The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-07-23
"Iiow can / when I'm under arrestY p

Shuck soon as o want to-"
(Which won't be in any hurry"
Don't make any mistake. Lucl
Cullison is a dangerous man when h
is reused"
The sheepman looked al the range
with Opaque stony eyes. IF Lucl
Culllson Is looking for me he is liabl,
TO find me, and he won't have to z,
into tie hills to hunt me either"
Bucky understood perfectly. Ac
cording to the code of the frontier M
man could let himself be driven from
town by the knowledge that another
man was looking for him with a gun
There are in the Southwest now manN
thousands who do not live by the ole
standard, who are anchored TO law
and civilization as a protection against
primitive passions. But Fendrick was
not one Of these. He was an aspirant
TO leadership among the tough hard.
bitted denizens of the sunbaked desert.
That being SO, he had to see his feud
| out 10 a fighting finish if need be.
'There are points about this case
you have overlooked" Bucky told him.
"Maybe SO. But the important one
that sticks out like a sore thumb is
that no man living can serve notice
on me to get out Of town because he
Is coming on the shoot"
Luck didn't serve any such notice.
All his daughter knows is that he is
hot under the collar. Look at things
reasonably. Cass. You've caused that
young lady a heap of trouble already.
Are you going to unload a lot more
on her just because you want to be
pigheaded? Only a kid struts around
and hOllers who's afraid?' No, it's
up to you to pull out, not because Of
Luck Cullison but on account of his
daughter. Seems to me a white man
wouldn't make her any more worry"
ITS because l am a white man that
/ can't dodge a fight when it's stacked
up for me, Bucky. I tell you straight
I'm going to see it out"
Bucky's jaw clamped. mot II /
know 1t. You're under arrest"
Fendrick set up in surprise. "What
for?" he demanded angrily.
For robbing the w. & S. Express
company"
Il. Bucky. You don't believe
that"
Never mind what 1 believe. There's
some evidence against ~you-enough to.
justify me-"
II wort stand for it. That amt
square"
You'll stand for 1t, my friend. /
gave you a chafce to clear out and
you wouldn't take It,"
There came a knock on the door.
1t opened to admit Luck Cullison. He
shut 1t and put his back to it, while
his eyes, hard as hammered iron,
swept past the officer to fix on Fen
.drick.
=, The latter rose quickly from the
bed, but O'Connor flung him back.
Don't forget you're my prisoner"
Hes your prisoner. is heY This
was a turn Of affair for which Luck
was manifestly unprepared: swell,
I'VE come to have a little settlement
with him."
Fendrick, tense as a coiled spring,
watched him warily. "Can't be any
too soon to suit me-"
Clear cut as a pair Of scissors
through paper Bucky snapped out his
warning. Nothing stirring, gentle
men. I'll shoot the first man that
makes a move"
"Are you in this BuckyT asked Gull
lison evenly.
You're right / am. He's my pris-
oner."
what for?"
"For robbing the w. & S."
Luck's face lit. "Have you evidence
enough to cinch him?"
mot enough yet. But I'll take no
chances on his getting away"
The cattleman's countenance reflect
ed his thoughts rs his decision hung in
the balance. He loagcd to pay his
debt On the spot. But on the other
LtdUu lie udu Dceu Il SLcEll HliuSCil.
As an outsider he had nc right to in
terfere between an officer and his cap
tive. Besides, If there was a chance
to send Fendrick over the road that
would be better than killing. 1t would
clear up his own reputation. to some
extent under a cloud.
"All right. Bucky. If the law wants
him I'll step aside for the time"
! The sheepman laughed In his ironic
fashion. His amusement Knocked
them both. Most as good as a play
Of the movies, amt 1t? But we'd ought
all to have our guns out to make it
realistic"
Bucky O'Connor and his prisoner
swung down the street side by side
and turned in at the headquarters Of
the rangers. The officer switched on
the light. shut the door. and indicated
a chair.
Relaxed in his chair, Fendrick spoke
with rather elaborate Incidence.
whats your evidence, Bucky?
What have you got chat ties me to the
w. & S. robberyT"
"Why, that hat play, Cass. You let
on you had shot CullisOn's hat of his