Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-04
"Any Business Here7"

ANY Business HereW
the ring, the quality, the cruelty of
his voice. This voice betrayed an abb
sence of humoF, of friendliness, OF
heart.
Nope" replied the stranger.
"KnOw anybody hereabouts?"
"Nary one" (
"Jest ridin' through" a.
"Yep."
"SlOpin' fer back country, eh?"
There came a pause. The stranger
appeared to grow a little resentful and
drew himself up disdainfully.
oval, cOnsiderin' yOu-all seem so
damn friendly an OncuriOus down here
in this Big Bend country, don't mind
Sayin' yes-I am in on the dodge" be
replied. with deliberate sarcasm.
From west Of Ord-Out Ell Paso
way, mebbeF"
Sure"
"A-huh! Thet SOP" Knells words
cut the air, stilled the room. you're
from way down the river Thet's what
they say down thereon the dodge
Stranger, you're a liar!"
With swift clink Of spur and
thump of boot the crowd split. leay-
ing Knell and the stranger in the
center. The stranger suddenly be-
came bronze. The situation seemed
familiar to him. His eyes head a
singular piercing light that danced
like a cOmpass-needle.
fsS1Ipa I Ea6 ra
takin' Ofense at the way you called
me. I'm loOkin' to make friends not
enemies. You don't strike me as OHe
Of them fOur-fiushes, aehin' to kin
somebody. But if you are--go ahead
an open the ball. =. You see, l
never throw a gun on them fellers
till they go fer theirs"
Knell coolly eyed his antagonist
his strange face not changing In the
least. Yet somehow it was evident
in his look that here was metal which
rang differently from what he had
expected. Invited to start a fight or
withdraw, as he chose, Knell proved
himself big in the manner character
istic of only the genuine gunman.
Stranger, l pass" he said, and,
turning to the bar, he ordered liquor.
The tension relaxed, the silence
broke, the men filled up the gap; the
incident seemed closed. Jim Fletcher
attached himself to the stranger. ana
now both respect and friendliness
tempered his asperity.
nf he
I'll call you Dodge" ne said.
"Dodge's as good as any. Gents,
line up again-an' II you can't be
friendly, be carefulw
Such was Buck Duane's debut Ia
the little outlaw hamlet of Ord.
Duane had been three months out
Of the Nueces country. At Ell Paso
he bought the finest horse he could
find, and, armed and otherwise out
fitted to suit him, he had taken to
unknown trails. He passed on leisure
ly, because he wanted to learn
the way Of the country, the work,
habit, gossip, pleasures, and fears
Of the people with whom he
came in contact. When he heard
Fletcher's name and faced Knell he
knew he had reached the place he
sought.
Duane made himself agreeable yet
not too much so, to Fletcher and
several other men disposed to talk
and drink, and eat; and then, after
having a care for his horse, he rode
out Of town a couple of miles to
grove he had marked, and there, well
hidden he prepared to spend the
night. This proceeding served
double purpose-he was safer, and
the habit would look well in the eyes
of outlaws, who would be more in
clined to see in him the lone-Wolf
fugitive.
Long since Duane had fought out
a battle with himself, won a hard
earned victory. He had assumed a
task impossible for any man save one
ike him, he had felt the meaning of
It grow strangely and wonderfully,
and through that fourished I'D con.