The Tupelo journal., 1909-10-08
CHAPTER xxx.
MccIoud and picksie.


telephones leading to the north coun-
try, made the circuit complete, but the
accounts, confused and colored in the
repeating, came in a cloud of con-
ficting rumors. In the streets, little
groups of men discussed the frag-
mentary reports as they came from
the railroad Offices. Toward morning.
Sleepy Cat, nearer the scene of the
fight, began sending in Geographic re-
ports in which truth and rumor were
strangely mixed. McCloud waited at
the wires all night, hoping for trust
worthy advices a to the result, but re-
ceived none. Even during the morn
ing nothing came, and the silence
seemed more ominous than the bad
news of the early night. Routine bust
ness was almost suspended and Nc
Cloud and Rooney Lee kept the wires
warm with inquiries.
At the noon hour McCloud was sign
ing letters when Dicksie Dunning
walked hurriedly up the hall and hest
tated in the passageway before the
open door of his office. He gave an
exclamation as he pushed back his
chair. She was in her riding suit just
as she had slipped from her saddle.
ooh, Mr.. McCloud. have you heard the
awful news? Whispering Smith was
killed yesterday in Williams Cache by
Du Sang"
McCloud stiffened a little. 81 hope
that can't be true. We have had
nothing here but rumors; perhaps it is
these that you have heard"
mo, no! Blake, one of our men,
was in the fight and got back at the
ranch at nine o'clock this morning.
1 heard the story myself, and 1 rode
right in toto see Marion, and my
courage failed mel came here first.
Does she know, do you think? Blake
saw him fall from the saddle after he
was shot, and everybody ran away,
and Du Sang and two other men were
firing at him as he lay on the ground.
He could not possibly have escaped
with his life, Blake said; he must
have been riddled with bullets. Isn't
it terrible?" She sobbed suddenly, and
McCloud, stunned at her words, led
her to his chair and bent over her.
IF his death means this to you,
think of what it mean TO mel"
A flood of sympathy bore them to-
gether. The moment was hardly one
for interruption, but the dispatcher's
door opened and Rooney Lee halted,
thunderstruck, on the threshold.
Dicksie's hand disappeared in her
handkerchief. McCloud had been in
wrecks before, and gathered himself
together unmoved. What is it,
Rooney"
The very calmness of the two at
the table disconnected the dispatcher.
He held the message in his hand and
shuf1ed his feet. Give me your dis
said McCloud, impatiently.
Quite unable to take his hollow
eyes off Dicksie, poor Rooney ad-
vanced, handed the telegram to Nc
Cloud, and beat an awkward retreat.
McCloud devoured the words of the
message at a glance.
"Ah!" he cried, this is from Cor
don himself, sent from Sleepy Cat.
He must be safe and unhurt! Listen:
Three OF the Tower W men trailed into
Williams Cache. In resisting arrest this
morning, Du Sang was ounde and is
dying tonight. Two prisoners, Karg and
Seagrue. G.. s.
''Those are Gordon's initials; it is
the signature over which he tele-
graphs me You see, this was sent
last night long after Blake left. He
is safe; l will take my life on it."
Dicksie sank back while McCloud
the message. ooh, isn't that a
she exclaimed. But how can
it be? I can't understand it at all;
but he is safe, isn't he? l was heart
broken when / heard he vas killed.
Marion ought to know of this" she
said, rising. Il am going to tell her,"
"And may l come over after l tell
Rooney Lee to repeat this to head
quarters?"
why, of course, if you want to-"
When McCloud reached the cottage
Dicksie met him. Katie Dancing's
is sick, and she has gone
home. Poor Marion is all alone this
morning, and half dead with a sick
said Dicksie. "But / told
her, and she said she shouldn't mind
the headache now at all"
But what are you going to do"
Il am going to get dinner; do you
want to help"
I'm going to help"
ooh, you are? That would be very
Funny or not, I'm going to help"
'sYou would only be in the way"
.'You don't know whether / should
or not"
II know / should do much better il
you would go back and run the rail
road a few minutes"
"The railroad be hanged. I am for
dinner"
But I will get dinner for you"
you need not. I can get it for my
you are perfectly absurd, and If
stand here d%isDuting, Marion won't
have anything to eat"
They went into the kitchen disput-
about what should be cooked. At
The end of an hour they had two fires
going-one in the stove and one in
Dicksie's cheeks. BY that time it had
been decided to have a luncheon in
stead Of a dinner. Dicksie attempted
soup, and McCloud found a strip
81 bacon, and after he had cooked It,
Dicksie. with her riding-skirt pinned
10 and her sleeves delightfully."- rolled
Jack, began frying eggs. When Marion,
hio 1cn0or ~ Withstand the nvcite.