VOL. XLII
Get Rid of Tan,
■• .. urn and Freckles
i IIAGANS gNfejh
Balm, sifyjp
Acts inilantly. Stops the burning.
Clears your complexion of Tan and
j'emishes. You cannot know how
4ood it is until you try it. Thous
ands of women say it is be& of all
•icautifiers and heals Sunburn
quickest. Don't be without it a
Hay longer. Get a bottle now. At
your Druggist or by mail diredt.
75 cents for either color. White.
Pink, Rose-Red.
SAMPLE FREE.
LYON MFG. CO.. 40 So. sth St.. Brooldro. N.Y.
ELREftA «
Spring >Vater j
FROM \
EUREKA SPRING, j
Graham, N. C. j
A valuable mineral spring j
has been discovered by W. H. j
Ausley on his place in Graham. |
It was noticed that it brought J
health to the users oi the »ater, J
ana upon being analyzed it was 2
iound to be a water strong in ]
mineral properties and good
lor stomach and blood troubles, «
Physicians who have seen the
analysis and what it does, J
recommend its use.
Analysis and testimonials
will be lurnished upon request.
Why buy expensive mineral
waters from a distance, when
there is a good water recom
mended by physicians right at
home? For lurther informa
tion and or the water, if you |
deßire if apply to the under-
signed.
W. H. AUSLEY. ;
imiiinuiMimim!
BLANK
BOOKS
Journals, Ledgers,
Day Books,
Time Books,
Counter Books,
Tally Books,
Order Books,
Large Books,
Small.Books,
Pocket Memo.,
Vest Pocket Memo.,
&c., &c.
For Sale At
The Gleaner
PrlnUng Ulllce
Graham, N. C. ||
Sale of Real Estate
Under and by virtue of the terms
of a certain mortgage deed exe
cuted and delivered to Alamance
Insurance 6l Keal Bstate Compau,) >
recorded in Book No. til of alort
gage Deeds, page 2t>7, in tue ottice
of the Kegister of Deeds for Ala
mance county, to secure an indeet
edness evidenced oy a certain note
therein descrioed, default having
been made in tue payment o£ sa.u
a- indebtedness, the undersigned will,
on
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1917,
at 1.30 o'clock, at the court house
door, in Granam, Nortn Carolina,
olfer for sale at public outcry to
the highest bidder, for casn, tne
following descrioed land and prem
ises, to-wit: In tue Qjty of Bur
lington, Alamance county, N. C„
Adjoining Oak Street, lots sso.
133, 14 and 16, and oounded as fol
lows: Beginning on Bast side of
Oak Street, corner witn lot No. lt>;
thence with the line of lot No. lu
Nortn 54 deg. 40 min. Bast 150 It.
to corner of lot No. 33; tuence wyth
the line of lot No. 33 50 ft. tocorner
of lot No. 14; thence with the line
of Oak Street South 29 deg. 40 min.
Bast 50 feet to the oeginmng, be
ing a part of ttiat tract of lauu
known as Witherdale Heights, a
copy of which is shown in Plot
Book in the Kegister of Deeds offi
ce in Graham, N. C.
This December 22, 1916.
Alamance ins. Sc Keal Estate Co.,
Mortgagee.
Found * Mure Thing.
L. B. Wixon, Farmers Mills, N.
Y., has used Chamberlain's Tab
lets for years for disorders of the
stomach and liver and says, "Cham
berlain's Tablets are fhe best 1
have ever used. Obtainable every
where. adv.
£_
Sing Sing's appeal for mora hir
bers may be granted, although
many evil doers have escaped get
ting there by a close shave.
THE ALAMANCE GLEANER.
QZELQSE *
mmmmm
APOMANCE OF THE BORDER-.
fczmzGm RTTLIP;|
"THE UGHTOF WESTERN
"RIDERSOF TOE PURPLE
corruoKT, IY HAVU AND IKJTMIU *?*. V*
The crowd'shifted and trampled in
eagerness.
Duatie saw two men coming fast,
one of whom, in the lead, was of stal
wart build. He had a gun In his hand,
and his manner w»s that of fierce en
ergy.
The cowboy Sibert thrust open the
jostling circle of men.
"Hold on, JefT," he called, and he
blocked the man with the gun.. He
spoke so low Dqane could not hear
what he said, and his form hid Aiken's
face. At that Juncture the crowd
spread out, closed In, and Aiken and
Slbert were caught in the circle. Ther&
was a pushing forward, a pressing of
mnny bodies, hoarse cries and flinging
hands—again the insane tumult was
about to break out—the demand for
an outlaw's blood, the call for :. wild
Justice executed a thousand times be- .
fore on Texas' bloody soil.
Slbert bellowed at the dark en
croaching mass. The cowboys with
him beat and cuffed In vain.
"Jeff, will you listen?" broke in Si
bert, hurriedly, his hands on the other
man's arm.
Aiken nodded coolly. Duane, who
had seen many men In perfect control
of themselves under circumstances like
these, recognized the spirit that domi
nated Aiken. He was white, cold,
passionless. There were lines of bitter
grief deep round his Hps. If Duane !
ever felt the meaning of death he felt
it then.
