The Elbert County tribune., 1917-01-05

1 reckon I git In on this deal. seein
STAYED off Guthrie"
Duane played his part. Here was
his opportunity, and like tiger after
prey he seized 1t. First he coolly
eyed the outlaw and then disclaimed
any knowledge whatever of the train
robbery other than Fletcher had heard
himself Then at Fletcher's persist
ence and admiration and increasing
show of friendliness he laughed oc-
casionally and allowed himself to
swell with pride. though still denying.
Later, when Duane started up an
nouncing his Intention to get his horse
and make for camp out in the brush,
Fletcher seemed grievously offended
"Why don't you stay with me? I've
got comfortable 'dobe over here.
Didn't I stick by you when Guthrie
an his bunch come up? Supposin' 1
hedn't showed down a cool hand to
him? You'd be swingin' somewheres
now. I tell you, Dodge, 1t amt
square"
'I'l square It. I pay my debts"
replied Duane. "But 1 can't put up
here all night. If 1 belonged to the
gang 1t d be different"
"What gang?" asked Fletcher, blunt
ly.
"Why, Cheseldine's."
Fletcher's beard nodded as his jaw
dropped.
Duane laughed. 81 run into him
the other day. Knowed him on sight.
Sure, he's the king-pin rustler. When
he seen me an asked me what reason
I had for bein' on earth or some such
like-why. up an told him."
Fletcher appeared staggered.
'Who in alfred hell air you talkin'
about?"
Didn't tell you once? Cheseldine.
He calls himself Longstreth over
there"
All of Fletcher's face not covered
by hair turned a dirty white.
"Cheseldine = Longstreth ~ he
whispered, hoarsely. "God Almighty |
You braced the" Then a remarkable
transformation came over the outlaw.
He gulped; he Strengthened his face;
he controlled his agitation. But he
could not send the healthy brown
back to his face. Duane, watching this
rude man, marveled at the change in
him, the sudden checking movement,
the proof of wonderful fear and
loyalty. 1t all meant Cheseldlne, q
master of menl
"Who air you?" queried Fletcher, in
a queer, strained voice.
"You gave me handle, didn't you?
Dodge. Thet's as good as any. Shore
1t hits me hard. Jim, I've been pretty
lonely for years, an I'm gettin' in
need of pals. Think it over, will you?
See you manana."
The outlaw watched Duane go off
after his horse, watched him as he re-
turned to the tavern, watched him
ride out In the darkness-all without
a word.
Duane left the town, threaded
quiet passage through cactus and mes
quite to spot he had marked before,
and passed the night. His mind was
SO full that he found sleep aloof.
Luck at last was playing his game.
He sensed the first slow heave of a
mighty crisis. The end, always haunt
ing, had to be sternly blotted from
thought. 1t was the approach that
needed all his mind.
Late In the morning he returned to
Ord. If Jim Fletcher tried to disguise
his surprise, the effort was q failure.
Certainly he had not expected to see
Duane again. Duane allowed himself
a little freedom with Fletcher, an at
titude hitherto lacking.
That afternoon a horseman rode in
from Bradford, an outlaw evidently
well known and liked by his fellows,
and Duane heard him say, before he
could possibly have been told the
train-robber was in Ord, that the loss
of money in the hold-up was slight.
Like a flash Duane saw the luck of
this report. He pretended not to have
heard.
In the early twilight at an opportune
moment he called Fletcher to him,
and, linking his arm within the out
laws, he drew him off in a stroll to
a log bridge spanning a little gully.
Here after gazing around, he took out
a roll of bills, spread it out, split 1t
equally, and without word handed
one half to Fletcher. With clumsy
fingers Fletcher ran through the roll.
Five hundredw u he exclaimed.
Dodge, thet's damn handsome of you,
considerin' the job wasn't"
"Considerin' nothin'," interrupted
Duane. 'Tm maxim no reference to
Job here or there. You did me
good turn. I split my pile. If thet
doesn't make US pards, good turns
an money amt no use in this coun-
try"
Fletcher was won.
The two men spend much time to-
gether. Duane made up short fcti-
uous story about himself that satis-