Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-04

"Sure. I heered all about that.
Joe Bean an Brick Higgins-they be-
long heah, but they amt heah much.
Longstreth's boys"
Duane did not want to be over-fn-
| quisitive. so he turned the talk into
other channels.
After getting supper Duane strolled
/ up and down the main street When
/ darkness set in he went into a hotel,
| bought cigars, sat around, and watch
| ed. Then he passed out and went
into the next place. 1t was full of
men coming and gOing-a dusty-boot-
ed crowd that Smelled of horses and
smoke. Duane sat down for a 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 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
name?" asked one.
HE didn't say" replied the other.
''Sure was a strappin' big man.
Struck me a little odd, he did. No
cattleman, him. How'd you size
him?"
'Well, like one of them cool, easy,
quiet Texans who's been lookin' for
man for years-to kill him when he
found him."
Right you are, Laramie; and, be-
tween you an me, hope he's lookin'
for Long"
"'Ssh" interrupted Laramie. you
must be half drunk, to go talkin' that
way"
Thereafter they conversed in too low
tone for Duane to hear, and presently
Laramie's visitor left. Duane went
inside, and, making himself agreeable,
began to ask casual questions about
Fairdale. Laramie was not communi-
cative.
Duane went to his room IN
thoughtful frame of mind. There was
something wrong about the mayor of
Fairdale. The innkeeper Laramie
would be worth cultivating. And
last in Duane's thoughts that night
was Miss Longstreth. He could not
help thinking of her-how strangely
the meeting with her had affected
him. 1t made him remember that
long-past time when girls had been
part of his life. He had no right
even to dream of a beautiful woman
like Ray LOngstreth.
Several days passed. Duane did
not succeed in getting any closer to
Laramie, but he found the idlers on
the corners and in front of the stores
unsuspicious and willing to talk 1t
did not take him long to find out that
Fairdale stood parallel with Hunts
vile for gambling, drinking, and fight
ing. The street was always lined with
dusty, saddled horses, the town full
of strangers. Money appeared more
abundant than in any place Duane
httb CfGI NlS1tChs anu II was spent
with the abandon that spoke forcibly
of easy and crooked requirement.
Duane decided that Sanderson, Brad
ford, and Ord were but notorious out
posts of this Fairdale, which was a
secret center of rustlers and outlaws.
And what struck Duane strangest of
all was the fact that LOngstreth was
mayor here and held court daily. In
Quiry had brought him the fact that
Ray LOngstreth had just come to live
with her father. LOngstreth had
originally been a planter in Louisiana,
where his family had remained after
his advent in the West. He was a
Itch rancher; he owned half Of Fair
lale; he was a cattle-buyer on a large
;cale. Floyd Lawson was his lieuten-
ant and associate in deals.
On the afternoon of the fifth day
of DUane's stay in FairdaIe he re-
turned to the inn from his usual stroll,
and upon entering was amazed to