davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
CHAPTER XXI.


The Man on the Frenchran.
Sinclair's place on the Frenchman
backed up on sharp rise against the
foothills Of the Bridger range. and the
ranch buildings were strung along the
creek. The ranchhouse stood on ground
high enough TO command the country
for miles up and down the valley.
Only two roads lead from Medicine
Bend and the south into the French
man country; one wagon road fol-
lowing Smoky creek and running
through Dale canyon: the other a
pack road. known as the Gridley trail.
crossing the Topaz Topaz hills and
making a short cut from the Dunning
ranch on the Crawling Stone 10 the
FTenchman The entire valley Is. in
fact, SO difficult Of access. save by the
long and roundabout wagon road. That
the sight Of q complete OUTFIT OF build
ings such as that put up by Sinclair
always came as a surprise 10 the trav-
eler. who reaching the crest OF the
hills. looked suddenly down 900 feet
on his well-ordered sheds and barns
and corrals
over the Gridley trail from the
Crawling stone Marion and Dicksie
nvnnine rode early in the morning the
day AFTER McCloud and his men left
the Stone ranch with their work done.
The trail is good three hours long,
and they reached Sinclairs place at
about ten O'Clock. He was waiting for
Marion-she had sent word she should
come-and he came out Of the front
door into the sunshine with a smile Of
welcome when he saw Dicksie with
herr Dicksie. long an admirer Of Sin
clair's, as women usually were. had
reca0t somewhat violently her opln-
ions Of him. She faced him now with
p criminal consciousness that she
knew too much. The weight Of the
dreadful secret weighed on her. and
her responsibility In the issue of the
day ahead did not help 10 make her
greeting an easy one One thing only
was fixed In her mind and reflected
IA the tension OF her lips and her
eyes; The resolve 20 keep at every
cost the promise she had given. For
Dcksie had fallen under the spell OF
q man even more compelling than Sin
clair. and felt strangely bounden TO
what she had said
Sinclair. however. had spirit enough
10 smooth quite away every embarrass-
ment- Bachelors quarters" he ex-
planned roughly and pleasantly. as he
led the two women toward the house.
"Cowmen make poor housekeepers.
but you must feel at home" And
when Dicksie, looking at his Indian
rugs on the floors, the walls. and the
couches. said she thought he had little
20 apologize for. Sinclair looked graft.
ned and took on his hat again. lust
q moment" he said. standing at the
side OF the door I've never been
able TO get Marion over here before,
40 II happens that woman's foot has
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
CHAPTER XIII.

Tower w.
At the end Of a long and neglected
hall on the second floor Of the old
bank block in Hin street, Whispe ring
Smith had room in which he made
headquarters at Medicine Bend: il
was in effect Whispering Smiths
home
The door OF the room in the course
OF many years had been mutilated with
keyholes and REINFORCED with locks
until 10 appeared diffcult TO choose an
opening that would really afford en-
trance; but two men besides Whisper
ing Smith carried keys TO the room
Kennedy and George McCloud. They
had right of way into 1t at AL hours,
and knew how TO get in.
McCloud had left the bridge camp
on the river for Medicine Bend on the
Saturday that Marion Sinclair-UA nose
husband had finally told her he would
give her one more chance TO think il
over-returned with Dicksie safely
from their trip to the Frenchman
ranch.
Whispering Smith, who had been
win BUCKS and Morris Blood, got back
to town the same day The president
and general manager were at the
Wickiup during the afternoon. and
left for the east at nine o'clock in the
evening. when their car was attached
10 an east-bound passenger train. Nc
Cloud took supper afterward with
Whispering Smith at a Front street
chophouse, and the two men separated
at IL o'clock. II was three hours
later when McCloud tapped on the
door OF Smiths room. aud In a mo-
ment opened It. Awake, GordonY''
Sure; come in. What is it?"
The second section OF the passen-
ger train-Number Three, with ex-
press cars-was stopped at Tower w
tonight Oliver Sellers was pulling;
he Is badly shot up. and one of the
messengers was shot all to pieces.
They cracked The through safe, emp
tied II, aud made clean getaway"
Tower W-27e miles. Have Won
ordered up an engine?"
Yes"
Where's Kennedy"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
SYNOPSIS.


