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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1916)
THE 8EMI-WEEKLV TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. The A Fine Tale of the Open oYNOPaia. Tn time of the utory: about 1875. Tho fUcel The Texas cow country. The chief cnaracier: uucuiey uuane, . jaunx roan who baa Inherited a lust to kill, which ho suppresses, ut eir-uorense ne snoots aeaa a dmnken bully and Is forced 10 fleo to the wlW Asantry whore fio joins Bland's outlaw M.nd. Euchre, an nmlablo rascal, tells hten about Jennlo, a young girl who had bn abducted and sold to Uland for a bad (ate. They determine to rescue the girt and restore hor to civilization. Eu chre has Just roconnoltered, and Is re porting; tho outlook to Buck. Euchre Is Killed. Buck kills Bland and Is danger ously wounded by Mrs, Bland, but es capes with Jennie. Jennie Is abducted. Buck never sees her again, but kills her abductor. Duane barely escapes death at We hands of lynchers for a crime he nev er committed. lie goes to soe Captain' MacNelly of the Rangers, who hands him a pardon on condition that he Join tho Rangers and assist In breaking up tho outlaws. Duane accepts and goes to the outlaw headquarters on a secret mission. CHAPTER XV. Continued. But in striking contrnst to thin mystery was tho person, character, and cold-blooded nctlon of Poggln and Knoll, the chief's lieutenants, They wore familiar figures In all tho towns within two hundred miles of Brad ford. Knell had a record, but air gun man with nn lncrcdlblo list of victims, Poggln wns supreme. If hoggin had a friend no ono ever heard of him. Thcro wcro a hundred stories of his nerve, his wonderful speed with n gun, his passion for gnmbllng, his lovo of a horse his cold, Implacable, Inhu man wiping out of his path any man that crossed It. "Chcscldlno Is a name, a tcrrlblo name," said Colonel Webb. "Some Umos I wonder If bo's not only n name. In that etiso wlicro does tho brains of this gang como from? No; thcro must bo a master cruftsmnn behind this border plllago; n master capablo of handling thosa terrors, Poggln and Knell. Of nil tho thou sands of outlaws developed by west ern Texas In tho Inst twenty years theso threo aro tho greatest. In southern Texas, down between tho Pecos and tho Nueces, there have been and aro still many bad men. But I doubt If any cutlnw there, possibly excepting Buck Dunno, over cqunlcd Poggln. You've heard of this Dunno?" "Yes, a little," replied Duano quiet' ly. "I'm from southern Texas. Buck Duano, then, Is not known out here?" "Why, mnn, where Isn't his nnmo known?" returned Colonel Webb, "1'vo kept track of his record as I httvo all tho others. Ills fnmo In this country appears to hnng on his mutch less gun-play and his enmity toward outlaw chiefs." "Has Chescldins's gang been busy lately?" asked Dunne. "No. Probably ull tho stock that's being shipped now was rustled long ago. Chcscldlno works over a wido section, too wide for nows to travol tnsldo of weeks. There nro ronio people who think Chcscldlno hud nothing to do with the bnnk-robborles and train hold-ups during tho last few years In this country. But that's poor reasoning. Tho Jobs linvo been too well dono, too surely covered, to bo tho work of greasers or ordlnnry out Iaws "What's your view of tho outlook? How's nil this tfjlng to wind up? Will tho outlaw ever bo driven out?" asked puanc. ' "Novcr. Thcra will always bo out laws along tho Ulo Grande. All tho armies In tho world couldn't comb the wild brakcr of that fifteen hun dred miles of river. But tho sway et tho outlaw, such ns Is enjoyed by theso great leaders, will sooner or later bo past. There's talk of Vigi lantes, tho same that wero organized tit California ond aro now In forco to Idaho. So far It's only talk. But the time will como. And tho days of Chcscldlno and Poggln nro numbered." I CHAPTER XVI. Next morning Duano mounted his Shorso nnd headed for Fnlrdulo. Ho 'rodo leisurely, ns ho wanted to learn mil ho could about tho country, Thero wero fow ranches. Tho farther ho traveled tho bettor grazing he en Aountorcd, nnd, strango to