Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-03


ZIONIST no insuperable obstacles; the
difficulty is presented in the canyon
where the river bursts through the
Elbow mountains. South of this can
yon, MeCloud. one day on a hunting
trip. found himself with two Indians
pocketed in the rough country. and
was planning how TO escape passing a
night away from camp when his COM
panions led him past a vertical wall
of rock 1000 feet high, split into a
narrow defile down which they rode,
as It broadened out. for miles. They
emerged upon an open country that
led without break into the valley OF
the Crawling Stone below the canyon.
Afterward. when he had become a rail
road man, McClOud. sitting at a camp
fire with Glover and Morris Blood,
heard them discussing the coveted and
impossible line up the valley. He had
been taken into the circle OF construc-
tionists and was told OF the earlier re-
ports against the line. He thought he
knew something about the Elbow
mountains, and disputed the findings.
Offering In two days ride to take the
men before him to the pass called by
the Indians the Box, and to take them
through it. Glover called 1t a find. and
big one. and though more immediate
matters In the strategy Of territorial
control then came before him. the pre-.
liminary was ordered and McCloud's
findings were approved. McCloud him
self was soon afterward engrossed in
the problems of operating the noun
tain division; but the dream OF his
life was TO build the Crawling Stone
line with a maximum grade OF eight
tenths through the Box
The prettiest stretch Of Crawling
Stone valley lies within 20 miles OF
Medicine Bend. There it lies widest.
and has the pick OF water and grass
between Medicine Bend and the Mis-
sion mountains. Cattlemen went into
the Crawling Stone country before the
Indians had wholly left Il. The first
house in the valley was the Stone
ranch. built by Richard Dunning. and
IL still stands overlooking the town OF
Dunning at the junction OF the French
man creek aud the Crawling Stone.
The Prenchman is fed by unfailing
springs. and when by summer sun and
wind every smaller stream IN the mid
die basin has been licked dry. the
Frenchman runs cold and swift be
tween its russell hills. Richard Dun
ming. being on the border of the In
dian country. built for his ranch
house a rambling stone fortress. He
had chosen. IL afterward proved. the
choice spot I'm the valley. and he
stocked it with cattle when yearlings
could be picked up in Medicine Bend
at ten dollars head. He got together
srSS. body OF valley land when IL
could be had for the asking. and be
came the rich man OF the Long Range.
The Cummings were Kentuckians
Richard was bridge engineer and
builder. and under Brodie built some
of the first bridges on the mountain
division, notably the great wooden
bridge at Smoky creek. Richard
brought out his nephew, Lance Dun
ming He taught Lance bridge-build-
ing. and Murray Sinclair. who began
as cowboy on the Stone ranch,
learned sTidge-bullding from Richard
Dunning. The Cummings both came
west, though at different times. as
young men and unmarried. and as far
as western women were concerned.
might always have remained so. But
a Kentucky cousin. Betty, one OF the
Fairfield Cummings, related TO Richard
within the sixth or eighth degree
came to the mountains for her health.
Betty's mother had brought Richard
up as boy. and Betty, when he left
Fairfield. was a baby. But Dick-as
they knew him at homeland the
mother wrote back and forth. aud he
persuaded her to send Betty out for a
trip, promising he would send her
back in year a well woman.
Betty came with only her colored
maid. old Puss Dunning. who had
taken her from the nurses arms when
she was born and taken care OF her
ever since. The two-the tall Ken
lucky girl and the bent mammy-ar-
rived at the Stone ranch one day in
June, and Richard, done then with
bridges and looking after his ranch
interests. had already fallen violently
IN love with Betty. She was delicate.
but, IL those in Medicine Bend who re-
membered her said true, a lovely
creature. Remaining In the mountains
was the last thing Betty had ever
thought of. but no one, man or woman.
could withstand Dick Dunning. She
Cell quite in love with him the first
time she set eyes on him in Medicine
Bend, for he was very handsome in
the saddle. and Betty was fairly wild
about horses So Dick Dunning
wooed fond mistress and married
her and buried her. and ali within
hardly more than a year
But in that year they we're very
happy. never two happier. and when
she slept away her suffering she left
him. as a legacy. tiny baby girl. Puss
brought the mite OF a creature in its
swaddling clothes TO the sick mother
very, very sick then-and poor Bet
ty turned her dark eyes on 1t, kissed
1t. looked at her husband and whis-
pered ''Dicksie," and died. Dicksie
had been Betty's pet name for her
mountain lover. so the father said the
child's name should be Dicksie and
nothing else; and his heart broke and
soon he died Nothing else storm or