The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-29
CHAPTER xxx.
Mccloud and picksie.

Reached MeulC1ne BenQ IN the nlSnt.
Horsemen, filling in the gaps between
telephones leading to the north coun-
try, made the circuit complete, but the
accounts, confused and colored in the
repeating, came in cloud of con-
fiicting rumors. In the streets, little
groups of men discussed the frag-
mentary reports as they came from
the railroad Offices. Toward morning,
Sleepy Cat. nearer the scene of the
fight, began sending in telegraphic re-
ports in which truth and rumor were
strangely mixed. McCloud waited at
the wires all night, hoping for trust
worthy advices as to the result, but re-
ceived none. Even during the morn,
ing nothing came, and the silence
seemed more ominous than the bad
news of the early night. Routine bust,
ness was almost suspended and Nc.
Cloud and Rooney Lee kept the wires
warm with inquiries.
AT the noon hour McCloud was sign.
ing letters when Dicksie Dunning
walked hurriedly up the hall and hest.
tated in the passageway before the
open door of his Office. He gave an
exclamation as he pushed back his
chair. She was in her riding suit just
as she had slipped from her saddle.
ooh, Mr.. McCloud. have you heard the
awful news? Whispering Smith was
killed yesterday in Williams Cache by
Du Sang"
McCloud stiffened little. IT hope
that can't be true. We have had
nothing here but rumors; perhaps it is
these that you have heard"
mo, no! Blake, one of our men,
was in the fight and got back at the
ranch at nine o'clock this morning.
l heard the story myself, and l rode
right in toto see Marion, and my
courage failed mel came here first
Does she know, do you think? Blake
saw him fall from the saddle after he
was shot. and everybody ran away
and Du Sang and two other men were
firing at him as he lay on the ground
He could not possibly have escaped
with his life, Blake said; he mus,
have been riddled with bullets. Isn't
it terrible?" She sobbed suddenly, and
McCloud, stunned at her words, led
her to his chair and bent over her.
If his death means this to you
think of what it means to mel"
A flood of sympathy bore them to-
gether. The moment was hardly one
for interruption, but the dispatcher's
door opened and Rooney Lee halted
thunderstruck, on the threshold.
Dicksie's hand disappeared in he1
handkerchief. McCloud had been in
wrecks before, and gathered himself
together unmoved. What is it
Rooney?"
The very calmness OF the two al
the table disconnected the dispatcher
He held the message in his hand and
shuffled his feet. "Give me your dis
PATCH" said McCloud, impatiently.
Quite unable to take his hollow
eyes off Dicksie, poor Rooney ad
vanced, handed the telegram to Nc
| Cloud, and beat an awkward retreat
McCloud devoured the words of the
message at a glance.
"Ah!" he cried, "this is from Cor
don himself, sent from Sleepy Cat
He must be safe and unhurt! Listen:
Three o. the Tower w men trailed into
Williams Cache. In resisting arrest this
morning, Du Sang was wounded and is
dying tonight. Two prisoners, Karg and
| Seagrue. G. s.
Those are Gordon's initials; it is
| the signature over which he tele
graphs me. You see, this was sent
last night long after Blake left. He
is safe; will take my life on it."
Diclssie sank back while McClouG
re-read the message. ooh, isn't that &
relief?" she exclaimed. But how car
1t be? l can't understand it at all;
but he is safe, isn't he? l was heart
broken when l heard he was killed
| Marion ought to know Of this" she
said, rising. II am going to tell her.
"And may I come over after I tel
Rooney Lee to repeat this to head
| Quarters?"
Why, Of course, if you want to-"
When McCloud reached the cottage
Dicksie met him. Katie Dancing's
| mother is sick, and she has gone
| home. Poor Marion is all alone this
morning.. and half deao with sicl
| headache" said Dicksie. But / tolt
| her, and she said she shouldn't mint
| the headache now at ALL"
But what are you going to do?"
Il am going to get dinner; do you
want to help?"
I'm going to help"
ooh, you are? That would be very
funny"
Funny or not, I'm going to help"
You would only be in the way"
You don't know whether I should
or not"
Il know should do much better /
you would go back and run the rail
road a few minutes"
"The railroad be hanged. I am fol
dinner"
But will get dinner for you"
you need not. l can get it for my
SELF"
You are perfectly absurd, and I
we stand here disputing. Marion won
have anything to eat"
They went into the kitchen disput
Ing about what should be cooked. A
the end Of an hour they had two fire!
going-one in the stove and one II
Dicksie's cheeks. BY that time it hat
been decided to have a luncheon in
stead of dinner. Dicksie attempted
some soup, and McCloud found stril
of bacon, and after he had cooked 1t
Dicksie, with her riding-skrt pinned
up and her sleeves delightfully."- roliet
back, began frying eggs. When Marion