The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-17
BOOK 1.-THE RANGER.
CHAPTER XIV,

its shifting sands, fertile in the south
along the Rio Grande. y railroad
marked an undertaking course across 500
miles of this country, and the only vii.
! laSes and towns lay on or near this line
of steel. Unsettled as was this western
Texas, and despite the acknowledged
dominance of the outlaw bands the
pioneers pushed steadily into it. First
| had come the lone rancher; then his
nelghborS in near and far valleys: Their
the hamlets at last the railroad ana
the towns. And still the pioneers came
spreading deeper into the valleys, far
ther and wider over the plains. 1t was
imesquite-d dotted, cactus covered desert
but rich soil upon which water acted
like magic. There was little grass to
an acre, but there We're millions OF
acres. The climate was wonderful
Cattle flourished and ranchers pros
pered.
Tho Rio Granie flowed almost due
south along the western boundary for
1000 miles and then, weary of its
course, turned abruptly north, to make
what was called the Big Bend. The rail-
road running west, cut across this
bend and all that country bounded on
the north by the railroad and on the
south by the river was as wild as the
Staksd Plans. 1t contained not one set
tlement Across the face of this Big
Send, as If to isolate it, stretched the
ord mountain range, OF which Mount
Ord, Cathedral mount. and Elephant
mount raised bleak peaks above their
fellows. In the valleys of the foothills
ana out across the plains We're ranches,
and farther north villages. and the
towns of Alpine and Maria.
Like other parts OF the great Lone
star state, this section OF Texas was
world IN itself-a world where the rich
es OF the rancher We're ever enriching
the outlaw. The village closest to the
gateway of this outlaw infested region
was little place called Ord, named
after the dark peak that doomed some
miles to the south. 1t had been settled
originally by Mexicans-thcre were still
the ruins OF adobe missons-but with
the advent of the rustler and outlaw
many inhabitants We're shot or driven
away, so that at the height of Ord's
prosperity ind evil sway there Wero
put few Mexicans living there. and
these had their choice between holding
hand -and-glove with the outlaws or
furnishing target practice for that wild
element
Toward the close of a day in Septen-
Der stranger rode into Ord, and in a
community where all men We're re-
fharkapie 1or one reason or another he
excited interest. His horse, perhaps, re-
celVad the first and most engaging at
tentlon-horses IN that region being an
49, N-4Siy iiiciC lpOTldNI IMAM men,
rms particular horse did not attract
with beauty. At first glance he seemed
ugly. But he was giant, black as coal
rough deGpite the care manifestly be-
slowed upon him, long of body, pond
erous of limb, huge in every way. A
oystander remarked that he had a
grand head. True, if only his head had
been seen he would have been a beauti-
full horse. Like men, horses show what
Iney are IN the shape, the size, the line.
TIE character Of the head This one de-
noted IRE, speed, blood, loyalty, and his
eyes We're as soft and dark as a wo-
mans. His face was solid black, except
~ the middle OF his forehead, there was
a round spot of white.
Say mister mind teIIin' me his
name asked a ragged urchin, with
born love of horse in his ewes
Bullet" replied the rider.
Tibet there's for the white mark.
amt it?' whispered the youngster to
another. Say, amt he a whopper?
Biggest boss | ever seen"
Bullet carried g. huge black silver-or-
namented saddle of Mexican make, a
iariat and canteen and a small pack
rolled into tarpaulin.
This rider apparently put all care of
appearances upon his horse. His an
parei was the ordinary jeans of the
cowboy without vanity, and it was torn
and travel-stained. His boots showed
evidence of an intimate acquaintance
"itn cactus. Like his horse, this man
was a giant in stature, but rangier. not
SO heavily built. Otherwise the only
striking thing about him was his SOM
per face with its piercing eyes, the hair
"hlte over the temples. He packed two
guns, both low down--but that was too
common thing to attract notice in the
bis Befd. A close observer, however.
would have noticed a singular fact
this riders right hand was more bron-
zed, more weather beaten than his left.
he never wore a glove on that right
hand
He had dismounted before a ram
shackle structure that bore upon it's
wide high boarded front the sign.
Hotel There We're horsemen coming
and going down the wide street be-
tween its rows of old stores, saloons.
and houses. Ord certainly did not look
enterprising. Americans had manifestly
asslmilated much of the leisure of the
M exicarls. Tho hotel had wide plat
form in front. and this did duty as
q porch and sidewalk. Upon it and lean
Ing against a hitching rail. were men of
ages, most OF them sloyenly in
old jeans and sloucfled sombreros Some
We're booted, belted and spurred. No
man there wore q coat but all wore
vests The guns in that group would
have outnumbered the men.
II was a crowd seemingly too lazy to
be curious. Good nature did not appear
to be wanting, but it was not the frank
and bois.erous kind natural to the cow
boy or rancher in town for day. These
men were idiers; what else perhaps,
was easy to conjecture Certainly 10
this arriving stranger, who flashed a
keen eye over them. they wore an at
never associated with work
Presently a tall man, with a dropping.
indy nustache, leisurely detached
himself from the crowd
Howdy, stranger" he said.
The stranger had bent oyer to loosen
the cinches. he Strengthened up and
nodded. Then: Pm thirsty."
That brought q broad smile to faces.
II was characteristic greeting. One and
all troopcd after the stranger into the
hotel. II WAS q dark, ill-smelling barn
Of a place, with a bar as high as a short
MANS head. A bartender with a scared
face was serving drinks.
Line up, gents" said the stranger.
They piled over one another to ret
to the bar, with coarse jests and otttlls
and laughter None Of them noted that
the stranger did not appear 30 thirsty
an he claimed TO be In fatsf fltn,,eyt,