Tombstone epitaph., 1916-11-26


 any knowledge whatever of the train- robbery other than Fletcher had heard himself. Then at Fletcher's persist ence and admiration and increasing show of friendliness he laughed oc- casionally and allowed himself to swell with pride, though still denying. Later, when Duane started up an- nouncing his intention to get his 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 I stick by you when Guthrie an his bunch come up? Supposin' I | hedn't showed down cool hand to him? You'd be swingin' somewheres now I tell you, Dodge, it a!n't square"
 'iii square it. l pay my debts" replied Duane. "But I cant put up here all night. If I belonged to the gang it d be different"
 "What gangr asked Fletcher. blunt ly.
 "why. Cheseldine's." Fletcher's beard nodded as his jaw !
 dropped.
 Duane laughed. 'I run into him | the other day. KnOwed him on sight. Sure. he's the king-pin rustler. When he seen me an asked me what reason I had for bein' on earth or some such | like-why, I up an told him." Fletcher appeared staggered.
 "who in all-fired hell air you talkin' aboutr"
 Didn't I tell you once? Cheseldine. He calls himself Longstreth over there."
 All of Fletcher's face not covered by hair turned dirty white. l "Cheseldine Longstreth" he whispered, hoarsely. God Almighty You braced the" Then a remarkable 1 transformation came over the outlaw. He gulped; he strengthened his face; he controlled his agitation. But he could not send the healthy brown | back to his face. Duane, watching this rude man, marveled at the change in him, the sudden checking movement, the proof of a wonderful fear and loyalty. It all meant Cheseldine, master Of men!
 "who air your" queried Fletcher, in a queer, strained voice.
 You gave me a handle. didn't you: Dodge. Thets as good as any. Shore 1t hits me hard. Jim, I've been pretty lonely for years, an I'm gettin' in need of pals. Think it over, will you? See you manana."
 The outlaw watched Duane go of after his horse, watched him as he re- turned to the tavern, watched him ride out in the darkness-all without word.
 Duane left the town, threaded quiet passage through cactus and mes- quite to a spot he had marked before, and passed the night. His mind was so full that he found sleep aloof. Luck at last was playing his game. He sensed the first slow heave of a mighty crisis. The end, always haunt ing, had to be sternly plotted from thought. It was the approach that needed all his mind.
 Late in the morning he returned to Ord. If Jim Fletcher tried to disguise his surprise, the effort was a failure. Certainly he had not expected to see Duane again. Duane allowed himself little freedom with Fletcher, an at titude hitherto lacking.
 That afternoon a horseman rode in from Bradford, an outlaw evidently well known and liked by his fellows, and Duane heard him say, before he could possibly have been told the train-robber was in Ord, that the loss of money in the hold-up was slight. Like a flash Duane saw the luck of this report. He pretended not to have heard.
 In the early twilight at an opportune moment he called Fletcher to him. and, linking his arm within the out laws, he drew him off in a stroll to log bridge spanning a little gully. Here after gazing around, he took out roll of bills, spread 1t out, split 1t equally, and without a word handed one half to Fletcher. With clumsy fingers Fletcher ran through the roll.
 Five hundred" he exclaimed. Dodge. thets damn handsome of you, | tDhslutish llit JUL "Ssh
 "Considerin' nothin'," interrupted Duane. I'm maxim no reference to job here or there. You did me good turn. I split my pile. If thet doesn't make us pards. good turns an money ain't no use in this coun- try"
 Fletcher was won.
 The two men spend much time to- gether. Duane made up a short fcti- tious story about himself that satis- fled the outlaw, only 1t drew forth a laughing jest upon Duane's modesty. For Fletcher did not hide his belief that this new partner was a man of achievements. Knell and Poggin. and then Cheseldine himself, would be persuaded of this fact, so Fletcher boasted. He had influence. He would use it. He thought he pulled a stroke with Knell. But nobody on earth, not even the boss, had any influence on Poggin. Poggin was concentrated