CHATTER Murray Sinclair and his
EnDE q wreekcrE were called out 10 clear
The railroad tracks az smoky Greek
CHAPTER ~ -McCioud. a Young road
nen IN the sct ~ Iooung TIE wrecked
pain. Sinclair pleaded Innocence. decIar-
troat for the men. McC1oud discharged
aEe burned.
CHATTER III.-McCioud became &C
SuAiufed with .Iicksie DunninE q E.ri OF
fhs west. who came 90 look at The wreck
shs gave him q message for Sinclair.
CHAPTER ~ Whispering Gordon
smith told Pres dent Bucks - the rail-
road. ~ McCloud's brave fCht against q
EAnE o. craTed miners and that was the
reason Tor the supcrinteudcnrs appoint
Eent 20 his lHrh Office McCIoud ar
ranged o. board az the boarding house
Of Mrs Sinclair. the eN-forcruan's desert
CHAPTER V.-Dicksie Dunninr was
ne daughter - the late Richard Dun
EinE. who had died 81 a broken heart
shertlN after his Wife's demise. which
secured after one YEAR OF married IKE
CHATTER NI-Sinclair visited Marion
s,n 80. 81. sn2p and q hEht between h.H
ano Mctlouc was narrowly aNcrted
CHATTER NiT-Smoky cheek bridge
vAs mysrerio uslv burned McCloud rre-
EAred % lace tho situation. President
ahead
CHAPTER VIII -NfcCrouc worked for
eAye and finally got Tie division running
E-nclair
CHAPTER IN-A stock train was
wrecked hN au Curr switch Later a rar-
srnEer train WAS held up ana tile express
ca robbed. Two men of @ posse pursuing
the bandits were kNed NcCIoud wss
hunt the cesperadoes
CHAPTER N-Bu Dancing a road
Fireman proposed that Sinclair and bis
etra r ger apparently with fatsfnrr|fv cola
him 20 70 ahead. Dancing was told the
STRANGE was Whispering smith"
CHATTER NI-Smith approached Sin.
slair BE tried 90 buy him or. bat failed
aanger.
CHAPTER NII-NcCloud wa carried
forcibly iuto Lance nuuuiuVs presence
punninE refused the railroad a risht-of-
way, be had already signed FOR Dick
nay re- Interfere TO prevent shooting az
CHAPTER NIIT-pIcksie met McCloud
On a lonely tTal 90 warn him Dis life was
passed throurh DTS hat
CHAPTER NIV.-whispcrlnr smith re-
ported th't lu sans one - sinclair
BE and smith saw hu Sang
CHAPTER WV Isucrfnr smith
tauuted bu sans and told him % get out
seemed 90 Suc0uuh 90 the hiuT
CHATTER NNI-McCIoud's bic con
Strucuon sob was taken from him BE-
cause 90 an injunction issued 20 Lance
punnlnE hy the United States court a
mood suocd further railroad operations
CHAPTER XVII -Bcset bv food Dick
sic asked MarOa 90 visit her Marion
proposed asking ala go stem TIE food
from McClogd. Al first IicksIc refused
Then she agreed
CHAPTER NNIU-ArrIvinr 40 the
camp. they learned Smith had followed
them from fh, raush fo ....t. ~ tlsfr
safe Journey MsCloud offered Tho aid OF
IN men and equipment
CHAPTER NTN.-Smth told picisie
the story 90 li~ railroad career
CHAPTER NN-Tance Dunninr read
ny accepted tnr aid of NfcC'loud'S men
who made much progress smith enter
fEined IttIrvit.
CHAPTER -M-CIoud succeeded
in haltinr fle flood. De accepted Dun
ming hospitality.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
CHAPTER XIV.
Pursuit

