CHAPTER XXVII
EVIDENCE
When Gary Warden stepped off the east-bound train at Willets one eveningin April--to be met by Singleton, who had been apprised of the day ofhis coming and who had been in town for two days waiting--there was anexpectant smile on his face.
A change seemed to have come over the town. The winter lethargy had beenshaken off and Willets was a throb with life and activity. There was awarm wind blowing, bearing the breath of the new sage; doors were open;many horses were hitched to the rails that fringed the walk in front ofsaloons and stores; and there was over it all an atmosphere that seemedto be vital, electric.
Warden drew Singleton over to a corner of the station platform, fromwhere, between two buildings, they had a clear, unobstructed view of thestreet.
"Della Wharton didn't come?" asked Singleton.
"No," laughed Warden; "she stayed over for a reception at the governor'smansion, tonight. She'll be here tomorrow." He leaned close toSingleton, whispering:
"Are Blondy and his men settled?"
"Settled!" Singleton laughed deeply. "You might call it that. Blondy an'his gang are runnin' this man's town, right now! They've got Moretonscared, looks like! He's layin' mighty low, an' keepin' his trap shut.Blondy's got a mighty tough gang--a bunch of hoppin', howlin'tarantulas, straight from hell! Blondy's still raw from that deal Lawlerhanded him when he brought him here an' dumped him down on the platform,tellin' you Blondy was his 'vent.' Blondy swears he'll kill Lawler forthat, an' I'm bankin' that he makes a strong play for a killin'. There'sred in Blondy's eyes when he talks about Lawler!"
Warden smiled evilly. "That's Lawler's lookout," he said, venomously;"he ought to be man enough to take care of himself. Let's take a lookaround."
With Singleton beside him, Warden visited half a dozen saloons and dancehalls; smiling as he noted the bepistoled cowboys who were swaggering inand out of doorways and on the sidewalk--strangers to him, but not toSingleton, who grinned and nodded to them as they passed.
Warden spent the night in town. And after midnight, in a room at therear of the Wolf Saloon--when the sounds of the night's revelry werebecoming fainter--he sat at a table with Singleton and Blondy Antrim,talking in low tones.
* * * * *
At eight o'clock in the morning Warden stepped into the door of SheriffMoreton's office.
Warden's face was pale, and he smiled mirthlessly at Moreton, who wasstanding near a desk looking over some papers.
Moreton looked keenly at his visitor. "You're back, eh?" he said,shortly.
"Back to perform a solemn duty, Moreton," said Warden. "I have theevidence I spoke to you about. It's too bad, but we are all bound to seethat justice is done. I don't like to take this step, for Lawler is adistinguished citizen despite some mighty bad habits, and I don't liketo be the one to charge him with that crime."
"Uh-huh," grunted Moreton; "I can see that you're about ready to breakdown an' bawl right out in meetin'. But I wouldn't do no morefourflushin' in here--it ain't healthy. Where's your evidence?"
Warden laid Della Wharton's written statement on the desk at thesheriff's hand. He watched while Moreton read; he saw Moreton's facewhiten; saw his hand tremble a little as he folded the paper and put itinto a pocket.
Then he looked straight at Warden.
"I don't believe a damned word of it, Warden!" he said, his eyesblazing. "If that woman was in that cabin with Lawler durin' the stormshe kept it mighty quiet. An' Lawler didn't say a word about it when Irode over to see him a couple of months ago!" He glared at Warden."Where's that Wharton woman, now?"
"She'll get to town this afternoon," Warden said.
"Well, she'll have to swear to this, Warden. I can't afford to act onthis--mebbe it ain't her signature."
"Meaning that I forged it?" smiled Warden.
"Meanin' what you damned please!" snapped Moreton. "I ain't actin' inthis case till that woman swears she seen what she claims to haveseen."
"She'll swear to it," said Warden, confidently. "Meantime, I'd adviseyou to have a talk with Keller. Ask him who brought Della Wharton to thehotel, and what time she got there." Warden smiled. "I'll see you later,Sheriff."
Warden went to his office; and, after a time, Moreton strode slowly tothe Willets Hotel, where for a long time he talked with Keller.
When Moreton emerged from the hotel after the talk with Keller his browswere furrowed and his lips were in a pout. He spent most of the daysitting in his office, glaring moodily out into the street; and when heheard the east-bound train rumble in late in the afternoon he drew adeep breath and got up, muttering lowly:
"It looks mighty like it--for a fact. But Lawler--Oh, hell!"
Within fifteen minutes after the arrival of the east-bound train,Moreton was sitting at the desk in his office, studying Miss Wharton'sface.
Della had been met at the train by Warden--who now stood just inside thedoor of the office, watching her, admiring her self-possession.
For Della was calm and deliberate. There was, to be sure, a palenessaround her mouth that was not there at other times; and her lips wereset rather tightly. Moreton saw those indications of mental stress--butthey were no more pronounced than they should be in any woman who hadcome to swear she had witnessed murder.
And Della swore to the statement she had made. She answered Moreton'squestions in a low voice, telling him she regretted having to answerthem--begging him to keep the matter as secret as possible, for sheabhorred publicity.
After Moreton had administered the oath, Della and Warden went out; andfor many minutes Moreton sat at his desk with his chin on his chest,staring at the desk top.
He finally got up, buckled on his cartridge belt and pistol, went out,mounted his horse and rode southward.
* * * * *
Inside the sheriff's office, Warden took leave of Della Wharton,pressing her hand warmly, telling her that she had been "great." Dellasmiled shallowly, not responding to Warden's hand pressure. Her face hadgrown white and there was a glow in her eyes that she did not permitWarden to see.
Warden left her, telling her she would find her horse in front of hisoffice--where Singleton had brought it. Warden's expressions of regretthat he could not accompany her to the Two Diamond were received insilence. Business would keep him in town for a day or so, he said.
Warden went toward the Wolf, and Della walked down the street to herhorse, mounted and rode through mounds of back-yard refuse to the rearof the Willets Hotel. She got a man out to stable her horse, and a fewminutes later she was in the room she had occupied on the night Lawlerbrought her to town from the line cabin. She was still pale, but nowthere was a smile on her lips.
The Trail Horde Page 28
