THE 8EMI.WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
THE LONE STAR RANGER
This is a story about the Texas Plains People
By ZANE GREY
The time of the story: about 1S75. The
place: Th Texas cow country. The chief
ennjtciw; liucKier uuano. a younc man
who has Inherited a lust to kill, wlili
uppriw. in seir-ueronso
a. drur.hen bully and Is f
tn tiia country wnere no joins uiunu s
outlaw band. Euchre, an amiable raiscal,
tells htm about Jennie, a youncr Rlrl who
had been abducted and sola to Bland for a
bad fata. They determine to rescue the
Ctrl and restore her to civilization. Eu
chre has Just reconnoltorcd, and Is re
porting the outlook to Duck. Euchre U
killed. Buck kills Dland and Is danger
ously wounded by Mrs. Bland, but es
capes with Jennie. Jennie Is abducted.
Buok never sees her again, but kills her
abductor. Dim no barely osenpes death at
the hands of lynchers for a crime ho nov
r committed, lie rocs to see Captain
BfaaNeliy of the Hangers.
CHAPTER XIV Continued.
Dunno a pen, rrin his forefinger ulong
a dotted line.
Duano's hand was slinky. Years
had passed since ho had held n pen.
Hint service Is to be. I'vo been n busy
man slnco I took this job, and, ns you
mny have heard, I've done n few
things. I don't mind telling you that
political influenco put roc In hero nnd
that up Austin way there's n good deal
The stranger hnd bent over to
loosen tho cinches; he straightened up
nnd nodded. Then: "I'm thirsty 1"
That brought n broad sinllo to faces.
SYNOPSIS. I Dunno a pen, rrin his forefinger along i "That's so much more than I'vo dared i tjhucklo structure that bore upon Its
to hope. wide, hlgh-bonrdcd front tho sign,
"Well, It's settled, then. I'll glvo "Hotel." Tho hotel had a wide plut
you money for expenses. You'll start form In front, and this did duty as
ist t6 kill, which ho. It was with dlfllculty that ho achieved ns soon as you like tho sooner Jthe porch and sidewalk. Upon It, and
i?e?nl'nn,i ,SXtin lils slgnnturc. Buckley Dunno how better. I hopo to think of other sug- loaning ngalnst a hltchlng-rall, were
is iorccu 10 lire 10 . . .. i...' ..,..,. ...i i . ........
NirangO tllO IininO 100K0UI gcuwimsj UBjjuuiuiijr uuuuv vuuiuiuui- nii-li ul vurjniK u(;ua, iiiusi vl muui
"Right hero ends tho career of Buck eating with me." slovenly In old Jeans and slouched
Dunne, outlaw and gun-fighter." said Long after tho lights were out and sombreros. Soiuo wero booted, belted,
MncNelly; nnd, scntlng himself, ho tho low hum of voices hnd censed nnd spurred. No innn there woro a
took tho pen from Dunne's fingers and round tho enmp-flro Dunno lay awake, cont, but all woro vests. Tho guns
wroto several lines In sevcrnl places eyes staring Into tho bluckness, mnr- in that group would havo outnumbered
upon tho paper. Then with a smllo vellng over tho strnngo events of tho tho men.
ho handed It to Dunne. day. And as ho lay there, with tho it was a crowd seemingly too lazy
"That makes you a member of Com- nppronch of sleep finally dimming tho to bo curious. These men were Idlers ;
pnny A, Texas Hangers." vividness of his thought, so full of what else, perhaps, was easy to con-
"So that's itl" burst out Dunne, a mystery, shadowy faces floated In tho jeeture. Certainly to this arriving
light breaking in upon his bewilder- blnckness nround him, hnuntlng him stranger, who Unshed a keen eyo over
mcnt "You want mo for ranger serv- as ho hnd always been haunted. them, they woro nn atmosphere never
Ico?" It was broad daylight when ho associated with work.
