The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-10-05

knew outlaws. He knew what qualities
held them. He knew what to ~exagger-
ate.
There was not an outlaw in sight.
The dusty horses had covered distance
that morning. As Duane dismounted
he heard loud. angry voices inside the
tavern. He removed Goa and vest,
hung them over the pommei. He packed
two guns, n belted high on the left
hip, the other swinging low on the
right side. He neither looked nor lis
tened, but boldly pushed the door and
stepped inside.
The big room was full of men, and
every face pivoted toward him. Knell's.
pale face flashed into Duane's swift
sight; then Boldt's, then Blossom
Kane's, then Panhandle Smiths, then
Fletcher's, then Others that were famil-
lar, and last that Of Poggin. Though
Duane had seen Poggin or heard
him described, he knew him. For he
saw a face that was a record Of great
and evil deeds.
There was absolute silence. The out
laws were lined back of a long table
upon which were papers. stacks Of sill
yer coin, a bundle of bills, and a huge
gold mounted gun.
Are o. gents lookin' for me?"
asked Duane. He gave his voice all the
ringing force and power Of which he
was capable. And he stepped back, free
OF anything, with the outlaws all be-
fore him.
Knel stood quivering, but his face
might have been a mask. The other
outlaws looked from him TO Duane.
Jim Fletcher flung up his hands.
MY Gawd, Dodge, what'd you bust
in here fer?" he said, plainly, and slow
ly stepped forward. His action was
that Of a man true to himself. He
meant he had been sponsor for Duane
and now he would stand by him.
Back, Fletcher" called Duane, and
his voice made the outlaw Jump.
Hold IN, Dodge, IN you-all, every
seem I'm in wrong here
His persuasions did not cas- the
strain.
go ahead. Talk" said Poggin. p
Fletcher turned to Duane. "Pard.
I'm takin' 1t on myself tibet you meet
enemies here when I swore you'd meet
friends. It's my fault. IN stand by
you IL you let me-"
mo, JIM" replied Duane.
But what'd you come fer without
the signal" burst our Fletcher, in dis
tress. He saw nothing but catastro-
phe in this meeting.
lin, / amt pressin' my company
none. But when I'm wanted bad"
Fletcher stopped him with a raised
civ iilSil I0 llSu ~ 6bi Will
a rude dignity:
Peggy, he's my pard, an he's riled.
I never told him a wore thet'd make
him sore. / only said Knell hadn't no
more use fer him than fer me. Now,
what you say goes in this gang. 1
never failed you in my life. Here's
my pard. I vouch fer him. Viii you
stand fer me? There's goin' to be hell
IL 0 don't. An us with a big job on
hand!" . D
While Fletcher toiled over his slow,
ernest persuasion Duane had his gaze
riveted upon Poggin: There was some
thing leonine about Poggin. He was
tawney. He blazed. He seemed beau
tiful as fire was beautiful. But looked
at closer, with glance seeing the ply
steal man, instead of that thing which
shone from him, he was of perfect
build, with muscles hat swelled and
rippled, bulging his clothes, with the
magnificent head and face Of the cruel,
fierce, tawny-eyed jaguar.
Looking at this strange Poggin, in
s~tinctively divining his abnormal and
hideous power, Duane had for the first
time in his life the inward quaking
fear of a man. 1t was like a cold
tongue bell, ringing within him and
numbing his heart. The old instinc-
tive firing Of blood followed, but did
not drive way that fear. He knew.
He felt something here deeper than
thought could go. And he hated PUggin.
That individual had been consider
ing Fletcher's appeal.
Jim. l ante up" he said, AN IL Phil
doesn't raise us out with a big hand
why, he'll get called, an your pard
a set In the game"
Every eye shifted to Knell. He was
dead white. He laughed, and any, one
hearing that laugh would have realized
lt- 1880 >-,Il, x.skl.
surance which made him master of the
situation.
"Poggin, you're a gambler, you are
the ace high, straight flush hand Of
the Big Bend" he said, with singing
scorn. "Ill bet you my roll to a greaser
peso that I can dcal you a hand you'll
be afraid to play"
Phil, you're talkin' wild" growled
Poggin, with both advice and menace
in his tone.
"If there's anythin' you hate it's a
man who pretends to be somebody else
when he's not. Thet SOP"
Poggin nodded in slow gathering
wrath.
"well, Jim's new pard-this man
Dodge-he's not who he seems. Oh-ho!
He's a hell Of a lot different. But I
know him. An when l spring his name
on you, Poggin, you'll freeze, am your
handll be stiff when it ought to be
lightnin'-All because you'll realize
you've been standin' there five minutes
five minutes alive before him!"
II not hate. then assuredly great pas
sion toward Poggin manifested itself
in Knell's s%cornful, fiery address. in
the shaking hand he trust before Pog-
gins face. In the ensuing silent pause
Knells painting could be plainly heard.
The other men were pale, watchful,
cautiously edging either way to the
wall, leaving the principals and Duane
in the center of the room.
Spring his name. then, you" said
Poggin. violently, with a curse. :
Strangely Knell did not even look at
the man he was about to denounce. He
leaned toward Poggin, his hands, his
body, his long head all somewhat eX-
pressive OF what his face disguised.
Buck Duane!" he yelled, suddenly.
The name did not make any great
difference in Poggin. But Knell's pas
sionate, swift u~tterances carried the
suggestion that the name ought to
bring Poggin to quick action. 1t was
possible, too, that Knelrs manner, the
import Of HIS denunciation, the mean
ing back OF all his passion held Poggin
bound more than the surprise. For
tho nnfl1w aartpJnTy wo0 anrnrispd