by Alan David
‘I hope you will, for I can assure you, Johnson, that I had nothing to do with the killings. It all came as a surprise to me. If I was responsible I wouldn’t have come into town today with just a handful of men. I would have brought the whole crew and ridden rough shod over everything. Go ahead and find out who is ordering the violence. I tell you it is Page. You’ve got to stop him. I don’t want him getting ideas about Ginny. No cheap crook is going to marry her to get his hands on my ranch.’
‘I’m glad to hear that,’ Lobo smiled slowly, conjuring up an image of Ginny in his mind.
‘I’ve always had big plans for Ginny,’ Ridge growled deep in his chest. ‘I should have sent her East to some of the cities a long time ago. A girl like her ought to have some of the comforts a more civilised life has to offer. Money is no object to me. But this trouble came up and I didn’t dare leave the range.’
‘What sort of trouble started?’
‘Fences cut and cattle run off. Nothing big, but it was a nuisance, and I treated it as a warning of what was to come. A lot of new neighbours were settling in and, as you know, many of these nesters make a start by rustling from their big neighbour. I’ve never been a hard man, although folk round here wouldn’t admit it now — they’ve got short memories, but rustling must always be stamped out. If a rustler gets away with one cow he’ll come back for more and more.’
‘That’s so. But couldn’t that sort of thing have been done by Page and his line riders?’
‘This all started a long time before they appeared on the scene. That’s why I can’t believe that Page is snaking on me.’
‘That’s an old dodge,’ Lobo remarked. ‘Page and his gunmen could have been rigging the play round here for six months before they showed themselves. Then all Page had to do was ride in, offer to stop your trouble, and get straight to work on the smaller ranchers, making you believe that they were responsible. It’s a desperate game, but the stakes are high. It’s been done before. But your appearing in court today should put a dally in Page’s plans. The last thing he’ll want is publicity. The only thing you can do now is watch for his next move. He’ll have to do something quickly because his whole plan will die out if he lets tempers mend. This sort of thing has to be kept boiling.’
‘I’ll watch him all right,’ Ridge promised. ‘But what do I do if I catch him out? I’m not afraid of any man, but Page is lightning fast with a gun.’
‘You brought him into the country, you’ll have to get rid of him. But play it close to the belly, Ridge. He’ll kill you the minute he suspects that you’re wise to him.’
‘Can’t I induce you to join my crew?’ Ridge pleaded.
‘Not a chance,’ Lobo said firmly. ‘But you’ve got no reason to fear me if you’re not responsible for all the killings. That’s the only thing I’m interested in round here. I’m an outlaw as well as a lawman, and on both sides of the law the only thing I cannot stomach is cold-blooded murder. If Page is the man behind it then you won’t have to hire me; I’ll come for him. So play a waiting game and save yourself money.’
‘You’re right,’ Ridge muttered. ‘And if I hired you it might tip my hand to Page. Can we keep in touch somehow?’
‘I would like that,’ Lobo said quickly. ‘But before we go into it I’ll give you a couple of tips that would help the local folk to start trusting you. Take off your armed line riders and get rid of some of your gunmen. But don’t let Page select the men you pay-off. Do it yourself. Push off some of his men and try to keep those who may be loyal to you. That way you’ll cut down your opposition without gunplay.’
‘I’ll consider it,’ Ridge promised. ‘I feel certain now that my neighbours aren’t to blame for my trouble. So I can do without all the gunnies I pay. And as you say, it would prove my good faith to the townsfolk.’
‘Now it’s time to eat,’ Lobo said. ‘We’ve got to be in court early this afternoon. If you get rid of your line riders, Ridge, I’ll come out and see you from time to time. But I shouldn’t want Page to see me, so we must arrange a signal or something that I can slip into your house unseen.’
‘Well you know where my study is. Supposing you come out on a certain evening each week? I would leave open the big window in my study and you could enter at a specific time.’
‘Say Thursdays then,’ said Lobo. ‘I’d keep clear of your range until sundown. I wouldn’t reach your place until about ten. It would mean staying no longer than an hour and a long ride back to Pommel before dawn. I’ll make the trip every Thursday until this trouble is over. But get your riders away from your fence or they’ll pick me off.’