Pursuit.
Bril- Young picked up q trail Sunday
morning az Tower W before the spe-
cial from Medicine Bend reached
there. The wrecked express car
which had been set ont. had no story
10 tell The only story" said Wits
pering Smith, as The men climbed snto
their saddles. lis ia the one from the
hoois, and the sooner We get after IL
the better"
The country around Tower W. which
is itself an operating point on the
western end of the division. a mere
speck on the desert. lies high and
rolling To the south. 60 miles awav
rise the Crosse Terre mountains. and
10 the north and west lie the solitudes
or the Heart range, while in the north
east are seen the three white Saddle
peaks OF the Missions. The cool
bright sunshine of a far and lonely
horizon greets the traveller here. and
ten miles away from the railroad. in
any direction, man on horseback and
unacQuainted with the country would
wish himself-mountain men Will tell
you-in hell. because IL would be cas-
Ter 20 ride out Of
To the railroad men the country
offered no unusual difficulties. The
HounGs were as much at home on a
horse as on hand car. Kennedy.
though large and powerful man. was
Injured 10 hard riding. and Bob Scott
and Whispering Smith in the saddle
were merely paTt-though an i'm
portant psrt-of their horses: without
killing their mounts. they could get
out OF them every mile in their legs
The nve men covered 20 miles on a
trail that read like print One after
another OF the railroad party com
mented on the carelessness with which
II had been left. But 20 miles south
OF the railroad. in an open and com
paratively easy country, IL was swal-
lowed completely up in the tracks OF
100 horses. The railroad mcn ci-clea
far and wide. oaiy 20 find the herd
tracks everywhere ahead OF them.
This IL a beautiful job" murmnred
Whispering Smith as the party rode
together along the edge Of a creek
bottom. Now who is their friend
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31
CHAPTER XIV.
The Sunday Murder.

Inc sunday MURDER.
Banks posse. leaving Medicine Bend
before daybreak headed northwest.
Their instructions were explicit: To
scatter after crossing the Frenchman.
watch the trails from the Goose river
country and through the Mission
mountains. and intercept everybody
riding north until lac posse from
Sleepy Cat or Whispering Smith
should communicate with them from
the southwest Nine men rode in the
party that crossed the Crawling Stone
Sunday morning at sunrise with Ed
Banks.
After leaving the river the three
white-capped Saddles OF the Mission
range afforded a landmark for more
than 100 miles, and toward these the
party pressed steadily all day. The
southern pass of the Missions opens
on the north slope Of the range into
pretty valley known as Mission
Springs valley. and the springs are
the head-waters of Deep creek. The
posse did not quite obey the instruc-
tons. and following a natural instinct
of safety five OF them, after Banks
and his three deputies had scattered,
punched again, and at dark crossed
Deep creek at some distance below the
springs. II was afterward known that
these five men had been seen entering
the valley from the east at shutdown
Just as four OF the men they wanted
rode down South Mission pass toward
the springs. That they knew they
would soon be cut of. or must cut
their way through the line which Ed
Banks, ahead of them. was posting at
every gateway TO Williams Cache. was
probably clear to them. -Four men
rode that evening from Tower w
through the south pass; the fifth man
had already left the party The four
men were headed for Williams Cache
and had reason 10 believe. until they
sighted Banks men, that their path
was open.
They halted to take counsel on the
suspiciouslooking posse far below
them. aud while their cruelty ex-
hausted horses rested, Du sang. al
ways In sinclairs absence the brains
OF the gang. planned the escape over
peep creek az Baggs' crossing At
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31

