The Tupelo journal., 1909-10-15

cowboy, and ! got him a job working
for Sinclair on the Frenchman; he
has worked at Cummings and other
places on the Crawling Stone. He
hates Sinclair with a deadly hatred
for some reason. Just lately Wick.
wire set up for himself on Little
Crawling Stone"
Il have noticed that fellows ranch
remarked McCloud.
Il couldn't leave him at Sinclair's,'
continued Whispering Smith, frankly.
"The fellow was IN my mind all the
time. l felt certain he would kill Sin.
clair or get killed if he stayed there.
And then, when I took him away they
sprang Tower w on me! That is the
price, not of having a conscience,
for ! haven't any. but of listening to
the voice that echoes where my con.
science used to be-" said the railroad
man, moving uneasily in his chair.
Bucks broke the ash from his cigar
into the tray on the table. you are
restless tonight, Gordon-and it isn't
like you, either"
1T is in the air. There has been
a dead calm for two days. Something
is due to happen tonight. I wish
could hear from Banks; he started
with the papers for Sinclair's yester-
day while / went to Oroville to sweat
Karg. Blood-poisoning has set in and
it is rather important to US to get a
confession. There's a h~orse!" He
stepped to the window. Coming fast,
too. Now, l wonder-no, he's gone
by"
Five minutes later a messenger
came to the car from the Wickiup with
word that Kennedy was looking for
Whispering Smith. Bucks, McCloud
and Smith left the car together and
walked up to McCloud's Office.
Kennedy, sitting on the edge of the
table. vas tapping his leg nervously
with a ruler. bad news, Gordon"
Not from Ed Banks?"
Sinclair got him this morning"
Whispering Smith sat down. go
on"
Banks and I picked up Wickwire
on the Crawling Stone early, and we
rode owe to the Frenchman. Wick
wire said Sinclair had been up at
Williams Cache the day before, and
he didn't think he was home. OF
course I knew the Cache was watched
and he wouldn't be there long, so Ed
asked me to stay in the cottonwoods
and watch the creek for him. He and
Wickwire couldn't find anybody home
when they got to the ranchhouse and
they rode down the corral together to
look the horses"
Whispering Smiths hand fell help
lessly on the table. Rode down to-
gether! For Gods sake, why didn't
one of them stay at the h~ouse?"
Sinclair rode out from behind the
barn and hit Wickwire in the arm be-
fore they saw him. Banks turned and
opened on him, and Wickwire ducked
for the creek. Sinclair put a soft bull
let through Banks shoulder-tore it
pretty bad, Gordon-and made his get
away before Wickwire and l could
reach the barn again. l got Ed OF his
horse and back to Wickwire's, and
we sent one of the boys to Oroville for
a doctor. After Banks fell out Of the
saddle and was helpless Sinclair talked
to him before l came up. You ought
to have kept out Of this, Ed he said.
This is a railroad fight. Why didn't
they send the head of their own gang
after me?'-naming YOU" Kennedy
nnHdo1 fou,o.I yNhscnnrtrn Crnith
Naming me-"
Banks says: I'm sheriff of this
county, and will be a long time YETI
I took the papers from his breast
pocket" continued Kennedy. you
car see where he was hit" Kennedy
laid the sheriff's packet on the table.
Bucks drew his chair forward and,
with his cigar between his fingers.
picked the packet up and opened it.
Kennedy went on: ED told Sinclair
if he couldn't land him himself that
he knew a man who could and would
before he was a week older. He meant
you, Gordon, and the last thing Ed
told me was that he wanted you to
serve the papers on Sinclair"
A silence fell on the company. One
of the documents passing under Bucks
hand caught his eye and he opened it.
1t was the warrant for Sinclair. He
read it without comment, folded it,
and, looking at Whispering Smith,
pushed it toward him. Then this, /
guess, Gordon, belongs to YOU"
Starting from a reverie, Whispering
Cr,;fb rooobod fOr the uorrout ua