Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-09-21

HVluGlllly IilCIe was -
ion, if not real dissension, in that posse;t
Didn't l tell We this was a WIG
goose chase, comm way out mere.
protested an old hawk faced rancher.
Them moss tracks we follored amt
like any of them we seen at the WAFER
tank where the train was held up.
I'm not so sure Of that" replied the
leader.
wal, Guthrie, W follored tracks all
my life,
But you couldn't keep to the trail
this Teller made in the brush
Gimme time, an 1 could. Tibet takes
time. A n hea you go he'll bent Ter
election! But it's a wrong lead u TINS
way If you're right this road agent,
after he killed his pals, would heV RIA
back right through town. An with
them mail bags! Supposin' they was
greasers? Some greasers has sense, an
when it comes to thievin' they're shore
cute"
"But we amt got any reason to be-;
lieVe this robber who murdered the
| greasers is a greaSer himself. ] tell you
it was d slick job done by no ordinary
sneak. Didn't you hear the facts? one
greaser hoped the engineer an fire
maj. Another greaser kept flashin his
gun outside the train. Tho big man
who showed back the car door an did
the killin'-he was the real gent, an
don't you forget it."
Some of the posse sided with the
cowboy leader and some with the old
cattleman. Finally the young leader
disgustedly gathered up his bride.
"Aw, he'll! Tibet sheriff showed you
off this trail. Mebbe he he'd reason!
savvy tibet? If 1 he'd a bunch of cow
boys with mel tell you what-I'd take
Il chance an clean up this hole!"
All the while Jim Fletcher stood
quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Guthrie, I'm shore treasurin' up
your friendly talk" he said. The men
his speech.
You can-an' be damned to you.
Fletcher!" called Guthrie, as the horses
started.
Fletcher, standing out alone before
the others of his clan, watched the
posse out of sight.
Luck fer you-all tibet Peggy wasn't
here" he said, as they disappeared.
Then with a thoughtful mien ne srroue
up on the porch and led Duane way
from the others in the bar room. When
he looked into Duane's face it was
somehow an entirely changed scrutiny.
Dodge, where'd you hide the stuff?
l reckon L git in on this deal, seem l
stayed off Guthrie"
Duane played his part. Here was his
opportunity. and like a tiger after prey
he seized it. First he coolly eyed the
outlaw n then ~disclaiLled any knowl-
edge whatever OF the train robbery
other than Fletcher had heard him.
self. Then at tletchers persistence
and increasing show of friendliness
he laughed occasionally and allowed
llmselI 20 swell with pIIde, unousn sun
denying. Next he feigned a lack Of
consistent will power and seemed to be
wagering under FIetcher's persuasion
and grew silent, then surly. fletcher,
| W cIlr . n 4 al VA, rN ,t1 80 Ia
sisted for the time beng; however, in
his sollcltcus legaId and close COM
partnership for the rest of that day he
betrayed the bent OF his mind.
Later. when Duane started up an
nouncing his to get mis- horse
and make for camp out in the brush,
Fletcher seemed grievously offended.
why don't you stay with me? I've
got a comfortable 'dobe over here.
Didn't l suck by you When Guthrie an
his bunch come UP? Supposin' L aeGn't
showed down a cold hand to him?
You'd be swingin' somewheres now. l
tell you, Dodge, it amt square.
"1ll quare it. l pay my lepts," re-
piled Duane. But l can't put up here
all night. II l belonged to the gang it'd
be different"
, VIVA gang?' asked Fletcher, blunt
ly.
why, Cheseldine's."
~ "SsAN ioNSNt so hiS J"N
dropped.
Duane laughed. 81 run into him the
other day. hrowed him en- .signt. Sure,
mes the King Tin ustter. When he seen
ne an asheo NE what reason L had tol
Lem on earth or some sucn lihe-why,
l Up ana told him"
Fletcher appeared staggered.
WHO in all lned hell air you talkin'
: about%'
: Didn't l tell you once? C%heseldjne
a lie calls himself LonGstreth over there
= All OF Fietcner's lace not covered ty
: hair turned q dirty white.
= = OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES he wtlis-
y pered, hoarsely. cord Almighty! You
praced the Then a Remarkable
transformation came over the outlaw
Ele gulpeu; he Strengthened his face; he
contioAled his agitation. But he coulc
;, not send the neallny brown to his face
Duane, Watclilng THIS ruue mau. mar
Nelau at the Change IN him, the sudder
Checking movement, the proof OF 6
won4eI1ul 1ear II loyalty. 1t all mean,
\ ! Cheseiulne, a master Oh men!
who air you?' queried Fletcher, il
a queer, strained voice.
You gave me a handle, didn't you
Dodge. Thet's as good as any. Ssors
it hits me hard. jim, I've been pretty
:, lonely for years., an I'm gettin' in ,.eet
y OF pals. THINK it over, will you? Sc,
{ o
> Inc oulldW watched duane &c or
after his horse, watched him as ne re,
u turned TO the tavern, watched him rid
e out into the dai klless-all wilnout
word.
Duane left the town, threaded a uuie
9 passage through cactus and mesquite
6 to a spot lie mad marked before, an,
made ready for the night. His min
g was SO full that he found sleep clout
Lick at last was playing his gatla. II
sensed the first slow heave OF a might,
crisis. The end, always haunting, ha,
to be sternly blotted from thought. l
was the approach that needed all hi
mind.
s lie passed the night there. and lat
in the morning. after watching trai
and Q from a ridge, he returned /
Ord. If Jim Fletcher tried to disguis
his surprise, the effort was a failure
S. Certainly he had not expected TO Sc
Duane again.. Duane allowed hilnsa!
IS a little freedom with Fletcher, an atti
e tude hitherto lacking.
p That afternoon a horseman rode i
from Bradford, an outlaw evidently we
ID known and liked by his fellows, an
a Duane heard him say before he coul
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