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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1916)
THE O'MI.WEEKLY TRIDUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. THE LONE STAR RANGER This is a story about the Texas Plains People By ZANE GREY I" I' This Is a rushing story of tho wlldborder days In Texas In the early seventies, with their des perate contests between outlaws apd rangers. Incident after Inci dent crowd Upon another hair breadth escapes, deeds of thrill ing adventures, manly chivalry, and devoted love. The hero Is a murderer; a man-killer not by choice but by necessity. Hlo deeds In a "wild country rival tho deeds of Scotch Highland chiefs which Sir Walter Scott has given us In his great romances. You'll want to follow the fortunes of Buck Duano In "The Lone Star Ranger." CHAPTER I. So It wna In lilm, thentin Inherited fighting Instinct, a driving Intensity to kjll. Ho who tho Inst of tho Dunnes, that old fighting stock-of Texas, But pot the memory of his dead father, nor the pleading of his soft-voiced mother, nor tho warning of this uncle who stood beforo hint now, hud brought, to Ilucltloy Duano bo timch realization of thodnrk, passionate strain In hla blood, ' It was tho recurrence, n hun dredfold Increased in power, of n strnngo emotion that for tho last thrco yearn had arisen In him. "Yes, Cnl Bain's In town, full of "find whisky nn' huntln' for you," re peated tho elder mun, gravely. "But what's ho want mo for?" de manded Dunne. "To Insult mo again?. won't stnnd 'that twice." "He's got a fevor thnt's rnmpnnt In Texas tlfcso days, my boy. Ho wonts gun-pjuy. If ho meets you he'll try to kill you." Hero It stirred In Duano again, thnt bursting gush of blood, Hlco a wind of flame shaking all his inner being, nnd subsiding to leavo him strnngcly chilled. "Kill mo! What for?" ho asked. . "Lord knows thcra, ain't any reason. Hut what's that to do with most of tha shoo tin' "theso days7 Didn't flvo cow boys over to Evernll's kill otto another dead nil because they got to Jerkin' nt a quirt 'among UiRinsolveu? An Cnl has no reason to lovo you. fills grl was sweet on you." "I quit when T found out sho was Lis girl." "I reckon Bho nln't quit. But nover mind her or reasons. Cnl'B hero, Just drunk enough to bo ugly. IIo'h achln to kill somebody, no's ono of them four-flush gun-llghttfrs. There's n lot of wild cowboys who'ro nmbltlous for a reputation. They laugh at tho slier- lffs an' brug about how they'd fix tho rangers. Cul's suro not much for you to bother with, If you only keep out of his way." "You mean for mo to run?" naked Duano, In scorn. it "I reckon I wouldn't put It that way. : n 'I'd Never Hang." Just avoid him, Buck, I'm not afraid Cal would get you. What I'm most afraid of la that you'll kill Bain." Duano was silent, lotting his uncle's earnest words sink In, trying to realize their significance. t wck' Went on llto uncle, "you'ro (Ivrfnty-thrcft now, nn' a powerful sight of a fine follow, bnrrln' your temper, you've a chnnco In llfo, But If you ,ito gun-flghtln,' If you kill a man, arou're ruined. Tito rangers would wako you an outlaw. This ovcn-brenlc business docau't work with them. If you resist arrest they'll kill you. If you submit to arrest, then you go to Jail, an' mebbo you hang." "I'd never hang," muttered Dunno, darkly, ' "I reckon you wouldn't," rcpuod tho old man. "You'd bo llko your futhcr. lie wns ever ready to draw too ready. In times llko theso, i with tho Texas dangers enforcln tho law, your dad would hnvo been driven to tho "river. He was killed la a street-fight. Ah' It .f " 1 main was told of him thnt he shot twlco nftcr a bullet had passed through his heart. Think of tho terrible nature 'of a man, to be nblo to do that If you have any such blood In you, never give It a chance." "Wlint you say Is all very well, uncle," returned Dunne, "hut tho only way out for mo Is to run, and I won't do it. Cnl Bain and his outfit have already mode mo look Hlco n coward." "Well, then, wlmt'rc you goln' to do?" Inquired tho cider man. "I haven't decided yet." "No, but you're comln to