The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-02-01

Righteousness. Indeed, the very weak
ness Of the attempt was in itself omi
nous. Ward might try to be coldl.
malevolent. but the light that burned
in his eyes and the rage that frightened
his lips gave the lie to his forced com
posture.
He went out and led up the horse!
to the door. He came back and started
to unite Buck Olney's feet, then be
thought him of the statement he hat
promised to write. He got magazine
and tore out the which
oddly enough, was somber picture Of
Death lowering with outstretche6
wings over a battlefield-and wrote
several lines in pencil on the back of it
where the paper was smooth and
white
Flows that?' he asked, holding VI
the paper so that Buck could read
what he had written. Il amt in the
mood to sit down and write whole
book, so / had to boil down your pedi-
gree. But that will do the business all
right, don't you think?"
Buck read with staring eyes, looked
| into Wards face and opened his lips
for protest or pleading. Then he fol-
lowed Wards glance to the knife on
| the table and shut his mouth with a
snap. Ward laughed grimly, picked
up the knife and ran his thumb lightly
| over the edge to test its keenness
Put fresh edge on it for me, huh?"
he commented "Well, we may as well
get started, 1 reckon. I'm getting al
mighty sick of seeing you around"
He loosened the rope that bound
Buck to the chair and stood scowling
down at him, drawing In a corner of
his lip and biting it thoughtfully. Then
he took his revolver and held it in his
left hand, while with his right he I'M
did the rope which bound Bucks
hands.
"Stick your hands out in front of
you," he commanded. you'll have to
ride ways. There isn't any gallows
tree in walking distance"
"For Gods sake, Wardw Bucks
voice was hoarse. The plea came out
of its own accord. He held his hands
before him, however, and he made no
attempt to get out of the chair. He
knew Ward could shoot all right with
his left hand. you see. He had watch
ed him practice ON tin cans long ago
when the two were friends.
"You know what 1 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 1 make |
a mislick''
Really, it was the way he did it that /
made it terrible. The thing itself was
He merely drew the back of I
the blade down alongside Bucks ear
and permitted the point to scratch
through the skin barely enough to let
out a 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
lie returned the weapon to its sheath
n his inside coat pocket.
Buck flinched from the touch and set
lis teeth
Ward tied his hands before him and
old him to get up and go out to his
lorse. Buck obeyed with abject SUBJ
and Wards lin curled ,
gain as he walked behind him to the
Ioor. He had not the slightest twinge
f pity for the man. He was gloating- i,
Y glad that he could make him suffer, +,
nd he inwardly cursed his own hu- :,
nanity for being so merciful. He :
-ght to have cut Bucks ear off slick :
nd clean instead of making a bluff at
:, he told himself disgustedly. Buck +,
eserved 1t and more. :
He helped Buck into the saddle, took
ne short rope in his hands and hobbled !,
sucks feet under the horse, grasped +
ne bride reins and mounted Rather.
Without word he set off up the rough q
All toward daruup' ieau1ns BUCK il
orse behind him. i
Before you go, Buck, I want to tell q
on that you needn't jolly yourself into Il
linking your death will be avenged. d
won't. You noticed what l wrote, f
nd there isn't scrap of my writing
anywhere in the country to catch me r
p" Wards thoughts went to Billy h
ouise, who had some very good sam v
es, and he stopped suddenly. He O
as trying not to think of Billy Louise d
day. "Also when somebody happens v
ride this way and sees you 1 won't w
anywhere around" in
This is the tree" he added, stopping
der a cottonwood that flung a big n
anch out over the narrow COW trail II
ey were travelling. 1.-THE chances are II
lend Floyd will be ambling around II
is way in a day or two" he said II
"He can tend to the last II
d rites and take charge of your |!
rise. He's liable to be sore when he II
ads your pedigree, but l don't reckon =
at will make a great deal of differ
ce. You'll get buried, all right
Ick."
Ward dismounted with most bust =.
sslike manner and united Buck Oh ~
US rope from the saddle. Il can't -.
a 70 mine - ha oxpIaiuad laconfca1,v -