Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-05-24

Naru, l ii neNer-l III leave the cOun-
try-ln 80 to South America or Aus.
tralia or"
You'll go to a hotter climate, Buck"
Ward cut in i~nexorably. you've got
your ticket
III W up to everything. I'll tell
you where some of the moneys cached
we got in that Hardup deal. Ward.
There's enough to put you on Easy
street. I'll tell you who helped"
"You'd better not" advised Ward
nlrShly. "or III make hanging a relief
to YOU. l know pretty well right now
all you could tell. And If L wanted to
send your pardners W l wouldn't need
Your help. It's partly to give them a
chance that I'm sending you out this
way myself. l don't call this murder,
i;uok. I'm saving the state a lot of
time and trouble, that's all, and your
rardners the black eye they'd get for
throwing in with you. l heap sabe
who was the head push. You got them
in to take whatever dropped, so you
could get off slick and clean, just as
you've done before, you-you-"
Buck Olney got it hen hot from the
fires of Wards wrath. A man does
not brood over treachery and wrong
and a blackened future for years with
out storing up a good many things that
he means to say to the friend who has
played him false. Ward had beer a
happy &c lucky young fellow who had
faith in men and i'll himself and in his
future. He had lived through black.
hopeless days and weeks and months
because of this man who tried now to
buy mercy with the faith Of his part.
ners.
In the saddle Buck sat all hunched
together as If Ward had dashed him
with rawhide instead of with singing
words. The muscles of his face witch
ed spasmodically. His eyes were
growing bloodshot.
Ward spilled two papers of tobacco
before he got a cigarette rolled and
lighted. He wondered a little at the
physical reaction from his outburst, but
he wondered more at Buck Olney sit
ting alive and unhurt on the horse be-
fore him, a Seabeck horse which Ward
had seen Floyd Carson riding once or
twice. He wondered what Floyd
would do if he saw Buck now and the
use TO which the horse was being put.
Ward finished the cigarette, rolled
another and smoked that also before
he could put his hand out before him
and hold it reasonably steady. When
he felt fairly sure of himself again he
lifted his hat to wipe off the sweat of
his anger, gave a big sigh and returned
to the tying of the hangman's moose.
When he finally had it fixed the way
he wanted it he went close and flung
the moose over Buck Olney's head. He
could not trust himself to speak just
then. He cast an inquiring glance up
ward, took Bucks horse by the bride
and led him forward a few steps so
that Buck was directly under the over
hanging limb. Then, with the coil of
Bucks rome in his hand, he turned back
and squirmed up the tree trunk until
he had reached the limb. He crawled
out until he was over Bucks bullet
punctured hat crown, sliced off what
rope he did not need and flung 1t to the
ground. He saw Buck vince as the
rope went past him. The pinto horse
F., SHE'D out of position.
Take the reins and bring him back
here Ward called shortly, and gave a
witch of the rope as a hint.
Mechanically Buck obeyed. He did
not know that the rope was not yet
tied TO the limb.
Ward tied tho rope securely, leaving
! enough slack ia keep Buck from chok-
Ing premGturely. He fused a minute
longer. with his lip curled into a grin
of sardonic humor. Then he crawled
I back to the trunk of the tree and Slid
! down carefully so that he would not
brighten the pinto.
He went up aud tyok the hobble -
Buck Olney's1 feet, felt In the EeNm OF
his coat lapel and pulled out Your pins
with which he fastened Bucks "pedi
gree" between Bucks shrinking shoul
: derblades> Then he stood off and sur
yeyed his work critically before III
) went over to Fattler, who stood dozin'
t in the sunshine.
"Sorry I can't stay to see you on,
: he told Buck maliciously. "Tve decid
Z ed to let you go alone and take you
own time about starting. As long a
q tint cayuse stands where he Is your
d safe as n church. And you've got tn
reins. You can kick eff any time 20
It feel like II. Sabe?" He studied Buck
If horror marked face pitilessly.
% "You've got about one chance In
n million that you can make that pint
r stand there till some one GENES along
t, he pointed out impartlally. I'm vii
ing to give you that chance. such as
H. IL. And If you're lucky enough to W
H. out on it-well. I'd advise you to q
t some going. South America IL abo'
Y. as close AZ you1l be safe. olk aroui
a here are going to know all o 20
I'd old timer, whether they get to res
TX what's on your back or not.
And. on the other hand, its n m
w lion to one shot youll land where 20
he ticket reads. I'd hate to gamble
that horse standing in one spot for ty
ct OF three days. wouldn't your /
vphealad Rather uuobtrmsiyely. his g