Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-12-10
by FRANK II. SpEARMAN q
q ILLUSTRATIONS o u
BY ANDRE BOWLES O.
SYNOPSIS.
IS sY cHAS ScRleNER5 SONS

Murray sinclsir and his gang Of wreck;
ers were called out to clear the railroad
tracks at Smoky Creek. McCloud,
young road superintendent, caught SIN
clair and his men in the act OF looung
the wrecked train. Sinclair PLEADED IN
nocence, declaring II only amounted 70 q
small sum-a treat for the men. McClouo
discharged the whole outfit and ordered
the wreckage burned. McCloud became
acquainted with Dicksie Dunning, 3 ~
OF the west who came TO look Al e Sne
wreck. She gave him q nessage'tor sln,
clair. whispering Gordon smith t9lo
President Bucks Of the railroad, OF NC
Clouds brave fight against a gang Oh
cra1ed miners and that was the reason
for the superintendent appointment "
his high office. McCloud arranged 10
board at the boarding house OF mrs. 1in-
clair, the ex-foreman's deserted wig.
Dickgie Dunning was the daughter Oh Ihe
late Richard Dunning, who had cleo ~ :
demise, which occurred after one year Vi
married life. Sinclair visited Marion SIN,
Glars shop and fight between him ana
AcCloud was narrowly averted. enlony
Creek bridge was mysteriously pulneu'
. McCloud prepared to face the situauVnh.
President Bucks notified Smith tnsl ~
had work ahead. MeCloud worked io[
days and finally got the division runnIhs
in fairly good order. He overheard DICK
sic criticising his methods, to Marion
Sinclair A stock train was wrecked py
an open switch. Later a passenger Tram
was held up and the express car roooeu.
Two men Of posse pursuing tne Danuls
were killed. McCloud was notihed mat
Whispering Smith was to hunt the des-
peradoes. Bill Dancing, road nnemah,
proposed that Sinclair and his gang DC
sent to hunt the bandits. A stranger, APP
parently with authority, told him 70 go
was whispering Smith" Smith ,ap-
preached Sinclair. He tried to buy MIN
on, but failed. He warned McCloud that
his life was in danger. McCloud was car
ried forcibly into Lance Cummings pres
.ence. Dunning refused the railroad
Tight-of-way, he had already signed Tor.
Dicksie interfered to prevent a shooung
ARRAY. Dicksie met McCloud on lonely
trail to warn him his life was In danger.
On his way home a shot passed through
his hat Whispering Smith reported that
Du Sang, one of Sinclair's gang, had been
assigned to kill McCloud. He and Smien
saw Du Sang. Whispering Smith taunt-
ed Du Sang and told him to get out OF
Medicine Bend or suffer. Du Sang seemed
to succumb to the bluff. McCloud's big
construction job was taken from MIN De-
cause Of an Injunction issued 10 LANCE
Dunning by the United States court, A
sudden rise Of the Crawling Stone river
created CONSERVATION. Dicksie and Ma
rion appealed to McCloud for help; Wits;
pering Smith Joined the group. He ano
Dicksie spent the night in conversation,
Smith giving the girl an outline OF MS
life. In the morning McCloud took his
men to fight the river. Lance Dunning
welcomed them cordially. McCloud sue,
.ceeded in halting the flood He accepted
Cummings hospitality. Dicksie and Ma
G ron visited Sinclair at his ranch. Ht
tried to persuade his deserted wife to re.
turn to him. She refused. He accused
Whispering Smith Of having, stolen ne
love from him. A train was held up an(
robbed, the bandits escaping. Smith anC
.McCloud started in pursuit At BaggI
ranch Du Sang killed old Baggs. Wits
pering Smith befriended his ten-year-olt
son. They came to Williams Cache
Smith was certain the bandits wer
there.