The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-06-17
CHAPTER VIII.
William Macleod RGiHe
A Touch Of the Third Degree.

Dubbs ADluChWSAAg hCANON
south, was slipping down toward
Stones horse ranch when they came
face TO face. Before the bad man had
his revolver out, he found himself
looking down the barrel of the rang
er's leveled rife.
81 wouldn't" Bucky murmured gen.
tally.
"What you want me forT' Blackwell
demanded sulkily.
For the W. & s. robbery"
I'm not the man you want. My
names Johnson"
"Tll put up with you till / find the
man ! do want, Mr.. Johnson" Bucky
told him cheerfully. "Climb down
from that horse. No. wouldn't try
that. Keep your hands up"
Buck took his prisoner straight to
the rangers Office and telephontd to
Cullison.
The lieutenant did not know any
thing about book psychology, but he
had observed that hunger and weari-
ness try out the stuff that is In man.
Under the sag of them many a will
snaps that would have held fast II sus-
tained by good dinner aud a sound
nights sleep. This is why SO many
bad men, gun fighters with a reputa-
tiOn for gameness, wilt on occasion
like whipped ours. In the old days this
came to nearly every terror Of the
border. Some day when he had q
jumping toothache, or when his nerves
were frayed from debauch, a silent
stranger walked into his presence,
looked long and steadily into his eyes
and ended forever his reign of lawless-
ness. Sometimes the two=gun man
was planted" sometimes he subsided
into innocuous peace henceforth.
The ranger had a shrewd instinct
that the hour had come to batter down
this fellows dogged resistance. There
fore he sent for Cullison. the man
whom the convict most feared.
The very look of the cattleman, with
that grim, hard, capable aspect. shook
Bluckwells nerve.
- $50 you've got him. Bucky2"
Luck looked the man over as he sat
handcuffed beside the table and read
in his face both terror and a sly,
dogged cunning. Once before the fel-
low had been put through the third de.
gree. Something of the sort he fear
fully expected now. Villainy is usually
not consistent. This hulking bully
should have been a hardy ruftian. In.
stead, he shrank like a schoolgirl from
the thought Of physical pain.
"Stand up" ordered Cullison, quiet.
ly.
Blackwell got to his feet at once
Don't hit me-" he whlned.
Luck knew the man sweated under
the punishment his Imagination called
up, and he understood human nature
too well to end the suspense by max
ing real the vision. For then the
worst would be past, since the actua
is never equal TO what is expected.
"Well" Luck watched him with tn,
look OF tempered steel In his hart
eyes.
"I-I-Mr. Cullison, l want to en-
plain. Every man is liable to make I
mistake-go off half cooked. dldn'
do right. That's fac. can explain
all that. but I'm sick now-awfu
sick"
Cullison laughed harshly. you'll b,
sicker soon."
'You promised you wouldn't do any
thing II we turned you loose" the maj
plucked up courage to remind him.
II promised the law wouldn't do any
thing. You'll understand the dIstinC
tion presently"
'Mr. Cullison. please-I admit
done wrong. hadn't ought to haV
gone In with Cass Fendrick., a
wanted me to kill you. but wouldn't.
Bucky had let Cullison take the cen
ter of the stage. he had observed
growing distress mount and ride tn
victim. Now he stepped In to saw
the man with an alternative at whic
Blackwell nllght be expected not I
snatch eagerly perhaps. but at leas
10 be driven toward.
This man is my prisoner, Mr.. Cul
lisOn. From what can make out 20
ought to strip his hide on and hang /
out to dry. But I've got first call O.
him. II he comes through with tn
truth about the w. & 8. robbery PV
got to protect him."
Luck understood the ranger. The
were both working toward the sam
end. The immediate punishment Q
this criminal was not the important Il
sue II was merely club with whic