note, tho fewer herds of cattle It waB just unset when bo mado out a cluster ef adobe houses that marked Sander son, half-way between Bradford anil Falrdale. When ho drow up boforu the Inn tho landlord nnd his family and a number of loungers greeted him laconlcully. "Beat tho stage In, hey?" remarked me. "Thero sho comes now,' said an other. "Jool shore la drlvln to (right" Far down tho road Duuno snw a cloud of dust and horses nnd n lum "boring coach. Presently It rolled up, a largo mud-bespattered and dusty vehicle, littered with buggngoon top and tlod on behind. A number of passcugera alighted, threo of whom excited Dunne's Interest, Ono was a tall, dark, striking-looking man, und the other two wero ladles, wearing long gruy ulsters nnd volls. Dunno heard tho proprietor of tho Inn ad dress tho man as Colonel Longstreth, and as tho party entered tho Inn Dane's quick ears caught a fo,w words Vhlch acquainted htm with tho fact Mt Lougntjreth was tho mayor of fall-dale. Lone Star Ranger Duano passed Inside himself to learn that Buppcr would soon bo ready. At tablo he found him self opposlto tho three who had at tracted his attention. "Ituth, I envy tho lucky cowboys," Longstreth wus saying. Ituth wns n curly-headed girl with gray or hazel eyes. "I'm cruzy to rldo bronchos," sho said. Duano gathered that sho was on a visit to western Texas. Tho other girl's deep voice, sweet like a bell, made Duano regard her closer. Sho did not resemble tho Colonel, who was evidently her father. She looked tired, quiet, even melancholy. A llnely chiseled oval face, that had something nervous nnd delicate about It which mado Duuno think of a thoroughbred, a mouj.h by no means small, but perfectly curved, nnd hnlr llko Jet proclaimed her beauty to One Was a Striking-Looking Man. Dunne. When sho looked nt him, drawn by his rather persistent gazo, thcro was pride, lire, and passion In her eyes. Dunno felt, himself blush ing In confusion. After supper tho guests assembled In n big slttlngroom whero nn open fireplace with blazing mosquito sticks gavo out wurm nnd cheery glow. Duano took n scut by n tablo In tho corncr.and, finding n paper, began to read. Presently when ho glanced up ho snw two dark-faced men, strangers who had not appeared be fore. They wero peering In from a doorway. When they snw Dunno hnd observed them they stepped back out of sight. It flashed over Dunno that tho strangors acted suspiciously. In Texas In tho seventies It was always bad policy to let strangers go unheeded. Then ho went out Into n patio, nnd across It to n llttlo dingy, dlra-llghtod barroom. Iloro he found tho Inn keeper dispensing drinks to the two strangers. "IIov 60101111?" ono of them ask ed, leering. Both looked Duano up and down. "No thanks, I don't drink," Dunno replied, nnd returned their scrutiny with Interest. "How's tricks In tho Big Bend?" Both men stared. It had only taken n closo glunco for Duuno to rccognlzo n typo of rulllan most frequently met along tho rlvor, These strangers hud tliat slump, nnd their surprlso proved ho wns right. Hero tho luukcopor showed signs of uneasiness, und seconded tho surprlso of his custom ers. No moro was said at tho Instant, nnd tho two rather hurriedly went out "Say, boss, do you know theso fel lows?" Dunno asked tho Innkeeper. "Nope. Thoy nooncd heah, comln from Bradford they said, an' trailed In nfter the stago." When Dunno returned to tho pitting room Colonul Longstreth was absent, also several of tho other passengers, MIbs Ituth sat In tho chair ho had vacntud, und across tho tablo front her Bat Miss Longstreth. Duano went directly to them. "Excuse me," said Duano, address ing them. "I want to tell you thcro nro a couplo of rough-looking men hero. 1'vo Just seen thorn. They mean ovll. Tell your futhcr to bo careful. Lock your doors bar your windows to-night." "Oh 1" cried Ituth, very low. "Ray, do you hear?" "Thuuk you; we'll bo careful," nald Miss Longstreth, gracefully. Tho rich color hnd faded In her ehook. "I saw thoso men watching you from that door. Thoy had such bright black oyes. Is thcro really danger hero?" "I think bo." was Duano's