The Bozeman courier., 1927-10-28

IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE
UCANE, as the sound struck upon
his ear, started and stared about
him with a sudden confused alert
ness. Lulled by the steady thud
Of the mares hoofs, by the droning
monotone Of insect life that drummed In
the dry, pulsating air, by the brazen
heat in which, although the day was
young the whole forest lay scorched and
parching, he had fallen as nearly asleep
as a man in the saddle may. It came
again-a succession Of shrill yaps, sharp
howl. The track turned the shoulder OF
a great rock; beside it, caught in thorn
bush few yards ahead, something white
and brown writhed and struggled, help
lessly trapped and held in the needle
like spikes-a dog. Long-legged, long
coated. not grown out OF puPpytno2oa;; Ppyt 2eS
anything in the way Of cross that had
probably a preponderance OF spaniel in
it.
All Of which he saw in the act Of
hastily dismounting and going down on
his knee. To break the thorns away was
not easy, but it was done at the expense
Of a scratch or two more or less ugly; he
stood up with the painting cerature held
under his arm. How had 1t come there?
His eyes, as he asked himself the ques-
ton, glanced ahead. To the left ran the
forest road that was his own way; to the
right wound a track that was not much
more than a path. He nodded towards
It.
"The old Craven place." he said alour
That's the nearest, and I did hear the
new folks were in a week ago. Strayed
from there, reckon. That so, ye little
fool?"
The puppy. responding. struggled up
and licked him in a lavish ecstasy OF
gratitude. Ducanes handsome, lean
tanned face, a face in which, despite its
habitual gravity, there still lurked some
thing boyish, relaxed into q smile; he
had weakness for animals; his mare
beautiful; clean-bred, spirited creature
was his pride and idol. To abandon the
! helpless canine infant to its own devices
was thing not to be done. With II
still squirming under his arm he swung
| himself into the saddle.
"Bit too used-up to rum" he solilo.
quized aloud again. won't hinder but
an hour or so, and it's pretty early yet
thanks to me starting when did. Reckon
I'll be along soon as need be. Whew
but it's hotv"
The mare turned into the track to the
right; once more the thud Of her hoo1l
and the insect drone mingled drowsily
Little by little the way widened, th'
trees .thinned, more and more unbear'
ably the furnace-like heat beat down
Came presently a broad clearing, th'
! cracked earth patched with clumps o.
coarse, sun-scorched scrub and grass
! Beyond the road fianking 1T, backer b.
a rocky tinber-crowned knoll, surround
ed by q great yard, showed the old Cra
ven place, a substantial white house will
a deep veranda running around 1T.
large shirt-sleeved figure appeared rton
a doorway, as Cucane, riding through tn
open gate, dismounted in the welcom
shade Of a laden apple tree, and let tn
puppy slip down.
'Your dog, I think" he said question
ingly. "Reckoned so, this being the near
est place. Found him caught good an
tight in thorn-bush way back in tn
, woods, and"
He stopped. His one step back wa
the mere involuntary recoil Of the mus
cles with which the conscious will ha
nothing to do, was as little under hi
control as his swift intake Of breath. A
swiftly the hand that had dropped to hi
hip pocket was flung out, empty. H
looked at the revolver that, a bare var
2 away, covered his heart.
: 'I carry my gun mostly" he sal
levelly. 1T happens not today. Youv
: got me, Dave"
The other advanced half a pace.
when you an me parted" he sal
with grim slowness, II told you you
- best be. spry over pulling on me II 20
came in my way again, for I'd plug 20
on sight, sure as my name was DAY
: Hallard. If it was ten years. If 20
kept out of it that long, well and goo
Ten yearsl miss my guess, Jim Ducan
if it's more than fve."
= Its five years all but month"; n
y member well as you do. You called n
T a good few things that day, but skur
s wasn't one. I'm not squealing any mo.
= than you would If it had been me. that
IT caught you out. That's enough. Sho
quick and shoot clean and get 1t over
said Ducane doggedly.
Whats waited for five years." he sa
J, with the same deliberation, "can wa
another five minutes. I've no call
give you a chance, but plugging a mt
that I know can't shoot back is what L
never done yet, and risking my neck
- the rope is what i don't fancy doll
n either, for you or anybody. Ma
be you suspicion I'm blufing-aint loa
, ed? If that's So"
a The shot. striking the fence, sent
~, ripped splinter flying.
I'd He turned back to the open door, u
D. der the veranda. Ducane followed
towering, massive figure into Dig oa
or room that, after the burning glare OF I
7 yard, was pleasantly cool. bure
p stood in one corner. He crossed 1T, to
in something from a drawer and threw
r down upon the table-a pack OF car
- once more, across them, the blue a.
gray eyes met with the cold light ma
IL of steel Hallard gave a nod.
ne Draw poker" he said slowly. you {
me was pretty good and pretty even at
= five years ago, and with them same car
Amt used 'em since because I al
p played it since. Well play now-b
Is two hands out o. three. The one tt
loses takes my gun and uses it-on hi
ny self-by sundown. There's your chan
'or Jim Ducane, an it's as good for you
eI for me. Do you take 1t or don't you?
=, "You know there isn't anything for
o to say but yes-if you say So" said I
cane.
= "I say sa. BY sundcwn, II it's you OF
:. it's me- All out up to seven, and cut
b deal" said Hallard.
m He sat down. throwing on his bro
sr
nd -