Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-14

down, put himself in awkward posi-
tons: n from every position he prac-
ticed throwing his gun-practiced it
till he was hot and tired and his arm
ached and his hand burned. That prac-
tice he determined to keep UP every
day. 1t was n thing. at least, that
would help pass the weary hours.
Later he went outdoors to the cooler
shade of the cottonwoods. From this
point ne could see a good deal of the
valley. Under different circumstance
Duane felt that he would have en-
joyed such a beautiful spot. Euchre's
shack sat against the first rise of the
slope of the wall. ~ Duane by climb
ing a few rods got a view of the whole
valley. Assuredly it was an outlaw
leans, who, of course, We're hand and
glove With Bland. Also he saw enor-
nous flatboats. crude of structure.
moored along the banks of the river.
The Rio Grande rolled away between
high bluffs. a cable, sagging deep in
the middle, was stretched over the
wide yellow stream, and AN old scow,
evidently used as a ferry. lay anchored
OF the far shore.
The valley was an ideal retreat for
an outlaw band operating on a big
scale. Pursuit scarce'- need be feared
over the broken trails of the Rim Rock.
And the open end of the valley could
be defended against almost any num-
Der of men coming down the river.
Access to Mexico was easy and quick.
What puzzled Duane was how Bland
got cattle down to the river, and he
wondered if the rustler really did get
rid of his stolen stock by use of boats.
Duane must have idled considerable
time up on the hill, for when he re-
turned to the shack Euchre was busily
engaged around the campfire.
WAL, glad to see YOU amt so pale
ABOUT the SlllS as Won W9So ho coid
by way of greeting. pitch in am Well
soon have grub ready. There's shore
one consolin' fact round this here
camp"
Whats that?' asked Duane.
Plenty of good juicy beef to eat.
An it doesn't cost a short Bit
But it costs hard rides and trouble.
bad conscience, and life, too, doesn't
it?"
II amt shore about the bad con-
An as for life, why, thet's cheap in
Texas"
Who is Bland?" asked Duane, quick
~ changing the subject. What do you
know about him?"
we don't know who he is or where
he halls from" replied Euchre. "Thet's
always been something to interest the
gang. He must nave been a young
mar when he struck Texas. Now he's
middle-aged. 1 remember how years
ago he was soft spoken an not rough
In talk or act like he is now. Bland
a / IT, likely his right name. He knows
shore a knowin' Teller with tools. Hes
the kim tibet rules men. Outlaws are
always ridin' in here tt join his gang.
an if it hadn't been fer the gamblin'
an gun play he'd have a thousand men
around him"
How many in his gang
CT rpCl<nn fborosc SHOW 80
now. The number varies. Then Bland
has several small camps up am down
the river. Also he has men back on
the cattle ranges"
How does he control such a big
force" asked Duane. ESPECIALLY when
Stevens said ne a no use for Bland.
And 1 heard once somewhere that Bland
was a devil"
."Thet's it. He is a devil. He's as
hard as flint, violent in temper, never
made n friends except his right hand
men, Dave Rugg an Chess Alloway.
Blandu shoot at a wink. He's killed a
lot of %fellers. an some fer nothin'. The
reason tibet outlaws gather round him
an stick is because he's a safe refuge.
an the he's we'll heeled. Bland is
rich. They say he has a 100, 900 pesos
hid somewhere. an lots of gold. But
he's free with money. He CANDLES when
he's not off with a shipment of cattle.
He throws money round An the fact
is there's always plenty of money where
he is. Thet's what holds the gang.
Dirty, bloody money!"
Its a wonder he hasn't been killed.
All these years on the border!" ex-
claimed Duane.
Wal" replied Euchre. dryly. "he's
been quicker on the draw than the
other fellers who hankered to kill him,
thet's ALL"
JS,,-l, 49,, ~. ~,
interest for the Such re-
marks always made his mind revolve
round facts pertaining to himself.
"Speakin' of this here swift wrist
game" went on Euchre, there's been
considerable talk in camp about your
throwin' of a gun. You know, Buck.
tibet among us fellers-us hunted men
there amt anythin' calculated to
rouse respect like a slick hand with a
gun. / heard Bland say this after
noon-an' he said it serious like an
speculative-thet he'd never seen your
equal. He was watchin' Of you. close,
he said, an just COULDN'T follow your
hand when you drawed. All the fellers
who seen you meet Bosomer had some-
Nh to say. Bo was about as handy
with a u as any man in this camp,
barrin' Chess Alloway an mebbe Bland
himself Chess is the captain with a
Colt-or he was. An he shore didn't
like the references mad about your
speed. Bland was honest in acknowl-
edgin' it, but he didn't like 1t, neither.
Some of h fellers allowed your draw
might have been just accident. But
most of them Figured different. An
they all shut UP when Bland old who
an what our Dad was. Pears to me
I once seen your Dad in a gunscrape
over at Santone, years ago. Wall, 1
put my a In today among the fellers.
an l says: What ails you locoed
gents? Did young Duane bulge an inch
when RO camo roo,ip, o,,% hio.,a l., ~.