Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-07

leaned against the wall, handsome,
with his dark face and beard like an
aristocrat, resembled many a rich
Louisiana planter Duane had met.
Panhandle Smith carried pots and
pans into the cabin, and cheerfully
called out: IF you gents air hungry
fer grub, don't look fer me to feed
you with spoon"
The outlaws piled inside, made a
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 he
became used to the dark again he
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 1t out.
"Here. you fellows, 60 outside and
smoke" he said. "Knell, come In
now. Let's get it 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 COM
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 and, as always,
cold.
"What's wrong, Knell? Why didn't
you get here soonerT queried Long
streth.
"Poggin! We're on the outs again"
"What for? Get 1t out Of your sys-
TEN so we can 60 on to the new job"
"Well, it began back ways. |
don't know how long ago-weeks-a
stranger rode into Ord an got down
easy-like as If he owned the place.
He seemed familiar to me. But l
wasn't sure. We looked him over, an
left, tryin' to place him in my mind"
"What d he look like"
"Rangy, powerful man, white hair
over his temples still, hard face,
ewes like 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 he had a grand
horse. big black"
"I've met your man." said Long
streth.
"No!" 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 big gent drifts
into Ord again an makes up to Jim
Fletcher. Jim-he up an takes this
stranger to be the fly road-agent an
cottons to him. Got money out Of him
sure. And that's what stumps me
more. What's this mans game? ! hap
pen to know, boss, that he couldn't
have held up No. g."
"How do you know" demanded
Longstreth.
Because did the Job myself"
A 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. Thet's 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 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 gang, without
Poggin or you ever SEEM him. Then
got to fgurin' hard. Just where I
ever seen that chap? dug up lot
of old papers from my kit an went
over them. Letters pictures, clip
pins, an all that. I guess had a
pretty good notion what was lO0kin'
for an who wanted to make sure Of.
At last I found it, An I knew my
man. But I didn't spring 1t on Poggln.
! sent Blossom over to Ord with
message calculated to make Jim 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.
"Who do you think Fletcher's new
man is?'
"Who7" demanded Longstreth.
Buck Duane!"
Down came Longstreth's boots with
Q crash, then his body grew rigid.
~That Nueces outlaw? That two
shot ace-of-spades gun-thrower 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 Duanel"
Lohgstreth 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,