The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-20

stored order again, someone had
slipped the n~oose-end of Duane's 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 gun?" bluntly
queried the cowboy.
"Why-he set down thar-an' he
kind of hid his face on his hand. An
l 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, / reckon you'd better
speak up for yourself" he said.
That stilled the crowd as M COM
mand had done. I'm Buck Duane,
all right" said Duane, quietly. "It was
this way
The big cowboy seemed to vibrate
with a 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,
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
ii, Them"
"Tm 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 / never was within half a
days ride of this town. I'm blamed
for what I never did. l rode in here,
told who / was, asked somebody to
send for JEFF Aiken"
"An' then you set down an let this
old guy throw your own gun on your"
queried the cowboy in amazement.
81 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?"
81 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 them"
IF he won't believe newly, then
my cases so bad-Pd be better off
dead"
A momentary silence was broken by
Sibert.
IF this isn't a queer dealt Boys,
reckon we'd better send 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
faces, like the men. Some were young
and comedy, and most of these seemed
agitated by excitement or distress
They cast fearful, plying g~lances up
on Duane as he stood there with thai
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 ONE whC
were voluble, loud in expression Of
their feelings.
"Thar comes JEFF Aiken now" called
a man, loudly.
The crowd shifted and trampled il
eagerness.
Duane saw two men coming fast
one of whom, in the lead, was of stat
wart build. He had a gun in his hand
and his manner was that of fierce en-
ergy.
The cowboy Sibert thrust open thu
jostling circle of men.
"Hold on, jeff" he called, and h,
blocked the man with the gun. HI
spoke so low Duane could not hea
what he said, and his form hid Aiken
face. At that juncture the GROVE
spread out, closed in, and Aiken ant
Sibert were caught in the circle. Their
was a pushing forward, a pressing o
many bodies, hoarSe cries and finginI
hands-again the insane tumult wa
about to break out-the demand TO
an outlaws blood, the call for :. will
justice executed a thousand times be
fore on Texas bloody soil.
Sibert beloved at the dark er
croaching mass. The cowboys wit
him beat and cuffed in vain.
Jeff, will you listen?" broke in s
bert, hurriedly, his hands on the othe
mans arm.
Aiken nodded coolly. Duane, VIII
had seen many men in perfect contrC
of themselves under circumstances Xix
these, recognized the spirit that dom
mated Aiken. He was white, COLI
passionless. There were lines of bite
grief deep round his lips. If Duan
ever felt the meaning of death he fe
ii then.
"Sure this s your game, Aiken,
said Sibert. "But hea. me a minut'
- L,kNa- IA1l ~ AN -