The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-01-11

he had ridden In from the west. this
northern direction led him into totally
unfamiliar country. While he passed
on, however, he exercised such keen
observation that in the future he
would know whatever might be OF
service to him If he Glanced that
way again.
After n couple of hours riding bel
entered town which he soon dis-|
covered TO be Bradford. 1t was theI
largest town he had visited since
Maria, and he calculated must have
II thousand or fifteen hundred In
habitants, not including Mexlcans.
lie decided this would he q good |
place for him to hold up for while.
being the nearest town to Ord only
forty miles away. SO he hitched hisI
horse in front of store and leisurely
set about studying Bradford.
II was after dark. however.
that Duane verified his suspicious con-
ccrnlng Bradford. The town was
awake after dark, and there was one
long row of suloons. dance-halls.
gamblng-resorts In full blast. Duane
visited them all. and was surprised
to see wildness and license equal ioI
that Of the old river camp OF BANDS
in its palmlest days. Here II WINS
forced upon him that the farther west
one travelled along the river the
sparser the respectable settlements
the more numerous the hard eharacI
ters, and In consequence the greatei
the element of lawlessness, Duane
returned to his clearinghouse with the
conviction that MacNelly's task OF
cleaning up the Big Bend country
was stupendous one. Yet, he re
flected. company of intrepid and
qulclS-shooting rangers could have
soon cleaned up this Bradford.
The innkeeper had one other CUES
that night, long-coated and wide
sombreroed Texan who reminded
Duane of his grandfather. This maj
had penetrating eyes, courtly man
ner. and an unmistaknble leaning I.
ward companionshlp and mlntjulcps
The gentleman introduced himself
Colonel Webb, OF Maria. and took
|
made no comment about himself.
Duane, as always. was goo
listener. Colonel Webb told. anon
other things, that he had come ou
TO the Big Bend TO look over tn
affairs of deceased brother VIII
had been a rancher and n sheriff
one OF the towns, Fairdale by nam
"Found no affairs, no ranch. nd
even his grave" said Colonel Webl
"And / tell you, sir. II hells nm
tougher than this Fairdnle don
want TO expiate my sins there"
'Fnirdale. imagine sheriff
have hard row to hoe out here
replied Duane, trying not to appea
curious.
The Colonel swore Justify.
"What this frontier needs, sir.
about six companies of Texas Ran
ers. A fine body Of men, sir, and u
, salvation Of Texas"
, Governor Stone doesn't entcrta
that opinion" said Duane.
/ Here Colonel Webb exploded. Mar
! testify the governor was not his choi
! for a chief executive of the gre
: state. He talked politics for Will
, and of the vast territory west of Il
/ Pecos that seemed never TO get
| benefit from Austin. Duane exert
E himself to be agreeable and interes
4 ing; and he saw presently that he
/ was an opportunity to make a val
; able acquaintance. II not friend.
: "Pm a stranger In these parts
said Duane, finally. "What Is tn
outlaw situation you speak Off"
Its damnable. sir, and unbelie
able. Not rustling any more. b
just wholesale herd-stealing In Will
? some big cattlemen. supposed TO
{ honest, are equally guilty with I
Z. outlaws. On this border. you kno
the rustler has always been able
' steal cattle In any numbers. But
I get rid Of big bunches-that's I
r hard job. The gang operating
,, tween here and Valentine evident
' have not this trouble. Nobody kno'
{ where the stolen stock goes. But
Z not alone in my opinion that most
r 1t goes to several big stockmen. Th
l. ship 10 San Antonio. Austin. N
! Orleans. also to Il, Paso."
$ Wholesale business. ehf" remark
e Duane. "Who are these-er--l
y stock-buyersT"
r Colonel Webb seemed a llt
= startled at the abrupt query.
$ bent his penetrating gaze upon Dun
and thoughtfully stroked his point
v beard.
I Names, OF course. I'll not menu
!, Opinions are one thing. direct accu
( ton another. This is not healt
t country for the informer"
e When 1t came TO the outlaws the
| selves Colonel Webb was disposed
q talk freely. The great name alo
S the river was Cheseldlne. but II see
e ed TO be n name detached from
n individual, No person OF Yerac