The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-01-11

attempt TO get ont or the chair. lie
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 deadly air that made the
other suck I'm his breath. Hold still!
I'm liable TO cut your throat II | make
a misllck"
Really, 1t was the way he did II that
made II terrible. The thing itself was
nothing. lie 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 Il 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 a word
go ahead. Talk all you want TO,
Buck" Ward invited, aud wiped the
knife blade on Bucks shoulder before
he returned the weapon to its sheath
in his inside coat pocket.
Buck tlinched from the touch and set
his teeth
Ward tied his handJ before him and
told him to get up and 90 out to his
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. Ee was gloating-
ly glad that he could make him suffer,
and he inwardly cursed his own hui
manity for being so merciful. He
o"ght to have cut Bucks ear Off slick
and clean instead of making bluff at
it. he told himself disgustedly. Buck
deserved it and more.
He helped Buck into the saddle. took
the short rope in his hands and hobbled
Bucks feet under the horse, grasped
the bride reins and mounted Rattler.
Without word he set Off 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 viii be avenged.
1t won't. You noticed what | wrote,
and there isn't 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 won't
be anywhere around"
This is the tree" he added, stopping
under a cottonwood that flung a 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 of 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"
Ward dismOunted with 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 in fashioning a |
hangmans moose. He had not had !
much practice, he remarked to Buck
after the first attempt.
How do you do it. Buck? 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
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 it 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"
Ward, for Gods sake, let me go!'
Ward started. He did not know that
a mans voice could change so much in
so short time. He never would have
the tones as coming from
Buck Olney's loose, complacent lips.
Ward, I'll never-I'll leave the coun-
try-I'n go to South America or AuS-I
tralia or"
You'll go to hotter climate, Buck"
Ward cut in ineXorably. you've got
your ticket"
III own up to everything, I'll tell
you where some of the moneys cached
we got in that Hardup deal, Ward.
rhere's enough to put you on Easy
street. I'll tell you who helped"
You'd better not" advised Ward
/ .rshly, "or I'll make hanging a relief
o you. know pretty well right now
Ill you could tell. And If l wanted to ,
END your pardners up wouldn't need ,
our help. It's partly to give them a )
nance that I'm sending you out this /
way myself. l don't call this murder, !
Buck. I'm saving the state a lot Of
ime and trouble, that's all, and your
ardnerS the black eye they'd get for
hrowing in with you. l heap sabe l.
Who was the head push. You got them =
n to take whatever dropped, so you q
alld get off slick and clean, just as i
ou've done before, you--you-"
Buck Olney got 1t then hot from the II
res Of Wards wrath. A man does y
OF brood over treachery and wrong II
nd a hlookanod f,1t,,ro fo, 1,oor, xx,;AI,