Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-18

MS voice made the outlaw Jump.
Hold on, Dodge. an you-all, every
body" said Fletcher. Let me talk,
seem I'm in the 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 thet YOU meet
enemies here when I swore you'd meet
friends. It's my fault. IL stand by
you if you let me-"
NO JIM" replied Duane.
But what d you come fer without
the signal?" burst out Fletcher in
distress. lie saw nothing but catas-
trophe in this meeting.
Jim, 1 amt pressin' my company
none. But when I'm wanted bad"
Fletcher stopped him with a raised
hand. Then he turned to Poggin with
a rude dignity.
Peggy, he's my pard, an he's riled.
| never told him word tibet d make
him sore. / only said knell hadn't no
more use fer him than fer me. Now,
what you say goes in this gang.
never failed you in my life. Here's
my pard. / 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,
earnest persuasion Duane had his
gaze riveted upon Poggin. There was
something leonine about Poggin. He
was tawny. He blazed. He seemed
beautiful. But looked at closer with
glance seeing the physical man, instead
Of that thing which shone from him, he
was Of perfect build, with muscles
that swelled and rippled, bullying his
clothes, with the magnificent head and
face Of the cruel. fierce, tawny-eyed
iaguar.
Looking at this strange Poggin, III
stinctively divining his abnormal and
hideous power, Duane had for the
first time in his life the inward quak-
ing fear of a man. It was like a
cOld-tOngued bell ringing within him
and numbing his heart The old
instructive 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 considering
Fletcher's appeal.
''Jim, I ante up" he said, "an' if
Phil doesn't raise us out with big
hand-why, he'll get called, an your
pard can set in the game"
Every eye shifted to Knell. He was
dead white. He laughed, and anyone
hearing that laugh would have realized
his intense anger equally with an as
surance which made him master of the
situation.
''Poggin, you're a gambler, you are
the ace-hgh, straight-f1ush hand of the
Big Bend" he said, with singing
scorn. I'll bet you my roll to a
greaser peso that [ can deal you a
hand you'll be afraid to play"
"Phil, you're taIkin' wild" growled
Poggin, with both advice and menace
in his tone.
eff there's anything you hate, it's a
man who pretends to be somebody else
when he's not. Tibet so?"
Poggin nodded in slcw-gathering
wrath.
Well Jim's new pard-this man
Dodge-he's not who he seems. But
L knoy him. An when I spring his
name on you, Poggin, you'll freeze,
an your hand will be stiff when it
ought to be lightnin'-alI because
you'll realize you've been standin'
there five minutes-ive minutes alive
before him ~
If not hate, then assuredly great
passion toward Poggin manifested it.
self in kuelIs scornful, fiery address,
In the shaking hand he thrust before
Poggin's face. In the ensuing silent
pause Knell's painting could be plainly
heard. The other men were pale,
Watchful, cautiously edging either way
to the wall, leaving the principals and
Duane in the corner of the room.
Spring his name, then, you" said
Poggin, violently with q curse.
Strangely Kneu did not even look
at the man he was about to denounce.
He leaned toward Poggin, his hands,
his body, his long head all somewhat
expressive of what his face disguised.
Buck Duane! /" he yelled, suddenly.
The name did not make any differ
ence in Poggin. But KnelIs passionate,
swift utterance carried the suggestion
that the name ought to bring POggin
to quick action. It was possible, too,
that KnelPs manner, the import of his
denunciatiOn, the meaning back Of all
his passion held Poggin bound more
than the surprise. For the outlaw GER
tainly was surprised, perhaps stagger-
ed at the idea that he, Poggin, had
been about to stand sponsor with
Fletcher for a famous outlaw hated
and feared by all outlaws.
Kneu waited a long moment, and
then his face broke it's cold immObility
in an extraordinary expression OF
devilish glee. He had bounded the
great Poggin into something that gave
him vicious, monstrous joy.
"Buck Duane! Yes" he broke out,
holly. "The Nueces gunman That
two-shot, ace-of-spades lone-wolf!
You an WE'VE heard a thousand
times Of him-talked about him often.
An hpro ha iS in front oP Won pOOpin.