The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-02-15

y
remember having studied them In the |
ascent, yet here they were, even In
changed light, familiar to his sight.
What he had once seen was pictured
on his mind. And, true as deer
striking for home, he reached the can
yon where he had left his horse. Bull
let was quickly and easily found.
Duane threw on the saddle and pack,
cinched them tight, and resumed the
descent.
Hours passed as moments. Duane
was equal to his great opportunity.
But he could not qdell that self in
him which reached back over the
lapse of lonely, soaring years and
found the boy in him. Duane knew
he was not just right in part Of his
mind. Small wonder that he was not
insane, he thought He tramped on
downward. his marvellous faculty
for covering rough ground and
holding TO the true course
never before even in flight so
keen and acute. Yet all the time n
spirit was keeping step with him.
Thought Of Ray Longstreth as he
had left her made him weak. lie
saw her white face. with its sweet
sad lips and the dark eyes so tender
aud tragic.
The moon sloped to the west Shad-
ows Of trees and crags now crossed
to the other side of him. The stars
dimmed. Then he was out of the rocks
with the dim trail pnle at his feet.
Mounting Bullet, he made short work
Of the long slope and the foothills and
| the rolling land leading down TO Ord.
| The little outlaw camp, with It's
shucks and cabins and row Of houses,
lay silent and dark under the pallng
moon. Duane passed by on the lower
trail, headed into the rond, and put
Bullet to n gallop. He watched the
dying moon. the waning stars. and the
east. He had time TO spare, so he
saved the horse. Knell would be leav-
ing the rendezvous about the time
Duane turned back toward Ord. Be
tween noon and sunset they would
meet.
The night wore on. The moon sank
behind low mountains In the west. The
stars frightened for n while, ther
faded. Gray gloom enveloped the
world, thickened, lay like smoke ovei
the road. Then shade by shade Il
llghtened, until through the transpar
ent obscurlty shone a dim light.
Duane reached Bradford before
dawn. He dismounted some distance
from the tracks, tied his horse, an(
then crossed over to the station. HI
heard the clicking of the telegraph
instrument, and it thrilled him. Al
operator sat inside reading. WheI
Duane tapped on the window he look
ed up with startled glance, then wen
swiftly TO unlock the door.
Hello. Give me paper and pencil
Quick" whispered Duane.
with trembling hands the operate
, complied. Duane wrote out the mes
sage he had carefully composed.
"Send thls-repeat 1t to make sure
then keep mum. Ill see you again
Good-by."
The operator stared, but did no
| speak a word.
, Duane left as stealthily and swift
, as he had come. He walked his hors
! couple Of miles back on the roa
l and then rested him till break OF day
I
0 When Duane swung into the wide
I grassy square on the outskirts of Or
t he saw bunch of saddled horse
!. hltched in front OF the tavern. II
Y knew what that meant. Luck sti
t favored him. If 1t would only hold
: But he could ask no more. The res
e was n matter OF how greatly he coul
o make his power felt. An open coniii'
g against odds lay In the balance. Tht
Q would be fatal to him, and to avol
It II he had to trust to his name and
). presence he must make terrible. II
knew outlaws. He knew what quail
J, ties held them. He knew what to G,
b aggerate.
g There was not an outlaw In sigh
L The dusty horses had covered distan'
e, that morning. As Duane dlsmounte
IS he heard loud, angry voices inside Il
e tavern. He removed coat and yes
'S hung them over the pommel, lie phc
ed two guns, one belted high ON Il
e left hip, the other one swinging low
IS the right side. He neither looked n'
le listened, but boldly pushed the doc
e. and stepped inside.
ID The big room was full of men, an
m every face plvoted toward hlI
$. KnelI's pale fnce flashed into Duane
lg swift sight; then Boldts, then Blosso
" Kane's, then Panhandle Smiths, the
C. Fletcher's, then others that We're fan
le liar, and last that Of Poggin. Thopi
ID Duane had never seen Poggin or heal
st him described, he knew him. For
G. saw a face that was a record OF gre
10 and evil deeds.
ne There was absolute silence. III
n outlaws We're lined back of lol
he table upon which We're papers, STAG
IA of silver coin n bundle of bills and