The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-12-09
CHAPTER XXI.
The Call.

The Call.
Beyond receiving reports from Ken
nedy and Banks, who in the interval
rode into town and rode out again on
their separate and silent ways. Wits
pering Smith for two days seemed to
do nothing. Yet instinct keener than
silence kept the people OF Medicine
Bend on edge during those two days,
and when President Bucks car came
in on the evening OF the second day.
the town knew from current rumors
that Banks had gone to the French
man ranch with a warrant on a seri-
Gus charge for Sinclair. In the presi-
dents car Bucks and McCloud. after
a late dinner. were Joined by Whisper
ing Smith. and the president heard
the first connected story OF the events
OF the fortnight that had passed.
Bucks made no comment until he had
heard everything. And they rode
Sinclair's horses" he said in con-
clusiou.
"SinclSrs horses" returned Wills
pering Smith, "and they are all ac-
countai for. One horse supplied by
Rebyisck was shot where they crossed
Star.pede creek. II had given out and
thsS had a fresh horse In the willows.
for they shot the scrub half a mile up
one OF the canyons near the crossing.
The magpies attracted my attention
to II. A piece OF skin a foot square
had been cut out OF the flank"
You got there before the birds"
1T was about an even thing" said
Smith. Anyway. we we're there in
time to see the horse"
And Sinclair was away from the
ranch from Saturday noon TIL Sunday
night?"
"A rancher living over on STAN
pede creek saw the FIVE men when
they crossed Saturday afternoon. The
fellow was scared and lied TO me
about It. but he told wlckwire who
they were"
Now. who is wickwire?" asked
Bucks.
You ought TO remember Wickwlre,
George" remarked Whispering Smith.
turning to McCloud. You haven't
forgotten the Smoky creek wreck
Do you remember the tramp who had
his legs crushed and lay In the sun all
morning? You put him In your car
and sent him down here 10 the rail.
road hospital and Barnhardt took care
of him. That was Wickwire. Not a
bad fellow. either; he can talk pretty |
straight and shoot pretty straight. !
How do / know? Because he has told |
me the story and I've seen him shoot. |
There, you see. 10 one friend that you
never reckoned on. He used 70 be a
cowboy, and / got him a Job working |
for Sinclair on the Frenchman; he
has worked at Dunning's 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
Stone"
Il have noticed that fellows ranch"
remarked McCloud.
Il couldn't leave him at Sinclalr's."
continued Whispering Smith, frankly.
The fellow was on my mind all the
time. / felt certain he would kill Sin.
clair or get killed IL he stayed there.
And then, when / took him away they
sprang Tower w on mel 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 1t isn't
ike you, either"
1T is in the air. There has been
/ dead calm for two days. Something
9 due to happen tonight. l wish |
could hear from Banks; he started
with the papers for Slnclair's yester-
lay while went to Oroville TO sweat
<arg. Blood-poisoning has set In and
{ is rather important to us TO get a
confession. There's a horse!" He
stepped to the window. Coming fast,
90. Now, l wonder-no, he's gone
~"
Five minutes later messenger
anne to the car from the Wlckiup with
word that Kennedy was looking for
Whispering Smith. Bucks, McCloud
md Smith left the car together and
walked up to McCloud's office.
Kennedy. sitting on the edge OF the
able. was tapping his leg nervously
With a ruler. bad news, Gordon"
mot from Ed Banks?"
Sinclair got him this morning"
Whispering Smith sat down. Go
n"
Banks and ! picked up Wickwire
n the Crawling Stone early, and we
ode over to the Frenchman. Wick
gire said Sinclair had been up at
Cache the day before. and
e didn't think he was home. or
curse / knew the Cache was watched
nd he wouldn't be there long, so Ed ]
sked me to stay in the cotton6oods
nd watch the creek for him. He and {
Vickwire couldn't find anybody home {
hen they got to the ranchhouse and l
hey rode down the corral together to
,ok over the horses"
Whispering Smiths hand fell help ,