Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-10-04

east began TO dde Duane turned
grimly in the direction OF Ord.
When Duane swung into the wide,
grassy square on the outskirts of Ord
he saw a bunch of saddled horses
hitched i'm front of the tavern. lie
knew what hat meant. Luck stll
favored him. III it would only hold I!
liut he could ask no more. The rest
was Il matter of how greatly he could
make his power felt. An open conflict
lSalnst odds lay in the balance That
would be fatal to him, and to avoid it
he had to trust to his name and a
presence he must make terrible. He
knew outlaws. He knew what qualities
held them. He knew what to
ate.
There was not an outlaw in sight.
The dusty horses had covered distance
h 4 morning. AS Duane dismounted
he heard loud. angry voices inside the
tavern. He removed coat and vest,
nuns them over the ponmel. He packed
two gums, one belted high on the left
hip, the other swinging low on the
right side. He neither locke nor lis
tened, but boldly pushed the door and
stepped inside.
every face pivoted toward him. k.lelrs
pale face flashed into Duane's swift
sight; then Boldt'S, then Blossom
kane's, then Panhandle Smiths, then
~Fletcher's, then others that were famil-
lar. and last that of Poggin. Though
duane had never seen Poggin or heard
him described, he knew him. For he
saw a face that was a record of great
and evil deeds.
There was absolute silence. The out
laws were lined back of a long table
upon which We're papers, stacks of sill
Yer coin. a bundle of bills, and a huge
gold mounted gun.
Are you gents lookin' for me! 2"
asked Duane. He gave his voice all the
was capable. And he stepped back, free
of anything. with the outlaws ali be-
fore him.
Knell stood quivering, but his face
might have beer a mask. The other
outlaws looked from him to Duane.
Jim Fletcher flung up his hands.
My Gawd. Dodge, what'd you bust
~ stepped forward. His action was
that OF a man true to himself. He
meant he had been sponsor for Duane
and now nc would stand by him.
Back. Fletcher" called Duane, and
his voice made h outlaw jump.
Hold on; Dodge, an you-all. every
seem I'm in wrong here"
His perSuaSiOnS did not ease the
strain.
Go ahead. Talk" said Poggin.
FLETCHER turned to Duane. "Pard,
I'm takin' it on myself tibet you meet
enemies here when / swore you'd meet
friends. It's my fault. I'll stand by
o if YOU let me-"
NO. Jim" replied Duane.
But what'd you come fer without
the signal?' burst III Fletcher, in dis
tress. He saw nothing but catastro-
phe in this meeting.
JIM, l amt pressin' my
none. But when I'm wanted bad"
Fletcher stopped him with a raised
hand. Then he turned to Poggin with
Il rude dignity.
Peggy, he's my pard, an he's riled.
never told him a word thet'd make
MN sore. l only said Knell hadn't no
more use fer him han fer me. Now.
what YOU say goes in this gang. /
never failed you in my life. Here's
my pard. l vouch fer him. Will you
stand fer me? There's goin' to be hell
If you don't. An us with a big Job on
hand!"
While Fletcher toiled over his slow.
ernest persuasion Duane had his gaze
riveted upon Poggin. There was some
thing leonine about Poggin. He was
tawney. He blazed. He seemed beau
at closer. with glance seeing the ply
steal mar instead of that thing which
shone from him. he was of perfect
build. with muscles that ,swelled and
rlppled. bullying his clothes. with the
magnificent head and face Of the cruel,
tlerce. tawny-eyed jaguar.
LoOklng at this strange POggin, in
stinctively divining bis abnormal and
nldeous power. Duane had for the first
time in his life the inward quaking
Tear of Il man. 1t was like a cold
tongue bell. ringing within him and
numbing his heart. The old instinc-
tive firing of blood followed, but did
not drive away that fear. He knew.
he felt something here deeper than
thought could go. And he hated Poggin.
That individual had been consider
Ing Fletcher's appeal.
Jim. l ante up" he said. ar IL Phil
doesn't raise US out with a big hand
.'hy. he'll get called. an your pard
can set in the game"
dead white. He laughed. and any one
hearing that laugh would have realized
MS intense anger equally with an as
surance which made him master of the
situation.
"Poggin. you're n gambler. you are
the ace high. straight flush hand Of
the Fig Bend" he said, with stinging
r "Ill bet you my roll. to a greaser
peso that can deal you a hand you'll
be afraid to play"
Phil, you're talkin' wild" growled
Poggin, with both advice and menace
in his tone.
IF there's anythin' you hate it's a
man who pretends to be somebody else
when he's not. Thet 500"
Poggin nodded in slow gathering
Well. Jim's new pard-this man
Dodge-he's not who he seems. Oh-ho!
He's a hell Of q lot different. But I
know him. An when I spring his nam
on YOU. POggin. you'll freeze. an your
'handM be stin when It ought to be
liEhtnin'-All because you'll realize