"Sure. That's It," replied tho awakened. MncNelly was calling mm Presently n tall mnn, with n droop-
Captain dryly. , "Now to hear what to breakfast. lng, sandy mustache, leisurely detach-
tuo rangers woro eating in a circiu Cu nunseir rrom tno crowu.
round a tarpaulin spread upon tho "Howdy, stranger," ho said,
ground.
"Fellows," said MacNelly, "shako
hands with Buck Duane. He's on
secret ranger service for me. Scrvtco
of friction In tho Dcnnrtment of Stnto that'll llkelv innko vou nil humn soonl It was characteristic greeting. One
In regard to whether or not tho ranger Mind you, keep mum about It." and all trooped nfter the strnnger Into
scrvlco Is any good whether It should Tho rangers surprised Dunno with a tho hotel. It was a dark, 111-smelllng
bo discontinued or not. I'm on tho roaring greeting, tho warmth of which barn of a place, with a bar as high as
pnrty who's defending tho ranger serv- ho Boon divined wns divided between a short man's head., A bartender with
Ice. I contend that it's mndo Texas prldo of his acquisition to their ranks a scarred face was serving drinks,
habitable. Well, It's been up to mo to nnd eagerness to meet that violent "Lino up, gents," said tho stranger,
produce results. So far I havo been scrvlco of which their captain hinted. . They piled over ono another to get
successful. My great nmbltton Is to They were Jolly, wild fellows, with, to tho bar, with coarse Jests and onths
break up tho outlaw gangs along tho just enough gravity In their welcome nnd laughter. None of them noted
river. I havo novcr ventured In thero to show Dunno their respect nnd ap- that the stranger did not appear so
yet bocnuso I'vo been waiting to get preclntlon, while not forgetting his thirsty as ho claimed to be. In fact,
tho llcutennnt I needed. You, of lone-wolf record. When ho had sented though he went through the motions,
course, nro tho man I hnd In mind, himself In Hint circle, now ono of ho did not drink nt nil.
It's my Idea to start way up tho Hlo them, n feeling subtle and uplifting "My name's Jim Fletcher," said tho
pervaded him. tall man with tho drooping, snndy
After tho meal Captain MacNelly mustache- He spoke laconically, nevcr
drew Duano aside. theless there was a tone that
"nero'H tho monov. Mnko It co ns showed ho expected to bo known.
operating on tho banks. No ono seems far n8 you cnn Wrlto mo caro of tho Something went with that name. Tho
to havo seen him to know what ho adjutant nt Austin. I don't have to stranger did not appear to bo im-
looks like. wnrn you to bo careful where you pressed.
"I assume, of courso, that you aro a mau letters. Rldo a hundred, two "My name might be Blazes, but It
stranger to tho country ho dominates, hundred miles, If necessary, or go clear ain't," ho replied. "What do you call
It's flvo hundred miles west of your to El Paso." tuls burg?"
ground. There's a llttlo town over MncNelly stopped with nn air of "Stranger, this, heah me-tropoles
thero called Falrdale. It's tho nest finality, and then Duano slowly rose, bears tho handle Ord. Is thet now to
of a rustler gang. They rustlo and .Tn Btart at once h0 8nl(ii extend- you?"
murder nt will. Nobody knows who ing jg jmmj t mo captain. "I wish He leaned back ngalnst tho bar, and
mo icaucr is. i -want you 10 unu out. jq iuj0 t0 thank you I" now nis lluIe yeuow eyes, ciear as
Well, whatever way you decldo ls best "ncll, man I Don't thank mo I" ro- crystal, flawless as a hawk's, fixed on
you will proceed to act upon. You nro piieu- MncNelly, crushing tho proffered the stranger. Other men crowded
your own uoss. xou must una some i,nmit pvo Bont n lot of good men close, lorming a circle, curious, reauy
way to lot mo know when I and my t0 their deaths, nnd mnybo you'ro nn- to be frleudly or otherwise, nccordlng
rangers nro needed. Tho plan Is to nthrr. But. ns I'vo said, vou'vo ono to how the tall interrogator marked
break up Cheseldlno's gang. It's tho chnnco In a thousand. And. by tho newcomer.
