Meade County news., 1918-03-28
CHAPTER Ix-contlnued.

Buck got up awkwardly and went
stumbling down the steep slope with
his hands trembling in the air upon
either side of his head. From their
nervous quivering 1t was evident that
his memory was good and that it was
working upon the subject which Ward
had suggested to him. He did not give
Ward the weakest imitation of an ex-
cuse to shoot. And so the two of them
came presently down upon the level
and passed around the cabin to the
door with no more than ten feet Of
space between them, so inexorably had
Ward crowded close upon the others
stumbling progress.
"Hold on q minute"
Buck stopped as still as though he
had gone against rock wall.
Ward came closer, and Buck finch
ed away from the feel of the rifle muz-
zle between his shoulder blades. Ward
reached out cautious hand and pulled
the six shooter from its holster at
Bucks right hip.
"Got knife? You always used to
go heeled with one. Speak up and
don't lie about It,"
"Inside my coat" grunted Buck, and
Wards lip curled while he reached
around the mans bulky body and found
the knife in its leather sheath. Evi-
dently Buck was still remembering
with disquieting eXactness what rea-
sons Ward might have for wanting to
kill him.
"Take down your left hand and open
the door"
Buck did so and put his hand up
again without being told.
"Now go in and stand with your face
to the wall" With the rifle muzzle
Ward indicated which wall. He no
ticed how Bucks fingers groped and
trembled against the wall, just under
the caves, and his lip curled again in
the expression which Billy Louise so
hated to see.
Ward had chosen the spot where he
could reach easily small coil Of rope.
He kept the rifle pressing Bucks shoul-
ders until he had shifted the knife into
one hand, leaned and laid its blade
against Bucks cheek.
"Feel that? I'll jab It clear through
you If you give me chance. Drop
your hands down behind you" He
spent a busy minute with the rope be-
fore he pushed Buck Olney roughly to-
ward chair.
Buck sat down, and Ward did lit
tie more rope work.
"Say, Ward, you're making a big
mistake If you"
"Shut upw snapped Ward. Cant
you see I'm standing all can stand
Just with the sight of you? Don't pile
1t on too thick by letting me hear you
talk. 1 heard you once too often as
It is"
Buck Olney caught his breath and sat
very still. His eyes followed Ward
. as the eyes of a Gagged animal follow
its keeper.
Ward tried to ignore his presence
completely while he lighted a fire and
fried bacon and made coffee, but the
hard set of his jaw and the cold in
tentness of his eyes proved how con-
scious he was of Bucks presence. He
tried to eat just to show how calm he
was, but the bread and bacon choked
him. He could feel every nerve in his
body quiver with the hatred he felt for
the man and the bitterness which the
sight Of him called up out Of the past
He drank four cups of coffee, black
and sweetened at random, whicl
steadied him little. That he did moi
offer Buck food or drink showed how
intense was his hatred. AS a rule, you
true range man is hospitable even t
his enemies.
He rose and inspected the ropes tt
make sure that they were proof agains
twisting, straining muscles and tool
an extra turn or two with the loost
erd Just to make doubly sure of tn,
mans helplessness.
"Where did you leave your horse?
he asked him curtly when he wa
through.
Buck told him, his eyes searching
Wards face for mercy or at least 70
some clew to his fate and dulling wit
disappointment because he could rNa'
nothing there but loathing.
without speaking again Ward weu
out and closed the door firmly behin
him. He felt relieved to be away fror