The Arvada enterprise., 1918-04-18

DA EN1ERPRlRE.
ominous to OFFSET Ward's attempt At
facetiousnesa. Indeed, the very weak.
ness Of the attempt was in itself omi-
nous. Ward might try to be coldly
malevolent, but the Hight that burned
In his eyes and the rage that frightened
his lips gave the lie TO his forced com
posure.
He went out and led up the horses
to the door. He came back and started
to unite Buck Olney's fest. then be-
thought him Of the statement be had
promised to write He got magazine
and tore out the frontispiece-which.
oddly enough, was q somber picture Of
Death lowering With outstretched
wings over . battleneld-and wrote
several lines In pencil on the back Of 1t,
where the paper was smooth and
white.
"How's thatr' he asked, holding up
the paper 20 that Buck could read
what he had written. II amt in the
mood to sit down and write . whole
book, 20 had to boil down your pedi-
gree. But that win do the business all
right, don't you thinkr'
Buck read with staring eyes, looked
into Wards face and opened his lips
for protest or pleading. Then he fol-
lowed Wards glance to the knife On
the table and shut his mouth with q
snap. Ward laughed grimly, picked
up the knife and ran his thumb lightly
over the edge to test its keenness.
"Put q fresh edge On It for me, huh p
he commented. "Wen, We may a. well
get started, I reckon. I'm getting Al
mighty sick Of seeing you around"
He loosened the rope that bound
Buck to the chair and stood scowling
down at him, drawing in . corner of
his lip and biting It thoushtfully. Then
he took his revolver and held It In his
left hand. while with his right he un-
did the rope which bound Bucks
hands.
"Stick your hands out In front Of
you," he commanded. you'll have to
ride q ways. There isn't any gallows
tree in walking distance"
"For' Gods sake, Wardw 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
od him prso<ioa ~, TN n.n. ,onr 900
when tho two wero friends.
"You know what told you," Ward
reminded him grimly and took up the
knife with deadly air that made the
other suck IN his breath "Hold stilli
I'm liable to cut your throat II I make
. mislick."
Really, It was the way he did It that
made 1t terrible. The thing itself was
nothing. He merely drew the back Of
the blade down aloogside 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 hs had lost an
ear. He brsathsd In gasps, but did not
~ . word.
't0o ahead Talk an you want b,
Buck" Ward invited, and wiped the
knife blade On Bucks shoulder before
he returned the weapon to it, sheath
In his inside coat pocket.
Buck ninched from The touch and ct
bis teeth.
Ward tied his hands bsfoes him and
told him to ct up and 60 out 70 his
hoess. Buck obeyed With abjsct sub.
and Wards lip curled
again a. he walked behind him b ths
door. He had not the slightest twinss
Of pity for the man. He was sloatins.
~ glad that hs could make him suffer,
and b inwardly cursed his own hu-
manity for being 20 mercifuL He
o-ght to have cut Bucks ear o6 slick
and clean instead OF making blu6 at
1t. be told himself disgustsdly. 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 bsidle reins and mounted Rather.
without . word he set OF up the rough
trail toward Hardup. leading Bucks
horse behind him.
Before you 90. Buck. I want to ten
you that you needn't Jolly yourself into
thinking your death win be avenged.
1t won't You noticed what I wrote,
and there isn't Q scrap Of my writing
anywhere In the country to catch ne
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 rids this way and secs you won't
be anywhere around"
This u the tree" be added, stopping
under . cottonwood that nuns . big
branch out over the narrow COW trail
they were travelling. The chances are
friend Floyd will b ambling around
this way In . day O two" be said