The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-09

denly, in his desperation, he de-
cided upon something. "They
started this game" he told him
self grimly, land they needn't
squeal If they burn their own
fingers"
Ward was not an adept with
running iron;" he was honest,
whatever men might say of him.
But he knew how to tie down an
animal. He worked fast-no tell
ing what minute someone might
come and catch him-and he did
his work WE'LL far better and neat
er than had his predecessors.
When he left that corral, he
smiled. Before he had ridden
very far up the bluff, he stopped,
looked down at the long-suffer-
ing cattle. One could read their
brands easily from where he sat
on his horse. They were not
blotched; they were very distinct.
But they were not Yes within the
corral. There were other brands
which might be made of a Y6
monogram, by the judicious adj
dition of a mark here and a mark
there.
Ward knew that Buck Olney
would discover the re-branded
cattle, and that Olney, being no
fool, would realize that whoever
had done the trick was onto his
game. 1t would be easy to reason
out that the man most interested
was the one who had discovered
the hidden corral. Knowing his
man, Ward kept on the lookout
for him, but it was not until a
week later that, returning to his
cabin one noon, he came up be-
hind Olney sitting on a boulder,
the cabin door covered with
gun.
Throw up your hands!" Ward
called sharply, when his first
flare of rage had cooled to steady
purpose.
Buck Olney jumped ks though
a felloy-jacket had stung him. He
turned startled face over his
shoulder, grunted an oath, and
lifted his hands high in the quiet
sunlight.
"Get up from there and go on
down to the shack-and keep
your hands up" Ward came still
closer as he smoke.
Buck got up awkwardly and
went stumbling down the steep
slope, with his hands trembling
in the air upon either side of his
head. oa#a
Take down your left hand
and open the door," 49,
Buck did SO and put his hand
up again without being told.
Now go in and stand with
your face TO the WALL" Ward indi-
Gated which wall. He had chosen
the spot where he could reach
easily a small coil of rope.
Drop your hands down behind
you, He spent busy minute
with the rope before he pushed
Buck olney roughly toward a
chair.
If l turn you loose, Buck,
what will you do?" Ward asked
in curious tone.
If you-Ward, I'll prove I'm
a friend to yuh in spite of the idea
you've got that I amt. / never
done nothing"
No, of course not" Wards lip
curled.
That's right, Ward, and I can
prove It,"
Ward snorted. "You proved 1t,
old-timer, when you laid up there
behind rock with your sights on
this shack, ready to get me when
l came out. | sabe now how 1t
happened Jim MCGUIRE was found
face down in the spring behind
his shack, with a bullet hole in
his back, that time. You were
his friend, tool"
Ward, L"
Shut up. I just wanted to see
IL you'd changed any in the last
seven years. You haven't, unless
it's for the worse. Do you want to
know what I'm going to do to
your"
Ward, you wouldn't dare shoot
me! With the record you have
got, you wouldn't stand"
who gave it to me, huh? Well
you can rest easy on one point.
I'm not going to shoot you. I'm
going to take you out somewhere
and hang YOU"
Ward! You-you-"
II told you seven years ago."
went on Ward steadily, that I'd
see you hung before l was through
with you. Remember?
81 did think of running you in
and giving you taste of hell
yourself. But, as usual, you've
gone and tangled up a couple of
fellows that never did me any
particular harm and l don't want
to hand them anything If can
help it. So I'll Just string you
up-and leave a note saying who
you are, and that you're the head
push in this rustling business,
and that you helped spend the
money that Hardup bank lost a
while back; and"
"You can't prove It! You"
81 don't have to prove 1t. The
authorities will do all that when
they get the tip I'll give them.
And you, being hung on limb
can't yarv wall uiva