Sudden Plays a Hand (1950)

by Oliver Strange

  `I couldn't bear it,' he muttered brokenly. `To see it comin'that filthy muck fillin' my mouth, nose, an' eyes, suffocatin', stranglin', an' me--helpless as a babe. I've allus figured I could face death with the next fella, but not thataway. S'pose I'm a coward?'

  Sudden shook his head. `It's an ugly end.' He rolled a smoke, passed it over, and proffered a light. `I guess yore makin's are wet.' Bardoe took it eagerly, regarding the giver with a puzzled expression. The tobacco soothed his frayed nerves. `Yo're a curious cuss,' he said. `Half an hour back you'd 'a' blowed me to hellangone, an' now....'

  `I've a use for yu,' Sudden reminded. `I've done my part o' the bargain.'

  `You shore have,' Bull agreed, and drew a deep breath. `It's fine to be alive. What you want me to do?'

  Sudden told him, in detail, and the rustler replied. `I get you, an' I won't fail, whatever comes to me,' he said quietly. `I'll do what I can about that,' the puncher promised, and stepped into his saddle. `Reckon my friends have cleaned house by now.'

  Bardoe saw him vanish into the wood, and only then became aware of a tobacco sack, papers, and matches lying where the rescued man must see them. His eyes gleamed.

  `There goes a fella who could beat me every time,' he told the world.

  Chapter XXI

  BARDOE'S flight finished the battle, such of his men as were able following his example, and disappearing into the surrounding forest. Drait at once went in search of the prisoner. He found a locked door, rapped, and got no response. Lifting a heel, he drove it at the fastening. With a splintering crash it gave way, swinging drunkenly back on its hinges. Mary was standing at the far side of the room; the fear in her eyes died out when she saw him.

  `You?' she cried.

  `Were you expectin' someone else?' he asked drily.

  In truth she was, having jumped to the conclusion that Cullin had come to her rescue. `You might have been one of the brutes who brought me here,' she explained.

  Lack of warmth in her reception angered him. 'No, I'm one o' the brutes who has come to take you away,' he retorted. `Better stay here till we've straightened up.'

  He went out, leaving her with the knowledge that she had behaved badly; but the picture of her cattle feeding in Shadow Valley would not be blotted out. Yet he had fought for her freedom, risking his life--she recalled the trickle of blood down one cheek. She must apologise. She nerved herself to again seek the nester, and found him with Quilt in the big room, bending over a prostrate form.

  `This is no place for you,' he said.

  `Who is it?' she asked, and when they told her it was Gilman, she knelt beside the man who had robbed her. Even to inexperienced eyes, the haggard, pain-wracked face and loose jaw showed that the end was near.

  `I wanna drink,' he mumbled weakly, but when she called for water, a ghastly grin trembled on his lips as he added, `I said--a drink--ma'am.'

  A half-empty bottle of whisky was on the table. Drait poured a stiff dose and Quilt tipped it down the eager throat. The fiery spirit gave a temporary strength. The weeping girl looked appealingly at the nester, and the dying man understood.

  `Ain't nothin' to be done,' he murmured. `Sorry--'bout yore cattle, ma'am. If I could make amends....'

  `You can, Jack,' Drait said. `Tell me who murdered Eddie.' `Cullin--strangled him--hisself.' His voice grew feebler. `Off'n thought o' Eddie, an' now--it's--my turn.'

  Quilt laid the limp form gently on the floor, and placed his hat over the staring, lifeless eyes. Drait led the girl away. `Was that true--about Cullin?' she whispered.

  `Yeah, a man don't lie at such a moment,' he replied. `Get some rest; it's a long ride back.'

  She was glad to be alone. Seated in her late prison, she strove to reconstruct her disrupted world. Cullin, her one friend--as she had believed--was a heartless, brutal murderer. She could not doubt it. And if she had been wrong there, had she erred in other judgments? What did it all mean? She could find no answer. Voices broke in.

  `Glad yo're back, Jim,' she heard her husband say. `What about Bull?'

  `He got away.'

  `So did some o' his men, Lanty among 'em,' Drait grumbled. `We've three to plant, an' Frayle has a busted arm. No, we've been lucky--a few grazes.'

