Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-08

4 " NSSN W
gait would not do for Stevens. The
red died out Of the west; a pale after
glow prevailed for a while; darkness
set in; hen the broad expanse Of blue
darkened and the stars frightened.
After a while Stevens ceased talking
and dropped in his saddle. Duane kept
the horses going, however, and the
slow hours wore way. Duane thought
the quiet night would never break to
dawn, hat there was no end to the
melancholy, breeding plain. But at
length a grayness blotted out the stars
and mantled the level of mesquite and
cactus.
Dawn caught the fugitives at a green
camping site on the bank Of a rocky
little stream. Stevens fell a dead
weight into Duane's arms, and one look
at the haggard face showed Duane that
the outlaw had taken his last ride. He
knew 1T. too. Yet hat c~heerfulness
prevailed.
Buck, my feet are orful tired pack
In them heavy boots" he said, and
seemed immensely relieved when
Duane a removed them.
h matter Of the outlaws boots
was strange, Duane thought. He made
Stevens as comfortable as possible,
then attended to his own needs. And
the outlaw took up the thread Of his
conversation where he had left off the
night before.
This trail splits up a ways from
here, an every branch of 1t leads to a
hole where you'll find men-a few,
mebbe, il yourself-some like me
an gangs of no good boss thieves,
rustlers. an such. It's easy livin',
Buck. l reckon, though, that you'n not
find it easy. You'll never mix in.
right off. Wal, If a man can stand
the loneliness, IN If he's quick on the
draw, mebbe Ion wolfin' it is the best.
Shore l don't know. But these fellers
in here will be suspicious of a man who
goes 1t alone. If they get a chance
they'll kill you"
Stevens asked for water several
times. He had forgotten or he did not
want the whisky. Ills voice grew per-
ceptibly weaker.
"Be quiet" said Duane. Talking
uses up your strength"
"Aw, I'll talk till-I'm DONE" he re-
Piled, d%oggedly. See here, pard, you
can gamble on what I'm tellin' you. An
it'll be useful. From this camp Well
none of them will be honest men. All
the same, some are better'n others.
I've lived along the river fer IL years.
There's three big gangs of outlaws.
King Fisher-you know him, 1 reckon,
fer he's half the time Twin among re-
spectacle folks. King is a pretty good
Teller. It'll do to tie UP with him an
who hangs out in the Rim Rock way
up the river. He's an outlaw chief. 1
never seen him, though l stayed once
right in his camp. Late years he's got
rlch an keeps back pretty well hid.
But Bland knowed Bland fer years.
An | haven't any use fer him. Bland
has the biggest gang. You amt likely
to miss strikin' his place some time or
other. He's got a regular town, 1
might say. Shore there's some gamb-
lin an gun fightin' goin' on at BANDS
camp all the time. Bland has killed
some 70 men, an thet's not countin'
greasers."
then rested for a while.
"Yo amt likely to get on with
Bland," he resumed, presently. you're
too strappin' big an good lookin' to
please the chief. Fer he's got women
In his camp. Then he'd be jealous of
your possibilities with a gun. Shore I
reckon he'd be careful, though. BANDS
no fool, an he loves his hide. l reckon
any OF the other gangs would be better
fer o when you amt goin' it alone"
Apparently that exhausted the fund
OF information and advice Stevens had
been age to impart. He lapsed into
silence and lay with closed eyes. Mean
WINE the u rose warm; the breeze
waved the mosquitoes; the birds came
Gown t. splash in the shallow stream;
duane dozed in a comfortable seat. By
n by something reused him. Ste
Vens was once more talking, but with q
changed tone.
Steller's name-was Brown" he
rambled. we fell out-over a hess I
stole from HMM Huntsville. He stole
1T fust. Browns one Of them sneaks-
9TGlld ri tho IMAM Ho ~+~-1
tends to be honest. Say, Buck, mebbe
you'll meet Brown some day-You am
me are pards now"
I'll remember, if 1 ever meet him.
said Duane.
That seemed to satisfy the outlaw.
presently he tried to lift his head, but
had not the strength. A strange shade
was creeping across the bronzed rough
face. ~
My feet are pretty heavy. Shore YOU
got my boots OFF,"
Duane held them up, but was not
certain that Stevens could see them.
The outlaw closed his eyes again and
muttered 1ncoherently. Then he fell
asleep. Duane believed that sleep was
final: The day passed, with Duane
Watching and waiting. Toward sun
'down Stevens awoke, II his eyes
seemed clearer. Duane went to get
some fresh water, thinking his com
Iade would surely want some. When
ne returned Stevens made no sign that
he wanted anything. There was some
thing bright about him, and suddenly
Duan realized what it meant.
"Pard. you-stuck-to met" the out
law whispered.
Duane caught a hint Of gladness in
the voice; he traced a faint surprise
IN the haggard face. Stevens seemed
like a little child.
To Duane the moment was sad, ele-
mental, big, with a burden Of mystery
he could not understand.
Duane buried him in a shallow arroyo
and heaped up a pile Of stones to
mark the grave. That done, he saddled
his comrades horse, hung the weapons
over the pommel; and, mounting his
w steed, he rode down the trail in
the gathering twilight.
CHAPTER w.
Two DAYS later. about the middle ne