Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-09-30


ton should be made or nis aeeo. u,
nad an easy. lazy manner aud a slow.
eynlcai smile that rarely left his face.
aud the only sign OF deepening passion
IN hin was little broadening OF his
smile Old Latour. who kept the Stop
ping Place, told me how once the
Duke had broken into a gentle laugh.
A French half breed freighter on his
way north had entered into "A game OF
poker with the Duke, with the result
that his six months pay stood IN a
little heap at his enemy's left hand
The enraged freighter accused his
smiling opponent OF being a cheat. and
was proceeding 90 demolish him with
one mighty blow. But the Duke. still
smiling and without moving from his
chair, caught the descending fist.
slowly crushed the fingers open and
steadily drew the Frenchman TO his
knees, gripping him so cruelty in the
meantime that he was forced TO cry
aloud in agony for mercy. Then IL was
that the Duke broke into a light laugh
and. touching the kneeling Frenchnan
on his cheek with his finger tips said:
Look here. my man. you shouldn't
play the game till you know how 10 do
II and with whom you play Then.
handing him back the money he added.
Il want money. but not yours" Then.
as he sat looking at the unfortunate
wretch dividing his attention between
his mOney and bis bleeding fingers. ne
once more broke into gentle laugh
that was not good 10 hear.
The Duke was by all odds the most
striking figure I'm the Company OF the
Noble Seven. and his word went
further than that OF any other. His
shadow was Bruce. an Edinburgh uni
yersity man, metaphysical. argumenta-
tive, persistent. devoted 10 the Duke.
Indeed, his chief ambition was To at
tain TO the Dukes high and lordlv
manner but. inasmuch as be was
rather squat in figure and had an open.
good natured face and Scotch voice
OF the hard and rasping kind. his at
tempts at imitation were not cOnspicu-
ously successful. Every mail that
reached Swan Creek brought him "A let
ter from home. At first. after I had
got TO know him. he would give me
now and then a letter to read. bur as
the tone became more and more
anxious he ceased 10 let me read them
and I was glad enough OF this How
he could read those letters and 90 the
pace OF the Noble Seven could not
see. Poor Bruce, He had good i'm
pulses. 4 generous heart. bur the per
NIT nights and the hunts and the
round ups and the poker and all the
Wild eNcesses OF the Company were
more than he could stand
Then there were the two Hill broth.
srs. the younger BERTHE. a fair haired.
fright faced youngstsr. none too aDie
10 look after himself. but much IN
clined 10 follies of all degrees and
sorts But be was warm hearted and
devoted 10 his big brother. Humphrey.
called Hump. who had taken 10 ranch
In mainly with tie idea Of looking
after his younger brother And no
easy matter that was. for every one
liked the lad and I'm consequence helped
him down.
In addition 10 these there were two
others Of the original seven. but by
force OF circumstances they were pre-
vented from any more than a nominal
connection with the Company. Bake.
a - RANAA " AlA All~lllaN. ntlN joined
the police ut the Fort. and Clifford had
got married and. as Bill said. was
roped tighter n a steer"
The Noble Company. with the cow
boys that helped on the range and two
or three farmers that lived near the
Fort. composed the settlers OF the
Swan Greek country strange med
ley OF people OF all ranks ami nations.
But while among them there were the
evil hearted and evil living. still for
the Noble Company I will say that
never have I fallen I'm with men Drawer.
truer or OF warmer heart. Vices they
had. ali too apparent and deadly. but
they We're due rather 10 the circum-
stances OF their lives than 10 the ma
tive tendencies OF their hearts.
Throughout that summer and the
winter following l lived among them.
caZping on the range with them and
sleeping in their shacks punching
cattle ia summer and hunting wolves
in winter. nor did /. for l was no wiser
than they. refuse my part on permit
nights. BUT through all not a man
OF them ever failed TO be true 10 his
standard OF honor i'm the duties OF COM
radeship and brotherhood