The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-06-08

lie saw a cloud of dust down the road
and a bay horse running fast. Stevens
apparently had not been wounded by
any or the shots, for he had a steady
seat In his saddle and his riding even
at that moment, struck Duane as adj
mfrabte. He carried a large pack over
the pommel, and he kept looking back.
The shots had ceased. but the yells in
creased. Duane saw several men run
ming and waving their arms. Then he
spurred his horse and got into a swift
STRIDE. so Stevens would not pass him.
presently the outlaw caught up with
him. Stevens was grinning. but there
was now no fun in the dancing eyes.
IL was a devil that danced in them. His
face seemed n shade paler.
"Was jest comm out of the store"
yelled Stevens. Run plumb into a
rancher-who knowed me. He opened
up with a rifle. Think they'll chase
u.s.
They covered several miles before
there We're any signs OF pursuit, and
when horsemen did move into sight
out of the cottonwoods Duane and his
companion steadily drew farther away.
mo hosses in tibet bunch to worry
US" called out Stevens.
Duane had the same conviction, and
he did not look back again. He rode
somewhat to the fore, and was con-
Stantly aware of the rapid thudding of
hoofs behind as Stevens kept close to
him. AT sunset they reached the will
low brakes and the river. Duane's
horse was winded and lashed with
sweat and lather. 1t was not until
the crossing had been accomplished
that Duane halted to rest his animal.
stevens was riding up the low, sandy
bank. He reeled in the saddle With
an exclamation of surprise Duane
capped OFF and ran to the outlaws side.
stevens was pale and his face bore
q g ~ CyTnn Nh who f,,-,.k -
his shirt was soaked with blood.
"Y,u're shot!" cried Duane.
wal, whom hell said / wasn't?,
Would you mind givin' me a lift-on
this bnse pack"
lifted the heavy pack down
The outlaw had a bloody foam on his
lips and he was splitting blood.
Oh, why didn't you say sol, cried
Duane, Il ley thought. You seemed
all right"
Wal, Luke Stevens may be as CAB
he doesn't say anythin'. 1t wouldn't
have done 40 good"
Duane babe him sit down, removed
nus shirt, and ash the blood from
his breas and back. Stevens had been
shot in the breast. fairly low down,
the bullet had gone clear through
him. His ride, holding himself and
that heavy pack in the saddle, had
been a feat little short of marvellous.
Duane did not see how it had been
possible, and he felt no hope for the
outlaw. But he plugged the wounds
and bound them tightly.
"Feller's name was Brown" Stevens
said. Me an him fell out over a boss
l stole from him over in Huntsville.
We had a shootin' scrape then. Wal.
as | was s%traddlin' my boss back there
IN mercer l seen this Brown, an seen
him before he seen me. Could have
killed him, too. But I wasn't breakin'
my word to you. / kind of hoped he
wouldn't spot me. But he did-an'
fust shot he got me here. What do you
think of this hole?"
IT'S preety bad" replied Duane; and
he could not look the cheerful outlaw
in the eyes.
7 reckon it is. Wal, I've had some
bad wounds / lived over. Guess mebbe
can stand this one. Now, Buck, get
me some place in the brakes, leave me
some grub an water at my hand. an
then you clear OUT
Leave you here alone?" asked Du-
ane, sharply.
Shore. You see, 1 can't keep up
with you. Brown an his friends win
foller us acrost the river a WAYS.
You've got to think Of number one in
this game
What would you do in my case?"
dShSu DudIle,
Wal, I reckon I'd clear out an save
my hide" replied Stevens.
Duane felt inclined to doubt the out
laws assertion. For his own part he
decided his conduct without further
speech. First he watered the horses.
filled canteens n water bag, and then
tied h pack upon his own horse.
horse, and, holding him in the saddle,
turned into the brakes, being careful
TO pick out hard or grassy ground that
left little signs of tracks. Just about
dark ne ran across a trail that Stevens
aid was a good n to take into the.
wild country.
Reckon we'd better keep right on
in the dark-till I drop" concluded
Stevens, with a laugh.
All that night Duane, gloomy and,
thoughtful, attentive to the wounded
outlaw. walked the trial and never
halted till %daybreak. He was tired and
very hungry. Stevens seemed in bad,
shape. although he was still spirited
and cheerful. Duane made camp. The
outlaw refused food, but asked for both
whisky and water. Then he stretched
out.
he asked, with a faint smile or his
pallid face.
Duan removed them. wondering If
the outlaw had the thought that he did
not want to die with his boots on.
Stevens seemed to read his mind.
Buck, my old daddy used to say
tibet I vas born to be hanged. But II
wasn't-an' dyin' with your boots on is
the next vi way to croak.'
You've a chance Toto get over
this" said Duane.
shore. Blu i want to be correct
about h boots-an' say, yard, If I do
go over, jest you remember tibet I was
annreCi1fin, of vOIIr kindnpSen Gl
Then he closed his eyes and seemed
tic sleep.
Duane could not find water for the
horses, but there was an abundance of
dew we grass upon which he hobbled
them. After that was done he pre-
pared himself a much needed meal.
The u was getting var when he
lay down to sleep. and when he awoke
1T was sinking in the west. Stevens
was still alive. for he breathed heavily.
The horses were in sight. All was
quiet except the hum Of insects in the
~ $780,