Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-08-24

ing with you anyway
Duane thanked him, conscious of a
reserve n dignity that he could not
have felt or pretended three months
before. And then, as always, he 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 q sheriff of one of
the towns, Fairdale by NAME.
even his grave" said Colonel Webb
And / tell you, sir, if hells any tough
err than his Fairdale l don't want to
eXpiate my sins there"
"Fairdale. = = = imagine sheriffs
have a hard row to hoe out here" re-
piled Duane, trying not to appear GU
rious.
The colonel swore Justify.
My brother was the only honest
sheriff Fairdale ever had. 1t was won
derful how long he lasted. But he had
nerve, he could throw a gun, and he
was on the square. Then he was wise
enough to conflne his work to Offend
ers of his own town and neighborhood.
He let the riding outlaws alone. else
he wouldn't ave lasted at all. y 4 =
What this frontier needs, sir, is about
six companies Of Texas rangers"
Duane was aware of the colonels
close scrutiny.
d you know anything about the
service?" he asked.
II used to. Ten years g when l
lived in San Antonio. A fine body of
men, sir, and the salvation Of Texas
Governor Stone doesn't entertain
that opinion" said Duane.
Here Colonel Webb exploded. Mani
testify the governor was not his choice
for a chief executive Of the great state.
He talked politics for a while, and of
the vast territory west Of the Pecos
that CAnvon1 to ro% - h1~oH% F~o~
Austin. He talked enough for Duane
to realize that here was just the kind
of intelligent, we'll informed, honest
citizen that he a been trying to
meet. He exerted himself thereafter
to be agreeable and interesting; and
he saw presently that here was an OPP
porunity to make a valuable acquain-
tance, If not a friend.
I'm a stranger in these parts" said
Duane, finally. What is this outlaw
situation you speak OF?
Its damnable, sir. and unbelievable
Net rustling n more, but just whole
sale herd stealing, in which some big
cattlemen, supposed to be honest, are
eaual'- Utility with the outlaws. On
this border, you know, the rustler has
always been able to steal cattle in any
numbers. But to get rid Of big punches
that's the hard job, The gang OPP
Grating between here and Valentine
evidently rave not this trouble. No
body knows where the stolen stock
goes. But I'm not alone in my opinion
that most of 1t goes to several big
stockmen. They ship to San Antonio,
Austin, New Orleans, also to Ell Paso.
If you travel the stock read between
here and Maria and Valentine you'll
see dead cattle all along the line and
stray cattle out in the scrub. The herds
have been driven fast and far, and
straEglers are not rounded up"
Wholesale business. eh?" remarked
Duane. "Who are these-er--big stock
buyers?"
Colonel Webb seemed a little startled
at ti> ahrnpt query. He bent his PEN
Grating gaze upon Duane n thought
fully streked his pointed beard.
Names, of course, I'll not mention.
Opinions are one thing, direct accusa-
country for the informer."
When it came to the outlaws them
selves Colonel Webb was disposed to
talk freely. Duane could not Judge
whether the colonel had a hobby of
that subject or the outlaws We're so
striking in personality and deed that
, any man would know all about them.
The great name along the river was
1 Chesoldine, but it seemed to be a name
, detached from an individual. No per-
!; son of veracity known to Colonel Webb
! had ever seen Cheseldine, and hose
WIZ SlolAaeo liidl oou1tlul nonOr varied
SO adversely in descriptions of the
chief that they confused the reality
], and lent to the outlaw only further
mystery. 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 actually killed a
3 man. Blood flowed like water over the
Bic Bend country, and it was Chesel-
t dine who spilled it. Yet the, fact re-
1 manned there were no eye witnesses to
t connect any individual called Chesel-
9 dine with these deeds of violence. But
i in striking contrast to this mystery
: was the person., character and cold
I biooded action Of Poggin and Knell, the
CHEERS lle~utenants. They We're famil-
lar figures in all the towns within 200
: miles or Bradford. knell had a record,
but as gunman with an incredible lis,
OF victlms Poggin was supreme. II
e Poggln mad a friend no one ever heard
OF hlm; mere We're loo stories of his
nerve, ms Wonder1ul speed with a gun
ms passion Tor gam2ilng, his love OF
a norse-hls coio. lmpiacaple human
Wlplng Out OF MS path any man tina,
: crossed II;
Q Cheseiuine Is a name, a terrible
malle' saw SoloHes Wepp. some
-llllll0S WOlluSI II ne S not only q