It mighty fast. That terrible spell Is workln' In you. You'ro gettlti' cool an' quiet, nn' you think deep, nn' I don't like tho tight In your eye. It reminds me of your fnther." "I wonder whnt dad would say to mo today If ho woro nllvo nnd hero," said Dunne. "What do you think? Whnt could you expect of n man who nover wore a glove on his right hnnd for twenty years?" "Well, he'd hardly' havo said much. Dad never talked. But ho would havo done n lot. And I guess I'll go down tovn and let Cnl Bain find mo." Then followed n long silence, dur ing which Dunne sat wjth downcast oyes, nnd tho undo appeared lost in sad thought of tho future Presently ho turned to Duano with na expression that denoted resignation, and yet a spirit which showed wherein they woro of tho sumo blood. "You've got b fast horse tho fast est I know of In this country. After you meet Bain hurry back homo. I'll havo n saddlcbng packed for you nnd tho horso ready." With that ho turned on his heel nnd went into tho house, leaving Duano to rcvolvo In his mind his singular speech. That hour of Duano's llfo was Hlco yenrs of actual living, nnd In It ho hecamo a thoughtful mnn. Ho went Into tho hottsO nnd Inspect ed Ills belt and gun. Tho gun was a Colt .45, six-shot, nnd heavy, with nn Ivory handle Ho hnd packed It, pn and on, for flvo yenrs. Beforo thnt It had been used by his fnther. Thero wcro a number of notches filed In tho bulgo of tho Ivory handle. This gun was tho ono his father hnd fired twlco nftcr being Bitot through tho heart, and his hnnd had stiffened so tightly upon It In tho dcntli-grlp thnt his fin gers hnd to bo pried open. It hnd nover been drawn upon nny man slnco it i..i !.,, r5...,' ntn It hnd como Into Duano's possession. But tho cold, bright polish of tho weapon showed how It had been Used. Duano could drnw It with lnconcolv- nhlo rapidity, and at twenty feet ho could split a card pointing Vdgowlso toward him. Dunno wished to avoid meeting his mother. Fortunately, as ho thought, sho was away from home. Ho went out nnd down tho pnth toward tho gate. Tho air wns full of tho fra grnnco of blossoms and tho melody of birds, Outsldo In tho road a neighbor woman stood talking to a countryman In a wagon; they spoko to hint! nnd ho heard, but did not reply. Then he begnn to strldo down tho road toward tho town. Wollstnn wnn n ninnll tmvn lint: Im- portnnt In that unsettled part of tho great stnto becauso it was tho trading centor of sovcrul hundred miles of tor rltory. On tho innln stroot thero wero perhaps fifty buildings, noino brick, some frame, mostly ndobo, nnd one- third of tho lot, and by far tho most prosperous, wcro buIooiib. Duntio's eyo rnnged down tho street, taking In nil nt n glance. By tho time ho reached Sol Whtto's plnco, which was tho first saloon, ho was walking slowly. Sov- crnl people Bpoko to him nnd turned to look hack nftor they had passed Ho paused at tho door of White's sa loon, took n sharp survey of the Inte rior, then Btoppcd Inside. Tho saloon wns largo and cool, full of men nnd nolso and smoke. Tho nolso coaxed upon his entrance, nnd tho silence ensuing presently broke to tho clink of Mexican sllvor dollars tit a monto tnble. All oyes except tkosa of tho Mexican gamblers wero turned upon Dunne. Sovornl of tho cowboys nnd ranchers present exchanged glances, uuono had been weighed by unerring Texas instinct, by men who nil packed guns. Tho boy was tho son of his father. Whereupon they greeted him and returned to their drinks nud enrds. Sol Whlto stood with his big, red hands out upon tho bur; ho was n tall, rawboned Texan. with n long tuustncuo waxed to sharp points. "Howdy, Buck," wns his greotlng to Duatto. uo spouo carelessly nnd avert cd his dark guzo for an Instant "nowdy, Sol," replied Duune, slowly. "Sny, Sol, I hear thero'a a gent In town looking for mo hnd." "Beckon, thqro is, Buck," replied White, "Ho canto hi honh nboot nn hour ago. Shoro ho was soino riled an' n-ronrln for goro. Told mo conil dontlnl a certain party nnd given you a white altk scarf, nn' ho was hell-bent on wearln' It homo spotted red." "Anybody with