Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-05-17
CHAPTER TX.

"I'm Going 70 Take You Out and Hang
Your
TIME trouble with a man like Buck
Olney is that you can q be
ure Of his method, except that
eliminate as much as possible any risk
to himself. Ward. casting back into
his m~emOry-he had known Buck Oh
ney very well once upon a time and in
his unsuspecting youth had counted
him a friend-tried to guess how Buck
would proceed when he went down to
that corral and found how those brands
had been retouched.
Hell be running around in circles
for awhile. all right" he deduced, with
an air of certainty. "Blotched brands
he'd know was my work, and he could
have put it on me, too, with a good
yarn about trailing me SO close l got
cold feet. AS 1t is Ward smoked
two cigarettes and scowled at the gee
cry. As it was, he did not know just
what Buck Olney would do, except
"If he makes a guess i did that he'll
know I'm wise to the whole plant.
And he'll get me sure, providing I
stand with my back to him long
enough" Ward had his back to a high
ledge at that moment, so that he did
not experience any impulse to look be-
hind him.
Buck don't want to drag me up be.
fore a jury" he reasoned further. He'd
a heap rather pack me In all wrapped
up in a tarp and say how he'd caught
me with the goods and l resisted ar
rest"
The assurance he felt as to what
Buck Olney would do did not particu.
lect to 60 to bed in his cabin during the
next few days. That was common
sense born of his knowledge Of the
man he was dealing with. He went to
the cabin warily, just often enough ia
give it an air Of occupancy. He fire.
Quently sat upon some hilltop and
watched a lazy thread of smoke weave
upward from his rusty %stovepipe, but
he slept out under the stars rolled in
his heavy blanket, and he never cross.
ed a ridge II he could make his way
through a hollow. 1t Is not always
cOwardice which makes a man ex.
tremely careful moi to fall into the
hands Of his enemy. There Is a small
matter Of pride involved. Ward would
have died almost any death rather
than give Buck Olney the satisfaction
OF getting him. For . few days HI
was cautious as an Indian on the wal
trail, and then his patience frazzlet
out under the strain.
At sunrise one morning, after q nigh
of shivering In his blanket. he hunchet
his shoulders In disgust Of his caution
II Buck Olney wanted anything o.
him he was certainly taking his tim,
about coming after II. Ward rubbed
his fingers over his stubbly jaw, ant
the uncomfortable prickling was tn
last small detail of discomfort that de
cded him. He was going to have
shave and q decent cup Of coffee ant
eat OF his own table or know the rea
o why, he promised himself Will
he slapped the saddle on Rather.
He was camped In a sheltered littl
hollow In the hills, where the gras
was good and there was a spring. ]
was a mile and more to his claim
straight across the upland. and 1t wa
his habit to leave RATHER there an
walk over to the ridge. where he coul,
watch his claim. Frequently, as hav
said. he stole down before daylight an
lighted q fire in the stove just to max
II look as II he lived there. There Wa
a risk In that, Of course. granting tina
the stock inspector was the kind to Ii
In wait for him.
Ward rode to the ridge with his blaI
ket rolled and tied behind the can't,
His frying pan hung behind his lei
and his rife lay across the saddle |
front Of him. He was going HON
boldly enough and recklessly enough
but he was by no mean disposed I
walk deliberately into u trap. He keI