The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-21
CHAPTER MI.

! Before going to sleep that night Du-
ane had decided to so to Ord and try
/ TO md the rendezvous where Long
| streth was 10 meet his men. These men
| Duane wanted even more than their
leader. If Longstretil, or Cheseldine.
was the brains of that gang, Poggin
was the executor 1t was Poggin who
needed to be found and stopped. Pog-
gin and his right hand men. Duane en-
| perlenced strange. tigerish thrill 1t
was thought of Poggin more than
thought OF success for MacNelly's plan.
Duane felt dubious over this emotion.
Next day he set out for Bradford. He
was glad to get away from Fairdale
| Tor while. But the hours and the
miles in no wise changed the new pain
IN his heart The only way he could
forget Miss Longstreth was to let his
mind dwell upon Poggin. and even this
was not always effective.
He avoided Sanderson, and at the
end Of day and half he arrived at
Bradford
The night Of the day before he
reached Bradford. No. 6, the mail and
| express train going east, was held up
by train robbers, the Wells Fargo mes
| senger killed over his safe. the mail
clerk wounded, the bags carried away.
| The engine of No. came into town
minus even tender and engineer and
fireman told conflicting stories. A posse
OF railroad men and citizens, LED by a
sheriff Duane suspected was crooked,
was made up before the engine steamed
| back to pick up the rest of the train.
Duane had the sudden inspiration that
he had been cudgeling his mind to
| lind; and, acting upon 1t, he mounted
! his horse again and left Bradford I'M
observed. AS he rode out into the night,
over a dark trail in the direction of
Ord, he uttered a short, grim, sardonic
laugh at the hope that he might be
taken for train robber.
He rode at an easy trot most Of the
night, and when the black peak of Ord
mountain doomed up against the stars
he halted, tied his horse, and slept un-
til dawn. He had brought small pack,
and now he took his time cooking
breakfast When the sun was well up
he saddled Bullet, and, leaving the trail
where his tracks showed plain in the
! ground, he put his horse to the rocks
and brush. He selected an exceedingly
rough, roundabout. and difficult course
\ to Ord, hid his tracks with the skill of
a long hunted fugitive, and arrived
| there with his horse winded ard COW
cred with lather. 1t added consider
able to his arrival that tho man Duane
remembered as Fletcher and several
others saw him come in the back way
! through the lots and jump fence into
| the road.
Duane led Bullet up to the porch
where Fletcher stood wiping his beard.
| He was hatless, vestless, and evident
| ly had just enjoyed q morning drink.
| "Howdy, Dodge" said Fletcher Ia
| conically.
Duane replied, and the other man
| returned the greeting with interest.
| Jim, my hoss's done up. l want to
hide him from any chance tourists as
might happen to ride up curious like
"Haw! haw! haw!"
| Duane gathered announcement from
that chorus of coarse laughter.
wal, if them tourists amt too
| burned smoky the hoss'll be safe in the
| 'dobe shack back of Bits here. Feed
thar, too, but you'll hev to rustic
| water"
Duane led Bullet to the place indi-
| Gated, had care of his welfare and
left him there. Upon returning to the
i tavern porch Duane saw the group Of
men had been added to by Others some
| of whom he had seen before. Without
comment Duane walked along the edge
| Of the road. and wherever one Of the
| tracks Of his horse showed he carefully
obliterated it. This procedure was at
| tentively watched by Fletcher and his
| companions.
wal, Dodge" remarked Fletcher, as
Duane returned, 'thet's safer'n prayin'
/! fer rain
Duane's reply was a remark as To-
| quacious' as Fletcher's, to the effect
| that a long, slow, monotonous ride
| was conducive to thirst They all Joined
him, Enthusiastically friendly. But Knell
| was not there, and most assuredly not
Poggin. Fletcher was no common out
| law, but whatever his ability, it prob
| ably lay in execution Of orders. Ap-
| parently at that time these men had
| nothing to do but drink and lounge
around the tavern. Evidently they
| were poorly supplied with money.
borrow peso occasionally from the
| bartender. Duane set out to make
| himself agreeable and succeeded. There
was card playing for small stakes, idle
! jests OF coarse nature, much bantering
among the younger fellows, and occa-
sionally mild quarrel. All morning
| men came and went until, all told.
Duane calculated he had seen at least
| SO. Toward the middle of the after
noon q young fellow burst into the
saloon and yelled one word:
| "Posse!"
From the scramble to get outdoors
Duane judged that word and the ensu-
| ing action was rare in Ord.
What the hell" muttered Fletcher
as he gazed down the road at dark.
compact bunch of horses and riders.
| ''Fust time l ever seen thet in Ord |!
We're gettin' popular like them camps
out of Valentine Wish Phil was here
or Peggy. Now all you gents keen
quiet. I'll do the talkin'."
| The posse entered the town, trotted
up on dusty horses, and halted in a
bunch before the tavern. The party
consisted of about 20 men, all heavily
armed. and evidently in charge Of a
clean cut, lean limbed cowboy. Duane
experienced considerable satisfaction
at the absence of the sheriff who he
had understood was to lead the posse
Perhaps he was out in another direc-
ton with different force.
Hello Jim Fletcher" called the COW
boy.
"Howdy," replied Fletcher.
/ At his short, dry response ana the
way he strobe leisurely out before the
4 posse Duane found himself MODIFYING
| his contempt for Fletcher. The OUT
law was different now.
| Fletcher, we've tracked q man to all
but three miles Of this place. Tracks al
plain as the nose on your face. Found
1 his camp. Then he hit into the brush
Y an we lost the trail Didn't have no
tracker with MS. Think he went into the
mountains. But we took q chance an
over the rest Of the way, seem ORD
was SO close. Anybody come in hers