He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful
reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he
drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and
there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal. Finally a
cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on
the house, and rode away at a walk.
Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.
The plump sheriff came to a halt beside him, jouncing in the saddle
with the suddenness of the stop.
"What's up?" he called eagerly.
"Whistlin' Dan."
"What's new about him? I know they're talkin' about that play he made
agin Haines. They's some says he's a faster man than you, Jim!"
"They say too damned much!" snarled Silent. "This is what's new.
Whistlin' Dan Barry--no less--has busted open the jail at Elkhead an'
set Lee Haines free."
The sheriff could not speak.
"I fixed it, Gus. I staged the whole little game."
"_You_ fixed it with Whistlin' Dan?"
"Don't ask me how I worked it. The pint is that he did the job. He got
into the jail while the lynchers was guardin' it, gettin' ready for a
rush. They opened fire. It was after dark last night.
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