The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-27

able acquaintance, If not a friend.
"Tm a stranger in these parts"
said Duane, finally. "What Is this
outlaw situation you speak OFF,
Its damnable, sir, and unbeliev-
able. Not rustling any more, but
Just wholesale herd-stealing, In which
some big cattlemen, supposed to be
honest, are equally guilty with the
outlaws. On this border, you know,
the rustler has always been able to
steal cattle in any numbers. But to
get rid of big bunches-thats the
hard job. The gang operating be-
tween here and Valentine evidently
have not this trouble. Nobody knows
where the stolen stock goes. But I'm
not alone in my opinion that most of
it goes to several big stockmen. They
ship to San Antonio, Austin, New
Orleans, also to Ell Paso."
"Wholesale business, chi" remarked
Duane. "Who are these-er-big
stock-buyersf"
Colonel Webb seemed a little
startled at the abrupt query. He
bent his penetrating gaze upon Duane
and thoughtfully stroked his pointed
beard.
Names, of course. I'll not mention.
Opinions are one thing, direct accusa-
ton another. This is not a healthy
country for the informer."
When 1t came to the outlaws them
selves Colonel Webb was disposed to
talk freely. The great name along
the river was Cheseldine, but 1t SEEM
ed to be a name detached from an
individual. No person of veracity
known to Colonel Webb had ever
seer Cheseldine. Strange to say of
who could identify him, so there was
no one who could prove he had actu-
ally killed a man.
But in striking contrast to this
mystery was the person, character.
and cold-blooded action of Poggin and
Knell, the chiefs lieutenants. They
were familiar figures in all the towns
within two hundred miles of Brad
ford. Knell had a record. but as gum
man with an incredible list of victims,
Poggin was supreme. If Poggin had
a friend no one ever heard of him.
There were a hundred stories of his
nerve, his wonderful speed with a gun,
his passion for gambling, his love of
a horse-his cold. ~implacable, inhu-
man wiping put of his path any man
that crossed 1T.
"Cheseldine is a name, a terrible
name," said Colonel Webb. "Some-
times / wonder If he's not only a
name. In that case where does the
brains of this gang come from? No:
there must be a master craftsman
behind this border pillage; a master
capable of handling those t~errors,
Poggin and Knell. OF all the thou
sands of outlaws developed by west
ern Texas in the last twenty years
these three are the greatest. In
southern Texas, down between the
Pecos and the Nueces, there have been
and are still many bad men. But /
doubt If any outlaw there, possibly
excepting Buck Duane, ever eQualed
Poggin. You've heard of this Duane2'
Eyes. a little" replied Duane quiet
ly. I'm from southern Texas. Buck
Duane, then, is not known put here?'
"Why. man, where isn't his name
known?" returned Colonel Webb.
"I've kept track of his record as |
have all the others. His fame in this
! country appears to hang on his match
less gun-play and his enmity toward
} outlaw Chiefs"
HAS -Cheseldine's gang been busy
lately?" asked Duane.
I mo. Probably all the stock that's
being shipped now was rustled long
ago. Cheseldine works over a wide
section, too wide for news to travel
inside of weeks. There are some
people who think Cheseldine had
l nothing to do with the bank-robberies
and rain hold-ups during the last few
years in this country. But that's poor
reasoning. The Jobs have been toe
well done, too surely covered. to DC
the work of greasers or ordinary out
laws"
whats your view of the outlook
! How's all this going to wind up
. VIII the outlaw ever be driven outT
asked Duane.
"Never. There will always be out
laws along the Rio Grande. All thu
armies in the world couldn't conn
the wild brakes of that fifteen hun
dred miles of river. But the swa.
of the outlaw, such as is enjoyed b,
these great leaders, will sooner o.
later be past. There's talk Of Vigi
lantes, the same that were organizes
In California and are now In fore
In Idaho. So far it's only talk. Blu
the time win come. And the days o
Cheseldine and Poggin are numbered.