The Huttig news., 1916-12-02

light shone through. He peeped in. He saw a room shrouded in shadows. q lamp turned low, d table. chairs. He saw an open door, with bright flare beyond. but could not see the fire. Voices came indistinctly. He went on round tbat end of the cabin. Fortune favored him. There were bushes, an old shed, wood-pile, all the cover he needed at that corner. He did not even need to crawl.
 Before he peered between the rough corner of wall and the bush growing close to it. Duane paused moment. This excitement was different from that he had always felt when pursuea It had no bitterness. no pain. no drna There was as much danger here. per haps more. yet it was net tic satae Then be looked.
 He saw a bright fire. a red-faeed man bending over it, whistling, while he handled steaming pot. Over him was a roofed shed built against the wall. with two open sides and two supporting posts. Duanes second glance. not so blinded by the sudden bright light, made out other men, three in the shadow. two in the flare, but with backs to him.
 Its q smoother trail by long odds, but ain't so short as this one right over the mountain" one outlaw was saying.
 What's eatin' you, Panhandle" ejaculated another. "Blossom an me rode from Faraway Springs. where Poggin is with some of the gang"
 Excuse me, Phil. Shore I didn't see you come in, an Boldt never said nothin'."
 'It took you long time to get here. but I guess that's just as we'll spoke up smooth, suave voice with a ring in it.
 Longstreth's voice - Cheseldine's voice!
 Here they were--Cheseldine, Phil Knell, Blossom Kane, Panhandle Smith, Boldt-how well Duane remem- bered the names ,-all here. the big men of Cheseldine's gang, except the biggest-Poggin. Duane had holed them, and his sensations of the mo- ment deadened sight and sound of what was before him. He sank down, controlling himself, silenced q mount ing exultatfon. then from q less strain ed position he peered forth again.
 The outlaws were waiting for sup per. Their conversation might have been that of cowboys in camp, ranch CTS at q roundup. Knel1 sat there, tall, slim, like boy in years. with his pale, smooth. eXpressionless face and cold. gray eyes. And Longstreth, who leaned against the wall. handsome. with his dark face and beard like an aristoerat, resembled many a rich Louisiana planter Duane had met.
 Panhandle Smith carried pots and pans into the cabin, and eheerfnly fer grub, don't look fer me to feed you with spoon."
 The outlaws piled inside. made a great hustle and chatter as they sat to their meal. Like hungry men, they talked little
 Duane waited there for a while, then
 
 guardedly got up and crept round to the other side of the cabin, After he became used to the dark again he ventured to steal along the wall to the window and peeped in. The outlaws were in the first room and could not be seen.
 Duane waited The moments dragged endlessly. His heart pound- ed Longstreth entered, turned up the light, and taking box of cigars from the table, he carried it out.
 Here. you fellows. go outside and smoke,' he said. "Knell, come in now. Let's get it over.''
 He returned sat down, and lighted cigar for himself. He put his boot ed feet on the table.
 Duane saw that the room was com fortably, even luxuriously furnished. There must have been a good trail, he thought, else how could all that stuff have been packed in there. Then Knel came in and seated himself without any of his chiefs ease. He seemed preoccupied and, as always, cold.
 "What's wrong, Kncll? Why didn't you get here sooner?" queried Long Streth
 "Poeein We're on the outs again.
 "What for? Get it out of your sys- tenn so we can go on to the new job.'
 "Well. 1t began back ways. l don't know how long age-weeks-a stranger rode into Ord an got down easy-lilSe as if he owned the place. He seemed familiar to me. But l wasn't sure We looked him over. an I left, tryin' to place him in my mind"
 "What d he look like?"
 "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 me what he was You cant fool me on the gun-sharp. An he had grand horse. d big black"
 i've met your man." said Long streth.