Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-05-08

knew exactly what was involved.
Something more than land was here
changing hands. To hold the Crying
Wolf would all but mean supremacy
in the north. But this thing was
bigger than that. The two organiza-
tons which here clashed again were
the great powers of the trails; be-
hind each of them were whole coun-
ties of Texas mesquite grass plains,
great areas of the middle short
grass country, scores of outfits. The
struggle between them had devel-
oped with the Chisholm trail itself
"a decade-long combat between
men OF Numerically opposed prin-
ciples and methods. And now
"This land" the deputy commits
sioner concluded, els thrown into
blocks. I think, gentlemen, you are
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 as
Block +; bounded on the north
by"
Cleve, Tanner leaned close to Ben
Thorpe, whispered, and Thorpe nod
ded.
II shouldn't think" said the depu-
ty commissioner, "we need hear any
bid of less than ten cents per year,
per acre"
There was moments silence, and
the deputy commissioner got out
a big silk handkerchief and mopped
his head, as King now let slow
smile come to the surface of his
impassive face. A curious rumble
ran over the room, and the crowd
seemed to sway.
Il 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"
"I'l agree to that" Thorpe de-
cided. The black anger in his face
had submerged again, so that he
was poker-eyed.
The deputy commissioner was be-
ginning to look like 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 congested col
or, like dark sand. "Fifty-fve," he
said.
"Sixty'
"Sixty-fve."
IA dollar" said Dusty King.
IA dollar, five"
"Just in confidence between you
and me-" Dusty King said; ''Mr.
Thorpe can't pay that"
II think my name is good any,
where in the COW country" Thorpe
said to the commissioner.
'It amt good here" said King.
The deputy commissioner slapped
his pen down on the table. Gentle
men," he said, "I'm sorry to do this;
but in the interests of the govern
ment, and of the Indian Department
which I represent, all further bids
in this auction will be accepted only
as representing American gold"
"Cash on the nail?" King asked.
Ia" There was no question now
about the sweat that stood out on
the commissioners forehead.
Seventy cents" said King.
"I'm already bid dollar, fve!"
"Sure; but we got different rules
now. God knows Thorpe can't back
dollar, five in gold. What kind
of shenanigan is this, anyway"
The eyes of the deputy commits
sioner went to Ben .Thorpe's face
again, but there was nothing to be
read there. Thorpe seemed so
lumpishly still that it was not ap-
parent that he breathed.
"Seventy cents, - said Dusty King
again in the silence. ''Whoop 'er
up, boys-I've only begun!'
Silence again through the pack of
those saddle-faced men; perspiring
silence on the part of the deputy
commissioner, dead lumpish ST.
lence on the part of Ben Thorpe.
Cleve Tanner, his hands locked back
of his neck, looked at the ceiling;
Walk Lasham sat motionless, his
eyes on the face of his boss.
"You-" the deputy commission
er wavered, "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, unacceptable 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.
'The Crying Wolf" the commits