The Oakes times., 1916-10-12

cOtlIu hr defended against almost any
number of men coming down the
river.
Dunn" must have idlcd considerable
tim" up on til" hill. for when hc re-
turned to the shack Euchrc WAS
busi!y engaged around tho campfire.
WAL. glad to 500 you nin't so pale
about The glls as y"u was" h" said.
by the way Of greeting. "l'tch in an
we'll soon have grub rrady. There's
shore one coriSolin' fact round this
her" camp"
'Whn's thnt?" asked Duane.
''l'lrn'y Of good juicy beef to eat.
An ii doesn't cost "a short hit
'I:mt it costs hard rides and trouble.
bad "",,Scj"ucr, and life. too, doesn't
it!'
II nint shor" about the bad com
science. Mine never bothered me none.
An as for life, why, thrt's cheap in
Texas"
""'h" is Elnnl?" asked Duane.
quickly changing the A,bjcct. "Nhat
do you know about him?"
"W" don't know who he is or where
he halls from" replied Elc!irr. '"rlct's
always been Somcthin' to interest the
gang IT," must have been 81 young
man when lr struck Texas. Now he's
mi'Idl"-n.rd I remember how years
ago h" was snftsI,nlicn am not rough
in talk ar art ik" he is now. Bland
ain't likely his right name. He knows
lot. He can doctor you. an he's
shnr" 81 KNOWN frll"r with tools.
He's the kind th"t rules men. outlaws
are always ri,ln' in here to join his
gang. an II 1t hnhn't been fer the
gnmblin' an gun-Ilny he'd have q
thousand men around him."
GLOW many in his gang now?"
II reckon there's short of 81 hundred
now. The number varies. Then Hund
has several small camps up am down
the river. Also he has men back ON
the cnttIernn:"s."
GLOW does he control such big
fOrcc?" asked Dunnc. Especially
when his bands composed of had men.
Lake Stevens said hc had no use for
Bland. And heard once somewhere
that Bland was devil"
"Thct's ii. He is Il devil He's as
hard as flint. violent in temper. never
mad" any friends except his right
hand men. Dave Rugg an Chess Allo-
way. Bland II shoot at wink. He's
killed lot Of fellers, IN some fer
nUthin The reason thct outlaws
gith"r round him an stick is because
he's safe refuge. an then he's well
herlcd. Bland * rich. They say he
has II hundred thousand pesos hid
somewhere. an lots Of gold. But he's
free with money. Tie g:mblcs when
he's not off with 81 shipment Of cattle.
He throws money around. An the
fact is there's always plenty of money
whore he is. 'rhc,'S what holds the
GAM. Dirty. bloody money!"
Its 81 wander he hasn't been killed.
All ihr>" wears on the border" ex-
clniin,rl Du:nr
Wal" replied l:rr..r". G,.y'y, "hr's
been ptlirl;rr un the draw than the
other i.,i,rs who hankcrrI to kill him,
thct's all"
Euchr,'S reply rather Chilled
Duan"'s interest for the moment. Such
rru!ar,., always made his mind resolve
round f:.c.s pertaining 10 himself.
":,pcal.iu' of Ills hrr. swift wrist
guric." ucnl ON ruc!re. "th,r.'s been
con ider:.hr ta'll il comp :hu.l your
tl,r"~ln' "f u gun. heard land Say
+ tlas af'clnopu-nu' he :. n it serious.
( Ike nm snccula,v.-thri nr'd never
seen your equal. All tho f"ll.rs Who
srrn YOU meel EoSonpr hai sotnrthin
10 say. An thoy all shut NJ, when
B iHaud ,eil WHO ;a' what your dad
was. Pears tu ,,lc ! once seen yout
dad in u @un-:crap,. over -, Santrnc
yrarS a.a. Wal. put nv oar IN 10
diy aia m@ tie fciicrS. an SAYS
what aile you lornri ntS? Dit
ynuH. ~. p. l:d.r an itch hon J.,