Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-20

an we lost the trail. Didn't have no
tracker with us. Think he went into the
mountains. Blu we took a chance an
over The rest of the way, seem Ord
was so close. Anybody come iii here
late night or early this mornin'?"
Nope" replied Fletcher.
HIS response was that Doane had eX-
pected from his manner. and evidently
the cowboy took it as a matter of
course. He turned to the others OF the
posse, entering into a low consultation
Evidently there was difference of opin-
ion, IT not real d~issension, in that posse.
Didn't l tell We this was a wild
goose chase, comm way out here? %
protested an old hawk faced rancner.
.ihem moss tracks We follorei amt
tank where h train was held up"
I'm not so sure of that" replied the
leader.
Wal. Guthrie. I've follored tracks all
my life"
But o couldn't keep to the trail
this Teller made in the BRUSH"
time, an l could. Tibet takes
ti1ne: An. heah you go hell bent fer
election! But it's a wrong lead out this
way. If you're right this road agent,
after he killed his pals, would hev rid
back right through town. An with
mem mail bags! Supposin' they was
greasers? Some greasers has sense. am
when 1T comes to thievin' they're shore
cute"
But we amt got any reason to be-
lleve this robber who murdered the
greasers ts a greaser himself. l tell YOU
IT was a slick job done by no ordinary
sneak. Didn't you hear the facts? One
greaser hoped the engineer an fire.
man. Another greaser kept tiashin' his
gun outside the train. The 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 he old
cattleman. Finally the young leader
disgustedly gathered up his bride.
"Aw, hell! h sheriff showed you
on this trail. Mebbe he he'd reason!
Savvy tibet? II l he'd a bunch of cow
boys with mel tell you what-Td take
a chance an clean up this hole!"
All the while Jim Fletcher stood
quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Guthrie, I'm shore t%reasurin' up
your friendly talk" he said. The men,
ace was in the tone. not the content of
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
-Sp S SeSA0s as llcy lSdDpGlCGO
Then with a thoughtful mien ne stlode
up on the porch and led Duane away
from the others in the bar room. When
ne looked into Duane's face it was
somehow an entile4y changed SCRUTINY.
Dodge. where'd you hide the stuff?
4 reckon l git in On this deal, SEEM 1
stayea off GUTHRIE
duane played his part. Here was his
opportunity, and like a tiger after prey
ne seized it. First he cooily eyed the
outlaw and then disclaimed any knowl-
edge whatever of h train robbery
sen. Inen at fl>tchers Lelslsten.e
ana increasing show of ~friendliness
ne laughed occasionally and allowed
n1iilseil 70 SVEN wltll Llloe, Lno.ts,4l s,,A.l
denying. Next he feigned a lack OF
consistent Will power anu seemed to be
WaVerlng unuer Flelcker's persuasion
ana grew silent, Then s1rly. Fletcher,
eVldently sure of ulLlmaLe victory, Ge-
sisted tor the time being; however, in
nus sollcltcus regard and close y
panlcnsnip for the rest OF that day he
oellayed TIE penl or mis- mind.
Later. When duane starred uu IN.
ounclng his intention to get nls horse
ana MAKE Tor Camp out in the BRUSH.
fietcher seemed s~lievousiy ollen1cd.
ny don't YOU say with me! I'VE
got a conlfortaple 'dooe over here.
DIDN'T l Suck by you wnen Guthrie an
nus puncn come ny? Supposin' l .leau't
showed down a cold mana to him.?
You'd be swln2in' scmewneres now. 1
tell you. Dodge. it am square.
I'll square il. 1 pay my 1eo.s." re-
pied Duane. But 1 can't pul up here
all night. II l belonged TO the gang ird
De different"
"Wnat gang" asked Fletcher. blunt.
ly.
why. Ch%eseldine's."
Fletcner's bea1u nodded as his jaw
dropped.
Duane laughed. 81 run into him the
other day. kEowed him on sight. Sure.
hes the king pin rustler. When he seen
me an ASKED me what reason | had .or
Lein IN eaith or some sucn !ike-wiy,
l III n told him."
Fletcher appeared staggered.
Who in all 1lled hell air YOU ta.kin'
about?"
Didn't l tell you once? Cheseleine.
He calls himself Longslreth over there
All OF FletcAer's face not covered by
hair turned a dirty white.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" ne wtis-
pered. hoarsely. cord Almighty! You
braced The Then a renlsrtahle
Transformation came over tile outlaw.
he gulped: ne Strengthened his :a"e; he
controlled his agitation. But he csuld
not send the healthy brown 70 his face.
| Duane. watching this ruSe man mar.