The Ozark spectator., 1916-12-06

on his mind And, true as a deer striking for home. he reached the can- yon where he had left his horse. Bull let was quickly and easily found. Duane threw on the saddle and pack. cinched them, tight. and resumed the descent.
 Hours passed as moments. Duane was equal to his great opportunity. But he could not quell that self in him which reached back over the lapse of lonely, soaring years and found the boy in him. Duane knew he was not just right in part of his mind. Small wonder that he was not insane, he thought! He tramped on downward. his marvellous faculty for covering rough ground and holding to the true course never before even in flight so keen and acute. Yet all the time spirit was keeping step with him. Thought of Ray Longstreth as he had left her made him weak. He saw her white face, with its sweet sad lips and the dark eyes so tender and tragic.
 The moon sloped to the west. Shad- ows of trees and crags now crossed to the other side of him. The stars dimmed. Then he was out of the rocks, with the dim trail pale at his feet. Mounting Bullet. he made short work of the long slope and the foothills and the rolling land leading down to Ord. The little outlaw camp, with its shacks and cabins and row of houses, lay silent and dark under the pallng moon. Duane passed by on the lower trail, headed into the road, and put Bullet to a gallop. He watched the dying moon. the waning stars, and the east. He had time to spare, so he saved the horse. Knell would be leav- ing the rendezvous about the time Duane turned back toward Ord. Be tween noon and sunset they would meet.
 The night wore on. The moon sank behind low mountains in the west. The stars frightened for while, then faded. Gray gloom enveloped the world, thickened, lay like smoke over the road. Then shade by shade it frightened, until through the transpar- ent obscurity shone a dim light.
 Duane reached Bradford before dawn. He dismounted some distance from the tracks, tied his horse, and then crossed over to the station. He heard the clicking of the telegraph instrument and 1t thrilled him. An operator sat inside reading. When Duane tapped on the window he look ed up with startled glance, then went swiftly to unlock the door.
 Hello. Give me paper and pencil. Quick" whispered Duane.
 With trembling hands the operator complied. Duane wrote out the mes- sage he had carefully composed.
 "Send this-repeat 1t to make sure then keep mum. I'll see you again, Good-by."
 The operator stared, but did not speak a word.
 Duane left as stealthily and swiftly as he had come. He walked his horse couple of miles back on the road
 
 
 When Duane swung into the wide, grassy square on the outskirts of Ord he saw a bunch of saddled horses hitched in front of the tavern. He knew what that meant. Luck still favored him. If 1t would only hold {! But he could ask no more. The rest was a matter of how greatly he could make his power felt. An open conflict against odds lay in the balance. That would be fatal to him, and to avoid 1t he had to trust to his name and a presence he must make terrible. He knew outlaws. He knew what quail ties held them. He knew what to ex- aggerate.
 There was not an outlaw in sight. The dusty horses had covered distance that morning. As Duane dismounted he heard loud, angry voices inside the tavern. He removed coat and vest, hung them over the pommel, He pack ed two guns, one belted high on the left hip, the other one swinging low on the right side. He neither looked nor listened, but boldly pushed the door and stepped inside.
 The big room was full of men, and every face pivoted toward him, Knell's pale face flashed into Duane's swift sight; then Boldts, then Blossom Kane's, then Panhandle Smiths, then Fletcher's, then others that were fami- liar, and last that of Poggin. Though Duane had never seen Poggin or heard him described, he knew him. For he saw a face that was a record of great and evil deeds.
 There was absolute silence. The outlaws were lined back of long table upon which were papers, stacks of silver coin, bundle of bills, and huge gold-mounted gun.
 Are you gents lookin' for mel" asked Duane. He gave his voice all the ringing force and power of which he was capable. And he stepped back, free of anything, with the outlaws all before him.