reply. Soft swift steps behind him pre ceded u harsh voice: "Iluuds up I" No mun wus quicker than Duuno to recognize tho Intent in thoso words I His hands shot up. Miss Kuth uttor ed u llttlo frightened cry and sank Into her chair. Mlaa Lougstroth Country turned whlto, her eyes dilated. Both girls wero staring at someono behind Duane. "Turn around I" ordered tho harsh voice. Tho big, dark stranger, the bearded ono who had whispered to his com rado In tho bnr-room and asked Dunno to drink, had him covered with a cocked gun. He strodo forward, his eyes gleaming, prossed tho gun against him, and with his other hand dived Into his Inside pocket and toro out his roll of bills. Then he reached low at Dunne's hip, felt his gun, nnd took It His comrado stood In the door with a gun leveled at two other men, who stood thero frightened, speechless. "Git n movo on, Bill," colled this fellow; and he took a hnsty glanco backward. A stamp of hoofs camo irora outside. Of course tho robbers hnd horses waiting. Tho ono called Bill strode across the room, and with brutal, careless haste began to prod tho two men with his weapon nnd to search them. The robber In tho door wny called "Ilustlo I" and disappeared. Duane wondered where tho Inn keeper wns, nnd Colonel Longstreth nnd the other two passengers. The bearded robber had wheeled onco more. Duano had not moved a muscle, but stood perfectly calm with his arms high. Tho robber strodo back with his bloodshot eyes fastened jupon tho girls. Miss Longstreth never flinched, but the llttlo girl nppenred about to faint "Don't ynp, there 1" ho said, low and hard. He thrust the gun closo to Ituth. Duane had n little gun In his pocket The robber had missed It. And ho began to calculate chances. "Any money, Jewelry, diamonds I" ordered tho ruffian, fiercely. Miss Ituth collapsed. Then Jio mado nt Miss Longstreth. Sho stood with her hands at her broast Evi dently the robber took this position to mean that sho had valuables con cealed there. But Duano fancied sho hnd Instinctively pressed her hands against n throbbing heart "Como out with ltl" ho said, harsh ly, reaching for her. "Don't daro touch mo!" sho cried, hor eyes nblnze. She did not move. Sho had nerve. She eluded two lunges the man mado at her. Then his rough hand caught nt her waist, nnd with ono pull ripped It nsunder, exposing hor beautiful shoulder, white us snow. Sho cried out The prospect of be ing robbed or oven killed hnd not Khnkcn Miss Lqngstreth's nerve ns hnd this brutal tearing off of half her waist Tho Tufllan was only turned pnr tlnlly nwny from Duano. Tho gun wns still held dangerously upward closo to hor. Duano wntched only that Then u bellow made him jerk his head. Colonel Longstreth stood In tho door way In n mngnlOccnt rngc. Ho hnd no wenpon. Strange how ho showed no fear I Ho bellowed something again. Dunno's shifting glnnco caught tho robber's sudden movement. He seem ed stricken. Tho hand that clutched Miss Longstreth's torn waist loosened its hold. Tho other hand with Its cocked weapon slowly dropped till It pointed to the floor. That was Dunne's chance. Swift as a flash he drow his gun nnd fired. Then tho robber's gun boomed harmlessly. Ho fell with blood spurting over his face Duano rushed out of tho room, ncross tho patio, through tho bar to tho yard. In tho gloom stood n saddled horse, probably tho ono belonging to the fellow ho had shot, nis comrado hud escaped. Returning to tho sitting room, Dunno found n condition np prouchlng pandemonium. The Innkeeper wns shouting to find out what had happened. Joel, tho stage-driver, wns trying to quiet the men who had been robbed. Tho wo man, wlfo of ono of tho men, had come In, nnd sho had hysterics. The girls wero still anil white. Tho rob ber Bill lny whero htf had fallen. Llko n caged lion Longstreth stnlked nnd ronrcd. Thero enrao n quieter mo ment In which tho Innkeeper shrilly protested : "Mnn, whnt'ro you ravin' nboot? Nobody's hurt, an' thct's lucky. I swear to God I hadn't no thin' to do with them fellers J." "I ought to kill you anyhow 1" re plied Longstreth. And his volco now astounded Duane, it was