Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-05-18
CHAPTER XVI.
THE TWIST OF CIRCUMSTANCE.

CHAPTER XVI.
THE TWIST OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
For some minutes after Jess had re-
~luctantly left him, obdurate, indeed, to
her opportunities, Buck stood thinking.
Il reckon I'm the special agent of
Providence for the job" he said quiet
ly to himself. Il always wondered how
1T d feel to know you was at the end
of your rope. 1t sure must put a
premium on ~wickedness."
Yet he had no sense Of doing any
wrong thing In what he now set about
doing Neither did Bucks conscience
trouble him for what he had done.
He made for the little metal house
some distance off, where he knew Card
ross men had stored their explosives,
hesltated not an instant to break open
the lock with the heavy crowbar he
had found in the tool shed. n there
after went about his ask with a cool
ness and thoroughness which he meant
should not miscarry.
He laid his mines, using such pur-
posed openings as he found In the
masonry Of the dam. trusting to heavy
charges to do the work effectually.
He set the alarm with which Card
ross battery was furnished, and then
gong Tor his horse, Buck rode up
stream and waited. He could only trust
that no one would approach the dam
from the Loop direction during the few,
intervening minutes
The shock Of the ensuing explosion
shattered the glass in windows miles
away.
1T almost knocked down the horse
upon which Buck sat waiting in a
growing uneasiness lest after all he had
not builded we'll. And it did more than
that. 1t shattered the retaining locks
behlnd which Raccoon river was pent
up, and the released water went roar
ing down over the shattered dam, over
flowing the natural bed Of the stream
and tearing through the underbrush in
a wild sweep of rushing, crashing de-
vastation.
Buck, sitting his horse launched
grimly.
Now" he soliloquized, with a humor
that might hav sounded CHASTITY had
any been there to hear 1t, IF NV life
goes out at the end of a rope I'll know
I've done more damage than KILN one
worthless cayute."
He rode for miles before the freshet
ne mad loosened, spending itself grad
ually, gave him the desired opportunity
to cross over n head his horse for
nome, for he had waited on the wrong
side OF the obstruction he had wrought.
And SO when he at last, sober and
somewhat weary, reached the stables of
SS Ivy, ~ was " ltdlI from many
exc1ted voices of the utter demolition
Of Cardross' dam, and the finding of
Cardross' own mangled BODY beneath
the debris.
Oddly this unexpected twist in the
con OF events struck Buck dumb. He
heard Skull Williams saying:
"Cardross must ha' repented of lis
meanness, poor devil, a n gone out there
to undo all he had done. He'd ordered
no one to go out there today. Queer,
amt it, Buck?
Skull looked with reminiscent mean
ing or their own interrupted designs at
eie white face of Buck Brannon.
Another on the outskirts of the little
group was watching Buck, an agony
OF e~ntreaty in her eyes.
Where he stood, Buck ungirthed his
saddle and slipped the bride from his
faded horse. Striking the animal gen
thy on Its flank, he sent it on to its stall
dropping the saddle by the wall Of the
stable. In silence still he passed
through the group Of men and Joined
Jess Kilrain .
You've often swore you loved me
BUCK" the girl murmured brokenly
~ your words wasn't just chaff, for
the love OF God keep a still tongue in
your head nov. Don't stand here talk
In, to me. They're watching US"
Uncertain, Buck turned and moved
away.
NOW, amt that just like Buck
brannon exclaimed Skull Williams
C~ardross, but 10 to one he's grieyin, a,
his DEATH" q
Buck was not, though.
An act for which he haG no sense
OF guilt was, by force of circumstance
taKlng on the horrid secrecy of crime
) felt his feet slipping deeper in the mira
He mad not foreseen that his full con
fesslon would involve Jess Kilrain.
re knew the men We're watching him
talklng about him, a quick intu-
} 1tlon' made him aware of what The,
said. ~
He wheeled in his tracks and cam.
back to them.
Tn glad Blass Cardross is dead. !,
ne cried. H was a an, :.
. coward, an all the more SO cause hf
needn't ha' beer with all the good tina
cause he's dead, Skull. I amt"
He caught up his saddle and bridl,
, and plunged through the open stabl,
r door, leaving them not a little shocked
If the truth were told.
Skull jerked his ugly head.
An that's Buck, too" he said, NOR,
wisely than he knew. He's plumb rot.
ten with honesty"
! Don't a so much, Skull Williams.
came Jess Kilrain's nervous voice q,
t turned to leave. You rattle Xix,
2 a real Deaths head"
In n low laughter that followe,
Perry Green rose and detached himself
from the group. He strolled leisurel,
1 into the stable. where he stopped be
1 fore Buck engaged In rubbing dow,
his latherea accouterments. A quit
zical CLEAN came into the big fellow
eyes.
Buck" he asked softly, how man
t sticks Of dandermite would you reckoi
q safe an effectual charge to blast tn,
walls Of Jerusalem the Golden, an tur,
loose the River Jordan ~
Buck frowned. In spite OF himsel
he laughed.
i I'm in the devil Of a mess, Perry.
he said: but faint just as you're fig
germ"
The big cowpuncher nodded. He wa.
: very grave now.
.Go slow. old man. he offered, "an
!. take It easy. II a skunk gifts smashe,
Z when you chop down d hollow tree
/ faint sayin' he wouldn't his. souse,
you first IL he'd got the chance.
In the meanwhile. Martin Kilrain wa,