‘The way will be clear,’ Ridge said grimly. ‘Now we’d better break it up or Page will get suspicious. I shan’t talk to you again before I leave Pommel. So until Thursday around ten.’ Ridge heaved himself up out of his seat and held out his hand. Lobo hesitated a moment then clasped the podgy fingers. He wiped his hand distastefully.
‘You might tell your daughter that I’m coming out on Thursday, and that I would like to talk to her after I’ve seen you,’ Lobo said. ‘I shan’t get another chance to speak to her now before you ride out.’
Ridge nodded. He opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. Lobo wiped his forehead of sweat as he went down to the sidewalk.
Ginny and Page were seated on the hotel front when Lobo emerged from the building. The girl got up and left the gunman, running to Lobo with a ready smile.
‘What did my father have to talk about?’ she demanded.
‘He offered me a job.’ Lobo’s eyes flickered past the girl and studied Page, who was coming forward. The gunman was carrying his Colt thrust inside the waistband of his pants, and Page’s hand eased the weapon as he came on. Lobo’s lips thinned against his teeth.
‘Did you accept?’ Ginny asked.
‘No.’ Lobo shook his head. ‘I’ve got a good job here in town and I like it.’
‘Until someone shoots you,’ she said furiously. ‘Oh, why didn’t you take the job? It would have made things a lot easier for me.’
‘Everything will work out,’ Lobo soothed. He fell silent as Page came up. The gunman was tight lipped and unsmiling. ‘What’s your trouble, Buck?’ he asked pleasantly.
‘I don’t like the way Ridge has ridden into town with just a handful of men,’ Page said quietly. ‘Now is the time for him to show his strength. We’ve had a lot of trouble lately with certain ranchers, and if they see Ridge coming in meekly they’ll think we’re climbing down, and they’ll act accordingly.’
‘Well Ridge ain’t so big he can thumb his nose at the law,’ Lobo said.
‘You’re the law here, Lobo,’ Page said quietly. ‘It’s only you stiffening this town.’
‘What about Gruber and his department?’
‘They’re nothing.’ Page shook his head. ‘You’ve lit the fire under them. That means you’re standing out in front.’
‘Thanks for the warning.’ Lobo grinned. ‘I’ll bear it in mind.’
Page opened his mouth then closed it without speaking. Lobo heard a heavy footstep behind him, and Ridge appeared at his elbow.
‘Ginny, we’ll go and eat now,’ the big rancher commanded. ‘I’ll see you afterwards, Page.’
Ginny smiled at Lobo and slipped her hand through her father’s arm. They walked off slowly along the sidewalk. Lobo stood silently beside Page and they both watched the progress of father and daughter until the pair vanished into the restaurant. Then Page spoke.
‘I’m going to marry Ginny Ridge,’ the gunman said softly.
‘Good luck to you,’ Lobo said. He detected a purposeful note in Page’s voice, a tightness, as if Page was forcing himself towards a showdown he didn’t want.
‘She makes believe to everyone that she hates my insides,’ Page went on. ‘But that’s only her way. She loves me.’
‘I hope you’ll be happy.’
‘You could make me very happy, Lobo. I’d like to see you ride out of Pommel for good. You’re not a
lawman and this place has nothing for you. I’m afraid that if you stay with Gruber we shall have to face each other through gunsmoke, and I wouldn’t want that for old times’ sake. So why don’t you pull out?’
Lobo grinned. He glanced along the street.
‘I kind of like Pommel, Buck. And I don’t see why we should have to fight. You aren’t breaking the law, are you?’
‘You’ve heard all the talk about me and Ridge causing all the trouble. What do you make of it?’
‘Nothing. I just do like Gruber tells me.’
‘All right, Lobo. I think we understand each other. See you around.’
‘Sure. Watch your step, Buck.’
Chapter Nine
THE LITTLE COURT house was packed to suffocation that hot afternoon, and those of the townsfolk who could not get into the stifling building stood outside and waited impatiently for news. An ominous muttering ran through the crowd when Reuben Ridge, surrounded by his six gunmen, waddled along the sidewalk, pushed through the congregation and entered the court-room.