"Sure this 's your game, Aiken," i
said Slbert. "But hea: me a minute.
I reckon you'd better hold on till you
hear what he has to say."
Then for the first time the drawn
faced, hungry-eyed giant turned his
gaze upon Duane. He had Intelligence
which was not yet subservient to pas- .
slon. Moreover, he seemed the kind
of man Duane would care to have
judge him in a critical moment like
this.
"Listen," said Duane, gravely, with
his eyes steady on Aiken's, "I'm Buck
Duane. I never lied to any man in my
life. I was forced Into outlawry. I've
never had a chance to leate the
country. I've killed men to save my
own life. I rode thirty miles to-day—
dellbt tely to see what this reward
was, who made It, what for. When I
read the placard I went sick to the
bottom of my soul. So I rode In here
to find you—to tell you this: I never
saw Shirley before to-day. It was im
possible for me to have—killed your
wife. Last September I was two
hundred miles north of here on the
upper Nueces. I can prove that. Men
who know me will tell you I couldn't
murder a woman. I haven't any Idea
why such a deed should be laid at
my hands. It's just that wild border
gossip. And see here, Aiken. You un
derstand I'm a miserable man. I'm
about broken, I guess. I don't care
any more for life, for anything. If
>i,u can't look me In the eyes, man to
man, and believe what I say—why, by
God ! you can kill me 1"
Aiken heaved a great breath.
"Buck Duane, whether I'm im
pressed or not by what you say need
n't matter. You've had accusers,
Justly or unjustly, as will soon appear.
The thing is we can prove you In
nocent or guilty. My girl Lucy saw
I my wife's assailant"
He motioned for the crowd of men
to open up.
"Somebody—you, Slbert—go for
Lucy. That 'll settle this thing."
j Duane heard as a man In an ugly
I dream. The faces around him, the
hum of voices, all,seemed far off. Ills
"It Ain't HltSl"
life hung by the merest thread. Yet
he did not think of that HO much an
of the brand of a woman-murderer
which might be soon aealed upon
him by a frightened. Imaginative child.
Th. crowd trooped apart and clo»«l
again. Dunne caught a blurred Image
| of a alight girl clinging to Slbert'a
hand. He could not nee distinctly.
! Aiken lifted the child, whispered aooth
lngly to her not to be afraid. Then
he fetched ber closer to Dunne.
"Lucy, tell me. Did you ever *■«
this man before?" asked Aiken, huskily
1 and lpw. "Is he the one—who came
GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1917
in the house that dny—struck you
down—and dragged inaiaii—?"
Aiken's voice failed.
A lightning tlasli seenii'd to clear
Duane's blurred sight. I!e saw a
pale, sad face anil violent eyes tlxed
In gloom and horror upon his. No
horrible moment In Duane's life ever
equaled this one of silence—of sus
pense.
"It ain't him!" cried the child.
Then Slbert was Hinging the noose
off Dunne's neck and unwinding the
bonds round his arms. The spellbound
crowd awoke to hoarse exclamations.
"See there, my locoed gents, how
easy you'd hang the .wrong man,"
burst out the cowboy, as he made the
rope-end hiss. "You-all are a lot of
wise rangers. Haw ! haw !"
He freed Duane and thrust the bone
handled gun back In Duane's holster.
"You Ab«, there. Beckon you pulled
a stunt! But don't try the like again. |
And, men, I'll gamble there's a hell of |
a lot of bad work Buck Duane's named ,
for —which all he never done. Clear
away there. Where's his hoss? Duane, |
the road's open out of Shirley."
Slbert swept the gaping watchers
aside and pressed Duane toward the
horse, which another cowboy held.
Mechanically Duane mounted, felt a
lift as he went up. Then the cowboy's '
liurd face softened In a smile.
"I reckon It ain't uncivil of mo to '
that road quick!" he said,
frankly.
He led the horse out of the crowd.
Aiken Joined him, and between them
they escorted Duane across the plaza.
The crowd appeared Irresistibly drawn
to follow.
Aiken paused with bis. big hand on
Duane's knee. In It, unconsciously
probably, ho still held the gun.
"Duane, a word with you," lie said.
"I believe you're not so black as you've
been painted. I wish there wiis time
to say mere. Tell me this, anyway.
Do you know the Banger Captain Mac- i
Nelly?"
"I do not," replied Duane, In,pur- !
prise.
"I met him only a week ago over In
Fairfield," wjfp on Aiken, hurriedly. J
"He declared yon never killed my wife.
T didn't believe him —argued with him.
We almost had hard words over It.
Now —I'm sorry. Th?» last thing he
said was: 'lf yous ever see IMuino
don't kill him. S«" d him into my
ramp after dark!' lie meant some
thing at range. What- I can't say.
Hut lie was rltrht, ; nd I was wrong.
If Lucy had hatted an eye I'd have
killed y»*n. St fI. I wouldn't advise you
to hunt up M V !ly - ramp. He's
(•lever. M • !»' he IM»||..\l-H there's no
trem'hery in his new ideas of ranger
tacties. I t* II you for all It's worth.
