The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-12-22


ready to run, They nj talked at
once, and the word most significant
and frequent In their speech was
outlaws"
/ MacNelly clappei his INST IN his
hand
'4This II make the adjutant sick
with joy. Maybe he won't have 1t
on the Governorl Wen show them
about the ranger service. Duane!
how'd you ever do it?"
"Now, Captain, not the half nor
the quarter Of this jobs done. The
gangs coming down the road. They'll
ride ia to town on the dot-two-th thirty.
How many?" asked MacNeily.
"Po1gin, Blossom Kane, Panhandle
Smith, Boldt, Jim Fletcher and an
other man I don't know"
sPoggin-that's the hard nut to
] crack! I've heard their recosd since
I've been in Val Verde. Where's
KneIl?"
"Knell's dead"
"Ah!" exclaimed MacNelly, softly.
Then he grew businesslike, cool, and
of harder aspect. Duane. it's your
game to-day. We're all under your
| orders"
you understand there's no sense in
trying to arrest Poggin, Kane and that
LOTT" queried Duane.
mo, I don't understand that" re-
piled MacNelly, bluntly.
s'It can't be done. The drop can't
be got on such men. Poggin! That
outlaw has no equal with a gun-un-
less He's got to be killed quick.
They'll all have to be killed. They're
all bad, desperate, know no fear, are
| lightning in action"
every well, Duane; then it's fight.
That IL be easier, perhaps. The boys
are spelling for fight. Out with your
plan. now
'Put one man at each end OF this
street, just at the edge of town. Put
four men up in that room over the
bank-two at each open window. Let
them hide till the game begins The
rest Of your men put inside behind
the counters, where they'll hide. Now
go over TO the bank, spring the thing
| on the bank officials, send your men
over one by one. No hurry, no ex~
element, no unusual thing to attract
notice in the bank"
"An right. That's great. Tell me,
where do you intend to waltz
Duane heard MacNelly's question,
and 1t struck him peculiarly. He had
seemed to be planning and speaking
mechanically. As he was CONFRONTED
by the. fact it nonplused him some
what, and he became thoughtful,
with lowered head.
where IL you wait, DuaneF In
sisted MacNelly, with keen eyes
specializing.
"In wait in front-just inside the
door," replied Duane with an effort
"But will you hide" asked Mac
Nelly.
Duane was silent.
MacNelly stared, and then strange.
comprehending light seemed to mt
over his face
duane, can give you no orders
to-day" he said, distinctly. I'm only
offering advice. Need you take any
more risks? You've redeemed your
self. The governor, the adjutant-gen-
eral-the whole state will rise up and
honor you. / say, as ranger, neeo
you take more risk than your cap
tain %
Still Duane remained silent. He
was locked between two forces. And
one, a tide that was bursting ut its
bounds, seemed about to overwhelm
him. Finally that side of him, the
retreating self, the weaker, found a
voice.
captain, just what I'll do or where
I'll be I can't say yet In meetings
like this the moment decides. But
I'll be there!'
MacNelly spread wide his hands,
looked heiplessiy at his curious and
sympathetic rangers, and shook his
head.
"Now you've done your work-laid
the trap-is this strange move of yours
going to be fair to Miss Longstreth?"
asked MacNelly, in significant low
voice.
Like a great tree chopped at the
roots Duane vibrated to that. He
looked up as if he had seen ghost
Mercilessly the ranger captain went
on: "You can win her, Duane! Oh,
you can't fool me. l was wise In
minute. Fight with us from cover.
You'll be free, honored, happy. That
girl loves you! saw it in her eyes.
She's"
But Duane cut him short with
fierce gesture. He lunged up to his
feet, and the rangers fell back. Dark,
silent, grim as he had been, still there
was a transformation singularly more
stranger.
Enough. I'm DONE" he said, SOM
berly. i've planned. Do we agree
or shall meet Roggin and his gang
alone7"
MacNelly cursed and again threw
I'D his hands, this tine in bafhed
There was deep regret In
his dark eyes us they rested upon
Duane. 81
Duane was left alone.
Never had his mind been 20 quick, 30