Tombstone epitaph., 1916-10-22

he had ridden in from the west. this unfamiliar country. While he passed on, however, he exercised such keen observation that in the future he would know whatever might be of service to him if he chanced that way again.
 After couple of hours riding he entered town which he soon dis covered to be Bradford. It was the largest town he had visited since Maria, and he calculated must have a thousand or fifteen hundred in- habitants. not including Mexicans. He decided this would be a good place for him to hold up for a while, being the nearest town to Ord. only forty miles away. So he hitched his horse in front of store and leisurely set about studying Bradford.
 It was after dark. however, that Duane verified his suspicious con corning Bradford. The town was awake after dark. and there was one long row of saloons, dance-halls. gambling-resorts in full blast. Duane visited them all, and was surprised to see wildness and license equal to that of the old river camp of Bland's in its palmiest days. Here it was forced upon him that the farther west one travelled along tine river the sparser the respectable settlements. the more numerous the hard charac. ters, and in consequence the greater the element of lawlessneSs. Duane returned to his lodging-house with the conviction that MacNelly's task of cleaning up the Big Bend country was a stupendOus one. Yet, he re- flected. a company of intrepid and Quick-shooting rangers could have soon cleaned up this Bradford.
 The innkeeper had one other guest that night, a long-coated and wide sombreroed Texan who reminded Duane of his grandfather. This man had penetrating eyes, a courtly man. ner. and an unmistakable leaning to- ward companionship and mintjuleps. The gentleman introduced himself as Colonel Webb, of Maria, and took Il as a matter of course that Duane made no comment about himself.
 Duane, as always, was a good listener. Colonel Webb told, among other things, that he had come out to the Big Bend to look over the affairs of a deceased brother who had been a rancher and sheriff of one of the towns, Fairdale by name.
 Found no affairs, no ranch. not even his grave" said Colonel Webb. And I tell you. sir. if heli's any tougher than this Fairdale I don't want to expiate my sins there"
 "Fairdale. I imagine sheriffs have q hard row to hoe out here," replied Duane, trying not to appear curious.
 The Colonel swore lustily.
 What this frontier needs, sir, Is about six companies of Texas Rang CTS. A fine body of men, sir, and the salvation of Texas"
 Governor Stone doesn't entertain that opinion" said Duane.
 ittit NoADAfi " tAl'iOttu festly the governor was not his choice for q chief executive of the great state. He talked politics for a while. and of the vast territory west of the Pecos that seemed never to get benefit from Austin. Duane exerted himself to be agreeable and interest ing; and he saw presently that here was an opportunity to make valu- able acquaintance. If not a friend.
 "Tm a stranger in these parts," said Duane, finally. 'What is this outlaw situation you speak off"
 Its damnable, sir, and uubeliev. able. Not rustling any more, but just wholesale herd-stealing. in which some big cattlemen, supposed to be honest. are equally guilty with the outlaws. On this border, you know, tine rusiier has always been aSie to get rid of big bunches-that's the hard job. The gang operating be- tween here and Valentine evidently have not this trouble. Nobody knows where the stolen stock goes. But I'm not alone in my opinion that most of it goes to several big stockmen. They ship to San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, also to Fl Paso."
 Wholesale business. eh?" remarked Duane. "Who are these-er-big stock-buyersT
 Colonel Webb seemed little startled at the abrupt query. He bent his penetrating gaze upon Duane and thoughtfully stroked his pointed beard.
 "Names. of course, I'll not mention. Opinions are one thing. direct accusa- ton another. This is not a healthy for the informer."
 When 1t came to the outlaws them selves Colonel Webb was disposed to talk freely. The great name along the river was Cheseldine, but 1t seem- ed to be a name detached from an No person of veracity known to Colonel Webb had ever seen Cheseldine. Strange to say of an outlaw leader, as there was no one who could identify him, so there was no one who could prove he had actu- ally Killed a man.
 CTo BE CoNTINUED.l