Neale took more credence in what Slingerland had told him at
Medicine Bow. That night Hough and then many other acquaintances
halted Neale to gossip about Larry Reel King.
The cowboy had been recognized by Texans visiting Benton. They were
cattle barons and they did not speak freely of King until ready to
depart from the town. Larry's right name was Fisher. He had a
brother--a famous Texas outlaw called King Fisher. Larry had always
been Red Fisher, and when he left Texas he was on the way to become
as famous as his brother. Texas had never been too hot for Red until
he killed a sheriff. He was a born gun-fighter, and was well known
on all the ranches from the Pan Handle to the Rio Grande. He had
many friends, he was a great horseman, a fine cowman. He had never
been notorious for bad habits or ugly temper. Only he had an itch to
throw a gun and he was unlucky in always running into trouble.
Trouble gravitated to him. His red head was a target for abuse, and
he was sensitive and dangerous because of that very thing. Texas,
the land of gunfighters, had seen few who were equal to him in cool
nerve and keen eye and swift hand.
Neale did not tell Larry what he had heard. The cowboy changed
subtly, but not in his attitude toward Neale. Benton and its
wildness might have been his proper setting.
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