toughest Job on tho border. Wo want Heaven 1 . I'd hnto to bo Cheseldlno "Sure, Ord's n llttlo strange to me.
to kill or Jail this cholco selection of or nny otjltr man you wero trailing. Oft tho railroad some, ain't It? Funny
rouocrs anu DrenK up uio rest 01 mo No. not cood-bv odlos. Duane 1 May trans ncrennouts."
wo meet again I"
"Sure I lied," ho said, "so 1 ain't
takln' offense nt tho way you called
mo. I'm lookln' to mnko friends, not
enemies. You don't strlko mo ns ono
of them four-flushes, nchln' to kill
somebody. But If you art go nhend
nn' open the bnll. . . You see, 1
never throw a gun on them fellers
till they go fer theirs."
Knell coolly eyed his antagonist,
Next morning Duuuo did not rctun
to Ord. Ho struck off to tho north,
riding down n rough, slow-desceuding
roud that nppenrcd to have been used
occasionally for cattle-drlvlng. Ae
ho had ridden in from the west, this
northern direction led him into totnllj
unfamiliar country. While ho passed
on, however, he exercised such keen
observation that lc tho future he
Dunne averted his face a moment,
kesitnted till tho swelling left his
throat, and then said, "It's worth what
I wont through to-day to hear that."
"I can lmaglno how you feel nbout
It When I was In tho war but let's
get down to tho business of this meet
la JT."
Bo pulled his chair close to Duano's.
Youvo had. word moro than onco
In tho last two years that I wanted to
c you, why didn't you hunt mo up?"
"I supposed, you Imagined mo ono of
those gun-fighters Who couldn't toko n
aro nnd expected mo to rldo up to
four cump and bo nrrcstcd."
"That was natural, I suppose," went
fa MacNelly. "You didn't know me,
ttncrwlso you would havo come. I'vo
fcen a long tlmo getting to you. But
ttft traturo of my Job, ns for as you'ro
Concerned, made mo cautious. Duano,
you're awnro of tho hard name you
tear all over tho Southwest?"
"Onco In a whllo I'm Jarred into
realizing," replied Duane.
"It's tho hnrdest, barring Murrell
And Cheseldlno, on tho Texas border.
Sat there's this difference. Murrell
1 his day was known to deservo his
Infamous name, Cheseldlno In his day
also. But I'vo found hundreds of men
bi southwest Texas who'ro your
friends, vfc swear you never com
alttcd . crime. Tim farther south I
et tlwi dearer this becomes, Whnt I
want to know Is tho truth. Havo you
vr Oono anything crlmlnnl? Tell mo
Um truth, Duane. It won't mnko nny
ilffcrenco In my plan. And when I
My crlmo I mean what I would call
rime, or any reasonable Texan."
'That way my hands aro clean," re
filed Duane.
'You never held up a man, robbed
t store for grub, stolo a horso when
you needed hlra bad nevor anything
Mko that?"
"Somehow I always kept out of that,
jwst when pressed tho hardest."
"Dunne, I'm gladl" MacNelly ex
claimed, gripping Duano's hand. "Glad
(Or your mother's sakol But, all tho
Mtnc, In splto of this, you nro n Texas
Mtlaw accountable to tho stnto.
Sou'ra perfectly nwaro that under ox
feting circumstances, If you fell Into
tho hands of tho law, you'd irobably
tang, &t least go to jail for' a long
Aim:
'Thnt'8 what kept mo on tho dodgo
U these years," replied Duano.
"Certainly." MacNelly's eyes nnr-
rfcwed and glittered, Tho muscles
"long his brown checks sot hard and
Ntise. He leaned close to Duane,
&&ld sinewy, pressing fingers upon
Shiana's knee.
"Listen to this." ho whispered.
ftarsely. "If I plnco a pardon in your
wind make you a free, honest citizen
ccc more, clear your nnmo of Infamy,
Mftko your mother, your sister proud
f .you will you swear yourself to a
service, any scrvlco I demand of you?"
