THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA.
The Lone Star Ran
A Fine Tale of the Open Country
ner
ByZANE GREY
Buck Duano la framing fast'
what It merl to be a hunted
man. He t getting the outlaw'o
point of view, yet truly he Isn't
an outlaw. The big question
that arises Is this: How can
Buck make a living? He Is not
a thief ho wouldn't steal horses
and cattle or engage In the hold
up business. His brief partner
ship with an outlaw terminates
abruptly. How he meets new
dangers when surrounded by
Bland's gang of desperadoes Is
X told with thrilling emphasis In
this Installment
conversation wlicru he hurt left oft tho
night before.
"Thin trnll BplltsMip n ways from
here, un' every branch of It lends tq n
liolo where you'll find men n few,
mebbo, like yourself some like me
un' gangs of no-good boss thieves,
rustlers an' such. It's easy llvln', Buck.
I reckon, though, Hint you'll not Hurt
It easy. You'll nevt'r mix In. You'll
ho a lone wolf. I noon Hint right off.
Wnl, If a man enn stand tho loneliness,
an' If lie's quick on tho draw, inebbe
SYNOP8I8.
2
Ituek Dunne. Inheriting blood lUat from
kla fathor. kills a liquor-maddened "Dad
lilp for better or worse.
CHAPTER III Continued.
I've lived nlotig tho river for twelve
yenrs. There's three big ganga of out
laws. King Fisher you know him, I
reckon, fer lie's half the time llvln'
among respectable folks. King Is u
The outlaw had a bloody foam on his
lips, and ho was spitting blood.
"Oh, why didn't you sny sol" cried
Dunne. "I never thought. You seemed
nil right."
"Wul, Luko Stevens may be as gabby
ns an old woman, but sometimes lie
doesn't say unythln'. It wouldn't have
done no good."
Dunne bade him sit down, removed
his shirt, and washed the blood from
his breast and bark. Stevens had been
shot In tho brenst. fairly low down,
and the bullet had cone clear through I lone-wolfln' Is the best. Shore I don't
him. Ills ride, holding himself and know. Hut these fellers In hero will
that heavy pack In the saddle, had bo suspicious of n man who goes It
been n font llttlo short of mnrvclotis. alone. If they get a chance! they'll
Dunno Old not seo how It had been kill you."
possible, and ho felt no hopo for tho Stevens asked for water several
outlnw. Hut ho plugged tho wounds times. Ho had forgotten or he did not
and bound them tightly. want tho whisky. Ills voice grew pcr-
"Fcllcr'fl nnmo was Ilrown." Stevens ccptlbly wenker.
said. "Mn nn' him fell out over n boss "Ho quiet." snld Dunne. "Talking
I k a m . . . . ... I 1 ll.
tnun" who Ik bont on kllllnir Dunne. To 1 BtOIO irom mm over 111 iiUIltSVIIIC. uses up your sircngiii.
ecnpo tho law. iluck noes to the wild y0 m a iiootlu ncrnpe then. Will, L "Aw, I'll talk till I'm dono," ho so
KM ITS" 1 S rnVma EM?! m I wns standin' my boss back there piled, doggedly. "Seo here, pard, you
in Mercer I seen this Brown, an' seen can gammo on wiiat 1 in icinn you
him before ho seen me. Could have An It'll bo useful. From this camp
killed him, too. But I wasn't brcnkln' we'll you'll meet men right along. An
my word to you. I kind of hoped ho none of them will be honest men. All
"Iiwck. ns we're look n' for crab, an' wouldn't snot me. But ho did an' tlio snme, some nro bottom otliors
Rvt trouble, I reckon you'd better hang fust shot ho got mo here. What do
wp out here," Stevens was Baying, ns you Ihlnk of this hole?"
ho mounted. "You see, towns nn fiber- "It's pretty bad," replied Dunne;
Iffs an' rangers are always Iookln' fer and ho could not look tho cheerful out-
new fellers gone bnd. They sort of law In tho eyes.
