The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-15

Didn't / tell We this was a Wild
goose chase, comm way out hereT"
protested an old hawk-faced rancher.
"Them boss tracks we follored amt
like any of them we seen at the
water-tank where the train was held
up"
"Tm not sure of that" replied the
leader.
"wal, Guthrie, I've follored tracks
all my life"
"But you couldn't keep to the trail
this Teller made in the brush"
"Gimme time, an / could. Thet
takes time. An heah you go hell-bent
for election But it's a wrong lead
out this way. If you're right, this
road-agent, after he killed his pals,
would hev rid back right through town.
An with them mailbagsl Supposin'
they was greasers? Some greasers
has sense, an when 1t comes to thiev-
in they're shore cute"
"But we amt got any reason to be-
lieve this robber who murdered the
greasers is a greaser himself. / tell
you it was a slick job, done by no
ordinary sneak. Didn't you hear the
facts? One greaser hoped the engine
an covered the engineer an fireman.
Another greaser kept flashin' his gun
outside the train. The big man who
showed back the car door an did the
killin'-he was the real gent, an don't
you forget it,"
Some of the posse sided with the
cowboy leader and some with the old
cattleman. Finally the young leader
disgustedly gathered up his bride.
"Aw, hell Thet sheriff showed you
off this trail. Mebbe he he'd reasonl
Savvy tibet? If / he'd a bunch of cow
boys with mel tell you what, I'd take
a chance and clean up this holel'
All the while Jim Fletcher stood
quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Guthrie, I'm shore treasurin' up
your friendly talk" he said. The
menace was in the tone, not the on
tent of his speech.
"You can-an' be damned to you,
Fletcher !" called Guthrie, as the
horses started.
Fletcher, standing out alone before
the others Of his clan, watched the
posse out of sight.
Luck fer you-all tibet Peggy wasn't
here" he said, as they disappeared.
Then with a thoughtful mien he
strobe up on the porch and led Duane
away from the others into the bar
room. When he looked into Duane's
face 1t was somehow an entirely
changed scrutiny.
dodge, wher'd you hide the stuff?
l reckon I git in on this deal, SEEM
l STAYED off Guthrie"
Duane played his part. Here was
his opportunity, and like a tiger after
prey he seized 1t. First he coolly
eyed the outlaw and then disclaimed
any knowledge whatever of the train
robbery other than Fletcher had heard
himself. Then at Fletcher's persist
ence and admiration and increasing
show of friendliness he laughed oc-
~casionally and allowed himself to
swell with pride, though still denying.
Later, when Duane started up an
nouncing his intention to get his horse
and make for camp out in the brush.
Fletcher seemed %grievously offended.
"Why don't you stay with me? I've
got a comfortable 'dobe over here.
Didn't | stick by you when Guthrie
an his bunch come up? Supposin' I
hedn't showed down a cool hand to
him? You'd be swingin' somewheres
now. l tell you, Dodge, it amt
square,"
"T1l square 1t. I pay my debts"
replied Duane. "But / can't put up
here all night. If / belonged to the
gang it d be different"
"What gangf" asked Fletcher, blunt
ly.
"Why, Cheseldine's."
Fletcher's beard nodded as his jaw
dropped.
Duane laughed. 81 run into him
the other day. Knowed him on sight.
Sure, he's the king-pin rustler. When
he seen me an asked me what reason
/ had for bein' on earth or some such
like-why, / up an told him."
Fletcher appeared staggered.
"Who in alfred hell air you talkin'
about?"
Didn't / tell you once? Cheseldine.
He calls himself Longstreth over
there"
~ of Fletcher's face not covered
by hair turned a dirty white.
"Cheseldine - Longstreth J" he
whispered, hoarsely. "God Almighty
You braced the Then a remarkable
transformation came over the outlaw.
He gulped; he Strengthened his face;
he controlled his agitation. But he
could not send the healthy brown
back to his face. Duane, watching this
rude man, marveled at the change in
him, the sudden checking movement,
the proof of a wonderful fear and
loyalty. 1t all meant Cheseldine, a
master of meni
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