The Lamar register., 1917-12-26


you" he commanded. you'll have to
/ ride ways There isn't any gallows
tree in walking distance"
| For Gods sake, Wardr' Bucks
voice was hoarse The plea came out
of its own accord. He held his hands
before him. however and he made no
attempt to get out OF the chair. He
knew Ward could shoot all right with
his left hand. you see. He had watch
ed him practice on tin cans long ago
when the two were friends.
You know what told you" Ward
reminded him grimly and took up the
knife with a deadly air that made the
other suck In his breath. Hold still!
I'm liable to cut your throat If l make
a mislick."
Really. 1t was the way he did it that
made 1t terrible The thing itself was
nothing. He merely drew the back of
the blade down alongside Bucks ear
and permitted the point to scratch
through the skin barely enough to let
out thin trickle Of blood. A pin
would have hurt worse. But Buck
groaned and believed he had lost an
ear He breathed In gasps, but did not
say u word.
Go ahead. Talk all you want to,
Buck" Ward invited, and wiped the
knife blade on Bucks shoulder Before
he returned the weapon to Its sheath
in his inside coat pocket.
Buck fiinched from the touch and set
his teeth.
Ward tied his hands before him and
a l,s, nd mt fn Ia
horse. Buck obeyed with abject sub
missiveness. and Wards lip curled
again as he walked behind him to the
door. He had not the slightest twinge
. OF pity for the man. He was gloating-
! Iy glad that he could make him suffer.
and he inwardly cursed his own hu-
mnnity for being so merciful. He
o-ght to have cut Bucks ear of slick
and clean instead of making bluf at
it. he told himself disgustedly. Buck
deserved 1t and more.
lie helped Buck into the saddle. took
the short rope In his hands and hobbled
Bucks feet under the horse. grasped
the bride relns and mounted Rather.
without u word he set on up the rough
trail toward Hardup. leading Bucks
horse behind him.
Before you go, Buck. want to tell
you that you needn't jolly yourself into
thinking your death will be avenged.
/ 1t won't. You noticed what I wrote,
/ and there isn't a scrap of my writing
anywhere in the country to catch me
up" Wards thoughts went to Billy
Louise. who had some very good sam
pies. and he stopped suddenly. He
was trying not to think OF Billy Louise
: today. ALSO when somebody happens
/ to ride this way and sees you l won't
. be anywhere around"
This is the tree" he added. stopping
under a cottonwood that flung big
branch out over the narrow cow trail
they were travelling. "The chances are
friend Floyd will be ambling around
this way in a day or two" he said
hearteningly. HE can tend to the last
sad rites and take charge II your
horse. He's liable to be sore when he
reads your pedigree, but don't reckon
that will make a great deal of differ
ence. You'll get buried, all right,
Buck
I Ward dismounted with a most busi-
nesslike manner and united Buck Oh
ney's rope from the saddle. Il can't
spare mine" he explained laconically.
He had some trouble il fashioning a
hangman's moose. He had not had
much practice. he remarked to Buck
after the first attempt.
( How do you do It, Buck2 You know
more about these things than do" he
taunted You've helped hang lots of
poor devils that will be glad to meet
yuh with the devil today"
Buck Olney moistened his dry lips.
Ward glanced at his face and looked
quickly away. Staring, abject terror
is not nice to look upon, even though
the man is your worst enemy and is
suffering justly for his sins. Wards
! fingers fumbled the rope as though his
determination were weakening. Then
he remembered some things, hunched
his shoulders, impatient of the merci-
/ full impulse, and began the knot again.
An old prospector had shown him once
| how II was done.
! "Of course a plain slipknot would do
the business all right" he said. But
I'll try and give you the genuine thing.
! same as you gave the other fellows"