The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-06-15
CHAPTER " tcontinued).

the apex OF the wedge. A stream OF
clean water tumbled out of the rocks
here, and most of it ran into irrigation
bitches His horses drank thirstily
And he drank with that fullness and
9ratefulness common to the desert
traveller finding sweet water. Then he
mounted and rode down the valley,
wondering what would be his reception.
The valley vas much larger than it
had appeared from the high elevation.
Well Watered, green with grass and
tree, and farmed evidently by good
hands, it gave Duane a considerable
surprise. Horses and cattle We're ev-
erywhere. Every clump of cottonwoods
surrounded a small adobe house. Duane
saw MeNicans working in the fields
and horsemen going to and fro, Pres
emily he passed a house bigger than the
others with a porch attached. A wom-
an, young II pretty he thought,
watched him from a door. No one else
appeared to notice him.
Presently the trail widened into a
lToad, 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
so be doing nothing. His advent Gre
'ated no interest until he rode up to
the white men, who were lolling in the
ss1ade of a house. This place evidently
was a store and saloon, and from the
7snside came a lazy hun of voices.
As Qua refined to a halt. one of the
aoungers in the shade rose with u loud
exclamation:
Bust me, IL thet amt Luke's hoss,"
The others accorded their interest, if
not assent, by rising to advance toward
Duane.
How about it, Euchre? III tibet
Luke bay" queried the first man.
Plain as your nose" replied the fell
Cow called Euchre.
There amt no doubt about tibet.
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-
lHfzed anywhere as desperadoes. The
FORWARD, had a f~orbidding face which
showed yellow eyes, an enormous nose,
land a skin the color Of dust, with a
.thatch of sandy hair.
stranger, who are you-an' where
sln the hell did you git tibet bay hose"
NE demanded. His yellow eyes took
IN Stevens horse. then the weapon
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.
lie recognized 1t as that strange emo
Esion which had shot through him often
al late. and which had decided him to
go out to the meeting with Balm. Only
now 1t was different. more powerful.
who are your" asked an
other man. somewhat more civilly.
My names Duane" replied Duane
curly.
AN how'd you come by the hoss?'
Duane answered briefly, and his
words were followed by a short silence,
during which the men looked at him.
BosOTfer began to twist the ends of his
beard.
Reckon he's dead. all right, or no
sody'u hev his boss an guns present.
Iy said Euchre.
Mister Duane" began Bosomer, in
luke Stevens side %pardner."
Duane looked him over, from dusty
worn out boots to his slouchy SOM
0Eero. That look seemed 10 inflame
B0somer.
AN ! want the boss an them guns"
fhe shouted.
You or anybody else can have them.
Tor all I care. l just fetched them in,
Aut p pack is mine,'' replied Duane.
And say, ! befriended your pard. If
sslTS5l cant use a civil tongue, you'd bet.
Ger cinch it,
Civil? Haw, haw!" rejoined the out
siaw- 4 don't know you. How do w.
Know you didn't plug Stevens, and
STOLE his boss, an Jest happened to
stumble down here"
. have to take my word. that's
seil." replied Duane, sharply.
- ! 1 amt takin' your
.Moru: tibet? A n I was Luke's
With that Bosomer wheeled and
Rushing his companions aside, he
stamped into the saloon. where his
voice broke u in a roar.
EridIe.
headed said the man Euchre. He did
mot appear u~nfriendly. nor were the
Others hostile.
st this juncture several more ont
Laws crowded out of the door, and the
eosse IN the lead was a tall man Of stall
vssaTf physique. His manner pro-
claimed him a leader. He had q lone
Gree, a flaming red beard, and clear
-S,cM blue eyes that fixed in close
scrutiny upon Duane. He was not 4
Texan: in truth, duane did not recor-
eszsoc one of these outlaws as native to
his state.
I'm Bland" said the tail man. au-
Ai0 10 yOu% anu HWnaC
Zee you doing here?g, -
Duane looked ait Bland as he had Mt
the Others. This outlaw chief
90 pc reasonable, il he vas not court
sssssis. Duane told his story again, this
thine a little more in detail.
believe you replied Bland Ill
,sE1ce: Think I know when a fellow
~ lying
= reckon you're on the right trail.
ps1t IN Euchre. Tibet about Luke
wnntin' his boots took off-thet salts
fscs me Luke he'd a mortal dread Of
dyin with his boots on
T this sally the chief andhiaSsaen
4a1zg11ed. s5 ~
Yon said Duane-Bucck D,ana,.
Gxaeried Bland Are YOU 1 son Of fhat
l1alane. who was fighter some
NeaEs back ~ E
49, replied Duane.
ssAss1J1vsr met him. and glad didn't. !,
lid Bland, with a grim humor. s.
yOu got IN trouble and had to 70 on the:
6ndge What kindzo trouble r.
Had light
Flight Do q mean gun playg.
Suestioned Bland. He seemed eager.
esxrfOn8 .speenlatiye.
>ssYn Jflendad IN gun play. I'm adrrv