Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-14
he was a g06d-natured rufian.

he was q gO0d-natured ruffian.
Duane acknowledged the truth of
the assertion, and turned over in his
mind how shrewdly the fellow had
guessed him to be a hunted man.
MY names Luke Stevens, an l hail
from the river. Who're you?" said
this stranger.
Duane was silent.
81 reckon you're Buck Duane" went
| on Stevens. 81 heerd you was a bad
man with a gun"
This time Duane laughed, not at the
doubtful compliment, but at the idea
that the first outlaw he met should
| swiftly facts about gun-play travelled
| on the Texas border.
oval, Buck" said Stevens, in a
friendly manner, Il amt presumin' on
your time or company. | see you're
headin' fer the river But will you
stop long enough to stake Teller to
4 bite Of grub?'
I'm out of grub and pretty hungry
| myself" admitted Duane.
Been puShin' your boss, I see. Wal,
[ reckon you'd better stock up before
| you hit tibet stretch of country"
He made a wide sweep of his right
arm, indicating the southwest, and
| there was that in his action which
! seemed significant Of a vast and bar
| rem region.
"Stock up?" queried Duane, thought
! fully.
''Shore. A teller has Jest got to eat.
| [ can rustic along without whisky, but
| not without grub. Thet's what makes
| it so enfbarrasSin' trayelin' these parts
! dOdgin' your shadow. Now, I'm on my
way to Mercer. It's a little two-bit
| town up the river ways. I'm goin'
| to pack out some grub"
Stevens tone was inviting. Evident
Iy he would welcome Duane's compan-
| iOnShip, but he did not openly say so.
Duane kept silence, however, and then
! Stevens went on.
stranger in this here country two's
a crowd It's safer. Inever was much
on this lOne-WOlf dOdgin', though I've
| done it of necessity. 1t takes q mighty
| good man to travel alone any length
| Of time. Why, I've been tibet sick ]
was jest achin' fer some ranger to
| come along an plug me. Give me a
pardner any day. Now, mebbe you're
not thet kind of a Teller, an I'm shore
not presumin' to ask. But I jest de-
! clares myself sufficient"
"You mean you'd like me to go with
you?" asked Duane.
Stevens grinned. oval, I should
smile. I'd be particular proud to be
braced with a man of your reputa-
ton"
"See here my good fellow, that's all
nonsense" declared Duane, in some
haste
"Shore I think modesty becomin' to
youngster," replied Stevens. 81 hate
brag. Buck, I don't know much
about you. But every man Who's lived
| along the Texas border remembers a
! lot about your dad. | Jest heerd tibet
you was lightnin' on the draw, an
when you cut loose with a gun, why
/ the figger on the ace of spades would
cover your cluster Of bullet holes.
! Thet's the word thet's gone down the
! border. Now, Buck, I'm not a spring
chicken, an I've been long on the
dodge. Mebbe a little of my society
won't hurt you none. You'll need to
| learn the country"
There was something sincere and
! likable about this outlaw.
Il dare say you're right" replied
! Duane, quietly. "And I'll go to Mer-
| Ger with you"
Next moment he was riding down
| the road with Stevens. Duane had
never been much of a talker, and now
| he found speech difficult. But his
| companion did not seem to mind that.
He was jocose, vOluble fellow, prob
| ably glad now to hear the sound of
| his own voice. Duane listened, and
| sometimes he thought with a pang
| of the distinction Of name and heritage
Of blood his father had left to him.