The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-07

stock?~
Nope"
'If they had the nerveT'
mot tibet so much"
What then? What d make them
fight?'
"a leader!"
'Howdy thar. Jim" doomed a big
A man Of great bulk, with a ruddy,
merry face, entered the room.
Hello, Morton" replied Laramie.
I'D introduce o to my guest here,
but 1 don't know his name"
"Haw! Haw! Thet's all right. Few
men out hyar go by their right names"
Say, Morton" put in Duane, Lara
mie gave me a bunch you'd be a good
man to tie to. Now, I've a little money
and before I lose it I'd like to invest
it in stock"
Morton smiled broadly.
I'm On the square," Duane said,
bluntly. IF you fellows never size
up your neighbors any better than you
have sized Newell, you won't get any
richer"
1t was enjoyment for Duane to make
his remarks to these men pregnant with
meaning. Morton showed his pleasure,
his interest, but his faith held aloof.
I've got some money. Will you let
me in on some kind of deal? Will you
sIdIt me up DIS Il Win q Itue
hero all MY own"
"Wal, stranger, to come out flat
footed, you'd be foolish tt buy cattle
now. don't want to take your money
an see o lose out. Better go back
across the Pecos where the rustlers
amt so strong. 1 haven't had more'n
$500 herd OF stock for 10 years. The
rustlers let me hang on to a breedin'
herd. Kind of them, amt it,"
"Snrt nf LIND All 7 haor a., .,,z&to.-
Norton" replied Duane, with impa-
thence: You see, 1 haven't ever Bved
long IN a rustler run county. Who
heads the gang. anyway"
Morton looked at Duane with a
curtously amused smile, then snapped
his big jaw as If to shut in impulsive
words.
Look here, Morton. It stands to
reason, no matter how strong these
rustlers are, how hidden their work,
however involved with supposedly hon
est men-they can't last"
They come with the pioneers, an
they'll last till thar's a single steer
left" he declared.
well, If o take that view Of cir
Of the rustlers!"
Morton looked as If he were about
TO brain Duane with the butt Of his
whip. His anger flashed by then, evil
IDENTITY as unworthy Of him; and, m
thing striking him as funny, he doomed
out a laugh.
ITS not so funny" Duane went on.
II you're going to pretend a yellow
streak, what else will I Think"
Pretend? ?" he repeated.
Sure. 1 know men of nerve. And
here they're not any different from
those In other places. I say if you show
anything like a lack OF sand it's all
blun. BY nature you've got nerve.
There are a lot of men around Fairdale
who're afraid Of their shadows-afraid
to be out after dark-afraid to open
their mouths. But you're not one. So
l say II o claim these rustlers will
last you're pretending lack of nerve
Just to help the popular idea along.
For they cant last. What you need
out here Is some new blood. Savvy
what / mean?'
wal, l reckon I do" he replied, look
ing as If a storm had blown over him.
Stranger, I'll look you up the next
time l come to town."
Then he went out.
Laramie had Eyes like flint striking
fire.
He breathed a deep breath and
looked around the room before his gaze
fixed again on Duane.
Wal" he replied, speaking low.
You've picked the right men. Now,
who in the hell are your"
Reaching into the inside pocket of
his buckskin vest, Duane turned the
lining out. A star shaped bright silver
object flashed as he showed it, pocket
and all, nde Jim's hard ewes.
"Ranger!" he whispered, cracking the
table with his fist. You sure rung
true to me-"
Laramie, do you know who's boss of
this secret gang of rustlers here
abouts?" asked Duane, bluntly. 1t was
characteristic of him to come sharp
to the point. His understanding
deep, easy, cool about him-seemed to
steady Laramie.
mo" replied Laramie.
Does anybody know" went on
Duane.
Wal, l reckon there's not one honest
native who knows"
But you have your suspicions?"
1--WE have"
Give me your idea about this crowd
that hangs round the saloons-the reg
ulars."
Jest a bad lot" replied Laramie,
with the quick assurance of k.owl-
edge. Most Of them nave been here
years. Others have drifted in. Some
Of them work, odd times. They rustic
a rev steers, steal, rob, anythin' for a
AANS'N hAoAASJ i dt RdIlDl9. JEST
a bad lott" ~
"Have you n idea whether Chesel-
dine and his gang are associated with
this gang here?"
Lord knows. rye always suspected
them the same gang. None of us ever
seen Cheseldine-an' thet's strange
when knell, Poggin, Panhandle Smith.
Blossom Kane and Fletcher, they ali
ride here often. No, Poggin doesn't
come often. But the others do. For
tibet matter, they're around all over
west Of the Pecos."
Now I'm puzzled over this" said
Duane. why do men-apparently
honest men-seem to be so close
mouthed here? Is that a fact, or only
my IMPRESSION"
IT'S a sur fact" replied Laramie.
darkly. Men have lost cattle an
property in Fairdale-lost them hon
estly or otherwise, as hasn't been
proved. An in some cases when they
talked-hinted q little-they was found
dead. Apparently held up an robbed,
But dead. Dead men don't talk. Thet's
why were close mouthed."
Duane felt a dark, somber sternness,
Rustling cattle was not intolerable.
Western Texas had gone on prospecting
growing In spite Of the hordes of