Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-06-21

the short rope in his hands and hobbled
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, Buck, I want to tell
you that you needn't jolly yourself into
thinking your death will be avenged.
1t won't. You 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 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 ride this way and sees you 1 won't
be anywhere around"
This is the tree he added, stopping
under a cottonwood that flung a big
branch out over the narrow COW trail
they were travelling. 1.-The chances are
friend Floyd will be ambling around
this way in a day or two" he said
hearteningly. HE can tend to the last
sad rites and take charge of your
horse He's liable to be sore when he
reads your pedigree, but l don't reckon
that will make great deal of differ
ence. You'll get buried all right,
Buck"
Ward dismounted with a most busi-
neSsliKe manner and united Buck Oh
neys rope from the saddle Il can't
spare mine," he explained laconically.
He had some trouble in fashioning a
hangman's moose. He had not had
much practice, he remarked to Buck
after the first attempt.
How do you do it, Buck? You know
more about these things than 1 do he
taunted. You've helped hang lots OF
poor devils that will be glad to meet
yuh with the devil today"
Buck Olney moistened his dry lips
Ward glanced at his face and looked
quickly away. Staring, abject terror
the man is your worst enemy and is
suffering justly for his sins. Wards
fingers fumbled the rope as though his
determination were weakening. Ther
lie remembered some things, huncheC
his shoulders, impatient of the merci
full impulse, and began the knot again
An old prospector had shown him once
how it was done.
''Of course plain slipknot would d.
the business all right" he said. "Bu
I'll try and give you the genuine thing
same as you gave the other fellows"
Ward, for Gods sake, let me go!'
Ward started He did not know tina
a mans voice could change so much il
so short a time. He never would have
recognized the tones as coming from
Buck Olney's loose, complacent lips.
Ward, I'll never-I'n leave the coun
try-I'n go to South America or Aus
tralia Or"
You'll go to hotter climate, Buck
Ward cut in inexorably. You've go
your ticket
"Tll own up to everything. I'll tel
you where some of the moneys cachet
we got in that Hardup deal, Ward
There's enough to put you on Eas.
street. I'll tell you who helped"
You'd better not" advised War,
h lrshly, 'or I'll make hanging relic
to you. l know pretty well right nov
all you could tell And If l wanted t
send your pardners up wouldn't nee
your help. It's partly to give them
chance that I'm sending you out thi
way myself l don't call this murder
Buck. I'm saving the state a lot O
time and trouble, that's all, and you
pardners the black eye they'd get fo
throwing in with you. 1 heap sab
who was the head push. You got ther
in to take whatever dropped so yo
could get off slick and clean, just a
you've done before, you-you-"
Buck Olney got it then hot from th
fires of Wards wrath. A man doe
not brood over treachery and wron
and blackened future for years will
out storing up good many things tha
he means to say to the friend who ha
played him false Ward had been
happy go lucky young fellow who ha
faith in men and in himself and in hi
future. He had lived through blacl
hopeless days and weeks and month
because of this man who tried now I
buy mercy with the faith of his par
nerS.
In the saddle Buck sat all hunche
together as If Ward had lashed hi
with rawhide instead of with stingin
words. The muscles of his face twitcl
ed spasmodically. His eyes wei
! growing hlOOdShOt