Gruber, in his wheelchair, headed the law party into the court. Olly and Barr walked behind the sheriff, and Lobo brought along his two prisoners. A ragged cheer greeted Lobo when he was seen, and his prisoners were jeered and pushed and manhandled by the crowd.
Inside the court the air was blue with cigarette smoke. Lobo wrinkled his nose at the animal smell coming from the closely packed bodies. He followed his prisoners and sat behind them to the left of the table on the dais at the front of the court. Gruber wheeled himself into position behind the prisoners, and Olly positioned himself at the sheriff’s side.
Ridge’s party seated itself in the front of the court. Lobo studied faces, and saw Stella seated opposite. Page was not present, was probably squiring Ginny. Lobo considered that fact, and found he did not like it. Was he falling in love with Ridge’s daughter, he wondered? He thought of Stella and was undecided. He felt something for both women, but whether pity for Stella and love for Ginny he did not know.
His musing was interrupted by the entrance of Judge Carter. The court rose and sat, and near silence descended. The judge was impatient to get to grips with the main case; the enquiry into the killing of the Staddens, and the public were of a similar mind.
Lobo’s two prisoners were dealt with summarily. Both pleaded guilty to the charge of obstructing a peace officer in the execution of his duty, and the judge fined them each fifty dollars. Reuben Ridge paid their fines and Lobo turned the two men loose.
‘You can pick up your guns from my office when the court rises,’ Gruber told them. ‘And don’t cause any more trouble or you may find yourselves in prison or dead. The law is being enforced in Pommel now. My advice to you is stay out of town.’
The gunman with the shattered hand looked venomously at Lobo.
‘When this paw is healed I shall come looking for you,’ he snarled.
‘Next time I’ll shoot to kill,’ Lobo promised.
‘Now get out of here,’ Gruber ordered.
The gunmen departed, and Lobo saw them stop and speak to Buck Page, who had appeared in the doorway.
Evidence of the identity of the dead gunmen was presented to the court by Pommel’s lawyer, and Lobo watched Stella as she gave her evidence in a quiet toneless voice. She described how her father and brother had been shot down; how the gunman, Rawlins, had chased her and shot her mount from under her, and how chance had permitted this to happen near the spot Ben Johnson sat his horse.
When Reuben Ridge took the stand the judge had to call loudly for order, and threatened to clear the court if his demands were not respected. When silence came the enquiry continued.
Then Gruber was called and questioned about the gunman who had survived the massacre; the man lying in the cells with broken limbs. Gruber stated that the gunman, Kneelson, was also suffering from shock, and was still unconscious and unable to give evidence.
The judge considered the evidence and ordered that Kneelson should be detained until he was well enough to be brought before the court to relate exactly what had happened out at the Stadden place. The judge continued:
‘Certain members of our community must remember that the law cannot be taken with impunity into their own hands, and others would do well to consider the fact that this state is growing up quickly. The days of lawlessness and wanton bloodshed are coming to a close. The law has its foothold and is becoming stronger. Outlawry will not be tolerated, and I commend Mister Ben Johnson for his brave defence of the innocent. I feel, with Mister Johnson on the strength of our law department, that the day of the outlaw in these parts is waning. I say with all sincerity, thank the powers that be for citizens of the calibre of Mister Johnson.’
The court rose while the judge departed, and then the chattering townsfolk began jostling and filing out. Lobo stood with Gruber and his other deputies until the court-room was empty, and then the law party made its way back to the jail.
‘Well,’ said Gruber, when his wheelchair was once more in position behind the desk in his office. ‘It went pretty well like I thought it would. Olly, check our prisoner and see if he’s back in the land of the living yet. Barr, take a turn around town. Keep an eye on Ridge and his crew, and let me know the minute they ride out. They won’t be long in making a move because Ridge likes to be safe inside his house when darkness falls. Ben, you’d better stay here until all Ridge’s men are gone. We don’t want to aggravate the situation.’
