The Benson signal., 1916-10-21

At this sally the chief and MS men
laughed.
"You said Duane-Buck Duane?"
queried Bland. "Are you son of that
Duane who was a gun-fghter some
years back?"
EYES," replied Duane.
"Never met him, and glad didn't"
said Bland, with a grim humor. $50
you got in trouble and had to go on
the dodge? What kind Of trouble?"
"Had a fight"
"Fight? Do you mean gun-play?"
questioned Bland. He seemed eager,
curious, speculative.
eyes. 1t ended in gun-play. I'm
sorry to say" answered Duane.
"Guess I needn't ask the son of
Duane if he killed his man." went on
Bland, ironically. "Well, I'm sorry
you bucked against trouble in my
camp. But, as it is, guess you'd be
wise to make yourself scarce"
''Do you mean I'm politely told to
move on?" asked Duane, quietly.
"Not exactly that" said Bland, as if
irritated. eff this isn't q free place
there isn't one on earth. Every man Is
equal here. Do you want to join my
band?"
"No, don't"
'Well, even if you did, imagine that
| wouldn't stop Bosomer. He's an ugly
fellow. Merely for your own sake, I
advise you to hit the trail"
'"Thanks. But If that's all, I'll stay"
returned Duane. Even as he spoke he
felt that he did not know himself.
Bosomer appeared at the door, push
| ing men who tried to detain him, and
as he jumped clear of a last reaching
hand, he uttered a snarl like an angry
dog. Bland and the other outlaws
| quickly moved aside, letting Duane
stand alone. When Bosomer saw
Duane standing motionless and watch
full, strange change passed quickly
in him.
Duane saw all the swift action, felt
intuitively the meaning of it, and in
Bosomer's sudden change of front. The
outlaw was keen, and he had expected a
shrinking, or at least frightened an
| tagOnist. Duane knew he was nei-
ther. He felt like iron, and yet thrill
| after thrill ran through him. The out
law had come out to kill him. And
now, though somewhat checked by the
stand of a stranger, he still meant to
kill. But he did not speak word.
He remained motionless for a long mo-
| ment. his eyes pale and steady, his
right hand like claw.
That instant gave Duane a power to
read in his enemy's eyes the thought
that preceded action. But Duane did
not want to kill another man. Still,
he would have to fight, and he decided
to cripple Bosomer. When Bosomer's
hand moved Duane's gun was spout
| ing fire. Two shots only-both from
Duane's gun-and the outlaw fell with
his right arm shattered. Bosomer
cursed harshly, and flOundered in the
dust, trying to reach the gun with his
left hand. His comrades, however,
seeing that Duane would not kill un-
less forced, closed in upon Bosomer
and prevented any further madness on
his part.
OF the outlaws present Euchre ap-
| peared to be the one most inclined
| to lend friendliness to curiosity; and
he led Duane and the horses away to
small adobe shack. He tied the
horses in an open shed and removed
their saddles. Then, gathering up Ste
vens' weapons, he invited his visitor
to enter the house.
| 1t had two rOoms-windOwS without
| coverings-bare floors. One room con-
tained blankets, weapons, saddles and
brides; the other a stone fireplace,
rude table and bench, two hunks, a
box cupboard, and various blackened
utensils.
"Make yourself to home as long as
you want to stay" said Euchre. T
amt rich in this worlds goods, but I
own what's here, an you're welcome"
'Thanks. I'll stay awhile and rest.
I'm pretty well played out" replied
Duane.
Euchre gave him keen glance.
| "Go ahead an rest. I'll take your
horses to grass"
Euchre left Duane alone in the
house. Duane relaxed then, and me-
chanically he wiped the sweat from
his face. He was laboring under some
kind of a spell or shock which did not
pass off quickly. When it had worn
away he took off his coat and belt and
made himself comfortable on the blan-
kets. And he had thought that, if
he rested or slept, what difference
would it make on the morrow? No
rest, no sleep could change the gray
outlook of the future. He felt glad
when Euchre came bustling in, and for
the first time he took notice of the out
law.
Euchre was old in years. What
little hair he had was gray, his face
clean shaven and full Of wrinkles; his
eyes were half shut from long gazing
through the sun and dust. He stopped.
But his thin face denoted strength
and endurance still unimpaired.