The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-12-07


oln't," he replied What do you call
this burgY
stranger, this heah metropolis
bears the handle Ord Is thet new to
your"
He leaned back against the bar and
now his little yellow eyes. clear as
crystal. fawless as a hawks, fixed on
the stranger other men crowded
close, forming a circle, curious, ready
to be friendly or otherwise, according
TO how the tall interrogation marked
the newcomer.
Sure. Ord's a little strange 20 me.
OF the railroad some. amt It? Funny
trails hereabOuts."
How fur was you goln'7"
81 reckon was goln' as far as
could" replied the stranger with a
hard laugh.
His reply had subtle renction on that
listening circle. Some Of the men ex-
changed glances. Fletcher stroked
his dropping mustache, seemed
thoughtful, but lost something Of that
piercing scrutiny.
"Wnl, Ord's the Jumpln'-of place"
he said presently. "Sure you've heerd
Of the Big Bend country"
81 sure have, an was maxim tracks
fer IT," replied the stranger.
Fletcher turned toward a man In
the outer edge of the group. "Knell,
come in heah."
This individual elbOwed his way n
and was seen to be scarcely more than
boy, almost pale beside those bronx
ed men, with a long, expressiOnless
face, thin and sharp.
"Knell this heah's-" Fletcher
wheeled to the stranger. "What d you
call yourselfY
"Td hate to mention what I've been
calm myself lately"
This sally fetched another laugh.
The stranger appeared cool, careless,
Indifferent.
Knell stepped up, and It was easy
TO see, from the way Fletcher relin-
pushed his part in the situation, that
man greater than he had appeared
upon the scene.
"Any business here2" he querled, |
CURLY. When he spoke his expression
less face was In strange contrast with |
the ring, the quality, the cruelty of /
his voice. This voice betrayed an abb
sence of humor, of friendlIness, of |
heart.
"Nope," replied the stranger.
"KnOw anybody hereabOuts2"
mary one"
jest rldln' through"
"Yep."
"SlOpin' fer back country, eh?"
There came a pause. The stranger
appeared TO grow little resentful and
drew himself up disdalnfully.
oval, consderin' yOu-all seem so
damn friendly an oncurlous down here
In this Big Bend country, don't mind
sayin' yes-I am In on the dodge" he
replied, with deliberate sarcasm.
From west of Ord-out Ell Paso
way mebbeY
Sure"
"A-huh! Tibet so?" Knell's words
cut the air. stllled the room. you're
from way down the river Thet's what
they say down thereon the dodge
Stranger, you're n Harp
with swift clink of spur and
thump of boot the crowd split, leav-
Ing Enell and the stranger in the
center. The stranger suddenly be-
came bronze. The situation seemed
familiar to him. His eyes held a
singular piercing light that danced
like a compass-needle.
"Sure | lied" he said, $50 l amt
.akin' offense ut the way you called
ne. I'm loOkin' to make friends, not
enemies, You don't strike me as one
If them four-fushes, achin' to kill
But If you are-gO ahead
m open the ball. o. You see, l
never throw gun on them fellers
i'll they 20 fer theirs"
Knell coolly eyed his antagonist,
MS strange face not changing in the
east. Yet somehow II was evident
n his look that here was metal which
ung differently from what he had (
expected. Invited to start fight or {
withdraw, as he chose, Knell proved |
himself big In the manner character :
site OF only the genuine guuman. y
stranger, pass" he said, and. I
urniug to the bar he ordered liquor,
The tension relaxed. the silence /
,roke, the men filled up the gap; the {
Incident seemed closed Jim Fletcher c
ttuched himself to the stranger, and $
low both respect and friendliness t
empercd his asperity. {
oval fer want Of better handle I
n call you Dodge" he said.
"Dodge's as good rs any. Gents, {
Inc up aguin-nn' If you can't be {
friendly be careful"
Such was Buck Duane's debut in u
he little outlaw hamlet Of Ord. q
Duane had been three months out
{ the Nueces country. At FL Paso
- bought the finest horse he could q
nd, and. armed and otherwise out
tied TO suit him, he had taken to 1
Unknown trails. He passed on leisure Il
y, because he wanted TO learn Il
he way Of the country, the work, "
abit, gossip. pleasures, and fears /
( the people with whom he !
anne in contact When he heard I"
'letcher's name and faced Encn he II
new he had reached the place he
ought Ii
Duane made himself agreeable, yet O
ot too much SO, to Fletcher and tI
averal other men disposed to talk a
nd drink, and eat; and then, after h
aving a care for his horse. he rode Of
ut of town couple of miles to a
rnNn he Ind marked. md thara. wnII ol