so full of power. Upon examination Dunno found that his bullet had furrowed tho rob ber's tcmplo nnd had glanced. Ho wns not Bcrlousjy Injured, nnd already showed signs of returning conscious ness. "Drag him out of herel" ordered Longstreth; and ho turned to his daughter. Beforo tho Innkeeper reached tho robber Duano had secured tho money nnd gun taken from him ; nnd presently recovered tho property of tho other men. Joel helped tho Innkeeper curry tho Injured mun somowhero outside. Miss. Longstreth was sitting whlto but composed upon the couch, where i lay Miss Ruth, who evidently had ' been curried thero by tho Colonel. Tho Colonel, now that ho finally re 1 By ZANE GREY mcmbcrcd his womenfolk, seemed to bo gcntlo and kind. Ho talked sooth ingly to Miss Ruth, mado light of tho adventure, said she must learn to have ncrvo out hero where things happened. "Can I bo of nny Bervlce?" asked Dunne, solicitously. "Thnnks; I guess thero's nothing you can do. Talk to theso frightened girls while I go see what's to bo dono with that thick-skulled robber," ho replied, and, telling tho girls that thcro was no moro danger, ho went out Miss Longstreth sat with ono hand holding her torn waist In place; tho other sho extended to Duane. Ho took It awkwardly, and he felt a strango thrill. "You saved my life," sho said, In grave, sweet seriousness. "No, nol" Duane cxclnlmed. "Ho might havo struck you, hurt you, but no more." "Did you kill him?" nsked Miss. Ruth, who lny listening. "Oh, no. He's not badly hurt" "I'm very glad he's alive," said Miss Longstreth, shuddering. "Tell me all about It?" asked Miss Ruth, who wub fast recovering. Rather embarrassed, Duane briefly told tho Incident from his point of view. "Cousin," snld Miss Longstreth, thoughtfully, "it wns fortunate for us that this gentleman happened to bo here. Papa scouts laughs at dang er, no seems to think thero was no. danger. Yet ho raved after It came." "Go with us all the way to Fair dale please?" asked Miss Ruth, sweetly offering her hand. "I nm Ruth Herbert. And this Is my cousin Ray Longstreth." Tm traveling thnt way," replied Dunne, In grcut confusion. " Ho did not know how to meet tho situation. Colonel Longstreth returned then, nnd nfter bidding Duane n good night, which seemed rather curt by contrast to the graclousness of tho girls, he led them away. Boforo going to bed Duano went outside to take a look at the injured robber nnd perhaps to ask him a few questions. To Dunne's surprise, ho wns gone, nnd so wns his horse. The innkeeper was dumfounded. Ho said that he left tho fellow on the floor In the barroom. "Had he come to?" Inquired Dunne. "Sure Ho nsked for whisky." "Did ho say anything else?" , "Not to me. I heard him talkln' to tho father of them girls." "You mean Colonel Longstreth?" .. lfl reckon. He sure was some riled, wasn't ho? Jest ns If I was to blame for that two-bit of a hold-up I" "What did you make of the old gent's rage?" asked Duane, watching the Innkeeper. Ho scratched his head dubiously. He wns sincere, nnd Dunne believed In his honesty. "Wnl, I'm doggoned If I know whnt to make of It. But I reckon he's either crazy or got moro nerve than most Texans." "Moro nerve, maybe," Duane re plied. "Show me a bed now, inn keeper." Once In bed In the dark, Duane composed himself to think over tho evcuts of tho evening. Why had that desperate robber lowered his gun "Moro Nerve, Maybe." and stood paralyzed at sight and sound of the mayor of Fnlrdale? This wns not nnswcrable. Thero might have been n number of reasons, nil to Colonel Longstreth's credit, but Dunno could not understand. Next morning Duane wulkcd up tho main street und buck uguln. Just ns he nrrlvcd some horsemen rode up to tho Inn aud dismounted. And ut tills Juncturo the Longstreth party came out Duano heard Colonel Long streth utter nn exclamation. Then ho1 saw him shako hands with n tall mun. Longstreth looked surprised nnd angry, aud ho spoko with forco; but Dunne could not hear what It was ho said. Tho fellow laughed, yet some how ho struck Duano ns sullen, until suddenly he espied Miss Longstreth. Then his face changed, and