The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-08-10

morse, SLOWLY advanced u rev paCess
| He saw O DULY bright object-a gun
before he discovered the man who held
it. A few more steps showed dark
figure blocking the trail. Here Duane
| halted. ...
Come closer, stranger. Let's havs
look at YOU" the guard ordered,
CURLY. .
before the man. Here the rays OF light
| from the fires flickered upon Duanes
face. ...-
Reckon you're a stranger, all right
| What's your name and your business
with the captain? -
Duane hesitated, bordering what best
to say:
he's been asking to ride into his camp
after dark" finally said Duane.
The ranger bent forward to peer hard
at this night visitor. His manner had
been alert, and now it became tense.
Come here, one Of you men, quick,
he called, without turning in the least
toward the camp fire.
Hello! What's up, PickensT came
| the SWIFT reply. 1t was followed by q
rapid thud of boots on soft ground. A
dark form crossed the CLEANS from the
| freight. Then q ranger doomed up to
reach the side of the guard. Duane
heard whispering, the purport Of which
he could not catch. The second ranger
swore under his breath. Then he
turned away and started back. ...
Here, ranger, before you go, under
stand this: My visit Is peaceful
friendly If you'll let 1t be. Mind, / was
| asked to come hereafter dark"
Duane's clear penetrating voice car
ried far. The listening rangers at the
camp fire heard what he said.
"Ho, Pickens! Tell that fellow to
wait" replied an authoritative voice.
Then a slim figure detached itself from
| fire and hurried out
Better be foxy, Cap" shouted
ranger in warning.
Shut up-all of you" was the reply.
This officer, obviously Captain Mac
| Nelly, soon Joined the two rangers who
were confronting Duane. He had no
| fear. He strobe straight up to Duane.
I'm MacNelly," he said, IF you're
yet"
All this seemed so strange to Duane.
in keeping with much that had hap
pened lately.
Il met JEFF Aiken today" said Duane.
He sent me-" o.
you've met Aiken!" exclaimed Mac
Nelly, sharp, eager, low. by all that's
bullyl. Then he appeared to catch him
self, to grow restrained.
Men. fall back, leave US alone
moment"
TIE rangers slowly withdrew.
Buck Duane! It's your" he whis-
pered, eagerly.
Yes" ""
IF I give my word you'll not be ar
rested-youll be treated fairly-will
you come into camp and consult with
| me?"
Certainly"
Duane, I'm sure glad to meet you"
went on MacNelly; and he extended his
| hand.
Amazed and touched, scarcely realiz-
ing this actually, Duane gave his hand
and felt no unmistakable grip OF
of warmth. ..
1T doesn't seem natural. Captain
MacNelly, but l believe I'm glad to
meet YOU" said Duane, soberly.
You will be- Now Wen go back 20
camp. Keep your identity mum for the
present"
He led Duane in the direction Of tho
camp fire.
"Pickens, go back on duty" he or
dered. land, Beeson. you look after
this horse"
When Duane got beyond the line Of
mesquite, which had hid a good view
of the camp site. he saw q group of
| perhaps Is rangers sitting around the
fires, near a long low shed where horses
were feeding, and a small adobe house
at one side.
We've just had grub, but I'll see you
| get some. Then We'll talk" said Mac
Nelly. I've taken up temporary quar-
ters here. Have rustler job on hand.
Now, when you've eaten, come right in
! to the house.
Duane was hungry, but he hurried
through the ample supper that was set
| before him, urged on by curiosity and
| establishment. The only way he could
account for his presence there in a
rangers camp was that MacNelly hoped
to get useful information out Of him.
Still that would have hardly made this
captain so eager. There was a mys-
terv here, and Duane could scarcely
wal for it to be solved. While eating
| he had bent keen eyes around him.
After first quiet scrutiny the rangers
| apparently paid no more attention to
him. They were all veterans in SER
vice-Duane saw that-and rugged,
powerful men Of iron constitution. De-
spite the occasional joke and sally OF
| the more youthful members and gen
eral conversation of camp fire nature,
Duane was not deceived about the fact
| that his advent had been an unusual
and striking one, which had caused an
undercurrent of conjecture and even
CONSERVATION among them. These
rangers were too well trained to APP
pear openly curious about their cap
tain's guest. If they had not deliber-
ately attempted to be oblivious of hi.
presence, Duane would have concluded
they thought him an ordinary visitor,
! somehow of use to MacNelly. AS 1t
was, Duane felt a suspense that must
have been due to hint of his identity.
He was not long in presenting him
| self at the door of the house.
Como in and have a chair" said
MacNelly, motioning for the one other
occupant Of the room to rise. Leave
us, Russell, and close the door. I'll be
through these reports right Off"
MacNelly sat at a table upon which
was lamp and various papers. Seen
in the light he was a fine looking, SOL
dierly man Of about 40 years, dark
haired and dark eyed, with a bronzed
face, shrewd, stern, strong, yet not
wanting in kindness. He scanned
| hastily over some papers, fused with
them, and finally put them in envel-
opes. Without looking up he pushed q
cigar case toward Duane and, upon
! Duane's refusal to smoke, he took a
cigar, rose to light 1t at the lamp CHM
ney, and then, settling back in his
chair, he faced Duane, making a vain
attempt to hide what must have been
the fulfilment Of long nourished curl
osity.