hint?" queried Dunne, "Burt nn' Sum Outcnlt an' n llttlo cowpuncher I never seen beforo. They all was coaxln' hltn to leavo town. But ho's 16okcd on tho flow-In' glass, Buck, an ho s hetilt for kceiw." "Why doesn't Sheriff Ouks lock him up If lt' that bad?" "Oaks went nwny with tho rnngcrs. There's been another mid nt Flcsher'n rnncli. Tho King Fisher gang, likely. An' so tho town's shore wide open." Dunno stalked outdoors nnd fneed down tho street. lie wnlked tho wholo length of tho long block, meeting many people fnrmers, ranchers, clerks, merchants, Mexicans, cowboys nnd women. It wns 11 singular fact that when ho turned to rctrnco his steps tho street was almost empty. If it wns nn Instinct for Texuns to fight, it was also Instinctive for them to senso with remarkable quickness tho signs of n coming gun-plny. Humor could not fly so swiftly. In less than ten minutes everybody who hud boon on tho street or In tho shops know thnt Buck Duano ha:1 como forth to meet his enemy. Duano walked on. When ho camp to within fifty paces of a saloon ho swerved out Into tljo middle of tha street, stood thero for it moment, that. went nhend and bnck to tho sldewc'.k. Ho pnssed on In this way the lengt' of tho block. Sol Whlto wns stnndlt. In tho door of his saloon. "Buck, I'm n-tlppln' you off," ho snld, quick and low-voiced. "Cul Bain's over at KvcrnU's. If he's n-huntln' you bad, as ho brags, he'll show there." Duano crossed tho stnjet and start ed down. Notwithstanding White's stutement, Duano wns wary and slow tit every door. Nothing happened, nnd ho traversed nltnost tho wholo length of tho block without seeing n person. Evernll's place was on tho corner. 'Duano knew himself i bo cold, stendy. Ho was conscious of a strnngo fury thut mudo hint wnnt to leap uhend. Ho seemed to long for this en counter tnoro thnn anything ho hnd ever wnnted. But, vivid ns were his sensations, ho felt us If In n drcum. Beforo ho reached Evernll's ho heard loud voices, ono of which wns rnlsed high. Then tho short door swung out wnrd ns If Impelled by n vigorous hnnd. A bowlcggcd cowboy wearing woolly chnps burst but upon tho sldownlk. At sight of Duano ho scented to hound Into tho air, and ho uttered n savago roar. Duano stopped In his trncks at tho outer edgo of tho sidewalk, perhaps n dozen rods from Evernll's door. If Bain was drunk ho did not show It In his movement. Ho swaggered forward, rapidly closing up tho gup. Bed, sweaty, dlshovcled and hatless, v" . 711 1,7 "Is face distorted and expresslvo of , . f ,.,, .a wild and sinister figure. Ho hnd nl ready killed a man, nnd this showed In his demeauor. Ills hands wcro extend ed beforo him, tho right hnnd n Uttlo lower than tho left. At every step ho bellowed his rancor In speech mostly curses. Gradually ho slowed his walk, then halted. A good twenty-flvo paces separated tho men. "Won't nothln' mnko you draw, you 1" ho shouted fiercely. "I'm wnltln on you, Cnl," replied Dunne. Bain's right hnnd stiffened moved. ; Duano threw his gun as a boy throws a bull underhand -n draw his father hud taught him. Ho pulled twlr.c, his shots almost ns 0110. Bain's blir Colt boomed whlto It wns 'pointed down- ward anil ho wns tailing. His bullet scattered dust nnd gravel nt Duano's feet. Ho fell loosely, without contor tion. In a flnsh all was reality for Duauc, Ho went forwnrd nnd hold his'' gun ready for tho slightest movement on tho part of Bain. But Bnln lny upon his back, and nil that moved wcro his breast and his eyes. How strangely tha red had loft his face nud also tIo distortion I Tho devil that hud showed In Bnln was gone. Ho wns sober nnd conscious. Ho tried to spenk, but fall od. Ills oyes expressed something pitifully human. They changed rolled set blankly. Duano drew n deop breath and sheathed his gun. Ho felt calm und cool, glnd tho fray wits over. Ono violent expression burst from him. "Tho fool 1" When ho looked up thero wcro men nround him. "Plumb centor." said one, Another, u cowboy who evidently had Just left tho gaming tnble, leaned down nnd pulled open Bain's shirt Ho hnd tho aco of spades In his hand no laid