by Grey, Zane
"June an' Jan--both!" gasped Jack, suddenly enlightened.
"Boy, yu hit it plumb on the haid."
"Oh, Lord! But, Brazos, damn it, I'm not glad. I couldn't stand your--that you didn't really care!"
"Gosh, Jack, yu're a heartless hombre," drawled Brazos. "Wal, I'll trot along to my little rendezvous."
He caught sight of them before they saw him. They were waiting in a grove of pines off the lane.
"Mawnin', girls--aw, I mean good evenin'," he drawled. "I shore am glad to see yu so--so fresh an' pretty after thet all-night dance."
But his conscience smote him as with a terrific mace. Incredible as it seemed, he recognised instantly which girl was June and which was Janis.
"Brazos, Jan--we have some thing serious to ask you," said June. She was pale, composed surprisingly strong. Brazos divined he was to learn the depth of her. Janis was white as snow and her eyes were great black baleful orbs of fire. She had no reserve. She was ready to burst into flame.
"Brazos," she whispered hoarsely. "I--I told June about last--night--that you begged me--to elope with you--and I promised."
"Wal, June, what'd yu say to thet?"
"Brazos! Oh, it's true--then. I told Jan that I was in love with you--and engaged to marry you."
"What happened then?"
"We had a terrible quarrel."
"Brazos Keene, is she telling the truth?" flashed Janis furiously.
"Wal, I figured thet yu an' June needed a lesson," said Brazos slowly. But he felt June's eyes upon him and inwardly he began to weaken in this preposterous deceit. "This game of yores--bein' one girl when yu air really two girls--thet's shore not fair to us boys. We never could tell yu apart. An' yu built yore house of mirth on thet. Yu were havin' fun at our expense. Yu played tricks on us I reckon thet would have been all right when yu were kids--but yu're grown girls now--women in face an' form an' feelin', an' most distractin' lovely. An' thet makes yore trick pretty damn low-down. Every cowboy on this range, an' I'll gamble a lot of older men, air lovesick over yu two. So little Brazos rode along an' thought he'd break up yore game."
"If you hadn't saved Dad--I'd kill you!" burst out Janis
"Jan, you see," interposed June gravely. "I always told you it would get us into trouble."
"It has--ruined me," sobbed Janis, covering her face. "June--I'm sorry. But it was such fun--until this devil came. He never played any game--for fun. He was deadly earnest--and he m-made me l-love him so--horribly. Maybe he served me right. But that doesn't help--this--this--"
She suddenly uncovered her convulsed face, to fasten a gaze on Brazos that appeared to blaze through tears.
"You carried your poor joke too far. You're a heartless villain--a shameless trickster. You disgrace the very name of cowboy."
Brazos winced under that last jibe, the justice of which he recognised, and he was fighting to keep up his shallow pretence when June confronted him with soul-searching eyes.
"Brazos Keene, you lie! You're trying to save us--to make us despise you. But you can't do it."'
Brazos sat down on a log as if his legs had weakened as had his will. "Shore, I'm--a liar an' a miserable hombre."
"Brazos!" Janis darted to him and knelt, one hand on his shoulder. "What did she mean? What do you mean?"
"Aw, Jan, it's no use. June saw through me. I fell in love with yu both. I cain't tell you apart. I've been honest with June--an' with yu, too. I did ask her to marry me. An' when--those times I've been alone with yu--I thought yu was June! But now I know yu, it doesn't make no difference. I love yu just the same--just as turrible. An' after last night--when yu let yoreself go--Aw! I'm a gone goslin'."
Janis slipped her other arm around Brazos and embraced him passionately, as if she could never let him go. Then she looked up at her sister in anguish. "June, I forgive him. We--I am most to blame. But I can't hate him now. I can't bear to let him go--oh, merciful heaven, what can I do?"
"Jan, you need not give Brazos up," said June. "You shall marry him."
Brazos sprang up, almost lifting Janis with him. "What's thet?" he demanded.
"Jan shall have you, Brazos."
He stared at her, only conscious that for the first time he was realising the true June Neece.
"I cain't consent to thet."
"Nor I," added Janis. "It wouldn't be fair. To cheat you of everything? No, no! All my life I have let you put me first. I won't do it here. But I'm not big enough to give him to you. We must be broken-hearted together."
"Janis, neither of us needs to be broken-hearted. He shall marry you and we'll all be happy."
"But--but--" faltered Janis.