Gond-hy. May Cod help you further
RS he did this day!"
Duane said good by and touehed the
horse with his spurs.
"So long, Buck!" ealled Slhert, with
that frank HIIIIIO breaking warm over
his brown face; and he held his
sombrero high.
CHAPTER XIV.
When Duane readied the crossing
of the roads the name Fairfield on
the sign-post seemed to be the thing
that tipped the oscillating balance of
decision in favor of that direction. If
he had been driven to hunt up Jeff
Aiken, now he was called to find this
unknown ranger captain. In Duane's
state of mind clour reasoning, com
mon sense, or keenuess were out of
the question. He went because he felt
he was compelled.
Dusk had fallen when he rode Into
a town which Inquiry discovered to
be Fairfield.
There did not appear to lie any
camp on the outskirts of the town.
But as Duane sat his horse, peering
around and undecided what further
move to make, he caught the glint of
flickering lights through the darkness.
Heading toward them he saw the mov
ing forms of men and heard horse*.
He advanced naturally, expecting any
moment to be halted.
"Who goes there?" came the sharp
call out of the gloom.
Duane pulled his horse. The gloom
was. Impenetrable.
"One man —alone," replied Duane.
"What do you want 7"
*Tjn trying to find the ranger camp."
"You've struck it What's your
errand?"
"I want to see f'apta'n Mac Nelly."
"Get down and advance. Slow.
Don't mote your hands. It's dark,
but I can see."
Duane dismounted, and. lending his
horse, slowly advanced a few paces.
He saw a dully bright ghject—a gun—
before he discovered the man who
held It. A few more steps showed a
dark figure blocking the trail. Here
Duane halted.
"Here, ranger, understand this. My
visit is peaceful—friendly if you'll let
It be. Mind. I was asked to come
here—after dark."
Duane's clear, penetrating voice
carried far. The listening rangers at
the camp-fire heard what he said.
"Ho, Pickens,! Tell that fellow to
wait," replied on authoritative voice,
• Then a slim figure detached Itself
from the dark, moving group at the
■ camp-fire and hurried out.
"Better be foxy. Cap," shouted a
ranger, In warning.
I "Shut up—all of you," was the re
ply.
j Tills ofTicer L obviously Curtain Muc-
Nelly, soon Joined th"e two rangers
who were confronting Duane. He had
no fear. He strode straight up to
Duane.
"I'm Mac Nelly," he said. "If you're
my man, don't mention your name —
yet."
All this seemed strange to Dunne, In
keeping with much that had happened
lately.
"I met JefT Aiken to-day," said
Duane. "He sent me—"
"You've met Aiken!" exclaimed
Mac Nelly, sharp, e"ger, low. "By ail
that's bully 1" Then he appeared to
catch himself, to grow restrained.
"Men, fall back, leave us alone a
moment."
The rangers slowly withdrew.
"Buck Duane! It's you?" he
whispered, eagerly.
"Yes."
"If I give you my word you'll not
be arrested—you'll be treated fairly—
will you come Into camp and consult
with me?"
"Certainly."
"Dunne, I'm sure glad to meet you,"
went on Mac Nelly; and he extended
his hand.
Amazed and touched, scarcely realiz
ing this actuality, Dunne gave his hand
and felt an unmistakable grip of
warmth.
"It doesn't seem nnturnl, Captain
MncNeily, but I believe I'm glad to
meet you," said Dunne, soberly.
"You will be. Now we'll go back to
camp. Keep your Identity mum for the
present."
He led Duane in the direction of the
camp-fire.
"Pickens, go hack 'on duty," he
ordered, "and, Beeson, you look after
this horse."
When Dunne got beyond the line
of mesQulte, which had hid n good
view of the cntnp site, he saw a group
of perhaps fifteen rangers sitting
around the fires, nenr a long, low she'
where horses were feeding, nnd a
small adobe house at one side.
"We've Just had grub, but I'll see you
get some. Then we'll talk," said
Mac Nelly. "I've taken up temporary
quarters here. Have n rustler Job on
hand. Now, when you've eaten, come
right Into tfio house."
Dunne was hungry, but he hurried
through the ample supper that was
set before him. urged on by curiosity
and astonishment. While eating he
had bent keen eyes around him. After
a first quiet scrutiny' the rangers ap
parently paid no more attention to
him. They were ail veterans In serv
ice—Dunne saw that—and rugged,
powerful men of Iron constitution.
Despite a general coaversnllon of
enmpfire nature, Duane was not de
ceived about the fact that his advent
hail been an unusual nnd striking one,
which had caused an undercurrent of
conjecture nnd even consternation
nrnong them. These rangers were too
well trained tcr nppenr openly curious
about their captain's guest. As It
was, Duane felt n suspense that must
have been due to a hint of his
Identity.
Tie was not long In presenting hirn
aelf at the door of the house.
"Come In timl have a ehalr." said
Mac Nelly, motioning for the one other
oeeupant of the room to rise. "Leave
UH, Ituasell, find close the door. I'll
he through these reports right off.''
