Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-01
Pr II.

BUCK DuaneS llrSt gun play. Like Ia
Their like son!"
CHAPTER III.
A thought kept repeating itself to
Duane, and it was that he might have
] spared himself concern through his
imagining how awful it would be to
kill a man. He had no such feeling
now. He had rid the community of q
drunken, Dragging, quarrelsome cow
boy.
When he came to the gate of his
home and saw his uncle there with a
mettlesome horse, saddled, with can
teen, rope, n bags all in place. a
subtle shock pervaded his spirit. 1t
had slipped his mind-the consequence
Of his act. But the sight of the horse
n the look Of his uncle recalled the
fact that he must now become a fu-
gitive. An unreasonable anger took
hold of him..
1.-THE ID fool!" he exclaimed, hot
ly. Meeting Balm wasn't much, Uncle
Jim. He busted my boots, that's all.
And for that I've got to go OF the
dodge
Son, you killed him-then" asked
the uncle, huskily.
yes; / stood over him-watched him
die. I did as I would have been done
by"
II knew it. Long g 1 saw it COM
in. But now we can't stop to cry over
split blood. You've got to leave town
an this part Of the country"
"Mother!" exclaimed Duane.
"She's away from home. You can't
wait. I'll break it to her-what she
always feared"
Suddenly Duane sat down and cov-
cred his face with his hands.
my God! Uncle. what have I done?"
His broad shoulders shook.
Listen, son, an remember what ]
say" replied the elder man, earnestly.
blame. I'm glad to see o AXE it this
way. because maybe you'll never grow
hard an %callous. You're not to blame.
This is Texas. You're your fathers
son. These are wild times. The law
as the rangers are laying it down now
can't change life all in a minute. Even
your mother, who's a good, true woman
had had her share In making you what
you are this moment. For she was one
of the pioneers-the fightin' pioneers
of this state. Those years of wild
times. before you was born, developed
in her instinct to fight, to save her life,
her children, an that instinct has
cropped out in you. 1t will be many
years before it dies out of the boys
born in Texas"
I'm a murderer" said Duane, shud-
dering.
mo. son, you're not. An you never
will be. But you've got to be an outlaw
till time makes it safe for you to come
home
can outlaw?'
81 said it. If we had money an in
fluence we'd risk a trial. But we've
neither. An 1 reckon the scaffold or
Jail is no place for Buckley Duane.
ever you go an whatever you dc-be a
man. Live honestly, if that's possible.
1 If it isn't, be as honest as you can If
you have to herd with outlaws try not
to become bad. There are outlaws
who're not all bad-many who have
been driven to the river by such a deal
as this you had. When you get among
these men avoid brawls. Don't drink;
don't gamble. / needn't tell you what
to do If it comes to gun play, as likely
it will. You can't come home. When
this thing is lived down. If that time
ever comes, I'll get wor into the I'M
settled country. TIN reach o some
day. That's all. Remember, be a man.
Goodby."
Duane, with blurred sight and con-
tracing throat, gripped his uncle's
hand and babe him a wordless fare
we'll. Then he leaped astride the black
and o out of town.
AS swiftly as was consistent with a
care for his steed, Duane put a distance
of ID or l8 miles behind him. With
that he slowed up, inc the matter of
riding did not require all his faculties.
He passed several ranches and was
seen by men. This did not suit him,
n he took an old trail across country.
It was a flat region with a poor growth
Of mesquite and prickly pear cactus.
Occasionally he caught a glimpse OF
low hills in the distance. He had
hunted often in that section, and knew
where to find grass and water. When
he reached his higher ground he did
not. however. halt at the first favor
able camping spot. but went on and
on. Once he came out upon the brow OF
q hill and saw a considerable stretch
Of country beneath him. It had the
gray Gameness characterizing all that
he had traversed. He seemed to want
to e wide spacesAto get a glimpse 81
the great wilderness lying Somewhere
beyond to the southwest. It was sun
set when he decided to camp I q like
~ spot he came cross. He led the
horse to water, N then began search
Ing through the shallow valley for q
suitable place TO camp. He passed BY
/ old camp sites that he well reInem.
bered. These. however. did not strike
his fancy this time, and the eigniff-
canoe cf HE hangesin him did notice
cur ut h moment. At last he found
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