Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-11-03

IOOh a Nurse anu TOUO away, anu O6u0,
with his guest, went back to the al
falfa, where Smith took Bob's place on
the mower. When they saw Bob rid
ing up the valley, Whispering Smith,
bringing in the machine, mounted his
horse.
your man is there all right" said
Bob, as he approached. HE and John
Rebstock were in the Blackbird sa-
Loom Seagrue isn't there, but Barney
Rebstock and a lot of others are. I
talked a few minutes with John and
Murray. Sinclair didn't say much !;
only that the railroad gang was trying
to run him out of the country, and he
wanted to meet few of them before
he went. 1 just imagined he held up
a little before me; maybe not.
There's dozen Williams Cache men
in town"
"But those fellows are not really
dangerous, Bob, though they may be
troublesome" observed Smith, re-
fectively.
well, what's your plan?" blurted
Gene Johnson.
81 haven't any, Gene" returned
Smith, with perfect simplicity. my
only plan is to ride into town and
serve my papers, if can. I've got a
deputyship-and that I'm going to do
right away. If you, Bob, or both of
you, will happen in about 80 minutes
later you'll get the news and perhaps
see the fun. Much obliged for your
feed, Gene; come down to Medicine
Bend any time and I'll fill you up. I
want you both for the elk hunt next
fall, remember that. Bucks is coming,
and is going to bring Brown and Hen
son and perhaps Atterbury and Gibbs
and some New Workers.; and Nc
Clouds brother, the preacher, is COM
ing out and they are all right-all of
them"
The only street in Oroville faces the
river, and the buildings string for two
or three blocks along modest bluffs.
Not 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 stif1y
over toward the saloon to size up the
men before he should enter it. The
middle man of the group, with a thin
red face and very blue eyes, was chew
ing tobacco in an unpromising way.
Before Smith was halfway across the
street he saw the hands of the three
men falling to their hips. Taking
care, however, only to keep the men
between him and the saloon door,
Smith walked directly toward them.
Boys, have you happened to see Gene
or Bob Johnson to-day, any of your"
He threw back the brim of his stetson
as he spoke.
Hold your hand right there-right
where it is" said the blue-eyed man
sharply.
Whispering Smith smiled, but held
his hand rather awkwardly upon his
hat-brim.
mo" continued the spokesman, eve
amt none of us happened to see Bob
or Gene Johnson to-day; but we hap
pen to seen Whispering Smith. and
we'll blow your face off if you move
it an inch"
with a man that's got the drop on me,
boys. Now, this is sudden but unex-
pected. Do / know any of your" He
looked from one face to another be-
fore him with a wide reach in his
field of vision for the three hands that
were fast on three pistol-butts. Hold
on! I've met you somewhere" he
said with easy confidence to the blue.
eyed man 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 40 head of steers in for
you" answered the man in the middle,
with a splitting oath. You stole 40
head of my steers in that roundup,
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, shoot!"
81 don't always do it, but it is bust
ness, 1 acknowledge. When 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 / want to
say you're after the wrong man. That
roundup was all Rebstock's fault, and
Rebstock is bound to make good all
loss and damage"
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, eff must, must. l sup
pose l may light cigarette, boys, be-
fore you turn loose the fireworks?"