Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-04
Copyright BY Harper and Brothers

authority OF DIT ledSI oIe VI SILohS
personality, turned to the gaunt man,
VINO still waved Duane's gun.
ABE, put the gun down." he said.
1T might go off. Here, give it to me.
Now, what's wrong? Who's this roped
gent, an what's he done?"
The gaunt fellow, who appeared now
about to collapse, lifted a shaking
hand and pointed.
"Thet thar feller-he's Buck
Duaner !" he painted.
An angry murmur ran through the
surrounding crowd.
THE rope! The rope! Throw it
over a branch! String him up!' cried
an excited villager.
ABE, how do you know this fellow
is Buck Duane? the cowboy asked,
sharply.
"Why-he said so" replied the man
called Abe.
what came the exclamation, in
credulously.
"Its a tarnal fact" painted Abe,
waving his hand Importantly. He
was an old man and appeared to be
carried away with the significance OF
his deed. HE like to rid his boss
right over us-all. Then he jumped off,
says he was Buck Duane, an he want
ed to see Jeff Aiken bad"
This speech caused a second COM
motion as noisy though not so enduring
as the first. When the cowboy, assist
ed by q couple of his mates, had re-
stored order again, someone had
slipped the nOOse-end of Duanes rope
over his head.
up with him !" screeched a wild
eyed youth.
The mob surged closer was showed
back by the cowboys.
ABE If he's Buck Duane how'n hell
did you get hold of his gum" bluntly
queried the cowboy.
"Why-he set down thar-an' he
kind of hid his face on his hand. Ar
1 grabbed his gun an got the drop on
him"
What the cowboy thought of this
was expressed in a laugh. His mates
likewise grinned broadly. Then the
leader turned to Duane.
Stranger, l reckon you'd better
speak up for yourself" he said.
That stilled the crowd as no COM
mand had done I'm Buck Duane,
all right" said Duane, quietly. at was
this way"
The big cowboy seemed to vibrate
with q shock. All the rudy warmth
left his face; his jaw began to bulge;
the corded veins in his neck stood out
In knots. In an instant he had a hard,
powerful hand that fastened in the
front of Duane's blouse.
"SomethIT queer mere. But if
you're Duane you're sure in bad. Any
fool ought to know that. You mean
1t, thenF'
I'm Duane; yes. But I won't stand
for the blame of things I never did.
That's why I'm here. I saw that pla-
card out there offering the reward
Until now I never was within half a
days ride of this town. I'm blamed
for what | never did. I rode in here,
told who l was, asked somebody to
send for jeff Aiken"
An then you set down an let this
old guy throw your own gun on you2"
Queried the cowboy in amazement.
II guess that's it." replied Duane.
''Well, it's powerful strange, if you're
really Buck Duane what do you want
TO see Aiken fOr?"
Il wanted to face him, to tell him [
never harmed his wife"
Suppose we send for Aiken an he
hears you an doesn't believe you:
what then2"
If he won't believe newly, then
my cases so bad-Pd be better off
dead"
A momentary silence was broken by
SSibert.
IF this isn't queer deal! Boys,
reckon we'd better send for jeff
Somebody went fer him. He'll be
comm soOn," replied q 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
faces, like the men. Some were young
and comedy, and most of these seemed
agitated by excitement or distress
They cast fearful, pitying glances up
on Duane as he stood there with that
moose around his neck Women were
more human than men, Duane thought.
He met eyes that dilated, seemed
Fascinated at his gaze. but were not
averted. 1t was the old women who
were voluble, loud in expression Of
their feelings.
THAR comes jeff Aiken now" called
& man, loudly.
The crowd shifted and trampled in
eagerness.
Duane saw two men coming fast,
one of whom, in the lead, was of stall
wart build. He had gun in his hand,
and his manner was that of fierce en-
ergy.
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 Aiken's
face. At that juncture the crowd
spread out, closed in. and Aiken and
Stbert were caught in the circle. There
was pushing forward, pressing of