The log cabin Democrat., 1909-10-16
CHAPTER XXxlV.
WickWire.


 McCloud and Dicksie met them at the porch door. Marion, unnerved, went directly to her room. Whisper ing Smith stopped to speak to Dicksie and McCloud interposed. Bob Scott telephoned the office just now he had man from Oroville who wanted to see you right away Gordon" said he. T told him to send him over here. It is Wickwire."
 "Wickwire," repeated Whispering Smith. "Wickwire has no business here that l know of; no doubt it is something l ought to know of. And, by the way. you ought to see this man." he said. turning again to Dick sic If McCloud tells the story right, Wickwire is sort of protege of yours. Miss Dicksie, though neither of you seems to have known it. He is the tramp cowboy who was smashed up in the wreck at Smoky creek. He is not a bad man, but whisky. you know, beats some decent men" A footstep fell on the porch. There he comes now, l reckon. Shall l let him in minute?"
 "Oh, l should like to see him, He has been at the ranch at different times, you know"
 Smith opened the door and stepping out on the porch talked with the new conner. In moment he brought him in. Dicksie had seated herself on the sofa, McCloud stood in the doorway of the dining room, and Whispering Smith laid one arm on the table as he sat down beside it with his face above the dark shade of the lamp. Before him stood Wickwire. The half-light threw him up tall and dark but it showed the heavy shock of black hair falling over his forehead, and the broad, thin face of mountain man.
 He has just been telling me that Seagrue is loose" Whispering Smith explained, pleasantly. Who turned the trick, Wickwire?"
 Sheriff Coon and a deputy jailer started with Seagrue for Medicine Bend this morning. Coming through Horse Eye canyon, Murray Sinclair and Barney Rebstock got a clean drop on them, took Seagrue, and they all rode off together. They didn't make any bones about it, either. Their gang has got lots of friends over there, you know. They rode into Atlantic City and stayed over an hour. Coon tracked them there and got up a posse of six men. The three were standing in front of the bank when the sheriff rode into town. Sinclair and Seagrue got on their horses and started off Rebstock went back to get another drink When he came out of the sa- loon he gave the posse a gun-fight all by himself, and wounded two men and made his getaway
 Whispering Smith shook his head, and his hand fell on the table with a tired laugh, Barney Rebstock," he murmured, of all men. Coward skate. filler-in. Barney Rebstock- stale-beer man, sneak. barnyard thief. Hit two men," He turned to McCloud What kind of a wizard is Murray Sin clair? What sort of red-blood toxin does he throw into his gang to draw out spirit like that? Murray Sin clair belongs to the race of empire builders. By heavens, it is pitiful a man like that should be out of jobi England, McCloud, needs him And here he is holding up trains on the mountain division!"
 They are all up at Oroville with the Williams Cache gang, celebrating" '" continued Wickwire.
 Whispering Smith looked at the cowboy. "Wickwire, you made a good ride and l thank you. You are all right. This is the young lady and