The Parma herald., 1916-10-26
The Lone Star Ranger
A Fine Tale of the Open Country By ZANE GREY

Duane did not see how 1t had been
possible, and he felt no hope for the
outlaw. But he plugged the wounds
and bound them tightly.
"Feller's name was Brown" Stevens
said. me an him fell out over a hoss
I stole from him over in Huntsville.
We had shootin' scrape then. Wal.
as I was standin' my hoss back there
in Mercer / seen this Brown, an seen
him before he seen ne. Could have
killed him, too. But / wasn't breakin'
my word to you. / kind OF hoped he
wouldn't spot me. But he did-an'
fust shot he got me here. What do
you think of this holeT
"It's pretty bad" replied Duane !;
and he could not look the cheerful out
law In the eyes.
81 reckon II is. Wal, I've had some
bad wounds lived over. Guess mebbe
l can stand this one. Now, Buck, get
me some place In the brakes, leave me
some grub an water at my hand. an
then you clear out"
leave you here alonef" asked Du-
ane sharply.
"Shore. You see / can't keep up
with you. Brown an his friends will
foller us acrost the river a ways.
You've got to think of number one In
this game"
I what would you do In my caseT'
asked Duane curiously.
"Wal, reckon I'd clear out an save
my hide" replied Stevens.
Duane felt inclined to doubt the out
laws assertion For his own part, he
decided his conduct without further
speech First he watered the horses
filed canteens and water bag. and then
tied the pack upon his own horse
That done. he lifted Stevens upon his
horse, and. holding him in the saddle
turned into the brakes, being careful
to pick out hard or grassy ground thai
left little signs Of tracks. Just abou
dark he ran across a trail that Ste
vens said was a good one to take int
the wild country.
Reckon we'd better keep right OIL
in the dark-till / drop" continued
| Dltft Gus, Will lduSu-
All that night Duane, gloomy an,
thoughtful, attentive to the wounde'
outlaw, walked the trail and neve
halted. Dawn caught the fugitives a
a green camping site on the bank o
rocky little stream. Stevens fell
dead weight into Duane's arms, an
one look at the haggard face shove
, Duane that the outlaw had taken hi
: last ride. He knew 1t, too. Yet tina
cheerfulness prevailed
! 'Buck, will you take off my boots
! he asked, with a faint smile on hi
: pallid face.
E Duane removed them, wondering
] the outlaw had the thought that b
Z did not want to die with his boots ol
| Stevens seemed to read his mind.
r "Buck, my old daddy used to sa
thet 1 was born to be hanged But
+ wasn't-an' dyin' with your boots o
, is the next wust way to croak."
you've a chance toto get owe
! this" said Duane.
, "Shore. But / want to be corre'
about the boots-an' say. pard, If
go over, Jest you remember thet We
r appreciatin' your kindness"
q This matter of the outlaws boo
a was strange, Duane thought. He mad
Stevens as comfortable as possibl
o then attended to his own needs Ar
the outlaw took up the thread of h
! conversation where he had left off Il
a night before.
a "This trail splits up ways fro
+ here. an every branch of 1t leads to
;. hole where you'll find men-a fe'
a mebbe, like yourself-some like me
A an gangs of no-good hoss thieve
q rustlers an such. It's easy livin'. Buc
O. 1 reckon. though. that you'll not fiji