Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-11-05
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Smith"
Perhaps you have forgotten, Dick
sic, that you live in a very rough part
Of the country" returned Marion,
coolly. mo man that he has ever
hunted down would have anything
pleasant to say about him; nor would
the friends of such a man be likely
to say a good word Of him. There are
many on the range, Dicksie, that have
no respect for life or law or anything
else, and they naturally hate a man
like Whispering Smith"
But Marion, he killed"
Il know. He killed a man named
Williams few years ago, while you
were at school-one of the worst men
that ever infested this country. Will
liams Cache Is named after that man;
he made the most beautiful spot in all
these mountains a nest Of thieves and
murderers. But did you know that
Williams shot down Gordon Smiths
only brother, a trainmaster, in cold
blood in front of the Wickiup at Medi-
cine Bend? No, you never heard that
in this part of the country, did you?
They had a cow-thief for sheriff then,
and no officer in Medicine Bend would
go after the murderer. He rode in
and out of town as if he owned it, and
no one dared say a word, and, mind
you, Gordon Smiths brother had never
seen the man in his life until he
walked up and shot him dead. Oh, this
was peaceful country a few years
ago! Gordon Smith was right-of-way
man in the mountains then. He buried
his brother, and asked the officers
what they were going to do about get
ing the murderer. They laughed at
him. He made no protest, except to
ask for deputy United States
marshals commission. When he got it
he started for Williams Cache after
Williams in a buckboard-think Of it,
Dicksie-and didn't they laugh at him!
He did not even know the trails, and
imagine riding 200 miles in a buck
board to arrest a man in the noun
tains! He was gone six weeks, and
came back with Williams body
strapped to the blackboard behind
him. He never told the story; all he
said when he handed in his commits
sion and went back to his work was
that the man was killed in a fair fight.
Hate him! No wonder they hate him
the Williams Cache gang and all
their friends on the range! Your cous-
in thinks 1t policy to placate that ele-
ment, hoping that they won't steal
your cattle If you are friendly with
them. l know nothing about that, but
| do know something about Whisper
ing Smith. It will be a bad day for
Williams Cache when they start him
up again. But what has that to do
with your trouble? He will not eat
you up If you 60 to the camp, Dicksie.
You are just raising bogies."
They had moved to the front porch
and Marion was sitting in the rocking
chair. Dicksie stood with her back
against one Of the pillars and looked
at her. AS Marion finished Dicksie
turned and, with her hand on her fore
head, looked in wretchedness of mind
out on the valley. AS far, in many d.
rections, as the eye could reach the
waters spread yellow in the flood of
sunshine across the lowlands. There
was a moment of silence. Dicksie
turned her back on the alarming sight.
Marion. l can't do IT,"
"oh, yes, you can if you want to,
Dicksie!" Dicksie looked at her with
fearless eyes. 1T is only a question
Of being plucky enough" insisted
Marion.
PLUCK has nothing to do with IT,"
exclaimed Dicksie, in fiery tones. 81
should like to know why you are al.
ways talking about my not having
courage! This isn't question of cour.
age. How can go to a man that
talked to as l talked to him in your
house and ask for help? How can ]
go to him after my cousin has threat.
ened to kill him. and gone into court
to prevent his coming on our land
Shouldn't look beautiful asking helm
from him." ~
Marion rocked with perfect com.
posure. mo, dear, you would not
look beautiful asking help, but you
would look sensible. 1t is so easy to
be beautiful and SO hard to be sen.
sible."
You are Just as horrid as you can
be, Marion Sinclair"
Il know that, too, dear. All l
wanted to say is that you would look
very sensible just now in asking help
from Mr.. McCloud."
Il don't care-I won't do It. | will
never do it, not II every foot Of the
ranch tumbles into the river. l hope
1t will! Nobody cares anything about
me. l have no friends but thieves and
outlaws"
"Dicksie!" Marion rose.
THAT is what you said"
Il did not. l am your friend. How
dare you call me names% demanded
L.. II a.