Nogales international., 1929-01-15

ately, and left behind on the platform
a yelling gesticulating crowd. Duane
had a glimpse of Buell. waving his
hand from the station window.
1t was a fast train, yet the ride
seemed slow. Duane disliking to face
Cheseldine and the watching conjec-
turing passengers in the car, changed
his seat to one behind his prisoner.
They had not spoken.
Cheseldine sat with bowed head,
deep in thought Occasionally the
train halted briefly at station.
They got off. the car at Val Verde.
The station was a good deal larger
than that at Bradford, and there was
considerable action and hustle incident
to the arrival of the train.
Duane's sweeping gaze searched
faces, rested upon man who seemed
familiar. This fellows look too, was
that of one who knew Duane, but was
waiting for a sign, cue. Then Duane
recognized him-MacNelly, clean
shaven, without mustache he appeared
different-youngero
Duane! Lord, I'm glad to see YOU"
was the captains greeting.
Then at closer look into Duane's
face his warmth something he
saw there checked his enthusiasm, or
at least its utterance.
"MacNelly, shake hands with Ches-
eldine," said Duane, 1ow-voiced.
The ranger captain stood dumb,
motionless. But he saw Cheseldine's
instant action and awkwardly he
reached for the outstretchd hand.
"Any of your men down here?"
queried Duane sharply.
"No. They're I'D town"
"Come. Cheseldine, walk between
US, and look straight ahead. Don't see
anybody"
They set off up town. Cheseldine
walked as if he were with friends on
the way to dinner, except that his lips
were mute. MacNelly walked like a
man in a trance. There was not a
word spoken in four blocks.
Presently Duane esp;ed a stone
building on corner of the broad
street. There was a big sign: Ran
chers' Bank. Duane touched Chesel-
dimes elbow, pointed to the hank.
"CheseId:ne, do you want to go in the
bank and see if the shipment of gold
has come--the big haul?" asked Duane
sarcastically. He hated to taunt the
man, but could not resist that rluch.
Chcseldi'1e gave violent start, Per
haps in that moment he understood.
He made 10 reply.
There's the hotel" said MacNe;ls
''Some of my men are there. We'r
scattered round
They crossed the street, went il
through lobby, office, saloon, to larg,
room, like hall, and here were mel
reading and smoking. Duane knew
then-rangers
When he snapped the handouts bacl
on Cheseldine it was with a strange
air of finality. 1t was as if he re
nounced. McNelly, the rangers, anc
certainly Cheseldine, all noted Duane
strange action and look.
There, Cheseldine
And with a something almost of pas
sion and violence he pushed the out
law toward MacNelly. He was don
with him. Did that action mean that
as ranger, he was turning Cheseldin,
over to the law, when as Buck DUANE
he wanted to meet him, to face him, tc
make him draw, to kill him?
MacNelly beckoned to his men.
Boys, here he is. Cheseldine Rus
sell, you and Mills take him in tn,
small room and guard him. Don't tax,
your eyes off him till we decide wha
to do"
The rangers led Cheseldine away.
Duane, what had we better d. witt
him for the present. queried Mac
Nelly. "There's Jail here. We ca:
put him away till we're through. Bu
would that be best? We've been lying
low"
mo How many men have your
Fifteen
Keep two men here guarding Ches
eldine"
MacNelly left to go into the other
room, and returned closing the door
Then he almost embraced Duane
would probably have done so but for
the dark grimness that seemed to be
coming over the man.
Instead he glowed, he sputtered, he
tried to talk to wave his hands. He
was beside himself. And his rangers
crowded closer, eager, like hounds
ready TO run. They all talked at once,
and the word most significant and ire
quent in their speech was Cheseldine
MacNelly clapped his fist in his
hard.
"Thisll make the adjutant sick witt
Joy. Maybe ne won't have it on the
Governor? Well show them about
The ranger service. Cheseldine How'd
you ever do it? Oh, l. knew you were
wonder. But I was sure you'd kill
him"
He didn't give me chance" re-
piled Duane. Now, captain, not the
half, nor the quarter of this jobs done
The gangs coming down the road.
saw them from the train. They'll
ride into town on the dpt---two-t thirty
How many?" asked MacNelly.
"Poggin, Blossom Kane. Pan Handle
Smith, Boldt. Jim Fletcher and an
other man I don't know. These are
the picked men of Cheseldine's gang.
I'll bet they'll be the fastest, hardest