The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-17

| liiIitS5' ne more IMAM TuSjleE- II
/ Cheseldine and his gang who are OPP
Grating on the banks. They're dom:
: bank robbing. That's my private opin
ion, but it's not been backed up b,
any evidence. Cheseldine doesn't leav'
evidences. He's Intelligent, cunning
NO one seems to have seen hint,
know what he looks like. l assume, o
course, that you are a stranger to the
country he dominates. It's 500 mile.
town over there called Fairdale. It:
the nest of rustler gang. They rustic
and murder at will. Nobody knows
who the leader is. | want you TO linC
out. Well, whatever way you decide
is best you Will proceed to act upon
You are your own boss. You know such
men and how they can be approached
You will take all the time needed, il
it's months. 1t viii be necessary FOR
YOU to communicate with me, and that
VIII be difficult matter. For Chesel-
dine dominates several whole counties
You must md some way to let me
know when l and my rangers are
needed. The plan is 10 break up Ches-
eldine's gang. It's the toughest job on
the border. Arresting him alone isn't
to be heard of. He couldn't be brought
out. Killing him isn't much better, for
his select men, the ones he operates
with, are as dangerous to the
community as he is. We want to
kill or Jail this choice selection
of robbers and break up the rest
Of the gang. To find them, to
get among them somehow, to learn
their movements, to lay your trap for
US rangers to spring-that, Duane, is
your service to me, and God knows it's
great one!"
Il have accepted it, replied Duane.
Your work will be secret. You are
now ranger in my service. But no
one except the few / choose to tell will
know of it until we pull off the job.
You will simply be Buck Duane till it
suits our purpose to acquaint Texas
with the fact that you're a ranger.
You'll see there's no date on that pa
per. No one will ever know just when
you entered the service. Perhaps we
can make it appear that all or most of
your outlawry has really been good
service to the state. At that, I'll be-
lieve it'll turn out So"
MacNelly paused moment in his
rapid talk, chewing his cigar, drew his
broWs together in a dark frown, and
went on. NO man on the border knows
so well as you the deadly mature of
this service. It's thousand to one that
you'll be killed. I'd say there was no
chance at all for any other man be-
side you. Your reputation will go fan
among the outlaws. Maybe that and
your nerve and your gunplay will pull
you through. I'm hoping SO. But it's a
long, long chance against your ever
coming back"
That's not the point said Duane.
But in case / get killed out there
Leave that to me-" interrupted Cap
tam MacNelly. Your folks will know at
once of your pardon and your ranger
duty. If you lose your life out there
III see your name cleared-the service
you render known. You can rest as
sured of that
Il am satisfied" replied Duane.
That's SO much more than I've dared
to hope"
We'll, IFS settled, then. I'll give you
money for expenses. You'll start as
soon as you like-the sooner the bet
ter. | hope to think of other sugges
TONS, especially about communicating
with me-"
Long after the lights were out and
the low hum of voices had ceased round
the camp fire Duane lay wide awake.
eyes staring into the bl.ckness, mar
yeiing over the strange events of the
day. He was humble, grateful to the
depths of his soul. A huge and crush
ing burden had been lifted from his
heart. He welcomed his hazardous
service to the man who had saved him.
Thought of his mother and sister and
Uncle jim. of his home, of old friends
came rushing over him the first time in
years that he had happiness in the
memory. The disgrace he had put up-
on them would now be removed; and
IN the light Of that, his wasted life of
the past, and its probable tragic ends
m future service as atonement changed
their aspects. And as he lay there.
with the approach Of sleep finally dim
ming the vividness of his thought, SO
lull OF mystery, shadowy faces fioated
~ the plackness around him, haunting
MN as he had always been haunted.
1t was broad daylight when he
awakened. MacNelly was calling him
70 breakfast. Outside sounded voices
q inen, cracking of fires, snorting and
lfainplng OF horses, the barking of dogs.
duane rolled out OF his blankets and
made good use of The soap and towel
ana razor and brush near by on q
bench-things of rare luxury to an out
raw on the ride. The face he say il,
the mirror was as strange as the past
ne had tried SO hard to recall. Then he
stepped to the door and went out.
The rangers We're eating in a circle
round a tarpaulin spread upon the
Fellows" said MacNelly, shake
hands with Buck Duane. He's on secret
ranger service for me- Service that'll
likely make yon all hump soon! Mind
yoa, keep mum about it,
Inc rangers surprised Duane with 81
roaring greeting, the warmth Of which
ne soon OWNED was divided between
lanaa e CT his acquisition to their ranks
AID eagerness to meet that violent
service of which their captain hin.ed.
FHhey We're jolly wild fellows, with lust
enough gravity in their welcome to
show Duane their respect and appre-
cation, while not forgetting his lone
WOLF record. When he had seated him
self in that circle, now one Of them
him = i. * !, ~ I - -
!, After the meal Captain MacNelly
areW Duane aside. q
ere,s the money. Mahe II 10 an Tar
rs YOU can. Better STRIKE straight for
w iaaso, anook around there ana hear
Things. Then go to Valentine. That's
near the river and Within Ef1 miles or
SO OF the edge Of the Rim RoSk, Some
where up there Cheseldfne holds fort,
somewhere to the north IS tho town
ralrdale. But he doesn't hide All tho
time IN the rocks. Only al ter some dar-
ing rade or holdup. CheaesdiEe's got
border towns on his atah, or scared OF
MIN, Ind these pisces we want to know
Rbcut especially Entrdnie. Write me
careSOf the dfl1fffaf IL Ataaf{tI I dnr,,f