Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-10-05

Helu tnen. be knew what to eXagger-
ate.
There was not an outlaw in sight.
The dusty horses had covered distance
that morning. AS Duane d~ismounted
ne heard loud, voices inside the
tavern. He removed coat and vest,
hung them Over the pommel. He packed
two guns, n belted high on the left
mp, the other swinging low on the
right side. He neither looked nor lis
tened, u 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 Boldt's, then Blossom
kane's, then Panhandle Smiths, then
Fletcher's, then others that were famil-
lar, and last that of Poggin. Though
Duane had never seer 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 out
laws were lined back of a long table
upon which We're papers, stacks of sill
Yer coin, Il bundle of bills, and a huge
gold mounted gun.
Are you gents lookin' for me?"
asked Duane. He gave his voice all the
ringing force and power of which he
was capable. n he stepped back, free
of anything, with the outlaws all be-
fore him.
Kneli stood quivering, but his face
outlaws looked from him to Duane.
jim Fletcher flung up his hands.
My Gawd, Dodge, what'd you Just
in here fer" he said, plainly, and slow
ly stepped forward. His action was
that of a man true to himself. He
meant he had been sponsor for Duane
and now he would stand by him.
- tIpnpI Ilnfo1oply So - D....z ..-a
his voice made the outlaw jump.
"Hold on, Dodge, am you-all, every
body" said Fletcher. LET me talk,
SEEM I'm in wrong here"
His p%ersuasions did not ease the
strain.
Go ahead. Talk" said Poggin.
Fletcher turned to Duane. "Pard,
enemies here when l swore you'd meet
friends. It's my fault. I'll stand by
you if you let me-"
NO, JIM replied Duane.
But what'd you come fer without
the signal?' burst our Fletcher, in dis
tress. He saw nothing but catastro-
phe in this meeting.
Jim. I amt pressin' my ompan
none. But when I'm wanted bad"
Fletcher stopped him with a raised
hand. Then he turned to Poggin with
a rude dignity.
Peggy, he's my pard, an he's riled.
| never told him a word thet'd make
him sore. / only said Knell hadn't no
more use fer him than fer me. Now,
what you say goes in this gang. [
never failed you i'll my life. Here's
my pard. | vouch fer him. Will you
stand fer me? There's goin' to be hell
if you don't. An us with a big job on
hand!"
While Fletcher toiled over his slow,
,,N-F ,,.e, -,
rlveted upon Poggin. There was some
thing leonine about Poggin. He was
tawney. He blazed. He seemed beau
tiful as fire was beautiful. But looked
at closer, with glance seeing the ply
steal man, instead of that thing which
shone from him, he was Of perfect
build, with muscles that swelled and
magnificent head and face of the cruel,
fierce. tawny-eyed jaguar.
Looking at this strange Poggin, in
stinctively divining his abnormal and
hideous power, Duane had for the first
time in his life the inward quaking
fear Of a man. 1t was like a cold
tongue bell, ringing within him and
numbing his heart. The old instinc-
tive firing of blood followed, but did
not drive away that fear. He knew.
He felt something here deeper than
thought could go. And he hated Poggin.
That individual had been consider
ing Fletcher's appeal.
"Jira, | ante up" he said, AN if Phil
doesn't raise us out with a big hand
why, he'll get called, an your pard
can set iii the game"
Every eye shifted to Knell. He was
dead white. He laughed, and any one
hearing that laugh would have realized
his intense anger equally with an as
surance which made him master of the
situation.
"Poggin. you're a gambler, you are
the ace high, straight flush hand of
the Big Bend" he said, with singing
scorn. IN bet you my roll to a greaser
peso that can Zeal you a hand you'll
be afraid to play"
Phil, you're talkin' Wild" growied
Poggin. with both advice and menace
in his tone.
IF there's anythin' you hate it's a
man who prctends to be somebody else
when he's not. Tibet so ~
Poggin nodded in slow gathering
wrath.
We'll. Jim's new pard-this man
Dodge-he's not who he seems. Ohio!
He's 81 hell of a lot different. But I
know him. An when l spring his name
on you, Poggin, you'll freeze. an your
hand'n be stiff when it ought to be
lightnin'-Al because you'll realize
you've been stanain' there five minutes
five minutes alive before hint"
II not hate. h assuredly great pas
sion toward Poggin manifested itself
in Knelfs s%cornful, fiery address. in
the shaking hand he thrust before Pog-
Gins face. In the ensuing silent pause
knelfs painting Could be plainly heard.
The other men We're pale, watchful,
cautiously edging either way to the
wall, leaving the principals and Duane.
in the center of the room.
tSnrinG his rnama fhpu xrn,, ~ c,;Fl