forget most of tho old boys, except "I reckon It Is. Wnl, I've had somo good feller. It'll do to tie up with
those as are tilumb bnd. Now, nobody bad wounds I lived over. Guess mebbo him an' his gang. Now, there's uiteset
In Mercer will tnko notice of mo. I enn stand this one. Now, Iluck, get dine, wlio Hangs out in tno mm uocic
Ilcckon thero'a been n thousand -men mo somo plnco In tho brakes, leave mo way up tho river. Ho s an outlaw
run Into the river country to become somo grub nn water at my hand, nn' chlcr. I never seen him, tiiougii" I
nutlawB since youra truly. You Jest then you elenr out" stayed onco right In his camp. Lnto
wait hero an' bo ready to rldo hard. "Leave you hero alono?" asked Du- years bo's got rich, an' keeps back
Mebbo my bcsottln' sin will go one- nno shandy. pretty well hid. But Bland I knowed
rntln' In spite of my good Intentions. ''Shore. You seo I can't keep up Bland fer years. An' I haven't nny
la which caso there'll bo" I with you. Brown an' his friends will uso for him. Blnnd has the biggest
ttio niio wnu nicminmmh TTn follcr us acrost tho river ii wnvs. gang. You ain't likely to miss strlkln
iri-lnned, and his brown eyes dnn;d You've got to think of number ono In his plnco sometime or other. tfo's got
with n kind of wild humor. hub gnme." a rcguinr town, 1 mignc say. onoro
"Slovens hnve you got nny money?" "Whnt would you do In my enso?" Micro's somo gamblln' an' gun-llglilin'
nSKCU IJUailO CUrioilHIV. koiu on in jjiihiu s cunu uu ino mm.-.
"Wal, I reckon I'd clear out an' savo Blnnd hns killed somo twenty men, nn'
my hide," replied Stevens. thet'a not countln' greasers,
Duano felt Inclined to doubt tho out- ITcro Stevens took nnother drink,
law's assertion. For his' own part, ho J nnd then rested for n while.
decided his conduct without further "You nln't likely to get on with
speech. First ho wntcred tho horses, Bland," ho resumed presently. "You're
filled enntcens and water bng, and then too strappln' big an' good-lookln to
tied tho pnek upon his own horse, plenso tho chief. Fer he's got women
That done, ho lifted Stevens upon his In his camp. Then ho'd be Jealous of
horse, and, holding him In the saddle, your possibilities with n gun. Shore
turned Into tho brakes, being careful I reckon ho d bo careful, though.
to pick out hard or grassy ground that Bland's no fool, an' ho loves his hide
left llttlo signs of tracks. Just about Lrcckon nny of tho other gangs would
dark ho ran across a trail that Sto- bo better for you when you ain't goln'
vena said was a good ono tof tnko Into It nlorfc."
tho wild country. Apparently that exhausted tho fund
"Reckon we'd better keep right on of Information nnd advice Stovcns had
In tho (lurk till I drop," continued been eager to lmpnrt. IIo lapsed Into
stovcns. with n laugh. sllcnco and lay with closed eyes,
All flint nlflif- Tlunnn iflnnmv nrwl I Hfnntttt.lttf n ilm oitn itnrvi lm
Ifn fa wore doited by "orses nnq thoughtful, attentive to tho wounded brcezo wnved tho mcsqultcs ; the birds
"" T1 - , outlaw, walked tho trail and never came down to snlnsh In tho shallow
mving in a meager hock. halted. Dnwn cnticM tho fiiifltlvon
Presently Stevens rodo out of sight arccn. carnitine slto on tho bunk of L,.nf tw 0,1,1 hv Hnmr.iiinr rmiRod
lato tho town. Dunno waited, hoping u rociy ntUo Btream. Stovcns fell n him. Stevens was onco more talking,
asked Dunne.
"Money t" exclaimed Luko blankly.
"Soy, I haven't owned n two-bit plcco
aluce wnl, for somo time."
"I'll furnish money for grub," rc
twrncd Dunhe. "And for whisky, too,
providing you hurry back here with
out mnking trouble."
"Shore you're n downright good
Bard," declared Stevens, In admiration,
ax ho toolt tho monoy. "I glvo my
word. Buck, nn' I'm hero to say I never
toko It yet. Lay Idw, nn' look for
tne bnck quick."
