Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-02-10

cruelty and outrage and the making
of lie.
Lance Dunning had never concealed
his friendliness for Sinclair, even aft
er hard stories about him were known
to be true, and it was this confidence
of fellowship that made Sinclair, "a
hours after he had left Oroville, ride
down the hill trail to Crawling Stone
ranchhouse.
The morning had been cold, with a
heavy wind and dull sky. In the aft
ernoon the clouds lowered over the
valley and misting rain set in. Dick
sic had gone into Medicine Bend on
the stage in the morning, and, after
! stolen half.hour with McCloud at
Marions, had ridden home to escape
the storm. Not less, but much more,
than those about her she was alive to
| the situation in which Sinclair stood
and Its danger to those closest to her.
In the morning her one prayer to Nc
| Cloud had been to have care of him.
self, and to Marion to have a care of
herself; but even when Dicksie left
them 1t seemed as If neither quite felt
the peril as she felt it.
In the afternoon the rain, falling
steadily, kept her In the house. and
she sat in her room sewing until the
light failed. She went downstairs.
Puss had lighted the crate in the
living room, and Dicksie threw herself
into chair. The sounds of hoofs
aroused her and she went to win
dow. To her horror, she saw Sinclair
walking with her cousin up to the
| front door. She ran into the dining
room, and the two men entered the
hall and walked into the Office. Chok-
ing with excitement, Dicksie ran
through the kitchen and upstairs to
master her agitation.
In the Office Sinclair was sitting
down before the hot stove with a
tumbler of whisky. Lance, he
shook his head as he spoke hoarsely-
Il want to say my friends have stood
by me to man, but there's none Of
them treated me squarer through
thick and thin than you have. Well,
I've had some bad luck. 1t can't he
helped. Regards."
He drank, and shook his wet hair
again. Four days Of hard riding had
left no trace on his iron features. Wet
to the bone, his eyes flashed with fire,
He held the glassful Of whisky In a
hand as steady as a spirit-level and
tossed 1t down throat as cool as
dew.
II want to say another thing
Lance: had no more intention thar
q child OF hurting Ed Banks. warned
Ed months ago to keep out of thi'
] fight, and / never knew he was In |
( till 1t was too late. But I'm hoping h
; will pull through yet, IL they dom
r kill him in the hospital to spite me.
3 never recognized the man at all till
!, was too late. Why. one of them use
r to work for me! A man with tn
d whole railroad gang in these moul
e tains after him has got to look out fc
d himself or his life amt worth a glas
Y. Of beer. Thank you. Lance, not an
it more saw two men, with the
Ii rifles In their hands, looking for me.
hollered at them; but. Lance, I'm roue
8, and ready, as all my friends kno'
II and will let no man put drop {
le me-that / will never do. Ed, befO
he ever recognized him, raised his riff,
i'll that's the only reason l fired. Not
full. Lance. not so full. If you pleas
Well.' he shook his black hair as
threw back his head. heres to bett
luck In worse countries!" He paus
As he swallowed. and set the tumbl
er down, Lance; I'm saying good-by
III the mountains"
IL, You're not going away for goo
int Murray"
srs I'm going away for good. VIVA
Ith the use? For two years these railrO
srs cutthroats have been trying to I
Of something ON me; You know tn
on They've been trying to mix me
IT with that bridge-burning at Smo
ne creek: Sugar Buttes. they had !
ut there; Tower W--nothing would
ian but was there. and they've got q
but Of the men In Jail down there ne
ne. Lance. trying to sweat enough peri,
The out Of him to send me up. WI
ne. show has poor man got against
nd the money there Ii in the country?
aan wouldn't be afraid Of 4 jury Of my D
eep neighbors- men that know /
out Lance any time. What show wo
! have with . packed Jury IN Medic
~ Bend! could explain anything
As done to the satisfaction Of any reas
the able man. I'm human. Lance; tn,
the Al 1 say. I've been mistreated /
SS