Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-18

stranger
eottons to him. Got money out of him
sure. And that's what stumps me
more. What's this mans game? l hap
pen to know, boss. that he couldn't
have held up No. g."
sHow do you know?" demanded
Longstreth.
Because l did the job myself"
4 dark and stormy passion clouded
the chiefs face.
"Knell, you're incorrigible You're
unreliable. Another break like that
queers you with me. Did you tell
Poggin?"
Yes. Thets one reason we fell
out. He raved. I thought he was
goin' to kill me-" Several of the boys
rode over from Ord, an one of them
went to Poggin an says Jim Fletcher
has a new man for the gang. Jim an
Poggin always hit it up together. So
until I got on The deal Jim's pard
was already in the gaGs, Without
Poggin or you ever seem him. Then
I got to figurin' hard. Just where |
ever seen that chap? | dug up lot
of old papers from my kit an went
over them. Letters. pictures, clip
pins, an all that ] guess I had a
pretty good notion what l was leokin'
for an who I wanted to make sure Of.
At last | found it. An I knew my
man But didn't spring it on PogGin.
L sent Blossom over to Ord with
message calculated TO make JiE1 hump.
Poggin got sore, said he'd wait for
Jim, an I could come over here to
see you about the new job. He'd
meet me in Ord"
knell had spoken hurriedly and low,
now and then with passion. His pale
eyes glinted like fire in ice, and now
his voice fell to whisper.
"Wh0 do you think Fletcher's new
man is?"
"Who?" demanded Longstreth.
Buck Duanei"
Down came LOngstreth's boots with
crash, then his body grew rigid.
THAT Nueces outlaw? That two
shot ace-Of-spades gun-thr0wer who
killed Bland Alloway-?" with more
feeling than the apparent circum-
stance demanded
Eyes; and Hardin, the best one Of
the Rim Rock fellows-Buck Duane!"
LOngstreth was so CHASTITY white
now that his black mustache seemed
outlined against chalk. He eyed his
grim lieutenant. They understood
each other without more words. It
was enough that Buck Duane was
there in the Big Bend. LOngstreth
rose presently and reached for flask,
from which he drank, then offered it
to Knell. He waved it aside.
"Knell," began the chief, slowly, as
he wiped his lips, 81 gathered you
have some grudge against this Buck
Duane"
Yes
"Well, don't be q - fool now and
do what Poggin or almost any OF you
men wou'd-dont meet this EucS
Duane. I've reason to believe he's
Texas Ranger now"
1.-THE hell you say!" exclaimed
Knell
Eyes. Go to Ord and give Jim
Fletcher a bunch. He'll get POggin,
and they'll fix even Buck Duane"
"All right. I'll do my best. But if
I run into Duane"
Don't run into him!" LOngstreth's
voice fairly rang with the force Of
its passion and command. He wiped
his face, drank again from the flask,
sat down, resumed his smoking, and,
drawing a paper from his vest pocket,
he began to study it.
"We1l I'm glad that's settled" he
said, evidently referring to the Duane
matter. ''NOw for the new job. This
is October the eighteenth. On or be-
fore the twenty-1fth there will be
shipment of gold reach the Rancher's
Bank of Val Verde After you return
to Ord give Poggin these orders. Keep
the gang quiet You, Poggin, Kane,
Fletcher, Panhandle Smith. and Boldt
to be in on the secret and the job. No
body else. You'll leave Ord on the
twenty-third, ride cross country by the
trail till you get within sight of Mer-
GER. It's hundred miles from Brad
ford to Val Verde-abOut the same
from Ord. Time your travel to get
you near Val Verde on the morning
of the twenty-sixth. You won't have
to more than trot your horses. At
two O'Clock in the afternoon, sharp,
ride into town and up to the Ranch
er's Bank Val Verde's a pretty big
town. Never been any hold-ups there.
Town feels safe. Make it clean,
fast, daylight job. That's all. Have
you got the details?"
Knell did not even ask for the dates
again.
Suppose Poggin or me might be
detainedY he asked.
Longstreth bent a dark glance upon
his lieutenant.
you meyer can tell what IL come
off," continued Knell. "Tll do my
best"
CHAPTER XIV.
Like a swift shadow and as noise