Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-09
him beat and cuffed in vain.

seen many men in perfect control O
themselves under circumstances Xix
these, recognized the spirit that DOM
mated Aiken. He was white, cold, pas
slonless. There were lines of bite
grief deep round his lips. If Duane V
felt the meaning of death he felt j
then.
Sure this s your game Aiken" salt
Sibert. but hear me q minute. Reckon
there's no doubt about this man bein
BUCK Duane. He seen the placard out
at the cross roads. He rides in to Shir-
ley. He says he's Buck Duane am he's
ookin' for Jeff Aiken. That's all clea,
enough. You know how these gu
fighters go lookin' for trouble. But
heres what tumps me. Duane sits
Town there on the bench and let's old
Abe Strickland grab his gun an get
the drop on him. More'n that, he gives
me some strange talk about how, if he
couldn't make you believe he's in
nocent. he'd better be dead. You sec
for yourself Duane amt drunk or
crazy OF locoed. re doesn't Strike me
as a man who rode in here huntin
blood. So l reckon you'd better hold on
till o hear what he has to say"
Then for the first time the drawn
faced, hungry-eyed giant turned his
gaze upon Duane He had intelligence
which was not yet subservient to pas
sion. Moreover, he eemed the kind of
man Duane would care to have judge
MIN in a critical moment like this.
LISTEN" said Duane, gravely. with
his eyes steady on Aiken's, TN Buck
life. | was forced into outlawry. I've
V had a chance to leave the coun-
Try. I've killed men to save my own
life. l Sever Intentionally harmed any
l rode 80 miles today-deliber-
ately to see what this reward was, who
M nfJ ~ -.I-A r.. w. A.
placard l went sick to the bottom of
soul. So 1 rode in here to find you
to tell you this: L never saw Shir-
before today. 1t was impossible
for me to have-killed your wife. Last
September l was 200 miles north of
here on the upper Nueces. 1 can prove
that. Men who know me will tell you
l couldn't murder a m | haven
any idea why such a deed should be
laid at my hands. It's just that wild
border gossip. l have no idea what rea-
sons you have for holding me respon-
sible. l only know-you're wrong.
You've been deceived. And see here,
Aiken. You understand I'm a miserable
man. I'm about broken, 1 guess. l don't
care n more for life, or anything. IT
you can't look me in the eyes. man to
man, and believe what I say-why. by
God! o can kill mel"
Aiken heaved Il great breath.
Buck Duane. whether I'm impressed
or not by what you say needn't matter.
You've had accusers, justly Or I'M.
as will soon appear. The thing
is we can prove you innocent or guilty.
girl Lucy saw my wife's assailant."
He motioned for the crowd Of men to
open up.
Somebody you, Sibert-go for
Lucy. That III settle his thing"
a heard as a man in an ugly
aream. The faces around him, the hum
IF voices. all seemed far off. His life
hung by the merest thread. Yet he did
not think Of that so much as of the
brand of a woman murderer which
might be soon sealed upon him by a
flghtened, imaginative child.
The crowd trooped apart and closed
Duane caught a blurred image
Of a slight girl clinging to sibert's
aand. He could not see distinctly.
lifted the child, whispered sooth-
.ngly to her not to be afraid. Then he
her closer to Duane.
Lucy. tell me. Did you ever see this
nan before?' asked Aiken. huskily and
ow. rs he the one-who came in the
house that day-struck you down-and
malna-?"
Aiken's voice failed.
A lightning flash seemed to clear
Duane's blurred sight. He saw a pale,
fac and violet eyes fixed in gloom
md horror upon his. No terrible mo-
nent in Duane's life we equaled this
me of Sllence-Of suspense.
ut amt hint" cried the child.
Then Sibert was flinging the moose
off Duane's neck and unwinding the
bonds round his arms. The %spellooun9
crowd aWOke to hOarSe ordinations.
See there, my locoed gents, how Easy
you'd hang the wrong man," burst out
cowboy. as he made the rope-end
hiss. "You-all are a lot of wise rangers.
Haw! haw."
He reed Duane and thrust the bone
handled guy back in Duane's holster.
You Abe, there. Reckon you pulled
stunt! But don't try the like again.
men, I'll gamble there's a hell OF
a lot of bad work Buck Duane's named
for-which all he never done. Clear
he roads open out Of Shirley"
Sibert swept the gaping watchers
aside and pressed Duane toward the
horse, which another cowboy held.
Duane mounted, felt a
lift as he went up. Then the cowboys
hard face softened in a smile.
II reckon it amt uncivil of me to say
hit that road quick!" he said, frankly.
He led the horse out Of the crowd.
Aiken Joined him, and between them
they escorted Duane across the plaza.
The crowd appeared irresistibly drawn
to follow.
Aiken paused with his big hand on
knee. In it, unconsciously
probably. he still held the gun.
duane. a word with you." he said.
Il believe you're not so black as you've
been painted. l wish there was time to
say more. Tell me this, anyway. Do
you know the Ranger Captain Mac
Il do not" replied Duane. in surprise.
Il met him only a week ago over in
went on Aiken, hurriedly.
He declared you never killed my wife.
I didn't believe him-argued with him.
We almost had hard words Owe it.
Now-Im sorry. The last thing he said
him. Send him into my camp after