Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-28

stretched over the Wide yellow stream,
and an old scOw. evidently used ~ =
ferry. lay anchored on the Tar shore.
The valley was an ideal retreat for
an outlaw band operating ON big
scale. Pursuit scarcely need be feared,
over the broken trails Of the Rim
Rock. and the open end OF the valley
could be defended against almost any
number Of men coming down the
river.
Duane must have idled considerable
time up on the hill, for when he re-
turned to the shack Euchre was
buslly engaged around the CAMPFIRE.
.waI. glad to see you amt 30 pale
about the gills a. you WAS" he said,
by the way Of greeting. 'Pitch In an
we'll soon have grub ready. There's
shore one consolin' fact round this
here camp"
whats that7" asked Duane.
"Pienty of good juicy beef to eat.
An It doesn't cost short bit"
"But It costs hard rides and trouble,
bad conscience, and life, too. doesn't
itf'
II amt shore about the bad com
science. Mine never bothered mo none.
An as for life. why, thet's cheap In
Texas"
"Who IL Bland?" asked Duane,
quickly changing the subject. what
do you know about him7'
'We don't know who he Is or where
ne halls from" replied Euchre. "Thet's
always been somethin' to interest the
gang. He must have been . young
man when he struck Texas. Now he's
middle-aged. / remember how years
ago he was soft-spoken an not rough
in talk or act like he is now. Bland
amt likely his right name. He knows
a lot. He can doctor you, an he's
shore q KNOWN Teller with tools.
He's the kind tibet rules men. Outlaws
are always ridin' In here to Join his
gang. an II It hadn't been fer the
gamblin' an gun-play he'd have .
thousand men around him"
''How many In his, gang now7"
II reckon there's short Of hundred
now. The number varies. Then Bland
has several small camps up an down
the river. Also he has men back on
the cattle.ranges."
"Hcw does he control such q big
forceT' asked Duane. Especially
when his bands composed Of bad men.
Luke Stevens said he had no use for
Bland. and hcar6 once somewhere
that Bland was q devil"
"Thet's 1t. He II q devil. He's as
hard AZ flint. violent in temper, never
made any friends except his right
hand men. Dave Rugg an Chess Allo- \
way. Bland IL shoot at wink. He's
killed q lot Of fellers, an some, fer
nothin'. The reason tibet outlaws
gather round him an stick II because
he's . safe refuge. an then he's well
heeled. Bland is rich. They say he
has q hundred thousand pesos hid
somewhere, an lots Of gold. But he's
free with money. He CANDLES when
he's not OF with q shipment of cattle.
He throws money around. An the
fact Is there's always plenty OF money
where he is. Thet's what holds the
gang. Dirty, bloody money !"
"It's . wonder he hasn't been killed.
All these years on the border !" ex-
claimed Dune.
'".Wal." replied Euchre. dryly. hes
been quicker on the draw than the
other feliers who hankered to I'LL him,
thet's ALL"
Euchre's reply rather chilled
Duane's interest for the moment Such
remarks always made his mind resolve
round facts pertaining to himself.
"Speakin' Of this here swift wrist
game" went on Euchre, there's been
considerable talk in camp about your
throwin' Of q gun. heard Bland say
this afternoon-an' he said 1t serious
like an speculative-thet he'd never
seen your equal. All the fellers who
seen you meet Bosomer had somethin'
to say. An they all shut up when
Bland told who an what your dad
was. Pears to me once seen your
dad in gun-scrapc over at Santone,
years ago. Wal, put my oar IN to-
day among the fellers. an ! says:
What ails you locoed gents7 Did
young Duane bulge an inch when 30
came roarin' out, blood In his eye!
Wasn't he cool an quiet, steady Of
lips. an weren't his eyes readin' Bo's
mind? An tibet lightnin' draw cant
yo,l-all see thet's family gift? 7" |
Euchre's narrow eyes twinkled, and
he gave the dough he was rolling
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