Duano sat stock still, stunned.
Slowly, moro pcrsunslvoly, with
hnw of earnest agitation, Captain
MacNelly reiterated his startling
Vttery.
MMy Godl" burst from Duano.
What's this? MncNelly, you can't bo
'im carncsti"
i "Novcr moro so In my life. Tva n
eep gnrao. I'm playing It square.
IVhnt do you say?"
no rose to his feet. Duane, ns If
Swindled, roso with him. Banger nnd
wtlaw then locked eyes that searched
rcu other's souls. In MncNelly'a
Duano read truth, strong, fiery pur
pose, hope, oven gladness, and n fugl
ftve mounting nssuranco of victory.
Twice Duane endeavored to speak,
failed of all savq a bourse, Incoherent
Mund, until, forcing back n. flood of
ticcch, ho found a voice.
"Any service? Every service! Mac
ifelly, I give my word," said Duano,
A light played over MncNclly'B tnw,
irarmlng out all tho grim darkness.
Be held out his hand. Duano met It
with his In a clasp that men uncon
sciously glvo in moments of stress.
When they unclnspcd and Duano
stepped back to drop Into a chair
MacNelly fumbled for n cigar nnd,
lighting It, turned to his Visitor,
ow calm nnd cool. Ho hnd tho look
f a mnn who hnd Justly won soino
folng at considerable cost. Ills next
fcwe was to take a long leather enso
from his pocket and extract from It
moral folded papers,
"nere's your pardon from tho Cover
or" ho said, quietly. ''You'll boo,
when you look It over, that It's qondt
ttonal. yfkm you sign this paper I
!wvo here ttw condition will bo met"
He gtnrtfca t tibe peper, uuuM
Crnndo and begin with Cheseldlno.
no's tho strongest, tho worst outlaw
of tho times, no's moro than rustler.
It's Cheseldlno nnd hlB gang who nro
his strange fnco not changing In tho would know whatever might bo of
least. Yet somehow It was evident scrvlco to him If ho chanced that
In his look that here was metal which way again.
rang differently from what he hnd After n couplo of hours' riding he
entered n town which ho Boon dl
covered to bo Bradford. It was th
largest town ho had visited since
Mnrfn, nnd he calculnted must hav
thousnnd or fifteen hundred In
habitants, not Including Mexicans.
He decided this would be a good
place for him to hold up for n while,
being tho nearest town to Ord, only
forty miles awny. So ho hitched his
horso In front of n store nnd leisurely
set nbout studying Bradford.
It was after dark, however,
that Duane verified his suspicions con
cerning Bradford. Tho town wns
nwnko nfter dark, nnd thero wns one
long row of saloons, dance-halls,
ganibllng-rcsorts In full blast. Duane
visited them nil, and was surprised
to sec wlldncss and license equal to
that of tho old river camp of Bland'a
in its palmiest days. Hero It was
forced upon him that tho farther west
ono traveled along tho river the
sparser the respectable settlements,
the moro numerous the hard charac
ters, and In consequence tho grentei
the element of lawlessness. Dunne
returned to his lodglng-houso with the
conviction that MacNellyls task of
cleaning, up the Big Bend country
was a stupendous one. Yet, ho re
flected, a company of Intrepid nnd
quick-shooting rangers could have'
soon cleaned up this Bradford.
The Innkeeper had one other guest
that night, n long-coated and wide
sombrerocd Texan who reminded
Duane of his grandfather. This man
had penetrating eyes, a courtly man
ner, nnd nn unmistakable leaning to
ward companionship and mlntjuleps.
Thn ppntlpmnn tntrorliippd hlmRfilf ns
The tension relaxed, tho sllcnco Polrinf1 WftM, nf Mnrfn. nnrt tonic It
broke, the men filled up the gap; the ng n mjlttcr of courso tnat Duanc
Incident seemed closed. Jim Fletcher mndo no coinment about himself.
nttacneu nimseir to tno stranger, anu na . nnA
now both respect and friendliness Pnlnnol ,Vhi, tni nm
gang. To find them, to got among
them somehow, to learn their move
ments, to lay your trap for us rangern
to sprlngthnt, Duane, Is your Bervlco
to mo, and God knows it's a great
ono t"
"I havo accepted It," replied Dunne.
