The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-24

VI AAd(ANCAlJ " q ldIkC IOOiit hht y
hall, and here were men reading and
smoking. Duane knew them
rangersl
MaeNelly beckoned to his men. They
crowded close, eager, like hounds
ready to run. They all talked at
once, and the word most significant
and frequent In their speech was
outlaws"
MacNelly clapped his fist In his
hand.
"This IL make the adjutant sick
with joy. Maybe he won't have IL
on the Governorl Well show them
about the ranger service. Duanel
how'd you ever do it?'
"Now, Captain, not the half nor
the quarter Of this jobs done. The
gangs coming down the road. They'll
ride in to town on the dot-two-thirty."
How many?" asked MaeNelly.
"Poggin, Blossom Kane, Panhandle
Smith, Boldt, Jim Fletcher, and an
other man / don't know"
"Poggin-that's the hard nut to
crack! I've heard their record since
I've been in Val Verde. Where's
Knell?"
"Kne1l's dead"
"Ah!" exclaimed MacNelly, softly.
Then he grew businesslike, cool, and
of harder aspect. duane, it's -FOUR
game to-day. We're all under your
orders"
you understand there's no sense In
trying to arrest Poggin, Kane and that
LOTT" queried Duane.
mo, / don't understand that" re-
piled MacNelly, blHntly.
1T can't be done. The drop can't
be got on such men. Pogginl That
outlaw has no equal with a 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 a fight.
That IL be easier, perhaps. The boys
are spelling for a fight. Out with your
plan. now"
Put enc TAI 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
go over to the bank, spring the thing
ON the bank officials, send your men
over one by one. No hurry, nc ex-
element, no unusual thing to attract
notice in the bank"
"All 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 confronted
by the fact it nonplused him m
what, and he became thoughtful,
with lowered head.
"Where IL you wait, Duanef" in
sisted MacNelly, with keen eyes
specializing.
"I1l wait in front-just inside the
door," replied Duane, with an effort.
But will you hide?" asked Mac
Nelly.
Duane was silent.
MacNelly stared, and then a strange,
comprehending light seemed to fit
over his face.
duane, / 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. l say, as a ranger, need
you take more risk than your cap
tain?"
Still Duane remained silent. He
was locked between two forces. And
one. a tide that was bursting at it's
bounds, seemed about to overwhelm
him. Finally that side Of him. the
%retreating self, the weaker, found a
voice.
Captain, just what I'll do or where
I'll be l 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.
snow 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
n you can win her, Duane! oh,
you can't fool me. l was wise in a
minute. Fight with us from cover.
You'll be free, honored, happy. That
girl loves you'll l saw 1t in her eyes.
She's"
But Duane cut him short with a
fierce gesture. He lunged up to his
feet, and the rangers fell back. Dark,
silent, grim as he had been, still there
was a transformation singularly more