  At the end of an hour, preparations for departure were complete, graves dug and filled, mounts found for the lady and prisoner. The nester decided to strike south-cast for Shadow Valley, which would cut down the distance considerably. He and Sudden led the way, with Mary and Yorky following, and the others, shepherding Frayle, oehind. All were too tired to talk, and even Yorky lost his loquacity.

  It was dark when at length they reached the Valley to find Lindy awaiting them. The S P without her mistress had proved too much, and she had prevailed on Milton to drive her over, to a greater loneliness. She received them with voluble expressions of delight, but her chief concern seemed to be the state of the kitchen.

  `Yoh'd sca'cely b'lieve, honey, a passel o' men

  `We're tuckered out an' hungry, woman; get some grub,' Drait said brusquely. He looked at Mary. `You'll stay here tonight.'

  He was gone before she could reply, and she smiled a little; that was his way. But she wanted to thank him, and since the moment he smashed the door of her prison, he had given her no opportunity. Was he purposely avoiding her? The thought was curiously disturbing. Sitting in the parlour, she waited for his return. She heard Sudden speaking to Lindy and called him in.

  `Where is--Mister Drait?' she asked.

  `Well on the road to Midway, by this. Didn't he tell yu?' Sudden replied. He saw she did not understand, and went on to tell of the arrest and suosequent escape, passing lightly over his own part in the latter. She listened with mounting colour, and then cried indignantly :

  `You let him go?'

  He smothered a smile. `Nick is full-growed, an' when he decides on somethin' he's mighty liable to do it. About yore cattle...'

  `Oh, damn the cattle,' she burst out, and then, `I'm sorry. You were saying?'

  `He didn't steal 'em, on'y got 'em back from the fella who did, an' fetched the herd here for safety, an' meanin' to surprise Yu-

  'Then you and Yorky did find them?'

  Sudden's grin was entirely unrepentant. `Yeah, but it would 'a' spoiled Nick's plan to let on.'

  `I still don't see any reason for returning to prison.'`He has to face the music. To run would admit guilt.' `I see that now,' she said. `Who is bringing the charge?' `The sheriff, backed by Cullin.'

  `But surely, what you have discovered about the wretch....' She paused as the puncher shook his head.

  `Rustlin' is a capital crime in a cattle country,' he told her. `What Cullin is, or has done, won't explain away yore steers in Shadow Valley.'

  `But there is an explanation,' she persisted. `His men--' `are accomplices,' he reminded. `Besides, they'd be expected to swear black was white to get their boss outa trouble, an' they would.'

  `What had kidnapping me to do with it?'

  `They feared yu might 'a' stood up for him.'

  `Might?' she repeated. `Of course I would--and will. When does this infamous trial take place?'

  `In the mornin', I'd say; they won't lose time. We'll all be there.' Then, inconsequently, `Nick's a real fella, but terrible unseein'--times.'

  His kind but probing gaze confused her. `Thank you, Jim,' she murmured. `We must save him.'

  `Shore we will,' he replied. `Mebbe we got a card they don't know about.'

  The silver light of the moon which softened the crudities of Midway, only revealed the identity of the late visitor as he rode nonchalantly along the one street. Citizens stood still, stared, and rubbed their eyes in disbelief. The prisoner who had effected a sensational escape from the calaboose was the last person they dreamed of seeing. To a man they followed dumbly, and when--indifferent to the excitement he was causing--he got down at Merker's and stopped in, they crowded after him. Within, the paralysing amazement was repeated, and the saloonkeeper, who was serving a customer, nearly d
ropped the bottle.

  `Goda'mighty, Nick, are you mad?' he asked, as the nester ranged himself at the bar.

  `No, on'y thirsty.' He helped himself. `Where's Stinker?' `Just comin' in,' was the disgusted reply.

  The sheriff was pushing his way importantly through the throng, gun out, and an unholy expression of joy on his face. `So it's true,' he muttered, for he had doubted the news. `Stick 'em up, Drait.'

  The nester laughed. `Cut out the play-actin', Stinker. I'm not heeled an' came to find you. I want five hundred bucks.' The sheriff's bloodshot eyes bulged. 'Whaffor?' he asked.

  `Bringin' myself in--alive, which is a disappointment, I know, but it had to be that way. Who put up that reward--the town or--Cullin?'