CHAPTER XV.
"How fur was you goln'?"
"I reckon I was goln' ns far as I
could," replied tho stranger, with a
hard laugh.
His reply had subtle reaction on that
West of tho Pecos Itlver Texas ex
tended n vast wild roclon. barren In listening circle. Some of tho men ex
tho north whero tho Llnno Estncado changed glances. Fletcher stroked
"Your work will bo secret You aro nron. ,ta shlftlnp Hands, fertile in tho his drooping mustache, seemed
now a rangor in ray service. But no boum. nionc tho IUo Grando. A rail- thoughtful, but lost something of that
ono except tho few I chooso to ten ron(i mnirked nn undevlntlng courso piercing scrutiny.
will know of it until wo pull oft tho nnrnR flv h,In,irnrt mil of this "Wal. Ord's the Jumpln'-off place,'
Job. You will simply bo Buck Duano country and only vningos and ho said, presently. "Sure, you've hecrd
uu u ouiw our iiurimao w uciiuuiui towns lay on or near this lino of steel, or tno nig uenu country r
Texas with tho fact that you'ro a unsettled ns was this western Texas, "I sure have, an was makln'
nnd dcspltn tho acknowledged doral
nnnco of tho outlaw bands, tho
pioneers pushed steadily Into it.
Tho Itlo Grando flowed almost duo
south along tho western boundary for
tracks
fer It," replied tho stranger,
Fletcher turned toward a man in
tho outer edge of tho group. "Knell,
como in heah."
This Individual elbowed his way In
Here Colonel Webb Exploded.
expected. Invited to start a fight or
withdraw, as ho chose, Knell proved
himself big In the manner character
istic of only the genuine gunman.
"Stranger, I pass," he said, and,
turning to the bar, ho ordered liquor.
tempered his asperity,
"Wal, fer want of a better handlo
I'll call you Dodge," he said.
other things, that ho had como out
to tho Big Bend to look over the
"Dodge's ns good ns any. . . Gents, becn Q ranchcr nnd a sherIff
io up again an' if you can't be , . t,., m
lino up again
friendly, bo careful 1
Such was Buck Duano's debut in
the llttlo outlaw hamlet of Ord.
Duano had been three months out
of tho Nueces country. At El Paso
ho bought tho finest horse ho could
find, nnd, armed and othenvlso out
fitted to suit him, he had taken to
unknown trails. Ho passed on leisure
ly, because ho wonted to learn
the wny of tho country, tho work,
habit, gossip, pleasures, and fears
of tho peoplo with whom ho
came in contact. When ho heard
Fletcher's name and faced Knell he
knew he hnd reached the placo be
sought
Duane made himself agreeable, yet
not too much so, to Fletcher nnd
"Found no nffnlrs, no ranch, nbt
even his grave," said Colonel Webb.
"And I tell you, sir, If hell's nny
tougher than this Falrdalo X don't
want to explnte my sins there."
"Falrdale. ... I imagine sheriffs
havo n hard row to hoo out here,"
replied Duane, trying- not to appear
curious.
The Colonel swore lustily.
"What this frontier needs, sir, is
about six companies of Texas Rang
ers. A fine body of men, sir, and the
salvation of Texas." '
"Governor Stono doesn't entertain
that opinion," said Duane.
Hero Colonel Webb exploded. Mani
festly the governor was not his cholco
a thousand miles, nnd then, weary of nnd was seen to bo scarcely moro than
its course, turned abruptly north, to n boy, almost palo beside those bronz
mako what was called tho Big Bend, ed men, with a long, expressionless
Tho rnllrond. runnlnc west, cut across fnco, thin and sharp.
this bend, and nil that country bound- "Knoll, this henh's " Fletcher
cd on tho norUi by tho railroad and wheeled to tlitj stranger. "What 'd you
on tho south bv the rlvor was as wild call yourself?"
ns tho Staked rinlns. Across tho faco "I'd hate to mention what I'vo becn
of this Big Bend, ns If to isolate It, callln' myself lately."
