The Huttig news., 1916-12-16

'It can't be done. The drop can't be got on such men. Poggin That outlaw has no equal with q gun-un- less He's got to be killed quick. They'll all have to be killed. They're all bad, desperate know no fear are lightning in action"
 "Very well, Duane; then it's q fight. That Fl be easier, perhaps The boys are spelling for fight. Out with your plan. now"
 "pat one man at each end of this street. just at the edge of town Put four men up in that room over the bank-two at each open window. Let them hide till the game begins. Tie rest of your men put inside behind the counters, where they'll hide Now go over to the bank, spring the thing on the bank officials, send your men over one by one. No hurry, no ex- 2itement, no unusual thing to attract notice in the bank.'
 "All right. That's great. Tell me, where do you intend to waltz"
  and it struck him peculiarly. He had seemed to be planning and speaking mechanically. AS he was confronted by the fact 1t nonplqsed him some what, ana he became thoughtful with lowered head.
 "Where II you wait. Duane?" in sisted MacNelly, with keen eyes speculating.
 'I'll wait in front-just inside the door replied Duane. with an effort.
 "Rut will you hide?" asked Mae Nelly.
 Duane was silent
 MaeNelly stared. and then strange eomprehending light seemed to fit over his face
 Duane, I can give you no orders today" he said, distinctly. I'm only offering advice. Need you take any more risks? You've redeemed your self. The governor, the adjutant-gen- eral-the whole state will rise up and honor you. 1 say as a ranger, need you take more risk than your cap taing"
 Sill Duane remained silent He was locked between two forces. And one, tide that was bursting at it's bounds, seemed about to overWhelm him. Finally that side of him. the retreatng self, the weaker, found voice.
 Captain, just what I'll do or where I'll be I can't say yet. In meetings like this the moment decides. But I'll be there''
 MacNelly spread wide his hands, looked helplessly at his curious and sympathetic rangers, and shook his hea(k
 Now you've done your worll-laid the tfap--is this strange move of yours going to be fair to Miss Longstreth?' asked MaeNelly, in significant low voice.
 Like great tree chopped at the roots Duane vibrated to that. He looked up as if he had seen ghost.
 Mercilessly the ranger captain went on: You can win her. Duane! Oh, you cant fool me. l was wise in a minute. Fight with us from cover. You'll be free. honored, happy That girl loves you! l saw it in her eyes. She's
 But Duane cut him short with a fierce gesture. He lunged up to his feet, and the rangers fell back. Dark, silent, grim as he had been, still there was transformation singularly more sinister, stranger.
 Enough. I'm done," he said, son. herly. I've planned. Do We agree or shall l meet Poggin and his gang alone?"
 MacNelly cursed and again threw up his hands, this time in baflied chagrin. There was deep regret in his dark eyes~as they rested upon Duane.
 Duane was left alone.
 Never had his mind been so quick, so clear. so wonderful in it's understanding of what had heretofore been intricate and elusive impulses of his strange nature. His determination was to meet Poggin; meet him before anyone else had chance-Poggin first-and then the others. He was as unalterabfe in that decision as if on the instant of it's acceptance he had become stone.
 Whyf Then came realization. He was not ranger now. He cared noth- ing for the state. He had no thought of freeing the community of a danger ons outlaw, of riddng the country of an obstacle to its progress and pros perity. He wanted to kill Poggin. It WAS significant now that he forgot the other outlaws. He was the gunman, the gun-thrower. the gua-tighter, pas sionate and terrible. His fathers blood, that dark and fierce strain, his mothers spirit. that strong and hn- quenchable spirit of the surviving pio- neer-these had been in him; and the killings, one after another, the wild and haunted years, had made him, ab- solutely in spite of his will, the gun man. He realized it now, bitterly, hopeessly.
 The thing he had intelligence .-.lD l.,