"Brazos, I'd give my very life to make Jan happy. Jan shall be your wife, Brazos--and you can have me, too."
Brazos seized her shoulders in rough grasp. "What air--yu sayin'," he demanded huskily.
"I said Jan shall be, your wife--and you can have me, too. We're twins, almost the same as one girl. I'd never marry. I'd always be true to you, Brazos. No one would ever know."
Chapter 12
Hurriedly saddling his horse, Brazos rode into Las Animas. He felt a need to be away from Twin Sombreros in order to think this thing through.
Brazos started toward Mexican Joe's, but had gone hardly half a block when he met Inskip. There was something in the Texan's eyes that gripped Brazos.
"Knight shot Hank Bilyen this mawnin'."
"Aw!" A rending pang in Brazos yielded to leaping fire. "Hank! Daid?"
"No. Pretty close call, though. Doc says Hank ain't in danger."
"Wal, thet's a relief. This hombre Knight? He shot Surface, yu recollect--What was it all aboot?"
"Hank ain't tellin'. But Knight has been roarin' aboot town. He was drunk when he did the shootin', so. I heahed."
"Drunk! What'n hell was Hank doin' all the time?"
"He wasn't packin' no gun."
"Ahuh. An' what's this gunslinger Knight roarin' aboot?"
"Wal, he's mad, or pretendin' to be. Tellin' everywhere he thought Bilyen had a gun an' was drawin' it--thet he told Bilyen he was goin' to hold Neece for cattle Surface owed him--that Bilyen began to curse an' threaten."
"Bodkin is the nigger in the woodpile. Inskip, how yu reckon thet crook has lasted so long with Texans?"
"Meanin' me an' yu an' Kiskadden? Wal, Gawd only knows how he's lasted with yu. But Kis an' I have responsibilities--business, family. Then Bodkin had a strong followin', for a while. Sooner or later everybody heah in Las Animas will know he's crookeder than a rail fence, same as we know now."
Brazos found his friend Bilyen lying on an improvised bed of blankets on the floor of a room back of Gage's store. The Texan's rugged visage lacked colour and was clammy. Brazos knelt by the prostrate man.
"Wal, old-timer, how yu makin' oot?" he drawled, with deep feeling.
"Me? What's a gunshot to a Texan? I'm all right. I ducked when he shot, or he'd killed me shore. If ever I seen red murder in a man's eyes it was Knight's."
"Ahuh. Let me see--Right side--Hank, don't tell me it's low down?"
"Right under my collarbone an' clear through. Sorer than a stubbed toe! But it's nothin' atall, Brazos."
"Spit any blood?"
"Nary a drop. Cowboy, I shore won't rest or sleep till yu shoot the gizzards oot of thet black buzzard."
"Good. If yu talk short an' sweet I reckon yu can have a sleep in less 'n two wags of a lamb's tail--What was it aboot?"
"Knight braced me. Said he was demandin' two thousand haid of yearlin's--from Neece, through me. I gave him the laugh till I seen thet red light come to his eye. Then if I'd only had a gun!"
"Did yu say anythin'?"
"I cussed him right pert. An' before I seen he meant murder I told him to lay off Neece or he'd have yu to deal with. At thet he gave me the haws laugh. Said he an' Bodkin (he's not smart atall Brazos, he gave Bodkin away) knowed yore hands was tied. Thet yore gunnin' for sheriffs was over!"
"An' what, did yu say to thet?"
> "I told him we knowed he an' Bodkin was in cahoots--thet yu knowed he was the rustler Brad yu heahed with Bodkin thet night at Hailey's. Brazos, it was a random shot, but it shore went home."
"So--I'll shore know if he's thet Brad the instant I heah his voice. Not thet it matters. But it sort of dovetails in. An' he's what I got on Bodkin."
"Brazos, this man Brad must have ruled Surface an' Bodkin both. He struck me strong, cunnin', vicious. But he's no gunman. I could have shot him three times runnin'--But Bodkin. I told yu before to lay off him."
Inskip interposed here: "Right, Bilyen. Unless Brazos has proof he'd better let Bodkin alone. For he's an officer of law in this territory."
"It cain't be done," drawled Brazos.
"Have you anythin' on Bodkin thet'd clear yu in court?"
"I know him."
"But your word only is not enough, Brazos," declared Inskip impressively.
