davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
SYNOPSIS.

Murray Sinclair and his gang of wreck.
ers were called out to clear the railroad
yonns road n
clair and his men in the act of looting
the wrecked train. Sinclair pleaded in
small sum-a treat for the men. McCloud
discharged the whole outfit and ordered
the wreckage burned. McCloud became
OF the west, who came to look at the
wreck; Whispering" Gordon Smith told
PRESIDENT Bucks Of the railroad. of Nc.
Clouds brave fight against gang of
craxed miners and that was the reason
for the superintendent's appointment to
the boarding house of Mrs. Sinclair. the
ex-foremans deserted wife. Dicksie Dun
ming was the daughter of the late Rich
heart shortly after his wife's demise,
which occurred after one year of mar
teriousiy teri S Burned burned Pres President s Bucks % mott, noti-
fed Smith that he had work ahead. A
stock train was wrecked by an open
up and the express car robbed. Two men
en-, Of a posse pursuing the bandits Sge ~Sre
failed. He warned McCloud that his life
was in danger. McCloud was carNed
Dunning refused the railroad. a right-of-
way he had already signed for. Dicksie
interfered to prevent a shooting affray.
Dicksie met McCloud on n lonely trail to
warn him his life was in danger. On his
way home a shot passed through his hat.
A sudden rise of the Crawling Stone riv-
er created CONSERVATION. Dicksie and Ma
rion appealed to McCloud for help. Whis-
pering Smith Joined the group. McCloud
took his men to fight the river. Lance
Dunning welcomed them cordially. Nc
Cloud succeeded in halting the flood.
picksie and Marion visited Sinclair at his
wife to return to him. She refused. He
accused Whispering Smith of having
stolen her love from him. A train was
held up and robbed. the bandits escap-
ing. Smith and McCloud started in pur-
suit. At Bags ranch Du Sang killed old
Baggs. Whispering Smith befriended his
ten-year-old son. They came to Williams
Cache. Smith was certain the bandits
were there. He importuned Rebstock,
king of the cache" to give up Du Sang.
Rebstock refused. Smith declared he
would clean out the whole gang, inclu-
ding Rebstock. Smith came upon the
bandits. Du Sang among them.
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09

have placed five shots within the COM
pass of silver dollar. Firing for
Whispering Smiths heart, he had, de-
spite the fearful shock, put four bull
lets through his coat before the rifle
Dall from the ground, tearing at right
angles across the path of the first but
let, had cut down his life to question
of hours.
>Bill Dancing, who had been hit in
the head and stunned, had been
moved back to the cabin at Mission
Springs, and lay in the little bedroom.
A doctor at Oroville had been sept
for, but had not come. At midnight
OF the second day, Smith, who was be-
side his bed, saw him rouse up, and
noted the brightness of his eyes as he
looked around. Bill" he declared,
hopefully, as he sat beside the bed,
you are better, hang it! l know you
are. How do you feel?"
"Ain't that blamed doctor here yet?
Then give me my boots. I'm going
back to Medicine Bend to Doc Torpy.'
In the morning Whispering Smith,
who had cleansed and dressed the
wound and felt sure the bullet had not
penetrated the skull, offered no objec-
tion to the proposal beyond caution
ing him to ride slowly. You can go
down part way with the prisoners,
Bill" suggested Whispering Smith.
Brill Young is going to take them
to Oroville, and you can act as chair
man of the guard -
Before the party started, Smith
called Seagrue to him. George, you
saved my life once. Do you remember
in the Pan Handle? Well, l gave
You yours twice in the Cache day be-
fore yesterday. l don't know how
badly you are into this thing. If you
kept clear of the killing at Tower w
will do what l can for you. Don't
talk 10 anybody"
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
CHAPTER xxvil-Continued.

