The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-11-02

Rangy, powerful MAN, Willie Haii
over his temples, still, hard face,
eyes like knives. The way he packed
his guns, the way he walked an stood
an swung his right hand showed me
what he was. You can't fool me on
the gun-sharp. An he had grand
horse, big black"
"Tve met your man." said Long
streth.
mol" exclaimed Kne1l. It was
wonderful to hear surprise expressed
by this man that did not in the least
show it in his strange physiognomy
Knell laughed a short, grim, hollow
laugh. "Boss, this here big gent drifts
into Ord again an makes up to Jim
Fletcher. Jim-he up an takes this
stranger to be the fly road-agent an
cottons to him. Got money out Of him
sure. And that's. what stumps me
more. What's this mans game? hap
pen to know, boss, that he couldn't
have held up No. g."
GLOW do you know?" demanded
Longstreth.
because 1 did the job myself"
A dark and stormy passion clouded
the chiefs face.
"Knell, you're incorrigible. You're
Another break like that
oueers YOU with me. Did you tell
Poggin?''
eyes. Thet's one reason we fell
out. He raved. I thought he was
goin' to kill me. Several of the boys
rode over from Ord, an one of them
went to Poggin an says Jim Fletcher
has a new man for the gang. Jim an
Poggin always hit it up together. So
until I got on the deal Jim's pard
was already In the gang, without
Poggin or you ever SEEM him. Then
I got to figurin' hard. Just where l
ever seen that chap? I dug up lot
Of old papers from my kit an went
over them. Letters, pictures, clip
pins, an all that. I guess I had a
pretty good notion what I was lookin'
for an who 1 wanted to make sure Of.
At last found it. An l knew my
man. But didn't spring it on Poggin.
I sent Blossom over to Ord with a
calculated to make Jim hump.
Poggin got sore, said he'd wait for
Jim, an l could come over here to
see you about the new job. He'd
meet me in Ord"
Knell had spoken hurriedly and low,
now and then with passion. His pale
eyes glinted like fire in ice, and now
his voice fell to a whisper.
"Who do you think Fletcher's new
man is?"
"Who?" demanded Longstreth.
Buck Duane!"
Down came Longstreth's boots with
a crash. then his body grew rigid.
"That Nueces outlaw? That two
shot ace-of-spades gun-thrower who
killed Bland, Alloway-?" with more
feeling than the apparent circum-
stance demanded.
Eyes; and Hardin, the best one of
the Rim Rock fellows-Buck Duane"
Longstreth was so CHASTITY white
now that his black mustache seemed
outlined against chalk. He eyed his
grim lieutenant. They understood
each other without more words. 1t
was enough that Buck Duane was
there in the Big Bend. Longstreth
rose presently and reached for flask,
from which he drank, then offered it
to Knell. He waved it aside.
"Knell," began the chief, slowly, as
he wiped his lips, 81 gathered you
have some grudge against this Buck
Duane"
eyes.
"Well, don't be a - fool now and
do what Poggin or almost any of you
men would-don't meet this Buck
Duane. I've reason to believe he's
Texas Ranger now"
"The hell you sayy" exclaimed
Knell.
"Yes. Go to Ord and give Jim
Fletcher a bunch. He'll get Poggin,
and they'll fix even Buck Duane"
"All right I'll do my best. But If
run into Duane"
Don't run into himr' Longstreth's
voice fairly rang with the force or
It's passion and command. He wiped
his face, drank again from the flask,
sat down, resumed his smoking, and,
drawing a paper from his vest pocket,
he began to study it.
"We'll I'm glad that's settled" he
said, evidently referring to the Duane
matter. snow for the new job. This
is October the eighteenth. On or be-
fore the twenty-ffth there will be a
shipment of gold reach the Rancher's
Bank of Val Verde. After you return
to Ord give Poggin these orders. keep
the gang quiet. You. Poggin, Kane,
Fletcher, Panhandle Smith. and Boldt
to be in on the secret and the job. No
body else. You'll leave Ord on the
twenty-third, ride cross country by the
trail till you get within sight of Mer-
Ger. It's q hundred miles from Brad
ford to Val Verde-about the same
from Ord. Time your travel to get
you near Val Verde on the morning
of the twenty-sixth. You won't have
to more than trot your horses. At
two o'clock in the afternoon, sharp,
ride into town and up TO the Ranch
er's Bank. Val Verde's a pretty big
town. Never been any hold-ups there.
Town feels safe. Make it q clean,
fast, daylight job. That's all. Have
you got the details?'
Knen did not even ask for the dates
again.
Suppose Poggin or me- might be
he asked.