The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
CHAPTER xxx.-continued.

Wont you give me the number and
let me telephone?" asked a voice be-
hind them. They turned in astonish-
ment and saw Whispering Smith. 81
am surprised" he added, calmly, ITO
see man of your intelligence,
George, trying to broil steak with
the lower door of your stove wide
open. Close the lower door and cut
out the draft through the fire. Don't
stare, George; put back the broiler.
And haven't you made radical mis-
take to start WITH" he asked, step,
ping between the confused couple.
Are you not trying to broil roast of
beef?"
Where did you come FROM" de-
manded McCloud, as Marion came in
from the dining room.
Don't search me the very first
thing. protested Whispering Smith.
"But we've been frightened to death
here for "a hours. Are you really alive
and unhurt? This young lady rode in
20 miles this morning and came to the
Office in tears to get news of you"
Smith looked mildly at Dicksie. did
you shed a tear for me? 1 should like
to have seen just one! Where did
come from? | reported in wild over
the telephone ten minutes ago. Didn't
Marion tell you? She is so forgetful.
That is what causes wrecks, Marion.
I have been in the saddle since three
o'clock this morning, thank you, and
have had nothing for five days but
raw steer garnished with sunshine"
The four sat down to supper, and
Whispering Smith began to talk. He
told the story of the chase to the
Cache. the defiance from Rebstock,
and the tardy appearance of the men
he wanted. "Du Sang meant to shoot
his way through us and make dash
for it. There really was nothing else
for him to do. Banks and Kennedy
were up above, even if he could have
ridden out through the upper canyon,
which is very doubtful with all the
water now. After a little talk back
and forth, Du Sang drew, and of
course then it was every man for him.
self. He was hit twice and he died
Sunday night, but the other two were
not seriously hurt. What can you do?
1t is either kill or get killed with those
fellows, and, of course, talked plain
ly to Du Sang. He had butchered
man at Mission Springs just the night
before, and deserved hanging a dozen
times over. He meant from the start,
he told me afterward, to get me. Oh,
Miss Dunning, may have some more
coffee? Haven't I an agreeable part
of the railroad business, don't you
think? l shouldn't have pushed in
here tonight, but 1 saw the lights
when I rode by awhile ago; they
looked so good / couldn't resist"
McCloud leaned forward. You call
It pushing in, do you, Gordon? Do
you know what this young lady did
this morning? One of her cowboys
came down from the Cache early with
the word that you had been killed in
the fight by Du Sang. He said he saw
you drop from your saddle to the
ground with Du Sang shooting at you.
She ordered up her horse, without
word, and rode 20 miles in an hour
and half to find out here what we
had heard. She pushed in at the
Wickiup. where she never had been
before in her life, and wandered
through 1t alone looking for my Office,
to find out from me whether l hadn't
something to contradict the bad news.
While we talked, in came your dis
patch from Sleepy Cat. Never was
one better timed! And when she knew
you were safe her eyes filled again."
Whispering Smith looked at Dicksie,
quizzically. Her confusion was de-
lightful. He rose, lifted her hand in
his own, and, bending, kissed it.
They talked till late, and when
Dicksie walked on the porch McCloud
followed to smoke. Whispering Smith
still sat at the table talking to Marion,
and the two heard the sound of the
low voices outside. At intervals Dick