Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-07-05
less s,,rnrised R1and.u be-"

taDle.
WAL. saddle up, then." went on Eu-
chre, gruffly. Tie on them two packs
1 made. one fer each saddle. You
can't tell-mebbe either boss will be
carryin' double. It's good they're both
big. strong bosses. Guess tibet wasn't
bringin' in YOU bosses an havin' them
ready"
"Euchre. l hope you're not going to
get in bad here. I'm afraid you are.
Let me do the rest now" said Duane.
The old outlaw eyed him sarcastic
ally.
"Thet'd be turrible now. wouldn't it?
If you want to know, why, I'm in bad
already. l didn't tell you tibet Alloway
called me last night. He's gettin' wise
pretty quick
"Euchre. you're going with me?"
queried Duane, suddenly divining the
truth.
Wal, I reckon. Either to hell or safe
over the mountain! i wisht l was a
gun fighter. 1 hate to leave here with
out takin' a peg at J~ackrabbit Benson
Now, Buck. you do some hard figgerin'
while l go nosin' around. It's pretty
early. which's all the better"
Euchre put or his sombrero, and as
he went out Duane saw that he wore a
u and cartridge belt. 1t was the first
time Duane had ever seen the outlaw
armed.
into his saddlebags. and then carried
the saddles out to the corral. An abun-
dance of alfalfa in the corral showed
that the horses had Jared we'll. They
had gotten almost fat during his stay
in h valley. He watered them, put
on the saddles loosely cinched. and
then the brides. His next move was
to fill the two canvas water bottles.
That done. he returned to the cabin to
wait.
At tho uop,apf be f.1+ No oxo+o,,o,+
or agitation of n kind. There was
no more thinking and planning to do.
the hour had arrived, and he was
ready. He understood perfectly the
desperate chances he must take. His
thoughts became confined to Euchre
and the surprisingly loyalty and good
ness in the hardened old outlaw. Time
passed slowly. Duane kept glancing at
his watch. He hoped to start the thing
and get away before the outlaws were
out Of their beds. Finally he heard tho
shuttle of Euchre's boots on the hard
path. The sound was quicker than
usual.
When Euchre came around the COR
ner Of the cabin Duane was not so
astounded as he was concerned to see
the outlaw white and shaking. Sweat
dripped from him.. He had a wild look.
"Luck's ours-so-fur, Buck!" he
painted.
You don't look it," replied Duane.
I'm turrible sick. Jest killed a man.
Fust one I ever killed."
"Who?" asked Duane, startled.
"Jackrabbit Benson. An sick as I
am. I'm gloryin' in it. I went nosin'
round up the road. Saw Alloway Roin'
into Deger's. He's thick with the
Degers. Reckon he's askin' questions.
ANYWAY, ! was sure glad to see him
me. When I dropped into Benson's
there wasn't nobody there but Jackrab-
bit an some greasers he was startin'
to work Benson never had no use fer
me-. An he up an said he wouldn't
give a two-bit piece fer my life. I
you're double crossin' the boss an
Chess he said.
Jack. what'd you give fer your
" ltfe?' l asked him.
H Strengthened up surprised an
plumb center! He wilted. an the
reasers u I reckon I'll never sleep
again. But I a to do It,"
Duane asked IL the shot had at
tracted any attention outside.
II didn't see anybody but h greas-
ers. an I sure looked sharp. Comm
back 1 cut across through the cotton
woods past Blan1.s cabin. 1 meant to
keep out Of sight@but somehow 1 had
an idee might int out if Bland was
awake ava yet; Sure speugh, l run plumb
aASO oCRROs Iuo OOyvWNO L0uQS blanQS
bosses. Beppo likes me. An when /
inquired OF his boss he said Bland had
been up all night fightin' with the
sonora. An, Buck. here's how l figger.
Bland couldn't let up last night. He
was sore. an he went after Kate again,
try1n' to wear her down. Jest as likely
ne might have went after Jennie. with
wuss intentions. Anyway, he an Kate
must have had 1t hot an heavy. We're
pretty lucky"
ut seems so. Well. I'm going" said
Duane. tersely.
been up all night after a most draggin'
ride home: He'll be tagged out this
mornin'. sleepy, sore. an he won't be
expectin' hell before breakfast. Now
you walk over to his house. Meet him
r Toe you IKE; Ihets your game. But
want to parley, you can jest say you'd
thought over his proposition an was
ready to join his band, or you amt.
aouli have to kill him. an it'd save
time to go Ter your gun on sight. Might
be wise. too. fer it's likely he'll do thet
same"
How about the horses?"
III ietch them an come along about
two minutes behind you. Pears to me
you g to have the job done an
t teanae OUTSIDE onss on BY th the time an. git
can ride out OF camp before Allo-
way OF anybody else gifts into
action. Jennie amt much heavier'n a
rabbit. Thet big black will carry you
BOTH" W.
All right. But once more let me r
suade you to stay-not to mix any more
IN this" said Duane. earnestly.
nope. I'm goin'. You heard what
Benson told me. Alloway wouldn't give
me the benefit Of any doubts. Buck. a
last Word-look out fer thet Bland Wo-
mani" w