The state herald., 1909-07-09

on Thanksgiving day at the Dunning
ranch not so very long before the trou-
BILE began. Dicksie Dunning was away
at school at the time, and Lance Dun.
ming was celebrating with riding and
shooting fest and barbecue.
The whole country had been invited.
Bucks was in the mountains on an in
spection trip, and Bill Dancing drove
him with party of railroad men over
from Medicine Bend. The mountain
men for $50 miles around were out.
Gene and Bob Johnson, from Oroville
and the Peace river, had come with
their friends. From Williams Cache
there was not only big delegation
more of one than was really desirable
but 1t was led by old John Rebstock
himself. When the invitation is gen
eral, lines cannot be too closely drawn.
Not only was Lance Dunning some.
thing of sport himself, but on the
Long Range II is part of a stockman S
creed to be on good terms with his
neighbors. At Thanksgiving day bar
becue not even mountain sheriff
would ask questions.
Among the railroad people were
George McCloud, Anderson. the assis
tant superintendent, Farrell Kennedy
chief of the special service, and his
right-hand man. Bob Scott. In espe
cial. Sinclair's presence at the barbe
, cue was recalled. He had some cronies
with him from among his up-country
following. and was introducing his
new bridge foreman. Karg. afterward
known as Flat Nose, and George Sea
grue. the Montana cowboy. Sinclair
fraternized that day with the Williams
Cache men. and It was remarked even
then that though railroad man he ap
peared somewhat outside the railroad
circle. When the shooting matches
were announced a brown.eyed railroad
man was asked to enter. He had been
out OF the mountains for some time
and was comparative stranger
in the gathering. but the VII
liams Cache men had not for
gotten him; Rebstock. especially
wanted to see him shoot. While much
OF the time out OF the mountains OF
railroad business. he was known to b'
closely in Bucks counsels. and as tc
the mountains themselves, he was re
puted to know them better than Bucks
or Glover himself knew them. Thi'
was Whispering Smith; but. beyont
n low-voiced greeting or an expression
OF surprise at meeting an old nc
quaintance, he avoided talk. Whei
urged to shoot he resisted all persua
sion and backed up his refusal b,
showing n bruise on his trigger finger
He declined even TO act as Judge II
the contest. suggesting the sheriff. FL
Banks. for that office.
McCloud did not meet the host
Lance Dunning, that day nor since thu
day OF the barbecue had Du Sang OF
Sinclair seen Whispering Smith until
the night Du Sang spotted him neal
the wheel In the Three Horses. ID,
Sang at once drew out OF his giant
and left the room. Sinclair In th'
meantime had undertaken n quarrel
some interview with Whispering
Smith.
Il supposed you knew was here.
said Smith to him, amlably. 20
course l don't travel In a private ca
or carry billboard on my back. but
haven't been hiding"
The last time we talked" returned
Sinclair. measuring words carefully
you were going TO stay out OF th'
mountains"
Il should have been glad TO. Murray
Affairs are In such shape on the IL
vision now that somebody had I,
come. so they sent for me-"
The two men were sitting at n table
Whispering Smith was cutting an,
loisurely mixing pack OF cards.
We'll. so far as I'm concerned. I'm
out OF H." Sinclair went on after /
pause. but. however that may be. q
you're back here looking for trouble
there's no reason. guess. why yol
cant ind IT,"
That's not Il. I'm not here looklng
for trouble; I'm here TO 1x this thinI
up. What do you WANT"
Not n thing"
I'm willing to do anything fair ant
right" declared Whispering Smith
raising his voice u little above III,
hum OF the rooms
Fair and right is an old song"
And u good one to sing In THU
country Just now. III do anything