Btrctched tho Ord mountain rnngo. In This sally fetched another laugh,
tho vnlloys of tho foothills and out Tho stranger appeared cool, careless,
across the plains wero ranches, nnd Indifferent v
farther north, villages, and tho towns Knell stepped up, and It was easy
of Alplno nnd Mnrfa. to see, from tho way Fletcher rclln-
Llko other parts of tho great Lono qulshed his part in tho situation, thnt
Star State, this section of Texas was n man greater than ho had appeared
a world In Itself a world whero tho "P0 tll scene.
riches of tho rancher woro over en- "Any business hero?" ho queried,
rlchlng tho outlaw. Tho vlllago closest curtly. "When he spoko his expresslon-
to tho gateway of this outlaw-infested less faco was in strange contrast with
region wns a llttlo placo culled Ord, tho ring, the quality, tho cruelty of
named after the dark peak that loomed his voice. This voice betrayed an ab-
soiuo miles to tho south. senco of humor, of friendliness, of
Toward tho closo of a day In Sen-1 heart.
several other men disposed to talk for a chief executive of tho great
nnd drink, nnd cat: nnd then, after state. He talked politics for a while,
having a caro for hlB horso, ho rode and of tho vast territory west of tho
out of town a couplo of miles to a Pecos that seemed never to get a
trrovo ho had mnrked. nnd thero. well benefit from Austin. Duano exerted
hidden ho prepared to spend the himself to be agreeable nnd interest-
night This proceeding served n
doublo purpose ho wns Bafer, and
tho habit would look well In the eyes
of outlaws, who would bo moro In-
"Any Duolnesa Here?"
ranger, xou'n bco tnoros no uato on
that paper. No ono will over know
Just when you entered tho service,
"Nope," replied tho stranger.
"Know anybody hereabouts?"
"Nary one."
"Jest rldln' through?"
"Yep."
"Slopln' fer back country, eh?"
Thero enmo n pnuso. Tho stranger
tcmber n stranger rodo Into Ord, and
In a community whero all men were
rcmnrkahlo for ono reason or another
ho excited interest His horso, per
haps, received tho first and most en
gaging attention horses In that region
being apparently moro Important thnn
men. This particular horso at first appeared to grow n little rcsontful and
glanco seemed ugly. But ho wns a drew himself up disdainfully.
giant, black as coal, hugo In every "Wal, conslderln' you-all Becm so
Porhnps wo can mako It appear thnt way. A bystander rctuurked that ho damn friendly an' oncurlous down hero
till or most of your outlawry lma hnd a grand head, nis faco was boiiu in this Big Bend country, I don't mind
really been good sorvlco to tho stnto. black, except In tho mlddlo of bis fore- snyln' yes I am in on tho dodge," ho
At that, I'll bellovo It'll turn out so." head, whero thero was a round spot replied, with deltbcrnte sarcasm.
MacNelly paused n moment In his of whto. "From west of Ord out El Pnso
rapid talk, chewed his cigar, drew Tho rider, llko his horso, wbs a giant way, mebbe?"
his brows together In a dark frown, In Btnturo, but rangier, not so heavily "Sure."
nud went on. "No man on tho border built Otherwise tho only striking "A-huhl Thet so?" Knell's words
knows bo well as you the deadly naturo thing about him wns his somber faco cut tho air. stilled tho room. "You'ro
of this service. It's n long, long chnnco with Ita plorclng eyes, and hair whlto from wny down tho river. Thet a what
against your over coming back," over tho temples. lie pneked two thoy sny down there 'on the dodge.'
