Sundown Slim

by Henry Herbert Knibbs

  CHAPTER IX

  SUNDOWN'S FRIEND

  Bud Shoop was illustrating, with quaint and humorous gestures andadjectives, one of his early experiences as Ranger on the ApacheReservation. The men, grouped around the night-fire, smoked and helpedthe tale along with reminiscent suggestions and ejaculations ofinterest and curiosity. In the midst of a vivid account of thejuxtaposition of a telephone battery and a curious yet unsuspiciousApache, Shoop paused in the recital and gazed out across the mesa."It's the boss," he said, getting to his feet. "Wonder what's up?"

  Corliss rode into camp, swung from the saddle, and called to Shoop.The men gazed at each other, nodded, and the words "Loring" and"sheep," punctuated their mutterings.

  Shoop and Corliss talked together. Then the foreman called to HiWingle, asking him how the "chuck" was holding out.

  "Runnin' short on flour and beans, Bud. Figured on makin' the Conchoto-morrow."

  Corliss and his foreman came to the fire. "Boss says we're goin' tobush here the rest of this week," and Corliss nodded.

  "I'm expecting company on the west side," explained Corliss,

  The men gazed at each other knowingly.

  "All right," said Wingle. "Four sacks of flour and a sack offrijoles'll see us through. Got enough other stuff."

  "Send some one in for it," ordered Corliss. "I'm going to stay withthe outfit, from now on."

  The men cheered. That was the kind of a boss to work for! No settin'back and lettin' the men do the fightin'! Some style to Jack Corliss!All of which was subtly expressed in their applause, although unspoken.

  "To see that you boys don't get into mischief," continued Corliss,smiling.

  "Which means keepin' other folks out of mischief, eh, patron?" said acow-puncher.

  At the word "patron" the men laughed. "They're talkin' of turnin' thisoutfit into a sheep-camp," remarked another. "Ba-a-ah!" And again theylaughed.

  Shoop motioned to Sundown who rose from beside the fire. "You cansaddle up, Sun."

  Sundown caught up his horse and stood waiting while one of the mensaddled two pack-animals. "Tony has the keys. He'll pack the stufffor you," said Corliss. "Keep jogging and you ought to be back here bysunup."

  The assistant cook mounted and took the lead-rope of the pack-horses.He was not altogether pleased with the prospect of an all-night ride,but he knew that he had been chosen as the one whose services couldmost easily be dispensed with at the camp. Silently he rode away, theempty kyacks clattering as the pack-horses trotted unwillingly behindhim. Too busy with the unaccustomed lead-rope to roll cigarettes, hewhistled, and, in turn, recited verse to keep up his spirits.

  About midnight he discerned the outline of the low ranch-buildings andurged his horse to a faster gait. As he passed a clump of cottonwoods,his horse snorted and shied. Sundown reined him in and leaned peeringahead. The pack-animals tugged back on the rope. Finally he coaxedthem past the cottonwoods and up to the gate. It was open, an unusualcircumstance which did not escape his notice. He drifted through theshadows toward the corral, where he tied the horses. Then he steppedto the bunk-house, found a lantern and lighted it. He hallooed. Therewas no response. He stalked across to the ranch-house. He found thedoor unlocked. "Hi! Tony!" he called. No one answered. He pushedthe door open and entered. Holding the lantern above his head hepeered around the room.

  In the dim light of the lantern vague outlines took shape. He noticedthat the small safe in the corner was open. He became alarmed andagain called. He heard a slight movement behind him and turned to seethe door close. From behind stepped a figure, a slender figure thatseemed unreal, yet familiar. With a cry of surprise he jumped back andstood facing his old friend and companion of the road, Will Corliss.

  "Billy!" he ejaculated, backing away and staring.

  "Yes, it's Billy." And Corliss extended his hand.

  "But--what, where--?" Sundown hesitated and glanced at the safe. Hiseyes widened and he lowered the lantern. "Billy!" he said, ignoringthe other's proffered hand, "what you doin' here?"

  Corliss assumed a nonchalant air. "Shake, pal! It's a long time sincewe been in a wreck, eh?"

  Sundown was silent, studying the other's hardened features. "Billy!"he reiterated, "what you doin' here?"

  Corliss laughed nervously. "What are you doing here?" heretorted,--"in the office of the Concho, at midnight?"

  "I was comin' to get flour and beans for the camp--" he began.

  Corliss interrupted him. "Sounds good, that! But they don't keep thegrub here. Guess you made a mistake."

  Sundown's face was expressionless. "Guess you made the mistake, Billy.I thought you was--dead."

  "Not on your tin-type, Sun."

  "I never thought you was crooked, Billy."

