Dead Freight for Piute

by Short, Luke;

  The deputy just stared at him. “What kind of hammer-headed talk is this?”

  “I knowed he couldn’t answer us,” Bill prodded. “That’s why he’s a deputy.”

  “Wait a minute,” the deputy said hotly. “I can answer it. Any fool could. Sure, the sheriff could hold her as a material witness.”

  “How long?” Juck said.

  “Until the trial.”

  “And how long you figure that would be?”

  “I dunno. Month, maybe more.”

  Juck looked at Bill and said seriously, “Well, it don’t look like you should ought to work for her, Bill.”

  The deputy lunged to his feet, the veins standing out on his thick neck. “So you’ve held up the stage already, Gurney?” he bawled. “You’re under arrest!”

  “What stage?” Bill asked blankly.

  “Why—Juck just said it.”

  “No. I just aim to hold up the stage this old lady rides on,” Bill said calmly. “She’s comin’ in next week some time. Got lots of money, I hear. I was goin’ to take the money and then get a job workin’ for her.” He shook his head. “Don’t look like I should ought to now though.”

  “It don’t, for a fact,” Juck agreed. “Well, thanks, mister.”

  “Listen,” the deputy said in a thick voice. “I don’t know whether you’re loco or I am! It’s the damnedest thing I ever heard! But if there’s a stage held up, Gurney, I’ll get a posse out after you and they’ll hang you!”

  “Much obliged,” Bill said, his face serious. “I’ll let you know when I do. I aim to take up that offer of the loan of a gun too. Well, so long, mister.”

  And he and Juck walked out under the bewildered gaze of the angry deputy. The deputy stared at their backs for a long moment, then sat down and scratched his head. He had the conviction that a trick was being played on him, but he couldn’t quite tell.

  Out on the street Bill said to Juck, “All right, now try and make some sense out of that.” He looked at Juck, who was grinning. “What’s it all about?”

  “You wait and see,” Juck said. “Let’s go back to the yard.”

  They turned in the compound, climbed the stairs and again knocked on Celia’s door. When she opened it and saw them she said, “Haven’t you found him yet, Juck?”

  “No ma’am,” Juck said, fingering his hat. “I—I’d like to talk to you.”

  “Come in,” Celia said.

  “No, this will do,” Juck stammered. He tongued his cud of tobacco to the rear of his cheek before he started speaking. “You know, Miss Celia, about me holdin’ up the stage that time?”

  “Of course. Is there any trouble comin’ up?”

  “No ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “But you see, ma’am, if I was to give myself up Sheriff Linton would want you and Cole for witnesses at my trial.”

  Celia looked puzzled. “I don’t understand, Juck.”

  “Well, Cole, he can’t leave town if the sheriff serves a paper on him as a witness. If he wants to leave town and says he aims to then they can even lock him up till my trial’s over. It’ll take a month before I’m tried.”

  And then Celia understood. Juck was willing to go to jail to keep Cole in Piute, by force, if necessary. A swift pity caught at Celia’s throat and her eyes misted with tears.

  “You’d even go to jail to keep him here, would you, Juck?” Celia asked softly.

  “I reckon,” Juck agreed quietly. “He don’t know what he’s doin’. He’ll change his mind. Trouble is, when he does he’ll be gone.”

  Celia shook her head. “That’s a fine thing to do, Juck. You’re a real friend. Only—I doubt if he’s worth it.”

  Juck’s gaze whipped up to her. “What?”

  “He told me today, Juck, that he was afraid—scared. He wants to leave Piute because he fears for his life.”

  “He told you that?” Juck said slowly.

  Celia nodded. “So I don’t think he’s worth going to jail for, Juck. I wouldn’t give myself up if I were you. I’d let him go.”

  Juck looked at his hat and then put it on. “Well, good-by, Miss Celia,” he said evenly.

  He and Bill went downstairs and crossed the compound in silence. At the gate Juck turned and looked back at the door. “Scared,” he growled. “Cole Armin told her he was scared.”

  Bill Gurney’s mind worked a little quicker than Juck’s, and his intuition was a little keener. He said, “Juck, you and me are buttin’ in on somethin’ that ain’t our business at all. We better keep clear.”

