The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-21

lH0e1St SeatSe sc sNN~ -
Evidently there was difference of opin-
ion, IL not real d~issension, in that posse.
Didn't / tell We this was a wild
goose chase, comm way u here?"
protested an old hawk faced rancher.
Them boss tracks we follored amt
like any Of them we seen at the water
tank where the train was held up"
I'm not so sure Of that" replied the
leader.
"wal, Guthrie. I've follored tracks all
my life
But you couldn't keep to the trail
this Teller made in the brush"
Gimme time, an I could. Thet takes
time. An heah you go he'll bent Ter
election!, But it's a wrong lead out this
way. If you're right this road agent,
after he killed his pals, would hev rid
back right through town. An with
them mail bags! Supposin' they was
greasers? Some greasers has sense, an
when 1t comes to thievin' they're shore
cute"
But we amt got any reason to be-.
lieve this robber who murdered the
greasers is a greaser himself. I tell you,
it was a slick job done by no ordinary
sneak. Didn't you hear h facts? One
greaser hoped the engineer an fire.
maa. Another greaser kept iashin' his
gun outside the train. The big man
who showed Jack the car door an did
the killin'-he was the real gent, an
don't you forget it,"
Some Of the posse sided with the
cowboy leader and some with the old
cattleman. Finally the young leader
disgustedly gathered UP his bride.
Jaw, hell! Thet sheriff showed you
off this trail. Mebbe he he'd reason!'
Savvy tibet? If l he'd a bunch Of cow
boys with mel tell o what-Td take
a chance an clean up this hole!"
All the while Jim Fletcher stood
quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Guthrie, I'm shore treasurin' up
your friendly talk" he said. The men,
ace was in the tone, not the content Of
his speech.
You an-an be damned to you,
Fletcher" called Guthrie, as HI horses
started.
Fletcher, standing out alone before
the others of his clan, watched the
posse out of sight.
Luck fer you-all thet Peggy wasn't
here" he said, as they disappeared.
Then with a thoughtful mien he strod
up on the porch and led Duane away
from the others in the bar room. When
he looked into Duane's face 1t was
somehow an entirely changed scrutiny.
Dodge, where'd you hide the stuff 2
l reckon I git in on this deal. SEEM I
stayed off Guthrie"
Duane played his part. Here was his,
| oPPSt - hibe tAho q l6C dlICl pIOy
he seized it. First he coolly eyed the
outlaw and then d~isclained any knowl-
edge whatever Of the train robbery
other than Fletcher had heard him
self. Then at Fletcher's persistence
and increasing show of friendliness
he laughed occasionally and allowed
himself to swell with pride, though stir
denying. Next he feigned a lac OF
consistent will power and seemed to be
wagering under Fletcher's persuasion
and grew silent, then surly. Fletcher,
evidently sure of ultimate victory, de-
sisted for the time being; however, in
his solicitcus regard and close COM
partnership for the rest of that day he
betrayed the BEN of his mind.
Later, when Duane started up an
%nouncing his intention to get mis- horse
and make for camp u in the brush,
Fletcher seemed grievously offended.
Why don't you stay with me2 I've
got a comfortable 'dobe over here.
Didn't l stick by you when Guthrie an
his bunch come up? Supposin' I nedn't
showed down a cold hand to himH
You'd be swingin' somewheres now. I
tell you, Dodge, it amt square
I'll square 1t. l pay my debts" re-
piled Duane. But I can't put UP here
all night. If l belonged to the gang it'd
be different"
What gang?" asked Fletcher, blunt
ly.
why, Cheseldine's."
Fletcher's beard nodded as his Jaw
dropped.
Duane laughed. II run into him the
other day. Krowed him I'll sight. Sure,
he's the king pin -ustler. When he beer
me an asked me what reason 1 had tor
bein' on earth or some such like-Why,
l up and told him."
Fletcher appeared staggered.
Who in all fired hell air you talkin'
about?"
Didn't 1 tell you once? Cheseldine.
He calls himself Longstreth over there"
All OF Fletcher's face not covered by
hair tuned a dirty white. .
Observation-Disclosures" he whis-
pered, hoarsely. Cord Almighty! You
braced the" Then a remarkable
transformation came over the outlaw.
He gulped; he Strengthened his face; he
controlled his agitation. But he could
not send the healthy brown to his face.
Duane, watching this rude man. mar
veled at the change in him, the sudden
checking movement, the proof OF a
wonderful fear and loyalty. 1t all meant
Cheseldine, a master of men!
Who air your" queried Fletcher, in
a queer, strained voice.
You gave me a handle, didn't you?
Dodge. Thet's as good as any. Shore
1t hits me hard. Jim. I've been pretty
lonely for years, an I'm gettin' in need
Of pals. hin 1t over, will you? See
you manana-"
The outlaw watched Duane go off
after his horse, watched him as ne re-
turned to the tavern, watched him ride
out into the darkness-all without a
word.
Duane left the town, threaded a quiet
passage through cactus and mesquite
to a spot he had marked before, and
made ready for the night. His mind
was so full that he found sleep elouf.
Luck at last was playing his game. He
sensed the first slow heave Of a mighty
crisis. The end, always haunting, had
to be sternly blotted from thought. It
was the approach that needed all his
mind.
He passed the night there, and late
in the morning, after watching trail
and road from q ridge, he returned to
Ord. If Jim Fletcher tried to disguise
his surprise, the effort was a failure.
Certainly he had not expected to see
Duane again. Duane allowed himself
a little freedom with Fletcher, an Gtti-
tude hitherto lacking.
That afternoon a horseman rode in
from Bradford, an outlaw evidently well