The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-28

want to get closer to that cabin. What
had he taken this arduous climb for?
He held back, however, trying to evolve
further plans.
While he was pondering the shadows
quickly gathered and darkened. II 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 W
horsemen riding up the valley. They
must have entered at a point below,
round the huge abutment of rock, be-
yond Duane's range Of sight. Their
horses were tired n stopped at the
stream for a long drink.
Duane left his perch, took 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 shadow through the grass and
from bush to bush. He saw a bright
light before he made out the dark out
line OF the cabin. hen 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 swerved 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 an 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
itation Duan 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. Retracing 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
corner. He did not even need to crawl.
Before he peered between the rough
corner Of wall and the bush growing
close to 1t Duane paused a moment.
This 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 1t wa 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.
What's eatin' o Panhandle"
calculated another. Blossom an me
rode from PARKWAY Springs, where
Poggin is with some Of the gang"
Excuse me, Phil. Shore l didn't see
you come in. an Boldt never said
nothin'."
TT took you a long time to get here,
but I guess that's just as WELL" spoke
~ 0hiooth, q NOISo Will d lib
In 1t.
Longstreth's voice Cheseldine's
voice!
Here they were-Cheseldine, 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
exultation, then from a less strained
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 its quarry. Blossom Kane
was the lean limbed messenger who
had so angered Fletcher. Boldt vas q
giant in stature, dark, bearded, silent
Panhandle Smith vas the red faced
cook, merry. profane, a short, bow
legged man resembling many. rustlers
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
dark face and beard like an a~ristocrat
resembled many a rich Louisiana plant
er 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 you 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, Their
guardedly got up and crept round to
the other side Of the cabin: After he
became used to the dark 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
rtreth entered. turned M the light and