The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-05-18
CHAPTER XIV.
FATE.

When the men rode back at dinner
time along the home trail, Buck let his
horse drop behind the others, turning
aside to bunch of cattle strayed to q
hollow at one side. and when his COM
panions had ridden on, scarce mind
full of his action, he struck off south
along the line Of the river woods.
1t occurred to him to give a casual
inspection to Cardross' actions that day
upon the dam. II anything were needed
to whet his indignation sharper against
Blass Cardross IL would have been
amply supplied by his recent ministra-
lions to the suffering cattle Of the loop.
He had long been angry with Blass
Cardross. .
He had always distrusted him. That
Cardross had trifled with Jess Kilrain
he suspected. That he had caused her
suffering he knew. But If it had all
come to an end now, and Jess were
free, Buck could find 1t in his heart to
forget Cardross.
He was thinking Of him then, how
ever, he he rode slowly through the
woods, the heat OF the day shut out be-
yond the grateful shade.
High in the tree tops above him
crows cawed noisily, their voices soft
ened into music by the heavy somno-
lence of the day. Quail whistled on the
plains. The strident rasping OF in
Vulnerable locusts vibrated on the still
air, and mere specks upon the blue sky
circled the watchful turkey buzzards.
Buck rode on a ridge above that
which Jess had followed, and thus he
came after a time within partial view
OF the dam without having noticed the
girls pony tied in the woods below
him.
He hitched his own horse, and not
unmindful OF caution climbed down the
slope to the lower level, though still
keeping the river bed some distance
below. On a slight projection he
Matted, turning his gaze down upon the
dam.
At the sight Of Jess Kilrain standing
there talking with Cardross the life
fairly went out OF Bucks veins.
She had lied to him, then, after all!
She had come here seeking her lover!
Perhaps she had come to warn him!
So great was the shock to Buck, so
stunning the shock of his sudden disil-
fusion that he hung there, incapable,
too, of any shade Of reasoning, seeing
merely with his physical eye the ma
terial fact before him.
Even the cautious action Of the cir!
as she stepped away from Cardross'
angry threat did not serve to illumine
Bucks stupor OF surprise, but when he
saw her arm reach out and the leaping
lash Of the quirt take Cardross across
the fact, the young cow puncher
Strengthened his 1.-THE body with a cry,
short and sharp, and suddenly compre-
bending.
Before he could move further, Card
ross had grappled with Jess Kilrain.
The danger Of that struggle Mortified
Buck. On the edge OF a wall that, on
the side nearer him, fell sheer 80 feet
to a mass of Jagged rock and stone the
man and woman reeled perilously
Buck dare not call out to them lest II
be to hasten their threatened danger.
He could not hope to reach them in
saving time. But one thing renamed
to do.
His nerves steadied miraculously
Revolver in hand Buck waited-waited
until In the rapid twisting Of those
bodies that of the man for an instant
stood side toward him and inclined
somewhat away from that Of the girl
Buck fired.
Cardross reeled and, as though
pushed backward, toppled out of sight
Thereafter it had taken Buck but an
instant to reach Jess Kilrain's side.
Blass Cardross was quite dead.
Buck knew that he would be, for II
was seldom. indeed. that his aim ever
missed, and there had been no mercy
in his soul when he had taken aim
Neither had those words he had once
uttered to Martin Kilrain, az It had
turned out with ominous prophecy
been vain words. He had done as he