Mac Nelly sat at a table upon which
was a lamp ami various papers. Seen
In the light he was a fitie-l»oklng, |
sohllerly man of ahout forty years,
dark haired and dark-eyed, with a
bronzed face, shrewd, stern, strong, yet
not wanting In k'ndlincss. lie senrtnedk
hastily over some papers, fussed with
them, and (in.illy put them In enve
lopes. Settling back In Ills chair, he
fared Duane, making a vain attempt
to hide what must have been the ful
filment of a long-nourished curiosity.
"Duane, I've been hoping for this
for two years," he began.
Duane smiled a little—a smile that
felt strange on his fare. He had never
been much of a talker. And speech
here seemed more than ordinarily dlfll
cult.
Mac Nelly must have felt thnt.
He looked long and earnestly at
Duane, and his quick, nervous manner
changed to grave thought fulness.
"Ever hear from home since you
left Wellston?" he asked, abruptly.
"No," replied Duane, sadly.
"That's tough. I'm glad to be able
to tell you that up to Just lately your
mother, sister, uncle—all your f»lkm.
I believe—were well. I've kept posted.
Hut haven't heard lately."
Duane averted his face a moment,
hesitated till the swelling left hM
throat, and then said, "It's worth what
I went through to-day to hear that."
"I can Imagine how you feel about
It. When I was In the war- but let's
get down to the business of this meet
ing."
He pulled his chair close to Duane'*.
"You've had word more than one®
In the last two years that I wanted to
see you, why didn't you hunt me up?'
"I supj»osed you imagined me one of
those gun-fighters who couldn't take a
dare and expected me fo ride up to
your camp and be arrested."
"That was natural, I *»if.po«u\" went
on Mac Nelly. "You didn't know me,
otherwise you would have come. I've
been a locig time getting to you. Hut
the nature of my Job, lis f,»r as vou're
concern* d. made me cautlo-j*. Duane,
you%*e iiware of the hard mime you
bear all over the Southwest?"
"fine* In a while I'm Jarnd Into
realizing," replied fmarie.
"It's the hardeM,
and C'heseldlne, on the Texas border.
Hut there's this difference. Murrel!
In hl% day was known to deserve his
infamous name, f'tie*eldin« in his day
also. Hut I've found hundreds of m«*n
In southwest Texas who're your
friends, who swear you never com
mitted a crime. The farther south I
get the clearer this becomes. What I
want to know Is the truth. Have you
ever done anything criminal? Tell me
the truth, Duane. It won't make any
difference In my plan. And when I
ssiy crime I mean what I would call
crime, or any reasonable Texan*"
'"Hint way my hands art; clean," re
plled Duane.
"You never held up a man, robbed
a store fur grub, stole a when
you need I'd him bad—never anything
like thai?"
"Somehow I always kept out of that,
Just when pressed the hardest. '
i- ——
"Come in and Have a Chair."
"Dunne, I'm fclnd!" MncNelly ex
claimed, gripping Dunne's hand. "Glad
f«»r your mother's Hake! Hut, nil the
same, In spite of this, .you nr« a Texas
outlaw uccountnble to tlio state.
You're perfectly awnr© thnt under ex
isting circumstances, If you fell Into
t!i* hands of the law, you'd probably
hang, at least go to Jail for a long
term." «
"That's what kept me on the dodge
all these years," replied Dunne,
"Certainly." MaeNelly's eyes nar
rowed nnd glittered. The museles
along his brown cheeks set hurd nnd
tense. He lenned close to Dunne,
( laid sinewy, pressing fingers upon
1 Dunne's knee.
"Listen to this," he whlspen»d,
j hoarsely. "If I place a pardon In your
, hand —make you 11 free, honest citizen
ortce more, clour your name of Infamy,
I mnke your mother, your sister proud
, of you—will you swear yourself to a
, service, any service I demtind of you?"
, Dunne Mat stock still, stunned.
Slowly, more persuasively, with
show rf earnest ngltntlon, Cnptaln
t MncNelly reiterated his startling
query.
,1 "My God l" burst from Dunne.
. "What's this? MncNelly you can't be
? In earnest!" *
"Never more so In my life. I've a
t deep game. I'm playing It square.
, What do you say?"
f lie rose to his feet. Duane, as If
1 Impelled, rose with him. Hunger nnd
> outlaw then locked eyes tlint searched
4 en eh other's souls. In MncNellys
t Dunne rend truth, strong, flery pur
\ pose, hope, even glndness,' and 11 fugl
t tlve mounting nssurnnce of victory.
I Twice Dunne endeavored to speak,
I fulled of ill I snve a hourse, Incoherent
j sotimj. until, forcing hack 11 llood of
I speech, he found n voice.
"Any service? Every service! Mnc-
Nelly, I give my wortl," said Dunne.
A light played over MaeNelly's face,
wnrinlng out nil the grim darkness,
lie held out hlq hand. Duane met It
with his In a clasp thnt men uncoil
scloiisly give in moments of stress.
