Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-10

mas kept me out OF the mountains.
She says they would talk about her II
l lived in the same town, and have
stayed away" He threw himself back
into the chair. Sits going beyond
both of US now. I've kept the promise
l made to her to-day to do all in my
power to settle this thing without
bloodshed. 1t will not be settled in
that way. George"
Was he at Sugar Buttes?"
"If not. his gang was there. The
quick getaway. the short turn on Van
Horn. killing two men 20 rattle the
posse-it all bears Sinclair's ear
marks. He has gone too far. He has
piled up plumber till he is reckless.
He is crazy with greed and insane
with revenge. He thinks he can gal
Top over this division and scare Bucks
till he gets down on his knees 10 bim
Bucks viii never do a.. I know him
and l tell you Bucks will never do t..
He is like that man in Washington,
he viii fight q 10 the death. He would
fight Sinclair II he had to come up
here and meet him single-handed. but
he will never have 10 do Il. He put
you here. George. to round that man
up. This is the price for your advance
ment. and you must pay it,"
1t is all right for me TO pay II, but
! don't want you 20 pay 1t. VIII you
have a care for yourself. Gordon"
VIII your"
Yes"
You need never ask me to be care
full" Smith went on. THAT is my
business. I asked you TO watch your
window shades at night. and when
came in just now I found one up. It is
you who are likely 10 forget. and in
this kind OF a game man never for
gets but once I'll lie down on the
Lincoln lounge. George.
Get into the bed"
No; | like the lounge. and I'm on
early"
In the private room Of the superin-
tendent. provided as a sleeping apart
ment in the old headquarters building
many years before hotel facilities
reached Medicine Bend stood the only
curio the Wickiup possessed-tbe
Lincoln lounge. When the car that
carried the remains of Abraham Lin
coin from Washington TO Springfield
was dismantied. the Wickiup fell heir
20 one piece OF it's elaborate furnish
ings. the lounge. and the lounge still
remains as an early-day relic Wits
pering Smith walked into the bedroom
and disposed himself i'm an incredi-
bly, short time. I've borrowed one OF
your pillows. George" he called out.
presently.
Take both"
ones enough. hope" he went on,
rolling himself like N hen into the
double blanket. the horse Kennedy
has left me will be an right. he got
three from Bin Dancing I'm Dan
cling" he snorted. driving his nose into
the pillow as n I'm final memorandum
for the night. he will set himself
killed IL Zee fools around Sinclair too
much now"
McCloud. under a light shaded above
his desk opened a roll OF blue-prints.
lie was going 70 follow a construction
gang up the Crawling Stone I'm the
morning and wanted 20 look over the
surveys. Whispering smith. breath
ing regularly. lay not far away. Il
was late when McCloud put away his
maps. entered the inner room and
looked at his friend
He lay like a boy asleep. on the
chair beside his head he had placed
his old-fashioned hunting-case watch.
as big as an alarm clock. the kind q
railroad man would wind up with a
| spikc.maul Beside the watch he had
laid his huge revolver in its worn
leather scabbard Breathing peace
full he lay quite at his companions
! mercy. and McCloud. looking down on
this man who never made a mistake
never forgot Q danger, and never took
an unnecessary chance. thought of
what between men confidence may
sometimes mean He sat moment
with folded arms on the side of his
bed. studying the tired face defense
less in the slumber Of fatigue. When
he turned out the light and lay down.
he wondered whether, somewhere in
the valley of the great river 10 which
he was to take his men in the morn
ing. he should encounter the slight
and reckless horsewoman who had
blazed so in anger when he stood be-
fore her at Marion's. He had strug-
gled against her charm too long She
had become. how or when he could not
tell. not alone a pretty woman but a
fascinating one-the creature OF his
constant thought. Already she meant
more to him than all else in the world
He well knew that IL called on to
choose between nicksie and all else
he could only choose her. But as he
drew together the curtains OF thought
and sleep stole in upon him. he was re-
solved first 10 have Dicksie; 10 have
all else IL he could. but, in any case.
Dicksie Cunning. When he awoke day
was breaking in the mountains The
huge silver watch. the low-voiced man
and the formidable six-shooter had dis
appeared. II was time TO get up, and
Marion Sinclair had promised an early
breakfast