Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-09

Its a tarnal fact" painted Abe, wav
ing his hands Importantly. He was al
old man and appeared to be carried
away with the significance of his deed
lie like to rid his boss over us-all
Then he jumped off, says he was Bucl
duane, am he wanted to see Jeff Aike1
bad"
This speech caused Il second commo.
ton as noisy though not so enduring
as the first. When the cowboy, as.
sisted by a couple of his mates, had re-
stored order again, some one hat
over his head.
up with him!" screeched a wild
eyes youth.
The mob surged closer and was
showed back by the cowboys.
Abe, If YOU amt drunk or crazy,
cutOr.
With some show of resentment and
more of dignity Abe reiterated his for
mer statement.
IF he's Buck Duane how'n hell did
you get hold of his gum" bluntly
qu.aried the cowboy.
"Why-he set down thar-an' he kind
of MD his face on his hand. An /
grabbed his gun an got the drop on
him.
h the cowboy thought of this was
expressed in a laugh. His mates like
WASC IS iiS DIOCuIS. men JuC leaOeT
turned to Duane.
Stranger. i reckon you'd better
speak up for yourself" he said.
That stilled the crow as no COM
mand had done.
Pm Buck Duane, all right" said
Duane, quietly. 1T was this way"
The big cowboy seemed to vibrate
with a shock. All the ruddy warmth
left his face; his jaw began to bulge;
the corded veins i'm his mack stood out
in knots. In an instant he had a hard,
stern, strange look. He shot out a
powerful hand that fastened in the
front of Duane's blouse.
"Somethin' queer here. But if you're
Duane you're sure in bad. Any fool
ought to know that. You mean it,
them"
Yes"
Rode into shoot up the town, eh?
Same old stunt of you gun fighters?
Want to kill the man who offered a
reward Wanted to see Jeff Aiken
bad, huh?"
NO." replied Duane. your citizen
here misrepresented things. He seems
a little off his head"
reckon he is. Somebody is, that's
sure. You claim Buck Duane. then. am
all his doings?"
I'm Duane; yes. But / won't stand
FOR the blame of things 1 never did.
That's why I'm here. l saw that pla-
card out there offering the reward
Until now I never was within half a
days ride of his town. I'm blamed
FOR what never did. l rode in here,
told who l was, asked somebody to
send for Jeff Aiken
"A then you set down an let this
Ola guy throw your own gun on you?"
queried the cowboy in amazement.
Il guess that's it," replied Duane.
We'll. it's powerful strange, if you're
really Buck Duane"
a man elbowed his way into the circle.
Its Duane. l recognize his. | seen
MIN more'n one place. he said. Isl
peri, you can rely on what 1 tell you.
But do know he's the genuine Buck
Duane. Any one who'd ever seen him
onct would never forget him"
What do you want to see Aiken
torY asked the cowboy Sibert.
a want TO face him, to tell him I
"Why?"
because I'm innocent, that's ALL"
Suppose we send for Aiken an he
them" o "a"'
IF he won't believe newly. then
dead"
A momentary silence was O bv
Sibert. N oNe ~
If this isn't a queer deal! Rows.
feckon we'd better e for Jeff"
somebody went fer him. He'll be
comm soon." replied a man.
Duane stood a head taller than that
circle of curious faces. He gazed out
above and beyond them. 1t was in this
way that he CHANGED to see a number
OF women on the outskirts Of the
crowd. Some were old, with hard
races, IKE the men. Some were young
ana comely, and most Of these seemed
agitated by excitement or distress.
Ihey cast fearful. plying glances upon
duane as he stood there with that
moose round his neck. Women were
more human than men. Duane thought.
ne met eyes that dilated. seemed fas-
clnated at his gaze, but were not
averted. 1t was the old women who
We're voluble, loud in expression of
their feelings.
Near the trunk OF the cottonwood
stood a slender woman in white. Du-
ane's wandering glance rested upon
her. Her eyes were riveted upon him.
A soft hearted woman. probably. who
did not want to see him hanged!
Thar comes jeff Aiken now called
a man, loudly.
The crowd shifted and trampled in
eagerness.
Duane saw two men coming fast.
OF OF whom. in the lead was OF stall
wart build. He had a gun in his hand.
n his manner was of fierce energy.
The cowboy Sibert thrust open the
jostling circle Of men.
Hold on. jeff" he called, and he
blocked the man with the gun. He
spoke SO low Duane could not hear
what he said, and his form hid Aikcn's
face. At that juncture the crowd
spread out, closed in. and Aiken and
Sibert were caught in the circle. There
was a pushing forward. q pressing of
many bodies, hoarse cries and fling
ing hands-agnin the insane tumult
was about to break out-the demand
wild justice executed 1000 times before