Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-28
40, / don't understand mat. r
piled MacNelly, bluntly.

no, don't understand rnaL. re
piled MacNelly, bluntly.
1T can't be done. The drop cant
be got on such men. Poggin! That
outlaw has no equal with u 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 fight
That II be easier, perhaps. The boys
are spelling for fight. Out with your
plan. now"
"Put one man at each end of this
street, just at the edge of town. Put
four 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
60 over to the bank, spring the thing
on the bank officials, send your men
over one by one. No hurry, no ex-
element, no unusual thing to attract
notice in the bank"
"An right. That's great. Tell me.
where do you intend to waltz"
Duane heard MacNelly's question,
and it struck him peculiarly. He had
seemed to be planning and speaking
mechanically. AS he was confrontst
by the fact 1t nonplused him some
what, and he became thoughtful,
with lowered head.
"Where II you wait, Duane?" In
sisted MacNelly, with keen eyes
specializing.
'Ill wait in front-just inside the
door," replied Duane, with an effort
But will you hide7" asked Mac
Nelly.
Duane was Silent.
MacNelly stared, and then strange,
comprehending light seemed to fit
over his face.
Duane, I can give you no orders
to-day" he said, distinctly. I'm only
offering advice. Need you take any
more risks? You've redeemed your
self. The governor, the adjutant-gen-
eral--the whole state will rise up and
honor you. I say, as a ranger, need
you take more risk than your cap
tainT'
Still Duane remained silent. He
was locked between two forces. And
one, q tide that was bursting ut its
bounds, seemed about to oyerWhelm
him. Finally that side Of him, the
retreating self, the weaker, found 9
voice.
Captain, just what I'll do or where
I'll be + can't say yet. In meetings
like this the moment decides. But
I'll be there'!"
MacNelly spread wide his hands,
looked helplessly at his curious and
sympathetic rangers, and shook his
head.
"Now you've done your work-laid
the trap-is this strange move of yours
going to be fair to Miss Longstreth?'
asked MacNelly, in significant low
voice.
Like a great tree chopped at the
roots Duane vibrated to that. He
looked up as if he had seen a ghost.
Mercilessly the ranger captain went
on: "You can win her, Duane! Oh,
you can't fool me. I was wise in a
minute. Fight with us from cover.
Youth be free, honored, happy. That
girl loves you! I saw it in her eyes.
She's
But Duane cut him short with q
fierce gesture. He lunged up to his
feet, and the rangers fell back. Dark,
silent, grim as he had been, still there
was transformation singularly more
stranger.
Enough. I'm DONE" he said, SOM
berly. 1--WE planned. Do we agree
or shall meet Poggin and his gang
MacNelly cursed and again threw
up his hands, this time in baftled
chagrin. There was deep regret in
his dark eyes as they rested upon
Duane.
Duane was left alone.
Never had his mind been so quick, SO
clear, so wonderful in its understanding
Of what had heretofore been Intricate
andl elusive impulses Of his strange
nature. His determination was tomeet
Poggin; meet him before anyone else
had a chance first-and then
the others! He was as unalterable
IN that decision as if on the instant
Of its acceptance he had become stone.
Why? Then came realization. He
vas not ranger now. He cared moth
ing for the state. He had no thought
If freeing the community of q danger
ous outlaw, of Kidding the country of
IN obstacle to its progress and pros
Derity. He wanted to kill Poggin. 1t
vas significant now that he forgot the
)ther outlaws. He was the gunman,
he gun-thrOwer, the gun-fighter, pas
,ionate and terrible. His fathers
blood, that dark and fierce strain, his
Mothers spirit. that strong and un-
spirit of the surviving pio-
leer-these had been in him; and the
Killings, one after another, the wild
md haunted years, had made him, alb
,olutely in spite Of his will, the gun
nan. He realized it now, bitterly.
The thing he had intelligence
enough to hate he had become. At
asst he shudderes} under the driving.