Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-08-17

Cheseldine n his gang who are OPP
! Grating OF the banks. They're doing
bank robbing. That's my private opin-
ion, but it's not been backed up by
n evidence. C~heseldine doesn't leave
evidences. He's intelligent, cunning.
No one seems to have seen him--to
know what he looks like. | assume, of
course, that you are a stranger to the
country he dominates. It's 500 miles
west of your ground. There's a little
town oven there called Fairdale. It's
the nest of a rustler gang. They rustic
and murder at will. Nobody knows
who the leader is. l want you to lind
out. Well, whatever way you decide
is best you will proceed to act upon.
You are our own boss. You know such
men and how they can be approached.
You will take all the time needed, il
it's months. 1t will be necessary for
you to communicate with me, and that
will be a difficult matter. For Chesel-
dim dominates several whole counties.
You must find some way to let me
know when l and my rangers are
needed. The plan is to break up Ches-
eldine's gang. It's the toughest job on
the border. Arresting him alone isn't
to be heard of. He couldn't be brought
out. Killing him isn't much better, for
his select men, the one he operates
with, are as dangerous to the
community as he is. We want to
XIII OF JAN LnlS cnOlce selection
Of robbers and break up the rest
Of the gang. To find them, to
get amo them somehow, to learn
their movements, to lay your trap for
us rangers to spring-that, Duane, is
your service to me, and God knows it's
a great one,"
II have accepted it," replied Duane.
Your work will be secret. You are
now a ranger in my service. But no
| ono ay0nrf thn fam r aLNnrD to ~ Ill
know Of it until we pull off the Job.
You will simply be Buck Duane till it
suits u purpose to acquaint Texas
with the fact that you're a ranger.
You'll see there's nc date on that pa
per. No one will ever know just when
you entered the service. Perhaps we
can make 1t appear hat all or most of
your outlawry has really been good
service to the state. AT that, I'll be-
lieve it'll urn out So"
MacNelly paused a moment in his
rapid talk, chewing his cigar, drew his
brows together in a dark froWn, and
went on. N man on the border knows
so we'll as you the deadly nature of
this service. It's a thousand to one that
you'll be killed. I'd say there was no
chance at all for any other man be-
side you. Your reputation will go far
among the outlaws. Maybe that and
your nerve n your gunplay will pull
you through. I'm hoping SO. But it's a
long, long chance against your ever
coming back"
That's not the point" said Duane.
But in case / get killed out there
what
Leave that to me-" interrupted Cap
tain MacNelly. Your folks will know at
once of Your pardon and your range
duty. If you lose your life out there
III see your name cleared-the service
you render Known. You can rest as
sured of that"
Il am satisfied replied Duane.
That's so much more than I've dared
to hope
We'll, IT'S settled, then. I'll give YOU
money for expenses. You'll start as
soon as you liSe-the sooner the bet
ter. j hope to think of other sugges-
lions, especially about communicating
with me-"
Long after the lights were out and
the low hum of voices had ceased round
the camp fire Duane lay wide awake
eyes staring into the blackness, mar
yelling over the strange events of <he
day. He was humble, grateful to the
depths of his soul. A huge and crush
ing burden had been lifted from his
heart. He welcomed his hazardous
service to the man who had saved kim
Thought Of his mother and sister and
Uncle Jim, of his home, of old friends
came rushing over him the first time in
years that he had happiness in the
memory. The disgrace he had put up
on them would now be nov and
in h light of that, his wasted life OF
the past, n it's probable tragic enc
in future service as atonement nged
their aspects, And as he lay there
} with the approach of sleep finally dim
ming the vividness of his thought, sc
, full of mystery, shadowy faces floate6
"A n = hn ll ~ n,r. n ,.Cyy tSFl No., 49,. 49,.
him as he had always been haunted.
1t was broad daylight when he
\ awakened. MacNelly was calling him
5 to breakfast. Outside sounded voices
of men, cracking of fires, snorting anc
! tramping of horses, the barking Of dogs
Duane rolled out of his blankets anC
made good use of the soap and towe
and razor and brush near by on {
bench-things of rare luxury to an out.
law on the ride. The face he saw in
the mirror was as strange as the pas
he had tried SC hard to recall. Then hi
stepped to tsle oor and went out.
The niger We're eating in a circle
round a tarpaulin spread upon the
ground.
Fellows" said MacNely, shake
hands with Buck Duane. He's on secre
ranger service for me Service thatI
likely make you ali hump SOON: MINI
you, keep mum about it."
Inc dnSerS surprised Duan with :
roaring greeting, the warmth of which
he soon OWNED was divided betwee,
pride Of his acquisition to their rank.
and eagerness to meet that violen'
service Of which their captain limited
They were jolly wild fellows, with jus
enough gravity in their welcome tt
show Duane their respect and appre'
citation, while not forgetting his lone.
wolf record. When he had seated him.
self In that circle, now one OF them, /:
feeling subtle n uplifting pervadec
{. him.
After the meal Captain MacNell,
drew Duane aside.
Here's the money. Make 1t go as IA,
as you can. Better strike straight fol
FL Paso, snook around there and heal
things. Then go to Valentine. That
near the river and within 80 miles O.
so OF the edge Of the RIM Rock. Some.
where up there Cheseldine holds fort
Somewhere to the north Is the towl
Fairdale. But he doesn't hide all tn,
time in the rocks. Only after some dar'
ing rade or holdup. Cheseldine's go
border towns on his STAFF, or scared o
him, and THESE places we want to know
il about, especially Fairdale. Write m
care OF the adiutant at Austin. I dom
i hase to warn you to be careful wher,
11Gf1IfESS0, sEAXZS IArxSL 90 3 onM .as