The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-10-13
THE LONE STAR RANGER
Thrilling Border Story
By ZANE GREY

his latter remark was significant to 6
class of men who from inclination anC
| necessity practiced at gun-drawing un
| til they wore callous and sore places
on their thumbs and incuIcated in the
| very deeps of their nervous organiza.
ton habit that made even the sim.
plest and most innocent motion of the
hand end at or near the hip. There
was something remarkable about @
gun-fghter's hand. 1t never seemed to
be gloved, never to be injured, never
out of sight or in an awkward posi-
ton. Grizzled outlaws in that group,
some of whom had many notches on
their gun-handles, accorded Duane
silence that carried conviction of the
regard in which he was held.
"Orful hot, amt it?" remarked Bill
Black, presently. Bill could not keep
quiet for long. He was a typical
Texas desperate, had never been any,
thing else. He was stoop-shouldered
and bOw-legged from much riding;
wiry little man, all muscle, with
o0udl iiCuh. u Dcl IdCt PAL lily
from scrubby beard and red from sun,
and bright, rowing, cruel eye. His
shirt was open at the neck, showing a
grizZled breast.
--latest outfit I ever rustIed WITH"
went on Bill, discontentedly. "Nuthin'
to do Say, if anybody wants to swim
maybe some of you'll gambler"
He produced a dirty pack of cards
and waved them at the motionless
crowd.
bill, you're too good at cards." re-
piled a lanky outlaw.
"Now, Jasper, you say tibet power
full sweet. an you look sweet, er 1
might take it to heart" replied Black,
with a sudden change of tone.
Here it was again-that upf1aShing
passion. What Jasper saw fit to reply
would mOllify the outlaw or it would
not. There was an even balance.
''fIo offense. Bill" said Jasper,
placidly, without moving.
Bill grunted and forgot Jasper. But
he seemed restless and dissatisfied.
Duane watching the disgruntled out
law, marveled at him and wondered
what was in his mind. These men
were more variable than children, as
unstable as water, as dangerous as
dynamite.
"Bill, I'll bet you ten you can't spill
in the bucket tibet poems
Dackin'," said the outlaw called Jim.
Blacks head came up with the ac-
ion of hawk about to swoop.
Duane glanced from Black to the |
'oad, where he saw a crippled peon |
tin bucket toward the river. |
This peon was a half-witted Indian |
Who lived in a shack and did odd jobs
or the Mexicans. Duane had met him
,ften.
Jim, I'll take you up" replied
Black.
Something, perhaps q harshness in
lis voice, caused Duane to whirl. He
aught leaping CLEAN in the outlaws
we.
CAV, Bill, thet's too fur a shot,"
aid Jasper, as Black rested an elbow
n his knee and sighted over the long,
eavy Colt. The distance to the peon
ras about fifty PAGES, too far for even
he most expert shot to. hit moving
bject so small as a bucket.
Duane, marvelously keen in the
lignment of sights, was positive that
lack held too high. Another look at
ne hard face, now tense and dark
18th blood, confirmed Duane's sus-
icion that the outlaw was not aiming
the bucket at all. Duane leaped
nd struck the level gun out of his
and. Another outlaw picked it up.
Black fell back astounded. De-
rived of his weapon, he did not seem {
lie same man, or else he was cowed
Y Duane's significant and formidable {
ont. Sullenly he turned away with s
1T even asking for his gun.