1t was not the first time the VIII
liams Cache gang had sworn to get
him and had worked together to do it,
but for the first time it looked as If
they might do it. A single chance was
left to Whispering Smith for his life,
and with his coat slashed with bullets,
he took 1t. For an instant his life
hung on the success of trick so ap-
pallingly awkward that clever man
might have failed in turning it. If his
rifle should play free in the scabbard
as he reached for it. he could fall to
the ground. releasing it as he plunged
from the saddle, and make fight on
his feet. II the rife failed to release
he was a dead man. To so narrow an
Issue are the cleverest combinations
sometimes brought by chance. He
dropped his empty revolver. ducked
like mud-hen on his horses neck,
threw back his leg, and, with all the
precision he could summon. caught
the grip Of his muley in both hands.
He made his fall heavily to the
ground, landing on his shoulder. Rut
as he keeled from the saddle the last
thing that rolled over the saddle, like
the flash of a porpoise fin, was the barrel
of the rife, secure in his hands. Karg.
on horseback, was already bending
over him, revolver in hand, but the
shot was never fired. A 1890 bullet
from the ground knocked the gun into
the air and tore every knuckle from
Karg's hand. Du Sang spurred in
from the right. A rihe-slug like an AK
at the root caught him through the
middle. His fingers stiffened His
six-shooter fell to the ground and NE
clutched his side. Seagrue, duckins
low. put spurs to his horse, and Whis-
pering Smith. covered with dust. rose
on the battlefield alone.
Hats, revolvers and coats lay about
him. Face downward. the huge bulk
OF Bill Dancing was stretched motion
less in the road. Karg, crouching be.
side his fallen horse, held up the
bloody stump Of his gun hand, and Du
Sang. so yards away, reeling like
drunken man in his saddle. spurred
his horse In an aimless circle. Whis-
pering Smith, running softly to the
side OF his own trembling animal,
threw himself into the saddle, and, ad-
justing his rifle sights as the beast
plunged down the draw. gave chase to
Seagrue.
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
His Revolver Dropped to the Ground.

and Karg leading the horse, the caval-
cade moved slowly down to the creek,
where tiny stream purled among
the rocks. The water revived the in
jured man for moment; he had even
strength enough, with some help, to
ride again; and, mSving in the same
halting order, they took him to Reb.
stocks cabin. Rebstock. at the door.
refused to let the sinking man be
brought into the house. He cursed
Du Sang as the cause of all the trou.
BILE. But Du Sang cursed him with
usury, and. while Whispering Smith
listened. told Rebstock with bitter
oaths that If he had given the boy
Barney anything but scrub horse
they never would have been trailed.
More than this concerning the affair
Du Sang would not say. and never
said. The procession turned from the
door. Seagrue led the way to Reb.
stocks stable, and they laid Du Sang
on some hay.
Afterward they got cot under him.
With surprising vitality he talked n
long time to Whispering Smith, but
u.
o'clock that night he sat up. Ed Banks
and Kennedy were standing beside the
cot. Du Sang became delirious, and
In his delirium called the name of
Whispering Smith; but Smith was at
Baggs cabin with Bill Dancing. In
spasm of pain, Du Sang opening his
eyes. suddenly threw himself back.
The cot broke, and the dying man
rolled under the feet of the frightened
horses. In the light OF the lanterns
they lifted him back, but he was bleed.
ing slowly at the mouth. quite dead.
The surgeon, afterward, found two
fatal wounds upon him. The first shot,
passing through the stomach, ex-
planned Du Sang's failure to kill at a
distance In which, uninjured, he could
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Death Of Du sana.

Whispering Smith, with his horse in
a lather. rode slowly back 20 minutes
later with Seagrue disarmed ahead of
him. The deserted battle-ground was
alive with men. Stormy German, hot
for blood. had come back, captured
Karg. and begun swearing all over
again, and Smith listened with ami.
able surprise while he explained that
seeing Dancing killed, and not being
able to tell from Whispering Smiths
peculiar tactics which side he was
shooting at, German and his compan-
ions had gone help. While they
angrily surroundel Karg and Seagrue
Smith slipped from his horse where
Bill Dancing lay. lifted the huge head
from the dust, and tried to turn the
giant over A groan greeted the at
tempt. .H
"Bill. open your eyes! Why would
you not do as | wanted you to?" he
murmured bitterly to himself A sec.
ond groan answered him. Smith
called for water, and from a canteen
drenched the pallid forehead. talking
softly meanwhile; but his efforts to re-
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
CHAPTER XXX.
The Laugh of a Woman.

