The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-12-07

30 tnht y " u burst out Dhhht.
fight breaking in upon his bewilder
ment you want me for ranger sery
lcef"
"Sure. That's IT," replied th'
Captain dryly "Now 10 hear VIVA
that service Is TO be. I've been a busJ
man since took this Job. and, as yor
may hive heard, I've done few
things don't mind telling you that
| political influence put me IN here and
TINT up Austin way there's a good deal
u friction IN the Department Of State
IN regnrd 10 whether or not the ranger
service r. any good whether II should
be discontinued or not I'm on the
/ party who's defending the ranger sery-
Ice. contend that it's made Texas
hnbifHble. Wen. us been up 10 me to
produce results. So far / have been
successful My great ambition II to
break up the outlaw gangs along the
river. have never ventured In there
yet because I've been waiting 10 get
the lieutenant I needed You. Of
course. are the man I had In mind.
It's my idea 10 start way up the Mo
Grnnde and begin with CheseIdlne.
He's the strongest, the worst outlaw
OF the times. He's more than rustler
rs Cheseldlne and his gang who are
operating on the banks No one seems
10 have seen him to know what he
looks Ike.
II assume. Of course. that you are a
stranger to the country he dominates.
It's I've hundred miles west Of your
ground, There's little town over
there called Falrdaie. It's the nest
of rustler gang They rustic and
murder al VIII Nobody knows who
the lender Is. want you 10 find out.
Well Whatever way you decide II besi
you viii proceed 10 act upon. You are
your own boss You must find some
way 10 let me know when and my
rangers are needed The plan Is TO
break up Cheseldine's gang. It's the
toughest job on the border. We want
10 kin or Jail this choice selection Of
robbers and break 40 the rest Of the
gang 70 find them, 20 get among
them somehow, 10 learn their move
mcnts, TO lny your trap for Us rangers
20 spring Tint. Duane, Is your service
20 me-. and God knows it's great
Ouel"
II have accepted II" replied Duane,
"Your work win b. secret, You are
now ranger IN my service. But no
one except the few / choose 10 tell
win know Of II until we pull on the
job. You viii simply be Buck Duane
ull Il suits our purpose 10 acquunt
Texas with the fact that you're n
RINGER You'll see there's no date on
that paper. No one will ever know
just when you entered the service.
Perhaps we can make Il appear that
all or most OF your outlawry has
really been good service to the state.
At That, ri believe lt1l turn out So"
MueNelly paused moment In his
rapid talk. chewed his cigar. drew
his brows together IN q dark frown,
and went on "No man on the border
snows 20 well as YOU the deadly mature |
N this service. IT'S u long long chance |
against your ever coming back"
That's not the point" said Duane |
hut ia case | get killed out there
Leave that 10 me-" interrupted !
Captain MacNelly IF you lose your
lie ont thcrc I'll see your name clear.
"a the service you render known.
iou can rest assured OF TINT"
II am satisfied replied Duane
That's so much more than rye dared
q hope"
"Well, It's settled then IN give
ou money for expenses. Noull start
IS soon rs you llke-the sooner the
letter. hope to think Of other sug,
,estlons especially about communl-
utlng with me"
Long after the lights were out and
he low hum Of voices had ceased
Ouud the campfire Duane lay awake,