Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-01
CHAPTER /.
So it was in him, then-an Inherited
Instinct a IRVING Intensity to

j.
So it was in him, then-an inherited
fighting instinct, a driving intensity to
kill. He was the last OF the Duanes,
that old fighting stock of Texas. But
not the memory of his dead father, nor
the pleading of his ~soft-voiced mother,
nor the warning Of this uncl who
stood before him now, had brought to
Buck Duane so much realization of
the dark passionate strain in his blood.
II was the recurrence, a hundredfold
increased in power, of a strange emo
ton that for the last three years had
arisen in him.
Yes, Cal Bain's in town, full of
bad whisky an huntin' for you" re-
peated the elder man, gravely.
IFS the second time muttered
Duane. as IL to himself.
son, you can't avoid a meetin'.
Leave town till Cal sobers UP. He
amt got 1T in for you when he's not
drinkin'."
Blu what's he want me for" de-
manded Duane. 7 insult me again!
I won't stand that twice.
He's got a fever that's rampant in
Texas these days, my boy. He wants
gun-play. II he meets you hell try to
kill YOU
Here 1t stirred in Duane again, that
bursting gush of blood, like a wind of
N kAh ctbAh itA5 CHI LIS w OOl16y iAAA
subsiding to leave him strangely
chilled.
Kill me! What for" he asked.
Lord knows there amt any reason.
But what's that to do with most of
the shootin' these days? Didn't five
other dead all because they got to
jerkin' at a quirt among themselves?
An Cal has no reason to love you.
His girl was sweet on YOU"
II quit when / found out she was
his girl
II reckon she amt quit. But never
mind her or reasons. Calls here, just
drunk enough to be ugly. He's achin'
to kill somebody. He's one of them
four flush ~gun-fighters. He'd like to
be thought bad. There's a lot of wild
cowboys who re ambitious for a. rep
utation. They talk about how quick
they are on the draw. They ape Bland
an King Fisher an Hardin an all the
big outlaws. They make threats about
Joinin' the gangs along the Rio Grande.
They laugh at the sheriffs an brag
about how they'd fix the Calls
sure not much for o to bother with,
# you only keep out of his way"
You mean for me to run!s asked
Duane. In scorn.
Il reckon wouldn't put 1t that way.
Just avoid him. Buck, I'm not afraid
Cal would get you IL you met down
there in town. You've your fathers
Il " an his slick hand with a gun.
What I'm most afraid Of is that you'll
kill Balm
Duane was silent, letting his uncle's
Il earnest words sink in, trying to realize
their Significance.
'sJf Texas ever recovers from that
Tool war an kills off these outlaws,
why. a young man will have a look
out went or the uncle. YOU'RE 23
now, ar q powerful sight of a fine fell
low, barrin your temper. You've a
fightin'. il you kin a man, you're
ruined. Then you'll kill another. Itlla
be the same old story. An the rangers
would make you an outlaw. The rang.
ers mean law IN order for Texas.
This even-breaS business doesn't work
Y With them. IL you resist arrest they'll
kill you. If you submit to arrest, then
you go to Jail, an mebe you hang"
I'd hang" muttered Duane,
darkly.
Il reckon you wouldn't replied the
old man. You'd be like your father.
He VAS ever ready to draw--too ready.
In times like these, with the Texas
rangeras enforcin' the law. you Dad
would have been driven to the river.
An, son. I'm afraid you're a chip off
the old block. Can't you hold in--keep
your temper-rnn away from trouble :?
Because it'll only result in you gettin'
the worst ntit in the end. Your father
81 was killed in a street fight, An 1t was
told OF him that he shot twice after a
bullet had passed through his heart,
Think of the terrible nature of a man
I to$b able TO do that. II you have any
such blood In you, never give 1t a
chance.
what you say is all very we'll,
issacles' retained Duane, but the only
Way out for lne is to rum, and i won't
Il do y. Cal Balm and his outfit ave all
ready made me look like q coward. He
eay I'm afraid to come out and face
MIN. a man simply can't stand that
fn this country. Besides. Cal would
me IN the back some day il l
s# didn't face him.
Well. then. what re you goin' to
inquired the elder a
haven't decided-yet.,"
No, but you're comm to 1t mighty
a. last. That damned spell is workin' i n
You're different today. re-
VI member how You used to be moody an
lose your temper an talk wild. Never
9 much afraid OF Q then. But
g#i 1ow@ynu.re gettin' cool an quiet an.
81 q think deep an I don't like the
I'M ". Your eve. It remainds me OF
wosider what Dadswould SAY: to me
81 he were alive and here said
n what 40 you think what could
81 ypM9cxpect Ola man who never wore
selQves0n his ftghtshandfo 90 years
SsffsM ell ed hardly have said much.
Adsnever talked. But he would have
IA q q Hot. And I guess EIl go down
sgeoss4ssAJ1d let Ca Balm find ms"
IHenafOlt0wed a long silence, during
AsNNhtch3E Duane rat with downcast eyes,
I'D aG0 TIE uncle appeared lost IN sad
zNs&&Sca1x3tGs0f the future. Presently he
sg4eEnSdSt 10 Duane with IA expression
sl :. denotsd resignation and vet q