Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-21

Upon ms return IRON the latest OF
these tramps Euchre suggested that
they go down to the river to the boat
landing.
Nearly al the outlaws in camp were
assembled on the river-bank, lolling in
the shade of the cottonwoods. The
heat was oppressive.
Duane and Euchre joined the lazy
group and sat down with them.
Euchre lighted a black pipe, and,
drawing his hat over his eyes, lay
| back in comfort after the manner of
| the majority of the outlaws. But
Duane was alert, observing, thought
| full. He never missed anything. It
was his belief that any moment an idle
word might be of benefit to him. More
over, these rough men were always in
teresting
BANDS been chased acrost the
river" said one.
Nav, he's deliverin' cattle to thet
Cuban ship" replied another.
big deal on, hey?"
Some big. Rugg says the boss he'd
an order fer fifteen thousand"
"Say, that order II take a year to
fill"
Nav. Hardin is in cahoots with
Bland. Between 'em they'll fill orders
| bigger n thet"
Wondered what Hardin was rust
| lin in here fer"
Duane could not possibly attend to
| all the conversation among the out
| laws. He enaeavored to get the drift
| of talk nearest to him.
kid Fuller's goin' to cash." said a
sandy-whiskered little outlaw.
80 Jim was telling me. Blood
| poison, amt it? Thet hole wasn't bad.
But he took the fever" retoined a
! comrade.
"Deger says the Kid might pull
| through if he had nursin'."
oval. Kate Bland amt nursin' any
| shOt-up boys these days. She hasn't
got time"
A laugh followed this sally; then
came a penetrating silence. Some of
the outlaws glanced good-naturedly at
Duane. They bore him no i'll will.
| Manifestly they were aware of Mrs.
| BANDS infatuation.
Boys, poke all the fun you like at
me, but don't mention any lady's name
again. My hand is nervous and itchy
| these days"
He smiled as he spoke, and his
speech was drawled; but the good
| humOr in no wise weakened it. Then
| his latter remark was significant TO a
| class of men who from inclination and
necessity pracdced at gun-drawing I'M
til they wore callous and sore places
| on their thumbs and inculcated in the
| very deepS of their nervous Organiza-.
| ton habit that made even the sim.
pleSt and most innocent motion of the,
| hand end at or near the hip. There.
| was something remarkable about a
| gun-fghter's hand. 1t never seemed to.
| be glOved, never to be injured, never
out of sight or in an awkward posi-
| ton. GriZZled outlaws in that group,
some of whom had many nOtches on
their gun-handles, accorded Duane
| silence that carried conviction of the
| regard in which he was held.
"Orful hot, amt it?' remarked Bill
| Black, presently. Bill could not keep
| quiet for long. He was a typical
| Texas desperate, had ney"r been any
thing else He was ST ouldered
| and bOw-legged from II. liding;
| wiry little man, all mtl,syre with a
square head, hard face partly black
from scrubby beard and red from sun,
and & bright, rowing, cruel eye His
shirt was open at the neck, showing
grizzled breast.
--LATEST outfit / ever rustled with"
went on Bill, discontentedly. ''Nuthin'
to do! Say, if anybody wants to swim
maybe some of you'll GAMBLE"
He produced a dirty pack of cards
| and waved them at the mOtiOnless
| crowd.
''Bill, you're too good at cards." re-.
! piled q lanIly outlaw.
'NOw, Jasper, you say tibet power.
might take it to heart" replied Black,
with sudden change of tone.
Here it was again-that upfiashing-
passion. What Jasper saw fit to reply
would mollify the outlaw or it would
not. There was an even balance.
mo offense, Bill" said Jasper
placidly, without moving.
Bill grunted and forgot Jasper, But
he seemed restless and dissatisfied.
Duane watching the disgruntled out
law, 'marveled, at him and wondered
what was in his mind. These men