The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-24
to his kind than to honest men. I under
stand Duane had many friends, that

to his kind than to honest men. I under
4 stand Duane had many friends, tina
whole counties swear by him-secretly
of course, for he's hunted outlaw will
4 rewards on his head. His fame in this
/ country appears to hang on his match
/ less gun play and his enmity toward
outlaw chiefs. I've heard many {
rancher say: 4 wish to God that Bucl
Duane would drift out here! ia give
100 pesos to see him and Poggin meet.
It's n singular thing, stranger, how
jealous these great outlaws are of each
other,
Yes indeed, all about them is singu-
lar" replied Duane. Has Cheseldine's
gang been busy lately?"
No. This section has been free OF
rustins for months though there's UNI
explained movements Of stock. Proba-
bly, all the stock that's being shipped
now was rustled long ago. Cheseldine
works over wide section, too wide for
sometimes he's not heard of at all for
a spell. These lulls are pretty surely in
dicative Of a big storm sooner or later.
And Cheseldine's deals, as they grow
fewer and father between, certainly get
bigger. more daring. There are some
people who think Cheseldine had moth
ing to do with the bank-robberies and
| train holdups during the last few years
in this country But that's poor reason
ing. Tha jobs have been too we'll done,
| too surely covered, to be the work of
greasers or ordinary outlaws"
What's your view of the outlook ?
Howss all this going to wind up? viii
the outlaw ever be driven out?" asked
Duane.
Never. There will always be out
laws along the Rio Grande. All the
armies in the world couldn't comb the
| wild brakes of that $50 miles of river
BIT the sway of the outlaw. such as is
= enjoyed by these great leaders, will
sooner or later be past The criminal
element flock to the southwest. But not
! SO thick and fast as the pioneers. Be
asiaes, the outlaws kill themselves, and
the ranchers are slowly rising in wrath
if not in action. That will come soon
If they only had a leader to start the
fghti But that will come. There's talk
OF visi!antes. the same that Were or
GaniZed in California and are now in
force in Idaho. So far it's only talk
But the time will come. And the days
of Cheseldine and Poggin are num-
bered'
Duane went to bed that night ex-
ceedingly thoughtful. The long trail
was growing hot This voluble colonel
had given him new ideas. 1t came to
Duane in surprise that he was famous
alSpg the upper Rio Grande. Assured
lyshe would not long be able to conceal
his identity. He had no doubt that he
would soon meet the chiefs of this
clever and bold ru.tling gang He
could not decide whether he would be
safer unknown or known. In the latter
case his one chance lay in the fatality
connected with his name, in his power
to look it and act it. Duane had never
dreamed of any sleuthhound tendency
in his nature. but now he felt some
thing like one. Above all others his
mind fixed on Pogein = Poegin the
brute, the executor Of Cheseldine's will.
but mostly upon Pogsin the gun1nan.
Ihts In itself was warning to Duane.
He felt terrible forces at work within
him. There was the stern and in,
domitable resolve to make MacNelly'e
boast good to the governor OF the state
to break up Chesaldine's gang. Yet
TINS was not in Duane's mind before a
grim and deadly instinct - which he
had to drive away for fear he would
ind in 1t a passion to kill Poggin, not
for the state, nor for his word to Mac
Nelly, but for himself. Had his fathers
blood and the hard years made Duane
the kind of man who instinctiyely
wanted to meet Pogsin? He was sworn
TO MacNelly's service, and he fought
himself to keep that, and that only, in
his mind
Duane ascertained that Fairdal was
situated two days ride from Bradford
toward the north. There was a stage
which made the journey twice week
Next morning Duane mounted his
horse and headed for Fairdale. He rode
leasurely. as he wanted to learn all he
could about the country. There were
few ranches The farther he travelled
the better grazing he encountered, and,
strange to note, the fewer herds Of
cattle.
It was just sunset when he made out
a cluster Of adobe houses that marked
the halfway point between Bradford
and Fairdale. Here, Duane had learned,
was stationed a comfortable inn for
wayfarers.
When he drew UP before the inn the
landlord and his family and a number
Of loungers greeted him laconically
beat the state in, hey?" remarked
one.
There She comes now" said another.
Joel shore is drivin tonight
Far down the road Duane saw q
cloud OF dust and horses and a lumber
Ing coach. When he had looked after
the needs of his horse he returned to
the group before the inn. They awaited
the stage with that interest com
mon to isolated people. Presently
1t rolled up. large mud despatched
and dusty vehicle, Uttered with bag
gage on top and tied on behind A
iuiipeI OIL passengers al1Bhted, three
Of whom excited Duane's interest
One was a tall, dark, striking looking
man, and the other two were ladies'
wearing long gray listers and wells
Duane heard the proprietor of the inn
address the man as Colonel Long
streth, and as the party entered the
nm Duane's quick ears caught a few
words which acquainted him with the
fact that Longstreth was the mayor of
F'airdale.
Duane passed inside himself to learn
that supper would soon be ready At
table he found himself oppos,te me
three who had attracted his attention.
Ruth, envy the lucky cowboys"
Longstreth was saying.
Ruth was q curly haired girl with
| gray or hazel eyes.
Tn crazy to ride bronchos," she said.
Duane gathered she was on visit
| to western Texas. The other girls
deep voice. sweet like bell made Du-
ane regard her closer. She had beauty
as he had never seen it In another
woman. She was slender, but the de-
velopment of her figure gave Duane the
impression she was 30 years old or
/ u, y ~,