The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-03-15

ready Ia run. They all talked M
once, aud the word most significant
and frequent In their speech was
"outlnwS"
MncNe,ly clappcd his fst In his
hand.
''This u make the ndlutn2j sick
with Joy. Maybe he won't have 10
on the Lovrrnorl Wen show their
about the RINGER service. duane /.
how'd you ever do III"
"Now, Captpln, not the half nor
the quarter ~ this Jobs done. Tn,
gnng's coming down the road. They'll
ride In to town on the dot-two-thlrty..
GLOW many?" asked MncNclly.
"Poggin, Blossom Kane, Panhandle
Smith, IBoldt, jim Fletcher, and nn
other man | don't know"
"Poggin-that's The hard nut "a
crack I've heard their record since
rye been II Val Verde. Where,
Knell3"
"Knell's dead"
"Ah!" exclaimed MacNelly, softly
Then he grew businesslike, cool. nno
Of harder aspect. duane, It's your
game to-day. We're all under your
orders"
you understand there's no sense In
trying to arrest roggin, Kane and thar
lott" quorled Duane.
"No. | don't understand that" re.
piled MacNelly, bluntly.
at can't be done. The drop can't
he got on such men. poggln! That
outlaw has no equal with n gun-un
less He's got to be Killed quick
They'll all have to be killed. They're
all bad, desperate, know no fear, are
lightning In action"
Every well, Duane; then It's n fight
That II be easier, perhaps. The boys
are spelling for n fight. Out with yout
plan. now"
'I'ut one man Mt each end OF thi,
street, just ut the edge of town. Put
folr men up in that room over the
bank-two at each open window. Let
them hide till the game begins. The
rest of your men put inside behind
the counters, where they'll hide. Now
20 over to the bank. spring the thing
on the bank oilici as, send your mer
over one by one. No hurry, no ex.
element, no unusual thing to attract
notice In the bank"
"All right. That's great. Tell me,
where do you intend to wait?"
Duane heard MacNclly's question.
and IT struck him peculiarly. He had
seemed to be planning and speaking
mechanically. As he was confronted
by the fact 1t nonplused him some.
what, and he became thoughtful,
with lowered head.
where II you wait. Dunnei" In.
sisted MacNelly, with keen eye,
specializing.
"Ill wait In front-just inside the
door" replied Duane. with an effort
But will you hidel" asked Mac.
Nelly.
Duane was silent.
MacNelly stared, and then a strange
compromising light seemed to t!t
over his face.
Duane, ] can give you no order.
to-day" he said. distinctly. I'm only
offering advice. Need you take any
more risks? You've redeemed your
WIZ iht EoNtlHoT, tHe uuJutuht-bth
cral-the whole state will rise up ano
honor YOU. | say, as n ranger, neec
you take more risk than your cap
tainf"
Still Duane remained silent. He
was locked between two forces. Ant
one, II tide that was bursting at IT.
bounds, seemed about TO O%verwhelu
him. Finally that side OF him, the
rctrcating self, the weaker, found
voice.
Captain, just what I'll do or where
I'll be | can't say yet. In meetings
like this the moment decides. Blu
I'll be there
MacNclly spread wide his hands
looked heiplessly ut his curious anc
sympathetic rangers, and shook his
head.
Now you've done your work-lait
thet rap-is this strange move Of you're
going TO be fair to Miss Longstreth?'
asked MacNelly. In significant low
voice.
Like Il great tree chopped at the
roots Duane vibrated to that. lie
ioohcu up as III he had seen u ghost
Mercilessly the ranger captain went
on: You can win her, Duane! oh,
you emit fool me. l was wise In .
minute. Fight with US from cover.
fouT DO free, hOnored. happy. That
girl loves you! l saw 1t In her eyes
She's"
But Duane cut him short with .
hnFnn aVat.a. " - A.
feet, and the rangers fell back. Dark,
silent, grim as he had been. still there
was n transformation singularly more
sinister, stranger.
Enough. I'm DONE" he said, SOM
berry. 1--WE planned. Do we agree
or shall ! meet Poggin aud his gang
nlonci"
MacNelly cursed and again threw
up his hands, this time In bafied
chagrin. There was deep regret In