' 1 When they unclasped nnd Dunne
stepped back to drop Into a chnlr
MncNelly- fumbled for n clgnr nnd,
lighting It, turned to his visitor,
now cnlrn 11 nd cool. He hnd the look
of a iimn who hnd Justly won some
thing nt considerable cost. Ills next
move wns to tnke n long leather case
frimn his pocket nnd extract from It
several folded papers.
"Here's your pardon from the Gover
nor," he said, quietly. "You'll see,
j when you look It over, that It's condi
tional. When you sign t!ilh pv|»er '
huve here the condition will be met."
He smoothed out the pnper, bunded
Dunne n pen, run his forefinger ulotig
u dotted line.
Dunne's hnnd wns sbnky. Years
r hnd passed since he hnd held n pen.
It wns with difficulty thnt be achieved
u bis slgnnture. Buckley Duane—how
nt range the mime looked!
"Ttlght here ends the career of Ruck
0 Dunne, outlnw nnd gun fighter," aald
r MncNelly; nnd, seating himself, ho
took the pen from Dunne's Angers nnd
j wrote several lines in several plnces
upon the paper. Then with a smile
t he hnmled It to Dunne.
4 •That rnnkes you n member of f'otn
t puny A. Texas Hungers."
"So that's It!" burst out Dunne. a
it light brenklng In upon bis bewilder
-4 merit "You want me for ranger serv
t- "•••?-
"Sure. That's It." replied the
*. Captain dryly. "Now to hear what
w that service Is to be. I've been a busy
0 man since I took this Job, and. as you
«• may have heard. I've done n few
f things. I d-n't mind telrlng you that
_ f »* 111 lea I Influence put me iri here and
that taf» Austin way there's a g«*»d deal
of friction In the Department of State
service U nny good—whether It should
be discontinued or not. I'm ##r 1 the
e
party who s defending the ranger serv
ice. I contend that it's made Texas
habitable. Well, It's been up to nu* to
produce results. Ho far I have heeri
sticce««ftj|. My print nfiiMtlofi I« to
break up the outlaw gangs along
river. I have never ventured In He re
yet beeause I've been waiting to get
" th«» lieutenant I needed. You of
course, are the man I had In mind.
" It's my Idea to start way up the 1110
* Grande and begin with ''h««seidlno.
He's the strongest, the worst outlaw
n of the times. He S more than rustler.
ir It's Oieseldlne and bin gang who are
l " operating on the bunks. So one seems
J to have seen hi 111- to know what he
looks like.
"I assume, of course, flint you are a
stranger to the country he dominates,
y It's Ave hundred mIU-s west of your
1 ground. There's a little town over
11 there called Ffllrdli le. If'H the re«t
I'of 11 rustler gang. They rustle and
*- ' murd'T at will. Nobody knows wf»o
| the leader Is. I want >•■! '«» And out.
d Well, whatever way \o»i Me.-tdo I* best
n you will procew] to n't »i:»• ».'i. Y »tj are
ig jo fir O'.vn bons. Yoi] fp ,f I toffie
j wny to !•• fie know when T nnd rr 1 y
t, ranger are ncded. The plan Is to
| break gaug. it's the
toughesf Job on the border. We want
to kill or Jul! this choice selection of
robbers and breuk up the rest of the
gang. To find them, to get among
them somehow, to learn their move
ment?, to lay your trap for us rangers
to spring—that, Duane, is your service
to me. und God knows It's a great i
one!"
"I have accepted It," replied Dnnnr 1 . j
"Your work will be secret. You are
now a ranger in my service, liiit no |
one except the few I choose to toll j
will know of it until wo pull off ilio
Job. You will simply be Buck Dunne !
till It suits our purpose to acquaint |
Texas with the fact that you're a
ranger. You'll see there's no date on
that paper. No one will ever know i
Just when you entered the service, i
Perhaps we can make It appear that i
all or most of your outlawry bus ,
really been good service to the state. ,
At that, I'll believe It'll turn out so." 5
Mac Nelly paused a moment in his !
rapid talk, chewed his cigar, dcew
his brors together In a dark frown, j
"Sltui wenr on. "No man on the border ,
knows so well ns you the deadly nature ,
of this service. It's a long, long chance
against your ever coining back."
"That's not the point," said Dunne.
"But In case I get killed out there—
what—"
i "Leave that to me," Interrupted
Captain Mac Nelly. "If yon lose your
life out there I'll see your nnine clear- I
ed—the service you render known.
You can rest assured of that."
"I am satisfied," replied Duane.
"That's so much more than I've dared
to"hope."
"Well, It's settled, then. I'll give
you money for expenses. You'll start
as soon as you like—tlio sooner the
better. I ho|ie to think of other sug
gestions especially about communi
cating with mo."
1 I.on; e.ftor the llghls were out and
the low hum of voices had censed
round tiie enmp lire DiniOc lay awake,
eyes staring Into the blackness, mnr
| veil rig over the strange events of tin
i day. And ns he lay there, with the
approach of sleep finally dimming tb«
vividness of his thought, so full ot
mystery, shadowy fnces Moated In the
blackness around lilni, haunting him
as he had always been haunted.
