The Marshall republican., 1906-04-13

4 Ashley no one knew whence u came
o how much II wps. He was n per.
feet picture OF O man, and In all west
crn virtues was ensily nrst. lie could
rope n steer. bunch cattle. play poker
or drink whisky TO the admiration OF
bIs friends aud the confusion OF his
foes, OF whom he had u few. while ne
TO "bronco busting" the virtue par cx
cellence OF western cattle mon. even
Bronco Bill was heard TO acknowledge
that she wasn't In II with the Dock.
for u was his opinion that he could
ride anything that had legs In under II.
even if II was a blnDked 'cant.ped."
Aud this. coming from one who made
a profession OF bronco busting" was
unquestionably high praise.
The Duke lived alone. except when
he deigned to pay n visit to some lonely
rancher who. for the marvellous charm
OF his talk. was delighted TO have him
as guest. ven at the expense OF the
loss OF u few games at poker. lie
made u friend OF no one. though aoIne
men could tell OF times when he stood
between them aud their last dollar. ex.
acting only the promise that NJ men.
ton should be made OF his deed. lie
had m easy. lnzy manner aud u slow.
cynical smile that rarely left Ills face.
aud the only sign OF deepenlng passion
In him wus u little broadening Of his
smile. Old Lntour. who kept the Stop.
ping rlncc. told me how once the
Duke Ind broken Into u gentle laugh.
A French half breed ~frelghtcr OH Ills
why north Ind entered Into n game OF
poker with the Duke. with the result
that his ak months pay stood In u
little heap at his encmy's left hand.
Tho enrngcd frcightcr accused Ills
smiling opponent OF being n cheat, aud
was proceeding TO dcmollsh him with
m mighty blow. hut the Duke. still
smiling aud without moving from Ills
chair. caught tho descending list,
slowly crushed the fingers open aud
steadily drew the Frcnchmnn TO his
knees, gripping lin 30 cruelty In tho
meantime That hc vas forced 10 cry
aloud In agony for mercy. Then II was
that the Duke broke Into a light laugh
aud. touching the knecling Frenchman
OF hls cheek with Ills finger tips, said:
Look here. my man, you shouldn't
play the game I'LL you know how 10 do
Il and with whom you play" Then.
handing him back the money he added:
II want money, but not yours" Then,
us he sat looking at the unfortunate
wretch dividing Ills attention between
his money aud his bleeding fingers, hs
once more broke into n gentle laugh
that WINS not good 10 hpnr.
Tho Duke was by all odds the most
striking figure In the Company OF the
Noble Seven, and his word went
further than that OF any other. Ills
shadow was Bruce, an Edinburgh uni.
vcrsity man. metaphysical. a%rguincnta.
tive. persistent. devoted TO the Duke.
Indeed. his chief ambition vas 20 NJ.
tain 60 the Dukes high aud lordly
manner. but. inasinuch ns he was
rather squat In figure aud had mn open,
good nnturcd face and u Scotch voice
OF the hard ana rnsping kind, hls NJ.
tcmpts ut Imitation were not consplcu'
ously successful. Every hall that
reached Swan Creek brought him u let.
ter from home. Al nrst, after ! had
got TO know him. he would give me
now and then n letter 10 read, but ns
the lone became more and more
anxious he ceased 10 let me read them.
aud l WA glad enough OF this. How
he could read those letters nnd 20 the
pnce OF the Noble Seven | could not
nee. Poor Bruccl lie had good I'm.
pulses. q generous heart. but the per.
nit nights aud the hunts aud tho
round ups and the poker aud all the
wild excuses OF the Company were
more than he could stand.
Then there were the two Hill broth.
ers. the younger. Bertie. a fair haired.
bright faced youngster. none too abe
20 look AFTER himself, but much In
clined 10 fOllles OF all degrees and
sorts, Hut he was warm hearted and
devoted To his big b, pthor, Humphrey,
called Hump. who had taken TO ranch
Ing mainly with the idea OF looking
after his younger brother. And no
easy matter that was. for every one
liked the lad aud In consequence helped
him down.
In addition TO these there were two
others OF the original sever but by
force Of circumstances they were pre-
vented from any more than u nominal
connection with the Company. Blake,
a typical wild Irishman, had joined
the police at the Fort. and Clifford had
got married and, ~ Bill said. was
roped tighter n a steer"
The Noblv Company. with tho cow
boys that helped on the range and two
or three farmers that lived near the
Fort, composed tho settlers Of the
Swan Greek country-a strange med.
ley OF people OF all ranks and nations.
Hut while among them there were the
evil hearted and evil living, still for
the Noble Company I will say that
never have I fallen In with men Drawer.
truer or Of warmer heart, Vices they
had. all too apparent and deadly. but
| thA~. "a. .ls.a nathan a. Aha aiunlasst-