The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-21
Sc. He turned to the others of tho

Didn't tell We this was wild
goose chase, comm way out here?
protested an old hawk feed rancher.
| Them boss tracks we follored amt
| like any of them we seen at the water
tank where the train was held up
! I'm not so sure of that" replied the
| leader.
WAL. Guthrie, I've follored tracks all
my life"
But you couldn't keep to the trail
this Teller made in the brush
Gimme time, am could. Thet takes
I time. An heah YOU so hell bent fer
election, But it's a wrong lead out this
way. Ii you're right this road agent,
Z after he killed his pals, would hev ria
J back right through town. An with
/ them mail bags! Supposin' they was
greasers? Some greasers has sense, an
when it comes to thieSin they're shore
| cute"
But we amt got any reason to be-
| lieve this robber who murdered the
! greascrs is a greaser himself l tell you
I il was a slick job done by no ordinary
sneak. Didn't You hear the facts? One
greaser hoped the engineer an fire
man. Another Sreaser kept tiashin his
gun outside the train. The big man
/ who showed back the car door an did
the Nllin'-he was the real gent. ap'
don't you forget it"
Some of the posse sided with the
cowboy leader and some with the old
cattleman. Finally the young leader
disgustedy gathered UP his bride.
"Aw hell Thet sheriff showed you
off this trail. Mebbe he he'd reason!
Savvy tibet? If l he'd a bunch of cow
boys with mel tell YOU what-Id take
a chance an clean up this hole"
All the while Jim Fletcher stood
quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Guthrie. I'm shore treasurin' up
your friendly talk" he said. The men
ace was in the tone, not the content of
his speech.
You can-an' be damned to you,
Fletcher" called Guthrie, as the horses
started.
Fletcher, standing out alone before
the others of his clan, watched the
posse out of sight.
Luck fer youall tibet Poggy wasn't
here he said. as they disappeared.
/ Then with a thoughtful mieA he STROBE
up on the porch and led Duane away
/ from the others in the bar room. When
he looked into Duanc's face it was
somehow an entirely changed scrutiny.
Dodge, where'd you hide the stuff?
l reckon l git in on this deal. seem I
stayed off Guthrie
Duane played his part. Here was his
opportunity. and like a tiger after prey
! he seized it. First he coolly eyed the
| outlaw and then disclaimed any knowl-
| edge whatever OF the train robbery
other than Fletcher had heard him
self. Then at tletchers persistence
and increasing show of friendliness
ne laughed occasionally and allowed
AlInSeiI 10 swell Wlth prIde, though Slil
denying. Next ne feigned a lack of
consistent viii power and seemed to be
| WaVerlnS under Fletcher'S persuasion
and grew silent, then surly. Fletcher,
evidently sure of ultimate victory, Ge-
sisted for the time being; however, IN
! his solicitCus regard and close COM
| partnership for the rest of that day he
betrayed the bent of his mind.
Later, when Duane started up an
hounclng his intention to get mis- horse
and make for camp out in the brush,
Fletcher seemed grievously Offended.
Why don't you stay with me? I'VE
Didn't stick by you when Guthrie an
his bunch come up? Supposin' l nedn't
! showed down a cold hand to him?
You'd be swingin' somewheres now.
tell you, Dodge, it amt square
III square it. pay my iebts," re-
| pied Duane. But l can't put up here
al night. If belonged to the gang it'd
| be different"
What gang?" asked Fletcher blunt
ly.
Why, Cheseldines''
| Fletcher's beard nodded as his law
dropped.
Duane laughed. II run into him the
other day. krowed him on signt. Sure,
mes the king pin ruStler. When he seen
me an asked me what reason l had for
PEN on earth or some such Iihe-why,
L up and told him."
| Fletcher appeared staggered.
VINO IN all fired hell air you talliin'
about?"
Didn't tell you once? Cheselajne.
He calls himself Longstreth over there"
| All of Fletcher's face not covered by
hair turned dirty white.
heseldine-Longstreth he whis-
pered, hoarsely. Cord Almighty! You
oraced the" Then a remarkable
transformation came over the outlaw.
he gulped; he Strengthened his face; he
controlled his agitation. But he could
not send the healthy brown to his face.
Duane, watching this rude man, mar
| veled at the change in him, the sudden
checking movement, the proof Of a
wonderful fear and loyalty. 1t all meant
Cheseldlne, master of men!
| Who air you?" queried Fletcher in
| queer, strained voice.
You gave me handle, didn't you?
Dodge. Thet's as good as any. Shore
1t hits me hard. Jim. I've been pretty
lonely for years. an I'm gettin in need
Oh pals. Think 1t over. will you? See
| you manana."
The outlaw watched Duane go off
after his horse, watched him as he re-
turned to the tavern, watched MIN ride
out into the darkness-all without a
| word.
Duane left the town, threaded quiet
passage through cactus and mesquite
to spot he had marked before, and
made ready for the night. His mind
was so full that he found sleep alouf
Luck at last was playing his gama He
sensed the first slow heave of mighty
crisis. The end, always haunting, had
to be sternly biotted from thought. It
was the approach that needed all his
mind.
He passed the night there, and late
in the morning. after watching trail
and road from a ridge, he returned to
Ord. If Jim Fletcher tried to disguise
his surprise, the effort was a failure.
Certainly he had not expected TO see
duane again. Duane allowed himself
little freedom with Fletcher, an atti-
tude hitherto lacking.
That afternoon horseman rode in
from Bradford, an outlaw evidently well
known and liked by his fellows, and
Duane heard him say, before he could
possibly have been told the rain rob-
/ Der was in Ord. that the loss OF money
In the holdup was slight. Like u flash
Il ltI1 M 49,. L., IL ~