Gilpin observer., 1909-08-12

to what | say: Don't ever quote me
or let it appear that you any more
than know me. Can you manage
that? Really? Very good; you will
understand why in a minute. The
man that is stirring up all this trouble
with your Cousin Lance and in this
whole country is your kind and good
natured neighbor, Mr.. Sinclair. 1 am
prejudiced against him; let us admit
that on the start, and remember it in
estimating what 1 say. But Sinclair
is the man who has turned your cous-
ms head, as well as made things in
other ways unpleasant for several of
us. Sinclair tell you so you will
understand everything, more than
your cousin, Mr.. McCloud, or Marion
Sinclair MISUNDERSTANDING is a
train-wrecker and murderer. That
makes you. breathe hard, doesn't it?
but it is SO. Sinclair is fairly edu-
Gated and highly intelligent, capable
in every way, daring to the limit, and,
in way, fascinating; 1t is no wonder
lie has a following. But his following
is divided into two classes: The
men that know all the secrets, and the
men that dont-men like Rebstock
and Du Sang, and men like your cous-
in and hundred or so sports in Medi-
cine Bend, who see only the glamour
of Sinclair's pace. Your cousin SYM
pathizes with Sinclair when he doesn't
actually side with him All this has
helped to turn Sinclair's head, and
this is exactly the situation you and
McCloud and / and lot of others are
up against. They don't know all this,
hut | know 1t, and now you know it.
Let me tell you something that comes
close to home. You have a cowboy
on the ranch named Karg-he is
called Flat Nose. Karg was a railroad
man. He is cattle-thief, a train
robber, murderer, and spy. should
not tell you this if you were not game
to the last drop of your blood. But l
think l know you better than you
know yourself, though you never saw
me until last night. Karg is Sinclair's
spy at your ranch, and you must never
feel it or know it; but he is there to
keep your cousins sympathy with Sim
clair, and to lure your cousin his way.
And Karg will try to kill George Nc
Cloud every time he sets foot on this
ranch, remember that"
Then Mr. McCloud ought not to be
here. l don't want him to stay if he
is in danger!" exclaimed Dicksie.
But | do want him to come here
as If it mattered nothing, and l shall
try to take care of him. l have a man
among your own men, cowboy named
Wickwire, who will be watching Karg
and who is just as quick, and Karg,
not knowing he was watched, would
be taken unawares. If Wickwire goes
elsewhere to work some one else will
take his place here. Karg is not on
the ranch now; he is up north. hunt
ing up some of your steers that were
run off last month by his own cronies.
Now do you think l am giving you
confidence?"
She looked at him steadily. "If l
can only deserve it ALL" In the dis
tance she heard the calling of the men
at the river borne on the wind. The
shock of what had been told her, the
strangeness of the night and of the
scene, left her calm. Fear had given
way W ana DlCkSle
seemed to know herself.
you have nothing whatever to do
to deserve it but keep your own coun-
sci. But listen a moment longer-for
this is what l have been leading up
to-" he said. Marion will get a mes
sage tomorrow, a message from Sim
clair, asking her to come to see him
at his ranch-house before she goes
back. l don't know what he wants
but she is his wife. He has treated
her UNANIMOUSLY; that is why she will
not live with him and does not speak
of him. But you know how strange a
woman is-or perhaps you don't; she
doesn't always cease to care for a man
when she ceases to trust him. | am
not In Marion's confidence. Miss Dick
sic. She is another mans wife. 1
cannot tell how she feels toward him:
| know she has often tried to reclaim
him from his deviltry. She may try
again, that is, she may, for one reason
or another, go to him as he asks. /
could not interfere. IL | would. I
have no right to if l could, and | will
not. Now this is what I'm trying to
get up the courage to ask you. Should
you dare to go with her to Sinclair's
ranch If she decides to go to him?"
Certainly l should dare" ..
After all you know?'
After all know-why not?"
Then in case she does go and you
go with her, you will know nothing
whatever about anything. of course,
nj
What l fear is that which possibly
may come of their interview. He may
try to kill her-don't be frightened.
He will not succeed If you can only
make sure he doesn't lead her away
on horseback f'om the ranch.house or
get her alone III a room. She has few