Sundown Slim

by Henry Herbert Knibbs

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE ESCAPE

  About midnight Corliss and his foreman were awakened by a cry of"Fire!" They scrambled from bed and pawed around in the dark for theirclothes.

  "Spontinuous conibustication," said Shoop, with a yawn. "A Jewclothin'-store and a insurance-policy. Wonder who's ablaze?"

  "I can see from here," said Corliss at the window. "Keep on dressing,Bud, it's the sheriff's office!"

  "Sundown!" Shoop exclaimed, dancing about inelegantly with one foothalfway down his pants-leg.

  They tramped down the stairs and ran across to the blazing building. Agroup of half-dressed citizens were passing buckets and dashing theirfinal and ineffectual contents against the spouting flames.

  "He's sure done on both sides if he's in there," remarked Shoop. Heran around to the back of the jail and called loudly on Sundown.Jumping, he caught the high wooden bars of the window and peered intothe rear room. A rivulet of flame crept along the door that led fromthe jail to the office. The room seemed to be empty. Shoop dropped tothe ground and strolled around to the front. "Tryin' to save thebuildin' or the prisoner?" he asked of a sweating bucket-passer.

  The man paused for a second, slopping water on his boots and gazingabout excitedly. "Hey, boys!" he shouted. "Get an axe and chop openthe back! The long gent is roastin' to death in there!"

  "And I reckon that'll keep 'em busy while Sun fans it," soliloquizedShoop. "Hello, Jack!" And he beckoned to Corliss. "He ain't inthere," he whispered, "But how he got out, gets me!"

  "We might as well go back to bed," said Corliss. "They'll get him,anyway. There's one of Jim's deputies on a cayuse now."

  "Where do you reckon he'll head for?"

  "Don't know, Bud. If he heads for the water-hole, they'll get him inno time."

  "Think he set her on fire?"

  "Maybe he dropped a cigarette. I don't think he'd risk it, on purpose."

  Shoop glanced at his watch, tilting it toward the light of the flames."It's just one. Hello! There comes the agent. Reckon he thought thestation was afire."

  "Guess not. He's lighting up. Must be a special going to stop."

  "He's sure set the red. Say, I'm goin' over to see. Wait a minute."

  Shoop followed the agent into the station. Presently the foremanreappeared and beckoned to Corliss. "Listen, Jack! Reddy says he'sgot some runnin' orders for the Flyer and she's got to stop to get 'em.That means we can eat breakfast in Usher, 'stead of here. No tellin'who'll be on the six-forty headed for the same place, tomorrow mornin'."

  Corliss pondered. His plan of homesteading the water-hole ranch hadbeen upset by the arrest of Sundown. Still, that was no reason forgiving up the plan. From Shoop's talk with Kennedy, the lawyer, it wasevident that Loring had his eye on the deserted ranch.

  Far down the track he saw a glimmering dot of fire and heard the faintmuffled whistle of the Flyer. "All right, Bud. I'll get the tickets.Get our coats. We can just make it."

  When they stepped from the Flyer at Usher, the faint light of dawn wasedging the eastern hills. A baggage-truck rumbled past and they heardsome one shout, "Get out o' that!" In the dim light they saw a figurecrawl from beneath the baggage-car and dash across the station platformto be swallowed up in the shadowy gloom of a side street.

  "I only had seven drinks," said Shoop, gazing after the disappearingfigure. "But if Sundown ain't a pair of twins, that was him."

  "Hold on, Bud!" And Corliss laid his hand on Shoop's arm. "Don't takeafter him. That's the way to stampede him. We go easy till it'slight. He'll see us."

  They sauntered up the street and stopped opposite an "all-night"eating-house.

  "We won't advertise the Concho, this trip," said Corliss, as theyentered.

  Shoop, with his legs curled around the counter stool, sipped his coffeeand soliloquized. "Wise old head! Never was a hotel built that wastoo good for Jack when he's travelin'. And he don't do his thinkin'with his feet, either."

  The waiter, who had retired to the semi-seclusion of the kitchen, dozedin a chair tilted back against the wall. He was awakened by a voice atthe rear door. Shoop straightened up and grinned at Corliss. Thewaiter vocalized his attitude with the brief assertion that there was"nothin' doin'."

