The Monticellonian., 1918-04-05

nlS left hand, you see. lie nau Whlch- ed him practice on tin cans long ago when the two were friends.
 You know what I 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 l make mislick."
 Really, it 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 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 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 ip his inside coat pocket.
 Buck flinched from the touch and set his teeth
 Ward tied his hands before him and told him to get up and go out to his horse Buck obeyed with abjeet sub- missiveness, and Wards lip curled again as he walked behind him to the door He had not the slightest twinge of pity for the man. He was gloating- ly glad that he could make him suffer, and he inwardly cursed his own hu- manity for being so merciful. He o~ght to have cut Bucks ear off slick and clean instead of making bluff at it. he told himself disgustedly. Buck deserved it and more.
 He helped Buck into the saddle, took the short rope in his hands and hebbled Bucks feet under the horse, grasped the bridle reins and mounted Rattler. Without word he set off up the rough trail toward Hardup, leading Buck S 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. It won't You noticed what I 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 ples, 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 I won't be anywhere around.
 This is the tree" he added. stopping under a cottonwood that flung big branch out over the narrow COW trail they were travelling. "The chances are friend Floyd will be ambling around 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 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 Ol. ney's rope from the saddle. T can't spare mine." he explained laeonieally He had some trouble ill 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 I 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. Ward S fingers fumbled the rope as though his determination were weakening. Then he remembered some things. hunched 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 dc the business all right" he said. But I'll try and give you the genuine thing, same as you gave the other fellows"
 w uTQ, IOr 1Ou S Sdhe, let lUe SO.
 Ward started. He did not know that a mans voice could change so much in so short time. He never would have recognized the tones as coming from Buck Olney's loose complacent lips.
 Ward, I'll never-I'll leave the coun- try-Fll go to South America or Aus tralia or"
 You'll go to hotter climate. Buck, :" Ward cut in inexorably. You've got your ticket"
 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 h hlrshly, "or I'll make hanging q relief to you. I know pretty well right now all you could tell. And if wanted to send your pardners up wouldn't need your help. It's partly to give them a chance that I'm sending you out this way myself. don't call this murder. Buck. I'm saving the state q lot of time and trouble. that's all. and your partners 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 1t then hot from the fires of Wards wrath. X man does mi hrnnd oner trnachnr,- nna HEAL, {.