Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-19

~ II
CHAPTER xxxv. |
N ~. Among tho csyusss.
Ofovllle once marked farthest north
Cor the Peace river gold camps. but
With mining long ago abandoned it
now marks furthest south for a rus
tiers camp, being a favorite resort
Tor the people Of the Williams Cache
country. Oroville boasts that it has
never surrendered and that it has
never been clesned out. It has moved.
and been moved, up stream and down,
and from bank to bank; it has been
burned out and blown away and lived
on wheels; but 1t has never suffered
the loss Of its identity.
Whispering Smith, well busted with
alkah, rode up to the Johnson ranch,
eight miles southwest Of Oroville, in
the afternoon OF the day after he left
Medicine Bend The ranch lies in
valley watered by the Rainbow, and
makes pretty little oasis of green
In a limttless- waste of sagebrush.
Gene and Bob Johnson were cutting
alfalfa when, Whispering Smith rode
into the field, and, stopping the now
ers, the three men talked while the
seven horses nibbled the clover.
II may need little help; Gene, to
get him out OF town." remarked Smith,
after ne had told his story; 4'that is, II
there are too many Cache men there
for me-
Bob Johnson was stripping a stalk
of alfalfa In his fingers. Them fell
lows are pretty sore"
"That comes of half doing Job,
Bob. WIS In too much Of a hurry
with the roundup. They haven't had
dose enough yet" returned Whisper
ing Smith. 'tIf you and Gene will join
me sometime when have week to
spare, we will go In there, clean up
the gang and burn the hair OF the
roots of the chapparal-what? I've
limited to Rebstock he could get ready
for something Ike that"
Tell US about that fight, Gordon"
IT will II 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 CONN
They went to the house. where
Whispering Smith talked Is he ate. Bob
took q horse and rode away, and Gene.
With his guest, Wsnt, back to the al.
faka, whels Smith took Bob's place on
tho mower. When they saw Bob rid
ing up the valley, Whispering Smith.
bringing in the machine, mounted his
horse. -
Your man is there all right" said
Bob, as he approached. "He and John
Rebstock were In the Blackbird sa-
loon. seagrue isn't there. but Barney
Rebstock and a lot Of others are. I
talked a few minutes with John and
Murray. Sinclair didn't say much:
only that the railroad gang was trying
70 RIM him ont ofathe country, and he
wanted to meet al few of them before
he went. just imagined he held up
p 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.
dectively.
well, what's your plan?" blurted
Gene Johnson.
| II 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. II you, Bob, OF 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 I'LL 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 sAtterbury 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 soul was anywhere in sight
when Whispering Smith rode into
town, save that across the street from
where he dismourted and tied his
horse three men stood in front Of the
Blackb;rd.
They watched the new arrival with
languid interest. Smith walked stifly
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.
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 to-day. any Of you?"
He threw back the brim of his stetson
q he spoke.
Hold your hand right there-right
whore 1t is, !" said the blue-eyed man