The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-12-16

dangerous. Bob. though they may be
troublesome" observed Smith, TO
nectively.
Well. what's your Dlazf" blurtsd
Gene Johnson.
Il haven't any. Gene" returned
Smith. with perfect simplicity. MY
only plan is to ride into town and
serve my papers. II can. I've got
deputyship-snd that I'm going TO do
right away. II you. Bob. or both OF
you. will happen in about 30 minutes
later you'll get the news and perhaps
see the fun Much obliged for your
feed. Gene: come down 10 Medicine
Bend any time and Ill fl you up.
want you both for the elk hunt next
fall. remember that Bucks Is coming.
and Is going to bring Brown and Hen
son and perhaps Atterbury and Gibbs
and some New Workers: and Nc
Clouds brother. the preacher. is com
ing out and they are all right-all OF
them
The only stree; in oroville faces the
river. and the buildings string for two
or three blocks along modest bluffs.
Not a soul was anywhere In sight
when Whispering Smith rode into
town. save that across the street from
where he dismounted and tied his
horse three men stood in front Of the
Blackbird.
They watched the new arrival with
languid interest. Smith walked stiffiy
over toward the saloon to size up the
men before he should enter H. The
middle man OF the group. with a thin
red face and very blue eyes. was chew
ing tobacco in an unpromislng way.
Before Smith was halfway across the
street he saw the hands OF the three
men falling to their hips. Taking
care. however. only to keep the men
between him and the saloon door.
Smith walked directly toward them.
Boys. have you happened to see Gene
or Bob Johnson to-day. any OF your"
He threw back the brim Of his stetscn
as he spoke.
Hold your hand right there-right
where II Is" said the blue-eyed man
sharply.
Whispering Smith smiled. but held
his hand rather awkwardly upon his
hat-brim.
mo" continued the spokesman, I'VE
Amt none Of us happened to see Bob
or Gene Johnson to-day; but We hap
pen to seen Whispering Smith. and
vel blow your face OF II you move
II an inch"
Smith laughed. Il never quarrel
with a man that's got the drop on me,
boys. Now, this Is sudden but unex'
pected. Do l know any OF your He
looked from one face 20 another be
fore him with a wide reach In his
field OF vision for the three hands that
were fast on three pistol-buttS. Hold
on! I've met you somewhere" he
said with easy confidence to the blue
eyed man with the weather-split lip
Williams Cache, wasn't it, Ali right
we're placed. Now what have you got
In for met"
1--WE got 40 head Of steers In foI
! you" answered the man In the middle
/ with a splitting oath. You stole a
! head OF my steers in that roundup
! and ~ going to all you so full OF lead
. you'll never run OF no more stock fol
, nobody. Don't look over there to YOU
} horse or your rife. Hold your hands
: right where they are"
} Certainly. certainly"
when ! pull. shoot"
, Il don't always do II. but II is bust
ness, acknowledge. When a mar
I pulls he ought 10 shoot-very often III
} the only chance he ever gets TO shoot
Well. IL isn't every man gets the droI
( on me that easy, but you boys hay'
: got f." continued Whispering Smitl
In frank admiration. "ODly want e
, say you're after the wrong man. Tha
: roundup was all Rebstock's fault anC
! Rebstock is bound to make good al
: loss and damage"
! You'll make good my share OF 4
D right now and here" said the maj
, with the wash-blue eyes.
3 why. OF course" assented Whisper
3 ing Smith, IF | must | must. l sup
= pose / may light a cigarette, boys. be
fore you turn loose the fireworks?"
Light It euicki"
? Laughing az the humor OF the situa
e ton, Whispering Smith. his eye
D beaming with good nature. put tn
! finger and thumb OF his right ham
5 into his waistcoat pocket. drew out
q package OF cigarette paper. and. bar
tering his captors innocently thu
e while. tore out a sheet and put tn
b packet back. Folding the paper in hi
J, two hands. he declared he believed hi
+ tobacco was in his saddle-pocket, ant
q asked leave to step across the stree
/ to get II. The trick was too transpaI
|. emit, and leave was refused with scori
s and some hard words. Whisperin
Smith begged the men in front OF hin
a in turn for tobacco. They cursed hir
n and shook their heads.
!. For an instant he looked troubled
v Still appealing to them with his eye:
/ he tapped lightly the lower outsid
d pockets Of his coat with his fingers