It on Bain's breast, and tho black flgttro on tho card covered tho two bullot holes 'Juat over Buln's heart Duano wheeled .and hurried away, Ho heard another ninn. Buy; "Reckon Cnl got what ho deserved Buck Dunne's first gun-play. Like fa ther like sonl" CHAPTER II. When Dunno came to tho gate of his homo nnd saw his unclo thero with a mettlesome horse, saddled, with can teen, ropo nnd bnga nil In place, subtle shock pervaded his spirit. It had slipped his mind tho consequence of his net. But sight of tho horso aim tho look of his unclo recalled tho fact that ho must now becomo a fugitive An unreasonable anger took hold of him. "That d H fooll" ho exclaimed hotly. "Meeting Buln wasn't much, Unclo Jim. He dusted my boots, that's all. And for thnt I've got to go on the dodge." "Son, you killed him then?" asked the uncle, huskily. "Yes. I stood over him watched him die. I did us I would hnvo been done by." "I knew It. Long ago I saw It com ln'. But now we can't stop to cry over split blood. You've got to leave town tin' this part of the country;" "-Mother 1" exclaimed Dtiunc. "She's nwny front home. You enn wnlt. I'll break It to her what sho always feared." Suddenly Duunc sat down nnd cov ered his face with his hands. "My God! Uncle, what have I done1?" Ills broad shoulders shook. "Listen, son, nn' rcmcmlier whnt I sny," replied the elder mnn, enrnestly. "Don't ever forget. You'ro not to His Bullet Scattered Dust and Gravel at Dunne's Feet. blame. I'm glad to seo you take it this y, because maybe you'll never grow hard nn' cnllous. You're not to bhimc. This Is Texus. You're your fnther's son. Theso nro wild times. The law ns tho rnniirs nrn lnvlni? It ilmvn now rnn'fc olmncrn llfo nil in n mlilnto " I 1 "I'm n murderer," said- Duano tmud-1 dcrlng. No, son, you'ro not. An' you never will be. But you've got to be nn out- luw till tlmo makes It safe for you to como homo." ' "An outlaw?" "I snld It. If wo hnd money nn' In fluence, we'd risk a trial. But we've neither. Strlko for tho wild country, an' wherever you go an' whatever you do bo a man. You cun't como inane. When this thing Is lived down, if thnt tlmo ever conies, I'll get word Into the unsettled country. It'll rench you some day. That's nil. Remember, bo a man. Good-by." Dunne, with blurred sight nnd con tracting throat, gripped his uncle's hand nnd bndo him n wordless fare well. Then ho leaped astride the black and rodo out of town. As swiftly ns wits consistent with n cure for his steed, Duuno put n dls tnnco of fifteen or eighteen miles behind him. Ho pnssed several ranches, nnd wns seen by men. This did not suit him, nnd he took nn old trail across country. It wns a flnt region with n poor growth of mosquito nnd prlckly-peur cactus. Occasionally ho caught a gllmpso of low hills lit tho dlstauce. lie hnd hunted often In thnt section, nnd knew where to find grass and water. When ho reached this higher ground ho did not, however, halt nt tho first favorable camping spot, but went on and on. At Inst ho found n secluded spot, un der cover of thick mesqultes nnd oaks, nt n goodly dlstnnco from the old trull Ho took xnddlc and puck off tho horse, in a do a small fire, prepared nnd ntc his supper. TIiIh done, ending tho work of that duy, ho sat down and filled his Pipe. When night set In and the place seemed all tho moro Isolated and lonely for that Duune hud a senso of relief. It dawned upon hint nil nt onco that he wus nervous, watchful, sleepless. The fact caused him surprise, nnd ho begun to think hack, to take note of his Into actions and their motives. Tho change one day hnd wrought nmnzed him. He who had alwnys been free, easy, happy, especially when out alone In tho upon, hnd becomo In a few short hours bound, serious, preoccupied, Ho felt tired, yet hud uo Inclination to rest. Ho intended to bo off by dawn heading toward tho southwest Had ho a destination? It wus vngtio us his knowledge of that great waste of mosquito nud rock bordering the Btu Grande. Sotnewhoro out there wns u rofugTt. For he wits a fugltlvo from Justice, nn outlaw. This being an outlaw then meant eternal