"That's not tho point," said Dunuo, guns, both low down but that was . . . Stranger, you'ro a liar I"
"But in cneo I get killed out there too common n thing to attract notice with swift clink of spur nnd
What" In the Big Bond. A close observer, thump of boot tho crowd split, leav-
"Lonvo that to mo," Interrupted however, would havo noted a singular ing Knell and tho stranger In tho
Captain MacNelly. "If you lose your fit this rider's right hand was ceuter. Tho stranger suddenly bo
llfo out thero I'll seo your name cleaV- moro bronzed, moro weather-beaten enme bronze. The situation seemed
thnn his loft no nove? woro a glovo familiar to him. His eyes held
thnt right hand I singular piercing light that danced
lie had dismounted before a ram- like a co-mpnss-noedle,
cllned to seo in him tho lone-wolf said Duane, finally. "What" is this
fugitive. outlaw situation you speak of?"
Long slnco Duane had fought out "It's damnable, sir, nnd unbellev-
a battle with himself, won a hard- able. Not rustling nny more, but
earned victory. He had assumed a Jnst wholesale herd-stealing, in which
tusk lmposslblo for any man snve one some big cattlemen, supposed to bo
like him, ho had felt tho meaning of lionest, aro equally guilty with tho
it grow strangely nnd wonderfully, outlaws. On this border, you know,
nnd through thnt flourished up con- tho rustler has nlwnys been ablo to
sclousness of how passionately he now stcnl cattle In any numbers. But to
clung to this thing which would blot get rid of big bunches that's tho
out his former lnfnmy. Ho never hard Job. Tho gang operating be-
forgot that ho was free. Strangely, tween here nnd Valentine evidently
too, ulong with this feeling of now havo not this trouble. Nobody knows
manhood there gathered tho force of whero tho stolon stock goes. But I'm
Imperious dcslro to run these chief not nlono in my opinion that most of
ed -the scrvlco you render kuown.
You can rest assured of that"
"I am tliffled," replied Duane,
ing; and ho saw presently that hero
wns an opportunity to mako a valu
able acquaintance, if not a friend.
"I'm a stranger In these parts,"
outlaws to their dooms. Ho never
called them outlaws but rustlers.
thieves, robbers, murderers, criminals.
Ho' sensed tho growth of a relentless
driving passion, and sometimes ho
feared thnt, moro than the newly
acquired zeal and pride In this ranger
It goes to several big Btockmon. They
ship to San Antonio, Austin, New
Orleans, also to El Paso."
"Wholesale business, eh?" remarked
Dunne, "Who aro these er big
stock-buyers?"
Colonel Webb seemed a llttlo
service, It was tho old, terrlblo In- startled at tho abrupt query. He
hcrltcd killing Instinct lifting Its bent his penetrating gaze upon Dunno
hydra-head In now guise. and thoughtfully stroked his pointed
This night n wonderful afterglow beard.
lingered long In tho west, nnd against "Names, of course, I'll not mention.
tho golden-red of clear sky tho bold, I Opinions tiro ono thing, direct nccusa
black head of Mount Ord reared Itself j tlon another. This Is not n healthy
aloft, beautiful but aloof, sinister yet country for tho Informer,"
calling. Small wonder that Duano i When It came to the outlaws them
gazed In fascination upon Uio pcnkl j selves Colonel Webb wns disposed to
Somowhero deep in its corrugated tnlk froolyj The great name nlong
sides or -lost In a rugged canyon wns
hidden tho secret stronghold of tho
master outlaw Chcseldlne. All down
nlong tho rldo from El Paso Dunne
had heard of Cheseldlno, of his bnnd,
his fenrful deeds, his cunning, his
widely scpnrato raids of his flitting
hero and thero llko a Jack-o'-lantern;
but never u word of his den, never a
word of his appearance.
tho river was Cheseldlue, but It seem
ed to bo a nnrae detached from nn
'Individual. No person of veracity
known to Colonel Webb had over
seen Cheseldlnc. Strange to say of
an outlaw leader, as there was no ono
who could Identify him, so thero was,
no one who could prove ho hnd actu
ally killed a mnn.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
