Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-11-26

hS h6HeB y oilSls Wudl dUOul
the horses?"
They're being loaded"
is the line clear?"
Rooney Lee is clearing II"
Spike 1t, George. and leaveevery west.
bound train in siding, with the engine
cut loose and plenty Of steam, till we
get by. It's now or never this time.
Two hundred and seventy.slx miles;
they're giving us our moneys worth.
Who's going with US, Farrell%
Bob Scott, Reed Young, and Brill,
IL Reed can get him at Sleepy Cat.
Dancing is loading the horses"
Il want Ed Banks to lead a posse
straight from here for Williams
Cache; Dancing can 90 with him. And
telephone Gene and Bob Johnson to sit
down in Canadian pass till they grow
TO the rocks, but not to let anybody
through II they want to live after |
see them. They've got all the instruc.
lions; all they need is the word. It's
a long chance, but think these are
our friends. You can head Banks OF
by telephone somewhere II we change
our minds when we get trail. Start
Brill Young and a good man from
Sleepy Cat ahead Of us, George, II you
can, In a baggage car with any horses
that they can get there. They can be
at Tower W by daybreak and per.
haps pick up a trail before we reach
there, and we shall have fresh horses
for them. I'm ready, l guess; let's
90. Slam the door, George!" In the
hall Whispering Smith threw a pocket.
light on his watch. Il want you to put
US there by seven o'clock"
Charlie Sellers is going to pull
you" answered McCloud. Have you
got everything? Then we're off," The
three men tiptoed down the dark hall
down the stairs, and across the street
on a noiselesI run for the railroad
yard.
The air was chill and the sky clear,
with a moon more than half to the
full. Lord, what a night to ride!"
exclaimed Whispering Smith, looking
mournfully at the stars. well
planned, we'll planned, | must admit"
The men FASTENED toward the yard.
where lanterns were movins about the
car OF the train guards near the Blue
Front stables. The loading board had
been lowered, and the horses were be.
Ing carefully led into the car. From a
switch engine behind the car a shrill
cloud Of steam beloved into the air.
Across the yard a great passenger en-.
CINE, its huge white side-rod rising and
falling slowly in the still light Of the
moon-one Of the mountain racers.
thick-necked like an athlete and deem.
chested-was backing down for the
run with the single car almost across
the west end Of the division. Train.
men were running to and from the
Wickiup platform. By the time the
horses were loaded the conductor had
orders. Until the last minute. Whis-
pering Smith was In consultation with
McCloud, and giving Dancing precise
instructions for the posse into the
Cache country. They we're st.ll talk.
ing at the side door OF the car. Nc.
Cloud and Dancing on the ground and
Whispering Smith squatting on his
launches inside the moving car, when
the engine signaled and the special
drew away from the chute, pounded
up the long run Of the ladder switch
and moved with gathering speed into
the canyon. In the cab Charlie Sol.
lers, crushing In his hand the tissue
that had brought the news OF his
brothers death. sat at the throttle. He
had no speed orders. They had
told him he had a clear track.