  "Crooked!" flashed Corliss. "Say, you--you forget it. I'm here to getwhat's coming to me. Jack turned me down, so I'm going to take what'smine."

  "Mebby it's yours, but you ain't gettin' it right," said Sundown."I--I--never thought you was--"

  "Oh, cut that out! You didn't used to be so dam' particular."

  "I never swiped a cent in me life, Billy."

  "Well, forget it. I'm in a hurry. You go ahead and get the chuck.Here are the keys to the store-room--and beat it. Just forget that yousaw me; that's all."

  Sundown shook his head. "I ain't forgettin' that easy, Billy. 'Sides,I'm workin' for the Concho, now. They're treatin' me fine--and Ireckon I got to be square."

  "You mean you're going to squeal--going back on your old pal, eh?"

  Sundown's face expressed conflicting emotions. He straightened hislean shoulders. "I tell you, Billy; if you beat it now, they won't benothin' to squeal about."

  "I'm going to." And Corliss stepped toward the safe. "Just hold thatlight this way a minute."

  Sundown complied, and Corliss thought that the other had overcome hisscruples. Corliss hastily drew a small canvas sack from the safe andstuffed it into his pocket. Sundown backed toward the door.

  Corliss got to his feet. "Well, so-long, Sun. Guess I'll light out."

  "Not with that," said Sundown. "I ain't no preacher, but I ain't goin'to see you go straight to hell and me do nothin'. Mebby some of thatdough is yourn. I dunno. But somebody's goin' to get pinched fortakin' it. Bein' a Bo, it'll be me."

  "So that's what's worrying you, eh? Scared you'll get sent over forthis. Well, you won't. You haven't got anything on you."

  "'T ain't that, Billy. It's you."

  Corliss laughed. "You're getting religion, too. Well, I never thoughtyou'd go back on me."

  "I ain't. I was always your friend, Billy."

  Corliss hesitated. The door behind Sundown moved ever so little.Corliss's eyes held Sundown with unwinking gaze. Slowly the door swungopen. Sundown felt rather than heard a presence behind him. Before hecould turn, something crashed down on his head. The face of his oldfriend, intense, hard, desperate, was the last thing imaged upon hismind as the room swung round and he dropped limply to the floor.

  "Just in time," said Fadeaway, bending over the prostrate figure. "Geta move, Bill. I followed him from the cottonwoods and heard his talk.I was waitin' to get him when he come out, but I seen what he was up toand I fixed him."

  Corliss backed against the wall, trembling and white. "Is he--didyou--?"

  Fadeaway grinned. "No, just chloroformed him. Get a move, Bill. Notellin' who'll come moseyin' along. Got the stuff?"

  Corliss nodded.

  Fadeaway blew out the light. "Come on, Bill. She worked slick."

  "But--he knows me," said Corliss. "He'll squeal."

  "And I reckon Jack'll believe him. Why, it's easy, Bill. They findthe Bo on the job and the money gone. Who did it? Ask me."

  At the cottonwoods they mounted. "Now, you fan it for Soper's," saidFadeaway. "I'll keep on for the Blue. To-morrow evenin' I'll rideover and get my divvy."

  Corliss hesitated.

  "You better travel," s
aid Fadeaway, reining his horse around."So-long."

  Chance, a prisoner in the stable, whined and gnawed at the rope withwhich Corliss had tied him. The rope was hard-twisted and tough.Finally the last strand gave way. The dog leaped through the doorwayand ran sniffing around the enclosure. He found Sundown's trail andfollowed it to the ranch-house. At the threshold the dog stopped. Hisneck bristled and he crooked one foreleg. Slowly he stalked to theprone figure on the floor. He sniffed at Sundown's hands and pawed athim. Slowly Sundown's eyes opened. He tried to rise and sank backgroaning. Chance frisked around him playfully coaxing. FinallySundown managed to sit up. With pain-heavy eyes he gazed around theroom. Slowly he got to his feet and staggered to the doorway. Heleaned against the lintel and breathed deeply of the fresh morning air.The clear cold tang of the storm that had passed, lingered, giving akeen edge to the morning. "We're sure in wrong," he muttered, gazingat Chance, who stood watching him with head cocked and eyes eager forsomething to happen--preferably action. Sundown studied the dog dully."Say, Chance," he said finally, "do you think you could take a littleword to the camp? I heard of dogs doin' such things. Mebby you could.Somebody's got to do 'somethin' and I can't." Painfully he stooped andpointed toward the south. "Go tell the boss!" he commanded. Chancewhined. "No, that way. The camp!"

  Chance nosed across the yard toward the gate. Then he stopped andlooked back. Sundown encouraged him by waving his arm toward thesouth. "Go ahead, Chance. The boss wants you."

  Chance trotted toward the cottonwood, nosed among them, and finallytook Sundown's trail to the knoll.

