The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-21
CHAPTER XXI.

to find the rendezvous where Long
streth was to meet his men. These men
Duane wanted ven more than their
leader. If Longstreth, or Cheseldine,
was the brains of that gang, Poggin
was the executor. 1t was Poggin who
needed to be found and stopped. Pog-
gin n his right hand men! Duane ex-
perienced a strange, tigerish thrill. 1t
was thought of Poggin more than
thought of success for MacNelly's plan.
Duane felt dubious over this emotion.
Next day he set out for Bradford. He
was glad to get away from Fairdale
for a while. But the hours and the
miles in no wise changed the new pain
in his heart. The only way he could
forget Miss Longstreth was to let his
mind dwell upon Poggin, and even this
was not always effective.
He avoided ~Sanderson, and at the
end OF a day and a half he arrived at
Bradford.
The night Of the day before he
reached Bradford, No. 6, the mail and
express train going east, was held up
by train robbers, the Wells Fargo mes
senger killed over his safe, the mail
clerk wounded, the bags carried away.
The engine Of No. 6 came into town
minus even a tender, and engineer and
fireman told conflicting stories. A posse
or railroad men n citizens, led by a
sheriff Duane suspected was crooked,
was made UP before the engine steamed
back to pick VI the rest Of the train.
Duane had the sudden inspiration that
he had been cudgeling his mind to
find; and, acting upon 1t, he mounted
his horse again and left Bradford I'M
observed. AS he rode out into the night,
over a dark trail in the direction OF
Ord, he uttered a short, grim, sardonic
laugh at the hope hat he might be
taken for a train robber.
q Ha rnda of on oCxy frnf roncf Nf fha
night, and when the black peak of Ord
mountain doomed up against the stars
he halted, tied his horse, and slept un
til dawn. He a brought a small pack,
and now he took his time cooking
breakfast. When the sun was we'll up
he saddled Bullet, and, leaving the trail
here his tracks showed plain in the
ground, he put his horse to the rocks
and brush. He selected an exceedingly
rough, roundabout, and difficult course
to Ord, hid his tracks with the skill of
a long hunted fugitive, and arrived
there with his horse winded n COW
cred with lather. It added consider
able to his arrival that the man Duane
remembered as Fletcher and several
others saw him come in the back way
through the lots and jump a fence into
the road.
Duane led Bullet up to the porch
where Fletcher stood wiping his beard,
He was hatless, vestless, and evident
ly had just enjoyed a morning drink.
"Howdy, Dodge" said Fletcher, la
c~onically.
Duane replied, and the other man
returned the greeting with interest.
Jim, my hoss's done up. I want to
hide him from n chance tourists as
might happen to ride up curious like
"Haw! haw! haw!"
Duane gathered encouragement from
that nhnr11S nf NnarSa aIIphtar
wal, If them tourists amt toe
burned smoky the hoss'n be sefe in the
'dobe shack back of Bills here. Feed
thar, too, but you'll hev to rustic
water"
Duane led Bullet to the place indi-
Gated, had care OF his welfare, and
left him there. Upon returning to the
tavern porch Duane saw the group OF
men had been added to by others, some
of whom he had seen before. Without
comment Duane walked along the edge
of the road, and wherever one Of the
tracks of his horse showed he carefully
obliterated it. This procedure was at
tentively watched by Fletcher and his
companions.
wal, Dodge" remarked Fletcher, as
Duane returned, "thet's safer'n prayin
fer rain"
Duane's reply was a remark as To-
q~uacious as Fletcher's, to the effect
that a long, slow, monotonous ride
was conducive to thirst. They all Joined
him, Enthusiastically friendly. But Knel
was not there, and most assuredly not
Poggin. Fletcher was no common out
law, but whatever his ability, it prob
ably lay in execution Of orders. APP
parently at that time these men had
nothing to do but drink and lounge
around the tavern. Evidently they
were poorly supplied with money
though Duane observed they could
borrow a peso occasionally from the
bartender. Duane set out to make
himself agreeable and succeeded. There
was card playing for small stakes, idle
jests Of coarse nature, much banterine
among the younger fellows, and occa-
sionally a mild quarrel. All morning
men came and went, until, all told
Duane calculated he had seen at least
SO. Toward the middle Of the after
noon a young fellow burst into the
saloon and yelled me word:
"Posse!"
From the scramble to get outdoors
Duane judged hat word and the ensu-
ing action was rare in Ord.
What the hell" muttered Fletcher
as he gazed down the o. at a dark
compact bunch of horses and riders
"Fust time 1 ever seen tibet in Ord!
We're gettin' popular like them camps
out of Valentine. Wish Phil was here
or Peggy. Now all you gents keeL
quiet. I'll do the talkin'."
The posse entered the town, trotted
up on dusty horses, and halted IN a
bunch before the tavern. The party
consisted of about 20 men, all heavily
armed, and evidently in charge Of
clean cut, lean limbed cowboy. Duane
experienced considerable satisfaction
at the absence of the sheriff who he
had understood was to lead the posse
Perhaps he was out in another direc-
ton with a different force.
Hello Jim Fletcher" called the cow
boy.
"Howdy," replied Fletcher.
At his short, dry response and the
way he strobe ~leisureiy out before the
posse Duane found himself modifying
his contempt for Fletcher. The out
law was different now.
FLETCHER, we've tracked a man to al
but three miles of this place. Tracks as
plain as the nose on your face. Found
his camp. Then he hit into the brush
an we lost the trail. Didn't have nc
tracker with us. Think he went into the
mountains. But we too q chance an
over the rest Of the way, seem ORD