The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-01

and perhaps Atterbury and Gibbs and
some New Workers; and McClOud's
brother, the preacher, is coming out
and they are all right-aIl Of them"
The only street in Oroville faces the
river, and the buildings string Tor two
or three blocks along modest bluffs. Not
a soul was anywhere in sight when
Whispering Smith rode into town. save
that across the street from where he
dismOUnted and tied his horse three men
stood in front of the Blackbird.
They watched the new arrival with
languid interest. Smith walked stiff1y
over toward the saloon to size up the
men before he should enter it. The mid
Gle man Of the group, with a thin red
face and very blue eyes, was chewing
toboccO in an unpromising way. Before
Smith was halfway across the street
he saw the hands Of the three men fall
ing to their hips. Taking care, how
ever, only to keep the men between him
and the saloon door. Smith walked di-
reCtly toward them. Boys, have you
happened to see Gene or Bob johnson
today, any of you?" He threw back the
brim Of his Stetson as he spoke.
Hold your hand right theTe-Tight
where it is" said the blue-eyed man
sharply.
whispering Smith smiled. but held
his hand rather awkwardly upon his hat
brirn.
No" continued the spokesman, I'VE
amt none of US happened to see Bob or
Gene Johnson today; but we happen to
seen Whispering Smith, and We'll blow
your face of if you move it an inch
Smith laughed. Il never quarrel with
man that's got the drop on me, boys.
Now this is sudden but unexpected. Do
I know any Of your" He looked from
one face to another before him with
wide reach in his field Of vision for the
three hands that were fast on three pis-
tOl butts. Hold on! I've met you
somewhere" he said with easy conf
denCe TO the bIue-eyed mRn with the
weather-split lip. Williams Cache,
wasn't it? All right, we're placed. Now
what have you got in for me?"
I've got forty head Of steers IN for
you" answered the man IN the middle.
with a splitting oath. You stole forty
head of my steers in that roundup.
and I'm going to fill you 50 full Of lead
you'll never run off no more stock for
nobody. Don't look over there to your
horse or your rifle Hold your hands
right where they are"
Certainly, certainly
when pull, I shOotp'
ness, acknowledge. When a man pulls
he ought to shoot-very often it's the
only chance he ever gets to shoot. Well,
it isn't every man gets the drop on me
that easy, but you boys have got it,
continued Whispering Smith in frank
admiration, only I want to say you're
after the wrong man. That roundup
was all Rebstocks fault, and RebstOck
is bound to make good all loss and dam
age"
You'll make good my share Of it right
now and here" said the man with the
Wash-blue eyes
why, of course" assented Whisper
ing Smith, IF I must, I must. I sup
pose I may light a cigarette, boys. be-
fore you turn loose the fireworks ?"
Light it quickr'
Laughing at the humor of the situa-
ton, Whispering Smith, his eyes beam
ing with good nature, put the finger and
thumb Of his right hand into his waist
coat pocket, drew out a package of
cigarette paper, and, bantering his cap
tors innocently the while, tore out
sheet and put the packet back. Fold
ing the paper in his two hands, he de-
ClaTed he believed his tobacco was in his
saddle pocket, and asked leave to step
across the street to get it. The trick
was too transparent, and leave was re-
fused with scorn and some hard words.
Whispering Smith begged the men in
front Of him in turn for tobacco. They
cursed him and shook their heads.
For an instant he looked troubled.
Still appealing to them with his eyes,
he tapped lightly the lower outside
pockets Of his coat with his fingers,
shifting the cigarette paper from hand
to hand as he hunted. The outside
pockets seemed empty. But as he tapped
the inside breast pocket on the left side
Of the cOat-the three men, lynx-eyed,
watching-his face frightened. stop"
said he, his voice sinking 70 2 relieved
whisper as his hand rested lightly on the
treasure. There's the tobacco. I sup
pose one Of you Will give me a match ?"
All that the three before him could
ever afterward TecOllsct-and for sew
eraI years afteTward they cudgeled
their brains pretty thoroughly about
that mOment-Was that Whispering
Smith took hold Of the left lapel of his