The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-07
CHAPTER xvI-(Continued) .

I anu lIOLIl the luSl lew lew ullGl dllSS
before quite was restored Duane
! gathered hat he had intruded upon
| some kin of a meeting in the hall.
What d o break in here for" de-
manded Longstreth.
Isn't this the court? Aren't you the
mayor Fairdale?" Intercepted Duane,
His voice was clear and loud, almost
piercing.
Yes" replied Longstreth. Like flint
he seemed, yet Duane felt his intense
| interest.
i've arrested a criminal" said
Duane.
Arrested a criminal" calculated
Longstreth. You? Who re your"
I'm a ranger" replied Duane.
A significant silence nsued
Il charge Snecker with assault on
Laramie and attempted robbery-if
not murder. He's had a shady past
here, as this court will know If it keeps
q record"
Whats this I hear about you, Bo?
Get up and speak for yourself" said
Longstreth, gruffy.
Snecker got up, not without a furtive
| glance at Duane, and he lad shuffled
forward a few steps toward them mayor,
He had an evil front, but not the bold
ness even of a rustler.
1T amt so, Longstreth," he began,
loudly. Il went in Laramie's place for
J grub. Some Teller l never seen before
! came in from the hall an hit Laramie
an wrastled him on the floor. l went
out. Then this big ranger chased me
an fetched me here. l didn't do moth
in. This rangers hangerin' to arrest
/ somebody. Thet's my hunch, Long
streth."
Longstreth said something in an un-
dertone to Judge Owens, and that
worthy nodded his great bushy head.
"Bo, you're discharged" said Long
streth, bluntly. Nov the rest of you
clear out Of here"
He absolutely ignored the ranger
That was his rebuff to Duane-his slap
m the face to an interfering ranger
service. If Longstreth was crooked he
certainly lac magnificent nerve
Duane almost decided he was above
suspicion. But his nonchalance, his
| air of ~finality, has authoritative assur-
| ance-these to Duane's keen and prac-
tised eyes were in significant contrast
to a certain tenseness Of line about
his mout and a slow paling OF his
| olive skin. In hat momentary lull
Duane's scrutiny of Longstreth gath
cred an impression of the mans in
| tense curiosity.
Then the prisoner, Snecker, with q
! cough that broke the spell of silence
shuffled a couple of steps toward the
] door.
Hold on" called Duane. The call
halted Snecker, as If 1t had been a bull
let.
'Longstreth, saw Snecker attack
Laramie" said Duane, his voice still
ringing. What has the cOurt to say
to that?"
1.-The court has this to say. West OF
the Pecos We'll not aid any ranger
service. We don't a you out here.
| Fairdale doesn't need you"
That's a lie, Longstreth," retorted
Duane. I've letters from Fairdale
citizens all begging for ranger service
Lonsstreth turned white. The veins
corded at his temples. He appeared
about to burst into rage. He was at a
I loss for quick reply.
/ Floyd Lawson rushed in and up to
the table. The blood showed black and
thick in his face; his utterance was in
coherent, his uncomfortable outbreak
of temper seemed out Of all proper
ton to any cause he should reasonably
have had for anger. Longstret showed
him back with a curse and a warning
glare.
where's your warrant to arrest
Snecker?" shouted Longstreth.
Il don't need warrants to make ar
rests. Longstreth, you're ignorant of
the power Of Texas rangers"
you'll come none Of our damned
ranger stunts out here. I'll block you
That passionate reply of Longstreth's
was the signal Duane had been waiting
for. He wanted to force Longstreth's
hand and show the town his stand.
Duane backed clear Of everybody.
Men! 1 call on you ALL" cried
Duane, piercingly. Il call on o to
witness the arrest of a criminal pre-
vented by Longstreth, mayer Of Fair
dale. 1t will be recorded in the report
to the adjutant general at Austin.
Longstreth, you'll prevent an
Longstreth sat white with working
jaw.
'Longstreth, you've shown your
hand" said Duane, in a voice that car
ried far and held those who heard.
ANY honest citizen of Fairdale can
now see what's plain--yours Is a damn
poor hand!. You're going to hear me
call a spade a spade. In the two years
you've been mayor you have never ar
: rested one rustler. Strange, when Fair
dale's a nest for rustlers! You've new
er sent a prisoner to Del Rio, let alone
to Austin. You have no jail. There
have been nine murders during your
office-innumerable street fights and
holdups. Not one arrest! But you
have ordered arrests for trivial Of
lenses, and have punished these out of
all proportion. There have been law
suits in your court-suits over water
rights, cattle deals, property lines.
oLIdISS no" III THESE dWSulLS you VI
Lawson or other men close to you were
always involved! Strange how ii
seems the law was stretched to favor
your interests!"
Duane paused in his cold, ringing
, speech. In the silence, both outside
and inside the nall, could be heard the
J deep breathing of agitated men. Long
streth was indeed a study. Yet did he
betray anything but rage/at this inter
: lopez?
"Longstreth, here's plain talk for you
and Fairdale,"" went on Duane. 81
dom Gus you and your court OF
dishonesty. I say strange! Law here
has been a farce. The motive behind
all this laXity isn't plain to me-yet
But I call your hand"
CHAPTER XVII.
Duane left the hall, elbowed his wa
through the crowd, n wen down the