Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-03
I he Lone
Star Ranger
A Romance Of the Border
BY ZANE GREY
AatAos g
" uGlN OF NES1EkN SfARS
s0&RS on YNI PURPLE SAGE" ETC

strange the name looked!
Fright here ends the career Of Buck
Duane, outlaw and gun.Hghter," said
MacNelly; and, seating himself, he
took the pen from Duane's fingers and
wrote several lines In several places
upon the paper. Then with smile
he handed 1t to Duane.
"That makes you a member of Com.
pany A, Texas, Rangers"
$50 that's I'll" burst out Duane, Z
light breaking in upon his ,bewilder-
ment. "You want me for ranger serv'
ice?"
"Sure. That's it." replied the
Captain dryly. "Now to hear what
that service Is to be. I've been a busy
man since took this job, and, as you
may have heard. I've done few
things. I don't mind telling you that
political influence put me in here and
that up Austin way there's good deal
of friction in the Department of State
In regard to whether or not the ranger
service is any good-whether it should
be discontinued or not. I'm on the
party who's defending the ranger serv-
Ice. ] contend that it's made Texas
ffabitable. Well, it's been up to me to
produce results. So far have been
successful. My great ambition is to
break up the outlaw gangs along the
river. have never ventured in there
vet because I've been waiting to get
the lieutenant l needed. You, Of
course are the man l had in mind.
It's my idea to start way up the Rio
Grande and begin with Cheseldine.
He's the strongest, the worst outlaw
of the times. He's more than rustler.
It's Cheseldine and his gang who are
operating on the banks. No one seems
to have seen him-tO know what he
looks like.
II assume, Of course, that you are a
stranger to the country he dominates.
It's five hundred miles west Of your
ground. There's little town over
there called Fairfale It's the nest
Of rustler gang. They rustic and
murder at will. Nobody knows who
the leader is. I want you to. find out.
Well, whatever way you decide is best
you will proceed to ctupon. You are
your own boss. You must find some
way to 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
to kill or Jail this choice selection OF
robbers and break up the rest Of the
gang. To find them, to get among
them somehow, to learn their move
ments, to lay your trap for us rangers
to spring-that, Duane, is your service
to me, and God knows It's a great
one r
II have accepted It," replied Duane.
AYcur work will be secret. You are
now ranger in my service. But no
one except the few choose to tell
will know Of it until we pull off the
Job. You will simply be Buck Duane
till 1t suits our purpose to acquaint
Texas with the fact that you're q
ranger. 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 1t appear that
all or most Of your outlawry has
really been good service to the state.
At that, I'll believe It'll turn out so.
MacNelly paused moment in his
rapid talk, chewed his cigar, drew
his brows together in dark frown.
and went on. "No man on the border
knows so we'll as you the deadly nature
OF this service. It's long, long chance
against your ever coming back"
"That's not the point" said Duane.
ABut in case get killed out there
what"
'Leave that to me-" interrupted
Captain MacNelly. III you lose your
life out there I'll see your name clear
ed-the service you render known.
You can rest assured Of that"
II am satisfied" replied Duane.
.That's so much more than I've dared
to hope
swell, It's settled, then. I'll give
you money for expenses. You'll start
% soon as you like-the sooner the
better. hope to think of other sug-
lesstions especially about commune
eating with me-"
Long after the lights were out and
he low hum Of voices had ceased
round the campfire Duane lay awaks.
eyes staring into the blacknesa, mar
yelling over the strange events of the
day. And % he lay thsre, with the
approach Of sleep finally dimming the
nidness OF his thought 80 full Of
mystery. shadowy faces doated In the
blackness around him. haunting him
o he had always been haunted.
Il was broad daylight when he
awakened. MacNelly was calling him
% breakfast.
The rangers were eating in circle
round Z tarpaulin spread upon the
ground.
"Fellows." said AacNelly, "shake
hands with Buck Duane. He's on
secret ranger service for me. Service
thatll likely make you all hump soon
Mind you, keep mum about It."
The rangers surprised Duane with a
roaring greeting. the warmth OF which
he soon OWNED was divided between
pride Of his acquisition to their ranks
and eagerness to meet that violent
service Of which their captain limited.
They were Jolly, Wild fellows, with
Just enough gravity in their welcome
to show Duane their respect and ap-
probation, while not forgetting his