"Pard, Inskip is talkin' sense," added Bilyen earnestly. "Listen. If--if things oot at Twin Sombreros air the way they seemed to Neece an' me--an' the way we hoped--for Gawd's sake, leave Bodkin alone. He'll hang himself pronto."
"It just cain't be done. I see thet now," replied Brazos strangely.
"Boy, think of June--if it is June."
"I am thinkin' of June--an' Jan, too," responded Brazos as he pressed a strong hand upon Bilyen's. And Brazos knew, if Hank did not, that gesture was one of affection and farewell. "So long, yu Texans."
Brazos strode out. He halted to one side of the open door.
Half-way between Hall's saloon and the Happy Days there stood an unoccupied adobe structure, one of the old landmarks of Las Animas. Brazos took his station there in the doorway, from which he could not readily be seen except from a point almost directly opposite. He meant to wait there a little while.
He did not have long to wait before a tall man emerged from Hall's. He answered to the description Brazos had in mind as fitting Knight. Three men followed him out of the saloon. They talked. And Brazos detected a nervous excitement in the way they stood and spoke.
Then Knight turned his dark face in Brazos's direction. One of his comrades accompanied him, a lean man in his shirt sleeves. Brazos smiled scornfully at the folly and blind arrogance of a man who packed his gun like that. The lean man took no such chances.
They came on. Brazos stepped out to confront them.
"Howdy, Brad," he drawled.
If that name did not belong to this man, it certainly had power to halt him with a stiffening jerk.
"My name's--Knight," he rasped out.
"Aw, hell!" ejaculated Brazos in cold derision. The voice was the one he expected.
"Who are you?" demanded the other.
The lean man, staring hard at Brazos, said quietly, "It's Brazos Keene."
"Good guess, stranger. Slope damn pronto, or I'll bore yu," returned Brazos, just as quietly.
The man wheeled as on a pivot and his boots rang on the hard sidewalk.
"Wal, Mr. Knight, yu've met up with Brazos Keene at last."
"Brazos Keene, ah? Ha! Ha! It doesn't impress me, you bragging cowpuncher."
"Wal, it's a-gonna. Brad."
"Damn you! My name's Knight."
Brazos saw the leap of thought in those beady black eyes. It was a steely red glint, a compass needle wavering and fixing--the intent to kill. Brad would attempt to draw on him, Brazos knew, and felt deep amazement at this man's ignorance of real gunmen.
"Wal, it's Brad, too. I just heahed Bodkin an' thet other hombre call yu Brad.
"When and where?" queried Brad heatedly, but he had begun to whiten.
"Thet night at Halley's. Just after the midnight train had pulled in from the East. I was in the next room an' had a hole cut in the wall."
"You meddling cowhand!"
"Shore, Brad. I shore got a hand to draw to--an' I got one to draw with!"
Knight appeared to be be beyond speech, clamped in his rage. Still he had no fear. But it was rage, not nerve.
"Why, man alive!" went on Brazos in his cold, taunting voice, "I've met up' with some real men in my day. Yu're nothin' but a low-down coward that shoots unarmed men--"
With a grating curse Knight jerked for his gun.
Brazos stepped through the drifting pall of smoke to look down upon the fallen man. But he was too late to see Brad die. The rustler boss lay on his back, his right arm pinned under him, clutching his half-drawn gun, his visage distorted in its convulsive change from life to death.
"Atta boy, Brazos!" yelled a lout at the back, and a laugh, nervous, not mirthful, ran through the crowd.
Sheathing his gun, Brazos whirled on his heel to strike rapidly in the direction of the sheriff's office.
It was locked. Brazos burst into three places before someone told him where to locate Bodkin.
"Seen him go in Twin Sombreros restaurant," called out this individual.
Brazos laughed. Of all places for Bodkin to be cornered by Brazos Keene! There was a fate that waited upon evil men.
Brazos opened the door of the restaurant, slipped in, then slammed it behind him. On the right side, facing the street, several of the small tables had been placed together, round which sat ten or a dozen men. Brazos's lightning eye had scanned them to locate his victim.
"Everybody set tight!" yelled Brazos.
He surveyed the men at table. Miller he recognised. His passion was such that even the presence of the banker Henderson occasioned him no surprise. Several other faces were familiar, evidently belonging to new businessmen of Las Animas. The rest were strangers.
The guests at that table rose so hurriedly that half their chairs turned over. They split, some on each side, leaving Bodkin alone at the head, his ox eyes rolling at Brazos.
