The Dolores star., 1916-12-01

/ CIOWucu OlosCp S0eSAs AAA~ AAOuAA<AS
ready to run. They all talked At
once, and the word most significant
and frequent In their speech was
"outlaws."
MacNelly clapped his fist in his
hand.
This II make the adjutant sick
with JOY. Maybe he won't have II
on the Governor 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
eang's coming down the road They'll
ride in to town on the dot-two-thirty.
"How many?" asked MacNelly.
"Poggin, Blossom Kane, Panhandle
Smith, Boldt, Jim Fletcher. and an
other man / don't know.
"Pocgin-that's the hard nut to
crack! I've heard their record since
I've been In Val Verde. Where's
Knell"
"Knell's dead"
"Ahw 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.
"No, don't understand that" re-
piled MacNelly. bluntly.
ut can't be done. The drop cant
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, arr
lightning in action"
"very well, Duane; then it's a fight
That IL be easier, perhaps. The boys
are spelling for fight. Out with yom
plan. nOw."
Put one man ut each end of thii
street, just at the edge Of town. PU
four men up in that room over the
bank-two ut each open window. Let
them hide till the game begins. Thu
rest Of your men put inside behind
the counters, where they'll hide. Now
20 over to the bank. spring the thini
on the bank officials. send your mer
over one by one. No hurry, no ex
element, no unssual thing to attrac,
notice in the bank"
"All right. That's great. Tell mo
where do you intend to waltz"
Duane heard MacNelly's question
and it struck him peculiarly. He hat
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 II you wait, Duane?" in
sisted MacNelly, with keen eyet
speculating.
I'll wait in front-just inside thu
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 III
over his face.
duane, I can give you no order
to-day" he said, distinctly. I'm only
offering advice. Need you take an,
more risks2 You've redeemed your
self. The governor, the adjutant-gen
eral-the whole state will rise up ant
honor you. I say, Us q ranger, meek
you take more risk than your cap
tain7"
Still Duane remained silent. HI
was locked between two forces. Ant
one, q tide that was bursting ut it,
bounds, seemed about to overwheln
him. Finally that side Of him. thu
retreating self, the weaker, found
voice.
Captain. just what I'll do or wher
I'll be can't say yet. In meeting
like this the moment decides. Blu
I'll be there!"
MacNelly spread wide his hands
looked helplessly at his curious ant
sympathetic rangers, and shook hi
head.
"Now you've done your work-lait
the trap-is this strange move of your
going to be fair to Miss Longstrethr
asked MacNelly, In significant lon
voice.
Like a great tree chopped at thu
roots Duane vibrated to that. H
looked up as If he had seen a ghost
Mercilessly the ranger captain went
on: "Yoh can win her, Duane! Oh
you can't fool me. was wise in Q
minute. Fight with US from cover
You'll be free, honored happy. That
girl loves you! I saw it in her eyes
She's"
But Duane cut him short with q
fierce gesture. He lunged up to his
feet and the rangers fefl back. Dark
silent, grim as he had been, still there
was transformation singularly mort
sinister, stranger.
Enough. I'm done," he said, son,
berly. i've planned. Do we agree
or shall I meet Poggin and his gang
aloner"
MacNelly cursed and again threw
up his hands, this time in baf1ed
chagrin. There was deep regret In