The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-28

'RanGy powerful man, white hair
over his temples, still, hard face eyes
like knives. The way he packed his
guns, the way he walked an stood an
swung his right hand showed me What
he was. You can't fool me on the gun
sharp. An he had a grand horse, a big
black
I've met your man." said Longstreth.
NO" exclaimed knell. 1t was Won
derful to hear surprise expressed by
this man that did not in the least show
it in his strange physiognomy. knell
laughed short grim, hollow laugh.
Boss, this here big gent drifts into
Ord again an makes up TO Jim Fletch-
er. jim, You know, is easy led. He
likes men. An, when a posse come
along trailin blind lead huntin' the
wrong way for the man who held up
No. 6, why Jim--he up an takes this
| stranger 10 be the fly road agent an
cottons to him. Got money out of
him sure. An that's what stumps me
more, What's this mans game? hap
| pen TO know, boss that he couldn't have
! held up No, g..
How do you know" demanded
| Longsueth.
Because l did the job myself
y dark and stormy passion clouded
the chiefs face.
Damn YOU, Knell! You're incorrig-
ible. You're unreliable. Another break
like that queers you with me. Did You
tell PogSin? -
Yes, That's one reason we fell out.
| He raVed. / thought he was soin' to
! Kill me-.
Why did you tackle such a risky job
1 without help or plan?"
1t offered. that's all. An ii was easy.
Eut it was mistake. l so the country
an the railroad hollerin' for nothin'.
/ | Just couldn't help it. You know what
| idleness means To one of US. You know
also that this very life breeds fatality.
( It's wrong-that's why. | was born of
| good parents, an l know what's right.
We're wrong, an we can't beat the end,
that's all. An, for my part i don't
care a damn rhen that comes"
Fine, wise talk from YOU. Knell,"
said Longstreth, scornfully. Go on
! with your story"
AS l said. Jim cottons to the pre-
1 tender an they get cEummy. THEY'RE
together all the time You can gamble
Jim told all he knew an then some
/ little liquor loosens his tongue. Several
of the boys rode over from Ord, an one
of them Went to Poggin an says Jim
Fletcher has a new man for the gang
Poggin. YOU know. is ALWAYS ready for
any new man. He says if one doesn't
! turn out good he can be shut off easy.
He rather liked the way this new pard
of Jims was boosted. Jim an Poggin
always hit it up together So, until /
| got on the deal, Jim's pard was already
in the gang without Poggin or YOU
ever sccin' him. Then 1 got to figurin'
hard. Just where had l ever seen that
| chap? AS it turned out, | never had
seen him. which accounts for my bein'
| doubtful. I'd never forget any man I'd
seen dug up lot Of old papers from
my XII an went over them. Letters,
pictures, clippin's, an all that. l guess
| had a pretty good notion what ! was
lookln for an who | wanted to make
NJ 1-Iony
my man. But L didn't spring it on
Posgln. Oh, nc! l want to have some
Jun with him when the time comes.
He'll be wilder than trapped wolf
sent Blossom over to Ord to get word
from Jim, an, when he verified all this
talk, I sent Blossom again with mes
sage calculated to make Jim hump.
Poggin got sore, said he'd wait for Jim,
an could come over to see you about
the new job. He'd meet me in Ord"
Knell had spoken hurriedly and low,
now and then with passion. His pals
MS voice fell to whisper.
Who do you think Fletcher's new
man ISL!
Who, demanded Longstreth.
Buck Duane!"
Down came Longstreths boots with a
crash, then his body grew rigid.
mat Nueces outlaw? That two shot
ace OF spades gun thrower who killed
Bland, Allowoy-?"
An Hardin" Knell whispered this
last name with more feeling than the
apparent pa CIRCUMSTANCE demanded.
pi,,, e B ana naraln' me best one Of the
Kim Rock fellows-Buck Duane"
Longstreth was SO CHASTITY white now
that his black mustache seemed out
lined against chalk. He eyed his grim
lieutenant. They understood each 9TH
er without e1 more words. 1t was enough
lhat Buck Duane was there in the Big
Bend Longstreth rose presently and
reached for flask. from which he
drank, then offered it to Knell. He
waved 1T aside.
"knell," began the chief, slowly, as
he wiped his lips, II gathered you have
some grudge against this Buck Duane"
Yes"
WELL don't be a fool noty and
do what Poggin or almost any OF YOU
men would-don't meet this Buck Du-
ane I've reason to believe he's Tex
as Ranger now"
1.-THE hell you saw" exclaimed Kne,1
Eyes. Go to ord and give lin E,letch.
er a bunch. He'll get Poggin. and thew
\ wi