Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-23
The Ranch
at the {
Wolverine
Ccontinued from Page Five.l

CONTINUED from Page Five.1
could reach easily I small coil Of rope.
He kept the rife pressing Bucks Shout.
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 busy minute with the rope be-
fore he pushed Buck Olney roughly, to-
ward q chair.
Buck sat down, and Ward did lit.
tie more rope work.
"say, Ward. you're making . big
mistake If you"
"Shut up!' snapped Ward. "Can't
you see I'm standing all I can stand
just with the sight of you? Don't pile
1t on too thick by letting me hear you
talk. l heard you once too often %
it u.s."
Buck Olney caught his breath and sat
very still. His eyes followed Ward
as the eyes Of Gagged animal follow
it's keeper.
Ward tried to ignore his presence
completely while he lighted 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 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 little. That he did not
offer Buck food or drink showed how
intense was his hatred. As 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 clew 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
blur 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 he could
not make Buck suffer, as Buck had
made him suffer, because there were
obstacles n the path Of perfect retri-
button.
Ward was not cruel BY. nature at
least he was not more cruel than the
rest Of us-but a. he went after Rat
tier and Bucks horse It 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
held for him.
Ward was gone an hour. He did not
hurry; there was no need. Buck could
not get away, and little suspense
would do him good.
Bucks face was pasty when Ward
opened the door. His eyes were bit
CLASSY. And from the congested ap-
pearance Of his hands Ward judged
that he had tested to the full his help
lessness In his bonds. Ward looked at
him minute and got out the makings
of q smoke. His mood had changed
In his absence He no longer wanted