The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-11-24

~ Want the Hoss an Them Guns"
rest, no sleep could change the gr
outlook of the future. He felt gia
when Euchre came bustling in, and f.
the first time he took notice of the ou.
law.
Euchre was old In years. What
little hair he had was gray, his face
clean shaven and full of wrinkles; his
eyes were half shut from long gazing
through the M and dust. He stopped.
But his thin face denoted strength
and endurance still unimpaired.
"Hev a drink or a smoker" he asked.
Duane shook his head. He had not
been unfamiliar with whisky, and he
had used tobacco moderately since he
was sixteen. But now, strangely, he
felt a disgust at the idea Of stimulants.
He did not understand clearly what he
felt. There was that vague idea of
something wild in his blood, something
that made him fear himself.
Euchre wagged his old head sympa-
~thetically. Reckon you feel a little
sick. When 1t ome to shootin', l run.
What's your age?"
Tn twenty-three," replied Duane.
Euchre showed surprise. you're
only a boy! | thought you thirty NY
ways. Buck, l heard what you told
Bland, an putin tibet with my own
figgerin', / reckon you're no criminal
yet. THROWN a gun in self-defense-
tibet amt no crime 7"
Duane, finding relief in talking, told
more about himself.
Huh" replied the old man. 1--WE
seen hundreds of boys come In on the
dodge. Most of them, though, was no
good. An thet kind don't last long.
This river country has been an Is the
refuge fer criminals from all over the
states. I've bunked with bank CASH
iers, forgers, plain thieves, an out
an'-out murderers. all of which had no
bizness oil the Texas border. Fellers
like Bland are exceptions. He's no
Texan-you seen tibet. The gang he
rules here come from all over, an
they're tough cusses, you can bet on
tibet. They live fat an easy. If 1t
wasn't fer the fightin' among them
selves, they'd shore grow p~opulous.
The Rim Rock is no place for a peace
able, decent Teller. / heard you tell
Bland you wouldn't like to join his
gang. Thetll not make him take a
likin' to you. Have you any money!"
"Not much" replied Duane.
"When the moneys gone how will
you live? There amt any work a de-
cent Teller could do. You can't herd
with greasers. Why, BANDS men
would shoot at you in the fields.
What'n you do. SOM"
"GOd knows" replied Duane, hope
lessly. "T1l make my money last as
long as possible-then starve."
"Wal, I'm pretty pore, but you'll
never starve while l got a~nythin'."
Here 1t struck Buck again-that
something human and kind and eager
which he had seen in Stevens. Duane's
estimate of outlaws had lacked this
quality. He had not accorded them
any virtues. To him, as to the out
side world, they had been merely
vicious men without n redeeming
feature.
"Tm much obliged to you, Euchre."
replied Duane. "But of course l won't
live with anyone unless l can pay my
share
"Have II any way you like my son."
said Euchre, good-humoredly. you
make a fire, an I'll set about gettin'
grub. I'm a ~sour-dough, Buck. Thet
a doesn't live who can beat my
bread"
"IIow do you ever pack supplies
in here?" asked Duane, thinking of the
almost inaccessible nature of the val
icy.
"Some comes across from Mexico.
an the rest down the river. That
-