The Tupelo journal., 1909-10-01

De tuf1eu ONeT 10 TIE olOCh dSSUCid-
tion for the benefit of wners.
The very. first pocket raided started
a row and uncovered so head of five
year-old steers bearing a m%utilated
Duck Bar brand. 1t was like poking
at rattlesnakes to undertake to clean
out the grassy retreats of the Cache,
but the work was pushed, on in spite
of protests, threats, and resistance.
Every man that rode out openly to
make a protest was referred calmly to
Rebstock, and before very long Reb-
stocks cabin had more men around
it than had been seen together in the
Cache for years. The impression that
the whole jig was up, and that the
refugees had been sold out by their
W boss, was n that nc railroad
man undertook to discourage. The
cowboys insisted on the cattle, with
the assurance that Rebstock could ex-
plain everything. BY noe the Cache
was in an uproar. The cowboys were
riding carefully, and their guards,
rifles in hand, were watching the cor
ners. Ahead of the slowly moving
line with the growing bunch of cattle
behind it, flourished as it were rather
'conspicuously, fugitive riders dashed
back and forth with curses and yells
across the narrow valley. If it had
been Whispering Smiths intention to
raise a large-siZed row it was apparent
that he had been successful. Reb-
stock, driven to desperation, held coun-
Gil after council to determine what to
do. Sorties were discussed, ambushes
considered, and a pitched battle was
planned. But, while ideas were plenti-
full, no one aspired to lead an attack
on Whispering Smith.
. Moreover, Williams Cache, it was
conceded, would in the end be worsted
if the company and the cowmen to-
gether seriously undertook with men
and unlimited money to clean it out.
Whispering Smiths party had no ex-
PLANTATION to offer for the roundup, but
when Rebstock made it known that
the fight was over sending out Du
Sang, the rage Of the rustlers turned
on Du Sang. Again, however, no man
wanted to take up personally with Du
Sang the question Of the reasonable
ness Of Whispering Smiths demand.
Instead of doing so, they fell on Reb-
stock and demanded that if he were
boss he make good and send Du Sang
out.
OF all this commotion the railroad
men saw only the outward indications.
AS the excitement grew on both sides
there was perhaps a little of dis
play in the way the cattle were run in,
especially when some long-lost bunch
was brought to light and welcomed
with yells from the center. A steer
was killed at noon, everybody fed, and
the line moved forward. The wind.
which had slept in the sunshine of the
| morning, rose in the afternoon, and
! the dust whirled in little clouds where
| men or animals moved. From the cen
| ter two men had gone back with the
| cattle gathered up to that time, and
| Bill Dancing, with Smith, Stormy Cor
man, and two of the cowboys, were
| heading a draw to cross to the north
| side of the Cache, when three men
rode out into the road 500 yards ahead
and halted.
Whispering Smith spoke: There
come our men; stop here. This ground
in front Of us looks good to me; they
may have chosen something over there
that suits them better. Feel your guns
and we'll start forward slowly; don't
| take your eyes on the bunch, what
ever you do. Bill, you go back and
help the men with the cattle; there
will be four Of us against three then"
"Not for mine!" said Bill Dancing,
bluntly. "You may need help from an
old fool yet. Til see Q through this
and look after the cattle afterward."
eThen, Stormy, one or two OF you
go back" urged Whispering Smith,
speaking to the cowboy foreman with
out turning his eyes. There's no need
Of five Of us in this"
But Stormy swore violently. You
20 back yourself" exclaimed Stormy,
when he could control his feelings.
wen bring them fellows in for you
in ten minutes with their hands IN
the air"
4 know you would; ! know It. But