Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-03
hard lob. The gang operating BE-

tween here and Valentine evidently
have not this trouble. Nobody knows
where the stolen stock goes. But I'm
not alone in my opinion that most Of
1t goes to several big stockmen. They
ship to San Antonio, Austin, New
Orleans, also to El Paso."
"Wholesale business, eh?" remarked
Duane. "WhO are these-er-big
stock-buyers?"
Colonel Webb seemed little
startled at the abrupt query. He
bent his penetrating gaze upon Duane
and thoughtfully stroked his pointed
beard.
Names, Of course, I'll not mention.
Opinions are one thing, direct accusa-
ton another. This is not healthy
country for the informer."
When 1t came to the outlaws them
selves Colonel Webb was disposed to
talk freely. The great name along
the river was Cheseldine, but it SEEM
ed to be name detached from an
individual. No person Of veracity
known to Colonel Webb had ever
seen Cheseldine. Strange to say Of
an outlaw leader, as there was no one
who could identify him. so there was
no one who could prove he had actu-
ally killed man.
But in striking contrast to this
mystery was the person, character,
and cold FLOODED action Of Poggin and
Knell, the chiefs lieutenants. They
were familiar figures In all the towns
within two hundred miles of Brad
ford. Knell had record, but as gun
man with an incredible list of victims,
Poggin was supreme. It Poggin had
friend no one ever heard of him.
There were a hundred stories Of his
nerve, his wonderful speed with gun,
his passion for gambling, his love Of
a horse-his cold, implacable, inhu-
man wiping out Of his path any man
that crossed 1t.
''Cheseldine Is name, terrible
name" said Colonel Webb. Some
times I wonder If he's not only a
name. In that case where does the
brains of this gang come from? No;
there must be a master craftsman
behind this border pillage; master
capable of handling those terrors.
Poggin and Knell. OF all the thou
sands of outlaws developed by west
ern Texas in the last twenty years
these three are the greatest. In
southern Texas, down between the
Pecos and the Nueces, there have been
and are still many bad men. But I
doubt If any outlaw there, possibly
excepting Buck Duane, ever equaled
Poggin. You've heard of this DuaneT
''Yes, q little" replied Duane quiet.
ly. SIN from southern Texas. Buck
Duane, then, is not known out here?'
"Why, man, where isn't his name
known?" returned Colonel Webb.
give kept track Of his record as l
have all the others. His fame in this
country appears to hang on his match
less gun-play and his enmity toward
outlaw chiefs"
HAS -Cheseldine's gang been busy
lately?" asked Duane.
mo. Probably all the stock that's
being shipped now was Ngustled long
ago. Cheseldine works over Il wide
section, too wide FOR news to travel
inside of weeks. There are some
people who think Cheseldine had
nothing to do with the bank-robberies
and train hold-ups during the last few
years in this country. But thats poor
reasoning. The jobs have been too
well DONE too surely covered, TO be
the work Of greasers or ordinary out
laws"
whats your view of the outlook?
How,'s all this going to wind upf
Will the outlaw ever be driven out"
asked Duane.
"Never, There will always be out.
laws along the Rio Grande. All the
armies in the world couldn't comb
the wild brakes of that fifteen hun
bred miles of river. But the sway
of the outlaw, such as is enjoyed by
these great leaders, will sooner or
later be past. There's talk of Vigi-
lantes, the same that were organized
in California and are now in force
in Idaho. SO far It's only talk. But
the time will come. And the days OF
Cheseldine and Poggin are numbered"
CHAPTER XVI.