A second voice answered: Right
here"
Strike light. Farrell. What about
the borses?"
They're being loaded"
rs the line clear?"
Rooney Lee Is clearing tt
Spike IL. George. and leave every west.
bound train in siding. with the engine
cut loose and plenty Of steam. tin we
get by It's now or never this time
Two hundred and seventy-six miles:
they're giving us our moneys worth.
who's going with us. Farren?"
Bob Scott. Reed Young. and Briu
II Reed can get him al Sleepy Cat.
Dancing is loading the horses"
I want I'd Banks 70 lead posse
straight from here for Williams
Cache Dancing can go with him And
telephone Gene and Bob Johnson 10 sit
down in Canadian pass tin they grow
TO the rocks. but not 20 let ANYBODY
through 81 they want 10 live after I
see them. They've got all the instruc-
tons; an they need Is the word. It's
a long chance. but I think these are
our friends You can head Banks of
by telephone somewhere N we change
our minds when we get "A trail start
Brill Young and a good man from
SLEEPY Cat ahead OF MS. George. II YOU
can. IN baggage car with any horses
'hat thcy can get there. They can be
al rover w by daybreak and per
maps PICK up trail before we reach
there. and We shall have fresh horses
TOT ihem I'm ready. 7 guess. let's
go siam the door. George" In the
nan Whispering smith threw pocket
heht on his watch. II want YOU 20 put
us there by setcn o'clock"
Charlie Sellers IS going 10 ruu
YOU answered McCloud Have Won
got everything? Then we're Of " The
three men uptocd down the dark han
down the stairs. and across the street
on q noiscless run FOR the railroad
yard.
The air was chill and The sl,v clear
with moon more than half 20 ,bo
FUN. Lord what uiaht to ride,-
exclaimed Whisperinc smith looking
moumully 90 the stars. Wen
planned. wei planned I must admit d"
The men FASTENED toward tbo ,.,~a
where lanterns were MOVING sbo,,t -.
car OF The train ruarss ,e,- 49,, ~.
Front stables The loadi,r noon, ts,,
been lowered and The bc,.,..s 49,. ~.
ing carefully led into the car r~or-
switch engine behind the car sb~ilI
cloud OF steam beloved into the air.
across me yard a great passenger en-
sine us huge white site-rod rising and
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31

change your mind. 7 saw YOU driving
bunch OF horses zap that CANYON a
few minutes ago. Now Rockstro. do
you sun drag your lcft legc"
The raucher looked steadily al his
new inquisitor but blinked like a
gopher az the sudden onslaught
Which % YOU fellows Is Whisperinc
SMITH" he demanded
The man with the dough is Whis-
pering Smith every time was the
answer from Smith himself You have
about seven years 10 serve. Rockstro.
haven't YOU? Seven. think Now
What have ] ever done 10 YOU that
you should turr "a trick like this on
me- ] knew YOU We're here. and Won
knew knew You were here. and I call
this pretty country; a little smooth
right around here, like the people. but
pretty Have J ever bothered voug
Now cell me one thing-what did Won
set for covering this trail? I stand
to give YOU two dollars for every one
you got last night for the Job. If youU
put us right on the game Which way
cid ;heS eo2"
What are YOU talking about7"
Get on your horse minute" suc-
gested smith, dismounung. and step
over here coward the creek" The
man. afraid 20 refuse and unwilling to
so. walked haltingly after smith.
What is it, Rockstro?" asked his
tormen,or Don't YOU like this coun-
try? What do YOU want 10 90 back TO
the penitentiary FOR Aren't YOU happy
mere Now tell me one thing-win you
give up the trau?"
i don't know the trail"
Il believe YOU; we shouldn't follow
II anyway. Were you paid last night
or this morning."
i amt seen man hereabouts for
a week."
Then you can't tell me whether
there were i've men or six?"
You've got one eve as good as mine
and one a whole lot better"
SO II was fixed up for cash a week
ago?"
Everything is cash in this country"
well Rockstro. I'm sorry. but Wen
nave TO take you back with US"
the rancher whipped out a revolver.
Whispering Smith caught his wrist.
The struggle lasted only an instant
kockstro writhed, and the pistol fell
10 the ground.
Now. shall break your arm >"
asked Smith. as the man cursed and
resisted "Or will you behaveq We
are going right back and youn have
to come with us. Wen send some
one down to round up your horses and
sell them. and you can serve ont vour
ume-with allowances. OF course for
good conduct which VIII cut II down
II had ever done you mean turn
would not say a word II you could
name friend OF yours had ever done
a mean turn 20 I would not say a word
Can you name one? guess not.
have left you as free as the wind here
making only the rule make for everv-
oooy--to. let the railroad alone. This
Is my thanks. Now. I'll ask Won inst
one question. l haven't Killed You. as
! bad perfect right to when Won
pulled; ! havenf broken your arm. as
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31