  `None o' yore business,' Camort growled uneasily.

  Pilch pounced on him. `Mebbe, out it's our business if yo're spendin' money to git back prisoners you've let go, an' we wanta know.'

  The sheriff was cornered, and knew it. `It warn't town money,' he admitted sullenly. `A private citizen, who don't want to be named--'

  `Cullin's modesty is well known,' the nester broke in.

  The sheriff flared up. `You oughta talk, robbin' a young gal under cover o' purtendin' to help her.'

  This time he scored, and Nick was aware of hard looks. He clenched his fists in an effort to fight down the fury surging within him. Then he spoke :

  `Stinker, if I didn't know yo're just achin' for an excuse to pour lead into me, I'd shake yore teeth out an' cram yore lyin' tongue down yore throat,' he said. `Now, I've had a busy day, an' need sleep.'

  The officer reluctantly emptied his glass and signed to his deputies. `If he flaps a wing, drill him, good an' plenty,' he ordered.

  `I'll come an' tuck you up, Nick,' Pilch grinned, and to the sheriff. `If there's any funny business, you'll be tried in the mornin'--by yore Maker.'

  Having seen the prisoner duly incarcerated, and posted guards at door and window, Camort called on the Judge, who was--surprisingly at that hour--sober. He listened to the news with a dubious air.

  `Surrendered after getting clear away. He must have an answer to the charge.'

  `It's yore affair to see he don't have any such thing,' the sheriff said. `Cullin--

  The Judge held up a hand. `Listen: my affair is to administer the Law. Cullin, to me, is just another man, and I'm weary of his name; don't mention it again.'

  The visitor gaped; decidedly the Judge was sober, dangerously so. `I thought' he began.

  `Don't over-tax my credulity,' Towler said cuttingly. `I will hear the case in the morning, and hope the accused will not be missing.' Camort told of his precautions. `Better have someone to watch over your own slumbers,' came the acid comment. `The girl will be absent.'

  `That's so.' `Unavoidably detained, one might say.'

  The other agreed, and came away somewhat perturbed. He comforted himself with the reflection that Cullin would soon bring him to heel.

  Chapter XXII

  THE court-room was filling rapidly when the Shadow Valley party arrived. The hum of conversation increased as they marched up the middle gangway, and many glances of admiration were directed to the girl. Pale, out with head high, she appeared indifferent to the interest their entry occasioned. When they reached the front row of seats, which was empty, Wall-eye came bustling up.

  'Them's for the witnesses,' he warned.

  `I guessed as much,' the puncher said curtly, and sat down. The deputy decided not to argue.'

  Vasco, his foreman, and three riders were a couple of rows behind, and Sudden went to speak with them.

  `What'n hell was Nick thinkin' of to come back?' the rancher queried.

  `On'y the guilty run away, ol'-timer,' Sudden smiled. `He'll make the grade.'

  `Shore hope so, but if anythin' goes awry, there's five here you can depend on--to the limit.'

  `That's good listenin'. I'm not forgettin' it.'

  `Pickles ! You did me a service. We ain't catched Bull yet, but he's keepin' his han's off.'

  `Been busy other ways, but I've a notion he won't trouble yu no more.'

  `Which'll suit me fine. So that's the S P heiress? She certainly rests the eyes.'

  `I'll tell her yu said so,' Sudden grinned.

  `Don't you, or I'll light out,' Vasco threatened. `Hello, there's Greg, an' he's lookin' kind o' surprised.'

  He was right, but `surprised' was a pallid description of the Big C man's state. He had seated himself at the end of the front row, near the jury-box, before he saw the girl; he started to rise, only to sink down again under the freezing glance she gave him. How did she come to 'be here? A qualm of uneasiness shot through him.

  The appearance of the accused, escorted by the sheriff, was the next incident. He nodded to his friends as he passed, stepped unconcernedly into the dock, and surveyed the jury critically.

  The Judge slouched in, the jury was sworn, and Towler turned to the dock.

  `Nicholas Drait, you are charged with stealing stock from the S P ranch,' he said. `Do you plead guilty or not guilty?' `Which would you advise, Judge?' Seriously.

  `I'm not here to give you advice,' Towler snapped.

