The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-19
The Lone
Star Ranger
A Romance of the Border
BY ZANE GREY
Author Of
THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS"
RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE" ETC.
oooyrisht by Harper and Brothers

surance which made him master of the
situation.
"Poggin, you're a gambler, you are
the ace-high, straight-fush hand of the
Big Bend" he said, with singing
scorn. "Tll bet you my roll to a
greaser peso that 1 can deal you a
hand you'll be afraid to play"
"Phil, you're talkin' Wild" growled
Poggin, with both advice and menace
in his tone.
IF there's anything you hate, it's a
man who pretends to be somebody else
when he's not Thet sol"
Poggin nodded in strengthening
wrath.
well, Jim's new pard-this man
Dodge-he's not who he seems. But
know him. An when l spring his
name on you, Poggin, you'll freeze,
an YOU hand will be stiff when 1T
ought to be lightnin'-all because
you'll realize you've been standin'
there five minutes-five minutes alive
before him ~
If not hate, then assuredly great
passion toward Poggin manifested it.
self in Knell's s~cornful, fiery address,
In the shaking hand he thrust before
Poggin's face. In the ensuing silent
pause Knells 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 a curse.
Strangely Knell did not even look
at the man he vas 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 Knelrs passionate,
swift utterance carried the suggestion
that the name ought to bring Poggin
to quick action. 1t was possible, too,
that Knell's manner, the import of his
denunciation, the meaning back of all
his passion held Poggin bound more
than the surprise. For the outlaw GER
tainly was surprised, perhaps stagger-
ed at the idea that he, Poggin, had
been about to stand sponsor with
Fletcher for a famous outlaw hated
and feared by all outlaws.
Knell waited a long moment, n
then his face broke its cold immobility
in an extraordinary expression or
devilish glee. He had bounded the
great Poggin into something that gave
him vicious. monstrous joy.
"Buck Duane! Yes" he broke out,
holly. 1.-The Nueces gunman! That
two-shot, ace-of-spades lone-wolf !
times of him-talked about him often.
An here he is in front of you Poggin,
you were backin' Fletcher's new pard,
Buck Duane. An he'd fooled you
both but for me. But l know him.
An / know why he drifted in here.
To flash a gun on Cheseldine-on you
ON mel BAH Don't tell me he
wanted to join the gang. You know a
gunman, for you're one yourself.
Don't you always want to meet a real
man, not a f~our-fiush? It's the mad
ness of the gunman, an | know II.
Well, Duane faced you-called you J
An when / sprung his name, what
ought you have done? What would
the boss-anybody-have expected of
Poggin? Did you throw your gun,
swift, like you have so often? Nav
you froze. An why? Because here's
a man with the kind of nerve you'd
love to have. Because he's great
meetin' us here alone. Because you
know he's a wonder with a gun an
you love life. Because you an l an
every damned man here has TO take
his front, each to himself. If we all
drew we'd kill him. Sure! But who's
goin' to lead? Who was goin' TO be
first? Who was goin' to make him
drawn Not you, Poggin! You leave
that for a lesser man-me-who've
lived to see you a coward. 1t comes
nice TO every gunman. You've met
your match in Buck Duane. An. by
God, I'm gladl Here's once / show
you up"
The hoarse. taunting voice failed.
Knell stepped back from the comrade
he hated. He was wet, shaking, hag-
gard. but magnificent.