The Huttig news., 1909-12-04
CHAPTER xxxVi.
A Sympathetic Ear.


 When Whispering Smith rode after Sinclair. Crawling Stone ranch, in common with the whole countryside had but one interest in life, and that was to hear of the meeting. Riders across the mountain valleys met with but one question; mailcarriers brought nothing in their pouches of interest equal to the last word con corning Sinclair or his pursuer IL was commonly agreed through the mountains that it would be a difficult matter to overhaul any good man riding Sinclair's steel,dust horses, but with Sinclair himself in the saddle, unless it pleased him to pull up, the chase was sure to be a stern one Against this to feed speculation stood one mans record-that of the man who had ridden alone across Deep creek and brought Chuck Williams out on a blackboard
 Business in Medicine Bend, mean. time, was practically suspended. As the center of all telephone lines the big railroad town was likewise the center of all rumors. Officers and sol 'iers to and from the fort. stage driy CTS and cowmen, homesteaders and sustlers. discussed the apprehension of Sinclair. Moreover, behind this ef. fort to arrest one man who had sav- agely defied the law were ranged all If the preiudices, syupathies, and hatreds of the high country. and prac. tfcany the whole population tributarv
 o Medicine Bend and the Crawiinc Stone valley were friends either tc Sinclair or to his pursuer. Behind Sin clair were nearly all the cattlemen not alone because he was on gooe terms with the rustlers and protectef his friends, but because he warret openly on the sheepmen. The bi. range interests, as a rule, were openl or covertly friendly to Sinclair, whils against him were the homesteaders the railroad men, the common people and the men who everywhere hatt cruelty and outrage and the maxim of a lie.
 Lance Cunning had never conceale bis friendliness for Sinclair. even af, CT hard stories about him were knowi to be true, and it was this confidence of fellowship that made Sinclair, 9 hours after he had left Oroville. rid down the hill trail to Crawling Stone ranchhouse.
 The morning had been cold, with heavy wind and dull sky. In the aft ernoon the clouds lowered over the valley and misting rain set in. Dick sic had gone into Medicine Bend oi the stage in the morning, and, after stolen half-hour with McCloud a Marion's, had ridden home to escape the storm. Not less, but much more than those about her she was alive tt the situation in which Sinclair stood and it's danger to those closest to her In the morning her one prayer to Nc Cloud had been to have a care of him self, and to Marion to have a care o! herself; but even when Dicksie left them it seemed as if neither quite fel the peril as she felt it.
 In the afternoon the rain, falling steadily, kept her in the house, ano she sat in her room sewing until the light failed. She went downstairs russ had lighted the grate Tn tns living room, and Dicksie threw hersel into a chair. The sounds of hoof aroused her and she went to a win dow. To her horror, she saw Sinclair walking with her cousin up to the front door. She ran into the dining room, and the two men entered the hall and walked into the office. Chok 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 tumbler of whisky. Lance, he shook his head as he spoke hoarsely- T want to say my friends have stood by me to a man, but there's none of them treated me squarer through thick and thin than you have. Well, I've had some bad luck. It cant 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 hone. his eyes flashed with fire. He held the glassful of whisky in hand as steady as a spiritlevel and tossed it down a throat as cool as der.
 q want to say another thing.