The Ozark spectator., 1916-11-01


 occasionally for cattle-driving. As he had ridden in from the west, this northern direction led him into totally unfamiliar country. While he passed on, however he exercised such keen observation that in the future be would know whatever might be of service to him if he chanced that way again.
 After a couple of hours riding he entered town which he soon dis covered to be Bradford. It was the} largest town he had visited since Maria, and he calculated must have thousand or fifteen hundred in habitants, not including Mexicans. He decided this would be good place for him to hold up for while, being the nearest town to Ord, only forty miles away. So he hitched his horse in front of store and leisurely, set about studying Bradford.
 It was after dark, however, that Duane verified his suspicious con- corning Bradford. The town was awake after dark, and there was one long row of saloons, dance-halls, gambling-resorts in full blast. Duane visited them all, and was surprised to see wildness and license equal to that of the old river camp of Bland's Tn it's pal jest days. Here it was forced upon him that the farther west one travelled along the river the sparser the respectable settlements. the more numerous the hard charac- ters, and in consequence the greater the element of lawlessness. Duane returned to his lodging-house with the conviction that MacNelly's task ot cleaning up the Big Bend country was stupendous one. Yet, he re- flected, a company of intrepid and quick-shooting rangers could have soon cleaned up this Bradford. <, The innkeeper had one other guest that night, a long-coated and wide sombreroed Texan who reminded Duane of his grandfather This man had penetrating eyes, a courtly man. her. and an unmistakable leaning to- ward companionship and mintjuleps. The gentleman introduced himself as Colonel Webb, of Maria, and took it as matter of course that Duane made no comment about himself.
 Duane, as always, was a good listener. Colonel Webb told, among other things, that he had come out to the Big Bend to look over the affairs of a deceased brother who had been q rancher and sheriff of one of the towns, Fairdale by name. Found no affairs, no ranch, not even his grave" said Colonel Webb. And I tell you, sir, if hell's any tougher than this Fairdale I don't want to expiate my sins there."
 "Fairdale. imagine sheriffs have a hard TOW to hoe out here," replied Duane, trying not to appear curious.
 The Colonel swore lustily.
 What this frontier needs, sir, Is about six companies of Texas Rang CTS. A fine body of men, sir, and the salvation of Texas"
 Governor Stone doesn't entertain that opinion" said Duane.
 Here Colonel Webb exploded. Mani- festly the governor was not his choice for chief executive of the great state. He talked politics for a while, and of the vast territory west of the Pecos that seemed never to get benefit from Austin. Duane exerted himself to be agreeable and interest ing; and he saw presently that here was an opportunity to make valu- able acquaintance, if not friend.
 I'm stranger in these parts" said Duane, finally. "What is this outlaw situation you speak of?"
 It's damnable sir, and unbeliev- able. Not rustling any more, but just wholesale herd-stealing, in which some big cattlemen, supposed to be honest, are equally guilty with the outlaws. On this border, you know, the rustler has always been able to steal cattle in any numbers. But to get rid of big bunches-that's the hard job. The gang operating be- tween here and Valentine evidently have not this trouble. Nobody knows Nlere tlle SLOlSu SlOCh SOeS- buL III not alone in my opinion that most of 1t goes to several big stocllmen. They ship to San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, also to Fl Paso."
 "Wholesale business, eh?" remarked Duane. "Who are these-er-big stock -buyers?"
 Colonel Webb seemed little startled at the abrupt query. He bent his penetrating gaze upon Duane and thoughtfully stroked his pointed beard.
 Names, of course. I'll not mention. Opinions are one thing. direct accusa- tion another. This is not healthy country for the informer." When it came to the outlaws them. selves Colonel Webb was disposed to talk freely. The great name along the river was Cheseldine, but it seem. ed to be a name detached from an individual No person of veracity