for himself-it had been promised him
"A chance to be the man his abilities
entitled him to be in railroading. And
I've got a customer for the ranch and
the cows. Marion. / don't care for
this business-damn the cowsl let
somebody else chase after 'em through
the sleet- I've done well; I've made
money! lot OF money-the last two
years In my cattle deals. and I've got
II put away. Marion: you need never
lift your hand TO work in our house
again. We can live in California, and
i've well, under our own orange trees,
whether l work OF not All | want TO
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-31

know is. viii YOU go with me-"
mol I will not go with you. Muir
ray"
He moved IN hts seat and threw his
head up appealingly why not?"
Il viii never be dishonest with YOU
I never have been and never will be.
I have nothing In nay heart 70 give
you. and ! viii not live upon your
money ] am earning my own living.
am as content as ever can be. and
/ shall stay where I am and do what I
am doing tin I die. probably And
this is why I came when YOU asked me
20; 80 tell sou the exact truth. I am
not girl any longer never can be
again am a Woman What 7 was
before ! married YOU never can be
again. and YOU have no right TO ask
me 10 he hypocrite and say I can
love you-for that is what Il all comes
to-when ! have no such thing In nv
heart or life for YOU. IL Is dead and
gone. and I cannot help t."
That sounds pretty hard. Marion. %
III is only the truth Il sounded
fearfully hard 10 me when YOU told
me that woman was your friend-that
YOU knew her before YOU knew me
and would know her after was
dead. that she was as good as ]. and
that if 7 didn't entertain her YOU
would. But 10 was the TRUTH YOU told
me the truth. and 70 was better that
you told it-as it is better now that
7 tell it Co you."
81 was drunk 7 didn't tell YOU the
truth s m-u is pretty touch animal
sometimes bat son are "a woman and
a pure one. and care more for Won
than for gIl the other women I'm the
world and DO is not your nature TO be
uniorgiving
1T Is 90 be honest"
He looked suddenly up az her and
spoke sharply. Marion. I know why
you won't ro~
Il have honestly told YOU"
NO. you have not honestly told me.
The real reason is Gordon smith.
III he were should not hesitate 10
tell YOU Murray. bu, DE is not. she
said coldly.
Sinclair spoke horshly: DO you
think YOU can fool NEE Don't YOU sup
ipr sr,.1J yo-- $50 nus ''' '''''e 'o'4
49, e., ,f,.,
no, ,rrc,.. '' -
"Do-., ,.o,, .....,.,...
lotte~s Mo- ., v.iscon-i.
fou,sq,
.V-h.+ hawai-, 30 -, ,.,.,, ,,.... MA.
shouldn't h, o.rrto r., ,,,,. -, ,,-,.
has a her,.- --i.bt ~.
Don't drive mo too f,r Rv cos,
n 20 ava, elorc r.r - ,'e...
Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1909-05-10
FORESTS WILL
BE CHECKED

