Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-09-28

wa W 6St CLOSER " lldl CABIN. I'D
had he taken this duo climb for?
He held back. however, trying to evolve
further plans.
While he was pondering the shadows
quickly gathered and darkened. If he
was to go back to camp he must set out
at once. Still he fingered. And suddenly
his wide rowing eye caught sight of two
horsemen riding up h valley. They
must have entered at a point below,
round the huge abutment OF rock, be-
yond Duane's range OF sight. Their
horses We're tired and stopped at the
stream for a long drink.
Duane left his perch, too to the steep
trail. and descended as fast a he could
without making noise.
1t did not take him long to reach the
valley floor. 1t was almost level, with
deep grass, n here and there clumps
of bushes. Twilight was already thick
down there. Duane marked the loca-
ton of the trail, and then began to slip
like a ado through the grass and
from bush to bush. He saw a bright
light before he made out the ark out
line of the cabin. Then he heard voices,
a merry whistle, a coarse song, and the
clink of iron cooking utensils. He
smelled fragrant wood smoke. He saw
moving dark figures cross the light.
evidently there was a wide door, or
else the fire was out in the open.
Duane sWeryed to the left, out Of
direct line with the light, and thus was
able to see better. Then he advanced
noiselessly but swiftly toward the back
Of the house. There were trees close
to the wall. He would make no noise,
and he could scarcely be seen-if only
there was no watch dog! But all his
outlaw days he had taken risks with
only his useless life at stake; now, with
that changed, he advanced stealthy
and bold as ar Indian. He reached the
cover of the trees, knew he was hidden
In their shadows, for at a few PAGES
distance he had been able to see only
their tops. From there he slipped up
to the house n felt along a wall with
his hands.
He came to a little window where
light shone through. He peeped in. He
saw a room shrouded in shadows, a
lamp turned low, a table, chairs. He
saw an open door, with bright flare
beyond. but could not see the fire.
Voices came indistinctly. Without hes
ltation Duane stole farther along-all
the way to the end Of the cabin. Peep
ing round, he saw only the flare Of
light on bare ground. R%etracing his
cautions steps, he paused at the crack
again, saw that no man was in the
room. and then he went on round that
end of the cabin. Fortune favored him.
There were bushes, an old shed, a wood
pile. all the cover he needed at that
SOiiiCi IL w Ilol even IeeQ 10 CRAWL.
Before he peered between the rough
corner of wall and the bush growing
close to 1t Duane paused a moment.
mis- excitement was different from
that he had always felt when pursued.
1t had no bitterness, no pain, no dread.
There was as much danger here, per-
hapS more, yet it was not the same.
Then he looked.
He saw a bright fire, a red faced
man bending over it, whistling, while
he handled a steaming pot. over him
was a rooted shed built against the
wall. with two open sides and two sup
porting posts. Duane's second glance,
not SO blinded by the sudden bright
light. made out other men, three in
the shadow. two in the flare, but with
backs to him.
It's a smoother trail by long odds,
but amt so short as this one right over
the mountain" one outlaw was saying.
n eatin' you, Panhandle?"
calculated another. Blossom an me
rode from PARKWAY Springs, where
Poggin is with some Of the gang"
Excuse me, Phil. Shore I didn't see
you come in, an Boldt never said
nothin'."
TT took you a long time to get here,
but guess that's just as WELL" spoke
up q smooth, suave voice with a ring
in it.
voice!
Here they Notwithstanding, Phil
knell. Blossom Kane. Panhandle
Smith, Boldt-how we'll Duane remem-
bered the names!-all here, the big
men Of Cheseldine's gang, except the
biggest-Poggin. Duane had holed
them, and his sensations of the mo-
ment deadened sight and sound Of what
was before him. He sank down, con-
trolled himself, silenced a mounting
ny11fntino than Fro~,
position he peered forth again.
The outlaws were waiting for sup
per. Their conversation might have
been that Of cowboys in camp, ranch
ers at a roundup. Duane listened with
eager ears, waiting for the business
talk that he felt would come. All the
time he watched with the eyes Of a
wolf upon it's quarry. Blossom Kane
was h lean limbed messenger who
had so angered Fletcher. Boldt was a
giant In stature, dark, bearded, silent.
Panhandle Smith was the red faced
COOK, merry, profane, a short, bow
legged man resembling many r~ustlers
Duane had known, particularly Luke
Stevens. And Knell, who sat there,
tall, slim, like a boy in build, like a
boy in years, with his pale, smooth,
eXpressionless face and his cold. gray
eyes. And Longstreth, who leaned
against the wall, handsome, with his
N 0AN "a AANO iii dl /
resembled many a rich Louisiana plant
err Duane had met. The sixth man sat
SO much in the shadow that he could
not be plainly discerned, and, though
addressed. his name was not men
toned.
Panhandle Smith carried pots and
pans into the cabin and cheerfully
called out: IF o gents air hungry
fer grub, don't look fer me to feed you
with a spoon"
The outlaws piled inside, made a
great hustle and clatter as they sat to
their meal. Like hungry men, they
talked little.
Duane waited there awhile, then
guardedly got up and crept round to
the other side of the cabin. After he
became used to the ark again he ven
tured to steal along the wall to the
window and peeped in. The outlaws
were in the first room and could not
be seen.
Duane waited. The moments dragged
endlessly. His heart pounded. Long
streth entered, turned up the light, and,
taking a box of cigars from the table,
lie carried it out.
Here. you fellows, go outside and
smoke" he said. "Knell, come on in
now. Let's get it over"