The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-08-17

times. He's more than rustler. It's
Cheseldine and his gang who are OPP
Grating on the banks. They're doing
bank robbing. That's my private opin-
ion, but it's not been backed up by
any evidence. Cheseldine doesn't leave
evidences. He's intelligent, cunning.
No one seems to have seen him-to
know what he looks like. l assume, of
course, that you are a stranger to the
country he dominates It's 500 miles
west Of your ground. There's a little
town over there called Fairdale. It's
the nest of a rustler gang. They rustic
and murder at will. Nobody knows
who the leader is. l want you to find
out. Well, whatever way you decide
is best o will proceed to act upon.
You are you own boss. You knew such
men and how they can be approached.
You will take all the time needed, If
it's months. 1t will be necessary for
o to communicate with me, n that
will be a difficult matter. For Chesel-
dine dominates several whole counties.
You must find some a to let me
know when l and my rangers are
needed. The plan is to 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
~ "AS GO ~ IN
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 you trap for
us rangers to spring-that, Duane, is
your service to me, and Goo knows it's
a great one!"
II have accepted it," replied Duane.
your work will be secret. You are
now a ranger in my service. But no
n except the few l choose to tell will
know of it until we pull off the job.
You will simply be Buck Duane till it
suits u 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
o entered the service. Perhaps we
can maxi 1t appear that all or most Of
you outlawry has really beer good
service to the state. At that, I'll be-
lieve it'll turn out So"
MacNelly paused a moment in his
rapid talk, chewing his cigar, drew his
brows together in a dark frown, and
went on. mo man on the border knows
so we'll as you the deadly nature Of
this service. It's a thousand to n that
you'll be killed. I'd say there was no
chance at all for any other man be-
oAuS you. looi lVpulIlAoh WIN 81 "a
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 l get killed out there
what"
Leave that to me-" interrupted Cap
tain MacNelly. Your folks will know at
once of your pardon and your ranger
duty. If you lose your life out there
I'll 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
well, IFS settled, then. I'll give you
money for expenses. You'll start as
10 as o like-the sooner the bet
ter. l hope to think of other sugges-
tions, 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 blackness, mar
yelling over the strange events of sthe
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 kim.
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 Tin the
memory. The disgrace he had put up
on them would nov be removed; and
in the light of that, his wasted life of
the past, and its probable tragic end
in 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
full of mystery, shadowy faces fioated
in the blackness around him, haunting
him as he had always been haunted.
1t was broad daylight when he
awakened. MacNelly vas calling him
to breakfast. Outside sounded voices
of men, cracking Of fires, snorting and
tramping of horses, the barking of dogs.
Duane rolled out Of his blankets and
made good use Of the soar and towel
and razor n brush near by on a
bench-things OF rare luxury to an out
law or the ride. The face he saw in
the mirror was as strange as the past
he had tried so hard to. recall. Then he
stepped to the door and went out.
The rangers were eating in a circle
round a tarpaulin spread upon the
ground.
Fellows" said MacNelly, shake
N with BUCK Duane. He's on secret
ranger service for me. Service thatTl
likely make you all hump soon! Mind
you, keep mum about it,"
The rangers surprised Duane with a
roaring greeting, the warmth of which
he o 0 OWNED was divided between
pride Of his acquisition to their ranks
and eagerness to meet that violent
service of which their captain limited.
They were jolly wild fellows. with just
enough gravity in their welcome to
show Duane their respect and appre-
citation, while not forgetting his lone
wolf record. When he had seated him
self in that circle, now one Of them, a
feeling subtle II uplifting ~pervaded
him.
After the meal Captain MacNelly
drew Duane aside.
Here's the money. Make 1t go as far
as you can. Better strike straight for
Ell Paso, snook around there and hear
things. Then go to Valentine. That's
near the river and within so miles or
so Of the edge of the Rim Rock. Some
where up there Cheseldine holds fort.
Somewhere to the north is the town
Fairdale. But he doesn't hide all the
time in the rocks. Only after some dar-
ing rade or holdup. Cheseldine's got
border towns on his staff, or scared of