Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-14

was mat Of u man true g himself.
He meant he had been sponsor for
Duane and now he would stand by
him.
"Back. Fletcher I" called Duane. and
his voice made the outlaw jump.
"Hold on, Dodge an you-all, every
body" said Fletcher. ''Let me talk,
seein' I'm In the wrong here"
His persuasions did not ease the
strain.
''Go ahead. Talk" said Poggin.
Fletcher turned to Duane. "Pard,
I'm takin' It on myself tibet you meet
enemies here when / swore you'd meet
friends. It's my fault. I'll stand BY
you II you let me-"
"No, JIM" replied Duane.
'But what d you come fer without
the signal? burst out Fletcher In
distress. He saw nothing but catas-
trophe In this meeting.
"Jim, amt pressin' my company
none. But when I'm wanted bad"
Fletcher stopped him with a raised
hand. Then he turned to Poggin with
. rude dignity.
"Poggy, he's my pard, an he's riled.
] never told him a word thet d make
him sore. ! only said Knell hadn't no
more use fer him than fer me. Now,
what you say goes IN this gang. I
never failed you In my life. Here's
my pard. ! vouch fer him. viii you
stand fer met There's goin' to be hell
II you don't. An us with big job.
on hands"
While Fletcher toiled over his slow,
earnest persuasion Duane had his
gaze riveted upon Poggin. There was
something leonine about Poggin.> He
was tawny. He blaz d. He seemed
beautiful. But looked at closer with
glance seeing the physical man, instead
Of that thing which shone from him, he
was Of perfect build. with muscles
that swelled and rippled. bullying his
clothes, with the magnificent head and
face of the cruel, fierce. tawny-eyed
jaguar.
Looking at this strange Poggin, In
stinctively divining his abnormal and
hideous power, Duane had for the
first time In his life the inward quak-
ing fear Of man. It was like a
cold-tongued bell ringing within him
and numbing his heart. The old
instructive firing of blood followed, but
did not drive away that fear. He
knew. He felt something here deeper
than thought could 60. And he hated
Poggin.
That individual had been considering
Fletcher's appeal.
"Jim, ante up" he said, IAN II
Phil doesn't raise US out with big
hand why, he'll get called, an your
pard can set in the game"
Every eye shifted to Knell. He was
dead white. He laughed, and anyone
hearing that laugh would have realized
his intense anger equally with an, as
surance which made him master Of the
situation.
"Poggin, you're a gambler, you are
the ace-high, straight-hush hand of the
Big Bend" he said, with singing
scorn. I'll bet you my roll to
greaser peso that I can deal you q
hand you'll be afraid to play"
"Phil, you're talkin' Wild" growled
Poggin, with both advice and menace
In his tone.
aIf there's anything you hate, It's 4
man who pretends to be somebody elss
when he's not Thet sor
Pogsin nodded in strengthening
wrath. ss
"Well, inns new pard-this man
Dodge hes not who he seems. But
/ know him. An when I spring his
name on you, Poggin, youlll freeze.
an your hand win b stiff when It
ought to be liehtnin' all because
you'll realize you've been standin
there five minutes-fve minutes alive
before him!
II not hate, then assuredly great
passion toward Poggin manifested It
self In Knell's scornful, hery address,
In the shaking hand he thrust before
Poggin's face. In the ensuing silent
pause Knell'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 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.
"Buck 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. It was possible. too.
that Knell's manner, the Import OF his
denunciation, the meaning back OF all
his passion held Poggin bound moro
than the surprise. For the outlaw GER
tainly was surprised, perhaps stagger-
cd at the idea that he. Poggin, had
been about to stand sponsor with
Fletcher for famous outlaw hated
I and feared by, all outlaws.
Knell waited a long moment, ana
then his face broke its cold immobility
in an extraordinary expression OF
devilish glee. He had bounded the
great Poggin into something that gave
him vicfous. mOnstrOus 10Y.