ho re moved his sombrero. Duano went closer. "Floyd, did you como with tho teams?" usked Longstreth, shnrply.' "Not me. I rode n horse, good and hard," wns tho reply. "Hump 1 Til havo a word to say to you later." Then Longstreth turned to his daughter. "Ray, hero's the cousin I've told you about You used to play with him ten years ngo Floyd Lnwson. Floyd, my daughter nnd my niece, Ruth Herbert" Duano alwdys scrutinized everyone he met, nnd now with n dangerous gnme to play, with n consciousness of Longstreth's unusual and significant personality, ho bent a keen nnd searching glnncfe upon this Floyd Lnwson. He wns under thirty, yet gray nt his temples dark, smooth-shaven, with lines left by wlldncss, dissipation, shadows under dark eyes, a mouth strong nnd bitter, nnd n squnro chin n reckless, careless, handsome, sinist er face strqngely losing tho hnrdness when ho smiled. Tho graco of a gentleman clung round him, seemed like an echo In his mellow voice. Dunne doubted not thnt he, like many n young man, had drifted out to the frontier, whero rough nnd wild llfo hnd wrought sternly but had not quite effaced tho mark of good family. ' Colonel Longstreth apparently did" not shnro tho pleasure of his daughter and his niece In the ndvent of this cousin. Something hinged on this meeting. Dunne grew Intensely curi ous, but, ns the stage appeared ready for tho journey, ho had no further op portunity to gratify It CHAPTER XVII. Duane followed tho stago through tho town, out Into the open, on to n wide, hnrd-pneked road showing years of travel. It headed northwest. To the left rose n range of low, blenk mountains he had noted yesterday, and to the right sloped tho mcsqultc pntched sweep of ridge nnd flat The driver pushed his team to a fast trot, which gait surely covered ground rapidly. Early In the afternoon from n rldge top Daane sighted Falrdale, a green patch In the mass of gray. For tho barrens of Texas It was indeed n fnir sight But he was more concerned with Its remoteness from civilization than its beauty. At that time, in the early seventies, when the vast western third of Texas was n wilderness, the pioneer hnd dono wonders to settle thero nnd establish places like Fair dale. It needed only n glnnce for Duane to pick out .Colonel Longstreth's ranch. Tho house, not moro thnn a few min utes' wnlk from tho edgo of tho town, wns n low flutroofed structure made of red adobe bricks. All wns green nbout It, except where the fenced corral and numerous barns or sheds showed gray and red. From nil outside appearances Fnlr dnle wns no different from other frontier towns, nnd Dunne's expecta tions were senrcely realized. As tho nfternoon wns waning ho halted nt n little Inn. A boy took charge of his horse. Duane questioned tho lnd about Falrdale and gradually drew to the subject most In mind. "Colonel Longstreth has a big out fit, eh?" ' "Reckon he has," replied the lad. "Donn know how many cowboys. They're nlways comln' nnd goln'. I ain't ncquainted with half of them." "Much movement of stock these days?" "Stock's always movln'," he re piled, with a queer look. "Rustlers?" But he did not follow up that look with the affirmative Duano expected. "Lively place, I hear Fairdalo is?" "Ain't so lively as Sanderson, but it's blggor." "Yes, I heard It was. Fellow down there was talking nbout two cowboys who wero arrested." "Sure. I heered all about thnt. Joe Benn an Brick Hlggtns they be long henh, but thoy ain't heah much. Longstreth's boys." Dunne did not wnnt to bo over-ln-qulsltlve, so he turned the tnlk into other chnnnels. After getting supper Duane strolled up nnd down tho main street. When darkness set In ho went Into n hotel, bought clgnrs, snt around, and wntch ed. Then ho pnssed otft and went into tho next place.' It was full of men coming nnd golrg n dusty-booted crowd that smellcd of horses nnd smoke. Duane sat d' n for a while, with wide eyes nnd open ears. Then ho hunted up tho bar. Ho stayed In thero for n while, nnd knew thnt strangers wero too common In Fair dalo to be conspicuous. Then he returned to the Inn whero ho had enguged n room. Duano sat down