vigilance. No home, no rest, no Bleep, no content no llfo worth the living I He must bo n lono wolf or ho must herd among men obnoxious to him, If ho worked for an honest 11 v- ing, he still must hide his Identity nnd ( tnke risks of detection. If ho did not 1 work on some distant, outlying ranch, how wns ho to live? Tho Idea of stealing wns repugnant to him. Tho future seemed gray nnd somber enough. And ho .wns twenty-three years ojd. But whnt wus tho matter with tho Hght of his enmpflro? It hnd tnken on n strange green luster und seemed to ho waving off Into the outer shadows. Dunne heard no step, suw no move ment ; nevertheless, thero wus nnothcr present ut that enmpflro vigil. Dunno snw him. Ho lay thero In tho middle of tho green brightness, prostrate, mo tionless, dying. Cal Bnln I That hntintlng visitation left Duano sitting there In n cold swent, n remorse gnawing nt his vltnls, "realizing tho curse that was on him. He divined thnt never would ho bo nble to keep off thnt phnntom. Ho remembered how his fnther hnd been eternally pursued by furled of accusing guilt, how ho had never been nblo to forget In work or In sleep those men ho had killed. Tho hour was Into when Dunne's mind let him sleep, nnd' then dreams troubled him. In the morning -ho be stirred himself so early that In tho gray gloom he hnd difficulty in finding Ills horse. Day hud Jnst broken when he struck the old trail ngnln. He rodo hard all morning nnd hnltcd In u shady spot' to rest -hud graze his horse. In the uftoruoon ho took to tho trail at nn cuny trot. Tho country grew wilder. Buld, rugged mountnlns broke the level of tho monotonous ho rizon. About three In the nftcrnoon ho canto to n little 'river which mnrked the boundnry line of his hunting terri tory nnd followed It upstream. In this kind of travel und camping ho spent three moro days, during which ho crossed n number of trails, and one where cuttle stolen cattle, probably had recently passed. Ho followed tho road until n Into hour, when, striking tho willow brakes again nnd hence tho neighborhood of the river, he picketed his horso nnd lay down to rest. But ho did not sleep. His mind bitterly re volved tho fate that hnd come upon him. He mndo efforts to think of other things, but In vain. Every moment ho expected the chill, tho sense of loneli ness thnt yet wus ominous of a strange vIsltutlQn, tho pccullnrly Imagined lights nnd shades of tho night these things that presaged tho coming of Cnl Bnln. Doggedly Dunno fought ngulnst tho Insidious phantom. He kept tell himself that It was Just Imnglnn' tlon, thnt It would wenr off In time. Still In his heart he did not bcllcvo whnt ho hoped. But ho would not give up ; he would not accept tho ghost of his victim us n reality. Gray dawn found him in tho saddlo again, headed for tho river. Hulf an hour of riding brought him to tho dense chnpnrrnl nnd willow thickets. These ho threaded to como at length to tho ford. Once upon tho opposite shore, he reined in his horse and looked darkly bnck. This action marked his acknowledgment of his sit uation:. ho had voluntarily sought tho refuge of the outlaws ; he was beyond the pale. The trull led Into a road which was hard packed and smooth from tho tracks of cattle. He doubted not that he had come ncross one of tho roads used by border raiders. Ho headed Into It, und hnd scarcely traveW a mllo when, turning n curve, he enmo point-blank upon u single horseman riding toward him. Both riders wheeled their mounts sharply nud wero ready to run' and .shoot buck. Not moro thnn n hundred pnees separated them. They' stood then for a moment wntcltlng each other. "Mawnln', stranger," culled tho mun, dropping his gun to his hip. "Howdy," replied Duuuo shortly. They rode townrd each other, clos ing half tho gup, then they halted again. "I seen you nln't no ranger," called tho rider, "nn shore I ain't none," He . luughcd loudly, ns if he hud mudo a Joke. "How'd you know I wasn't a ranger " asked Duune curiously. Some how ho hud instantly divined that this horseman was no officer, or even n rancher trailing stolen stock. "Wnl," wild