"Keene, this hyar's an intrusion--insult to my guests. I--"
"Haw! Haw! Yore guests, huh? Wal, they must be crooked as yu or the damnedest fools in Colorado."
"Drunk again! Same old Keene! You get out or I'll clap you in jail."
Brazos spat like a cat. "Jail? By Gawd, yu make me remember I got thet on yu, too! Wal, Bodkin, my rustlin' sheriff, yu'll never clap me in jail again--or any other cowboy!"
"Get out, Keene. You're drunk an' blowin' off. Let me alone. You can't want anythin' of me."
"Hell I cain't!"
"What you want--then?" demanded Bodkin hoarsely.
"Wal, first off I wanted to tell yu, Bodkin," drawled Brazos with irritating slowness. "Yore pard Brad is layin' oot here in the street daid!"
"Brad?"
"Yes, Brad. He calls himself Knight. He's yore new man. Wal, he's daid!"
"Who shot him?"
"Some hombre from Texas."
"You! Well, that's no great concern of mine You're one of these even-break gunmen, so I can't arrest you. I knew him as Knight. Now get out--"
"Aw, Bodkin, yu're all lie," flung out Brazos, and in two long strides he reached the table. He lifted his boot against it and shoved powerfully. The laden tables slid and tumbled with a crash, overturning Bodkin and half covering his burly form.
"Come up with yore gun!" ordered Brazos.
Bodkin floundered to his feet, a stark and ghastly terror etched on his face. He made no move for his gun, which swung free without coat to hamper it.
"I'm not fightin' you--gun slinger," he panted.
"Yes, yu air--or be the first man I ever bored withoot it."
"Let me by. If you're spoilin' for a fight I'll find men--"
"Bah, yu chicken-hearted four-flush! Cain't you make no better stand before yore guests? Cain't yu die game?"
"Brazos Keene, I'll not add another notch to your gun handle."
"Wal, I'll break my rule an' cut just one notch for yu, Bodkin. An' wherever I ride I'll show it an' say thet's for the yellowest skunk I ever shot."
"I tell you I won't draw," shouted Bodkin, desperate in his fear.
Brazos's gun twinkled blue. Bang! Bodkin screamed like a horse in agony. His leg gave way under him and he would have f
allen but for the chair he seized. Brazos's bullet had penetrated the calf of his leg.
"Air yu gonna take it by inches?" demanded the cowboy.
Bodkin gazed balefully, with wobbling jaw. Horribly plain his love of life, his fear of death! And still it eluded him--the destroying truth of this cowboy.
"Bodkin, yore game is up. Yu've dealt yore last hand at cairds. Yore lyin,' cheatin', stealin' days air over. Yore murderin' days air over. For yu was Surface's tool in Allen Neece's murder. Yu tried the same deal when yu sent Bard Syvertsen an' his girl Bess to murder me. Yu're a menace to this range. The fools who elected yu sheriff air crazy or crooked."
"You're the crazy--one," gasped Bodkin.
"Listen, man. Cain't yu see things? I could kill yu on a personal grudge. But I'm gonna kill yu for better reasons."
"Keene, you can't prove--you have no case--"
"Hell! I was in the room next to yore's at Hailey's. I had a hole cut in the wall. I heahed yu come in at midnight, with two men. One of them this Brad hombre I just shot. An' I heahed yu talk. About Brad's failure to get the gunman, Panhandle Ruckfall, to come heah to kill me. Aboot the gold Syvertsen stole from Neece an' gave to Surface. Aboot how yu reckoned yu would hang on heah an' get elected sheriff. An' last, how the third man of yu three thet night--the one whose name I never heahed--how he said the cattlemen on this range was wakin' up an' he was gonna slope."
Damning guilt worked upon the fear and agony in Bodkin's visage.
"Now will yu go for yore gun?" added Brazos sardonically.
"No--you--hydrophobia-bitten cowhand!"
Crash! Brazos shot the other leg out from under Bodkin. Still the sheriff did not fall, nor did he scream out. He sagged a little, until his knee on the chair upheld him. Then the horrid expression faded, smoothed out of his face, and into it came a vestige of the realisation of death and a dark desire to take his merciless adversary with him. He let go of the chair with his right hand and drew his gun.
Brazos let him swing it upward. Then he leaped aside and shot. Bodkin's gun boomed so close afterward that the two shots seemed simultaneous.
But Bodkin's bullet crashed through the window and Brazos's reached its mark.