Within an hour, Marion, working
over hat in the trimming room, was
startled to hear the cottage door open
and to see Dicksie quie unconcernedly
walk in. To Marion's exclamation of
surprise she returned only laugh. II
have changed my mind, dear. l am
going to stay all night"
Marion kissed her approvingly.
Really, you are getting so sensible /
shan't know you, Dicksie. In fact,
believe this is the most sensible thing
you were ever guilty Of
Glad you think So" returned Dick
sic, dryly, unpinning her hat; Ger
tainly hope it is. Mr.. McCloud per-
suaded me it wasn't right for me to
ride home alone, and l knew better
than he what danger there was for
him in riding home with me-so here
l am. He is coming over for supper,
too, in a few minutes
When McCloud arrived he brought
with him a porterhouse steak, and
Marion was again driven from the
kitchen. At the end of an hour, Dick
sic, engrossed over the broiler, was
putting the finishing touches to the
steak, and McCloud, more engrossed.
was watching her, when diffldent
and surprised-looking person appeared
in the kitchen doorway and put his
hand undecidedly on the casing. While
he stood, Dicksie turned abruptly to
McCloud.
"Oh, by the way, l have forgotten
something! Will you do me favor?'
Certainly, Do you want money or
pass?"
NO, not money! said Dicksie, lift
ing the steak on her fork, though
you might give me pass"
But l should hate to have you 60
away anywhere
Il don't want to go anywhere, but
never had pass, and think 1t would
be kind of nice to have one just to
keep. Don't you?"
why, yes; you might put it in the
bank and have it drawing interest"
This steak is-Do they give inter
est on passes?"
We'll, good deal of interest is felt
in them-on this division at least
What is the favor?"
Yes, what is it? How can l think?
Oh. | know. If they don't put Jim in
box stall tonight he will kill some Of
the horses over there. Will you tele-
phone the stables?'
(TO BE CONTINUED1
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
"Oh! Mr.. McCloud, Have You Heard
the Terrible NeWs?"

shock like that, it really is your pin?"
"Oh, / don't know whose pin it isl"
why, what is the matter?"
"Give me the pin," She put her
hands unsteadily up under her hat.
Here, for heavens sake, if you must
have something, take this comb" She
slipped from her head the shell that
held her knotted hair. He caught her
hand and kissed it, and she could not
get it away.
You are dear" murmured Dicksie,
'if you are silly. The reason
wouldn't let you ride home with me is
because / was afraid you might get
shot. How do you suppose l should
feel If you were killed? Or, don't you
think l have any feeling?"
But, Dicksie, is it all right"
How do l know? What do you
mean? l will not let you ride home
with me, and you will not let. me ride
home alone. Tie Jim again. I am
going to stay with Marion all night"
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09

knife and walked to Flat Nose slit the
rope around his neck, pushed him out
of the circle, and stood in front of him.
You cant play horse with my pris-
oners,' he said, curtly. Get over
here. Karg. Come, now, who is going
to walk in first? You act like school
boy, German"
Hard words and n wrangle followed,
but Smith did not change expression.
and there was n back-down. Have you
fellows let Du Sang get away while
you were playing fool here?" he asked.
"Du Sang's over the hill there on his
horse, and full of fight yet" exclaimed
one.
Then we will look him up sug-
gested Smith. Come, Seagrue"
Don't go over there. He'll get you
II you do" cried German.
Let us see about that. Seagrue,
you and Karg walk ahead. Don't duck
or run, either of you. Go on"
Just over the brow OF the hill near
which the fight had taken place. a
man lay below a ledge of granite. The
horse from which he had fallen was
grazing close by, but the man had
dragged himself out of the binding
sun to the shade of the sagebrush
above the rock--the trail OF 1t all lay
very plain on the hard ground. Watch
ing him narrowly. Smith, with his
prisoners ahead and the cowboys
riding in a circle behind, approached.
"Du Sang?"
The man In the sagebrush turned
his head.
Smith walked to him and bent
down. Are you suffering much, Du
Sang?"
The wounded man. sinking with
shock and internal hemorrhage, ut
tered string Of oaths.
Smith listened quietly till he had
done; then he knelt beside him and
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
= 6S Guns SCRI6HER5 S0WS

