Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-05-03
FIRST EPISODE
The Lair of the Wolf.

Those who could recall the night
ae rode into Discovery and showed
his horse in the shed back of the
Aivarado Hotel. declared that james
Horton was one of the bravest men
that ever hit the trail between AL
buquerque and Ell Paso. His entry
had been unheraIded and unexpected;
where he came from nobody knew.
The Alvarado. in those days, was
run by Jack McGuirk. rustler. who
had slipped into the west from the
east and never talked about his past.
One thing was certain, Jack Nc
Guirk was about the most generous
institution that had ever struck the
alfalfa country.
McGuirk took a fancy to Horton the
moment the big. stalwart fellow
crossed the threshold and slouched up
to the bar. Before the dusty stranger
had gulped down his overgrowu pOr
ton of whisky McGuirk bad learned
enough about him to satisfy a con-
siderable part of his curiosity. In
those days. a man who could hit the
trail between Las Vegas and Discov-
cry and live to relate his experience
considered himself more than fortu-
nate, for providing bands of Apaches
turked beyond the old Santa Fee ter
minai to steal and kill. Horton had
reached the border, but a fresh grave
near Glorieta, wherein his wife rested,
and which he had dug with his own
hands. after the Apaches had fled,
reminded him of the cost. And,
prairie schooner, which was follow
ing him into Discovery. carried a tot
OF three, who had been snatched from
the sneaking. blood-thirsty tribe, when
Horton sent some of them to the dust
with his rifle. She reminded him that
the two of them were all that was
left of family. dearer to him than
the belt which encircled his waist,
Oiled with eastern gold.
AS McGuirk gazed into the burned
and sorrow-pained countenance of the
big fellow before him, and listened to
his story. his sympathy went out to
him. A weak man weeps at time
like this. but the strong man hardens
with pain. AS, Horton pushed back
hts great sombrero. which rested on
bushy locks. as black as a Mexican's
heart. a defiant look swept across
his face; his eyes became as fiery as
heated steel and his great jaws
clicked together like q wise, empha-
sizing the determination In his heart.
They'll pay for this, pardner; by
God they'll payi" And his bronzed
hand went to his belt. which held an
ugly six-shooter.
well help yer c'Ilect tibet bill"
added McGuirk as he brought his
clumsy fist down on the bar.
They did pay. When the govern
ment sent Mccullough and his men to
9 destroy the murderous and thieving
bands. which for years had been loot
ing and killing in the vicinity of Las
Vegas. Albuquerque and Discovery.
James Horton was one Of the first to
join the fighters. When he mer an
Apache he fought like a mailman.
In due course of time the govern
Inent rewarded him by giving him a
commission as captain. and later he
was promoted to colonel. He led
his men with the same fearlessness
which characterized his father when
ne headed the Indian troops at Pigeon
Gap. and 1t wasn't long before he
had driven the Apaches back from
the New Mexican trails. The day he
retired he walked into McGuirk's, and,
throwing his sword on the bar. re-
marked to the proprietor: There
Jack, I'm through with 1t now. for
they've paid me in full. Hang 1t above
your bar as reminder to the Apache
that he must behave"
He told the truth. Although there
We're thousands of settlers who had
never been able to exact their debts
from the blood-thirsty tribes, the
Colonel had collected. and as he took
OF his mud and dust-covered uniform
and laid It carefully away In the big
chest in the attic he felt convinced
that the bones of the Apaches. which
were scattered across the big area
from Las Vegas to Discovery, were
physical notes that had long been
overdue; that the brutal death of one
of the fairest-fiowers of the Southland
had been avenged.
The land he owned. which consisted
OF several thousand acres; the great
herds of cattle that roamed over his
vast estate had been taken from the
Apaches, while the big mansion which
was known as one Of the finest across
the border. had been constructed. un