The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-10-12
CHAPTER XIV.

On the morning of the 26th Duane
rode into Bradford in time to catch the
early train. His wounds did not seri-
ously incapacitate him. Longstreth
was with him. And Miss Longstreth
and Ruth Herbert would not be left
behind. They were all leaving Fair
dale forever. Longstreth had turned
over the whole of his property to Nor
ton, who was to divide 1t as he and his
comrades believed Just. Duane had
left Fairdale with his party by night
passed through Sanderson in the early
hours of dawn, and. reached Bradford
as he had planned.
That fateful morning found Duane
outwardly calm, but inwardly he was
In a tumult. He wanted to rush to Val
Verde. Would Captain MacNelly be
there with his rangers, as Duane had
planned for them to be? Memory OF
that tawny Poggin returned with
strange passion. Duane had borne
hours and weeks and months Of wait
ing, had endured the long hours Of the
outlaw, but now he had no patience
The whistle Of the train made him leap
u was a fast train, yet the ride
seemed slow. g.a 81
Duane, disliking to face Longstreth
and the passengers In the car, changed
his seat to one behind his prisoner
They had seldom spoken. The girls sat
In q seat neal by and were pale but
composed. Occasionally the train
halted briefly at a station. The latter
half Of that ride Duane had observed a
wagon road running parallel with the
railroad, sometimes right alongside, al
others near or far away. When the
train was about 20 miles from Val
Verde Duane espied a dark group OF
horsemen trotting eastward. His blood
beat like a hammer at his temples. The
gang! He thought he recognized the
'tawny Poggin and felt a strange inward
contraction. He thought he recognized
h clean cut Blossom Kane, the black
bearded giant Boldt, the red faced Pan
handle Smith, and Fletcher. There was
another man strange to him. Wa
that Knell? No! It could not have been
Knell.
Duane leaned over the seat and
touched Longstreth on the shoulder.
Look" he whispered. Cheseldine
was stiff. He had already seen. gtT15 e.
The train flashed by; the outlaw
gang receded u of range of sight.
did you notice Knell wasn't with
them2" whispered Duane. ~.
Duane did not speak to Longstreth
again till the train stopped at Val
Verde.
They got off the car, and the girls fol-
lowed as naturally as ordinary travel
crs. The station vas a good deal larger
b q that at Bradford, and there was
considerable action and hustle incident
90 the arrival OF the train. &2L
Duane's sweeping gaze searched
faces, rested upon a man who seemed
familiar. This fellows look, too, was
that Of one who knew Duane, but was
waiting GEr a sign, a cue. Then Duane
recognized him - MacNelly, clean
shaven. Without mustache he ap-
peared different, younger.
When MacNelly saw that Duane in
tended to greet him, to meet him, he
hurried forward. A keen light flashed
from his eyes. He was glad, eager, yet
s~uppressing himself, and the glances he
sent back and forth from Duane to
Longstreth were questioning, doubtful
Certainly Longstreth did not look the
part of an outlaw.
duane! Lord, I'm glad to see you,'
raj the captains greeting. Then al
closer look into Duane's face his
warmth fied-something he saw there