  “It looks that way,” Juck agreed, and then he swore. “But scared? That don’t make sense,” he said in a hurt and bewildered voice.

  19

  Letty Burns had just finished drying her few supper dishes when the knock came on her door. She took off her apron, brushed the hair from her eyes, straightened her dress and went to the door.

  Keen Billings and Craig Armin stood there on the step.

  Craig Armin said, “We’d like to talk with you, Miss Burns.”

  Here it was, Letty thought dismally. Craig Armin’s tone was a command, not a request. She said frantically, “I was going to call on a neighbor, Mr. Armin. What is it?”

  “You won’t call on your neighbor tonight,” Craig Armin said coldly. “May we come in?”

  Wordlessly Letty Burns stood aside and let them enter the room, closing the door after them.

  Craig Armin put his hat on the table, then gestured toward a chair. “Sit down, Miss Burns. This will take some time.”

  Silently Letty sank onto the bench, while Armin and Billings, their faces grave, seated themselves.

  Craig Armin lighted a cigar, carefully waved out the match, then lifted his cold gaze to hers. “Miss Burns, you’ve been in Monarch’s pay now for some time. And I’m forced to say that you haven’t been much help to us.”

  “I’ve tried,” Letty said quickly.

  “Not very hard,” Armin corrected. “The other night, by one simple statement, you could have saved me doing what I’m having to do tonight.”

  Letty sat motionless, waiting for it, holding her breath.

  “I’m forced to come to a truce with Western,” Craig Armin said.

  Letty almost fainted with relief, but she managed to say, “I’m sorry, Mr. Armin. But I suppose it would be best in the end.”

  “You’ve been talking to Celia Wallace, I suppose?” Armin said dryly.

  “No sir. It just—well, nobody’s winning, and you’ll both be destroyed.”

  “So she said,” Armin puffed on his cigar. “Well, there’s no help for it. We’ll make a deal of some kind. I need your help again.” He smiled his cold, smug little smile. “You’ve nothing to fear, my dear. It’s all very simple.”

  “What do you want of me?”

  “You know that Cole Armin has threatened to kill both Billings and myself on sight?”

  “I heard he was after Mr. Billings.”

  “And me, too,” Armin said. “Naturally I can’t send Billings over to Wallace’s without some warning or my hotheaded nephew would kill him. You can see that?”

  “Why—yes.”

  “You’ll carry the message that Billings is coming then. I want you to go to Wallace’s place and tell him that I’m sending Billings over to call a truce and settle this. Armin, since he’s a partner, will have to be there too. You must tell them not to attack Billings when he comes. That’s simple enough, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Letty said with relief.

  “Then run along,” Armin said. “We’ll wait here for you.” Letty rose, and Armin said suddenly, “Another thing, Miss Burns. And this is important. I don’t want Celia Wallace around the house during the conference. I’ll expect you two women to go out calling somewhere until it’s over.”

  Letty didn’t know why she thought so, but that was the first false note that had been struck this evening. She said bluntly, “Why?”

  Armin was disconcerted. Color crept into his pale face and his eyes shifted away f
rom Letty. Finally he crossed his arms and pulled at the lobe of his right ear with his left hand. Suddenly he rasped out, “Because I said so!”

  “Of course,” Letty said, surprised at his embarrassment. “I just wondered why.”

  “You do what you’re told and don’t ask no questions,” Billings said quickly.

  “It’s all very simple and nothing to get upset about,” Armin said smoothly. “I happen to know, because I’ve been told, that Celia Wallace hates me. Twice she’s tried to talk me into a truce, and twice I’ve refused her. If she’s with Ted Wallace tonight she’ll tell him to hold out for a better offer. I don’t want her around because—well, naturally, I want the best of this deal if Billings can get it.”

  “I see,” Letty said. But she didn’t. Craig Armin was watching her closely.

  “So I want it understood,” Armin went on firmly, “that you’ll take her away from there, Miss Burns.”

  “I’ll do it,” Letty said. She went over to the wardrobe, opened it and got out her hat. Then she reached up on the top shelf for her pocketbook. As she lifted it down the flap opened and her gun clattered to the floor.