With that ho spurred his horse nnd
trodo out of tho toesqultcs toward tho
town. At tlint distance, about a quar-
fc?r of a mllo, Morcor nppeared to bo
cluster of low adobo houses sot In
a grovo of cottonwoods, Pastures of
tfto outlaw would tnako good his word.
frrobnbly not a quarter of nn hour had
lapsed when Duano heard tho clear
reports of n Winchester rlllo, tho clnt
tx of rnpld hoofbents, nnd yells uu-
silstnkubly tho kind to inetin danger
for n mnn like Stevens. Duano
mounted nnd rode to tho edgo of tho
wostqultcs.
He saw a clow! of dust down tho
road and a bay horse running fast
JUevons apparently had not been
wounded by nny of tho shots, for ho
tiad a steady sent in his saddlo, nnd
his riding, oven nt that moment,
atruck Dunne us admirable. IIo car
ried a largo pack over tho poinmol, nnd
lie kept looking back. Tho shots had
ceased, but tho yolla Increased. Dunno
aiiw sovernl mjn running and waving
rheir nrms, Then lie spurred his horso
and got Into n swift strido, ho Stovcns
would not pass him. Presently tho
outlaw cnught up with him. Stevens
wait grinning, but there was now no
(un In tho dancing eyes. It was u dovll
that danced In them. Ills faco seemed
shiulo pnlcr.
"Wna Jest comln' out of tho store,"
irsUc-d Stevens. "J Urn plumb Into n
sranttior who knowed mo. IIo opened
p with a rifle. Think they'll chnso
aw."
They covered sovoral miles heforo
thcro wero nny signs of pursuit, and
but with a changed tone.
"Feller's name was Brown," he
rambled. "Wo fell out over n hoss.I
stolo from him In Iluntsvllle. IIo
stolo It fust. Brown's ono of them
sneaks afraid of tho open ho steals
an' protends to bo honest. Say, Buck,
mebbo you'll meet Brown somo day
You an' mo nro pnrds now.'
"I'll remember, If I ever meet him,"
said Duane.
That seemed to satisfy tho outlaw.
Presently ho tried to lift his .heart, but
had not tho strength. A strnngo shade
waB creeping across tho bronzed,
rough face.
"My feet are pretty heavy. Shoro
you got my boots off?"
Duano held them up, but wns not
certnln that Stevens could soo them
T)in nutlntv nlnsnrl lila nvnQ ni'ntti nml
muttered Incoherently. Then he fell
nslcop. Toward sundown Stevens
awoke, and his oyes ficomcd clearer.
Dunno wdnt to get somo fresh wntor,
thinking his comrado would surely
want some. When ho roturncd Stovcns
nmdo no sign that ho wanted anything,
There was something bright nbout htm,
and suddenly Dunno realized what It
meant.
"Pard, you stick to 1110 1" tho out
law whispered.
Duuuu cnught u hint of glndness
In flm vnlrn! )m triippil a fill nt surnrlsu
whou horsemen did movo Into sight Ho Matje Stevens as Comfortable no jn til0 i,(lRKard faco. Stevens seemed
at 01 iiio couonwooua uuano una nm rossioic. jll0 a mtlo child.
wmiimnion stenuuy nrew runner tiwuy. AmA woicht into riinno' .,r,ns nn.i Duano burled him In n shallow nr-
1 1 -1. 1.. 1 . , 1 . . . ....
-no iuihhcs in uiiu milieu in worry 0u j00i; t tKo haggard faco showed royo nnd heaped up n pllo or stones
m," called out Stevens. Dunno tlint tho outlaw had taken his to- mark tho grave. Thut done, ho
Dupuo had tho nmo conviction, and Inst ride. Ho knew It. too. Yet that saddled his comrado'B horse, hung tho
fco did not look buck nguln, Ho rode I cheerfulness prevailed. weapons over tho pommel, nnd, mount-
Kimowhut to tho fore, and was con- "Buck, will you tnko oft mv hunts?" inc his own Btced. ho rodo down tho
-tantly uwnro or tno rapid tnuiiuing ho nsked, wltll a fulnt Binllo on his truli In tho gathering twlilgbt,
ti hoofs behind, us Stevens kept close pallid face,
Im turn. At sunset thoy reached tho Duuno removed them, wonderlnir If CHAPTER IV.