put his hand on Du Sang's hand. Tell
me where you are hit, Du Sang. Put
your hand to 1t. Is it the stomach !?
Let me turn you on your side. Easy.
Does your belt hurt? Just minute,
now; l can loosen that"
81 know you," muttered Du Sang,
thickly. Then his eyes-terrible,
rolling, pink eyes-brightened and he
swore violently.
"Du Sang, you are not bleeding
much, but I'm afraid you are badly
hurt" said Whispering Smith. rs there
anything l can do for your"
Get me some water"
A creek flowed at To great distance
below the hill, but the cowboys re-
fused to go for water. Whispering
Smith would have gone with Seagrue
and Karg, but Du Sang begged him
not to leave him alone lest German
should kill him. Smith canvassed the
, situation a moment. 'I'll put you on
my horse" said he at length, "and
take you down to the creek"
He turned to the cowboys and asked
them to help, but they refused to
touch Du Sang.
Whispering Smith kept his patience.
"Karg, take that horses head" said
he. Come here, Seagrue; help me
lift Du Sang on the horse. The boys
seem to be afraid of getting blood on
their hands"
With Whispering Smith and Sea-
grue supporting Du Sang in the saddle
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09

store consciousness were unavailing.
He turned to where two of the cow
boys had dragged Karg to the ground
and three others had their old COM
panion Seagrue in hand. While two
held huge revolvers within six inches
of his head, a third was adjusting a
rope-knot under his ear.
Whispering Smith became inter-
ested. Hold on!" said hs, mildly,
what is loose? What are you going
to do?"
We're going to hang these fellows" :"
answered Stormy, with volley of
hair-raising imprecations.
"Oh, no! Just put them on horses
under guard"
That's what we're going to do"
exclaimed the foreman. "Only we're
going to run 'em over to those cotton
woods and drive the horses out from
under 'em. Stand still, you tow headed
COW thief" he cried slipping the
moose up tight on George Seagrues S
neck
See here" returned Whispering
Smith, showing some annoyance, you
may be joking but l am not. Either
do as l tell you or release those men"
We'll, l guess we are not joking
very much. You heard me, didn't
you?" demanded Stormy, angrily. We
are going to string these damned crit
ters up right here in the draw on the
first tree"
Whispering Smith drew a pocket
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
Affinity Defined.

A man who has penchant for
phrase-making and whose wife has a
vivid imagination got into diffculties
the other day. The lady was reading
an account of the latest divorce and
chanced to run across the "affinity"
bromide. such senseless wordl.
she exclaimed; then. turning to her
husband, What is an affinity. any.
how?" AFFINITY? Oh. accommods.
ton train" he defined with conscious
aptness. And ever since he's been
using all his cleverness In the EFFORT
to explain how he knew.
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
tTo BE coNTINuED1
KettIedrum a Perfect instrum

The kettledrum, Mr.. Gabriel Cleath,
er contended. was perfectly compe-
tent to produce atmosphere as well
as rhythm. Even to tune the instru-
ment three things were required-a
perfect musical ear, fine sense OF
touch and five years experience. Aft
er playing over kettledrum melody
written so years ago from Meyerbeer's
Robert lie Diable," Mr.. Cleather con-
tinued; Il venture to say that outside
G the musical profession not one per-
son in hundred of those who listen
to an orchestra to-day knows that tim
pani have notes and can give out q
melody" No instrument, he added,
had greater range of power than the
kettledrum, for none could be played
more softly and none had greater pen
etrating power.
Gilpin observer., 1909-09-09
CHAPTER xxx.
McCloud and Dicksie,

News of the fight in Williams Cache
reached Medicine Bend in the night.
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-
f1icting 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-
ceiyed none. Even during the morn
ing nothing came, and the silence
seemed more ominous than the bad
news of the early night. Routine besi-
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 hesi-
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.
"Oh, Mr.. McCloud, have you heard the
awful news? Whispering Smith was
killed yesterday in Williams Cache by
Du Sang"
McCloud stiffened little. Il hope
that can't be true. We have had
nothing here but rumors; perhaps it is
these that you have heard"
No, no! Blake. one of our men,
was in the fight and got back at the
ranch at nine o'clock this morning.
| heard the story myself. and rode
right in to-to 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 must
have been riddled with bullets. Isn't
ii 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 1t 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 her
handkerchief. McCloud had been in
wrecks before, and gathered himself
together unmoved. What is it.
Rooney?"
The very calmness of the two at
sle table disconnected the dispatcher.
He held the message in his hand and
shutiied his feet. Give me your dis.
patch" said McCloud impatiently.
Quite unable TO take his hollow
eyes Off Dicksie poor Rooney ad-
yanced, handed the telegram to Nc
Cloud. and beat an awkward retreat.
McCloud devoured the words of the
message at glance.
"Ah!" he cried. this is from Cor
don himself. sent from Sleepy Cat.
He must be safe and unhurt. Listen:
Three oe 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
seagrus. g. 8.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-08-25
DROWN IN SIGHT .
OF MERRYMAKERS
FIVE PERSONS JUMP FROM A
BURNING LAUNCH-TWO WO-
MEN PERISH.

