Gilpin observer., 1909-09-02

II 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 IL 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 little more 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
and we'll start forward slowly; don't
take your eyes off 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. I'll see you through this
and look after the cattle afterward."
Then, 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
go back yourself" exclaimed Stormy
when he could control his feelings
We'll bring them fellows in for you
in ten minutes with their hands in
the air"
Il know you would; l know it. But
I'm paid for this sort of thing and
you are not, and l advise no man to
take unnecessary chances. If you all
want to stay, why, stay; but don't ride
ahead Of the line, and let me do all the
talking. See that your guns are loose
you'll never have but one chance to
pull, and don't pull till you're ready.
The albino is riding in the middle now,
isn't he? And a little back, playing
for a quick drop. Watch him. Who is
that on the right? Can ii be George
Seagrue? Well, this is bunch. And
1 guess Karg is with them"
Holding their horses to a slow walk
the two parties gingerly approached
each other. When the Cache riders
halted the railroad riders halted; and
when the three rode the five rode
but the three rode with absolute align.
ment and acted as one. while Whisper
ing Smith had trouble in holding his
men back until the two lines were 90
feet apart
BY this time the youngest of the
cowboys had steadied and was think
ing hard. Whispering Smith halted
In perfect order and sitting theiI
horses as II they were riding parade
the horses ambling at snail's pace
the Cache riders advanced in the sun
shine like one man. When Du Sans
and his companions reined up. less
than IL feet separated the two lines
In his tan shirt, Du Sang, with his
yellow hair, his white eyelashes, ant
his narrow face, was the least i'm
pressive Of the three men. Seagrue
rode on the right, his fiorid blood show
ing under the tan on his neck ant
arms. He spoke to the cowboys from
the ranch, and on the left the young
fellow Karg, with the broken nose
blackeyed and alert, looked the mer
over In front OF him and nodded tc
Dancing. Du Sang and his compan
ions wore short-armed shirts: rifles
were slung at their pommels. and re
volvers stuck in their hip-scabbards
Whispering Smith. in his dusty suit o
khaki, was the only man in either
line who showed no revolver. but 6
hammerless or muley Savage rife
hung beside his pommel.
Du Sang, blinking, spoke first;
(which Of you fellows is heading thi.
round-up?"
Il am heading the roundup" sale
Whispering Smith. why? Have W.
got some Of your cattle?"
The two men spoke as quietly a.
school.teachers. Whispering Smiths
expression in no way changed, ex
cept that as he spoke he lifted his eye
brows n little more than usual