The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-07

Nope"
If they had the nerver'
Not thet 80 much"
What then? What d mako then
fieht?"
"A leader!"
.Howdy thar. Jim" doomed big
A man OF great bulk, with a ruddy
merry face. entered the room.
! Hello, Morton" replied Laramie
"a Introduce you to my guest here
put | don't know his name"
X "Haw! Haw! Thets al! right. Few
Gnen out hyar SO by their right names "
/ Say. Merton" put In Duane, Lara
ME gave mo bunch you'd be good
man to tie to. Now, I've a little money
and before l lose it I'd like to invest
it in stock
Morton smiled broadly.
I'm on the square," Duane said.
up your netshbors any better than you
nave sized newell. you won't get any
richer"
1t was enjoyment for Duane to make
his remarks to these men pregnant with
meaning. Morton showed his pleasure,
ms Interest. but his faith hold aloof.
I've got some money. Will you let
me In on some kind Of deal? WIN YOU
start me up as a stock1nan with little
nero all my OWN"
Wal stranger. to come out flat
looted, you'd be foolish to buy cattle
now. l don't want to take your money
an SEQ you loso out, Better 60 back
across the Pecos where the rustlers
amt so strong. 1 haven't had more'n
1000 herd OF stock for 10 years. The
rustiers let me hang on to a breedin'
herd. Kind OF them, amt it ?"
Sort of kind. All hear is rustlers
Morton, replied Duane, with impa-
uence: You see, l haven't ever lived
long IN q rustler run county Who
heads the gang. anyway"
Morton looked at Duane with q
curiously amused smile, then snapped
his big jaw as if to shut in impulsiye
words
Look here, Morton 1t stands to
reason, no matter how strong these
rustiers are, how hidden their work.
however . involved with supposedly hon
est men-they can't last"
They come with the pioneers an,
they'll last till thar's a single steer
left he declared
Wen, if you take that view Of cir
cnmstances I Just figure you as one
of the rustlers!"
Morton looked a. If he were about
to brain Duane with the butt of his
whip. His anger flashed by then evia
gently as unworthy OF him; and. some
thing striking him as funny, he doomed
out a laugh ''
It's not 80 funny" Duane went on
n you're going to pretend a yellow
streak, what else will think? ?"
Pretend" no repeated.
sure. l know men of nerve And
here they're not any different from
those In other places. say If you show
anything like lack of eand it's oil,
olur BY nature you've got nerve
nero are lot OF men around FafrdaIe
VINO re afraid OF their shadows-afraid
70 DC out after dark-afraid to open
I ! mouths. But you're not one. 30
say II you claim these rustlers Will
last yours pretending lack of nerve
Just to help tho popular. idea along
bor they can't last. What you need
out here Is some new blood. sayyy
what | mean?''
wal, | reckon do," he replied. look
ing as If a storm had blown over him.
;s I'll look you up the next
time come to town"
Then he went out.
Laramie had eyes like flint striking
fire.
He breathed a deep breath and
looked around tho room before his gaze
liked again on Duane
wal, ne replied, speaking low.
you've picked the right men. Now
who in the he'll are you?''
Teaching into the inside pocket of
ms buckskin vest, Duane turned tho
lning out. A star shaped bright silver
object flashed as he showed it. pocket
and all, under Jlm's hard eyes.
Ranger!" he whispered, cracking the
table with his fist you sure r,,ne
true to me-
Laramie, do you know who's boss of
this secret gang OF rustlers here
abouts?' asked Duane, bluntly. IT was
characteristic Of him to come sharn
to the point. His voice-sonaetbing
deep. easy, cool about hi1n-seemed to
steady Laramie.
No" replied Laramie.
Does anybody know?" went on
Duane on
Wal, reckon there's not one honest
native who knows"
But you have your suspicious
We have"
Give me your idea about this crowd
ulars."
Jest bad lot" replied laramie
with the quick assurance Of knowl,
edge. Most OF them have been here
years. Others have drifted in. Some
OF them work, odd times. They rustic
q Few steers, steal, rob, anythin' for a
a bad lott"
Have you any idea whether Cbese,-
dine and his gang are associated with
this gang here?''
Lord knows. I've always suspected
them the same gang. None of us ever
seen Cheseldine-an thet's strange
when knel, Poggin, Panhandle Smith
Blossom Kane and Fletcher, thew ali
ride here often. No, Poggin doesn't
come often. But the others do. For
thet matter, they're around ali over
west of the Pecos.' o'ei
Now I'm puzzled over this" said
duane. Why do men-apparently
honest men--seem to be SO close
mouthed here? Is that fact, or only
my impression St'
It's a sure fact" replied Laramie
darlSly Men have lost cattle an
property in Fairdale-lost them hon
estly or otherwise, as hasn't been
proved. An in some cases when thew
a little-they was found
dead. Apparently held up an robbed.
But dead. Dead men don't talk. Thet's
why were close mouthed."
duane felt dark, somber sternness
Rustltng cattle was not intoiera bic.
Western Texas had gone on prospering
growing in spite of the hordes Of
rustlers ranging its vast stretches: hut
cold, secret, murderous hold on
little StrllGrSr1i,,cy