The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-11-20

present at that campfire vigil. Duane
saw him. He lay there in the middle
of the green brightness, PROSTATE, mo-
tionless, dying. Cal Balm
That haunting visitation left Duane
sitting there in a cold sweat, a remorse
gnawing at his vitals, realizing the
curse that was on him. He OWNED
that never would he be able to keep off
that phantom. He remembered how
his father had been eternally pursued
by furies of accusing guilt, how he had
never been able to forget in work or
In sleep those men he had killed.
The hour was late when Duane's
mind let him sleep, and then dreams
troubled him. In the morning he be-
stirred himself so early that in the
gray gloom he had difficulty In finding
his horse. Day had just broken when
he struck the old trail again.
He rode hard all morning and halted
In a shady spot TO rest and Craze his
horse. In the afternoon he took to the
trail at an easy trot. The country
grew wilder. Bald, rugged mountains
broke the level of the monotonous ho-
rizon. About three in the afternoon he
came to a little river which marked
the boundary line of his hunting terri
tory and followed it upstream.
In this kind of travel and camping
he spent three more days, during which
he crossed a number of trails, and n
where cattle-stolen cattle, probably
had recently passed. He followed the
road until a late hour, when, striking
the willow brakes again and hence the
neighborhood of the river, he picketed
his horse and lay down to rest. But
he did not sleep. His mind bitterly re-
volyed the fate that had come upon
him. He made efforts to think of other
things, but In vain. Every moment he
expected the chill, the of loneli-
ness that yet was ominous of a strange
visitation, the peculiarly imagined
lights and shades of the night-these
things that presaged the coming of Cal
Balm. Doggedly Duane fought against
the insidious phantom. He kept tell
ing himself that it was just imagina-
ton, that 1t would wear off in time.
Still In his heart he did not believe
what he hoped. But he would not give
up; he would not accept the ghost OF
his victim as a reality.
Gray dawn found him in the saddle
again, headed for the river. Half an
hour of riding brought him to the
dense chaparral and willow thickets.
These he threaded to come at length
to the ford. Once upon the opposite
shore, he refined in his horse and
looked darkly back. This action
marked his acknowledgment of his sit
uation he had voluntarily sought the
refuge of the outlaws; he was beyond
the pale.
The trail led into a road which was
hard packed and smooth from the
tracks of cattle. He doubted not h a
he had come across one of the roads
used by border raiders. He headed
into 1t, and had scarcely Travelled a
mile when, turning a curve, he came
point-blank upon a single horseman
riding toward him. Both riders wheeled
their mounts sharply and were ready
to run and shoot back. Not more than
a hundred PAGES separated them. They
. stood then for a moment watching
each other.
"Mawnin', stranger" called the man,
dropping his gun to his hip.
"Howdy," replied Duane shortly.
They rode toward each other, clos
ing half the gap, then they halted
again.
II seen you amt no ranger" called
the rider, IAN shore l amt none"
He laughed loudly, as If he had
made a joke.
How'd you know 1 wasn't 8
~ranger?" asked Duane c%uriously. Some
how he had instantly OWNED that this
horseman was no officer, or even
rancher trailing stolen stock.
"Wal," said the fellow, starting hi
horse forward at a walk, "a ranger'C
never git ready TO run the other wa!
from one man."
He laughed again. He was small
ana WHY, SlOuNnA VI ultlit, uuu uAhN'
to the teeth, and he bestrode a fin
bay horse. He had quick, dancing
brown eyes, at once frank and bold
and a coarse, bronzed face. Evidentl,
he was a good-natured ruffian.
Duane acknowledged the truth o
the assertion. and turned over in hi
mind how shrewdly the fellow ha'
guessed him TO be a hunted man.
my names Luke Stevens, an l hal
from the river. Who're your" sal
this stranger.
Duane vas silent.
II reckon you're Buck Duane" wen
on Stevens. IL heerd you was a ba
man with a gun"
This time Duane laughed, not at tn
doubtful compliment, but at the ide
that the first outlaw he met shout
know him. Here was proof OF hoy
swiftly facts about gun-play travele
on the Texas border.