The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-10-05
The Lone Star Ranger
A Fine Tale OF the Open Country By ZANE GREY

patch in the mass Of gray. For the
barrens of Texas it was indeed fair
sight. But he was more concerned
with its remOteness from civilization
than it's beauty. At that time, in the
early seventies, when the vast western
third of Texas was a wilderness, the
| pioneer had done wonders to settle
there and establish places like Fair
| dale.
1t needed only glance for Duane to
pick out Colonel Longstreth's ranch.
| The house, not more than "a few min
utes' walk from the edge of the town,
was low flatroofed structure made
of red adobe bricks. All was green
about it, except where the fenced
corral and numerous barns or sheds
showed gray and red.
From all outside appearances Fair
frontier towns, and Duane's expecta-
lions were scarcely realized. AS the
afternoon was waning he halted at
a little inn. A boy took charge of his
horse. Duane questioned the lad
about Fairdale and gradually drew to
the subject most in mind.
Colonel Longstreth has a big out
fit, eh?"
"Reckon he has," replied the lad.
"DOan know how many cowboys.
They're always comm and goin'. l
amt acquainted with half of them"
Much movement of stock these
days?"
stocks always moVin'," he re-
piled, with a queer look.
"Rustlers?"
But he did not follow up that look
with the affirmative Duane expected.
Lively place, hear-Fairdale isl"
saint so lively as Sanderson, but
it's bigger"
eyes, 1 heard it was. Fellow down
there was talking about two cowboys
who were arrested"
"Sure. 1 heered all about that.
Joe Bean an Brick Higgins-they be-
long heah, but they amt heah much.
Longstreth's boys"
Duane did not want to be over-in-
quiSitive, so he turned the talk into
other channels.
After getting supper Duane StrOlled
up and down the main street. When
darkness set in he went into hotel,
bought cigars, sat around, and watch
ed. Then he passed out and went
into the next place. 1t was full of
men coming and going-a dusty-boot-
ed crowd that smelled of horses and
smoke. Duane sat down for q while,
with wide eyes and open ears. Then
he hunted up the bar. He stayed in
there for a while, and knew that
strangers were too common in Fair
dale to be conspicuous. Then he
returned to the inn where he had
engaged a room.
Duane sat down on the steps OF
the dingy little restaurant. Two men
were conversing inside, and they had
not noticed Duane.
Laramie, what's the strangers
namew asked one.
"He didn't say" replied the other.
"Sure was a strappin' big man.
Struck me a little odd, he did. No
cattleman, him. How'd you size
him?"
"Well, like one of them cool, easy,
quiet Texans who's been loOkin' for a
man for yearS-to kill him when he
found him."
"Right you are, Laramie; and, be-
tween you an me, hope he's loOkin'
for Long"
"'S-sh!" interrupted Laramie. 'You
must be half drunk, to go talkin' that
way"
Thereafter they conversed in too low
a tone for Duane to hear, and presently
Laramie's visitor left. Duane went
inside, and, making himself agreeable,
began to ask casual questions about
Fairdale. Laramie was not communi-
cative.
Duane went to his room in
thoughtful frame Of mind. There was
something wrong about the mayor OF
Fairdale. The innkeeper Laramie
would be worth cultivating. And
last in Duane's thoughts that night
was Miss Longstreth. He could not
help thinking of her-hOw strangely
the meeting with her had affected
him. 1t made him remember that