The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-10
The mob sursed closer and W

The mob surged closer and wa
showed back by the cowboys.
Abe, if you amt drunk or crazy
tell tibet over" ordered Abe's interlo
cutor.
With some show of resentment ant
more of dignity Abe reiterated his for
mer statement
If he's Buck Duane how'n hell dl,
you get hold Of his gum" bluntl,
queried the cowboy
80 "WhyIhe set down thar-an' he kline
of hid his face on his hand An
grabbed his gun an got the drop or
him.
What the cowboy thought of this was
expressed in a laugh. His mates like
wise grinned broadly. Then the leade,
turned to Duane
Stranger, l reckon you'd bette,
speak up for yourself" he said.
That stilled the crowd as no COM
mand had done
I'm Buck Duane, all right" said
Duane, quietly. TT was this way"
The big cowboy seemed to vibrate
with shock. All the rudy warmth
| the corded veins in his mack stood out
| IN knots. In an instant he had hard,
| stern, strange look. He shot cut a
| powerful hand that fastened in the
front of Duanes blouse
Somethln' queer here. But If you're
| Duane you're sure in bad. Any fool
ought to know that. You mean it,
| then?"
| Yes"
Rode into shoot up the town, Ell ?
Same old stunt Of you gun fighters i?
Want to kill the man who offered a
reward? Wanted to see Jeff Aiken
| bad. huh?"
No" replied Duane your citizen
here misrepresented things. He seems
q little off his head"
Reckon he is. Somebody is, that's
sure. You claim Buck Duane, then, an
all his doings%'
IN Duane; yes. But I won't stand
1or the blame Of things I never did
That's why I'm here. 1 saw that pIa-
card out there offering the reward.
Ontl now I never was within half a
days ride OF this town. I'm blamed
TOT what / never did. I RODE In here
told who l was. asked somebody to
send for jeff Aiken"
An then you set down an let this
queried the cowboy In amazement.
I guess that's it" replied Duane.
Wei, it's powerful strange. If yo,1're
really Buck Duane"
4 man elbowed his way into the circle.
It's Duane. I recognize his. 1 seen
MN hlm moren one place" he said. Isl
bert, you can rely on what / tell YOU.
| don't know If he's locoed or what
gut do know he's the genuine Buck
Duane. Amy one who'd ever seen him
onct would never forget him.
w hat do you want to see Aiken
10. 81 asked the cowboy Sihe-t
- want to face him, to tell him I
WHY"
Because I'm innocent, that's all.''
suppose we send for Aiken an be
then?" ia
IF he won't believe newly. then
my cases so bad-Td be better off
Sihert oS
II this isn't a queer deal, Bows,
reckon wed better send for Jeff"
somebody went fer him He'll be
comm soon" replied man.
Duane stood head taller than that
eifcne on curious faces. He gazed out
above and beyond them. It was in this
way that he CHANGED to see a number
OF women on the outskirts of the
crowd. Some were old. with hard
races, ike the men. Some were younp
ana comely. and most of these seemed
asitated by excitement or distress.
Ihey cast fearful, plying chances unon
Duane az he stood there with that
moose round his neck. Women we're
more human than men, Duane thought.
re met eyes that dilated. seemed fas-
cinated at his gaze but were not
averted It was the old women who
were voluble. loud in expression of
their feelings
Near tha trunk of the cottonwood
stood a ,aarder woman In white. Du
anes wandering glance rested upon
net Her eyes were riveted upon him.
2 SOFT hearted woman, probably. who
did not want to see him hanged
Thar comes Jeff Aiken now" called
man. loudly.
The crowd shifted and tramnIed IN
eaRerness.
Duane saw two men coming fast,
one OF whom. in the lead was OF stall
wart build. He had gun in his hand.
and his manner was of fierce energy.
The cowboy Sibert thrust open the
3ostIing circle Of men
Hold on. jeff" he called, and he
blocked the man with the gun. He
spoke SO low Duane could not hear
what he eafd. and his form hid Afken,s
race At that 3uncture the crowd
sprasss closed in. and Aiken and
s'bert were caught In the circle There
was pushing forward pressing OF
many bodies. hoarse cries and fling
ing hanas-again the inaane tumuit
was about to break out-tiie demand
Tor afi outlaws blood. the cali for a.
wild fnstice executed 1000 times before
o't.. = sAStS Dinody SOti.
sibert beloved at the dark en-
rrSaching mass. The cowboys with
him beat and cuffed in vain.
Jeff will you Ifsten?" broke In 81
bert hnrriediy. kis hand on the other
mans arm *
Aiken nodded cody. Duane who had
seen many men In perfect control OF
| themselves under circumstances IKE
these. recognized the spirit that doni-
mated Aiken. He was white, cold. pas
elonless, There were lines OF bitter
grief deep round his lips II Duane. ever
then. = 49, Z
Sure this y your game Aiken, said
s.ibert, But hear me n minute. Reckon
there's no doubt about ti,fs MAJ, hein'
Buck Duane. He seen the pIacard n,It
af the cross roads. He rifles III to Shir-
ley. He says he's Buck Duane an he's
lopkitI for left At'Sep. That's ali clear
esfcagb. You know how tf1cse gun
fighters no fookin for trouble, nut
here's What stufnps me. Duane fits
dowp there on the bench and let's old
Abe Strickland grsb his gun arr yet
the drop on him. M0re,n that, he glves
me some etrapEa tafk about how, II nc
HUtSls3H make you bciieye hem IN !.