Tflllow brake und tho river. Dunne's tho outlaw hnd tho thounht that ho
friirse wnH winded nnd lashed with did not want to dlo with his boots on. Two days Inter, nbout tho mlddlo of
went nnd lather, It was not until Stevens seemed to rend his mind. tho forenoon, Duuno drngged tho two
tho crossing had been accomplished "Buck, my old dnddy used to sav horses un tho last ascent of nn exceed
?hitt Duano hulled to rest hui tuiluml. thet I was born to bo hanged. But I ingly rough trail nnd found himself on
WovenH was riding up the low, sandy wasn't nn' dyln' with your boots on top of tho Itlm Rock, with 11 beautiful,
fonuk, IIo reeled In tho saddlo. With Is tho next wust way to croak." green valley at his feet, tho yollow,
ut exclamation of surprise, Duuuu I "You've, n chanco to to get over sluggish Itlo Grande shining in tho
leaped off nnd ran to tho outlaw's side. this," snld Duane. Bun, and tho great, wild mountainous
Htovens was palo, nnd his faco boro I "Shoro. But I want to bo correct barren of Mexico stretching to tho
about tho boots an' Bay. pard. if I do south.
go over, Jest you remember thot I wns No wonder outlaws woro safo In that
apprcclattn' your kindness." wlldrefugol Duuuo hud spout tho Inst
bi'iuls of sweat. Tho whole front of
Wh shirt was Bonked with blood
You're shot 1" 'cried Diane.
'Wal, who said I wasn't? Would you
This matter of tho outlaw's boots two dayfa climbing tho roughest und
wlui) givln mo a lift on this hero was Btrapge, Duano thought. Ho tnado 1 most difficult trail ho had over seen.
tMfk?" Stevens ns comfoilahlo as possible, From tho looks of tho desceut ho
Duune lifted the heavy pnek down then attended to his own needs. And 1 Imagined tho worst part or 1U8 travel
kjhI tfeea kelfl Stovcns to dlumouut. tho Outlaw took up tho thread of Ida was yet to come.
The trail proved to be tho kind that
could not be descended slowly. He
kept dodging rocks which his horses
loosed behind him. And in n short
time ho reached and rodo down tho
green retreat, wondering what would
1)0 his reception.
The valley was much larger than it
had appeared from the high elevation.
Well wntcred, green with grass and
tree, nnd fnrmed evidently by good
hands, It gave Duane n considerable
surprise. HorseS'iind rattle were ev
erywhere. Every clump of cotton
woods surrounded n smnll ndobe bouse.
Dunne snw Mexicans working In tho
fields nnd horsemen going to nnd fro.
Presently he passed n house bigger
than tho others, with 11 porch attached.
A woman, young nnd pretty, he
thought, watched him from n door. No
onp elso nppeared to notice him.
Presently tho trnll widened into n
road, nnd that Into n kind of square
lined by a number of ndobe and log
buildings of rudest structure. Within
sight wero horses, dogs, n couple of
steers, Mexican women with children,
and white men, all of whom appeared
to bo doing nothing. Ills ndvent cre
ated no Interest until he rode up to
the whlto men, who were lolling In tho
shade of n house. This place evi
dently was u store nnd saloon, and
from the Inside enmo n lazy hum (if
voices.
As Dunne reined to n hnlt ono of tho
loungers In the shade rose with n loud
cxelumntlon :
"Bust mo If thet nln't Luke's boss I"
The others necorded their Interest,
If not nssent, by rising Mo advance
toward Duane. ,
"How nbout It. Euchre? Ain't thet
Luke's bay?" queried tho first man.
"Plain as your nose," replied tho fel
low called Euchre.
"There nln't no doubt nbout thet,
then," laughed nnother, "fer Bosomer's
nose Is shoro plain on tho landscnpe."
These men (Incd up before Duane,
and ns lit) coolly regarded them ho
thought they could have been recog
nized nnywhero ns desperadoes! Tho
man called Bosomcr, who hod stepped
forward, hnd n forbidding faco, which
showed yellow eyes, nn enormous nose,
and n skin the color of dust, with a
thntch of sandy hair.
