Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-18
I lie Lone
Star Ranger II.
4 Romance q The Border
II BY ZANE GREY
AueAoss 4
Tine uGn1 or WESTERN STARS
RIDERS OF The PURPLE SAGE" ETC.
lfoayrisIt d Hsgpse - BsosAer.
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
Duane followed the stage through
the town, out into the open. on to a
wide, hard-packed road showing years
Of travel. It headed northwest. To
the left rose range OF low, bleak
mountains he had noted yesterday,
and to the right sloped the mesquite
patched sweep of ridge and fat. The
driver pushed his team to fast trot.
which gait surely covered ground
rapidly
Early in the afternoon from ridge
top Duane sighted Fairdale, a green
patch in the mass Of gray. For the
barrens of Texas it was indeed fair
sight. But he was more concerned
with its remoteness from civilization
than its beauty. At that time, in the
early seventies, when the vast western
third of Texas was a wilderness, the
pioneer had done wonders to settle
there and establish places like Fair
dale.
It needed only glance for Duane to
pick out Colonel Longstreth's ranch.
The house, not more than few min
utes' walk from the edge Of the town,
vas q low hatroDfed structure made
OF red adobe bricks. All was green
about It, except where the fenced
corral and numerous barns or sheds
showed gray and red.
From all outside appearances Fair
dale was no different from other
frontier towns. and Duane's expecta-
tons were scarcely realized. AS the
afternoon was waning he halted at
a little inn. A boy took charge Of his
horse. Duane questioned the lad
about Fairdale and gradually drew to
the subject most in mind.
Colonel Longstreth has big out
ct, chr"
: Reckon he has replied the lad.
"Doan know how many cowboys.
They're. always comm and goin'.g I
ainrt acquainted with half Of them"
'Much movement of stock these
days7'' !.
"stock's always. moyin',n he ee-
piled, with a queer look.
'Rustlers?"
But he. did not ,follsw up that look
with the Affirmative Duane expected.
Lively place, hearE airdale is?"
'Ainst SO lively ~ sahderson, sbut
it's bigger" Il;
Eyes, 1 heard IL vas. Fellow down
there was talking about two cowboys
who were arrested.p
.'Sure. I heered all about that.
Joe Bean an Brick Higgins they be-
long heah, but they amt heah much.
LongstTeth's boys.
Duane did not want 70 30 ovefein.
quisitive. so he turned the Ink into
other channels.
After getting supper Duane strollsd
up and down the main street. When
darkness set in he went into hotel,
bought cigars, sat around. and watch.
ed. Then he passed out and went
into. the next place. It was full Of
men coming and going-a dusty-boot-
ed crowd that smelled Of horses and
smoke. Duane sat down. for q while,
with wide eyes and open ears. Then
he hunted up the bar. He stayed In
there for . while, and knew that
strangers were too common in Fair
dale to be conspicuous. Then he
returned to the inn where he had
engaged q room.
Duane sat down On the steps Of
the dingy little restaurant. Two men
were conversing inside, and they had
not noticed Duane.
Laramie. what's the strangers
Manner asked one.
sHe didn't say" replied the other.
"Sure was q strappin' big man.
Struck me q little odd, he did. No
cattleman, him. How'd you size
him9'
swell, Ike one Of them cool, easy,
quiet TEXANS who's been lookin' for .
man for years--to kill him when he
found him."
Fright you are, Laramie; and, be
tween you an me, I hope he's lookin'
for Long,"
2 'S.sh I" interrupted Laramie. "You
must be half drunk, to 60 talkin' that
way s7' 'i
Thereafter they conversed In too low
q tone for Duane to hear, and presently
Laramie's visitor left. Duane went
inside. and, making himself agreeable.
began to ask casual questions about
Fairdaie. Laramie was not communi-
cative.
Duane went to his room IN q
thoughtful frame Of mind. There was
something wrong about the mayor Of