The Arvada enterprise., 1918-04-18
CHAPTER Ix-cent'nusd.

CHAPTER lx-contlnusd.
-7-
Buck got up awkwardly and went
stumbling down the steep slope with
his hands trembling In the air upon
either side Of his head. From their
nervous Quivering II was evident that
HI memory was good and that 1t was
working upon the subject which Ward
had suggested to him. He did not give
Ward the weakest imitation of an ex-
euse to shoot. And % the two Of them
came presently down upon the level
and passed around the cabin to the
Aooe with no more than ten feet Of
spaco between them, 70 inexorably had
Ward crowded close upon ths others
stumbling progrssa
"HoA On Q minuter'
Buck stopped o. still % though hs
bad gone against Q rock wall.
Ward came closer, and Buck finch
ID away from the feel Of the ride mus
sls bstwesn his shoulder blades. Ward
reached out Q cautious hand and pulled
the IL shooter from its holster at
Bucks right hip.
'0ot . knifsi You always ussd 70
20 heeled with one. Speak up and
don't ~ about Il"
'Insids my coat" grunted Buck, and
Wards lp curled whils hs reached
around ths mans bulky body and found
The knife n NJ leather sheath. Evt
0onfly Duak was stu roOoDbSfing
WITH 6isQu3sting exactness what rea-
soos Ward might have for wanting to
hin him.
Take down your isft hand and open
tAs door"
Buck "a % and put bis hand Up
again without being told.
"Now 20 in and stand with your facs
b the wall" With the rino mussls
Ward Indicated which wall. He no
ticed how Bucks fingers gropsd and
trsmbssd against the wall Just under
~ eavss, and his lip curlsd again IN
eAs expression which Billy Louiss -
hated to ess.
Ward had chosen the spot where he
could reach easily small coil Of rope.
10 kept the rife pressing Bucks shoul.
6ees until he had shifted the knife into
sos hand, leaned and laid its blade
against Bucks cheek.
"Fssl thatI III jab Il clear through
you II you give me . chance Drop
your hands down behind you" He
spent busy minute with the rope BE-
tore b pushed Buck Olney roughly TO-
ward . chair.
Buck at down, and Ward did q IL.
ue more rope WORK.
Say. Ward. you're making . big
mistake n you"
'Shut upy" snapped Ward. Cant
you ~ I'm standing al ! can stand
just with the sight Of youi Don't pile
Il On too thick by letting me hear you
talk. heard you once too often %
Il -"
Buck Olnsy caught biz breath and sat
very still His eyes followed Ward
a. the eyes OF q Gagged animal follow
its keeper.
Ward trsed to ignore his presence
completely while b. lighted . are and
fried bacon and made colfec. bot the
hard set Of his Jaw and The cold in.
tsntness Of bis eyes proved how con.
scious b was Of Bucks presence. He
tried to eat Just to show how calm he
was, but the bread and bacon choked
him. He could feel every nerve In bis
body culver with ths hatred be felt for
the man and the bitterness which the
sight Of him called up out Of the past
He drank -four curs Of coffee. black
and sweetensd at random. which
stcadIed him . little. That be did not
offer Buck food or drink showed how
intense was his hatred Al . rule, your
true range man y hsspitable even to
bis enemies.
lie rose and insDsetsd the ropes to
make sure that they were proof against
twisting. straining muscles and took
an extra turn or two with the looss
end just % make doubly sure oe the
mans helplessnses.
"Whsee did you leave your hosDsr'
hs asked him curly when ~ was
through.
Buck tod hin, his eyes searching
Wards face fps asecy OF at lsast for
some cioW 70 ~ fats and dulling with
disappointmsnt beeauss - eo1A Rad
nothing thses ~ loathtng.
Witheoe speak1AG again Ward went
out and elssel ~ 1sse As1ly beAinA
~ - A>AA ~.aA>A>A A. - 49,.