  "It's him!" said Shoop.

  "I got the price," came from the unseen.

  "Then you beat it around to the front," suggested the waiter.

  Shoop called for another cup of coffee. As the waiter brought it,Sundown, hatless, begrimed, and showing the effects of an unupholsteredjourney, appeared in the doorway. Shoop turned and stood up.

  "Well, if it ain't me old pal Buddy!" exclaimed Sundown. "What youdoin' in this here burg?"

  "Why, hello, Hawkins! Where'd you fall from? How's things over toHomer?"

  Sundown took the hint and fabricated a heart-rending tale of anall-night ride on "a cayuse that had been tryin' to get rid of him eversince he started and had finally piled him as the Flyer tooted forUsher."

  "You do look kind o' shook-up. Better eat."

  "I sure got room," said Sundown. "Fetch me a basket of doughnuts and apail of coffee. That there Fly--cayuse sure left me, but he didn'ttake me appetite."

  After the third cup of coffee and the seventh doughnut, Sundownasserted that he felt better. They sauntered out to the street.

  "How in blazes did you get loose?" queried Shoop, surveying the unkemptadventurer with frank amazement.

  "Blazes is correct. I clumb out of the window."

  "Set her on fire?"

  "Not with mellishus extent, as the judge says. Mebby it was acigarette. I dunno. First thing I know I was dreamin' I smelt smokeand the dream sure come true. If them bars had been a leetle clostertogether, I reckon I would be tunin' a harp, right now."

  "How did you happen to jump our train--and get off here?" asked Corliss.

  "It was sure lucky," said Sundown, grinning. "I run 'round back of thestation and snook up and crawled under the platform in front. I couldsee everybody hoppin' 'round and I figured I was safer on the job,expectin' they'd be lookin' for me to beat it out of town. Then youfellas come up and stood talkin' right over me head. Bud he sayssomethin' about eatin' breakfast in Usher, and bein' hungry and likin'good comp'ny, I waits till the train pulls up and crawls under thebaggage. And here I be."

  "We'll have to get you a hat and a coat. We'll stop at the nextbarber-shop. You wash up and get shaved. We'll wait. Then we'll headfor the court-house."

  "Me ranch?" And Sundown beamed through his grime. "Makes me feel likewritin' a pome! Now, mebby--"

  "Haven't time, now. Got to scare up two more witnesses to go on yourpaper. There's a place, just opening up."

  They crossed the street. Next to the barbershop was a saloon.

  Sundown eyed the sign pensively. "I ain't a drinkin' man--regular," hesaid, "but there are times . . ."

  "There are times," echoed Corliss, and the three filed between theswing-doors and disappeared.

  An hour later three men, evidently cow-men from their gait and bearing,passed along the main street of Usher and entered the court-house,where they were met by two citizens. The five men were admitted to theinner sanctum of the hall of justice, from which they presentlyemerged, laughing and joking. The tallest of them seemed to bereceiving the humorous congratulations of his companions. He shookhands all around and remarked half-apologetically: "I ain't a drinkin'man, reg'lar . . . but there are times . . ."

  The five men drifted easily toward the swing-doors. Presently theyemerged. Shoop nudged his employer. David Loring and his daughter hadjust crossed the street. The old sheep-man glanced at the group infront of the saloon and blinked hard. Of the West, he read at a glancethe situation. Sundown, Corliss, and Shoop raised their hats asEleanor Loring bowed.

  "Beat him by a neck!" said Shoop. "Guess we better fan it, eh, Jack?"

  "There's no hurry," said Corliss easily. Nevertheless, he realizedthat Sundown's pr
esence in Usher was quite apt to be followed by a wirefrom the sheriff of Antelope which would complicate matters, to say theleast. He shook hands with the two townsmen and assured them that thehospitality of the Concho was theirs when they chose to honor it. Thenhe turned to Bud Shoop. "Get the fastest saddle-horse in town and rideout to the South road and wait for us. I'm going to send Sundown overto Murphy's. Pat knows me pretty well. From there he can take theApache road to the Concho. We can outfit him and get him settled atthe water-hole ranch before any one finds out where he is."

