Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-07-27

ed. The leader was perhaps n quarter
of q mile back, and the others strung
out behind him. Duane needed only one
glance to tell him that they We're fast
and hard-riding cowboys in a land
where all riders We're good. They would
not have owned any but strong, swift
horses. Moreover, it was a district
where ranchers had suffered beyond all
endurance the greed and brutality of
outlaws. Duane had simply been so I'M
fortunate as to run right into a lynch
ing party at a time of all ime when
any stranger would be in danger, and
ny outlaw cut to his limit to escape
with his life.
Duane did not look back again until
he had crossed the ridgy piece of
ground and had gotten to the level
road. He mad gained upon his pursuers.
When he ascertained this he tried to
save his horse. to check a little that
killing gait. This horse was a magnifi-
cent animal, big. strong. fast; but his
endurance had never been put to a
grueillng test. And that worried Duane.
His life had made is impossible to keep
n horse very long at a time, n this
II was an unknown quantity.
Duane had only one plan-the only
plan possible in this case-and that was
to make the river bottoms, where he
might elude his pursuers in the willow
brakes. Fifteen miles Or so would bring
$500 w IN lively LII I'LL WAS HOI IL
hopeless distance for any good horse if
not too closely pressed. Duane conclud-
ed presently that the cowboys behind
were losing a little in chase because
they We're not extending their horses. 1t
vas decidedly unusual for such riders
to save their mounts. Duane pondered
over this, looking back several times to
see IL their horses were stretched out.
They were not, and the fact was dis
turplng. Only n reason presented
itself to Duane's conjecturing, and 1t
was that with him headed straight on
that road his pursuers were satisfied
not to force the running. He began to
hope to look for q trail or a road turn
ing off to right or left. There was none.
A rough, mesquite-dotted and yucca
splred country extended away on either
side. Duane believed that he would be
compeAed to take to this hard going.
One thing was certain-he had to go
round the village. The river, however,
was on the outskirts of the village;
and once in the willows, he would be
safe.
Dust-clouds far ahead caused his
alarm to grow. He watched with his
eyes strained: he hoped to see a wagon,
mind him attested to the fact that his
pursuers likewise had seen these new
corners on the scene. More than a mile
separated these two parties, yet this
distance did not keep them from soon
understanding each other. Duane
waited only to see this new factor show
signs of sudden quick action, and then,
with a muttered curse, he spurred his
horse off the road into the brush.
He chose the right side, because the
river lay nearest that a There We're
patches of open sandy ground between
clumps OF cactus n mesquite, n he
found that despite a Zigzag course he
made better time. 1t was impossible for
him to locate his pursuers. They would
come together, he decided. n take
to his tracks.
What. then. was his surprise and dis
may to run out of a thicNet right into a
low ridge or rough, broken rock, impos-
sible to get n horse over. He wheeled to
the left along it's base. The sandy
ground save place to q harder soil,
where his horse did not labor so. Here
the srowths of mesquite and cactus be-
came Scanter, affording better travel
but poor cover. He kept sharp eyes
ahead, and, as he had expected, soon
saw moving dust-clouds and the dark
figures of horses. They were half q
mile away N swinging %obliquels
across the flat. which fact proved tina
they had entertained a fair idea of the
country and the fugitive's difficulty.
!, Without an instant's hesitation
Duane put his horse to his best efforts
straight ahead. He had to pass those
men. When this was seemingly mad,
impossible by a deep wash from which
he had to turn, Duane began to fee
cold and sick. Was this the end? Al
ways there had to be an end to an out
laws career. He wanted then to rid,
straight at these pursuers. But reason
. outweighed instinct. He was fleeing
for his life! nevertheless, the stronger
instinct at the time was his desire t.
fight.
He kpnu, ~,bap %baeo %broo Lor.a,,.,
saw him. n a moment afterward ht
!, lost sight OF them as he got into thu
!, mesquite again. He meant now to tr,
to reach the road, and pushed hi
mount severely. though still savini
him for a final burst. Rocks, thickets
punches of cactus, washes-a1l oper
ated against his following a straigh
, line. Almost he lost his bearings, an,
finally would have ridden toward hi
enemies a not good fortune favored
him In the matter of an open burned
over stretch Of ground.
Here he saw both groups of pursuers
i n on each side N almost within
gunshot. TheiS sharp yells, as mucl
as his cruel spurs, drove his horse int,
' that pace which now meant life o
death for him. And never had Duan
! bestrode a gamer. swifter. stanche
. beast. He seemed about to accomplish
the impossible. In the dragging san,
he was far superior to any horse ii
r pursuit, n on this sandy open stretcl
i he gained enough to spare a little Ii
the brush beyond Heated now an,
/! thoroughly terrorized. he kept the pae
through thickets that almost tor
Duane from his saddle. Somethin
weighty and grim eased eff Duane. n
was going to get out in front! Th
0 horse had speed. fire. stamina,
Duane dashed out into another ope,
: place dotted by few trees. and here
6 right in his path. within pistol range
9 stood horsemen waiting. They yelled
: they apurred toward him. but did nc
e fire at him. He turned his horse
9 faced to the right Only one thing KEEP
him from standing his ground to figh
4 1t out. He remembered those danglin
9 limp figures hanging from the cotton
8 woods. These ranchers would rathe
hang m 9outlaw than do anything. The
might draw all his fire and then can
= ture him. His horror OF hanging was 8
d gree as to be all out of proportio
compared to his gun fighters instinc
n of self preservation.
= A race began then. q dusty, crashin
drive through gray mesquite. Duan
4 could scarcely see. he was so blinde
d BY singing branches across his eye.
The hollow wind reared In his ear,