Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-05


cue was recalled. He had some cronies
with him from among his upcountry
following, and was introducing his
now bridge foreman, Karg, afterward
known as Flat Nose, and George Sea-
grue, the Montana cowboy Sinclair
fraternized that day with the Williams
Cache men. and II was remarked even
then that though railroad man he APP
reared somewhat outside the railroad
circle. When the shooting matches
were announced brown-eyed railroad
man was asked to enter. lie had been
out of the mountains for some time
and was comparative stranger
in the gathering, but the Will
| lams Cache men had not for
gotten him; Rebstock, especially,
wanted to see him shoot. While much
OF the time out of the mountains on
| railroad business, he was known to be
/ closely in Bucks counscls, and as TO
the mountains themselves, he was re-
puted to know them better than Bucks
or Glover himself knew them. This
was Whispering Smith; but. beyond
a low-voiced greeting or an expression
/ Of surprise at meeting an old ac-
I Quaintance, he avoided talk. When
urged to shoot ne resisted all persua-
sion and backed up his refusal BY
showing q bruiso on his trigger finger.
! He declined even to act as judge In
the contest. suggesting the sheriff, Ed
Banks, for that office.
McCIoud did not meet the host,
Lance Cunning, that day nor since the
day of tho barbecue had Du Sang or
| Sinclair seen Whispering Smith until
the night Du Sang spotted him near
the wheel in the Three Horses. Du
Sang at once drew out of his game
and left the room. Sinclair In the
meantime had undertaken a quarrel
soma interview With Whispering
Smith
81 supposed you knew l was here"
sold Saith to him. amiably. of
course don'> travel in a private car
or carry b'looa,d or my back but
haven't been hiding
"The last time We talked q return ed
| Sinclair. measuring words carefully,
you were going to stay out Of the
mountains
Il should have been glad 10. Murray
Affairs are in such shape or the di-
vision now that somebody had to
come, SC the.7 sent fo' me"
/ The two mel were sitting at a table
Whiscorirs Smith was cutting and
leisurcly mixing q pack of cards.
well SC far as I'm concerned I'm
out OF IT," Sinclair went on after a
pause, bur. however that may he. If
You're back here looking for trouble
there's no reason, guess, why you
cant find it,"
That's not ii. I'm not here looking
for trouble; I'm here TO fix this thing
UP. What do YOU want?"
Not a thing
I'm willing 10 do anything fair and
right" declared Whispering Smith.
raising his voice little above the
hum of the rooms
Fair and right is an old song
And q good one TO sing in this
country just now. I'll do anything /
can TO adjust any grievance. Murray.
What dc you want
Sinclair for a moment was silent,
and his answer mace plain his unwil.
ingness to speak az all There never
would have been grievance if I'd
been treated like white man His
eyes burned sullenly i've been
treated like a Cog
That Is NOT it,
THAT is it," declared Sinclair. saw
agely "and thcyl, find it's it."
Murray. | want 20 say only this
only this 70 mako things clear Bucks
feels TIA he's bren treated worse thaa
dog.
Their let him put me bac., where
belong.
It's a little late for that Murray; a
little late said Smith, gently.
"Shouldn't you rather take good
money End get of the division Mind
you, say good money, Murray-and
peace"
Sinclair answered without the slight,
est hosi,ation "Not while that mar
McCioud is here"
Whispering Smith smiled. I've got
no authority to kill McClou1."
There are plenty OF men in the
mountains that don't need any"
Put let's start fair" urged Wits,
pering Smith, softly. He leaned for,
ward with ona finger extended in con-
fidence. Dent let Us have any mis-
understanding on the start. Let Nc
Cloud alone. If lie is killed-now I'm
speaking fair and open and making
no threats, but ! know how it will
come out-there will be nothing but
killing here for six months. We will
make just that memorandum on Nc
Cloud. Now about the main question.
| Every sensible man in the world wants
something"
Il know men that have been going
long time without what they
wanted"
Smith flushed and nodded. you
needn't have said that, but no matter.
Every sensible man wants something,
Murray. This is big country. There's
Worlds Fair running somewhere all
the time in it. Why not travel lit
tie? What do you WANT"
Il want my job. or ! want a new
superintendent here"
Just exactly the two things, and,
! by heavens. the only two, can't man.
age. Come once more and III meet
YOU"
mo-" Sinclair rose to his feet. mo
damn your money, This is my
| ;ol,