  Billings lunged for it, going to his knees, and when he got it he came to his feet, his face ugly.

  “What are you tryin’ to pull?” he asked thickly.

  Letty was surprised at the vehemence of his question. “Why, I always carry it,” she said. “I’m a single woman, Mr. Billings, and this town is pretty rough. I carry it in case I’m molested.”

  Billings was still eying her suspiciously. “Well, you won’t carry it tonight,” he said. He turned and tossed the small gun into the chair where he had been sitting. It landed on the pillow, clattered against the back, then slid down, half hidden by the pillow.

  “Get goin’,” Billings said harshly.

  Meekly and swiftly Letty finished her business.

  It was strange how jumpy and nervous they were, Letty thought. There was nothing to be nervous about in what they were planning. And they didn’t even trust her. She touched her small hat, turned away from the mirror and faced Craig Armin, who was standing.

  “How soon will Mr. Billings be along?” Letty asked.

  “Ten minutes after you, my dear,” Armin said. “Just so you tell them he’s on his way and clear Celia Wallace out. I’ll wait here, if I may.”

  “Certainly,” Letty said. She went to the door, said good-by and stepped out into the night. Slowly she walked up toward the dark street, and the further she went the slower became her pace. This was all so very queer, their actions so suspicious. They didn’t seem like two men who were relieved that at last their long fight was going to be settled. And she stopped in the darkness of the yard and half turned to look back at her lamplit window. They hadn’t saved her for this—an errand any little boy could do for a quarter.

  Her mind made up, she went softly back to the door and put her ear against it. She could hear a rumble of voices but no words. Still not satisfied, she moved over to the window and looked in. Craig Armin was standing up, writing something at the table. They had found her pen and ink and were using it. Then Armin straightened up and handed what he had been writing to Keen Billings. It was a check. Billings nodded approvingly, put the check in his vest pocket and sat down.

  Letty faded away into the night and hurried on her way. Why would Armin be giving Keen Billings a check now? She didn’t know, but she had a premonition. It was unreasonable and illogical, but it was there, nevertheless. The whole thing didn’t seem right, and she felt a cold and sudden fear.

  A few minutes later, when she walked into the empty compound behind Western’s office, Letty had come to a momentous decision. And now that she had she could scarcely contain herself.

  She raced up the steps, knocked on the door and waited impatiently.

  Celia answered the door, saw who it was and opened it wide. “Come in, Letty.”

  “Celia, is Cole here?”

  “Yes. He’s in with Ted. Why?”

  Letty didn’t answer. She hurried around the table and into the corridor and then into Ted’s room. Cole was hunkered down against the wall by the window. Both he and Ted looked at her and saw the alarm on her face.

  Ted pulled himself up in bed as Celia came in behind Letty, and he said, “Letty, what’s happened?”

  “I haven’t got much time to tell you!” Letty said swiftly. “Craig Armin and Keen Billings came over to my house! They told me to come over here and tell you that Keen Billings was coming over in ten minutes to talk with you. Monarch wants to come to a truce!”

  Ted looked at Cole and grinned. “There you are, boy! Hear that?”

  “No, no, Ted!” Letty cried. “I don’t think they mean it!”

  “Why don’t you?” Cole drawled quietly.

  “They’re nervous, both of them. And more than that, they told me to get Celia out of the house before Keen Billings came!”

  “Why?” Ted asked.

  “Oh, does it matter?” Letty cried. “I know there’s something behind it! I don’t know what they’re planning, but it didn’t ring true, Ted!”

  Cole came to his feet. Ted was looking at him and so was Celia, but Cole’s smoky eyes were on Letty.

  “Is this another trick, Letty?” Cole asked quietly.

  “Trick?” Ted asked.

  Cole spoke to Ted, but he was watching Letty. “I can’t prove it, Ted,” he said quietly, “but I think Letty is workin’ for Monarch.”

  Ted said furiously, “You’re a liar!”

  Letty’s face went pale then.

  Cole went on stubbornly, “It’s no business of mine, Ted. I’m out of this. But it’s my hunch. And I think she’s tryin’ to trick us again.”

