The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 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 mo what
he was. You can't fool me on the u
sharp. An he had a grand horse, a bis
black"
"Pve met your man." said Longstreti.
mol" exclaimed Knell. 1t was Won
derful to hear surprise expressed by
this man that did not in the least show
1t in his strange p~hysiognomy. Knel
laughed a short. grim, hollow laugh.
Boss, this here big gent drifts into
Ord again an makes up to Jim F1etch-
er. Jim, you know, is easy led. He
likes men. An, when a posse come
along trailin' a blind lead. huntin' the
wrong way for the man who held up
No. 6, why Jim-he up an takes this
stranger to 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 man. game? hap
pen to know, boss, that he couldn't have
held up No. g."
How do you know?" demanded
Longstreth.
Because 1 did the Job myself"
A dark and stormy passion clouded
the chiefs face.
Damn you, Knell! You're incorrig-
ible. You're unreliable. Another break
IKE ina QuGtIS YOU WIFI ul6. blu yOu
tell Poggin?"
Yes. That's one reason we fell out.
He raved. l thought he was goin' to
kill me-"
why did you tackle such a risky job
without help or plan?"
1T offered, that's all. An 1t was easy.
But it was q mistake. / go the country
an the railroad hollerin' for nothin'.
l just couldn't help it. You know what
| idlan1SS mea nS To one of IFS. Won know
also that this very life breeds fatality.
It's wrong-that'S why. / was born of
good parents, an ! know what's right.
We're wrong. an we can't beat the end.
that's all. An, for my part, 1 don't
care a damn when that comes"
Fine, wise talk from you, Knell,"
said Longstreth, ~scornfully. go on
with your story"
LAS l said, Jim cottons to the pre-
tender, an they get chummy. They're
together all the time. You can gamble
Jim told all he knew an then some. A
little liquor loosens his tongue. Several
of the boys rode over from Ord, an n
Of them went to Poggin an says Jim
Fletcher has a new man for the gang.
Poggin, o know, Is always ready for
any new man. He says IL one doesn't
turn out good. he can be shut off easy.
He rather liked the way this new pard
Of Jim's was boosted. Jim an Poggin
III ""Jo IAN - up NOSSlttSLs oOs uAANAA =
got on the deal, Jim's pard was already
in the gang, without Poggin or you
ever seein' him. Then I got to figurin'
hard. Just where had I ever seen that
chap? AS 1t turned out, l never had
seen him. which accounts for my bain'
doubtful. I'd forget any man I'd
seen. I dug up a lot OF old papers from
my kit an went over them. Letters,
pictures. c%lippin's, an all that. I guess
1 had q pretty good notion what I vas
lookin' for an who I wanted to make
sure Of. At last I found 1t. An KNEW
my nan But I didn't spring 1t on
Poggin. Oh, no! I want to have some
fun with him when the time comes.
He'll be wilder than a trapped wolf. I
sent Blossom over to Ord to get word
from Jim, an, when he verified all this
talk, l sent Blossom again with q mes
sage calculated to make Jim hump.
Poggin got sore, said he'd wait for Jim,
an I 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 pale
eyes glinted like fire in ice, and now
his voice fell to a whisper.
WHO do you think Fletchers new
man Isl"
"Who?" demanded Longstreth.
Buck Duane!"
Down came Longstreth's boots with a
crash, then his body grew rigid.
That Nueces outlaw? That two-shot
ace of spades CUR thrower who killed
Bland, Allowoy-%
"An' Hardin" Kneil whispered this
last name with more feeling than the
apparent circumstance demanded.
Yes; and Hardin, the best one of the
Rim 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 more words. 1t was enough
that Buck Duane was there in the Big
Bend. Longstreth rose presently and
reached for a 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 now 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 a Tex
as Ranger now"
1.-THE hell you sayi" exclaimed Knell.
Yes. Go to Ord n give JimFletch-
er a bunch. He'll get Poggin, and they
will fix even Buck Duane"
All right. I'll do my best. But II I
run into Duane
Don't run into him!" Longstreth's
voice fairly rang with the force Of its
passion and command. He wiped his
face, drank again from the flask, sat
down, resumed his smoking, and, draw
ing a paper from his vest pocket, he
began to study 1t.
We'll, I'm glad that's settled" he
said, evidently referring to the Duane
matter. Nov for the new Job. This
is October IS. On or before the 25th,
there will be a shipment Of gold reach
the Ranchers' bank Of Val Verde. After
you return to Ord, give Poggin these
orders. Keep the gang quiet. You,
Poggin, Kane, Fletcher, Panhandle
Smith, and Boidt to be in on the secret
and the job. Nobody else. You'll leave
Ord on the 23rd, ride across coun-
trye by the trail till you get
within sight of fIeroer. It's 100
miles from Bradford to Val Verde
about the same from Ord. Time your
travel to get you near Val Verde on the
morning OF the 18th. You won't have to
more than trot your horses. At 2
o'clock in the afternoon, sharp, ride into
town n up to the Rangers bank. Val
Verde's a pretty big town. Never been