THE 8EMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
The Lone Star Ranger
A Fine Tale of the Open Country
By ZANE GREY
CHAPTER XX Continued.
12
Just at that moment Dunno felt
n almost Inappreciable movement of
the adobo wall which supported hi in.
Ho could scarcely credit his senses.
But tho rattlo lnsldo Longstrcth's
room was mingling with llttlo dull
ttfuds of falling dirt Tho adobe wall,
tarely dried mud, was crumbling.
Bttnno distinctly felt a tremor pass
through It. Then tho blood gushed
bark to his heart
"What In tho hell I" exclaimed
Longstrcth.
"I smell dust," said Lawson, sharp
ly. That was n signal for Duano to
Urop down from his perch, yet do
fcpltc his care ho mado a nolso.
"t)Id you hear a step?" queried
Longstrcth.
No ono answered. But n heavy
plcco of tho adobo wall fell with a
thud. Duano heard It crack, felt It
shako.
"There's somebody between tho
walls 1" thundered Longstrcth.
Then a Bcctlon of tho wall fell In
ward with n crash. Duano began to
BQueczo his body through tho narrow
pasBago toward tho patio.
"Hear him I" yelled Lawson. "This
aidol"
"No, ho's going that way," yelled
Longstrcth.
Tho tramp of heavy boots lent
Duano tho strength of desperation.
Ho was not shirking a light, but to
bo cornered llko a trapped coyoto wns
another matter. Ho almost toro his
clothes off In that passage. Tho dust
nearly stifled him. When ho burst In
to tho patio It was not an Instant too
soon. Dut ono deep gasp of breath
revived him and ho was tip, gun In
hand, running for tho outlet Into tho
court. Thumping footsteps turned him
back. Wlillo thcro wns a chanco to
get awny ho did not want to fight
Ho thought he heard soraeouo run
ning Into tho patio from tho other end.
Ho stole along, and coming to a door,
i without any Idea of whero It might
lead, bo softly pushed It'opon a llttlo
way Bad slipped In.
CHAPTER XXI.
A low cry greeted Duano, Tho
room was light no saw liny Long-s-treth
sitting on her bed in her dross-lag-gown.
With n wnrnlug gesture to
hor to bo Bllont ho turned to closo tho
door. It was a heavy door without
bolt or bar, nnd when Duano had shut
It he felt safo only for tho moment,
then bo gazed around the room,
There was ono window with blind
fltosely drawn. Ho listened nnd Boem-
W to hear footsteps retreating, dying
way.
The Dnnno turned to Miss Long'
troth. Sho had slipped off tho bed,
half to hor knees, and was holding out
fcembllng hands. Sho wns as whlto
las the pillow of her bed. Sho was
terribly frightened. Agnln with wnrn
Sg hand commanding sllcnco, Duano
(ttepped softly forward, meaning to
fe&sfiuro her.
"Oal" sho whispered wildly: and
, Puane thought sho was going to faint.
When ho got close and looked Into
jker eyea ho understood tho strange,
jfark expression In them. Sho was
Serrlfied becauso sho bellovcd ho
Grant to kill hor, or do worso, prob
ity worse. Duano realized bo must
fcave looked pretty hard and Qcrco
minting into her room with that big
jfeun In hand.
Tho way sho searched Duano's fnco
pith doubtful, fearful eyes hurt him.
"Ltaton. I didn't know this was
jronr room. 1 camo hero to got nwny
to savo my llfo. I wns pursued.
was spying on ypur father and his
wen. They henrd mo, but did not seo
Thoy don't kuow who was listen
stag. Thoy'ro after mo now,"
Her eyes changed from blank gulfs
tw dilating, shadowing, quickening
fWndown of thought.
Then aho Btpod up and faced Duano
vwlth tho flro and lutelllgcnco of n
woman In her eyes.
Tell me now. You woro spying on
y father!"
Briefly Duano told her what had
Jfeappcned beforo ho entered hor room
Met emitting a terse word an to tho
wuuracter of tho men ho hud watched,
"My God I So It's that? I knew
Mttethtag wns terribly wrong hero
with him with tho plnco tho people
Aad right oft I bated Floyd Lawson.
it '11 kill me If If It's so much
erse than I dreamed. What shall
ft del"
' The sound of soft steps somewhero
near distracted Duano's attention
Vemfaded him of hor peril, and now,
What coButed more wltli him, mado
tear tho probability of being dlscovor-
4 la her room.