"Stranger, who nro you nn' whpre
In tho h 1 did you git thet bay boss?"
ho demanded. Ills yellow eyes took In
Stevens' horse, then tho wenpons hung
on tho saddle, and finally turned their
glinting, hard light upward to Duane,
Dunno did not like the tone In whlcJi
ho had been addressed, and u re
mained Bllent. Something leaped In
shh3 of him nnd made his brenst feel
tight. Ho recognized It ns that strange
emotion which had shot through him,
often of lato, and which had decided
him to go out to tho meeting with
Bnln. Only now It was different, nnd
moro powerful.
"Strungcr, who ifro you?" nsked. nn
other man, somewhat more civilly.
."My mime's Dunne," replied Dunne,
curtly.
"An how'd you come by tho boss?"
Dunne answered briefly, nnd his
words were followed ly n short silence,
during which tho men looked nt him.
Bosomcr begun to twist tho ends of
his beard.
"Reckon bo's dead, nil right, or 110
body'd hov bin hoss un' guns," pres
ently said Euchre.
"Mister Dunne," began Bosomcr, In
low, stinging tones, "I happen to bo
Luko Stevens' sldo pnrdner."
Dunno looked him over, from dusty,
worn-out boots to his slouchy som
brero. That look seemed to Inllnme
Bosomer.
"An' I want tho hoss an' them guns,"
ho shouted.
"You or anybody elso can have them,
for nil I care. I Just fetched them In.
But tho pack Is .mine," replied
Dunne. "And, sny, I befriended your
nurd. If you can't use a civil tongue
you'd better cinch it."
"Civil? Haw, haw!" rejoined tho
outlaw. "I nln't takln' your word I
Savvy thet? An' I wns Luke's pard !
With that Bosomer wheeled, nnd,
pushing his companions aside, ho
stamped Into tho saloon, where his
volco' broke out In a roar.
Duano dismounted mid throw his
bridle.
"Stranger, Bosomer Is shoro hot
headed," said tho man Euchre. Ho
did not appear unfriendly, nor were
tho others hostile.
At this Juncture several more out-
liiws crowded out of tho door, and tho
nno lu the lead was a tall man of
Btulwart physique, nis manner pro
claimed him n leader. He had a long
face, n llumlng red beard, and clour,
cold blue eyes that llxed lu close sent
tiny upon Duane. IIo wns not a Tex
an; In truth, Duane, 1 did not recognize
ono of these outlaws ns native to his
state.
"I'm Blnnd," Bald the tall mnn, mi
thorltntlvely. "Who'ro you, and whnt're
you doing here?"
Dunno looked at Bland us ho hud
nt tho others. This outlnw chief np
penred to bo reasonable, If ho was
not courteous. Dunne told his story
again, this tlmu a llttlo more In detail
"1 bellovo you," replied Bland 11
onco. "Think I know when n fellow Is
lying."
"I reckon you're on tho right trail,'
nut in Euchix. "Thot ubout Luko
want In' his boots took off thet sntln
fles me. Luke bed a mortal dread of
dyln' with his boots on."
At this sally tho chief nnd his men
laughed.
"You said Duane Buck Dunno?",
queried Blnnd. "Are you n, son of that1
Duane who wns n gun-Cghter s'omo
years back?"
"Yes," replied Duane.
"Never met him, nnd glnd I didn't,"
said Bland, with 11 grim humor. "So
you got in trouble nnd hnd to go on
tho dodge? What kind of trouble?"
"Hnd 11 fight."
"Fight? Do yon menn gun-plny?"
questioned Blond, no seemed eager,
curious, speculative.
"Yes. It ended in gun-plny. I'm
sorry to sny," answered Dunne.
"(Sucss I needn't nsk tho son of
Duane If ho killed his mnn," went on
Bland, Ironically. "Well, I'm sorry
you, bucked ftgalnst trouble In my
camp. But, ns It is, I guess you'd bo
wlso to moko yourself senrce."
"Do you mean I'm politely told to
move on?" nsked Dunne, quietly.
