The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-08-10
CHAPTER XII1-(contiuued).


Toward afternoon, from the top of a
.cng hill, Duane saw the green ftelds
and trees and shining roofs OF town
he considered must be Shirley. And at
the bottom of the Hill he came upon an
intersecting road. There was placard
nailed on the crossroad sign post.
, Duane drew rein near 1t and leaned
close to read the faded print. Isl 600
reward for Buck Duane, dead or alive.
Peering closer to read the finer, more
faded print, Duane learned that he was
wanted for the murder of Mrs. Jen AK
en- at her ranch near Shirley. the
month September was named, but the
date was illegible. The reward was Of
fered by the woman's husband, whose
name appeared with that Of a sheriffs
at the bottom of the placard.
Duane read the thing twice. When he
straightened he was sick with the hor-
ror of his fate, wild with passion at
those misguided fools who could believe
that he had harmed a woman. Then ne
remembered Kate Bland, and, as always
when she returned to him, he quaked
inwardly. Years before word had gone
abroad that he had killed her. and so
60. e0.-v FOR mon vomiting to fix
crime to name him. Perhaps 1t had
Deen done often. Probably he bore on
his shoulders a burden OF numberless
crimes.
A dark, passionate fury possessed
him. 1t shook him like a storm shakes
the oak. When 1t passed. leaving MN
cold, with clouded brow and piercing
eye, his mind was set. Squirting his
horse, he rode straight toward the VII
lage.
Shirley appeared to be a large, pre-
tentious country town. A branch OF
some rainroad terminated there. The
main street was wide, bordered by trees
the stores were of brick. A large plaza
shaded by giant cottonwood trees oc-
cupied a central location.
Duane pulled his running horse and
halted him, plunging and snorting, be-
fore a group Of idle men who lounged
On benches in the shade or a spreading
cottonwood. How many times had
Duane seen Just that kind or lazy shirt
sleeved Texas group! Not often, how
ever, had he seen such placid, lolling.
good natured men change their ex-
preston, their attitude so swiftly. his
advent apparently was momentous;
They evidently took him for an unusual
visitor. So far as Duane could tell, not
one of them recognized him, had hint
of his Identity.
He slid off his horse and threw the
bride.
"Tm Buck Duane" he said. II saw
that placarj-out there on sign post.
man jeff Aiken. l want to see him..
His announcement was taken In alb
solute silence. That was the only effect
ne noted, for he avoided looking at
these villagers. The reason was simple
enough; Duane felt himself overcome
with emotion. There were tears In his
ewes. He sat down on q bench, put his
elbows on his knees and his hands to
his face. For once he had absolutely no
concern for his fate. This ignominy was
the last straw.
Presently, however. he became aware
of some kind of commotion among the
villagers. He heard whisperings, low,
hoarse voices, then the shufIle OF rapIu
feet moving away. All at once violent
hand jerked his gun from its holster
When Duane rose a gaunt man. nVld
of face shaking like n leaf, confronted
him with his own gun.
Hands up, thar, you BUCK duane!
he reared, waving the gun.
That appeared to be the cue for PAN
semonium to break loose. Duane opened
his lips to speak, but If he had yelled
Mt the top of his lungs he could not have
made himself heard. In weary disgust
he looked at the gaunt man, and tnen
at the others, who were working them
selves into frenzy. He made no move,
however, to hold up ms hands. Ins
villagers surrounded him, emboldened
by finding him now unarmed. Then
several men lay hold OF his arms and
pinioned them behind his back. Resist
ance was useless even IL Duane had had
the spirit. Some one of them fetched his
halter from his saddle, and with this
they bound him helpless.
People We're running now from the
street, the stores, the houses. Old men.
cowboys, clerks, boys, ranchers came on
the trot. The crowd grew. The increas-
ing clamor began to attract women as
well as men. A group Of girls ran up,
then hung back in fright and pity.
The presence OF cowboys made diff
ference. They split up the crowd. got to
Duane, and lay hold OF him with rough,
business like hands. One of them lifted
his fists and roared at the frenzied mob
to fall back, to stop the racket. he beat
them back into q circle; but II was
some little time before the hubbub
uuieted down so a voice could be heard.
shut up, viii you-al?" he was
yelling. "Give us a chance to hear some
thin Easy now-soho. There amt no
body gCin' to be hurt Thets right;
everybody quiet now. Let's see what's
come Off"
This cowboy, one of authority, or at
least one of strong personality, turned
to the gaunt man who still waved
Duane's gun.
ABE, put the gun down." he said. TT
might go off. Here, give II to me. NOW,
what's wrong? Who's this ropad gent,
an what's he done?' -
The gaunt fellow. who appeared now
about to collapse, lifted shaking hand
and opinted.
"Thet thar feller-he's Buck Duane!"
he painted.
An angry murmur ran through the
surrounding crowd.
"rhe rope! The rope! Throw it over
q branch! String his up!" cried an ex-
cited villager. ,E
Buck Duane. Buck Duane"
Hang him!" t'
The cowboy silenced these cries.
Abe, bow do you know this fellow
Is Buck Duaner' he asked sharply.
"Why-he saio -" replied the man
called Abe.
What" came the exclamation, in
credulously. ..- r
Its a tarnal fact" painted Abe, wav-
ing his hands Importantly. He was an
old man sand appeared to be carried
away with the significance of his deed.
He like to rid his boss over us-all.
Then he jumped off, says he was Buck
Duane, an he wanted to see jeff Aiken
bad" ..,.... aa ST.. ~ as.
This speech caused a second commo-
ton as noisy though not so enduring
| as the first. When the cowboy, as
sisted by q couple of his mates, had re-
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