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It was only that he felt strong enough, with his friends and sympathizers, to defy the railroad force and Whispering Smith, and planned now, probably, to kill off his pursuers or wear them out. There was a second incentive for remaining: nearly all the Tower W money had been hidden at Rebstock's cabin by Du Sang.
"He and I once had a little private match of our own. It was on the Peace River, over a bunch of steers. Since then we have got along very well, though he has an exaggerated opinion of my ability. Rebstock's worst failing is his eyesight. It bothers him in seeing brands. He's liable to brand a critter half a dozen times. That albino, Du Sang, is a queer duck. Sinclair gave him a fine horse.
That round-up was all Rebstock's fault, and Rebstock is bound to make good all loss and damage." "You'll make good my share of it right now and here," said the man with the wash-blue eyes. "Why, of course," assented Whispering Smith, "if I must, I must. I suppose I may light a cigarette, boys, before you turn loose the fireworks?" "Light it quick!"
"He'll shoot the four buttons off your coat in four shots." Smith kicked Rebstock's dog contemptuously. "And do it while you are falling down. I've seen him do it," persisted Rebstock, moist with perspiration. "I'm not looking for a chance to go against a sure thing; I wash my hands of the job." Whispering Smith rose. "It was no trick to see he had you scared to death.
He needed no introduction to the hard cheeks, one of which was split by a deep scar. It was Perry, Rebstock's crony, whom Stanley had driven out of Sellersville on the Spider Water. "What are you doing around here interfering with my business?" he demanded of Bucks harshly. "I've watched you spying around.
He laid his hand on the man's shoulder and the man turned. But to Scott's surprise he was not the man wanted at all. He wore Rebstock's clothes and fitted Rebstock's description, but he was not Rebstock. The scout understood instantly how he had been tricked, but gave no sign.
Every man that rode out openly to make a protest was referred calmly to Rebstock, and before very long Rebstock's 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 own boss, was one that no railroad man undertook to discourage.
A plot to put him out of the way, as the sole witness against the accused gamblers, was uncovered by Scott almost as soon as Bucks had returned to the big town and, warned by his careful friend, he rarely went up street except with a companion most frequently with Scott himself. As the day set for Rebstock's trial drew near, rumors were heard of a jail delivery.
In this Sinclair himself had entered, and after the early matches found only one troublesome contestant Du Sang from the Cache, who was present under Rebstock's wing.
I'll make Williams Cache so wild that a timber-wolf can't follow his own trail through it. You'll break with me, will you, Rebstock? Then wind up your bank account; before I finish with you I'll put you in stripes and feed buzzards off your table." Rebstock's face was apoplectic. He choked with a torrent of oaths. Whispering Smith, paying no attention, walked out to where Kennedy was waiting.
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