Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-14
CHAPTER ~.

Two days later, about the middle of
the forenoon. Duane dragged the two
horses up the last ascent Of an exceed
ingly rOngh trail and found himself on
top Of the Rim Rock, with a beautiful
green valley at his feet, the yellow
sluggish Rio Grande shining In the
sun, and the great. wild mountainous
barren Of Mexico stretching to the
south.
No wonder outlaws were safe in that
wild refuge Duane had spent the last
two days climbing the toughest and
most difficult trail he had ever seen.
From the looks of the descent he
Imagined the worst part Of his travel
was yet to come.
The trail proved to be the kind that
could not he descended slowly. He
kept lodging rocks which his horses
loosed behini 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 1t
had appeared from the high elevation
Well watered green with grass and
tree, and farmed evidently by good
hands 1t gave Duane considerable
surprise. Horses and cattle were ev-
erywhere. Every clump of cotton
woods surrounded q small adobe house.
Duane saw MexicanS working in the
fields and hOrsemen going to and fro
Presently he passed a house bigger
than the others, with q porch attached
A woman. young and pretty, he
thought, watched him from 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, 4 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 a house. This place evil
IDENTIFY was a store and saloon, and
from the inside came lazy hum OF
voices.
AS Duane refined 10 a halt one OF the
lOungers in the shade rose with q loud
exclamation:
Dust me if tibet amt Luke'S boss ="
The others accorded their interest
If not assent. by rising to advance
toward Duane.
How about IT, Euchre? Amt tibet
Luke'S bay?" Queried the first man.
"Plain as your nose" replied the fell
low called Euchre.
There amt no doubt about tibet,
then" laughed another, "fer BoSOiner's
nose is shore plain on the landscape"
These men lined up before Duane.
and rs he cOOlly regarded them he
thought they could have been recOg-
niZed anywhere as deSperadOes. The
man called BosOmer, who had stepped
forward had q fOrbidding face, which
showed yellow eyes, an enormous nose
and skin the color of dust. with a
thatch of sandy hair.
Stranger, who are you an where
in the HI did you git tibet bay hosS?"
he demanded. His yellow eyes took in
Stevens horse, then the weapons hung
on the saddle. and finally turned their
glinting, hard light upward 10 Duane.
Duane did not like the tone in which
he had been addressed, and he re-
manned silent. Something leaped in
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
Balm. Only now it was different, and
more powerful.
Stranger who are you?" asked an.
other man, somewhat more civilly.
My names Duane" replied Duane,
CURLY.
'An' how'd you come by the hoss?"
Duane answered briefly, and his
words were followed by short silence,