The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-12-14
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 1t 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.
II 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 a low flatroofed structure made
Of red adobe bricks All was green
! about 1t, except where the fenced
corral and numerous barns or sheds
showed gray and red.
From all outside appearances Fair
dale was no different from other
frontier towns, and Duane's expecta-
tions were scarcely realized. AS the
afternoon was waning he halted at
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 big out
fit, eh?"
Reckon he has" replied the lad.
"Doan know how many cowboys.
They're always comm and goin'.
amt acquainted with half of chem"
Much movement of stock these
daysT
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 is?
"Ain't so lively as Sanderson, but
it's bigger"
Eyes, heard II was. Fellow down
there was talking about two cowboys
who were arrested"
"Sure. | heered all about that. |
Joe Bean an Brick Higgins-they be-
long heah, but they amt heah much.
boys"
Duane did not want to be over-in-
qulsItlve, 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 a 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
iale to be conspicuous. Then he
to the inn where he had
engaged a room.
Duane sat down on the steps of
he dingy little restaurant. Two men
we're converslng inside, and they had
not noticed Duane.
Laramie, what's the stranger'sS
lame?' asked one.
"He didn't say" replied the other.
"Sure was strappin' big man.
Struck me n little odd, he did. No
'attleman, him. How'd you size
limp"
well, like one of them cool, easy,
luiet Texans who's been lookin' for
nan for years-to kill him when ne
ound him."
Right you are, Laramie; and, be-
ween you an me, l hope he's lookin'
or Long"
S-sh!' interrupted Laramie. "You
must be half drunk, to go talkin' that ,
gay."
Thereafter they conversed in too low
tone for Duane to hear, and presently ,
visitor left. Duane went ,
aside, and, making himself agreeable,
egan to ask casual questions about ;
Laramie was not cOmmuni- .
utiye.
Duane went to his room in +,
houghtful frame of mind. There was :
wrong about the mayor of :,
The innkeeper Laramie
'ould be worth cultlvating, And :
list in Duane's thoughts that night
as Miss Longstreth. He could not .
clip thinking of her-how strangely .
he meeting with her had affected =
i'm. 1t made him remember that