"Not exnetly thnt," snld Blnnd, , ns If
lrrltnted. "If this Isn't n free plnco
there Isn't ono on earth. Every man Is
equal here. Do you want to Join my
band?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, oven If you did, I Imagine that
wouldn't stop Bosomer. He's nn ugly
fellow. Merely for your own sake, I
ndylse you to hit the trail."
"Thanks. But If that's all, I'll stay,"
returned Duane. Even ns ho spoke ho
felt that he did not know himself.
Bosomer nppenred nt the door, push
ing men who tried to dotnln him, nnd
ns jho Jumped clenr of a last reaching
hand, ho uttered 11 snarl llko nn ungry
dog. Blnnre nnd the other outluws
quickly moved aside, letting Dunne
stnnd alone. "When Bosomcr saw
Dunne stnndlng motionless nnd watch
fid, n Btrnngo change pnssed quickly
In .him.
Duano saw nil the swift nctlon, felt
Intuitively the meaning of It, nnd In
Bosomer's sudden change of front. Tho
outlaw wns keen, and he had expected n
shrinking, or nt least a frightened nn
tagonlst Duano know ho wns nei
ther. IIo felt llko Iron, nnd yet thrill
nfter thrill ran through him. Tho out
lnw had como out to kill him. And
now, though somewhat checked by the
stand of n stranger, ho still mennt to
kill. But ho did not spenk n word.
He remained motionless for a long mo
ment, his oyes pnlo nnd steady, his
ght hand llko n claw.
That Instant gave Duano a power to
road In his enemy's eyes tho thought
that preceded nctlon. But Dunne did
not wnnt to kill nnother man. Still,
he would hnve to fight, nnd ho decided
to cripple Bosomer. When Bosomer's
hnnd moved Dunne's gun wns spout
ing -fire. Two shots only both from
Dunne's gun nnd tho outlaw fell with
his right nrni shattered. Bosomer
cursed harshly, nnd floundered In the
dust, trying to reuch tho gun with his
left hnnd. Ills comrades, however,
seeing that Dunne Would not kill un
less forced, closed In upon Bosomer
nnd prevented nny further madness on
his pnrt.
Of the outlaws present Euchre ap
peared to be the ono most Inclined
to lend friendliness to curiosity; and
ho led Duano nnd tho horses away to
small adobe shack, no tied tho
horses In nn open shed and removed
their saddles. Then, gnthering up Ste
vens' wenpons, ho Invited his visitor
to enter tho house.
It had two rooms windows without
coverings bnro floors. One room con
tained blankets, weapons, saddles and
bridles; the other n stono fireplace,
rude table and bench, two bunks, a
box cupboard, and various blackened
utensils.
"Mnke yourself to 'homo as long ns
you wnnt to stay," said Euchre,
nln't rich In this world's noods, but I
own what's hero, an' yot're welcome.
"Thanks. I'll slay awhile and rest,
I'm pretty well rlayed out," replied
Duane.
Euchro gave him 11 keen glance.
"Go ahead an' rwt. I'll tnko your
horses to grass."
Euchro left Duane alone In tho
house. Dunno relaxed then, nnd mo
chunicutly ho wiped tho sweat from
his fnce. Ho was inhering under somo
kind of u spell or shock which did not
pass off quickly. When It had worn
away he look off his coat and belt and
nmdo himself comfortable on tho blan
kets. And ho hnd a thought thnt, If
ho rested or slept, what difference
would It make on tho morrow? No
rest, in) sleep could change tho gray
outlook of tho future. IIo felt glud
when Euchre enmo bustling In, and for
tho first time ho took notice of tho out
law,
Euchro was old lu years. What
llttlo hair ho hud wus gray, his face
cieim shaven and fuH of wrinkles; his
eyes wero half shut from long gazing
through the sun and dust. Ho stooped.
But Ids thlu faco denoted strength
und endurance still unimpaired.
"Ilev a drink or n smoke?" ho nsked.
Duane shook his head. Ho had not
been unfamiliar with whisky, and ho
had used tolmcco moderately Mnco ho
was sixteen. But now. strnngely, he
felt n dlfgust ut tho Idea of stimulants
something wild In his blood, something
thnt made him fear himself,
Euchre wagged Ida old head sympn
thetlcully. "Reckon you feel n little
sick. When It comes to shootln', I run.
