures hanging from the cotton
| woods. These Tanchers would rather
hang an outlaw than do anything. They
might draw all his fire and then cap
| ture him. His horror of hanging was so
! gre .! as to be all out of proportion
compared to his gun fighters instinct
! of self preservation.
A race began then. a dusty, crashing
| drive through gray mesquite. Duane
L L. laxN