The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-06-08

red died out of the west; a pale after
glow prevailed for a while; darkness
set in; then the broad of blue
darkened and the stars frightened.
After a while Stevens ceased talking
and dropped in his saddle. Duan kept
M horses going, however, and the
SLOW hou Wore away uan thought
the quiet night would never break to
dawn, that there was no end to the
melancholy, brooding plain. But at
length a grayness blotted out the stars
and mantled the level of mesquite and
cactus.
Dawn caught the fugitives at a green
camping site on the bank of a rocky
little stream. Stevens fell a dead
weight into Duane's arms, and one look
at the haggard face showed Duane that
the outlaw had taken his last ride. He
knew it, too. Yet that cheerfulness
prevailed.
Buck, my feet are orful tired pack
in them heavy boots,' he said, and
seemed immensely relieved when
had removed them.
This matter of the outlaws boots
was strange, Duane thought. He made
Stevens as comfortable as possible,
then attended to his own needs. And
the outlaw took up the thread of his
conversation where he had left off the
night before.
This trail splits up a ways from
here, an every branch of it eads to a
hole where you'll find men-a few,
mebbe, like yourself-some like me
an gangs of no good boss thieves,
rustlers, an such. It's easy livin',
Buck. l r%ecison, though, that you'n not
ind 1T easy. You'll eve mix in.
Youll be a lone wolf. l seen that
right off. Wal, if a mar can stand
the loneliness, an if he's quick on the
draw mebbe lone wolfin' it is the best.
Shore l don't know. But these fellers
III here will he C1Gninir11c pP n , Z, ,yIN
goes 1t alone. If they get a chance
they'll kin you"
Stevens asked for water several
He had forgotten or he did not
want the whisky. Ills voice grew per-
ceptibly weaker.
BE quiet said Duane Talking
uses up your strength"
"Aw, III talk till-im done" he re-
plled, doggedly. See here, pard, you
can gamble on what I'm tellin' you. An
ltll be useful. From this camp Wen
you'll meet men right along. An
the same, some are better'n others.
I've lived along the river fer ~ years.
,Ihere,s three big gangs of outlaws.
ENG F1sher-you know him, l reckon,
FER he's half the time livin' among re-
spectacle folks. King is a pretty good
teaea ltll DO to tie up with him an
ms gang. Now, there's Cheseldine,
VINO hangs out in the Rim Rock way
up the river. He's an outlaw chief. /
never seen him, though / stayed once
right in his camp. Late years he's got
r1ch an keeps back pretty well hid.
But island knowed Bland fer years.
An L haven't any use fer him. Bland
has the biggest gang. You amt likely
70 miss str1kin' his place some time or
other. He's got a regular town, I
might say. Shore there's some gamb-
I'M, an gun fightin' goin' on at BANDS
camp All the time. Bland has killed
some 20 men, an thet's not countin'
greasers.'
Here Stevens took another drink and
then rested for a while.
You amt likely to get on with
Bland" he resumed, presently. You're
TOO strappin' big an good lookin' to
please the chief. Fer he's got women
IN his camp. Then he'd be jealous of
your possibilities with a gun. Shore /
reckon he'd be careful, though. BANDS
no fool, an he loves his hide. / reckon
n OF the other gangs would be better
Ter you when you amt goin' it alone"
Apparently that exhausted the fund
OF information and advice Stevens had
oeen & to impart. He lapsed into
silence and lay with closed eyes. Mean
Whlle the sun rose warm; the breeze
waved the mosquitoes; the birds came
Gown 10 splash in the shallow stream;
duane dozed in a comfortable seat. BY
and by something reused him. Ste
Vens was once more talking, but with a
changed tone.
"Feller's name-was Brown" he
rambled. I'VE fell out-over a boss I
stole from him-in Huntsville. He stole
1t fust. Browns one OF them sneaks-
afraid Of the open-he steals an pre-
tends to be honest. Say, Buck, mebbe
you'll meet Brown some day-You an
me are pards now"
I'll remember, il 1 ever meet him"
said Duane.
That seemed to satisfy the outlaw
Presently he tried to lift his head. but
mad not the strength. A strange shade
was creeping across the bronzed rough
My feet are pretty heavy. Shore you
got my boots off ??'
Duane held them up, but was not
certain that Stevens could see them.
The outlaw closed his eyes again and
muttered incoherently. Then he fell
asleep. Duane believed that sleep was
final; The day passed, with Duane
Stevens awoke, and his eyes
seemed clearer. Duane went to sc.
some fresh water, thinking his com
would surely want some. When
he returned Stevens made no sign that
he wanted anything. There was some
Duane realized what it meant.
"Pard, you-stuck-to met" the out
law whispered.
Duane caught a hint Of gladness in
the voice; he traced a faint surprise
in h haggard face. Stevens seemed
a little child.
To Duane the ome was sad, ele-
mental, big, with a burden of mystery
he could not understand.
Duane buried him in a shallow arroyo
and heaped up a pile Of stones to
mark h grave That done, he saddled
his comrades horse, hung the
over n pommel; and, mounting his
own steed, he rode down the trail in
the gathering twilight.
CHAPTER ".
Two days later, about the middle of
the Quar- dragged the two