Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-23

" AkAA.
ner. and an unmistakable leaning to-
ward co~mpanionship and mint juleps.
h gentleman introduced himself a.
Colonel Webb. of Maria. and took it
as a matter of course that Duane made
no comment about himself.
Sir. it's all one to me-" he said,
blandly. waving his hand. Il have
travelled. Texas is free. and this from
tier is one where it's healthier and
just as friendly for a man to nave no
might be Cheseldine. of the Big Bend.
or you might be Judge Little, of Ell
Paso-it's all one to me. l enjoy drink
ing with you anyway"
Duane n him. conscious Of a
reserve and dignity that he could not
before. And then, as always, he was
d 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 a rancher and a sheriff of one OF
the towns. Fairdale by name.
Found no affairs, no ranch, not
even his grave" said Colonel Webb.
And l tell you, sir, if hells any tough
er than this Fairdale l don't want to
eNpiate my sins there"
"tairdale. l imagine sheriffs
have a hard row to hoe out here" re-
Piled Duane. trying not to appear Gu
rious.
The colonel swore Justify.
My brother was the only honest
sheriff Fairdale ever had. 1t was won
derful how long he lasted. But he had
was on the square. Then he was wise
enough to confine his work to offend
ers of his own town and ~neighborhood.
He let the riding outlaws alone. else
he wouldn't have lasted at all.
WHAT this frontier needs. sir. is about
Il SLY Mas Of Tovo~
Duane was aware Of the %colonels
close scrutiny.
ID o know anything about the
service?" he asked.
Il used to. Ten years ago when I
Governor Stone doesn't entertain
that opinion" said Duane.
Here Colonel Webb exploded. Mani
testify the governor was not his choice
Tor a chief executive of the great state.
He talked politics for a while, and Of
that seemed never to get a benefit from
Austin. He talked enough for Duane
10 real1ze that here was just the kind
OF intelligent, we'll informed, honest
citizen that he had been trying to
meet. He exerted himself thereafter
to be agreeable and Interesting and
he saw presently that here was an OPP
porun1ty to make a valuable acuuain-
lance. II not a friend.
I'm a stranger in these parts" said
Duane. finally. What is this outlaw
situation you speak of"
Its damnable, sir. and unbelievable.
Not rustling any more, but Just whole
sale herd stealing, in which some big
cattlemen, supposed to be honest. are
edua!' - ~''ilty with the outlaws. On
this border, o know, the rustler has
always been ble to steal cattle in any
Y n11ynhnrC I,-f 70 ~>A .:1 "a H. 5000
that's he hard job. The gang OPP
Grating between here and Valentine
evidently have not this rouble. No
body where the stolen stock
goes. But I'm not alone in my opinion
that most of it goes to several big
ckm They ship to San Antonio,
Austin. New Orleans. also to Ell Paso.
II you travel the stock road between
here and Maria and Valentine you'll
see. dead cattle all along the line and
stray cattle out in the scrub. The herds
nave been driven fast and far. and
stragglers are not rounded up"
Wholesale business, eh?" remarked
Duane. Who are these-er-big stock
buyers?'
Colonel Webb seemed a little startled
at the abrupt query. He bent his PEN
Grating gaze upon Duane and
fully stroked his pointed beard.
Names, Of course, I'll not mention.
Opinions are n thing, direct u
ton another. This is no a healthy
country for the informer."
When 1t came to the outlaws them
selves Colonel Webb was disposed to
talk freely. Duane could not judge
whether the colonel had a hobby Of
that subject or the outlaws were so
striking in personality and deed that
any man would NOW all about them.
The great name along the river was
Cheseldine. u it seemed to be a name
detached from mn Individual No a
son Of veracity known to Colonel Webb
had eve seen Cheseldine, and hose
who Anne that doubtful honor varied
so adversely in descriptions Of the
chief that they confused the reality
and lent to the outlaw only further
mystery. Strange to say Of an outlaw
leader. as there was no n who could
identify him, so there was no one who
could prove he had actually killed a
man. Blood flowed like water over the
Big Bend country, and 1t was Chesel-
dine who spilled it. Yet the fact re-
manned there were no eye witnesses to
connect any individual called Chesel-
dine with these deeds Of violence. But
in striking contrast to this mystery
was the person, character and cold
blooded action OF Poggin and Knell, the
chiefs ~lieutenants. They were famil-
lar figures In all the towns within 200
miles of Bradford. Knell had q record.
but as gunman with an incredible list
Of victims Poggin was supreme. II
Poggin had a friend no one ever heard
Of him. There were 100 stories of his
nerve. his wonderful speed with q gun.
his passion for gambling, his love Of
a horse-his cold, implacable, inhuman
wiping out Of his path any man that
crossed It.
"Cheseldine il q NAME, q terrible
name" said Colonel Webb. .Some-
times wonder II he's not only q
name. In that case where does the
brains Of this gang come from? No: