The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-06-15
CHAPTER " Continued .

tOOSeO Deillnu HlIIl Anu III a SHUT
time he reached the valley, entering
the apex Of the wedge. A stream OF
CLEAN water tumbsed out Of the rocks
here, and most OF it ran into irrigation
bitches. His horses drank thirstily
And he drank with that fullness and
gratefuiness common to the desert
traveller finding sweet water. Then he
mounted and rode down the valley
wondering what would be his reception
The valley was much larger than II
had appeared from the high elevation
Well watered, green with grass and
tree, and farmed evidently by good
hands, 1t gave Duane a considerable
surprise. Horses and cattle were ev-
erywhere. Every clump Of cottonwoods
surrounded a small adobe house Duane
saw Mexicans working in the fields
and horsemen going to and fro. Pres
entity he passed house bigger than the
others with a porch attached. A wom-
an, young and pretty he thought
watched him from door. No one else
appeared to notice him.
Presently the trail widened into q
road, and that into a kind OF square
lined by a number Of adobe and log
buildings of rudest structure. Within
sight were horses, dogs, a couple OF
steers, Mexican woman with children,
and white men, all of whom appeared
to be doing nothing. His advent Gre
ated no interest until he rode up to
the white men. who were lolling In the
was a store and saloon, and from the
inside came a lazy hum of voices.
AS Duane refined to a halt, one Of the
loungers in the shade rose with loud
exclamation:
Bust me, II tibet amt Luke's hoss!"
The others accorded their interest, II
not assent, by rising to advance toward
How about it, Euchre? Amt tibet
Luke's bay" queried the first man.
plain as your nose" replied the fel"
low called Euchre.
There amt no doubt about thet
then" laughed another. 'fer Bosomer's
nose Is shore plain on the landscape.
These men lined up before Duane
and, as he cody regarded them, he
thought they could have been recog-
nized anywhere as desperadoes. The
man called Bosomer, who had stepped
forward, had a forbidding face which
showed yellow eyes, an enormous nose
and a skin the color Of dust, with a
thatch Of sandy hair.
stranger, who are you-an' where
in the hell did you git tibet bay hossF'
he demanded. His yellow eyes took
in Stevens horse, then the weapons
hung on the saddle, and finally turned
their glinting, hard light upward to
Duane.
Duane did not like the tone in which
he had been addressed, and he re-
manned silent. AT least half his mind
seemed busy with curious interest in
regard to something that leaped in
side him and made his breast feel tight
He recognized II as that strange emo
ton which had shot through him often
of late, and which had decided him to
go out to the meeting with Balm. Only
now 1t was different, more powerful
stranger, who are your" asked an
other man, somewhat more civilly.
my names Duane" replied Duane
CURLY.
AN how'd you come by the hosp
Duane answered briefly and his
words were followed by short silence,
during which the men looked at him.
Bosomer began to twist the ends Of his
beard.
Reckon he's dead, all right, or no
body'd hev his boss an guns" present.
ly said Euchre.
mister Duane" began Bosomer, in
low, singing tones, Il happen to be
Luke Stevens side pardner."
Duane looked him over, from dusty,
worn out boots to his slouchy SOM
brero. That look seemed to inflame
Bosomer.
"An' want the boss an them guns"
he shouted.
3 ."You or anybody else can have them,
for all care. / just fetched them in.
But the pack Is mine" replied Duane.
"And say, l befriended your pard. II
you can't use civil tongue, you'd bet
ter cinch It,: .a.
civil? Haw, haw!" rejoined the out
law. Il don't know you. How do we
know you didn't plug Stevens, and
stole his boss, an jest happened to
stumble down here?"
You'll have to take my word, that's
all" replied Duane, sharply. 49,. ..t
word! savvy tibet? An was Luke's
With that Bosomer wheeled and
pushing his companions aside, he
stamped into the saloon, where his
voice broke out In a roar.
Duane dismounted and threw his
bride.
Stranger, Bosomer is shore hot
headed" said the man Euchre. He did
not appear unfriendly, nor were the
others hostile.
AT this juncture several more out
laws crowded out or the door, and the
one in the lead was a tall man Of stall
wart physique. His manner pro-
claimed him a leader. He had long
face, flaming red beard, and clear,
cold blue eyes that fixed in close
scrutiny upon Duane. He was not a
Texan; in truth, Duane did not recog-
nize one Of these outlaws as native to
his state.
'Trn Bland" said the tall man, au-
thoritatively. Whore you and what
re you doing here?"
Duane looked at Bland as he had at
the others. This outlaw chief appeared
TO ibe reasonable, II he was not court
eous. Duane told his story again, this
time a little more in detail.
II believe YOU" replied Bland, al
once. Think I know when a fellow
81 reckon you're on the right trail,
put In Euchre. "Thet about Luke
wantin' his boots took off-thet salts
flies me. Luke he'd q mortal dread Of
dyin' with his boots on"
At this sally the chief and his men
laughed.
"You said Duane-Buck Duane?'
queried Bland. Are you SON of that
Duane who was q gun fighter some
years back?"
eyes" replied Duane.
Never met him, and glad didn't
said Bland, with q grim humor. "So
you got in trouble and had togo on the
dodge? kWhat kind OF trouble?"
Had q fight"
Fight? Do you mean gun playT'
questioned Bland. He seemed eager
curious, speculative.
"Yes. 1t ended in gun play, I'm sorry