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

TO unite Suck Olney'S feet, hen t.,
thought him Of the statement he had
promised to write. He got a magaz
and tore out the frontispiece-whicn,
oddly enough, was a somber picture of
Death lowering with outstretched
wings over a battlefield-and wrote
several lines in pencil on the back of it,
where the paper was smooth and
white.
FLOWS thatT' he asked, holding nc
the paper so that Buck could read
what he had written. II amt in the
mood to sit down and write a whole
book, SO ! had to boil down your pedi-
gree. But that will do the business all
right. don't you think?'
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 a
snap. Ward laughed grimly, picked
up the knife and ran his thumb lightly
over the edge to test its keenness.
Put a fresh edge on it for me, huh?'
he commented. well, we may as well
get started, l 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 a corner Of
his lip and biting it thoughtfully. Then
he took his revolver and held it in his
left hand, while with his right he In.
did the rope which bound Bucks
hands.
"Stick your hands out in front Of
you,' he commanded. You'll have to
ride a ways. There isn't any gallows
tree in walking distance"
"For Gods sake, Wardv 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.
when the two were friends.
You know what l told you," Ward
reminded him grimly and took up the
knife with a deadly air that made the
other suck in his breath. Hold still!
I'm liable to cut your throat if / make
a mislick."
Really, 1t was the way he did it that
made it terrible. The thing itself was
nothing. He merely drew the back Of
the blade down alongside Bucks ear
and permitted the point to scratch
through the skin barely enough to let
out a thin trickle of blood. A pin
would have hurt worse. But Buck
groaned and believed he had lost an
ear. He breathed in gasps, but did not
say a word.
go ahead. Talk all you want to.
Buck" Ward invited, and wiped the
knife blade on Bucks shoulder before
he returned the weapon to its sheath
in his inside coat pocket.
Buck finched from the touch and set
his teeth.
Ward tied his hands before him and
told him to get up and go put to his
horse. Buck obeyed with abject sub.
missiveness, and Wards lip curled
again as be walked behind him to the
door. He had not the slightest twinge
Of pity for the man. He was gloating.
~ glad that he could make him suffer,
aud he inwardly cursed his W hui.
manity for being 30 merciful. He
ought to have cut Bucks ear off slick
and clean instead of making a bluff at
II, he told himself disgustedly. Buck
deserved it and more.
He helped Buck into the saddle. took
tho xf,xrrt r,n In hfu hands md k,hhln
Bucks feet under the horse, grasped
the bride reins and mounted Rather.
Without a word he set off up the rough
trail toward Hardup, leading Bucks
horse behind him.
Before you go, Puck, I want to tell
you that You needn't jolly yourself into
thinking y6iir death will be Avenged.
1t went. iou noticed what l wrote,
and there isn't a scrap of my writing
anywhere in the country to catch me
up" Wards thoughts went to BiiaJ
Louise, who Ind some very good Fam
pies, and he stopped suddenly. III
was trying not to think. of Billy Louis,
today. "Also when Somebody happen
to ride this way and sees you / won
be anywhere Aroand."
'.This is MIC, tree" he added, sioppin
under y cottonwood that hung a hi
braneh out over the marrow COW ira
they we're travelling. "The chances al
friend Floyd will be ambling aroun
this way in u day or two he sill
~hearteningly. HE can tend to the la'
sad rites and take charge II 20,
horse. He's liable to be sore when
reads your pedigree, but don't recko
that will make u great deal OF ollie
ence. You'll get buried, all righ
Buck"
Ward dismounted with II most bus
nessllke manner and united Buck I
ney's rope from the saddle Il car
spare mine" he explained laeonicall
lie had some trouble Il. fashioning
hangman's moose. He had not Ii;
much practice. he remarked to Bu'
after the first attempt.
How do you do 1t, Buck? You kno
more about these things than | do
tainted. you've helped hang lots
poor devils that will be glad to me