The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-09-01
THE RENO GANG.

OhJ Vic sduS
This special caution rings in my
ears as l spring into the buggy and
pick up the reins, My young Nor
gan mares strike a swift trot; then
their hoofs clatter in the night Air
and the wheels under me hum mer-
ry song as up the dark road we speed.
Look out for the Reno gangw
Yes. yes-I must do that. As my
hotel host behind me has just now
said, | must keep sharp eye out for
the Renos.
| am but road agent. To take or
ders aud to sell goods-that is my
sole errand in this prairie region of
the wild west. II is not long alter
the war OF the Blue and the Gray
There are no steel rails laid in this
section. There is no steam horse to
whirl me on from town to town or
from village to city.
1t is Saturday night
/ am due at Byrne, fifteen miles
away, where | desire to spend my
Sunday. My calls at the town have
Just left, have made my start for
Byrne at II p. m., instead of 6, which
J had in mind for the trip.
Don't you think of such a drive
tonight"
Thus said my honest host.
"Ghe Renos'll have that team o
yourn."
Thus argued the hnstler.
Don't go-wait TIL daylight"
This was my advice from all hands.
shook my head.
Reno or no Reno, I'll risk il"
And so / did. And here we are.
my team and |, bent or this dark
trip. Right through the land of the
Renos', we bowl along at a good
smart pace We go our way right in
the paths of this band of bloody out
laws, who just now ale the terror of
the west Their chief game is fine
horses; bnt human life is cheap in
their hands They don't sell men;
and dead ones are easier got rid OF
than live ones. OF late they have
been very active. Every thrifty town
within radius of fifty miles has been
victim of their midnight raids.
Arrest them?
No.
They are the law here, Just now
Where is the officer so bold as to
lay hand on them, even In broad
day.
Where is the victim who dares pur.
sue them.
No such officer, no man so brave,
had come to public view, until three
days ago. Slug to madness, by their
great losses, a band of hardy settlers
had come upon three of the gang,
while those terrOrs were in their cups.
They swarmed upon them in a sa
loon, where they had drank themsel
yes into mellow state. Their skill
with the gun and their fierce taste
for fight and blood, for the first time
failed them.
The scuffie was short.
The farmers were in earnest for
once.
They had lost 50 much stock that a
life or two was not thought of.
There was rush.
The Renos reached for gun and dirk
But too late
They were put in stout bonds and
the sheriff was brought to the scene.
The news spread.
The farmers came o the fore, and
then sharp talk and angry gestures
gave way to dark hints, then to open
threats as the crowd grew.
This much of the affair was brought
to the hotel before | had quit it.
And so on we go.
My Morgan pets keep to their SHARP
stride. Now and then the moon
peeps out coyly from behind dense
cloud. But this flash of light only
serves to make the shade which fol
lows of an lnky hue
My thoughts are ever on the Re
nos. Their bloody work, as told me
| before | set out, is in my minds eye
| | try to think of the work [ did in the
day behind me. strike with the
long whalebone whip at this or that
object along the road. | even hum &
verse of al old song. All this to ease
my doubts, of course, and to free my
mind from fear
Now we have to so but third OF
the distance; within five miles of
Byrne. And yet no sign of friend OF
foe. The new moon has set, and the
sky has been swept of its feecy
clouds by mild breeze that plays
among the tree tops that fringe the
road. Under the thin duster thai
lies across my knees, my finger toys
nervously with my pistol trigger.
mean to get to Byrne, even if l must
cross dead body or two But so fa1
not sound stirs the night air but the
patter of my Morgan's hoofs; not 6
sign has met my keen vision that
could lead me to suspect the presence
| ahead of a Reno, or any other of his
kind
Two miles this side of Byrne we
approach at rapid stride, long
low covered bridge of wood, which
spans broad stream. Here, if at
auy spot, | may fear trouble. But
with a taut rein and all alert, | sit
erect. We dash at the slightest rise
of ground which marks the bridges
approach. As we face the tunuel OF
wood, | see through it and catch a
clear view of the sky set in frame at
the other end. We enter-my Nor
gans at rapid walk. As we clear
the end and near the center of the
span, both mares begin to snort and
finch little.
Whoa, Mollie! Whoa, Minniew
My pets halt and turn their heads
from side to side. They snort loudly,
then spring away and start all of a
tremble
They have keen nostrils; they scent
danger.
strain my eyes at the open space
| ahead till thav ache