Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-16
BOOK 1.-THE RANGER.

again."
BOOK 1.-THE RANGER.
CHAPTER XIV.
West of the Pecos river Texas ex-
tended a vast wild region, barren in the
north where the Llano Estacado spread
Its shifting sands, fertile in the south
along the Rio Grande. A railroad
marked an undertaking course across 500
miles OF this country, and the only viii
lagos and towns lay on or near his line
OF steel. Unsettled as was this western
Texas, and despite the acknowledged
dominance of the outlaw bands, the
pioneers pushed steadily into it. First
nag come the lone rancher; then his
nelghbors in ear and far valleys; then
the hamlets; at last the railroad and
the towns. And still the pioneers came,
spreading deeper into the valleys, far
ther and wider over the plains. 1t was
mesquite-dotted, c~actus-covered desert,
put rich soil upon which water acted
like magic. There was little grass to
an acre, but there were millions of
acres. The climate was wonderful.
Cattle flourished and ranchers pros
pered.
The Rio Grande flowed almost due
south along the western boundary for
1000 miles. and then, weary Of it's
course. turned abruptly north, to make
what was called the Big Bend. The rail-
a running west, cut across this
bend, and all that country bounded on
the north by the railroad and on the
south by the river was as wild as the
S.aked Plans. 1t contained not one set
tlement Across the face of this Big
BEND. as If to isolate it, stretched the
Ord mountain range, of which Mount
ord, Cathedral mount. and Elephant
mount raised bleak peaks above their
fellows. In the valleys Of the foothills
and out across the plains were ranches,
n farther north, villages, and the
towns of Alpine and Maria.
Like other parts Of the great Lone
STAR state, this section of Texas was a
world in itself-a world where the rich
the outlaw. The village closest to the
gateway of this outlaw-infested region
was a little place called Ord, named
after the dark peak that doomed some
miles to the south. 1t had been settled
originally by Mexicans-thcre were still
the ruins of adobe missions-but with
me advent of the rustler and outlaw
many inhabitants We're hot or driven
away, so that at the height of Ord's
prosperity md evil sway there were
but few MeXicans living there, and
these had their choice between holding
hand-and-glove with the outlaws or
furnishing target practice for that wild
element.
Toward the close of a day in Septem-
Der a strange r rod into Ord, and in a
community where all men We're re-
markable for one reason or another he
excited interest. His horse, perhaps, re-
celved the first and most engaging at
tentlon-horses IN that region being ap-
parently more important than men.
Ihls particular horse did not attract
ugly. But he was a giant, black as coal.
rough despite the care manifestly be-
slowed upon him; long of body, pond
erous Of limb, huge in every way. A
bystander remarked that he had a
grand head. True, if only his head had
ful horse. Lik men, horses show what
they are in the shape, the size. the line,
the character of the head. This n de-
noted fire, speed, blood. loyalty. n his
eyes were as soft and dark as a wo-
mans. His face was solid black, except
in the middle of his forehead, there was
a round spot Of white.
SAY mister. mind tellin' me his
name?" asked a ragged urchin, with
born love of a horse in his eyes.
Bullet" replied the rider.
Tibet there's for the white mark.
another. Say, amt he a whopper?
Biggest boss l eve SEEM"
Bullet carried a huge black silver-or-
namented saddl of Mexican make. a
Ad.!aI anu canteen, ana a small pack
rolled into a tarpaulin.
This rider apparently put all care Of
appearances upon his horse. His APP
parel was the ordinary jeans Of the
cowboy without vanity. and 1t was torn
n .travel-stained. His boots showed
evidence of IN intimate acquaintance
with cactus. Like his horse. this man
was a giant in stature, but rangier, not
so heavily built. Otherwise the only
striking thing about him was his SOM
Der face with itH piercing eyes, the hair
white Owe the temples. He packed two
guns. both low down-but that was too
common a thing to attract notice in the
Big Bend. A close observer. however,
would have noticed a singular fact
this riders right hand was more bron-
zed. more weather beaten than his left.
hand!
He had dismeunted before . RAM
shackle structure that bore upon Its
wide. htgh-boarded front tho sign.
Hotel" There We're horsemen coming
n going down the wide street be-
tween Its rows Of old stores. saloons.
and houses. Ord certainly did not look
enterprising. Americans had manilestly
assimilated much of the leisure OF the
Nexicans. The hotel had q wide plat
form In front. and this did duty ~