  "But Jim'll get him again," said Shoop.

  "I expect him to. That'll be all right."

  "Well, you got me. Thought I knowed somethin' about your style, but Idon't even know your name."

  "Let's move on. You go ahead and get the cayuse. I want to talk toSundown."

  Then Corliss explained his plan. He told Sundown to keep thewater-hole fenced and so keep the sheep-men from using it. This wouldvirtually control several thousand acres of range around the water-holeranch. He told Sundown that he expected him to homestead the ranch forhimself--do the necessary work to secure a title, and then at hisoption either continue as a rancher or sell the holding to the Concho."I'll start you with some stock--a few head, and a horse or two. Allyou have to do is to 'tend to business and forget that I have everspoken to you about homesteading the place. You'll have to play italone after you get started."

  "Suits me, boss. I ain't what you'd call a farmer, but me and Chancecan scratch around and act like we was. But the smooth gent as pinchedme--ain't he goin' to come again?"

  "Sure as you're wearing spurs! But you just take it easy and you'llcome out all right. Loring put Jim Banks after you. Jim is all rightand he's business. Loring wants the water-hole ranch. So do I. Now,if Loring tells the sheriff he saw you in Usher, and later at thewater-hole, Jim will begin to think that Loring is keeping pretty closetrail on you. When Jim finds out you've filed on the water-hole,--andhe already knows that Loring wants it,--he'll begin to figure thatLoring had you jailed to keep you out of his way. And you can take itfrom me, Jim Banks is the squarest man in Apache County. He'll giveyou a chance to make good. If we can keep you out of sight till hehears from over the line, I think you'll be safe after that. If wecan't, why, you still have your title to the water-hole ranch and thatholds it against trespassers."

  "Well, you're sure some shark on the long think! Say, I been scaredstiff so long I'm just commencin' to feel me legs again. The sun isshinin' and the birds are sawin' wood. I get you, boss! The old guythat owns the wool had me pinched. Well, I ain't got nothin' ag'in'him, but that don't say I ain't workin' for you. Say, if he comesbotherin' around me farm, do I shoot?"

  "No. You just keep right on. Pay no attention to him."

  "Just sick Chance on him, eh?"

  "He'd get Chance. I'm going to run some cattle over that way soon.Then you'll have company. You needn't be scared."

  "Cattle is some comp'ny at that. Say, have I got to ride that therebronc Bud jest went down the street on?"

  "As soon as we get out of town."

  "Which wouldn't be long if we had hosses like him, eh?"

  "I'll give you a note to Murphy. He'll send your horse back to Usherand let you take a fresh horse when you start for the Concho. Take iteasy, and don't talk."

  "All right, boss. But I was thinkin'--"

  "What?"

  "Well, it's men like me and you that puts things through. It takes aman with sand to go around this country gettin' pinched and thrun andburnt up and bein' arrested every time he goes to spit. Folks'll besayin' that there Sundown gent is a brave man--me! Never shot nobodyand dependin' on his nerve, every time. They's nothin' like havin' abad repetation."

  "Nothing like it," assented Corliss, smiling. "Well, here's your road.Keep straight on till you cross the river. Then take the right forkand stick to it, and you'll ride right into Murphy's. He'll fix youup, all right."

  "Did you think in this note to tell him to give me a hoss that onlytravels one way to onct?" queried Sundown.

  Corliss laughed. "Yes, I told him. Don't forget you're a citizen anda homesteader. We're depending on you."

  "You bet! And I'll be there with the bells!"

  Shoop and Corliss watched Sundown top a distant rise and disappear in acloud of dust. Then they walked back to the station. As they waitedfor the local, Shoop rolled a cigarette. "Jest statin' it mild andgentle," he said, yawning, "the last couple of weeks has been kind of abusy day. Guess the fun's all over. Sundown's got a flyin' start;Loring's played his ace and lost, and you and me is plumb sober. IfI'd knowed it was goin' to be as quiet as this, I'd 'a' brought myknittin' along."

  "There are times . . ." said Corliss.

  "And we got just five minutes," said Shoop. "Come on."