The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-09-10
CHAPTER XIV.
At the wickiup.

At the Wickiup.
Two nights later Whispering Smith
rode into Medicine Bend. i've been
up around Williams Cache,"s he said,
answering McCloud's greeting as he
entered the upstairs office. How goes
it." He was in his riding rig, Just as
he had come from a late supper.
When he asked for news McCloud
told him the story of the trouble with
Lance Dunning vel the survey, and
added that he had referred the matter
to Glover. He told then Of his I'M
pleasant surprise when riding home
afterward.
Yes" assented Smith, looking with
feverish interest at McCloud's head:
Il heard about it."
That's odd, for 1 haven't said a
word about the matter to anybody but
Marion Sinclair, and you haven't seen
her"
Il heard up the country. 1t is great
luck that he missed you"
Who missed me?"
THE man that was after YOU"
THE bullet went through my hat"
Let me see the hat"
McCloud produced it. 1t was a
heavy, broad-brimmed Stetson, with a
bullet hole cut clearly through the
front and the back of the crown.
Smith made McCloud put the hat on
and describe his position when the
shot was fired. McCloud stood up.
and Whispering Smith eyed him and
put questions,
What do you think of it," asked
McCloud when he had done.
Smith leaned forward on the table
and pushed McCloud's hat toward him
as II the incident were closed. '.There
is no question in my mind, and there
never has been. but that Stetson puts
up the best hat worn on the range"
McCloud raised his eyebrows. why,
thank you! Your conclusion clears
things so. After you speak a man
has nothing to do but guess
But, by heaven, George exclaimed
Smith, speaking with unaccustomed
fervor, Miss Dicksie Dunning is a
hummer, isn't she? That child win
have the whole range going in another
year. To think of her standing I'm
and flashing her cousin in that way
when he was browbeating a railroad
mani"
Where did you hear about that?"
The whole Crawling Stone country
is talking about it. You never told
me you had a misunderstanding with
Dicksie Cunning at Marion's. Loosen
up!"
Il will loosen up in the way you do.
What scared me most, Gordon, was
waiting for the second shot. Why
didn't he fire again?"
Doubtless he thought he had you
the first time. Any man big enough
to start after you is not used to shoot
ing twice at ESQ yards. He probably
thought you were falling out of the
saddle; and it was dark. l can account
for everything but your reaching the
pass so late. How did you spend all
your time between the ranch and the
foothills?'
McCloud saw there was no escape
from telling of his meeting with Dick
sic Dunning, of her warning, and of
his ride to the gate with her. Every
point brought a suppressed exclama-
ton from Whispering Smith. $50 she
gave you your life,"Sh he unused. Good
for her! If you had got into the pass
on time you could not have got away
the cards were stacked for you. He
overestimated YOU a little, George;
just a little. Good men make mis-
takes. The sport of circumstances
that we are! The sport of icircum-
stances!"
snow tell me how you heard so
much about it, Gordon. and where?"
Through a friend, but forget it."
do you know who shot at me?"
yes"
y think do, too. I think 1t was
the fellow that shot so well with the
rifle at the barbecue-what was his
name? He was working for Sinclair,
and perhaps is yet"
"You mean Seagrue, the Montana
cowboy? No, you are wrong. Seagrrue
is a man-killer, but a square one"
How do you know"
Il will tell you sometime-but this
was not Seagrue."
"one Ct Cummings men. was 1t?
Stormy Gorman?"
mo, no, a very different sort!
Stormy is a wind-bag. The man that
is after you is in town at this minute,
and he has come to STAY until he
finishes his job"
THE devil! That's what makes
your eyes SO bright, is It? Do you
know him?"
Il have see him. You may see him
yourself ii you want to-"
I'D like nothing better. When"
"To-night-in 30 minutes" Nc.
Cloud closed his desk. There was a
rap at the door.
THAT must be Kennedy" said
Smith. Il haven't seen him, but /
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