"I'll have to got out of bore,"
whispered Daane,
"Walt" she replied. "Didn't you
mr thoy were hunting for you?"
I Xby mte are," ho returned, grim
nr.
"Oh, then you mustn't go, Thoy
it shoot you, Stuy, If we hoar
you can bide. I'll turn out tho
it ril meet them at tho door.
to can tract me. Walt till all quiets
awn, if we have to wait till mora
Arg. Then yen can allp out"
"I ought' te ttay, I don't want
to I won't," Duano replied, perplex
ed and stubborn.
"But you must, it's tho only safo
way. They won't como here."
"Suppose they should? It's an oven
chnnco Longstreth '11 search every
room and corner In tills old house. If
they found mo hero I couldn't start
n fight. You might bo hurt. Then
tho fact of my being here "
Duano did not finish whut ho meant,
but Instead mndo a step toward tho
door. Whlto of face and dark of eye,
sho took hold of him to detain him.
Sho was as strong nnd supple ns n
panther. But sho need not have been
elthor rcsoluto or strong, for the clasp
of her hand was enough to make
Duano weak.
"Up yet, Ray?" came Longstreth's
clear voice, too strained, too eager to
bo natural.
"No. I'm in bed rending. Good
night," Instantly replied Miss Long
strcth, so calmly and- nnturally that
Duano mnrvelcd at the difference be
tween man nnd woman. Then sho
motioned for Duano to hldo In tho
closot Ho slipped In, but tho door
would not close altogether.
utrcth's penetrating voice.
"Yes," sho replied. "Ruth went to
bed."
Tho door swung Inward with a swift
scrape nnd Jnr. Longstreth half en
tered, haggard, flaming-eyed. Behind
him Duano saw Lawson, and indis
tinctly another ninn.
Longstreth bnrred Lawson from en
tering, which action showed control ns
well ns distrust. Ho wanted to seo
Into tho room. When he had glanced
nround ho went out and closed tho
door.
Then whnt seemed a long Interval
ensued. Tho house grew silent onco
more. Duano could not seo Miss
Longstreth, but ho henrd her quick
breathing.
Presently ho pushed open tho closot
door nnd stepped forth. Miss Long
streth had her head lowered upon her
arms and appeared to bo in distress.
At his touch sho raised a quivering
faco.
"I think I can go now safely," ho
whispered.
"3o then, If you must, but you may
stay till you'ro safo," sho replied.
"I I couldn't thnnk you enough.
It's been hard on mo tills finding
outand you his daughter. I feel
strange. I don't understand myself
well. But I want you to know If I
wcro not an outlaw a ranger I'd lay
my llfo at your foot"
"Oh I You havo seen so so llttlo
of mo," sho faltered.
"All tho samo It's true. And that
mnkes mo feel more tho troublo my
coming caused you."
"You will not fight my father?"
"Not If I can help It. I'm trying
to got out of tho wny."
"But you Bple'a upon him."
"I am n rangor, Miss Longstreth."
"And oh 1 1 am a rustler's daughter,"
sho cried. "Thnt'o so much more ter-
hlm. Tho instant ahe betrayed tho
secret Duano realized perfectly that
he loved her. Tho emotion was llko
a great flood.
"Miss Longstrcth, all tills seems so
unbcllevnblc," ho whispered. "Chesel
dlno Is n rustler chief I've como out
here to get. He's only a name. Your
father Is tho renl man. I've sworn
to get him," I'm bound by more than
law or oaths. I can't break what
binds me. And I must disgrace you
wreck your life I Why, Miss Long
streth, I believe I I lovo you. It's
all como In a rush. I'd dlo for you
If I could. How fatal terrible this
Is I How things work out I"
Sho, slipped to hor knees, with her
hands on Ills.
"You won't kill him?" she Implored.
"If you care for me you won't kill
him."
"No. That I promlso you."
With n low moan sho dropped her
head upon the bed.
Duano opened the door and stealth
ily stole out through the corridor to
the court But long nftor ho had
tramped out Into tho open Thcro wnB
n lump, In his throat and an ache In
his breast
up on the dusty horses, and halted
In n bunch beforo tho tnvern. Tho
party consisted about twenty men, all
heavily armed, nnd evidently In
chargo of a clef cut lean-limbed
cowboy. Duano experienced consider
able satisfaction at tho absence of tho
sheriff who ho had understood wns
to lead tho posse. Pcrhnps ho was
out In another direction with a differ;
cnt force.
