The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-26

ooD dL Iue mouth OF Lne CaCno there
was little fear for that outlet. The
turn to the left was the unexpected.
Over the little fire in the ranch kitch-
en- where they ate supper. the four
men were in conference 20 minutes.
1t was decided that Scott and Kennedy
should head for the Mission pass,
while Whispering Smith, with Wick
wire to trail with him, should under
take to cut OF, somewhere between
Fence river and the railroad. the man
who had gone south, the man believed
to be Sinclair. It was late moon,
and when Scott and Kennedy saddled
their horses Whispering Smith and
Wickwire were asleep.
With the cowboy, Whispering Smith
started ct daybreak. No one saw
them again for two days. During
those two days and nights they were
in the saddle almost continuously.
For every mile the man ahead of them
rode they were forced to ride two
miles and often three. Late in the
second night they crossed the railroad,
and the first word from them came in
long dispatches sent by Whispering
Smith to Medicine Bend and instruc-
tons to Kennedy and Scott in the
north, which were carried by hard
riders straight to Deep creek.
On the morning of the third day
Dicksie Dunning, who had gone home
from Medicine Bend and who had been
telephoning Marion and George Nc
Cloud two days for news, was trying
to get Medicine Bend again on the
telephone when Puss came in to say
that man at the kitchen door wanted
to see her.
"Who ID it, Puss?"
II dino, Miss Dicksie; deed, never
seen him b'fore."
Dicksie walked around on the porch
to the kitchen. A dust-covered man
sitting on limp horse threw back the
brim of his hat as he touched it, lifted
himself stif1ly out of the saddle, and
dropped to the ground. He laughed at
Dicksie's startled expression. Don't
you know me?" he asked, putting out
his hand. It was Whispering Smith.
He was fearful sight. Stained
from head to foot with alkali, saddle
cramped and bent, his face scratched
and stained, he stood with smiling
appeal in his bloodshot eyes.
Dicksie gave little uncertain cry.
clasped her hands, and, with a scream,
threw her arms impulsively around his
neck. ooh, did not know you! What
has happened? am SO glad to see
you! Tell me what has happened.
Are you hurt?"
He stammered like a sshoolboy.
Nothing has happened. didn't real
1ze what tramp look or l shouldn't
have come. But ! was only a mile
away and had heard nothing for four
days from Medicine Bend. And how
are you? Did your ride make you Ill?
No? By heaven. you are a game girl.
That was a ride! How are they all?
Where's your cousin? /, In town, is he?
thought might get some news if l
rode up, and, oh, Miss Dicksie-jim.
my! some coffee. But I've got only
two minutes for it all, only two min
utes; do you think Puss has any on
the stove?" ~
Dicksie with coaxing and pulling got
him into the kitchen. and Puss tum-
bled over herself to set out coffee and
rolls. He showed himself ravenously
hungry, and ate with simple direct
ness that speedily accounted for every
thing in sight. 'You have saved my
life. Now l am going, and thank you
q thousand times. There. by heaven,
I've forgotten Wickwire! He is with
me-waiting down in the cottonwoods
at the fork. Could Puss put up q