The state herald., 1909-09-03

u tne company ana tne cOWmen To-
gether seriously undertook with men
and unlimited money to clean 1t out.
Whispering Smiths party had no ex-
PLANTATION to offer for the roundup, but
when Rebstock made 1t known that
the fight was over sending out Du
Sang, the rage of the rustlers turned
on Du Sang. Again, however, no man
wanted to take up personally with Du
Sang the question OF the reasonable
ness Of Whispering Smiths demand.
Instead of doing so. they fell on Reb.
stock and demanded that II he were
boss he make good and send Du Sang
out.
OF all this commotion the railroad
men saw only the outward indications.
AS the excitement grew on both sides
there was perhaps little more of dis.
play In the way the cattle were run in.
especially when some long.lost bunch
was brought to light and welcomed
with yells from the center. A steer
was killed at noon, everybody fed, and
the line moved forward. The wind,
which had slept in the sunshine of the
morning, rose In the afternoon, and
the dust whirled in little clouds where
men or animals moved. From the cen
ter two men had gone back with the
cattle gathered up to that time, and
Bill Dancing, with Smith, Stormy Cor
man, and two of the cowboys, were
heading n draw TO cross to the north
side of the Cache, when three men
rode out into the road 500 yards ahead
and halted
Whispering Smith spoke: There
come our men; stop here. This ground
in front of us looks good TO me: they
may have chosen something over there
that suits them better. Feel your guns
and we'll start forward slowly; don't
take your eyes of the bunch. what
ever you do. Bill. you go back and
help the men with the cattle; there
will be four Of us against three then"
Not for mine!" said Bill Dancing.
bluntly. you may need help from an
old fool yet I'll see you through this
and look after the cattle afterward."
Then, Stormy. one or two OF you
20 back" urged Whispering Smith,
speaking to the cowboy foreman with.
out turning his eyes. There's no need
of five OF us In this"
But Stormy swore violently. You
go back yourself" exclaimed Stormy,
when he could control his feelings.
We'll bring them fellows in for you
in ten minutes with their hands In
the air.
81 know you would: know II. But
I'm paid for this sort OF thing and
you are not. and advise no man TO
take unnecessary chances. II you all
want to stay, why. stay: but don't ride
ahead OF the line. and let me do all the
talking. See that your guns are loose
you'll never have but one chance to
pull. and don't pull till you're ready.
The albino is riding in the middle now.
isn't he? And little back. playing
for quick drop. Watch him. Who is
that on the right' Can 1t be George
Seagrue? Well. this is n bunch. And
guess Karg is with them
Holding their horses to slow walk.
the two parties gingerly approached
each other. When the Cache riders
halted the railroad riders halted; and
when the three rode the Ave rode:
but the three rode with absolute align.
ment and acted as one. while Whisper
Ing Smith had trouble In holding his
men back until the two lines were so
feet apart
BY this time the youngest OF the
cowboys had steadied and was think.
ing hard. Whispering Smith halted.
In perfect order and sitting their
horses rs II they were riding parade.
the horses ambling at n snail's pace.
the Cache riders advanced In the sun.
shine like one man. When Du Sang
and his companions reincd up. less
than ~ feet separated the two lines.
In his tan shirt. Du Sang. with his
yellow hair. his white eyelashes. and
his narrow face. was the least i'm
pressive OF the three men. Scagrue
rode on the right, his fiorid blood show.
Ing under the tan on his neck and
arms. He spoke to the cowboys from
the ranch, and on the left the young
fellow karg. with the broken nose.
blackeyed and alert. looked the men
over In front OF him and nodded to
Dancing. Du Sang and HIS compan.
ions wore shor,.armed shirts: rifles
were slung at their pommcls. and re.
volyers stuck In their hlp.scabbnrda.
Whispering Smith. In HIS dusty suit OF |
khaki. was the only man In either
line who showed no revolver. but n
or muley Savage rife
hung beside his pommcl.
Du Sang. blinking. spoke frst:
which OF you follows Is heading this
Il am heading the roundup" said
Whispering Smith. why Have we
got some OF your cnttlc7"
The two men spoke as quietly aH
aohooi-tcachora. Whispering Smiths
expression In no way changed. cx.
cept that M he spoke he lifted his eye.
brows a little more than usual.