Barr went out. Olly took the keys of the cells and went to check on their prisoner. The street door was noisily opened and Ridge’s two gunmen entered. Gruber took their belongings from a drawer and pushed them across his table. Lobo watched them buckling on their gunbelts, and the man with the smashed arm eyed Lobo malevolently. Olly came back from the cell block as Ridge’s men departed. The young deputy’s eyes were wide with shock.
‘Kneelson’s dead,’ he told them. ‘He’s been shot between the eyes.’
Lobo ran to the cells and bent over the gunman. Only a glance was necessary to confirm that Kneelson was dead. Lobo walked slowly back into the office.
‘He’s dead all right,’ he commented. ‘It must have happened while we were in court. The back window overlooks his cell, and the window is broken. Someone just walked up, tapped out the glass, and put a bullet through his head. Well it proves one thing, sheriff.’
‘That Ridge lied in court?’ said Gruber. ‘That’s likely, but it could have been done by someone who hates Ridge killers, especially those caught killing, as Kneelson was.’
‘If Ridge told the truth in court he, or Page, would not have to shut up Kneelson. But if he’d lied, Kneelson would prove it as soon as he opened his mouth. It looks suspicious, sheriff. It looks, too, as if someone has overplayed his hand. I’ve got an idea.’ Lobo’s face hardened. ‘Get the doctor in and pass round the story that Kneelson has been shot, but is not too badly hurt. Then stake out a deputy. Whoever wants Kneelson dead will have to come back to finish off the job.’
‘I don’t know about that.’ Gruber shook his head. ‘They won’t come twice like that.’
‘It’s worth a try,’ Lobo persisted. ‘But whatever happens, this has proved something. This trouble isn’t halfway over yet. Ridge must have lied in court, and both he and Page are mixed up in something crooked. But he’s told me, like he said in court, that he knew nothing about the raid. He said he is afraid of Page, who is behind all this trouble. Yet Ginny Ridge told me that she heard Page convince her father that I should be killed. I’ve made an arrangement with Ridge, sheriff. He’s promised to pay off most of his gunmen, and I’m to ride out every Thursday night to check on Page. He said there would be no more line riders on his range, and men will be at liberty to cross it.’
‘You’re not planning on riding out to the Ridge house once a week, are you? Why, man, you’ll only make that trip once.’ Gruber was shocked. ‘We’d never see you alive again.’
‘That’s how I figure it,’ Lobo said quietly. ‘B
ut we’ve got to get proof from somewhere. Otherwise this trouble will just drag on and on.’
‘There’s no one to back you up, Ben.’ Gruber sounded dismal. ‘A town this size only needs three of us. The town council are grumbling now because we’ve taken on an extra man. They want to keep you, Ben, but they would like to fire either Olly or Barr. They’re penny-pinchers all right, and they can’t see past their accounts. But there is real trouble coming to this range, and then it will be too late for anyone to say I told you so.’
‘Yeah, I know that’s the way of it,’ Lobo said. ‘It’s always been like this. That’s why the outlaws have had their power for so long. But like the judge said, the law is getting stronger and the outlaw’s day is coming to an end.’
Barr came back into the office. His face did not change when he learned of the death of their prisoner.
‘Ridge and his crew have just ridden out,’ he said.
‘All of them?’ questioned Gruber.
‘Couldn’t say for certain, but they all seemed to be there.’
‘And a murderer is riding with them,’ said Lobo.
‘What are we going to do?’ asked Olly.
‘What can we do?’ Gruber replied. ‘All we can do is sit tight and wait for the next move. If as you figure, Lobo, Page is after the Big R, he’ll try something else.’
‘And if he kills Ridge outright?’ Lobo asked.
‘That would be Ridge’s hard luck. I’ve got no sympathy for him. He brought these gunslingers on to the range in the first place. But if he’s innocent of the raid on the Stadden place then he deserves the protection of the law.’ Gruber paused for a moment, and Lobo could see that the old lawman was thinking deeply. ‘Supposing you staked out on Ridge’s range.’ Gruber mused aloud. ‘You’d be able to watch Ridge headquarters. Do you like the idea?’
