The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-12
"You Must Do Your Duty!"

with the roundup. They haven't had
dose enough yet" returned Whisper
ing Smith. IF you and Gene will Join
me sometime when have a week to
spare, we will go in there, clean up
the gang and burn the hair off the
roots of the chapparal-what? I've
limited to Rebstock he could get ready
for something like that"
"Tell US about that fight, Gordon"
Il will If you will give me something
to eat and have this horse taken care
of. Then, Bob, I want you to ride into
Oroville and reconnoiter. This is mail
day and understand some of the boys
are buying postage stamps to put on
my coffin
They went to the house, where
Whispering Smith talkedas he ate. Bob
took horse and rode away, and Gene,
with his guest, went back to the al
falfa, where Smith took Bob's place on
the mower. When they saw Bob rid.
ing up the valley, Whispering Smith,
bringingtin the machine, mounted his
horse
Your man is there all right" said
Bob, as he approached. 'He and John
Rebstock We're in the Blackbird sa.
loon. Seagrue isn't there, but Barney
Rebstock and lot of others are. 1
talked few minutes with John and
Murray. Sinclair didn't say much:
only that the railroad gang was trying
to run him out of the country, and he
wanted to meet few of them before
he went. I just imagined he held up
little before me; maybe not
There's dozen Williams Cache men
in town."
But those fellows are not really
dangerous, Bob, though they may be
troublesome" observed Smith, re-
fectively.
well, what's your plan?" blurted
Gene Johnson.
81 haven't any, Gene" returned
Smith, with perfect simplicity. "My
only plan is to ride into town and
serve my papers, If can I've got a
deputyship-and that I'm going to do
right away. If you, Bob, or both Of
you, will happen in about 80 minutes
later you'll get the news and perhaps
see the fun. Much obliged for your
feed, Gene; come down to Medicine
Bend any time and I'll fill you up.
want you both for the elk hunt next
fall, remember that. Bucks is coming,
and is going to bring Brown and Hen
son and perhaps Atterbury and Gibbs
and some New Workers; and Nc
Clouds brother, the preacher, is COM
ing out and they are all right-all of
them"
The only street in Oroville faces the
river, and the buildings string for two
or three blocks along modest bluffs.
! Not a soul was anywhere in sight
when Whispering Smith rode into
town, save that across the street from
where he dismounted and tied his
horse three men stood in front of the
Blackbird.
They watched the new arrival with
languid interest. Smith walked stiffly
over toward the saloon to size up the
men before he should enter it.. The
middle man of the group, with thin
red face and very blue eyes, was chew
.t-
ing tobacco in an unpromising way.
Before Smith was halfway across the
street he saw the hands Of the three
men falling to their hips. Taking
care, however, only to keep the men
between him and the saloon door,
Smith walked directly toward them.
Boys, have you happened to see Gene
or Bob johnson today, any of you?"
He threw back the brim Of his stetson
as he spoke.
Hold your hand right there-right
where It is." said the blue-eyed man
sharply.
Whispering Smith smiled, but held
his hand rather awkwardly upon his
at-brim.
"No." continued the spokesman. Eve
amt none OF US happened to see Bob
or Gene johnson to-day; but we hap
pen to seen Whispering Smith, and
we'll blow your face on II you move
It an inch.
Smith laughed. Il never quarrel
with q man that's got the drop on me.
boys. Now. this is sudden but unex-
pected. Do know any Of your" He
looked from one face to another be-