The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-11-04
THE LONE STAR RANGER
Thrilling Texas Border Story
By ZANE GREY

I his latter remark was significant to q
class of men who from inclination and
necessity practiced Mt gun-drawing un-
til they wore callous and sore places
on their thumbs and inculcated In the
very deeps of their nervous organiza-
| ton a habit that made even the SIM
plest and most innocent motioE Of the
hand end at or near the hip. There
was something remarkable about a
gun-flghter's hand. 1t never seemed to
be gloved, never to be injured, never
| out of sight or In an awkward posi-
ton. Grizzled outlaws in that group,
some of whom had many notches on
their gun-handles, accorded Duane
silence that carried conviction Of the
| regard In which he was held.
"Orful hot, amt it2" remarked Bill
Black, presently. Bill could not keep
quiet for long. He was a typical
Texas desperate, had never been any
thing else. He was stoop-shouldered
| and bow-legged from much riding; a
why little man, all muscle, with a
square head, a hard face partly black
from scrubby beard and red from sun,
and bright, rowing, cruel eye. His
shirt was open at the neck, showing a
grIzzled breast.
--LATEST outfit ever rustled with"
went on Bill, discontentedly. "Nuthin'
to dol Say, II anybody wants to swim
maybe some Of you'll gambler
He produced dirty pack Of cards
ard waved them at the motionless
crowd.
"Bill. you're too good at cards." re-
piled a lanky outlaw.
snow, Jasper, you say tibet power
full sweet, an you look sweet, er I
might take 1t to heart" replied Black,
with sudden change Of tone.
Here it was again-that upfashing
passion. What Jasper saw fit to reply
would mollify the outlaw or 1t would
not. There was an even balance.
mo offense, Bill" said Jasper,
placldly, without moving.
Bill grunted and forgot Jasper. But
he seemed restless and dissatisfied.
Duane watching the disgruntled out
law, marveled at him and wondered
what was In his mind. These men
were more variable than children, as
unstable as water, as dangerous as
dynamite.
"Blll, I'll bet you ten you can't spill
whatever's in the bucket tibet poems
packin'," said the outlaw called Jim.
Blacks head came up with the ac-
ton Of hawk about to swoop. ~
Duane glanced from Black to the
road, where he saw a crippled peon
carrying tin bucket toward the river.
This peon was half-witted Indian
who lived In shack and did odd jobs
for the Mexicans. Duane had met him
often.
"Jim, I'll take you up" replied
Black.
Something, perhaps a harshness in
his voice, caused Duane to whirl. He
caught leaping CLEAN in the outlaws
eye.
saw, Bill, thet's too fur shot,"
said Jasper, as Black rested an elbow
on his knee and sighted over the long,
heavy Colt. The distance to the peon
was about fifty PAGES, too fur for even
the most expert shot to hit a moving
| object so small as a bucket.
Duane, marvelously keen In the
alignment of sights, was positive that
Black held too high. Another look at
the hard face, now tense and dark
with blood, confirmed Duane's sus-
picion that the outlaw was not aiming
at the bucket at all. Duane leaped
and struck the level gun out Of his
hand. Another outlaw picked 1t up.
Black fell back astounded. De-
prived Of his weapon, he did not seem
the same man, or else he was cowed
| by Duane's significant and formidable
front. Sullenly he turned away with
out even asking for his gun.