  “Damn you!” Ted shouted. “You can’t say that about her!”

  Letty said harshly, “Wait!” They all looked at her. “It’s true! Cole’s right. I am being paid by Keen Billings and Craig Armin! Oh, they told me that Ted was the one who killed Pete, my brother.” She looked at Ted. “Maybe you did, Ted. Only I can’t hate you for it, can’t see these terrible things happen to you any longer! I’m telling the truth now!”

  “But I didn’t kill your brother, Letty!” Ted cried. “I never killed a man in my life! I didn’t even know him!”

  Letty looked searchingly at him. “He was a Monarch teamster,” Letty said slowly. “You didn’t loosen the kingbolt on his wagon that time? He broke—”

  “I know he broke his legs and died of gangrene,” Ted said fiercely. “But I didn’t do it, Letty. I’ll swear by all that’s holy that I’d kill a man who did that!”

  “But Billings said you did!”

  “He lies, damn him!”

  Letty shook her head and buried her face in her hands for a moment. She wasn’t going to cry. She couldn’t cry now when all of them depended on her.

  “Then you must listen to me now!” she said swiftly. “Something awful is going to happen, I know!”

  Cole said coldly, “You lied once, Letty. You tried to sell us out. How do we know you aren’t doin’ it again?”

  “You’ve got to believe me!” Letty cried.

  “Cole, she’s telling the truth,” Celia said.

  “Maybe,” Cole said tonelessly, watching Letty. “Now tell it again. Tell the truth, Letty. What did they say?”

  “They said for me to go over and tell both of you that they wanted to come to terms. You’d threatened to kill Billings when you saw him again, and they were afraid you’d shoot him when he came if I didn’t warn you.”

  “Billings?” Cole echoed. “Why doesn’t Craig Armin come?”

  “I don’t know. He’s waiting at my place!” Letty wailed. “I’m just telling you.”

  “Go on.”

  “Then Craig Armin said I was to get Celia out of the house and go somewhere with her.”

  “Why did he say that?” Cole insisted.

  “That’s what I wondered! I asked him why. He got embarrassed then. His face got red and he pulled his ea
r, like an embarrassed man will. He told me that—”

  She stopped talking. A change had come over Cole Armin’s face. A look of utter, blank astonishment. Celia and Ted looked at him. Cole’s face was drawn, tense.

  Slowly he walked over to Letty, put both hands on her shoulders and shook her. “Letty, what did you say just then?” he asked in a thick voice.

  “When?”

  “What did Craig Armin do when you asked him why?”

  “He got red. The color came—”

  “I don’t mean that!” Cole said savagely. “What else?”

  “He—he pulled his ear—the lobe of his ear, like a man does when he’s embarrassed.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Why—yes,” Letty faltered. “I think I’m right. Why?”

  “Which ear?” Cole’s hands were squeezing Letty’s shoulders until she winced.

  Letty thought. “His right ear, I think.”

  “Are you sure it was his right ear?” Cole demanded and shook her again. “Are you sure?”

  “I am,” Celia put in swiftly. “I’ve seen him do it, Cole. I’ve talked with him twice, pled with him twice, and each time I’ve accused him of wanting this murder. And each time he’s been embarrassed. And each time when he gets like that he pulls his ear.”

  “His right ear?” Cole demanded.

  Celia nodded. “I’m sure it’s his right ear. He’s left-handed and he crosses his arms.” She stopped talking. “Why, Cole?”

  Cole’s hands slipped from Letty’s shoulders. He looked at them blankly, his lips barely moving.

  And then he said, “Because my uncle, Craig Armin, lost half of his right ear in the Mexican War! It was shot away! I remember my dad tellin’ me!”

  He looked steadily at Celia.

  “This man is not Craig Armin,” he said slowly.

  20

  For a moment they looked at him, too stunned to speak. Then Cole spoke sharply to Letty: “How long did they say, Letty, before Billings would come?”

  “Ten minutes.”

  “And he was comin’ alone?”

  “Craig Armin said so.”

  Cole looked at Ted. “Not alone. He’ll have men with him. And we’re trapped here, Ted, like they want us! That’s why they wanted the women out—so they could shoot me and then come in and get you!”