The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-09-30

ranch not so very long before the trou
BILE began. Dicksie Dunning was away
az school at the time, and Lance Dun
ming was celebrating with riding and
shooting feet and a barbecue.
The whole country had been invited
Bucks was in the mountains on an in
spection trip. and Bill Dancing drove
him with a party Of railroad men over
from Medicine Bend. The mountain
men for $50 miles around were out
Gene and Bob Johnson. from oroville
and the Peace river. had come with
their friends. From Williams Cache
there was not only a big delegation
more Of one than was really desirable
but It was led by old John Rebstock
himself When the invitation Is gen.
eral, lines cannot be too closely drawn.
Not only was Lance Cunning some
thing OF a sport himself, but on the
Long Range Il is part Of a stockman's
creed to be on good terms with his
neighbors. AZ a Thanksgiving day bar
becue not even a mountain sheriff
would ask questions.
Among the railroad people we're
George McCloud. Anderson. the assis-
tant superintendent. Farrell Kennedy.
chief OF the special service. and his
right-hand man, Bob Scott. In espe-
cial, Sinclairs presence at the barbe-
cue was recalled. He had some cronies
with him from among his up-country
following, and was introducing his
new bridge foreman. Karg. sfterward
known as Flat Nose. and George Sea
grue. the Montana cowboy. Sinclair
fraternized that day with the Williams
Cache men. and II was remarked even
then that though a railroad man he APP
peared somewhat outside the railroad
circle. When the shooting matches
were announced a brown-eyed railroad
man was asked to enter. lie had been
out OF the mountains for some time
and was comparative stranger
in the gathering. but the VIII
liams Cache men had not for
gotten him; Rebstock. especially.
wanted 70 see him shoot. While much
OF the time out OF the mountains on
railroad business. he was known To be
closely in Bucks couhsels. and as TO
the mountains themselves. he was re-
puted to know them better than Bucks
Or Glover himself knew them. This
was Whispering Smith: but. beyond
a low-voiced greeting or an expression
OF surprise at meeting an old ac'
quaintance, he avoided talk. When
urged 10 shoot he resisted all persua-
sion and backed up his refusal by
showing bruise on his trigger finger
He declined even TO act as Judge In
the contest, suggesting the sheriff. Ed
Banks. for that ONCE.
McCloud did not NEE. the host.
Lance Dunning. that day nor since the
day OF the barbecue had Du Sang or
Sinclair seen Whispering Smith until
the night Du Sang spotted him near
the wheel in the Three Horses. Du
Sang at once drew out OF his game
and left the room. Sinclair In the
meantime had undertaken a quarrel
some interview with Whispering
Smith.
Il supposed you knew was here"
said Smith to him. amiably. "of
course don't travel In a private car
or carry billboard on my back. but
haven't been hiding"
The last time we talked" returned
Sinclair. measuring words carefully,
you we're going to stay out OF the
mountains"
Il should have been glad 10. Murray.
Affairs are in such shape on the d.
vision now that somebody had to
come. so they sent for me"
The two men we're sitting at a table.
Whispering Smith was cutting and
leisurely mixing a pack OF cards.
We'll. so far as I'm concerned, I'm
out of g." Sinclair went on after
pause. but. however that may be- il
you're back here looking for trouble
there's no reason, guess. why you
can't find It."
That's not IL. I'm not here looking
for trouble; I'm here TO fix this thing
up. What do you wanf?"
"Not a thing"
I'm willing to do anything fair and
right" declared Whispering Smith,
raising his voice a little above the
hum OF the rooms.
Fair and right is an old song"
And a good one TO sing In this
country just now. Ill do anything /
can to adjust any grievance, Murray.
What do you WANT"
Sinclair for a moment was silent,
and his answer made plain his unwill-
ingness to speak at all. There never
would have been a grievance II I'd
been treated like a white man." His
eyes burned sullenly. "Fve been
treated like dog"
That is not It,"
THAT is IT," declared Sinclair, saw.
agely. "and they'll find it's it,"
Murray, l want to say only this
only this to make things clear Bucks
feels that he's been treated worse than
a dog"
Then let him put me back where
l belong"
Its a little late for that, Murray;
little late" said Smith, gently.
Shouldn't you rather take good
money and get OF the division? Mind
you, say good money, Murray-and