"Hello, Jim Fletcher," called tho
cowboy.
"Howdy," replied Fletcher.
At this short, dry responso and tho
way ho strodo leisurely out before tho
posse Duano found himself modifying
his contempt for Fletcher. The out
law was different now.
"Fletcher, wo'vo tracked a man to
nil but threo miles of this place.
Trncks ns plain as tho nose on your
face. Found his camp. Then ho hit
Into the brush, nn' wo lost tho trail.
Didn't havo no tracker with us. Think
he went Into the mountnlns. But
A Low Cry Greeted Duano.
rlblo than I'd suspected. It was
tricky cuttlo deals I Imagined ho was
engaged In. But only to-night I had
Btrong suspicions aroused."
"How? Tell me."
"I overheard Floyd say that men
wcro coming to-night to arrnnco a
meeting for my father at a rendezvous
near Ord. Father did not want to go,
Floyd tiiuntod him with a name,"
"What namo?" quorlcd Duaue.
"It was Chesoldlno."
"Clvcsoldlnol My God I Miss Long
strcth, why did you tell mo that?"
"Whnt dlffernnco docs that mnko?'
"Your fathor and Chesoldlno are ono
and the same," whispered Duano,
hodrscly.
"I gathered so much myself," sho ro
piled, miserably. "Bui Longstreth Is
father's real name."
Duutte felt so stunned that ho could
not speak at ence. It was the girl'
part Ui thU tragedy that weakened
CHAPTER XXII.
Duano had decided to go to Ord
and try to find tho rendezvous where
Longstrcth was to meet his men.
Theso men Duano wanted oven more
thnn their leader. It was Poggln who
needed to bo found and stopped.
Poggln nnd his right-hand men 1
Tho night of tho day beforo he
reached Bradford, No. 0, tho mnll and
express train going cast, wao held up
by trnln-robberlcs, tho Wolls-Furgo
messenger killed over hlB safe, the
mnll-clcrk wounded, tho bags carried
away. Tho englno No. 0 camo Into
town minus even a tender, nnd en
gineer nnd fireman told conflicting
stories. A posso of railroad men and
citizens, led by a sheriff Duano ous
pected was crooked, was mado up be
foro tho englno steamed back to pick
up tho rest of tho train. Duano had
tho sudden inspiration that ho had
been cudgeling his mind to find; and,
acting upon it, ho mounted his horso
again and left Bradford unobserved.
Ho rodo nt an easy trot most of
tho night, selected an exceedingly
rough, roundabout, nnd difficult cdurso
to Ord, hid his trncks with the skill
of, a long-hunted fugitive, and arrived
there with his horso winded and cov-
rcd with lather. It added consider
able to his arrival that tho mun
Duano remembered as Fletcher and
several others' saw hlra como in tho
back way through tho lots and Jump
a fenco into tho road.
Duano led Bullet up to tho porch
whero Fletcher stood wiping his
board. Ho was hatless, vestless, and
evidently bad just enjoyed a morning
drink.
"Howdy, Dodge," said Fletcher,
laconically.
Duano replied, and tho other man
roturned tho greeting with interest
"Jim, my hoss 's done up. I want
to hldo htm from any chanco tourists
as might happen to ride up curious
llko."
"Haw! haw I bawl"
Dunno gathered encouragement
from that chorus of coarse laughter.
"Wal, if them tourists ain't too
durncd snooky the hoss '11 bo safo
In tho 'dobo shack back of Bill's hero,
Feed thar, too, but youH hev to rus
tle water."
Duano led Bullet to tho place ludl-
cntcd, had caro of his welfare, and
left him thorc. Upon returning to
tho tavern porch Dunno saw the group
of men had been added to by others,
Homo of whom he had seen before.
Without comment Duano walked
along tho edgo of tho road, nnd wher
ever ono of tho trncks of his horso
showed ho carefully obliterated It
This procoduro was attentively
watched by Fletcher and his coin
panlons.
"Wal, Dodge," remarked Fletcher,
as Duano roturned, "thet's safer 'n
prayln' for rain."
Dunnes reply Was a remark as
loquacious as Fletchor's, to tho effect
that a long, slow, monotonous rldo
was conduclvo to thirst They ull
Joined him, unmistakably friendly.
