Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-21

now. The number varies. Then Bla
has several small camps up an down
the river. Also he has men back on
the cattleranges."
Glow does he control such big
force?" asked Duane. Especially
when his bands composed Of bad men.
Luke Stevens said he had no use for
Bland And 1 heard once semswhers
that Bland was a devil"
"Thet's it. He is a devil. He's as
hard as flint, Violent in temper, never
made any friends except his right
hand men, Dave Rugg an Chess Alle-
way Bland III shoot at a wink. He's
killed a lot Of fellers, an some fer
nOthin'. The reason tibet outlaws
gather round him an stick Is because
he's safe refuge, an then he's well
heeled. Bland is rich. They say he
has a hundred thousand pesos hid
somewhere, an lots Of gold. But he's
free with money. He CANDLES when
he's not off with shipment Of cattle.
He throws money around. An the
fact is there's always plenty OF money
where he is. Thet's what holds the
gang. Dirty, bloody money"
its a wonder he hasn't been killed.
All these years on the border" ex-
| claimed Duane.
oval" replied Euchre, dryly, ''he's
| been quicker on the draw than the
other fellers who hankered to kill him,
thet's ALL"
Euchre's reply rather chilled
| Duanes interest for the moment. Such
remarks always made his mind resolve
round facts pertaining to himself.
"Speakin' of this here swift wrist
game" went on Euchre, there's been
| considerable talk in camp about your
THROWN Of a gun. I heard Bland say
| this afternOon-an' he said 1t serious
| like an speculatiYe-thet he'd never
seen your equal. All the fellers who
seen you meet BOsOmer had sOmethin'
| to say. An they all shut up when
| Bland told who an what your dad
was. Pears to me I once seen your
| dad in gun-Scrape over at Santone
years ago, Wal, put my oar in to-
day among the fellers, an I says
What ails you lOcoed gents? Did
| young Duane bulge an inch when 30
came roarin' out, blood in his eyef
Wasn't he cool an quiet, steady of
lips, an weren't his eyes readin' Bo's
mind2 An tibet 1ightnin' draw-can't
yOu-all see thet's family gift?'
Euchre's narrow eyes twinkled, and
he gave the dough he was rolling @
slap with his flour whitened hand
Manifestly he had proclaimed himself
a champion and partner of Duane's
with all the pride an old man could
feel in a young one whom he admired
oval" he resumed presently
"thet's your introduction to the border
Buck. An your card was q high
| trump. You'll be let severely alone by
real gun-hghters an men like Bland
Alloway, Rugg, an the bosses Of the
other gangs. After all, these real men
are men, you know. an onless you
interfere with you than you are with
them.
"The only Teller who's goin' to put
close eye on you is Benson. He runs
the store an sells drinks. The gang
calls him Jackrabbit Benson, becaus,
he's always got his eye peeled an
his ears cooked.
''Bland's not here tonight. He LEFT
to-day on one Of his trips, takin' Allo
way an some others. But his other
man, Rugg, he's here. Riggs the
little bow-legged man with half Of his
face shot off. He's one-eyed. But hi
can shore see out Of the one he's got
An there's Hardin. You know him
He's got an outlaw gang as big a.
BANDS"
Euchre went on calling Duane's at
tention to other men of the band An,
one Of them would have been a mark
ed man in a respectable crowd. Here
each took his place with more or less
distinction, according to the record Of
his past wild prowess and his present