Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-07
CHAPTER XXI.
The Can

rode into town and rode out again on
their separate and silent ways. Wits
pering Smith for two days seemed 10
do nothing. Yet instinct keener than
silence kept the people OF Medicine
Bend on edge during those two DAYS.
and when President Bucks car came
in on the evening OF the second day.
the town knew from current rumors
that Banks had gone 90 the French
man ranch with q warrant on a seri-
Gus charge for Sinclair Ia tis presi-
dents car Bucks aud McCloud after
late dinner. were Joined 6y Whisper.
ing Smith. and the president heard
the first connected story of the events
OF the fortnight that had passed.
Bucks made no comment until he had
heard everything And they rode
Sinclair's horses" ne said I'm con
clusiou
"Smclair's horses" returned Wits
pering Smith. and they are an ac-
counted for. One horse supplied BY
Bebstock was shot where thcy crossed
Stampede creek. Il had given out and
they had fresh horse in the willows.
for they shot the scrub half mile mn
one of the canyons near the crossing.
The msgpies attracted my attention
TO IL. piece Of Skin a foot square
had been cut out OF the flank"
You got there before the birds"
1t was about an even thing" said
smith. Anyway. We were there I'm
time 20 see the horse"
And Sinclair was away from the
ranch from Saturday noon till Sunday
niSht?"
"A rancher living over on STAN
pede creek saw the five men when
they crossed Saturday afternoon. The
fellow was scared and lied 10 me
about H. but he told Wickwire who
they were"
Now. who is wickwire?" asked
Bucks
You ought 90 remember Wickwire
| George" remarked Whispering smith
| turning 90 McCloid ''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 20 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 lie used 20 be
cowboy. and ! 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"
Il have noticed that fellows ranch. "
remarked McCloud
Il couldn't leave him ar Sinclair's "
continued Whispering smith. frankly.
The fellow was on my mind all the
time. felt certain he would kin Sin.
clair or get killed II ne stayed there.
And then. when ! took him away they
sprang Tower W on me, That Is the
price. not or having a conscience.
for ! haven't any. but OF listening 20
the voice that echoes where nay con.
science used 90 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 II isn't
like you, either"
1T is in the air There has bean
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.
QaN while I wont ~ nr,.-frr-.
harg. Blood-po!soning has set in and
II is rather important 20 us TO get a
confession. There's a horsei" He
stepped to the window Coming fast
too. Now. 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 McCloud's Office.
Kennedy. sitting on the edge of the
table, was tapping his leg nervously
with a ruler. bad news. Gordon"
Not from Ed Banks2"
Sinclair got him this morning"
Whispering Smith sat down. Go
on"
Banks and ! 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. or
course knew the Cache was watched
and be wouldn't be there long. so Ed
asked me 10 stay In tho coffoDuyoodz
and watch the creek for him. He and
Wickwire couldn't find anybody home
when they got 20 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