Through the establishment of six
HEADQUARTERS in the West, the work
OF the Forest Service has advanced
so far that it is now possible to I'M
dertake a thorough-going examination
of National Forest boundaries and an
inquiry into the character OF n IN
terror areas which may appca! 10 De
not suitable for Na1o1ai forest pur-
poses. In a letter 10 tho District
Forester of Nevada, Forester PIN
hot says:
plans formulated here last winter
and approved by The Secretary OF
Agriculture cali for a systematic and
complete going over OF all National
Forest boundaries during the present
field season. The work you have con
stantly been dong in his direction
Is along the right lines. but tle plan
adopted calls for more concentrated
effort in this work throughout the
Service during tho coming summer.
with he field force at your command
and your close knowledge of local
conditions and of the National Forest
officers, YOU can 20 organize this eff
fort in your district rs to insure Il
thorough going owe OF your part OF
the y 1000 miles OF National Forest
boundaries by competent men. whose
reports as to the character OF the
land within and without the Forests
and whose recommendations as to
lands which should be excluded OF
included. checked by the information
aready POSSESSED by the Forest Ser
vice. can be relied on.
'To do this work in one summer
will make severe demands III You,
but 1t Is not beyound the capacity OF
the service, as now organized. Please
give it your best efforts until the
work is completed. and bear in mind
especially that the quality of the
work must be im~peachable.
This work should be all complet,
ed by the close of the present field
season, and each District Forester
should ut that ume be able to yOuch
for the correctness of the proposed
boundaries OF his Forests. If, how
ever, there are changes recommend,
ed by examiners which you feel arr
questionable, such cases may go owe!
for checking until the next fed sea
son, in order that no mistakes may
be made. Possible additions should
be noted as carefully in the six states
where Congressional action is neces
sary to create additions to Forests a.
elsewhere. III
las you know, the policy of the
Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1909-05-10

Service has always been to exclude
from the boundaries OF the National
crest all agricultural land, except,
as clearly intended. areas
en- small that they could he handled
more ac%ceptably under the Act of
lime II, 1900. We want all the land
nit to its pest use. whatever that
may be. A good deal of time and
money has been spent by the Service
in this most important work. l be
lieve, however, that there j. still land
outside of National Forests and which
could therefore be excluded to the
public advantage. | believe, too, that
adjoining many of the Forests are
areas which. because of the value of
the timber they support, their Import
ancc under the proper forest cover
for watershed protection, or because
the best public use of the existing
Forest Fan &c brought about only
through their inclusion, should be adj
ADDED to the National Forests.
In considering changes of boun.
Diary the character OF the land and its
future usefulness for forest or ag.
riCultural purpose, the protection
that it may give to watersheds at the
head OF streams from which towns
cities and irrigation projects draw
,-leir supply, areas which need refor
cstation and areas whit should be
lLcluLed from the standpoint Of the
pubic welfare generally. should be
all careful. considered. Whenever
a change of boundary is recommended
Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1909-05-10

the reason for it should be plainly
shown. When the proper boundary
of the Forest does not conform to
the exterior limits of the timbered
areas the reason should be given
p ainly.
In accordance with the usual prac-
uce, every effort should be made to
learn the wishes of citizens as to
what lands should be excluded or
included. If areas are proposed for
add. on or elimination at the request
O. citizens, their petitions should form
part OF h reasons for the change in
. boundaries. Petitions which have
contributed to the establishment Of
the present boundaries should. when
practicable. be submitted as part of
the record.
For this work you will need to use
your very best available help. The
organization of the work is. of course
in your hands.
"Existing and proposed boundaries,
and all land and V c~lassifications
should always be shown on maps,
supported by reports. SO far as pos
Sible, the Forest Service atlas fOliOs
should be used as the base maps. The
publication of these fOliOs is being
pushed forward as rapidly as posi-
Bile. BY the first of August nearly all
OF them will be in you hands. Where
! it is possible to get them to You at
a considerably earlier date by leav-
: ing out the classification and simply
sending you the blank copies, this
will be done.