Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-05-31
CHAPTER L.

lighting instinct. a driving intensity to
kill. He was the last of the Duanes.
that old fighting stock of Texas. But
not the memory of his dead father, nor
the pleading OF his soft-voiced mother.
nor the warning of this uncle who
stood before him now, had brought to
Buck Duane so much realization of
the dark passionate strain in his blood.
1t was the recurrence, a hundredfold
increased in power. of a strange emo
ton that for the last three years had
arisen in hi"
Yes. Cal Bain's in town, full of
bad whisky an huntin' for YOU" re-
peated the elder man, gravely.
Its the second time" muttered
Duane. as if to himself.
Son. you can avoid a meetin'.
Leave town till Cal sobers up. He
amt got it in for you when he's not
drinkin'."
"But what's he want me for?" de-
manded Duane. ITO insult me again!
l won't stand hat twice.
He's got a fever that's rampant in
Texas these days. my boy. He wants
gun-play. If he meets you he'll try to
kill you"
Here it stirred in Duane again, that
bursting gush of blood. like u wind OF
flame shaking all his inner being. and
subsiding to leave him strangely
chilled.
Kill me. What for?' ne asked.
Lord knows there amt any reason.
But what that to do with most of
the shoctin' these days? Didn't five
cowboys over to Everall's kill one an
other dead all because they got to
3erkin' at a quirt among themselves?
An Cal has no reason to love you.
His girl was sweet on YOU"
Il quit when l found out she was
his girl"
II reckon she amt gait. But never
mind her or reasons. Calls here, just
drunk enough to be ugly. He's achin'
to kill somebody. He's one of them
iour-hush gun-fighters. He'd like to
cowboys who re ambitious for a rep
utation. They talk about how quick
they are on the draw. They ape Bland
an King Fisher an Hardin an all the
big outlaws. They make threats about
1oinin' the n along the Rio Grande.
Ihey laugh at the sheriffs an brag
about how they'd fix the rangers Calls
sure not much for you to bother with,
II you only keep out of his way"
"You mean for me to rum" asked
Duane, in scorn.
Just avoid him. Buck. I'm not afraid
Cal would get you IL you met down
there in town. You've your fathers
eye. an his slick hand with a gun.
What I'm most afraid Of is that you'll
kill Bain."
Duane was silent, letting his uncle's
earnest words sink in, trying to realize
their significance.
If Texas eve RECEIVERS from that
TOOL war an kills off these utlaws
why. a young man will have a look
out went on the uncle. You're %
now. an a powerful sight Of a fine fell
low. bacrin' your temper. You've a
chance in life. But If you go gun
figh;in. II you kill u man. you're
ruined. Then you'll kill another. tn
Aa the Con old cfo~1, 49,
would make you an outlaw. The rang
ers mean law an order for Texas.
This even-break business doesn't work
with them. If you resist arrest they'll
XIII you. II you submit to arrest, then
you go to Jail. ar mebe you hang"
I'd never hang muttered Duane.
darl:iy.
reckon you wouldn't" replied the
old 'aan. You'd be like your father.
he was ever ready to draw-too ready.
IN times IKE these. with the Texas
would have been driven to the river.
An, son. I'm afraid you're q chin OFF
the old block. Can't you hold in-keep
your temper-run away from trouble
t H.eause ~! only result in you gettin'
was killed in a street fight. An it was
TOTO 81 him that he shot twice after a
bullet had passed through his heart.
Is'nk OF the terrible nature Of a man
=, ne aple to do that. II you have any
sich blood in you. never give It a
Chance"
What you a y is all very well,
uncle. returned Duane. but the only
way out Tor me. is to run. and l WON'T
90 1t. Cal Balm and his outfit have all
ready made me look like q coward. He
says I'm afraid to come out and lace
MIN: A man simply can't stand that
N this country. Besides. Cal would
didn't face him.
Well. then. what re you coin' To
DO" inquired the elder man.
Y haven't decided-yet."
NO., U you're comm to 1t mighty
1ast. n damned spell is workin. IN
you. You're different today. I re-
meinber how you used to be moody AM
lose your temper an talk wild. Never
was much afraid of you then. But
now you're gettin' cool an quiet. an.
you think deep. an I don't like the
light In your e. It remainds me OF
your father
4 wonder what Dad would say to me
to-day IL he were alive and here" said
Duane. ~
what do you think? What could
you expect Of q man who never wore
ABOVE on his right hand for 20 years:
We'll. he'd hardly have said much.
Dad never talked. But he weuld have
town and let Cal Balm and me-"
Then followed q long silence. during
which Duane sat with downcast eyes
and the uncle appeared lost In sad
thought Of the futuee. Presently he
turned TO Duane with m expression
that denoted RESIGNATION, and yet !
spirit which showed wherein they were
s0e the same blood.
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