It was broad daylight when b.
awakened. Mac Nelly was calling hlin
to breakfast.
The rangers were eating In a circle
round a tarpaulin spread upon the
ground.
"Fellows," said Mac Nelly, "shake
hands with Buck Duane. lie's on
seeret ranger service for inc. Service
that'll likely make you all hump soon ! I
Mind you, keep mum about It."
The rangers surprised Duane with a
roaring greeting, the warmtlwof which
he soon divined was divided between i
pride of his acquisition to their ranks
and eagerness to meet that violent
service of which their captain hltit«s|. j
They were jolly, wild fellow**, with |
Just enough gravity In their welcome |
to show Duane their respect and ap-j
preclatlon. while not forgetting his
lone-wolf record. When he had seated
himself in that circle, now one of I
4 them, a feeling subtle and uplifting i
pervaded him.
. After tiie meal Captain Mac Nelly
drew Duane aside.
"Here's the money. Make' It go ns
far as you can. Write nie care of the
adjutant at Austin. 1 don't have to j
warn you to be careful where you
mall letters, 'tide a hundred, two |
hundred nines, if necessary, or go clear '
to Kl Paso."
Mac Nelly stopped with an nlr' of i
finality, and then Duane slowly rose.
"I'll start nt once," he said, extend- |
Ing his hand to the Captain. "I wish — j
I'd like to thank you !"
"Hell, man! Don't tlmnk me!" re
plied Mac Nelly, cru*filng the profTercd
hand. "l'\e sent a lot of good men
j to their deaths, and maybe you're an- :
Other. Hut. ns I've said, you've one ,
chance in a thousand. And, by
Heaven! I'd hate to be Cliescldljic
or any other man you were trailing.
No, not good by adios, Duane! May
we meet again !"
CHAPTER XV.
WeM of the I'eeos Itlver Texas ex
tended a vast wild region, barren in
the north where the Llano K*tacndo
spread Its shifting «ands. fertile in the
south along the Itlo llrande. A rail
road marked an undeviniiitg course
across live hundred miles iff this
country, und the only villages and
tow us lay oil or liear ibis line of sti*el.
Unsettled ns was this western Texus,
and despite tlm acknowledged domi
nance of the outlaw bunds, the
pioneers pushed steadily into it.
The Itlo (irande flowed almost due
south along the western boui.-lary for
a thousand miles, and then, weary of
Its course, turned abruptly north, to
make what was culled the I'lg liefid.
The railroad, running west, cut scross
this heiid. and ali that country boumj
ed oii the north l*'. the ruilio,. I and
on the south by the r»v« r was as vuld
ns the Stake*! I'iains. Across the face
of this lilg Hefid. ns If to Isolate it.
stretched the Ord niotiutairrrang' 4 . In
the MI 11 •> s of the foothills and oit
across the plains were rnnches. ncd
farther north, villages, and the town.*
of Alj'iin M. 1 Marfa.
Like other parts of the great Tx»re
Star State, tins *eci|.m of Texas was
a world in Itself- a world wher«* tte
riches of ilie ran tier wre e\- r en
riching the '*ttlnw. The MJJage «
to the gateway of this ou'.luw-lnf« sted
region was a little pi o• called « »rd,
named after the dark |.«-ak fhat loomed
some mlh-M to the south.
Toward the dose of n day In Sep
tember a strang'T rode Into Ord, and
in a community where all men were
remarkable for one reason or another
he excited Interests His horse, per
haps, received first and most en
gaging attention hor-e* in that region
behig apparently more imj»ortant than
men. This particular horse at first
glance seemed Ugly. Hut he was a
giant, black as coal, huge In every
way. A bystander remarked that ho
had a grand head. Ills face was solid
black, except In the middle of his fore
head. wlu-re theie was u round si>ot
of white.
Tie ri'L r. like his horse, was a giant
Jn stature, hut rangier, not HO heavily
KTiilt. Otherwise the only \striking
thing übout him wu* Ula bomber ia ce
with Its piercing eyes, and hair white
over the temple*. He packed two
guns, both low down —but that wa»
too common a thing to attract notice
In the Big Benfl t A close observer,
however, would (Save noted a singular
fact—tills rider's * right hand was
more bronzed, more weather-beaten
than his left. He never wore a glove
on that right bund!
He had dismounted before a ram
shackle structure (hut bore upon Its
wide, high-boarded front the sign,
"Hotel." The hotel hud a wide plat
form In front, and this did duty as
porch ami sidewalk. Upon It, and
leaning against a tiitchlng-rail, were
men of varying ages, most of them
slovenly In old Jeuns and slouched
sombreros. , Some were booted, betted,
anil spurred. No njan there wore a
coat, but all wore vests. The guns
In that group would have outnumbered
the men.
II was a crowd seemingly too lazy
to be curious. These men were Idlers;
wliai else, perhaps, was easy to con
jecture. Certainly to this arriving
stranger, who flushed a keen eye over
them, they wore an atmosphere never
associated with work.
