The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-03-08

Duane waited. The moments
dragged endlessly. His heart pound
cd. Longstrcth entered, turned up the
light, and taking n box of cigars from
the table, he carried 1t out.
Here, you fellows, go outside and
smoke" he said. "Tnell, come In
now. Let's get 1t over"
lie returned, sat down, and lighted
n cigar for himself. He put his boot
ed feet on the table.
Duane saw that the Dom was COM
fortably, even luxuriously furnished.
There must have been n good trail,
he thought, else how could all That
stuff have been packed In there. Then
Knell came In and seated himself
without any Of his chiefs ease. He
seemed preoccupied and, as always,
cold.
"what's wrong. Knell2 Why didn't
you get here ~sooner?" querled Long
streth.
"Poggin. We're on the outs again."
What for? Get II out Of your sys.
TEN so we can 90 on to the new job"
w I'll, IL UtEuu bu'h u "uHS. .
don't know how long ngo-weeks-a
stranger rode into Ord an got down
casy.like ms II he owned the place.
He seemed familiar to me. But |
wasn't sure. We looked him over. an
I left. tryin' 10 place him In my mind"
"Whnt d he look likeT"
"Rangy, powerful mcn, white hair
over his temples, still, hard face.
eyes like knives. The way he packed
his guns. the way he walked nm stood
an swung his right hand showed me
what he was. You can't fool me on
the gun-sharp. An he had n grand
horse. II big black"
"Tve met your man." said Long
streth.
"No!" exclaimed Knell. II was
wonderful To hear surprise expressed
by this man that did not In the least
show II In his strange physiognomy.
Knell laughed n short, grim, hollow
laugh. "Boss, this here big gent drifts
into Ord again an makes up to Jim
Fletcher. Jim-he up an takes this
stranger to be the fly road-agent an
cottons 10 him. Got money out of him
sure. And that's what stumps me
more. What's this mans game? I hap
pen to know. boss. that he couldn't
have held up No. O."
"How do you know" demanded
Longstreth.
"Bccause I did the job myself"
A dark and stormy passion clouded
the chiefs face.
"Kncll, you're incorrIglble. You're
unreliable. Another break like That
queers you with me. Did you tell
Poggln?"
ayes. Thct's one reason we fell
out. He raved. | thought he was
guln' To kill me. Several of the boys
rode over from Ord, an one of them
won't 10 Poggin an says Jim Fletcher
has n new man for the gang. Jim an
Poggin always hit 1t up together. SO
until | got on the deal Jim's pard
was already in the gang, without
I'oggin or you ever seem him. Then
| got to figurin' hard. Just whore |
ever seen that chap? | dug up II lot
Of old papers from my kit an went
over them. Letters, pictures, clip
pins, an all that. | guess | had n
pretty good notion what | vas loOkln'
for an who wanted to make sure of.
At last | found Il. An / knew my
man. But ! didn't spring II OF poggin.
| sent Blossom over to Ord with a
message calculated TO make Jim hump.
Poggin got sore, said he'd walt for
jim, an I could come over here TO
see you about the new job. He'd
meet me Ia Ord"
Knell had spoken hurrledly and low,
now and then with passion. Ills pale
eyes gllnted like fire In ice, and now
his voice fell to n whisper.
"Who do you think Fletcher's new
mar tsp
"Who;" demanded Longstreth.
Buck Duanew
Down came Longstreth's boots with
n crash, then his body grew rigid.
THAT Nueccs outlaw? That two
shot ace-of spades gun-thrower who
killed Bland, A~lloway-?" with more
feeling than the apparent clrcum-
stance demanded.
"ies; and Hardin, the best one OF
the Rim Rock fellows-Puck Duane"
Longstreth was 30 CHASTITY white
now that his black mustache seemed
outlined against chalk. lie eyed his
grim lieutenant. They understood
each other without more words. 1t
was enough that Buck Duane vas
there In the Big Bend. Longstreth
rose presently and reached for n flask,
from which he drank, then offered II
to Knell. He waved It aside.
"Knell," began the chief, slowly. ms
he wiped his lips, ~ gathered you
have some grudge against this Buck
Duane"
"Yes."
"Well, don't be n - fool now and
do what Poggin or almost any OF you
men would-don't meet this Buck
Duane. I've reason to believe he's Q
Texas Ranger now"
"The hell you say!" exclaimed
Knell.
, "Yes, Go 10 Ord and give lin