Tombstone epitaph., 1916-11-26
CHAPTER XXI.

Duane had decided to go to Ord and try to find the rendezvous where Longstreth was to meet his men. These men Duane wanted even more than their leader. It was Poggin who needed to be found and stopped. Poggin and his right-hand men.
 The night of the day before he reached Bradford, No. 6, the mail and express train going east, was held up by train-robberies. the Wells-Fargo messenger killed over his safe, the mail-clerk wounded. the bags carried away. The engine No. came into town minus even q tender, and en- gineer and fireman told conflicting stories. A posse of railroad men and citizens, led by sheriff Duane sus- pected was crooked, was made up be- fore 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 find; and acting upon 1t, he mounted his horse again and left Bradford unobserved. He rode at an easy trot most of the night, selected an exceedingly rough. roundabout. and difficult course 10 Ord, hid his tracks with the skill of long-hunted fugitive. and arrived there with his horse winded and coy- cred with father. It added consider | able to his arrival that the 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 evidently had just enjoyed a morning drink.
 'Iowdy, Dodge" said Fletcher. la.onically.
 Duane replied. and the other man returned the greeting with interest:
 Jim. my hoss g done up. I want to hide him from any chance tourists as might happen to ride up curious like"
 'Hawl haw! haww
 Duane gathered encouragement from that chorus of coarse laughter.
 Wal, If them tourists ain't too durned snooky the hoss II be safe | in the 'dObe shack back of Bilrs here. Feed thar. too. but you'll hev to rus | tie water"
 Duane led Bullet to the place indi- cated. mad care of his welfare. and left him there. Upon returning to | the 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 wher- ever one of the tracks of his horse showed he carefully obliterated 1t. This procedure was attentively watched by Fletcher and his com | panions.
 l Wal, Dodge" remarked Fletcher, as Duane returned, "thet's safer n prayin' fer rain"
 Duane's reply was A remark as ! loquacious es Fletcher's, to the effect that a long, slow, monotonous ride was conducive to thirst. They all joined him, unmistakably friendly. But Knell was not there, and most assuredly not Poggin. Fletcher was no common outlaw. but, whatever his ability. it probably lay in execution of orders. Apparently at that time these men had nothing to do but drink and lounge around the tavern. Duane set out to make himself agree able and succeeded. All morning men came and went. until, all told, Duane calculated he had seen at least fifty. Toward the middle of the afternoon a young fellow burst into the saloon and yelled one word:
 "Possew
 From the scramble to get outdoors Duane judged that word and the en- suing action was rare In Ord.
 "what's all thisy" muttered Fetch CT, as he gazed down the road at . dark. compact bunch of horses and riders. 'Fust time I ever seen thet in Ord Wish Phil was here or Peggy. Now all you gents keep quiet. I'll do the taIkin'."
 The posse entered the towp. trotted