Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-12-31

Smith. Anyway, We were there IN
time te see the horse"
"And Sinclair was away from the
ranch from Saturday noon till Sunday
night?"
"a rancher living over on STAN
pede creek saw the five men when
they crossed Saturday afternoon. The
fellow was scared and lied to me
about it, but he told Wickwire who
they were."
Now, who u Wickwire% asked
Bucks.
You ought to remember Wickwire.
George" remarked Whispering Smith,
turning to McCloud. you haven't |
forgotten the Smoky creek wreck? |
Do you remember the tramp who had |
his legs crushed and lay in the sun all
morning? You put him in your car
and sent him down here to the rail-
road hospital and Barnhardt took care
OF him. That was Wickwire. Not a
bad fellow, either; he can talk pretty
straight and shoot pretty straight.
How do know? Because he has told
me the story and I've seen him shoot. |
There, You see, Is one friend that you
never reckoned on. He used to be a
cowboy, and l got him a job working
for Sinclair on the Frenchman: he
has worked at Cummings and other
places on the Crawling Stone. He
hates Sinclair with a deadly hatred
for some reason. Just lately Wick
wire set up for himself on Little
Crawling Stone"
81 have noticed that fellows ranch"
remarked McCloud.
81 couldn't leave him at Sinclair's"
continued Whispering Smith, frankly. |
THE fellow was on my mind all the |
time. / felt certain he would kill Sin.
clair or get killed If he stayed there.
And then, when l took him away they
sprang Tower W on me- That is the
price, not of having a conscience,
for l haven't any, but of listening to
the voice that echoes where my con-
science used to be-" said the railroad
man, moving uneasily in his chair.
Bucks broke the ash from his cigar
into the tray on the table. You are
restless tonight, Gordon-and it isn't |
like you, either"
1T is in the air. There has been
a dead calm for two days. Something
is due to happen tonight. | wish I |
could hear from Banks; he started |
with the papers for Sinclair's yester.
day while went to 0roville to sweat |
Karg. Blood-poiSoning has set in and |
1t is rather important to us to get a
confession. There's a horse!" He
stepped to the window. Coming fast,
too. Now, l wonder-no, he's gone
by"
Five minutes later a messenger
came to the car from the Wickiup with |
word that Kennedy was looking for
Whispering Smith. Bucks, McCloud |
and Smith left the car together and
walked up to McClouds office.
Kennedy, sitting on the edge of the
table, was tapping his leg nervously
with ruler. bad news, Gordon"
mot from Ed Banks?"
Sinclair got him this morning"
Whispering Smith sat down. Go
on"
Banks and l picked up Wickwire
on the Crawling Stone early, and we
rode over to the Frenchman. Wick.
wire said Sinclair had been up at
Williams Cache the day before, and
he didn't think he was home. OF
course l knew the Cache was watched
and he wouldn't be there long, so Ed
asked me to stay in the cottonwoods
and watch the creek for him. He and
Wickwire couldn't find anybody home
when they got to the ranchhouse and
they rode down the corral together to
look over the horses"
Whispering Smiths hand fell help.
lessly on the table. Rode down to-
gether! For Gods sake, why didn't
one of them stay at the house?"
Sinclair rode out from behind the
barn and hit Wickwire in the arm be.
fore they saw him. Banks turned and
opened on him, and Wickwire ducked
for the creek. Sinclair put a soft bull.
let through Banks shoulder-tore it
pretty bad, GordOn-and made his get.
away before Wickwire and | could
reach the barn again. got Ed on his
horse and back to Wickwires, and
we sent one of the boys to Oroville for
doctor. After Banks fell out of the
saddle and was helpless Sinclair talked
to him before l came up. You ought
to have kept out Of this, Ed he said.
This is a railroad fight. Why didn't
they send the head of their own gang
after me?-naming you" Kennedy
nodded toward Whispering Smith.
Naming me-"
Banks says: I'm sheriff Of this