The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-11-30

"How'n Hell Did You Get His eun?"
| grabbed his gun an got the drop on
him"
What the cowboy thought of this
was expressed In a hugh. His mates
likewise grinned broadly. Then the
leader turned to Duane.
Stranger reckon you'd better
speak up for Yourself" he said.
That stilled the crowd rs no com
mand had done I'm Buck Duane,
all right, said Duane, quietly. 1T was
this way"
The big cowboy seemed to vibrate
with 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 IooR. He shot out
powerful hand that fastened In the
front of Duane's blouse.
"Somethln' queer here But If
you're Duane you're sure in bad. Any
fool ought TO know that You mean
It. them"
"Tm Duane; yes But | won't stand
for the blame OF things / never did
That's why I'm here. | saw that pla-
card out there Offering the reward.
Untl now | never was within half a
days ride Of this town I'm blamed |
for what | never did. l rode In here, |
told who was, asked somebody TO |
send for Jeff Aiken"
AN then you set down an let this
bid guy throw your own gun on your"
lueried the cowboy IN nmazement.
81 guess that's It," replied Dune.
well. it's powerful strange. II you're
'eally Buck Duane whit do you want
O see Aiken for2"
81 wanted to face him, to tell him
lever harmed his wife"
suppose we send for Aiken an he
.ears you an doesn't believe you:
,hat them"
"If he won't believe me-why then
~ cases SO bad--rd be better of
cad"
A momentary silence was broken by
Inert
IF this isn't queer dealt Boys,
,ckon we'd better send for JefF."
Somebody went fer him. Hen be .
Dmiu' soon" replied man. I
Duane stood head taller than that
rcle OF curious faces. He gazed out I
lOv1 and beyond them. II was in this
ny that lie CHANGED to see n number /
women on the outskirts Of the =
ovid Some were old, with hard
ces like the men. Some were young
nj comedy, and most Of these seemed d
,iuted by excitement or distress Z
hes east fearful, plying Chances up /
. Duane rs he stood there with that \
'use around his neck, Women were
ore human than men, duane thought. p
Q met eyes that dllated. seemed
sciuated at his gaze, hut were not +
erted. II was the old women who
ere yoluble, loud In expression OF /
cir feelings. v
Thar comes JEFF Aiken now" called )
man, loudly. y
The crowd shifted aud trampled in Il
grrness,
Duane saw two men coming fast, =,
e Of whom. In the lead was OF stall -
art build He had gun In his hand, II
"a his manner was that Of fierce en- u
~, =,
The cowboy SIbert thrust open the y
sitting circle Of men. "
Hold ON. Jcn." he called. and he =,
ncked the man with the gun. He y,
obe 50 low Duane could not hear
bat he said and his Form hid Aiken's D.,
ce. At that juncturc the crowd
read out. closed In, and Aiken and p,
bpr" were caught In the circle. There s..
rs a pushing forward, pressing OF :,
my bodies, hoarSe cries and nlnglng
nds-Bguin the insane tumult was
out TO break out-the demand for
outlaws blood, ths call for wild
stice executed thousand times be- -,
re on Texas bloody soil. =,
Sibert beloved Mt the dark en- :,
mass. The cowboys with 4,
m beat and cuffed in vain. h,
JEFF, will you nsten?" broke In 81 A
rt, hurriedly, his hands on the other II,
ans arm. a
Aiken nodded coolly. Duane, who m
d seen many men In perfect control N
themselves under circumstances like h,