But Knell wns not there, nnd most
assuredly not Poggln. Fletcher was
no common outlnw, but whatever his
ability, It probably lay in execution
of orders. Apparently at that tlmo
these men bad uothtng to do but
drink and lounge around tho tavern,
Duano set out to mnko himself agrco
nble and succeeded. All morning men
camo and went, until, all told, Duano
calculated ho had Been at least fifty.
Toward tho mlddlo of tho afternoon
n young fellow burst Into tho saloon
nnd yelled ono word:
"Posso I"
From tho scrnmblo to got outdoors
uuane juugcu mat wora nnu uio en
suing action was rnro In Ord.
"What's all this?"' muttered Flotch
or, as ho gazed down Uio road at a
dark, compact bunch of horses and
riders. "Fust tlmp I over seen thet
In Ord I Wish Phil wns hero or Poggy.
Now all you gents keep quiet Til do
tho UlklaV
The peese entered the town, trotted
Fletcher and Others Saw Him.
wo took a chanco nn' rid over tho rest
of tho way, sceln Ord was so close,
Anybody como in hero lato last night
or early tills mornln'?"
"Nope," replied Fletcher.
HlB response was what Duano had
expected from his- manner, and evl
denly tho cowboy took It as a matter
of course. Ho turned to tho others
of tho posse, entering Into, n low con
sultation. Evidently there was differ
ence of opinion, If not real dissension,
in that posse.
"Didn't I tell yo this was a wlld-
gooso chase, comln' wny out hero?
protested an old hawk-faced rancher.
'Them hoss tracks wo follorcd ain't
llko any of them wo Been at tho
water-tank whero tho train was held
up."
"Pm not suro of that," replied tho
leader.
"Wal. Guthrlo, I'vo follored tracks
all my life"
"But you couldn't keep to tho trail
this feller mado In tho brush."
"Gimme time, an' I could. Thet
tnkes time. An' heali you go hell-bent
for election 1 But It's a wrong lead
out this wny. If you're right, this
rond-ngent after ho killed his pals,
would hev rid .back right through town.
An' with them mnllbagsl Supposln'
thoy wns greasers? Somo greasers
has sense, an' when it comes to thlcv-
ln' they'ro shore cute."
"Hut wo ain't got any reason to bo-
llevo tills robber who murdered tho
greasers is a grenser himself. I tell
you it was a slick Job, dono by no
ordinary sneak. Didn't you hear tho
facts? Ono greaser hopped tho englno
an' covered tho engineer an' fireman.
Another grenser kept flnshln' his gun
outsldo tho train. Tho big man who
shoved back tho car door an' did the
klllln' ho was tho real gent, an' don't
you forget it."
Somo of tho posso sided with tho
cowboy leader and some with ho old
cattleman. Finally tho young leader
disgustedly gathered up his bridle.
"Aw, hell I Thet sheriff shoved you
oft this trail. Mcbbo he hed reason 1
Savvy thot? If I hed a bunch of cow-
boys with me I toll you what I'd tako
n chanco and clean up this hole I"
All the wlillo Jim Fletcher stood
quietly with his hands In his pockets.
"Guthrie, I'm shoro trcasurln' up
your friendly talk," ho said. Tho
tncnaco was In the tone, not thb con
tent of his speech.
"You can an' bo damned to you,
Fletcher I" called Guthrie, ns tho
horses started.
Fletcher, standing out alone beforo
tho others of his clan, watched tho
posso out of sight
"Luck fer you-all thet Poggy wasn't
hero," ho Bald, as they disappeared.
Then with a thoughtful mien he
strodo up on tho porch and led Dunno
away from tho others into tho bar
room. When ho looked into Duano's
face it was somehow an entirely
changed scrutiny;
"Dodge, wher'd you hide tho stuff?
I reckon I git In on tins deal, seeln'
I staved off Guthrie."
Duanc played his part Hero was
his opportunity, and like a tiger after
prey he seized it First ho coolly
eyed the outlaw and then disclaimed
nny knowledge whatever of tho train
robbery other thnn Fletcher hnd heard
himself. Then nt Fletcher's persist
ence and admiration nnd Increasing
show of friendliness he laughed oc
casionally nnd allowed himself to
swell with pride, though still denying.
