The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-05-23

knew exactly what was involved
Something more than land was here
changing hands, To hold the Cryinp
Wolf would al but mean Supremacy
ia the north. But this thing was
bigger than that. The two organizo.
ti0ns which here clashed again were
the great Powett of the trails: be.
hind each OF thSm were whole coun-
Ties OF Texas pesquite grass plains.
great areas Of the middle short,
grass couptrY,,Scores Of outfits. The
struggle between them had devel-
,Qped with. .ME' Chisholm trail itself
"a! decadeAong' combat between
men Of dianaetrically opposed prin-
ciples and methods. And now
'""This land" the deputy commits.
sioner concluded, lis thrown into
blocks. Think, gentlemen. you arc
already familiar with the placement
OF the lands. Block | includes. as
previously agreed, an estimated one
hundred sections, or sixty-four thou.
sand acres, known hereinafter MS
Block L; bounded on the north
by"
Cleve Tanner leaned close TO Bcn
ihorpe, whispered, and Thorpe nod
ded.
Il shouldn't think" said the dcpu-
ty commissioner, eve need hear anv
bid of less than ten cents per wear.
per acre"
There was moments silence, and
the deputy commissioner got ont
big silk handkerchief and mopprd
his head, as King now let a Slow
smile come to the surface of his
impassive face. A curious rumble
ran over the room, and the crowd
seemed to sway.
got proposition, Dusty King
SAID. Nobody is bidding on this
land but just us two; nobody means
to bid. Throw the whole thing in one
pot and We'll bid on the works"
IN agree to that" Thorpe de-
clded. The black anger in his face
had submerged again, SO that he
was poker-eyed.
The deputy commissioner was he.
ginning to look like a man who
wished he were some place else.
If there are no objections"
Fifty cents" said Dusty King.
Ben Thorpe's face had turned \
curious color, not gray, certainly
not bloodless; an odd conecsted col !
or, like dark sand 'Fiftv-fivc " be
said.
"Sixiy"
'Sixty-fve."
"a dollar" said Dusty King.
"a dollar, five"
just in confidence between lou
and me- Dusty king. said; I'M. !
Thorpe can't pay that"
Il think my name is good anv-
where in the cow country" Thorpe
said to the commissioner.
1t amt good here" said King. !
Inc deputy commissioner slapped
hl5 pen down on the table. Gentle
men, he said, I'm sorry to do this;
but ir the interests of the govern
ment, and of the Indian Department
winch l represent, all further bids
III this auction will be accepted only
ac Iorrc5entlng American gold" (
Cash on Inc rail?" King asked
la" There was no question now
about the sweat that stood out on
the commissioners forehead.
Seventy cents" said King.
TIN already bid a dollar, fvc,"
Sure; but we got different rules
now. God knows Thorpe can't back |
a dollar, five il gold. What kind .
OF shcnanigan l. this, anyway"
The eyes Of the deputy commits
sioner went to Ben Thorpc's face
again, but There was nothing TO be
read there Thorpe seemed so
lumpishly Sill that it was not ap-
parent that hc JrCathcd.
Seventy cents" said Dusty kim
again in The silence. "Whoop 'cr
up, boys-I'vc only bcgun!"
Silence again through the pack 0;
those saddlc-iaccd men; pcrspirine
silence on the part Of the deputy
commissioner, dead lumpish 81.
lence on the part of Ben Thorpe.
Cleve Tanner, his handsslockcd back |
of his neck, looked at the ceiling;
Walk Lasham sat motionless, his
eyes on the face of his boss.
you" the deputy commission
or wavcrcd. "you-you can back this
bid in gold?"
Immediate delivery by Wells |
Fargo" King said. Fright now, in |
Ogallala."
"Mr. Thorpe" the commissioner |
wavered, Mr.. Thorpe, will you-do |
you"
They waited for what Ben Thorpe
would say. His face was express
sionless still, as he got UP from his
chair; but men stumbled over each
other to get out of his way. as he
walked down the length of that
packed room, and out into the street.
The deputy commissioner seemed
melted down, unrecognizable now as
the crisp little man who had opened
the bidding. His face was white
and set, and his eyes showed fear.
"Well?" said King.
1.-THE Crying Wolf" the commits
sioner said huskily, "the Crying
Wolf lands-if--it there are no 9th.
er bids-go TO King-Gordon ="