What's your age?"
"I'm twenty-three," replied Duane.
Euchro showed surprise. "You'iro
only 11 boy I I thought you thirty any
ways. Buck, I beard what you told
Bland, nn puttln' thet with my own
llggcrln', I reckon you're 110 criminal
yet. Throwln' 11 gun In self-defense
thet nln't no crlmol"
Duane, finding relief in talking, told
more nbout himself.
"Huh," replied the old man. "I've
seen hundreds of boys como In on the
dotlgc. Most of them, though, was no
good. An' thet kind don't Inst long.
This river country hns been nn' Is tho
jrcfugo for criminals from all over the
stntes. I've bunked with bank cash
iers, forgers, plain thieves, nn' out-nn'-out
murderers, nil of which hnd no
blzness on tho Texns border. Fellers
llko Blnnd nro exceptions. He's no
Texnn you seen thet. The gang he
rules hero come from nil over, nn'
they're tough cusses, you can bet on
thet. They live fnt nn' easy. If it
"I Want the Hoss an' Them Guns'."
wnsn't fer tho flghtln' nmong them
selves, they'd shoro grow populous.
Tho Rim Rock is no plnce for a peace
able, decent feller. I heard you tell
Bland you wouldn't like to Join his
gang. Thet'll not mnke him tnko a
Hkln' to you. Have you any money?"
"Not much," replied Duane.
"When tho money's gouo how will
you live? There nln't nny work n de
cent feller could do. You can't herd
with greasers. Why, Bland's men
would shoot nt you In the fields.
What'll you do, son?"
"God knows," replied Duane, hope
lessly. "I'll make my money last ns
long us possible then starve."
"Wal, I'm pretty pore, but you'll
never stnrvo while I got anythln'.'
Hero it struck Buck again thnt
something human nnd kind and eager
which ho had seen In Stevens. Duano's
estimate of outlaws had lacked this
quality, no had not accorded them
nny virtues.
"I'm much obliged to you, Euchre,"
replied Dunne. "But of course I won't:
live with nnyone unless I can pay raj
share."
"Hnve It nny way you like, my son,"
said Euchre, good-humoredly. "You
make n Are, on' I'll set about getttn'
grub. I'm n sour-dough, Buck. Thet
mnn doesn't llvo who can beat my
bread."
"now1 do you ever pock supplies
In hero?" nsked Duane, thinking of tho
nlmost Inaccessible nature of the valley.
"Some comes ncross from Moxlco,
nn' the rest down the river. That
river trip Is a bird. It's moro'n flvo
hundred miles to nny supply point.
Bland hns mozos, greaser boatmen.
Sometimes, too, he gets supplies' In
from down-river. You see, Bland sells
thousands of cnttlo In Cuba. An' all
this, stock has to go down by boat to
meet tho ships."
"Where on earth are tho cattle
driven down to tho river?" aBkcd
Dunne.
"Thot's not my secret," replied Eu
chro shortly. "Fnt Is, I don't know.
I've rustled cattle for Bland, but he
never sent me through tho Rim Rock
with them."
Dunne experienced n sort of pleas
ure In the realization that interest had
been stirred In him. Ho wns curious
nbout Bland und his gang, nnd glad to
have something to think nbout. For
every onco In n while ho hnd a sensa
tion thnt wns almost like n pang. Ho
wanted to forget. In tho next hour ho
did forget, nnd enjoyed helping In tho
preparation nnd eating of the meal.
Euchre, nfter washing and hnnglug up
the several utensils, put on his hat and
turned to go out.
"Come nlong or stay here, ns yo-r
want," he said to Duane.
"I'll stay," rejoined Dunno slowly.
Tho old outluw left tho room and
trudged nwny, whistling cheerfully.
Do you believe-that Buck will
persuade Euchre to leave
Bland's gang and form a little
partnership of their own? And
do you think that Buck will
succumb to necessity and be
come a horse thief and cattlo
rustler? 4
He did not understand cleurly what ho . $oto&'00;;'M )' i
felt. There was thnt vague Idea of I T0 BE CONTINUED.;
fl
