The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-06-15
one consolin' fact round this here

SoSA ~ oSSA ~ Sht
An it doesn't cost a short bit"
But it costs hard rides and trouble
bad conscience. and life, too, doesn'
it?"
II amt shore about the bad con.
science. Mine never bothers me none
An as for life, why, thet's cheap il
Texas"
Who is Bland?" asked Duane, quick.
ly changing the subject. What do yor
know about him."
w don't know who he is or where
he halls from" replied Eucsre. "Thet's
always been something to interest the
gang. He must haze been a young
man when he struck Texas. Now he's
middle-aged. | remember how year
g he was soft spoken an not rough
IN talk or act like he is now. Bland
amt likely his right name. He knows
a lot. He a doctor you an he's
shore a KNOWN Teller with tools. He's
the kind tibet rules men. outlaws are
always ridin' in here to join his gang,
an if it hadn't been fer the gamblin'
an gun play led have q thousand men
around him"
How many in his gang now?"
Il reckon there's short of a hundred
now. h number varies. Then Bland
has several small camps up an down
the river. Also he has men back on
the cattle ranges"
How does he control such a big
force" asked Duane. ESPECIALLY when
his bands composed of bad men. Luke
Stevens said he had no use for Bland.
And heard once somewhere that Blanc
was a devil"
'"Thet's it. He is a devi He's as
hard as flint, violent in temper, never
made any friends except his right hand
men, Dave Rugg an Chess Alloway.
shoot at a wink. He's killed n
lot of f%ellers, an some fer nothin'. The
reason tibet outlaws gather round him
an stick is because he's a safe refuge,
an then he's well heeled. Bland is
rich. They say he has a 100, 600 pesos
MD somewhere, an lots of sold. But
he's free with money, He CANDLES when
mes not off with q shipment of cattle.
he throws money around. An the fact
Is there's always plenty of money where
he is. Thet's what holds the gang.
Dirty, bloody money!"
It's a wonder he hasn't been killed.
All these years on the border," ex-
claimed Duane.
Wal" replied Euchre, dryly. hes
been quicker on the draw Than the
other fellers who hankered to Kill him,
thet's all"
Euchre's reply rather chilled Duane's
interest for the moment. Such re-
marks always made his mind revolve
facts pertaining to himself.
"Speakin' of this here swift wrist
game went on Euchre, there's been
considerable talk in camp about your
throWln' Of a gun. You know, Buck,
thet among us fellers-us hunted men
there amt anythin' calculated to
rouse respect like a slick hand with a
gun. l heard Bland say this after
noon-an' he said it serious like an
speculatlve-thet he'd never seen your
equal. He was watchin' of you close,
he said. an inst pn1111pbt fol1D-y ,,o,,.
hand when you drawed. All the fellers
seen you meet Bosomer had some
tnln TO say. Bo was about as handy
with a gun as any mar in this camp,
barrln' Chess Alloway IN mebbe Bland
himself. Chess is the captain with a
Colt-or he was. An he shore didn't
like the references made about your
speed. Bland was honest in acknowl-
edgln 1t, but he didn't like it, neither.
Some of the fellers allowed your draw
might have been just accident. But
most of them Figured different. An
they all shut up when Bland told who
what your Dad was. Pears to me
l once seer your Dad in a gunscrape
over at Santone, years ago. Wall.
my oar in today among the fellers.
an l says: What ails you locoed
gents! Did young Duane bulge an inch
when 30 came roarin' out, blood in his
Wasn't he cool an quiet, steady of
ups, an weren't his eye readin' Bo's
mind? An'thet lightnin' draw-can't
you-ail see thet's a family gift?'"
Euchre,s narrow eyes twinkled, and
gave the dough he was rolling a slap
with his flour whitened hand. Mani
testify he had proclaimed himself a
amp n partner of Duane's. with
all the pride an old man could feel in
a young one whom he admired.
wal" he resumed, presently, "thet's
your introduction to the border, Buck.
An your card was a high trump. You'll
be let severly alone by real gun fighters
men like Bland, AlIoway. Rugg an,
the bosses of the other gangs. After
all, these real men are men, YOU know.
an onleSs you cross them they're no
more likely to interfere with you than
you are with them. But there's a sight
fellers like Bosomer in the river
country. Iheyll all want your game.
An every town you ride into will scare
up soNie coWpuncher full of booze or q
haired four lush gunman or a
these men will be MA vim,
the crowd an yellin' for your blood
Ihets the Texas Of it. Youth have to
nlde Ter ever in the brakes or you'll
nave to Kill si,ch men. Buck, I reckon
ms ann Cheerful news to a decent
nap IKE you. I'm only teliin' you be-
I've taken a likin' to you. an,
seen right off tibet you amt border
wise. Let's eat now, an afterward
go out SO the gang car see yo,1're
not hidin'."
When Duane went out with Euchre
me sun was setting behind a bIue
ange OF mountains across the river in
Mexlco. h valley appeared to open
- tne southwest. 1t was a tranquil,
at hand a woman was singing
And IN the road Duane cow n reel