The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-30

conversation where he had left OF the
night before.
"This trail splits up a ways from
here. an every branch OF II leads to a
hole where you'll find men-a few,
mebbe, like yourself-some like me-
an gangs Of no-good hoss thieves,
rustlers an such. It's easy llvln', Buck.
reckon, though, that you'll not find
IL easy. Youll never mix IN. YoU'll
he n lone wolf. seen that right or.
Wal, II man can stand the loneliness,
an II he's quick on the draw, mebbe
lone-wolfn' Is the best, Shore don't
know But these fellcrs I'm here will
be suspicious OF man who goes It
alone. If they get a chance they'll
kill you"
Stevens asked for water several
times. He had forgotten or he did not
want the whisky. His voice grew per
ceptibly weaker.
"Be quiet" said Duane. Talking
uses up your strength"
Jaw, I'll talk till-Tm done" he re-
piled, doggedly. "See here. pnrd, you
can gamble on what I'm tellin' you.
An it'll be useful. From this camp
we'll--you'll meet men right along An
none of them will be honest men. All
the same, some are hetter'n others.
I've lived along the river for twelve
years. There's three big gangs Of out
laws. King Fisher-you know him,
reckon, fer he's half the time llvin'
among respectable folks. King is a
good feller. Itn do to tie up with
him an his gang. Now, there's Chesel-
dine, who hangs out in the Rim Rock
way up the river He's an outlaw
chief. never seen him, though
stayed once right I'm his camp. Late
years he's got rich, an keeps back
pretty well hid. But Bland-I knowed
Bland fer years. An l haven't any
use fer him. Bland has the biggest
gang You amt likely to miss strikin
his place sometime or other. He's got
regular town, l might say. Shore
there's some gamblin' an gun-fightin
goin' on in Bland's camp all the tir.r
Bland has killed some twenty men. Sh
lltl > hOl Nbultlh EltdHtASs
Here Stevens took another drink
and then rested for while.
"YOu amt likely to get on with
Bland" he resumed presently. you're
too strappin' big an good-lookin' &c
please the chief. Fer he's got womer
in his camp. Then he'd be jealous OF
your possibilities with gun. Shore
reckon he'd be careful, though
Bland's no fool, an he loves his hide
1 reckon any of the other gangs woulC
be better for you when you amt goin
| 1t alone"
Apparently that exhausted the funt
of information and advice Stevens haC
been eager TO impart. He lapsed intt
silence and lay with closed eyes
Meanwhile the sun rose warm; the
breeze waved the mesquites; the birds
came down to splash in the shallow
stream; Duane dozed in a comfortable
seat. BY and by something rouseC
him. Stevens was once more talking
! hut with changed tone.
"Feller's name-was Brown" III
! TuIllultu. we ltll OuI-bNfI u HbNN
/ stole from HMM Huntsville. IL
/ stole 1t fust. Browns one of then
| sneaks-afraid of the open-he steals
an pretends to be honest. Say, Buck
mebbe you'll meet Brown some day
You an me are pards now"
"I'll remember, II ] ever meet him,
said Duane.
That seemed to satisfy the outlaw
Presently he tried TO lift his head, bu
| had not the strength. A strange shad
was creeping across the bronzed
rough face.
"My feet are pretty heavy. Shor'
| you got my boots off?"
! Duane held them up, but was no
certain that Stevens could see them
The outlaw closed his eyes again AM
muttered incoherently. Then he fel
asleep. Toward sundown Steven
awoke, and his eyes seemed clearer
Duane went 10 get some fresh water
thinking his cOmrade would surel
want some. When he returned Steven
made no sign that he wanted anything
There was something bright about hin
and suddenly Duane realized what !
meant.
"Pard, you-stlck-to mer' the out
law whispered.
Duane caught a hint of gladnes
in the voice; he traced n faint surpris
In the haggard face. Stevens seeme
like little child.
i Duane buried him in shallow al
royo and heaped up a pile of stone
TO mark the grave. That done, h
saddled his comrades horse, hung th
weapons over the pommel, and, mount
ing his own steed, he rode down tn
trail in the gathering twilight.
CHAPTER w.