Presently a lull ipnn, with a droop
ing. Randy mustache, leisurely detueh
ed blmse'f from the crowd.
"ll.iwd.v, strsnger," he said.
The stranger had bent over to
j lonoen tin- c?nelie«; he straightened tip
and miil'led. Tlum: "I'm thirsty!"
That liroii :ht u broad smile to faces,
ilt WHS cliarai'terlstlc greeting. One
, and nil trooped after the stranger Into
i the hotel. It was a (lark, 111-smelling
i burn of n place, with a bar as high as
[ a short man's head. A bartender with
| a scarred fare was serving drinks.
"I.lne up. gents," suit! the stranger.
■ They plied over one another to get
| to the bar, with coarse Jests and oaths
i and laughter. None of them noted
| that the stranger did not appear so
' thirsty as he claimed to be. In fact,
! though he went through the motions,
I he did not drink at all.
"My name's Jim Fletcher," said the
tall man with the drooping, sandy
| mustache. He spoke laconically, never
theless there was a tonls that
j showed he expected to lie known.
Something went with that name. The
' stranger did not appear to be Im
| pressed.
"My name might he lilar.es, hut It
! ain't," he replied. "What do you call
| this hurg?"
"Stranger, this lieah me-tropoles
j bears the handle Ord. thet new to
i you?"
Ho leaned bnck against tho bar, and
| now III* 111t U* yellow eyes. clwir an
' crystal, flawless as a hawk's, fixed on
1 the stranger. Other men crowded
| clime, forming n circle, curious, ready
to ho friendly or otherwise, according
how the tall Interrogator marked I
i the newcomer.
"Sure, (Ird's n little strange to me. ,
| Off the railroad some, ain't It? FuTriftjr
i trullM hereabouts."
"How fur was you goln'?"
I "I reckon I was goln* as far ax I
mtild." replied the stranger, with a i
| hard laugh.
Ills reply had subtle reaction on thnt
' listening circle. Some of the men ex
| changed glances. Fletcher stroked
firs drooping mustache, seemed
thought fill, but lost Homethlng of that
plcn-ing -scrutiny.
M Wal, Ord's tho Jumpln'-off place,"
he snld, presently. "Sure you've heerd
of the J'.ig ltend country?"
"I sure have, nn* was rnakln' tracks
for It." replied the stranger.
Fletcher turned toward n man In
tile outer edge bf the group. "Knell,
Come 111 henh."
This Individual elbowed til m way In
and wiim seen to be scarcely more than
a boy, ahiioxt pule beside those hronx
ed iimii. with a long, expressionless
| fitfbln 9ivi*l sharp.
'lO 111-: CONTINUED.
Make Silk Sausage Skins.
fiermatiy now In making sausage
sic lih of raw silk, according to the
' Ithelnlsi he Westfnellscho Zellung.
j Kv ii before the wur experiments were
j being conducted in the making of a
■ hollow ea-Ing of raw silk to be filled
with -iiUMiije ne at. The KlherCeld rlb
bon factory Is now turning out great
lengths of thlH sausage casing. Just
tiow, ho\w\« r, owlr.g to the shortage
of m iit, \» ry large qui.otitic* of cas
ing an* i.ot needed. With the ordinary
prices «,f raw silk pn-\ailing the new
cjining In no dearer than the usual sau
►age skins,
'I he ]',* rum r I^fkxtl Anzelger of Ali
gn it .'1 says that, a new Invention has
been Introdijei 1 by the iierlin inven
tions bureau f.,r putting meat up In
briquette* fur transport. These
briquettes. If I* snld, are Impervious
to the attack «-f Inserts.
Y. M. C. A. Service.
Chicago commerce reports that the
I V. M. C. A. Is dlKchnrging an impor
j tant civic service this summer In the
giving of r/J free Illustrated lectures j
on civic, patriotic and sanitary sub
j. six of the parks under the
. control of Minj h purk commisslonerH,
I In the stork wtrd* territory, - these!
( parks being Cornell, I>avls, Hardin,
Mark White, Fuller and Sherman. This
servke ended September H.
Many thousand* of ciflzens are be-
Ihg f»o:h entertuliied and Instructed by
this w«>rk. Su h subject* are lllus
tra'«d as file f'.y pent, u.ilk supply,!
B unfcty firs' AmerPaiiUatinn, tularcu-
- t
ph"id. Ilf • i th • artuy, F rotma canal, 0
family budget ;irid savings and Chi
(Ui'll l»ea 111 If*J 1.
(HA ML* tlnlii'* TOUGH K«*med>
1 I .lfirt.nl. v .
r "I ha\e taken- a irri :tc Ynan.V bot
* tb s (>{ Cbarnberlain's |{ernr
- dv are! e\erv time it ha«s cured me.
» I bave fouml it most effectual for
, i hacking and for colds. Af
t ter t .t a rough always dis
atipenrs," writes J. K. Moore, Lost
1 Valley, (ja. (Obtainable evervwkere,
' adv.
