The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-09-28

oval, Ords the jumpin'-off place"
he said, presently. "Sure you've heerd
Of the Big Bend countryT
II sure have, an was maxim tracks
fer it," replied the stranger.
Fletcher turned toward a man In
the outer edge Of the group. "Knell,
come in heah."
This individual elbowed his way in
and was seen to be scarcely more than
boy, almost pale beside those bronx
ed men, with a long, expressionless
face, thin and sharp.
"Knell, this heah's-" Fletcher
wheeled to the stranger. "What d you
call yourself?"
"Pd hate to mention what I've been
calm myself lately"
This sally fetched another laugh.
The stranger appeared cool, careless,
Indifferent.
Knell stepped up, and it was easy
to see, from the way Fletcher relin-
quished his part in the situation, that
a man greater than he had appeared
upon the scene.
"Any business here?" he queried,
CURLY. When he spoke his expression
less face was in strange contrast with
the ring, the quality, the cruelty of
his voice. This voice betrayed an alb
sence Of humor, of friendlineSs, of
heart.
"Nope," replied the stranger.
"Know anybody hereabouts?"
"Nary one"
"Jest ridin' through!
"Yep."
"Slopin' fer back country, eh?"
There came a pause. The stranger
appeared to grow little resentful and
drew himself up disdainfully.
oval, considerin' you-all seem so
damn friendly an oncurious down here
in this Big Bend country, don't mind
sayir. yes-I am in on the dodge" he
replied, with deliberate sarcasm.
"From west Of Ord-out Ell Paso
way, mebbe?"
"Sure."
"A-huh! Tibet so?" Knell's words
cut the air, stilled the room. "You're
from way down the river. Thet's what
they say down thereon the dodge
Stranger, you're liar!"
With swift clink of spur and
thump Of boot the crowd split, leav-
ing Knell and the stranger In the
center. The stranger suddenly be-
came bronze. The situation seemed
familiar to him. His eyes held a
singular piercing light that danced
like a compass-needle.
"Sure I lied," he said, $50 / amt
takin' offense at the way you called
me. I'm lookin' to make friends, not
enemies. You don't strike me as one
Of them four-fushes, achin' to kill
somebody. But If you are-go ahead
an open the ball. :. You see,
never throw a gun on them fellers
till they go fer theirs"
Knell coolly eyed his antagonist,
his strange face not changing in the
least. Yet somehow it was evident
in his look that here was metal which
rang differently from what he had
expected. Invited to start fight or
withdraw, as he chose, Knell proved
himself big in the manner character
istic Of only the genuine gunman.
stranger, 1 pass" he said, and,
turning to the bar, he ordered liquor.
The tension relaxed, the silence
broke, the men filled up the gap; the
incident seemed closed. Jim Fletcher
attached himself to the stranger, and
now both respect and friendliness
tempered his asperity.
oval, fer want of a better handle
Til call you Dodge" he said.
"Dodge's as good as any. Gents,
line up again-an' If you can't be
friendly, be carefull"
Such was Buck Duane's debut In
the little outlaw hamlet of Ord.
Duane had been three months out
of the Nueces country. At Ell Paso
he bought the finest horse he could
find, and, armed and otherwise out
fitted to suit him, he had taken to
unknown trails. He passed on leisure
ly, because he wanted to learn
the way of the country, the work,
habit, gossip, pleasures, and fears
of the people with whom he
came in contact. When he heard
Fletcher's name and faced Knell he
knew he had reached the place he
sought.
Duane made himself agreeable, yet
not too much so, to Fletcher and
several other men disposed to talk
and drink, and eat; and then. after
having a care for his horse, he rode
ont of town a couple Of miles to a
grove he had marked. and there, well
hidden he prepared to spend the
night. This proceeding served
double purpose-he was safer, and
the habit would look well In the eyes
of outlaws, who would be more in
clined to see In hirn the lone-wolf
fugitive.
Long since Duane had fought out