  Sundown crept to the bunk-house, wondering what had become of theMexican, Tony. He determined to search for him, but became dizzy, and,crawling to a bunk, lay back groaning as the dull pain in his headleaped intermittently to blinding stabs of agony. It seemed agesbefore he heard the quick staccato of hoofs on the road. He raisedhimself on his elbow as Shoop and Corliss rode up on theirmud-spattered and steaming ponies. Sundown called as they dismountedat the corral.

  Corliss and Shoop stamped in, breathing hard. "What's up?" questionedCorliss.

  "They--they got the money," muttered Sundown, pointing toward theoffice.

  "Who? See what's up, Bud."

  Shoop swung out and across the enclosure.

  Corliss stooped over Sundown. "What's wrong, Sun? Why, Great God,you're hurt!"

  The rancher brought water and bathed Sundown's head. "Who did it?" hequestioned.

  "I dunno, boss. I come and caught 'em at it. Two of 'em, I guess. Iwas tryin' to stop one fella from takin' it when the other slips me oneon the head, and I takes a sleep. I was lookin' for Tony in theoffice."

  "Where's Tony?"

  "I dunno. I was goin' to see--but--my head . . ."

  "That's all right. You take it easy as you can. I'll find out."

  And Corliss left the room. With Chance he explored the outbuildingsand finally discovered the Mexican bound and gagged in the stable. Hereleased him, but could make nothing of his answers save that some onehad come at night, tied his hands and feet, and carried him from theranch-house.

  Corliss returned to Sundown. In the bunkhouse he encountered Shoop.

  "They robbed the safe," said Shoop, and he spoke with a strangequietness. "Better come and take a look, Jack."

  "Didn't blow her," said Shoop, pointing toward the corner as theyentered the office.

  Corliss knelt and examined the safe. "The man that did it knew thecombination," he said. "There isn't a mark on the door."

  He rose, and Shoop met his eye. Corliss shook his head. "I don'tknow," he said, as if in answer to a silent questioning. Then he toldShoop to look for tracks.

  "The rain's fixed the tracks," said Shoop, turning in the doorway."But it ain't drowned out my guess on this proposition."

  "Well, keep guessing, Bud, till I talk to Sundown." And Corliss walkedslowly to the bunkhouse. He sat on the edge of the bunk and laid hishand on Sundown's sleeve. "Look here, Sun, if you know anything aboutthis, just tell me. The money's gone and you didn't get that cut onthe head trying to take it. I guess you're straight, all right, but Ithink you know something."

  Sundown blinked and set his jaw.

  Corliss observed and wisely forbore to threaten or command. "Did yourecognize either of the men?" he asked, presently.

  "No!" lied Sundown. "Wasn't I hit in the back of me head?"

  Corliss smiled grimly. "What were you doing when you got hit?"

  "Tryin' to stop the other guy--"

  "What did he look like?"

  "I dunno. Me lantern was on the floor. He was a hefty guy, bigger 'nyou. Mebby six feet and pow'ful built. Had whiskers so's I couldn'tpipe his face. Big puncher hat down over his eyes and a handkerchieftied like a mask. I was scared of him, you bet!"

  Corliss slowly drew a sack of tobacco and papers from his pocket. Herolled a cigarette and puffed reflectively. Then he laughed. "I'm outabout eighteen hundred. That's the first thing. Next, you're used uppretty bad and we're short-handed. Then, we're losing time trying totrack the thieves. But I'm not riled up a little bit. Don't think I'mmad at you. I'm mighty glad you didn't get put out in this deal.That's where I stand. I want to find out who took the money. I don'tsay that I'll lift a rein to follow them. Depends on who did it."

  Sundown winced, and gazed up helplessly. He felt oppressed by thebroad-chested figure near him. He felt that he could not get awayfrom--what? Not Corliss, for Corliss was undoubtedly friendly. In aflash he saw that he could not get away from the truth. Yet hedetermined to shield his old pal of the road. "You're sure givin' methe third degree," he said with an attempt at humor. "I reckon I gotto come through. Boss, are you believin' I didn't take the cash?"

  "Sure I am! But that isn't enough. Are you working for the Concho,Sun, or for some other outfit?"

  "The Concho," muttered Sundown stubbornly.

  "And I'm the Concho. You're working for me. Listen. I've got a yarnto spin. The man that took the money--or one of them--was short, andslim, and clean-shaved, and he didn't wear a puncher hat. You weren'tscared of him because he was a coward. You tried to get him to playsquare and he talked to you while the other man got you from behind.That's just a guess, but you furnished the meat for it."

  "Me hands are up," said Sundown.

  "All right. I'm not going to get after Billy for this. You lied tome, but you lied to save your pal. Shake!"