on tho steps of the dingy llttlo restaurant Two men wero conversing inside, nnd thoy hud not noticed Duane. "Lnrnmle, what's tho Btraliger'a name!" asked, one. "Ho didn't say," replied the other. "Sure was n strnppln' big man. Struck mo n Utile odd, he did. No cattleman, him. How'd you stz him?" "Well, llko ono of them cool, easy, quiet Texnns who's been lookln' for a man for years to kill him when ho found him," "Right you nro, Lnrnmlo; and, be tween you nn' me, I hopo he's lookln for Long " '"S-shl" interrupted Lnrnmle. "Yon ' must bo half drunk, to go tnlkln' thnt wny." Thereafter they conversed In too low n tone for Dunne to hear, nnd presently Lnrnmlo's visitor left Dunno wenV Inside, nnd, making himself agreeable, began to nsk casual questions about Fnlrdale. Laramlo was not communi cative. Dunne went to his room In a thoughtful frame of mind. Thero was something wrong nbout tho ranyor of Fnlrdale. Tho innkeeper Laramlo would bo worth cultivating. And Inst In Duano's thoughts that night wns Miss Longstreth. Ho could not help thinking of her how strangely tho meeting with her hnd nffectcd htm. It made him remember thnt long-past timo when girls had been a pnrt of his life. He had no right even to dream of a beautiful woman llko Ray Longstreth. Several days passed. Duane did not succeed In getting any closer to Lnramle, but he found tho Idlers on the corners nnd In front of tho storcsX unsuspicious nnd willing to talk. It did not take him long to find out that Falrdale stood parallel with Hunts villo for gambling, drinking, nnd fight ing. Tho street wns nlwnys lined with dusty, saddled horses, tho town full of strangers. Money nppenred more nbundant thnn In any plnco Dunne had ever visited; nnd ltwns spent with tho abandon thnt spoke forcibly of ensy and crooked acquirement. Dunno decided that Sanderson. Brad ford, nnd Ord wero but notorious out posts of this Fnlrdale, which wns n secret center of rustlers nnd outlnws. And what struck Duano strangest of nil wns the fnct that Longstreth was mayor here nnd held court dnlly. In- "Bo .Sneckerl He Hit Me" qulry hnd brought him the fact that Ray Longstreth had Just como tollvo with her father. Longstreth had originally been n planter in Louisiana, where his family had remained nfter his ndvent In the West He was a rich rancher; he owned half of Fair dale ; ho was n cattle-buyer on n large scale. Floyd Lnwson was his lleuten nnt nnd associate In deals. On. the afternoon of the fifth duy of Duanc's stay In Falrdale ho re turned to the Inn from his usual stroll, and upon entering was amazed to have n rough-looking young fellow rush by him out of the door. Insldo Laramie was lying on the floor, with n bloody brulso on his face. Ho did not appear to" bo dangerously hurt "Bo Sneckerl He hit mo nnd went nfter the ensh-drawef," said Laramie, laboring to his feet "Are you hurt much?" queried Duane. ''I guess not. But Bo needn't to huvo soaked me. I've been robbed beforo without that" "Well, I'll take a look after Bo," replied Duano. Ho went out nnd glnnced down the street toward tho center of tho town, no did not see nnyone ho could tako for tho Innkeeper's nssnllant Then ho looked up tho street nnd he saw tho young fellow nbout n block nwny, hurrying nlong nnd gazing back. Dune yelled for him to stop nnd started to go nfter him. Snecker broke Into n run. Then Duano set out to overhaul him. There wcro two motives In Dunne's uctlon ono of nnger, and the other n desire to mako n friend of this man Lnramle, who Duano believed could tell him much. Dunno wns light tn his feet, and he had a giant stride. He gained rapidly, kept him in sight, In the shade, on the paths, and up tho road Into the courtyard, nnd ho snw Sneck er go straight for Longstreth's house. Duano wns not to be turned bnck by that, singular as It was. He en tered the first door nnd burst tato the presence of Miss Longstreth and a number of young people. Evidently sho wns giving n little party. Lnwson stood leaning umlnst one of tho pillars; at sight of Dunne hi? face changed rcmnrkably, expressing amazement, constcrnatta,:, then fehr. (TO BD CONTINUE!,)
