Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-07
CHAPTER XIV.
Pursuit..

OAlA 4OOA6 pAChcO up d LTtll 0uuudy
morning at Tower w before the spe-
cial from Medicine Bend reached
there. The wrecked express car,
which had been set out, had no story
to tell. 'The only story" said Whis-
pering Smith, as the men climbed into
their saddles, lis in the one from the
hoofs. and the sooner we get after 1t
the better"
The country around Tower w, which
Is itself an operating point on the
western end Of the division, q mere
speck on the desert, lies high and
rolling. To the south. 60 miles away,
rise the Crosse Terre mountains, and
to the north and west lie the solitudes
Of the Heart range, while in the north
east are seen the three white Saddle
peaks Of the Missions. The cool.
bright sunshine of far and lonely
horizon greets the traveller here, and
ten miles away from the railroad, in
any direction, man on horseback and
unacquainted with the country would
wish himself-mountain men will tell
you-in hell, because 1t would be cas-
Ter to ride out Of.
To the railroad men the country
onered no unusual difficulties. The
Youngs were as much at home on a
horse as on hand car. Kennedy,
though large and powerful man, was
Injured to hard riding, and Bob Scott
and Whispering Smith in the saddle
we're merely a par-though an Inn
portant part-of their horses; without
killing their mounts, they could get
out OF them every mile in their legs.
The Eve men covered 20 miles on a
trail that read like print. One after
another of the railroad party COM
mented on the carelessness with which
1t had been left. But 20 miles south
OF the railroad. in an open and COM
paratively easy country, it was swal-
lowed completely up in the tracks of
100 horses. The railroad men circled
far and wide. only to find The herd
tracks everywhere ahead of them.
"This is beautiful Job" murmured
Whispering Smith as the party rode
together along the edge Of a creek
bottom. Now who is their friend
down in this country? What man
would get out bunch Of horses like
this and work them this hard SO early
in the morning? Let's hunt that man
up. I like to meet q man that is a
friend In need"
Bob Scott spoke: II saw a man
with some horses In a canyon across
the creek few minutes ago. and 1
saw ranchhouse behind those buttes
when rode around them"
stop! Here's a man riding right
into our Jaws" muttered Kennedy.
Divide up among the rocks" A horse
man from the south came galloping up
the creek. and Kennedy rode out with
an ivory amile to meet him. The two
men parleyed for a moment, disputed
each other sharply, and rode together
back to the railroad party.
Haven't seen any men looking for
horses this morning, have your" asked
Whispering Smith, eying the stranger.
squat. square-jawed fellow with a
cataract eye.
I'm looking for horses myself. I
AaAA = 0CSA 6Ayu Vuy 01SSs W0aE are
you looking for?"
II this your bunch Of horses that
got loose here?" asked Smith.
NO."
7 thought" said Kennedy. smiling,
you said a minute ago they were.D
The stranger fixed his cataract on
him Hike Z aash-light. II changed my
mind"
Whispering Smiths brows rose pro.
testipgly. but he spoke with perfect
AVAILABILITY as he raised his finger to
bring the good eye his way. .You
ought to change Jour hat whom you
eAange your mind. ! saw you driving
q bunch Of horses up that canyon .
few minutes ago. Nov. RockStro. do
you sall drag Your left le9fs s. t5 q
The rancher looked steadily e his
new inquisitor. but biinked like q
gopher It the sudden onslaught
Which Of you fellows r. Whfsperins
6taittkh Z" Nc demanded. ss5ss ,s. Z,