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DEADLY DOINGS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

FOR MONTHS NOW THIS PAPER HAS BEEN REPORTING THE DASDARDLY DEEDS OF THE ROMERO GANG LED BY LOCAL DESPERADO “NASTY NATE” ROMERO.

Several times it has been thought that his gang was busted up but like a bad ailment he always shows back up worse than before. At this time he is riding with two wicked women from up in Washington State. One we have had the misfortune of previous acquaintance, Bruiser Harp. It is with a shiver that we report this villainous woman is back in our fair country. She arrived with a gal known as Never Listen Lisa. Both ladies and we use the term in favor of more colorful but unprintable description have hearts of ice and a deadly love of money. Most disheartening is news that a former Ranger from California has joined up with Romero. It seems that Ranger Kent Grant has crossed the line with greed in his heart and death in his eyes.

You will recall our report last season of the gang being busted up. Before that encounter the money was hidden by gang members who forever work in Satan’s furnaces. Romero wants it and only has a rough map to locate where his former gang members hid it.

Now good citizens we make this report not to fill you with dread but to cause rejoice in the hearts of all honest God fearing people.

Our cries for assistance have finally been heard in the capitol and the Governor has sent down the veteran Ranger Capt. Bates who so many times has ridden to our aid. As usual he is ridding with a POSSE of able and brave heroes to handle the challenge.

When this reporter met them upon their arrival last night he was introduced to the following Rangers.

A trio from Illinois, hard and determined, John Bievenue, Cindy Bievenue and Julie Wyatt, these three arrive with the best of credentials and a reputation, which at times may be a bit murky, but alas we are not ones to pick details when they have so valiantly volunteered to help us.

Loretta Grella and Rachael Cosgrove from The Sunshine state are also present. These ladies at first notice seem too gentle for the task at hand but it is reported they are grittier than they appear.

Assisting Capt. Bates is Jay Sbrogna, you may remember his name from these pages a year ago. He was the one who escaped hanging when the gang was run to ground by turning on his fellow gang members. With a promise of a share he has stepped back over the line and joined Capt. Bates being the only link to where the loot is stashed.

It is known that Nasty Nate and his gang have taken over the old trading post up in Canyon Creek and the Rangers will be riding at first light this next day to track them down.

We hope and pray for the success of their mission and the safe return of these brave souls while it is our deepest wish Nasty Nate and his cohorts will soon be lining the bellies of carrion crows.

News from the Field

It was a long week of many miles and much frustration.

First day out the Outlaws beat a trail that was about 30 miles stopping at each loot location along the way. With not much to show for their efforts but one loot bag. They got to their camp about 7pm and set up defenses against a possible future assault.

The Posse was not too far behind, this day being guided by Ranger Jay who not being overly familiar with the country had them looking in the wrong canyon most of the afternoon. They then headed to a camp in Steve canyon and settled in for a long sleepless night.

Capt. Bates was busy with seeing to supplies and other matters and didn’t ride into camp till after midnight.

The next day the Outlaws and Posse both were on the trail in search of loot. Everywhere the Posse went it seemed the Outlaws had been there ahead of them. As the day wore on the Posse got more discouraged sure that the Outlaws were raking in the loot. Late in the afternoon north of Incognito canyon the two groups came upon each other. The country was not such that it lent it’s self to a gun battle, being wide open with very little cover. The two groups maneuvered around before the Outlaws headed south on one side of the canyon and the Posse trailed them from the other side.

Both groups went to camp and spent a restless night expecting the immediate arrival of the other.

Morning of the next day it was decided that some of the Posse would head out to hunt up a loot bag that they had looked for the first day, knowing it was there some where. The rest of the Posse stayed in camp hoping the Outlaws would make an appearance. Hawkeye John and the Capt. made a plan that the Capt. Would ride over to the Outlaw camp, scout and determine if the outlaws were on the move or sitting in place. If they were there it was decided the Capt. would try to get into the cabin. Knowing the cabin was impossible to get into if defended it seemed the only way to force the Outlaws out into the open or on the trail where they would be vulnerable to attack and hopefully lose some loot bags. If they were on the move he would return and let the Posse know, if he wasn’t back by midnight that ment he had the cabin and the Posse was to come over for a dawn raid.

The Capt. got to a location over looking the Outlaw cabin and saw that they were still there. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching as he saw three ride out and one stay behind. The Capt. followed the riders for a few miles then returned to the cabin hoping to see where the lone Outlaw was. Late in the day he spotted the lone outlaw, Kent Grant head into the cabin. Seeing it was a now or never situation the Capt. attacked the cabin exchanging hot gunfire with the killer Outlaw. As the gunfight was going on the other three outlaws rode into camp but the Capt. dispatched Killer Kent in close point blank combat taking over the cabin. He barricaded himself in the cabin and endured the insults and harassment the frustrated outlaws threw at him.

In the mean time Rangers Jay, Julie and Rachael had great success at finally finding the elusive loot bag in Ten Dead Canyon after spending several hours in the hot sun searching the canyon walls. They were back in camp by midafternoon. Inactivity and boredom set in and against Hawkeye’s objections the rest of the Posse decided to head over to the outlaw cabin this being about 7pm.

Just about this time the Outlaws decide to head out so they first set barricades on the outside of the cabin locking the Capt. inside. About 8pm the Captains horse Gambler announced that the Outlaws had left and after a short few minutes the Capt. had freed himself and set out to get to his camp and let them know the Outlaws were moving and the direction they were going. Not knowing his partners had left camp early he was in a hurry to get there and took a little known short cut. By doing this he missed meeting his partners who were know just a short couple miles away waiting sunrise for an advance on the cabin.

In the early light of the next day both teams advanced cautiously on empty camps twenty miles from each other.

The Outlaws took advantage of the situation and took a quick ride back to the H.Q. getting in about 1pm.

The Posse still working hard spent the day looking for loot bags and to their delight found one late in the afternoon. In 24 hours the Posse had ridden over forty miles and found two bags.

The last of the Posse riders got in at about 7pm.

It was a long week; so many miles put down they can’t be counted, much more than any other Posse in history.

But what could be counted is the loot both teams had collected. The Posse had collected $55,000 while the Outlaws came up with $57,000 thus winning the adventure. Probably the closest margin we have ever had.

The only real disappointment was the lack of gun battles. None. This is only the second time in 13 years this has ever happened and it was due to the fact that the two camps were 4.5 hours apart and the teams spent so much time in the saddle it was hard to find each other.

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