The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-23

/ "u6 Noiu VI hlHn ulut ne SnOt twice
after a bullet had passed through his
heart. Think OF the terrible nature
OF man, to be able TO do that. II
you have any such blood in you, never
give IL n chance"
"What you say is all very we'll
uncle" returned Duane, "but the only
way out for me IL to run, and I won't
do 1t. Cal Balm and his outfit have
already made me look like a coward"
We'll. then, what're you goln' to
dor Inquired the elder man.
II haven't decded-yet."
NO, but you're comm to II mighty
fast. That terrible spell Is workin' in
you. You're gettin' cool an quiet,
an you think deep, an don't like the
Hight In your eye. II reminds me OF
your father"
u wonder what dad would say to
me today II he were alive and here"
said Duane.
what do you think? What could
you expect OF n man who never wore
glove on his right hand for twenty
yearsT
We'll he'd hardly have said much.
Dad never talked. But he would have
done lot. And guess I'll go down
town and let Cal Balm find me-"
Then followed a long silence, dur
Ing which Duane sat with downcast
eyes, and the uncle appeared lost in
sad thought Of the future. Presently
he turned TO Duane with an expression
that denoted resignation, and yet
spirit which showed wherein they were
OF the same blood.
you've got a fast horse-the fast
est l know OF In this country. After
you meet Balm hurry back home. Ill
have snddlebag packed for you and
the horse ready"
With that he turned on his heel and
went Into the house, leaving Duane
to revolve In his mind his singular
speech. That hour of Duane's life was
Ike years OF actual living, and In 1t
he became a thoughtful man.
He went into the house and inspect
ed his belt and gun. The gun was a
Colt 40, six-shot. and heavy. with an
ivory handle. He had packed IL, on
and or, for FIVE years. Before that IL
had been used by his father. There
were number OF notches filed In the
bulge of the ivory handle. This gun
was the one his father had fired twice
after being shot through the heart,
and his hand had stlffened so tightly
upon II In the death-grip that his fin
gers had to be pried open. II had
never been drawn upon any man since |
II had come into Duanes possession.
But the cold, bright polish of the
weapon showed how II had been used. |
Duane could draw II with inconceiv-
able rapidlty, and at twenty feet he |
could split card pointing edgewlse |
toward him.
Duane wished TO avoid meeting his |
mother. Fortunately. as he thought, |
she was away from home. He went |
out and down the path toward the |
gate. The air was full OF the fra |
GRANGE of blossoms and the melody OF |
birds. Outside In the road neighbor
woman stood talking to countryman
in wagon; they spoke to him; and
he heard, but did not reply. Then he
began to stride down the road toward
the town.
Wellston was small town, but Inn
portant In that unsettled part of the
great state because II was the trading
center of several hundred miles Of ter
ritory. On the main street there were
perhaps fifty buildings, some brick,
some frame, mostly adobe, and one
-hird Of the lot, and by far the most
were saloons. Duanes eve
-anged down the street, taking In all
II a glance. BY the time he reached
Sol Whites place, which was the first
saloon, he was walking slowly. Sew
,ral people spoke to him and turned
o look back after they had passed.
He paused at the door of Whites sa-
Don, took a sharp survey OF the lnte-
'lor, then stepped inside.
. The saloon was large and cool, full
" men and noise and smoke. The
loise ceased upon his entrance and
he silence ensuing presently broke 10
ne clink of Mexican silver dollars at
monte table. All eyes except those
lf the Mexican gamblers were turned
upon Duane. Several OF the cowboys
and ranchers present exchanged
Slances. Duane had been weighed by
lnerring Texas instinct, by men who
all packed guns. The boy was the
son OF his father. whereupon they
greeted him and returned to their
drinks and cards. Sol White stood
With his big, red hands out upon the
bar; he was a tall, rawboned Texan.
With long mustache waxed to sharp
points.
"Howdy, Buck" was his greeting TO
Duane. He spoke carelessly and avert
I'd his dark gaze for an instant.
"Howdy, Sol" replied Duane, slowly.
Say, Sol, hear there's q gent In
own looking for me bad"
Reckon there is, Buck" replied
White. "He came in heah aboot an
iour ago. Shore he was some riled
IN a.roarin' for gore. Told me conf
lential n certain party had given you
white silk scarf, an he was hell-bent