  `I keep forgettin' yo're on the other side,' Nick said ruefully, a naive expression which brought titters from the audience, and made the Judge angry.

  `I am not on either side, sir,' he thundered. `And let me warn you that facetiousness will not help your case. Answer my question.'

  `When in doubt, toss for it.' Nick spun a coin and studied the result anxiously. `Not guilty. Well, what's fairer'n that? D'you mind tellin' me who's bringin' the charge?'

  The Judge did not see the sheriff's negative headshake. `Naturally the person who was robbed,' he replied drily. Mary stood up. `I am that person, and I know nothing of it.'

  Towler frowned; he had been misled again. He referred to a paper. `My information is that you lodged a complaint with the sheriff and asked for action to be taken.'

  `I have neither spoken nor written to him at any time.'

  The Judge's silence told Camort he must get out of the difficulty himself. `The message came by another party, an' warn't written,' he explained.

  The name, please,' Mary insisted.

  The sheriff hesitated, but there was no alternative; for once in his tortuous career he must tell the truth. `Gregory Cullin.'

  Her contemptuous gaze travelled to where the rancher sat. `Mister Cullin had no authority whatever to bring a message from me.'

  The rancher rose. `Miss Darrell told me of her loss an' expressed the view that no punishment was too severe for a rustler. I believed I was carryin' out her wishes in gettin' the sheriff to move in the matter,' he said heavily.

  Mary ignored him. `It is admitted I did not authorise this--this--'

  `Prosecution?' Towler suggested, with a smile which acted like a goad on the girl.

  ` "Persecution" was the word I was seeking,' she retorted. `I have no wish for it to go on, and ask you to dismiss the accused forthwith.'

  Flushed and breathless, she sank into her seat amidst general applause. Coarse-fibred as most of the audience were, they could appreciate beauty, and above that, courage. She found her real reward in the warm eyes of the man in the dock.

  Silence fell on the court; everyone was waiting for the decision. Towler, listening to Camort, noticed that Cullin was talking to one of the jury.

  `You must not do that, Mister Cullin,' he said sharply. `If it happens again, I shall have you removed.'

  The rancher drew back, his face rigid. `Sorry,' he drawled and with a palpable sneer, `I thought the case was ended.'

  The Judge bent his gaze on the girl. `The matter is less simple than you imagine, ma'am,' he began. `You may condone a crime, but I cannot; it is my duty to protect the public.'

  `No crime has been committed,' she replied hotly. `Mister Drait did not steal the cattle.'

  `That is what we are here to determine; the trial must go on.'

  She sat down, her eyes flaming. Sudden
patted her shoulder, rose, and smiled apologetically at the Judge. `She's just naturally disappointed, seh,' he said. `Ain't wishin' to delay proceedin's none, but I'm wonderin' if yu'd settle a triflin' argument for me? A fella claimed that when a woman marries, any property she has becomes the property o' the husband. I didn't agree, an' we had a li'l bet.'

  `Which you have lost,' Towler said. `That is the law.'

  `Never was lucky,' Sudden said sadly. `I'm obliged.'

  But his expression as he sat down belied his voice, and the meaning look he gave the girl beside him electrified her. Red-faced, eyes shining, she cried : `I again demand the release of the accused.'

  The Judge gestured wearily. `On what grounds now?'

  `You have just stated them. Nicholas Drait is my husband, and owner of the S P. Even this court cannot convict a man of stealing what already belongs to him. Here is the proof.' She produced the paper the minister had given her on that fateful morning.

  Again the paralysed silence as the Judge bent over it. When he looked up it was to ask sternly : `Why wasn't I told of this earlier?'

  `The marriage was kept secret, at my request--the whim of a foolish woman.' Mary said steadily. `I did not know about the law until you answered Mister Green.' She smiled, enjoying her triumph. `They say a little knowledge is dangerous, but it seems to me that a little ignorance is more destructive.'

  The Judge did not reply; he was tasting the bitterness of defeat and not liking it. But there was no escape. In his best judicial manner, he said: `The evidence now before the Court completely destroys the case for the prosecution, and exonerates the accused.'

  The effort was received in silence. The cheering broke out only when Nick walked from the dock, gripped his wife's hand hard enough to account for the wetness in her eyes, and turned to thank his friend.