Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-31

The Lone
Star RANGER
a Romance Of the Border
BY ZANE GREY
Asshos q
THE LIGHT or MESTEKN STARS
RIDERS Or TlE PURPLE SAGE" ETC.
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He came to Z little window where
light shone through. He peeped In.
He saw a room shrouded In shadows.
! lamp turned low, a table, chairs.
He saw an open door, with bright mare
beyond, but could not see the nre.
voices came indistinctly. He went on
round that end Of the cabin. Fortune
favored him. There were bushes, an
old shed, wood-pile, all tho cover
he needed at that corner. He did not
even need to crawl.
Before he peered between the rough
corner of wall and the bush growing
close to II, Duane paused a moment.
This excitement was different from
that he had always felt when pursued
II had no bitterness, no pain. no dread.
There was ~ much danger here, Per.
haps more. yet it was not the sams.
Then he looked.
He saw a bright IRE, a red-faced
man bending over 1t, whistling, while
he handled steaming pot. Over him
was rooted shed built against the
wall, with two open sides and two
supporting posts. Duane's second
glance, not 50 blinded BY the sudden
bright light, made out other men.
three In the shadow, two in the hare,
but with backs to him.
'It's a smoother trail by long odds,
but ain't 80 short as this one right
over the mountain" one outlaw was
saying.
WHATS eatin' You. PanhandleT
calculated another. Blossom an me
rode from PARKWAY Springs, where
Poggin is with some Of the gang"
Excuse me. Phil. Shore didn't
see you come in, an Boldt never said
nothin'."
at took you long time to get here,
but guess that's just as well,' spoke
up smooth, suave voice with ring
In it
Longstreth's voice - Cheseldine's
voicei
Here they were heseldine, Phil
Knell, Blossom Kane, Panhandle
Smith. Boldt-how well Duane remem-
bered the names !--all here, the big
men OF Cheseldlne's gang, except the
biggest-Poggin Duane had holed
them, and his sensations Of the mo
ment deadened sight and sound OF
what was before him. He sank down,
controlling himself, silenced mount
ing exultation, then from Z less strain
ed position he peered forth again.
The outlaws were waiting for sup
per. Their conversation might have
been that Of cowboys In camp. ranch
ers at roundup. Knell sat there,
tall. slim, like Z boy In years, with his
pale, smooth. expressionless face and.
cold, gray eyes. And Longstreth, who
leaned against the wall, handsome.
with his dark face and beard like m
aristocrat, resembled many rich
Louisiana planter Duane had met.
Panhandle Smith carried pots and
pans into the cabin. and cheerfnlly
called out III you gents air hungry
fer grub, don't look fer me to feed
you with spoon"
The outlaws piled inside, made Z
great hustle and clatter as they sat
to their meal. Like hungry men. they
talked little.
Duane waited there for while. then
guardedly got up and ,crept round to
the other side Of the cabin, After ne
became used to the dark again ne
ventured to steal along the wall to the
window and peeped In. The outlaws
were In the FIRST room and could not
be seen.
Duane waited. The moments
dragged endlessly. His heart pound
ed. Longstreth, entered, turned up the
light. and taking box OF cigars from
the table, he carried It out.
Here, you fellows, go outside and.
smoke" he said. .Knell, come In
now. Let's get 1t over
He returned, sat down, and lighted
cigar for himself He put his boot
ed feet on the table.
Duane saw that the room was conn
fortably. even luxuriously furnished.
There must have been a 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 ana. rs always.
cold.
.swhat's wrong, Knellf why didn't
you get here soonerY queried Long.
streth.
"Poxgin! We're on the outs again"
~ mat 1 SooS: &c. = out nf your sys.
TEN 30 We can 70 on to the new JOB.
"Well, 1t began back a ways. I
don't know how long ago --weeks---a
stranger rode into Ord an got down
easy-like a. II he owned the place.
He seemed familiar to me. But !
wasn't sure. We looked him over. an
left, tryin' to place him in my mind
sWhat ID he, look like?'
.Rangy, powerful man, white hair
over his temples, still. hard face,
eyes ike knives. The way he packed
his guns, the way he walked an stood
an swung his right hand showed me
what he was. You can't fool me on
| the gun-sharp. An be had 2 grand
horse. big black"
.'rve met your man" said Long
streth.
.sNo!" exclaimed Knell It was
wonderful to hear surprise expressed
by this man that did not In the least
show It in his strange physiognomy.
Knell laughed short, grim, hollow
laugh. Boss. this here biz gent drifts
/ in4n INrA aaain ~ makAa mn 10 Tim