The Benson signal., 1916-12-16

|
"Humph again! Laramie, like every
other fellow I met in this town,
you're afraid to open your trap about
Longstreth. Get me straight, Lara
mie. For cause I'd throw a gun on
him just as quick as on any rustler
in Pecos."
"Talk's cheap" replied Laramie,
making light Of his buster, but the
red was deeper in his face.
"Sure. 1 know that" Duane said.
"And usually don't talk. Then it's
not we'll known that Longstreth
owns the Hope SOP"
"Reckon it's known in Pecos, all
right. But Longstreth's name isn't
connected with the Hope SO. Blandy
runs the place."
"That Blandy. His faro games
crooked, or I'm locoed bronch. That
Hope So place ought to be run by a
good fellow like you, Laramie"
Thanks" replied he; and Duane
imagined his voice a little husky.
Didn't you hear [ used to-run it?
I built the place, owned it for eleven
years."
"Well, Til be doggoned." 1t was
indeed Duane's turn to be surprised,
and with the surprise came a glim-
mering. "Pm sorry you're not there
now. Did you sell out?"
"No. Just lost the place."
Laramie was bursting for relief
now-to talk, to tell. Sympathy had
made him soft. "It was two years
ago-two years last March," he went
on. 81 was in a big cattle deal with
Longstreth. We got the stock-an'
my share, eighteen hundred head,
was rustled off. 1 owed Longstreth
He pressed me. 1t came to law
sultan Twas ruined"
It hurt Duane to look at Laramie.
He was white, and tears rolled down
his cheeks. Duane saw the bitterness,
the defeat, the agony of the man.
But the reason he did not openly ac-
cuse Longstreth, the secret OF his
reticence and fear-these Duane
thought best to try to learn at some
later time.
'Hard luck! It certainly was
tough," Duane said. "But you're
good loser. And the wheel turns
Now, Laramie here's what. l need
your advice. I've got little money.
But before I lose it l want to invest
some. Buy some stock, or buy an
interest in some rancher's herd.
Sure you must know a couple of men
above suspicion"
'Thank God I do" he replied,
feelingly. Crank Morton an 81
thinner, my friends an neighbors all
my prosperous days, an friends still.
You can gamble on Frank an 81.
But if you want advice from me
don't invest money in stock oow."
"Why?"
Because any new feller buyin'
stock these days will be rustled quick
er n he can say Jack Robinson. The
old ranchers are wise an sore.
They'd fight if they"
"What?" Duane put in as he
paused. "What ID make them fight?'
"a leader!'
"Howdy thar, Jim" doomed a big
voice.
A man of great bulk, with a ruddy,
merry face, entered the room.
"Hello, Norton" replied Laramie.
"Pd introduce you to my guest here,
but don't know his name"
"Haw! Haw! Thet's all right. Few
men out hyar go by their right
names"
"Say, Norton" put in Duane, 'Lar-
annie gave me a hunch you'd be a
good man to tie to. Now, I've little
money and before lose it I'd like to
invest it in stock"
Morton smiled broadly.
'I'm on the square," Duane said,
bluntly. eff you fellows never size up
your neighbors any better than you
have sized newell, you won't get
any richer"
It was enjoyment for Duane to
make his remarks to these men
pregnant with meaning. Morton
showed his pleasure, his interest, but
his faith held aloof.
"Wal, stranger, to come out fiat
footed, you'd be foolish to buy cattle
now. Better go back across the Pecos
where the rustlers amt so strong"
'All hear is rustlers, Norton" re-
piled Duane, with impatience. "You
see, I haven't ever lived long in a
rustler-run county. Who heads the
gang, anyway"
Morton looked at Duane with cur
iously amused smile, then snapped his
big jaw as if to shut in impUlsive
words.
"Look here, Morton. It stands to
reason, no matter how strong these
rustlers are, how hidden their work,
however involved with supposedly
honest men-they can't last. There
are lot of men around Fairdale who
re afraid of their shadows-afraid to
be out after dark-afraid to open
their mouths. But you're not one
| Ubo+ xyo,1 vooo1 ont horo Sc c0un0 now