Later, when Duano started up an
nouncing his Intention to get his horso
nnd mnko for camp out In tho brush,
Fletcher seemed grievously offended.
"Why don't you stay with mo? I'vo
got n comfortable 'dobe over here.
Didn't I stick by you when Guthrlo
nn his bunch como up? Supposln' I
hedn't showed down a cool hnnd to
him? You'd bo swlngln' somewheres
now. I tell you, Dodge, it nln't
square."
"I'll squaro it I pay my debts,"
replied Duane. "But I can't put up
here all night. If I belonged to tho
gang It 'd be different"
"What gang?" asked Fletcher, blunt
ly.
"Why, Cheseldlne's."
Fletcher's beard nodded as his Jaw
dropped.
Duane laughed. "I run Into him
the other day. Knowed him on sight
Sure, he's tho klng-pln-rustler. When
ho seen me an' asked me what reason
I had for beln' on earth or somo such
llko why, I up nn' told him."
Fletcher nppenred staggered.
"Who In all-fired hell air you talkln'
about?"
"Didn't I tell you once? Chcseldlne.
Ho calls himself Longstrcth over
there."
All of Fletcher's faco "not covered
by hair turned a dirty white,
"Chesoldlno Longstreth 1" ho
whispered, hoarsely. "God Almighty I
You braced the " Then a remarkable
transformation camo over tho outlaw,
Ho gulped: he straightened his face;
ho contr&lled his ngltatlon. But he
could not send the healthy brown
bock to his face. Duane, wntchlng tills
rude mnn, marveled at tho change in
him, tho sudden checking movement,
tho proof of a wonderful fear and
loyalty. It all meant Cheseiume, a
master of men 1
"Who air you?" queried Fletcher, in
n queer, strained voice,
"You gavo me n handle, didn't you?
Dodge. Thet's ns good as any. Shoro
It hits mo hard. Jim, I've been pretty
lonely for years, an' I'm gettln' In
noed of pals. Think It over, will you?
See you mnnana."
The outlaw watched Dunne go oft
nfter his horse, watched him as he re
turned to tho tavern, watched him
ride out In tho darkness all without
a word.
Duano left tho town, threaded n
quiet passage through cactus and mes-
qulte to a spot he hnd marked before,
and passed the night. His mind was
so full that ho found Bleep aloof.
Luck nt last was playing his game,
Ho sensed tho first slow heayo of a
mighty crisis. Tho end, always haunt
lng, had to be sternly blotted from
thought It wns the approach that
needed all his mind.
Late in the morning ho returned to
Ord. If Jim Fletcher tried to disguise
his surprise, tho effort wns a failure.
Certainly ho had not expected to see
Duane again. Dunne allowed himself
n llttlo freedom with Fletcher, an at-
tltudo hitherto lacking.
That afternoon a horseman rodo In
from Bradford, an outlaw evidently
well known and liked by his fellows,
nnd Duano heard him say, beforo ho
could possibly hnvo been told the
train-robber was In Ord, that the loss
of money in the hold-up wns slight,
Like n flash Duane saw the luck of
this report. Ho protended not to have
heard.
In tho early twilight at an opportune
moment ho called Fletcher to him,
and, Unking his arm within tho out
law's, ho drew him off in a stroll to
a log bridgo spanning n llttlo gully.
Hero nfter gazing around, ho took our
n roll of bills, spread it out, split It
equally, and without a word handed
ono half to Fletcher. With clumsy
fingers Fletaf ran through tho roll,
"Five hundred 1" ho exclaimed.
"Dodge, thet's damn handsomo of you,
conslderin' tho Job wasn't "
"Conslderln' nothln'," Interrupted
wns bursting hell. But Poggln loved
n horse. He never loved nuythlng
else. He could be won with thai
black horso Bullet. Chesoldlno was
already won by Dunno's monumental
ncrvo ; otherwlso ho would havo killed
Duanc.
Little by llttlo tho next few days
Duano learned the points ho longed
to know ; nnd how Indelibly they etch
ed themselves in his memory 1 Chesel
dlne's hidlng-plnco was on tho fat
slopo of Mount Ord, In a deep, high.
walled valley. Ho always went there
Just before n contemplnted Job, where
he met nnd planned with bis lieuten
ants. Then while they executed ho
basked In tho sunshine before ono or
another of tho public plnccs ho owned.
