The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-03-02

were free.
Buck got up awkwardiy and went
stumbling down the steep slope with
his hands trembling In the air upon
either side of his head. From their
nervous quivering Il 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
door with no more than ten feet OF
space between them, SO in~exorably had
Ward crowded close upon the others
stumbling progress.
Hold on a minuteT'
Buck stopped as still as though he
had gone against a rock wall.
Ward came closer. and Buck finch
ed away from the feel of the rife muz-
zle between his shoulder blades. Ward
reached out a cautious hand and pulled
the six shooter from its holster at
Bucks right hip.
Got a 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 bully body and found
the knife In its leather sheath. Evil
IDENTIFY 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 rife muzzle
Ward indicated which wall. He no
ticed how Bucks fingers CROPPED 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 a small coil of rope.
He kept the rife pressing Bucks Shout
ders until be had shifted the knife into
one hand. leaned and laid It's blade
against Bucks cheek.
Feel that? I'll jab 1t clear through
you If you give me q chance. Drop
your hands down behind you" He
spent a busy minute with the rope be-
fore he pushed Buck Olney roughly to-
ward a chair.
Buck sat down, and Ward did a lit
tie more rope work..
Say, Ward, you're making a big
mistake If you"
shut upr' snapped Ward. Cant
you see I'm standing all I can stand
just with the sight OF you? Don't pile
it on too thick by letting me hear you
talk. 1 heard you nee 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-
ctAOdS nC " ouIh5 RlCcCANCs L1c
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 culver 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, which
steadied him a little. That he did not
offer Buck food or drink showed how
intense was his hatred. AS a rule, your
true range man is hospitable even to
his enemies.
He rose and inspected the ropes to
make sure that they were proof against
twisting, straining muscles and took
an extra turn or two with the loose
end just to make doubly sure of the
mans helplessness.
where did you leave your horse?"
he asked him CURLY when he was
through.
Buck told him, his eyes searching
Wards face for mercy or at least for
some elew to his fate and dulling with
disappointment because he could read
nothing there but loathing.
Without speaking again Ward went
out and closed the door firmly behind
him: He felt relieved to be away from
Bucks presence. As he climbed the
bluff and mentally relived the last
hour he wondered how he had kept
from shooting Buck as soon as he saw
him. Still, that would have defeated
his main purpose, which was to make
Buck suffer. He was afraid be could
not make Buck suffer as Buck had
made him suffer, because there were
obstacles in the path Of a perfect retrf-
button.
Ward was not cruel by nature-at
least he was not more cruel than the
rest of us-but as he went after Rat
tier and Bucks horse IL pleased him to
know that Buck Olney was tied hand
and foot In his cabin and that he was
sick with dread of what the future