New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-03-29
CHAPTER IX-Continued.


=
Buck got up awkwardly and Wen
stumbling down the steep slope witt
his hands trembling in the air upon
either side of his head, From thcil
nervous quiycring it was evident thai
his memory was good and that ii wa
working upon the subject which Ward
had suggested to him. He did not give
Ward the Weakrst imitation of an eX
rll.r tn shoot. And So the two of them
came presently duWu upon the levc
and passed around the cabin to llt
door with no more than ten feet oi
space between them. SO ~iHeNorAbjN had
stumbling progress.
Hold on a minute
Buck stopped as still as though liz
had gone against a rock wall.
Ward came closer. and Buck finch
ed away from the feel of the rifle mliz.
zle l,ctween his shoulder blades, Ware,
reached out II cautious hand and pulled
the six shooter from its holster al
Buck right hip.
cot Il knife? You always used t,
20 lecled with one. Speak up and
don't lie about It,"
Inside my coat" grunted Buck, aua
Wards lii, curlcd white he reached
around the mans bulky body aud found
the knife in its leather sheath. ENi-
IDENTIFY Back was still remcmbcrin"
with diSquieting eXartncSS what rca-
sons Ward might have for wanting III
kill him.
Take down your left hand and opel,
the door
Buck did 50 and put his hand up
again without being told.
Nov go i'll and stand with your face
TO the wall" With the rifle mlzzle
Ward indicated which wall. He no
t.lced how Bucks fingers cropped and
trenlhled against the wall. just under
the caves. and his lip crried again in
the expression which Billy Louise 50
hated to see.
Ward had chosen the spot whore he
could reach easily n small coil Of rope.
He kept the rifle pressing Bucks shou!-
ders until he had shifted the knife into
one hand. leaned and laid Its blade
against Bucks cheek.
Feel that: III Jab it clear through
you if you give me a chance. Drop
your hands down behind you He
spent a busy minute with the rope be
fore he pushed Buck Olney roughly to-
ward II chair.
Buck sat down. and Ward did a lit
tie more rope work.
Say, Ward. you're making a big
mistake If YOU"
"Shut up snapped Ward. Cant
o see I'm standing all | can stand
Just with the sight Of you: Don't pile
1t on too thick by letting ne hear you
talk. | heard you once 90 often as
it is"
Buck Olney caught his breath and sat
very still. His eyes followed Ward
as the eyes of a Gagged animal follow
its keeper.
Ward tried to ignore his presence
completely while he lighted a fire and
fried bacon and made coffee, hut the
'ilih Ntl vi Us Jaw anu lit 'bII III
tentiIeSs OF his eyes proved how con-
ST iOuS he was OF I:uck'S presence. He
tried to eat just to SLOW how calm he
was, tut the bread and bacon clicked
him. He could feel every nerve in his
body quiver with the hatred he felt for
The man and the bitterness which the
sight Of him called up out of the past
He drank four cups of coffee, black
and Sweetened at random, which
>teadied him a little. That he did not
offer Buck food or drink showed how
intense was his hatred. As a rule, your
true range man is h%ospitable even to
his enemies.
He rose and inspected the ropes L
make sure that they were proof against
twisting. s.raining muscles and took
an extra turn or two with the loose
end just to make doubly sur of the
mans helplessness.
Where did you leave your horse?"
he asked him CURLY wher he was
through.
Buck told him. his eyes searching
Wards face for mercy or at least for
some clew to his fate and dulling with
disappointment because he could read
nothing there but loathing.
without speaking again Ward went
out and closed the door firmly behind
him. He felt relieved to be away from
Bucks presence. As he climbed the
BLUM and mentally relived the last
hour he wondered how he had kept
from shooting Buck as soon as be saw
him. Still. that would have defeated
his main purpose, which was to make
Buck suffer. He was afraid he could
not make Buck suffer Is Buck had
made him suffer, because there were
obstacles In the path Of a perfect retri-
Luton.
Ward was not cruel by nature-at
least he was not more cruel than the
rest Of us-but as he went after Rat
tier and Bucks horse 1t pleased him to
tuowr that Ruck Oluey was tied hand