the fellow, starting his horso forwnrd at a walk, "a ranger'd never git ready to run the Other way from ono mutt." Uo Intighed again. He was sninll and wiry, slouchy of attire, and nrmed to tho teeth, nnd ho bestrode n lino bay horse. He hnd quick, dunclng brown eyes, ut once frank nnd bold, nnd a course, bronzed face. Evidently ho was a good-natured ruffian. Duunc acknowledged tho truth of the assertion, und turned cm; In Ids mind how shrewdly tho fellow had guessed him to bo a hunted man. "My name's Luke Stevens, nn' I hull from the river, Who'ro you?" said this stranger. Duune wus silent. "I reckon you're Buck Dunne," went on Stevens. "I heerd you wns n bad man with u gun." This time Dunno laughed, not nt tho doubtful compliment, but nt the Idea thut the first outlaw he met should know hltn. Here wns proof of how swiftly fuels nbout gun-play traveled gn the Texas horde,?, "Wnl, Buck," said Stevens, In n friendly manner, "I nln't presumln on your time or company. I see you're hcndln' fer the river. But will you stop long enough to stnko a feller to n bite of grub?" "I'm out of grub nnd pretty hungry myself," admitted Duano. "Been pushln' your boss, I see. Wnl, I reckon you'd better stock up before you lilt thct stretch of country." lie mndo n wide sweep of his right nrm, indicating the southwest, nnd there wns thnt In his nctlon which seemed significant of a vnst nnd bnr ren region. . "Stock up?" queried Dunne, thought fully. "Shore. A fcllor hns Jest got to eat I can rustle nlong without whisky, but not without grub. Thet's what makes it so cmbarrassln' trnvelln' theso pnrts dodgln your shadow. Now, I'm on my way to Mercer. It's a llttlo two-bit town up tho river n wnys. I'm goln' to pack out sorao grub." Stevens' tone was inviting. Evident ly ho would wolcomo Duano's compan ionship, but ho did not openly say so. Dunne kept silence, however, nnd then Stevens went on. "Stranger, In this here country two's . n crowd. It's-snfer. I never wns much on this lone-wolf dodgln, though I'Ve ; done It of necessity. It tnkes n mighty good mun to travel nlono nny length of time. Why, I've been thet sick I w;ns Jest nchln' fer some ranger to como along an' plug me. Give me n pardner nny day. Now, mebbo you'ro not thet kind of n feller, nn', I'm shoro not presumln' to nsk. But I Jest de clares myself sufficient" "You mean you'd llko mo to go with you?" asked Dunne. Stevens grinned. "Wnl, I should smile. I'd be particular proud to bo braced with n mnn of your reputa tion." "See here, my good fellow, thnt's nil nonsense," doclnred Dunne, In soir9 haste. Shore I think modesty becomln' to n youngster," replied Stevens. "I hate n brng. Buck, I don't know much nbout you. But every mun who's lived nlong the Toxns border remembers, n lot nbout your dud. I Jest heerd thet you wns Hghtnln' on the drnw, nn' when you cut loose with a gun, why tho flggor on the nco of spndcs would ' cover your cluster or bullet holes. Thet's the word thet's gone down tho border. Now, Buck, I'm not n spring chicken, nn' I've been long on tho dodge. Mebbo a little of my society won't hurt you none. You'll necd to lenrn tho country." There wns something sincere nnd llkuble nbout this outlaw. "I dare say you'ro right," replied Duane, quietly. "Aud I'll go to Mer, cer with you." Next moment he wna riding down the road with Stevens. Dunne had Both Riders Wheeled Sharply. Their Horses never been much of a talker, and now he found speech difficult But his companion did not seem to mind that. Ho was a Jocose, voluble fellow, prob ably glad now to hear tho sound of his own voice. Duano listened, and sometimes ho thought with a pang, of tho distinction of name nnd heritage of blood his father had left to hlra. CHAPTER III. Lnto that duy, a couple of hours be fore sunset, Duano und Stevens, hav ing rested their horses In the shade of some mesqultes near the town of Mer cer, saddled up and prepared to move. Do you believe that Duck did the wrong thing by running away from home7 Doesn't It seem that he could have proved self .defense and saved himself from the outlaw life? (TO BE CONTINUED.)