Ho was there In tho Ord den now,
getting ready to plan the biggest Job
yet. It was a bank-robbery; but
where, Fletcher bad not as yet been
advised.
Then when Duano had pumped the
now amenable outlaw of nil dotalls
pertaining to tho present ho gathered
data nnd facts nnd places covering a
period of ten years Fletcher had been
with Chesoldlno. And herewith was
unfolded n history so dark In its
bloody regime, so Incredible In its
brazen daring, so appalling in It proof
of the outlaw's sweep and erasn of
the country from Pecos to Rio Grande,
that Dunne was stunned. Compared
to this Chcseldlne of the Big Bend,
to this rancher, Btock-buyer, cnttle
speculator, property-holder, all the
outlaws Duano had ever known sank
Into Insignificance. Tho power of the
mnn stunned Duane; the strange
fidelity given him stunned Dunne ; the
lntrlcnto lnsldo working of his great
system was equally stunning. Bat
when Dunne recovered from that the
old terrible passion to kill consumed
him, and It raged fiercely and It could
not be checked. If that red-handed
Poggln, If that cold-eyed, dead-faced
Knell had only been nt Ord I But
they were not, nnd Dunno with help
of time got whnt he hoped was the
upper hand of himself.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Again inaction nnd suspense drag
ged at Duano's spirit.
But one day there wcro signs of th
long quiet of Ord being broken. A
messenger strnngo to Dunne rode in
on a secret mission that had to do
with Fletcher. Duane was present in
tho tavern when tho fellow arrived
saw the few words whispered, but did
not hear them. Fletcher turned white
with anger or fear, perhaps both, nnd
he cursed like a madman. The mes
senger rode nwny off to the -west
This west mystified nnd fascinated
Duane ns much ns the south beyontf
Mount Ord. After the messenger lefl
Fletcher grow silent nnd surly. It
becamo clear now that the other out
laws of the camp feared him, kepi
out of his way. Duane let him alone,
yet closely watched him.
Perhaps an hour nfter the messen
ger had left not longer, Fletcher mnn
lfestly nrrlved nt somo decision, nnd
ho called for his horse. Then h
went to his shack and returned. , T
Duane the outlaw looked in shape bott
to rifle and to fight Ho gnve orden
for tho men In camp to keep closi
unjll ho returned. Then he mounted
"Como here. Dodge," he called.
Duano went up nnd laid a hand or
the pommel of tho snddle. Fletchei
walked his horse, with Duano besld
him, till they reached tho log bridgo
when he halted.
"Dodge, I'm In bad with Knell," h
said. "An' it 'pears I'm the cause o)
friction between Knell an' Poggy.
"God Almlghtyl You Braced the"
Duane. "I'm makln' no referenco to Knell never hnd any use fer me bui
a Job hero or there. You did mo Poggy'a been square, if not friendly
good turn. I split my pile. If thet The boss had a big deal on, nn' hen
doesn't mako us pards, good turns it'a been held up because of thli
nn' money ain't no use in this coun- ecrnp. ne's waltin' over there on tin
try." mountnln to clve ordom
Fletcher was won. Poggy, an' neither one's showln' up
Tho two men spend much tlmo to- rvo got to stand In th h w
gethcr. Duano mado up a short flctl- i ain't cnJovln tho nrnsmw,," '
tlous story ubout himself that sntla-
neu uio outlaw, only it drew forth n
laughing Jest upon Dunne's modesty,
For Fletcher did not hldo bis belief
thnt this new partner was n mnn of
achievements. Knell nnd Poggln, nnd
then Chcseldlne himself, would bo
persuaded of tills fact so Fletcher
boasted. Ho had influence. Ho would
use It Ho thought ho pulled a Btroko
with Knell. But nobody on enrth,
not oven tho boss, hnd any lnlluenco
on Poggln. Poggln was concentrated
Ice part of the time; all the rest h 1
"What's tho troublo about. Jim?"
asked Duane.
"Reckon It's a llttlo about son.
Dodgo," said Fletcher, dryly. "Knell
hadn't any use fer you thot day.
Knell claims to know somcthln' about
you that '11 make both the boss an'
Poggy sick when ho springs it But
ho's keopln' quiet Hard man to fig-
gor, thet Knell. Reckon you'd better
go back to Bradford fer a day or so,
then camp out hero till I como back,"
"Why?"
(TO U CONTINUED.)