Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-14


chanically he wiped the sweat from
| his face. He was lab0riEg under some
kind of spell Or shock which did not
pass off quickly. When il had worn
away he took off his coat and belt and
made himself comfortable on the bIan-
kets. And he had thought that, If
he rested or slept, what difference
would 1t make on the morrow? No
rest, no sleep could change the gray
outlook of the future He felt glad
when Euchre came bustling in, and for
| the first time he took notice of the out
faw
Euchre was old in years What
little hair he had was gray. his face
clean shaver and full of wrinkles; his
| eyes were half shut from long gazing
| through the sun and dust He stopped.
But his thin face denoted strength
and endurance still unimpaired.
Hey a drink or a smoker" he asked.
Duane shook his head. He had not
been unfamiliar with whisky, and he
had used tobacco moderately since he
was sixteen. But now, strangely, he
| felt disgust at the idea of stimulants.
| He did not understand clearly what he
! felt. There was that vague idea of
something wild in his blood, something
| that made him fear himself
| Euchre wagged his old head sympa-
thetically. Reckon you feel little
sick. When it comes to shootin', run.
What's your age?"
I'm twenty-three," replied Duane.
Euchre showed surprise. you're
only q boy I thought you thirty any
ways. Buck, | heard what you told
| Bland, an putin thet with my own
! figgerin, | reckon you're no criminal
yet. THROWN gun in self-defense-
! tibet amt no crime!'
Duane finding relief in talking. told
more about himself.
Huh" replied the old man. 'Tve
seen hundreds of boys come in on the
| dodge. Most of them, though, was no
| good. An tibet kind don't last long.
| This river country has been an is the
I refuge fer criminals from all over the
| states. I've bunked with bank CASH
| ACAoS 1oA SNLo, pain thieves, I'LL OUT
an'out murderers, al of which had no
| biznesS on the Texas border. Fellers
/ like Bland are exceptions. He's no
| Texan-yOu seen tibet. The gang he
| rules here come from all over, an
| they're tough cusSes, you can bet on
tibet. They live fat an easy. If it
wasn't fer the fightin' among them
| selves. they'd shore grow pOpulous
| The Rim Rock is no place for peace
able, decent Teller. I heard you tell
| Bland you wouldn't like to join his
| gang. phet'u not make him take a
! likin' to you. Have you any money!"
"Not much" replied Duane.
"When the moneys gone how will
you live? There amt aRy work a de-
! cent Teller could do You can't herd
with greasers. Why, BANDS men
| would shoot at you in the fields.
| What'll you do, SOM"
"GOd knows" replied Duane. hope
lessly. "pn make my money last as
| long as pOsstble-then starve."
oval, I'm pretty pore, but you'll
never starve while I got anythin'."
Here it struck Buck agafn-that
| something human and kind and eager
which he had seen In Stevens. Duane's
estimate of outlaws had lacked this
| quality. He had not accorded them
any virtues. To him, as to the out
side world, they had been merely
vicious men without one redeeming
| feature.
I'm much obliged to you, Euchre,"
replied Duane. But of course I won't
live with anyone unless 1 can pay my
| share"
Have it any way you like, my son."
said Euchre, good-humoredly. "You
| make q fire, an I'll set about gettin'
| grub. I'm sour-dough, Buck Tibet
| man doesn't live who can beat my
| bread"
How do you ever pack supplies
in here?" asked Duane, thinking of the
almost inaccessible nature of the val
| ley.
Some comes across from Mexico,
an the rest down the river That
| river trip is a bird. It's mOre'n five
hundred miles to any supply point.
| Bland has mczos, greaser boatmen.
| Sometimes, too, he gets supplies in
| from d0wn-river. You see, Bland sells
| thousands of cattle in Cuba. An all
| this stock has to go down by boat to
meet the Ships
"Where on earth are the cattle
| driven down to the river?" asked
| Duane.
"The,'s not my secret" replied Eu-
| chre shortly. Fact is, don't know.
| I've rustled cattle for Bland, but he
never sent me through the Rim Rock
with them"
Duane experienced a sort of pleas
ure in the realization that interest had
| been stirred in him. He was curious
| about Bland and his gang, and glad to
| have something to think about. For
| every once in a while he had a sensa-
| ton that was almost like a pang. He
wanted to forget In the next hour he
did forget, and enjoyed helping in the
preparation and eating of the meal.
| Euchre, after washing and hanging up
| the several utensils, put on his hat and
turned to go out.
Come along or stay here, as you
want" he said to Duane
'Ill stay" rejoined Duane slowly.