The Ozark spectator., 1916-09-16

could not be descended slowly. He kept lodging rocks which his horses loosed behind him. And in a short time he reached and rode down the green retreat, wondering what would be his reception.
 The valley was much larger than it had appeared from the high elevation. We'll watered, green with grass and tree, and farmed evidently by good hands, it gave Duane considerable surprise. Horses and cattle were ev- anywhere. Every clump of cotton woods surrounded small adobe house. Duane saw Mexicans working in the fields and horsemen going to and fro. Presently he passed house bigger than the others, with a porch attached. A woman, young and pretty, he | thought, watched him from a door. No | one else appeared to notice him. Presently the trail widened into a | road, and that into kind of square | lined by number of adobe and log buildings of rudest structure. Within sight were horses, dogs, couple of steers, Mexican women with children. and white men, all of whom appeared | to be doing nothing. His advent ere ated no interest until he rode up to | the white men, who were lolling in the , shade of house. This place evi- dently was store and saloon, and | from the inside came lazy hum of | voices.
 As Duane rened to halt one of the | loungers in the shade rose with a loud | exclamation
 Bust me If thet ain't Luke's hoss '" The others accorded their interest, l toward Duane.
 How about it, Euchre? Amt thet Luke's bay?' queried the first man.
 "Plain as your nose," replied the fel- low called Euchre.
 "There ain't no doubt about thet. then" laughed another, ''fer Bosomer's nose is shore plain on the landscape" These men lined up before Duane, and as he -coolly regarded them he thought they could have been recOg- nized anywhere as desperadOes. The man called Bosomer, who had stepped forward. had forbidding face, which showed yellow eyes, an enormous nose, and skin the color of dust, with q thatch of sandy hair Stranger. who are you an where | in the h-l did you git thet bay hoss?' he demanded. His yellow eyes took in 1 Stevens horse, then the weapons hung on the saddle, and finally turned their glinting. hard light upward to Duane. Duane did not like the tone in which he had been addressed, and he re- mained silent. Something leaped in 1 side of him and made his breast feel | tight. He recognized it as that strange | emotion which had shot through him often of late, and which had decided | him to go out to. the meeting with Bain. Only now it was different, and more powerful.
 Stranger, who are you?" asked an other man, somewhat more civilly.
 My names Duane," replied Duane, curtly.
 An how'd you come by the hoss?"
 
 words were followed by q short silence, during which the men looked at him. 1 BoSomer began to twist the ends of his beard.
 | "Reckon he's dead, all right. or mo- body'd hev his hoss an guns" pres ently said Euchre.
 "NIister Duane" began BoSomer, in low, stinging toneS "I happen to be Luke Stevens side pardner.'
 Duane looked him over, from dusty, worn-out boots to his slouchy som brero. That look seemed to infame | Bosomer.
 An I want the hoss an them guns" he shouted.
 You or anybody else can have them, for all care. just fetched them in. But the pack is mine" replied Duane. And, say! befriended your pard. If you can't use civil tongue you'd better cinch it." Civil? flaw, haw!' rejoined the outlaw. "I ain't takin' your word , Savvy thet? An I was Lukes pard '" With that Bosomer wheeled. and. pushing his companions aside, he stamped into the saloon, where his voice broke out in roar. Duane hsmounted and threw his i bridle.
 Stranger. Bosomer is shore hot headed" said the man Euchre. He did not appear unfriendly, nor were the others hostile.
 At this juncture several more out laws crowded out of the door, and the one in the lead was a tall man of stalwart physique. His manner pro claimed him leader. He had q long face, flaming red beard. and clear, | cold blue eyes that fixed in close scru- | tiny upon Duane. He was not a Tex an; in truth. Duane, did not recognize one of these outlaws as native to his stnte.
 I'm Bland," said the tall man, au- thoritatively. "Who're you, and what're