American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-29

so short a time. He never would have
recognized the tones as coming from
Buck Olney's loose, complacent lips.
Ward. III neyer-Tn leave the coun-
try-In 20 to South America or Aus
tralia or"
You'll go to a hotter climate, Buck"
Ward cut in inexOrably. you've got
your ticket"
III own up to everything. I'll tell
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
hlrshly. "or I'll make hanging a relief
TO you. I know pretty well right now
all you could tell. And II | 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. l don't call this murder,
Buck. I'm saving the state a lot of
time and trouble. that's all, and your
pardners 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 of slick and clean. just as
you've done before, you-you-"
Buck Olney got it then hot from the
fires Of Wards wrath. A man does
not brood Over treachery and wrong
and a b~lackened future for years with
out storing W a good many things that
ha rnoorg p. "a 70 Tho f-4nnA mhn hoe
played him false. Ward had been a
happy go lucky young fellow who had
faith in men and in himself and in his
future. He had lived through black,
hopeless days and weeks and months
because of this man who tried now to
buy mercy with the faith of his part
ners.
In the saddle Buck sat all hunched
together as if Ward had dashed him
with rawhide instead of with singing
Z words. The muscles of his face witch
ed systematically. His eyes were
growing b%loodshot.
Ward spilled two papers of tobacco
before he got a cigarette rolled and
lighted. He wondered a little at the
physical reaction from his outburst, but
he wondered more at Buck Olney sit
ting alive and unhurt on the horse be-
fore him, a Seabeck horse which Ward
had seen Floyd Carson riding once or
twice. He wondered what Floyd
would do If he saw Buck now and the
use to which the horse vas being put.
Ward finished the cigarette, rolled
another and smoked that also before
he could put his hand put before him
and hold 1t reasonably steady. When
he felt fairly sure Of himself again he
lifted his hat to wipe of the sweat OF
his anger. gave a big sigh and returned
to the tying of the hangman's o
When he finally had it fixed the way
he wanted 1t he went close and flung
the moose over Buck Olney's head. He
could not trust himself to speak just
then. He cast an inquiring glance up
ward, took Bucks horse by the bride
and led him forward a few steps so
that Buck was directly under the over
hanging limb. Then. with the coil of
Bucks o p in his hand. he turned back
and squirmed up the tree trunk until
he had reached the limb. He crawled
out until he was over Bucks bullet
punctured hat crown. sliced of what
rope he did not need and flung it to the
ground. He saw Buck vince as the
rope went past him. The pinto horse
SHE'D out of position.
Take the reins and bring him back
here" Ward called shortly. and gave a
twitch OF the rope as a hint.
Mechanically Buck obeyed. He did
not know that the rope was not yet
tied to the limb.
Ward tied the rope securely, leaving
enough slack to keep Buck from chOk-
ing prematurely. He fused a minute
longer. with his lip curled into a grin
of sardOnic humor. Then he crawled
back t the trunk of the tree and slid
down carefully so that he would not
brighten the pinto.
He went up and took the hobble of
Buck Olney's feet. felt in the OF
his coat lapel and pulled out four pins,
with which he fastened Bucks ''pedi-
gree between Bucks shrinking shoul-
derblades. Then he stood of and sur
veyed his work critically before be
went over TO Rather, who stood doing
in the sunshine.
Sorry 1 can't stay to see you on
he told Buck maliciously. I've decid-
ed to let you go alone and take your
own time about starting. As long as
that cayuse stands where he is you're
safe as a church. And you've got the
reins. You can kick of any time you
feel like It. Sabe?' He studied Bucks
horror marked face pitilessly.
you've got about one chance in a
million that you can make that pinto
stand there till some one m along,
he pointed out impartially. I'm will
ing to give you that chance, such as II
is. And If you're lucky enough TO win
out on it-well. Id advise you to dc
some going. South America is about
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