Burlington, Iowa, Aug, 21,-While
-,ndreds c. merrymakers watched
without any feeling of alarm, think
ng the occurrence a part of the py-
rotechnic display on the water, five
rors9ns last night jumped from a
flaming boat into the Mississippi
river, and two women were drowned.
A carnival was held yesterday,
and after darkness fell an elaborate
display of fireworks was set off on
barge in the middle of the river.
There was a set piece representing
the destruction of vessel by fire,
showing passengers jumping over
board to escape the flames.
Consequently, when a store of gun
nowser on a barge caught fire and
flames were hurled in all directions,
SPECTATORS on the shore did not be
come alarmed. A launch, containing
Marshall Jordan and wife, Mrs. |. D..
Conover and TWO men, all of Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, caught fire. The
alarming predicament of the party
was unnoticed by the onlookers until
the women began to scream and
throw themselves into the river. The
flames SWEEP the litttc craft from
stem to stern, and the ousted occu-
rants could not even cling to the
sides of the launch Other spectators
in launches went to the rescue. The
women had disappeared, and the men
were taken from the water ex-
hausted.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-08-25
p. MS MUST EcoNoMIzE.
Hitchcock Declares Taft Wants the
Expenses Reduced.

Toledo, o Aug. 21.-Addressing the
convention of the National Association
of First Glass Postmasters yesterday,
Postmaster General Frank H. Hitch
cock made public announcement OF
policy of strict economy throughout
the department, with which he re-
quested the postmasters to comply
He said:
''You are aware that the president
has requested each member of his cab
met to curtail the expenditures of his
department The national expenses
have increased with great rapidity
and we are confronted with situation
which requires careful attention to
prevent them from outstripping the
revenues.
Il am anxious to make good show
ing in the postoffice department
want each postmaster to use every
endeavor of reasonable economy in
his Office
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-08-25
Advance in Motor Car Efficiency.

The incline has done much TO al
vance the efficiency of steam engines,
and while the same method is used
nv some automobile manufacturers,
the hill climbing contest has given
greater scope to the powers of an
automobile and made possible colp-
petition side by side where there IS
no doubt as to what has the best car.
Endurance runs over hard roads and
under adverse conditions are doing
their share in advancing the auto
mobile from rattletrap contraption
into an efficient, reliable carrier which
makes possible daily communications
with outlying districts not connected
by steam roads or trolley cars.
One Of the greatest results of this
gigantic and comparatively new in
dustry is better highways through the
rural districts. Selfish may be tie
motorists in taking such pains in Sc
curing legislation in this direction,
yet it has and will prove Godsend
to the farmer who, in a few years
more, will be able to tell his grand
children about the big mud hole he
got stuck in and how it took four
teams to pull him out.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-08-25
TRADE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
The Grotesque Economic Situation
That Exists There Today.

Manila Letter 70 Boston Tran
script-The Philippine islands had
their trade relations under the Span
ish domination, and the term Manila
came to be applied as favorable
brand to their hemp and tobacco
The war destroyed a great many
farms, and even in the neighborhood
of Manila less land is under cultiva-
ton than fifteen years ago. Mean
while the Improvement in shipping
has brought the islands products into
a great world competition. And
though there is no fiscal obstacle in
the way of exporting whatever the
islands produce, the United States
has so far taken the ground (Which is
probably without parallel in history
that it will make no attempt to stimu-
late the trade of its own dependency.
There really is nothing more gro.
tesque in the world today than the
spectacle of a great nation taking pos
session of a group of islands on the
other side of the world, because a
tropical colony was in some unde-