1 The Cotton Mantifacturors' As-
soeiatioti of North Carolina, in
session at Kaleigh the past, week,
t reaflirme*!, t lieir jK>sition favoring
, compulsory school laws anil the
; I liaising of the age limit to 14 years
j, nn aoon as poshilile.
NO. 5Q
GRAHAM CHURCH DIRECTOBMH
Preaching service! every BMB
and Third Sundays at 1L0»
and 7.30 p. m.
Sunday School every
MS a. m.—C. B, Irwin, SuperujH
lendent.
Graham Christian Cburcb—
S>ueet—Be v. J. If. Truitt, 'W3M
Bleaching services every Sdß
ond and Jbourth Sundays, at
a. m. -Jm
Sunday School every Sunday
10.uo a. m.—K. L. Henderson,' Supter«B
mtendent.
New Providence Christian ChoreU
—North Main Street, near Depot-JJB
Rev. J. U. Truitt, Pastor. PreacMß
ing every Second and Fourth Sun-JB
day nights at 8.00 o'clock.
Sunday School every Sunday «■
8.45 a. m.—J. A. Baylilf, Superilrafl
cendent.
Christian Endeavor Prayer UmIH
ing every Thursday night at 7.451H
o'clock.
Friends—North of Oraham Pnkfl
lie School—Hev. iteming
Pastor.
Preaching Ist, 2nd and 3rd Sun|M
days.
Sunday School every Sunday
10.00 a. m.—James Crisco,
tendent
Methodist Episcopal, oouth— corlfl
Main and Maple St„ H. B. Myerfß
Pastor.
Preaching every Sunday at lI.W|H
a. m. and at 7.30 p. in.
Sunday School every Sunday jdtH
4.45 a. in.— VV. B. Green, Supt.
M. P. Church—N. Main Street*
Rev. B. S. Troxler, Pastor,
Preaching first and third
days at 11 a m. and 8 p. m. ; J
Sunday School every Sunday
9.45 a. m.—J. L. Amick, Supt. >•
Presbyterian—Wst Elm
Kev. T. M. McConnell, pastor, j
Sunday School every Sunday fIH
9.46 a. m.—Lynn B. Williamson, Bu-H
perintendent.
Presbyterian (Travora Chapel>—M
). W. Clegg, pa a tor.
Preaching every Second udl
fourth Sundays at 7.30 p. m.
Sunday School every Sunday
2.30 p. m.—J. Harvey White,
perintendent.
Oneida—Sunday School evMrdH
Sunday at 2.30 p. m.—J. V.
Roy, Superintendent.
PROFESSIONAL CABDg ]
E. C. DERBY]
Civil Engineer. ;1
GRAHAM, N. C..
National Baak of Alaaaaec BTiM
BURLINGTON, N. C,
Boom 10. 1,1 National Huh BdUtaffi
'Phone 47*
JOHN J. HENDEBM
Altorney-al-Law
GRAHAM, N. C. ,1
iMllcc over Nalloaal Bamk of AlaaMM
J", S. COOK,
Attornoy-at-Law,
i HAH AM, ..... N. (
Office Patteraon Building
Hevoud Floor. ..... ,*]§
— —|
OK. WILL UOfMJ,JB
. . . DENTIST ... ':]
Sraham. - - . . North C»W)
JKFICE in SJ MMONB BUILP^j
ACOB A. LONG. J. ELKULod
LONG & LONG,
4tt>rn«y« and Counaaior* at JLM
GUAM AM, N. 0.
JOH N H. VERNOI
Attorney and CouDielor*il«JUlV
PONftCH—OAc« Oft J -r—KetldCßC* M
BURLINJT(SN, N. 0.
Dr. J. J. Barefoot
orrtoß ovkb uaulky's btobk i
ieuve Mettsagea at Alamance
na:y 'i'bone 07 Ketudouce PIK
102 Office liour« 2-4 p. m. and :
Appointment.
OK. G. EUGENE HOL'
Osteopathic Pby»lc!aa |
21, 22 and 23 Flral National Uaaltlc Mj
BURLINGTON, N a |
Stomach and Nervous diseaMti
Specialty* 'Phones, Office 305,— ij
ideuce, J 62 J .
Mcllri In Mix Hour*
i>> stressing Kidney and Bladd
liibcaite relieved in six hours J
(he -NEW GREAT SOUTH AMKJ
ICAN KIDaNEY CURE." It it
! great surprise on account of I
! exceeding Dromptness in reliaY(X
i pain iu bladder, kidneys and bae
in male or female. Relieve* ratal
tiun of water almost
I If you want quick relief and en
this is the remedy. Sold by Or
ham Drug Co. adV
LIVES OF CHRISTIAN MINISII
This book, entitled as abot
contains over 200 memoirs of Mi
isters in the Christian Chur
with historical references, i
interesting volume—nicely prij
ed and bound. Price per oop
cloth, $2.00; gilt top, $2.60. |
mail 20c extra. Orders may,
sent to
P. J. Kbrnodlb,
1012 E. Marshall St
Richmond, 'V
[Orders may be left at this offiM,