The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-19

or coyertly friendly to Sinclair, while
against him were the homesteaders,
the railroad men, the common people
and the men who everywhere hate
cruelty and outrage and the making
of lie.
Lance Dunning had never concealed
his friendliness for Sinclair, even aft
er hard stories about him were known
to be true, and it was this confidence
of fellowship that made Sinclair. "a
hours after he had left Oroville, ride
down the hill trail to Craving Stone
ranchhouse
The morning had been cold, with a
heavy wind and dull sky. In the aft
ernoon the clouds lowered over the
valley and a misting rain set in, Dick
sic had gone into Medicine Bend on
the stage in the morning, and after
stolen half-hour with McCloud at
Marion's, had ridden home to escape
the storm. Not less, but much more,
than those about her she was alive to
the situation in which Sinclair stood
and its danger to those closest to her.
In the morning her one prayer to Nc
Cloud had been to have care of him
self, and TO Marion to have a care of
herself; but even when Dickse left
them it seemed as if neither quite felt
the peril as she felt it,
In the afternoon the rain, falling
steadily, kept her in the house, and
she sat in her room sewing until the
light failed. She went downstairs
Puss had lighted the CRATE in the
living room, and. Dicksie threw herself
into a chair. The sounds of hoofs
aroused her and she went to win
dow. To her horror, she saw Sinclair
walking with her cousin up 10 the
front door. She ran into the dining
room, and the two men entered the
hall and walked into the Office. Choll-
ing with excitement, Dicksie ran
through the kitchen and upstairs to
master her agitation.
In the Office Sinclair was sitting
down before the hot stove with a
tumbler of whisky. "Lance,"-he
! shook his head as he spoke hoarsely-
Il want to say my friends have stood
by me to man, but there's none of
them treated me squarer through
thick and thin than you have: Well,
I've had some bad luck. 1t can't he
helped. Regards"
He drank, and shook his wet hair
again. Four days of hard riding had
left no trace on his iron features. Wet
to the bone, his eyes flashed with fire
He held the glassful of whisky in a
hand as steady as a spirit-level and
tossed it down throat as cool as
dew
Il want to say another thing
Lance: | had no more intention than
a child of hurting Ed Banks. ] warned
Ed months ago to keep out of this
fight, and l never knew he was in il
till it was too late. But I'm hoping he
will pull through yet. if they don't
kill him in the hospital to spite me.
never recognized the man at all till ii
was too late. Why, one of them used
| to work for met A man with the
! whole railroad gang in these noun
| tains after him has got to look out fol
himself OF his life amt worth a glass
OF beer. Thank you, Lance, not any
more l saw two men. with theil
rifles in their hands, looking for me.
hollered at them; but, Lance, I'm rough
and ready, as all my friends know
and l will let no man put drop or
me-that | will never do. Ed, before
ever recognized him, raised his rifle
that's the only reason I fired Not sc
full, Lance, not so full, if you please
Well" he shook his black hair as he
threw back his head, here's to better
luck in worse countries!" He paused
as he swallowed, and set the tumblel
down. Lance, I'm saying good-by tt
the mountains"
You're not going away for good
Murray?"
Pm going away for good. What:
the use? For two years these railroad
cutthroats have been trying to pu
something on me; you know that
They've been trying to mix me VI
! with that bridge-burning at Smok,
creek; Sugar Buttes, they had me
there; Tower W-nothing would d.
but was there, and they've got ont
4 of the men in Jail down there now
Lance, trying to sweat enough perjur,
out of him to send me up. Wha
show has poor man got against al
the money there is in the country?
wouldn't be afraid of a jury = my owl
4 neighbors-the men that know me
Lance-any time. What show woul,
have with a packed jury in Medicin,
Bend? could explain anything Nv,
done to the satisfaction of any reason
able man. I'm human, Lance; that
all say. I've been mistreated an,
I don't forget it. They've even turne,
my wife against meas fine woma1
as ever lived"
Lance swore syn1pathetically
There's good stuff in you yet, Mu1
ray"
I'm going to say good-by to tn
mountains" Sinclair went on, grimly
but I'm going to Medicine Bend tc
night and tell the man that ha
bounded me what l think of him be
fore | leave. I'm going to give m
; wife chance to do what is right an
go with me. She's been poisone
against mel know that; but if sh
does what's fair and square there'll b
no trouble-no trouble at all. All
, | Nx-on g. -