The Elbert County tribune., 1917-01-19
CHAPTER xxIv-consinued.

seii IN hnellS ScOrnIui, merry huuress,
In the shaking hand he thrust before
Poggin's face. In the ensuing silent
pause Kneli'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 n curse.
Strangely Knell 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.
"BucS Duane!" he yelled, suddenly.
The name did not make any differ
ence in Poggin. But Knell's passionate
swift utterance carried the suggestion
that the name ought to bring Poggin
to quick action. 1t was possible, too,
that Knell's manner. the import of his
denunclation, 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
and feared by all outlaws.
Knell waited a long moment, and
then his face broke Its cold immobility
in nn extraordinary expression OF
devillsh glee. He had bounded the
great Poggin into something that gave
him vicious, monstrous joy.
"Buck Dunnel Yes" he broke out.
hotly. '"The Nueces gunmanl That
two-shot- ace-of-spades lone-wolf
You an I-we've heard n thousand
times of him--talked about him often.
An here he is In front of you Poggin.
you were baclSin' Fletcher's new pard,
Buck Duane. An he'd fooled you
both but for me. But I know him.
An / know why he drifted In here.
To flash gun on Cheseldine-on you
-on moi Bnhl Don't tell me he
wanted to join the gang. You know n
gunmGn, for you're one yourself.
Don't you always want to meet real
man, not four-flush? It's the mad
ness of the .gunman, an l know 1t.
Well, Duane faced you--called you
An when / sprung his name, what
ought you have done? What would
the boss-nnybody-hav expected Of
Poggin? Did you throw your gun,
swift, like you have so often? Nav;
you froze. An why2 Because here's
q man with the kind OF nerve you'd
love to have. Because he's great
meetin' us here alone. Because you
know he's wonder with n gun an
you love life. Because you an 1 an
every damned man here has to take
his front, each to himself. If we all
drew we'd kill him. Surel But who's
Eoin' to lend? Who was goin' to be
first? Who was goln' to make him
draw Not you. Poggin! You leave
that for lesser man-me-who've
lived to see you coward. 1t comes
once to every gunman. You've met
your match in Buck Duane. An, by
God. Tn glad! Here's once I show
you upl"
The hoarse haunting voice failed
Knell stepped back from the comrade
be hated. He was wet. shaking, hag-
gard. but magnificent.
"Buck Duane, do you remember
1ardin?" he asked, in scarcely audible
voice.
"Yes," replied Duane. and flash of
insight rnade clear Knell's attitude.
''You met him-forced him to draw
killed him?"
"Yes"
"Hardin was the best pard ever
had"
His teeth clicked together tight, and
bis lips set in thin line.
The room grew still. Even breathing
ceased The time for words had pass
ed. In that long moment of suspense
Knell's body gradually stiffened, and
at last the quivering ceased. He
crouched. His eyes had soul-pierc-
ing fire.
Duane watched him. He waited.
BE caught the thought-the breaking
of Knell's muscle-bound rigidity. Then
he drew.
Through the smoke of his gun he
saw two red spurts of flame. Knell's
bullets thudded into the ceiling. He
fell with scream like a wild thing
In agony.
Duane did not see Knell die. He
watched Poggin. And Poggln. like
stricken and astounded man, looked
down upon his PROSTATE comrade.
Fletcher ran at Duane with hands
aloft.
''Hit the trail. you liar. or you'll
hev to kill mew he yelled.
With hands still up, he shoulde7ed
and bodied Duane out of the room.
Dunne leaped on his horse. spurred,
and plunged away.
CHAPTER XIV