"Which was more than he deserved," the boy said. "He got what he asked for." Jacob met them at the door and his face orightened when he saw two figures step out of the gloom.
"I am glad to see you both," he said, and there was the slightest stress of the last word. His mild gaze rested on them. "The danger is past?"
"This particular one won't rise again till Gabriel toots his horn," Sudden replied grimly, and went to their room. The old man looked inquiringly at Mason.
"Logan baited him and pulled his gun; Jim got him before he could fire. I never see anythin' like it. Jim was as unconcerned as the corpse at a buryin'. One shot, plumb through the heart." There was awe in his tone. "No wonder they call him `Sudden'."
"Jim is takin' it pretty hard, dunno why, a skunk like that."
"Save to the utterly depraved, the letting of a human life, however necessary, is not a subject for pride," came the mild reproof. "You boys will need to be on the alert; the people who set this slayer on will try again."
"Yu know who they are?" Gerry asked.
"Not yet, but I shall," was the reply.
And with that Mason had to be content.
* * * It was on the following morning that something for which Gerry had long been hoping, happened--he met Mary Ducane. One swift glance and she looked away. Hat in hand, he stepped directly in her path.
"Yu don't seem pleased to see me, Miss Ducane," he said, and there was determination in his tone.
"It is your own fault if I am not," she replied coldly, for she was conscious that the sight of him stirred her and that she had missed this pleasant-faced boy who had done so much to make the long passage across the plains endurable.
"Mebbe yu'll tell me what crime I've committed?"
"I don't like your friends, Mister Mason."
"I ain't exactly in love with yores, but I'm not holdin' that against yu," he retorted.
"My friends are not cold-blooded killers," she said hotly.
"Is that so? Well, the man yo're miscallin' saved me from bein' shot in the back by one of 'em--fella named Fagan," Gerry said grimly. "Mebbe yu didn't know that?"
"He is not a friend, as you should be aware," she cried. "I heard you had beaten him up. I detest brawlers and--drunkards." Her attitude of contempt roused a devil of despair in him. For weeks he had hungered for the sight of her, and now .. .
"Pore of Snowy," he said, and if he meant to anger her he certainly succeeded.
"I refuse to discuss my uncle with you," she said, and her eyes were stormy.
Mason was reckless. " Saint' Paul hisself don't hate the sight of a bottle, unless mebbe an empty one."
"You are insulting," she retorted scathingly. "Either you have been drinking or your association with men who slay for money has debased you. I wish never to speak to you again."
"Yu think it's so but it ain't," Gerry told her hardily. "One day yo're goin' to like me a whole lot. As for the fella yu've been abusin', he's the straightest man I ever met."
"With a gun?" she asked scornfully.
"In every way," he replied. "He's my partner an' I wouldn't give him up even for yu, an' yo're goin' to be my wife."
"Never," she flamed.
"' For ever' rhymes with that an' shore sounds nicer," he smiled. "I ain't sayin' good-bye--Mary; I'll be seein' yu." Utterly bereft of speech the astounded girl watched him go, and then, with a curious little sound, half laugh, half sob, she turned away. Gerry Mason strode along, oblivious of the busy scene around him. A slightly tanned oval face, from which deep blue eyes regarded him witheringly, was all he saw, and he was filled with wonder at his own temerity.
"I must 'a' been loco," he muttered, but there was no regret. "My, but she looked awful pretty when she r'ared up. I reckon she'll never forgive me--till I make her." His unrepentant grin would have made Miss Ducane "awful pretty" a second time had she seen it.
* * *
"So Berg fell down again?" Lesurge said. "He appears to be somewhat of a bungler."
"Yes, damn it," Stark growled. "I'm through with him." They were alone in the saloon-keeper's sanctum and it was the night after the passing of Lefty Logan. Paul shook his head.
"You can't afford to be," he said. "If he goes over to Bizet and talks ..."
"That rat? He's no proof--" Stark began.
"Rats can bite and you don't need to stir up trouble in a community like this," the other broke in. "All he's done is to make that cursed cowboy a popular figure."
"What you got against him, Paul?"
"Nothing--much, but as I told you, I've a feeling he's going to make things difficult for--us."
"Can't he be bought?"
"He turned down Berg's offer," came the reminder. "I don't think all your money would tempt him, but there may be another way."
"What's that?"
"I'll explain later; leave it to me," Lesurge evaded.
On his way home he turned over the idea which had come to him during the conversation. It would require the aid of Lora, but he could rely on that. He was fortunate to find her alone in the sitting-room.
"You were complaining of being dull and having nothing to do," he began. "Well, I've found a way in which you can amuse yourself and help at the same time." He explained his plan, and as she listened her eyes filled with mischievous mirth.
"What is the great idea? You are not going to slay him at my feet, are you?" she bantered.
"Don't be silly, Lora--there is no question of hurting the fellow," Paul said sharply. "We want him on our side and if you can get him interested in yourself ... "
"I see," she said. "But suppose I'm the one to get--interested?"
"You're not a fool."
"No, but I'm a woman. Well, as you say, it will be amusing. Have you any suggestions?"
"I've thought it out," he replied, and went on to explain.
"Brilliant, Paul," she laughed. "Had you used your undoubted ability in some honest channel--isn't that how the judge generally phrases it?" She saw the gathering frown. "Oh, well, if you're ashamed of being crooked there's still hope for you."
"That tongue of yours will one day make me consider taking a whip to you," he grated.
"Consider it well, Paul," she counselled. "The man who did that to me wouldn't live long enough to be sorry." She left him pacing up and down the room, his usually immobile features contorted with fury. He got control of himself, however, and by the time Snowy--for whom he was waiting--arrived, he was his own calm, urbane self. The prospector was in a gay mood.
"'Lo, Paul, this of town is shorely whoopin' along, ain't she?" he greeted.
"Yes, but it is no place for idle folk to live in."
"Meanin'?"
"That it is time you got busy and found that mine. Has Mary refreshed that shocking memory of yours?" Snowy looked embarrassed. "Damned if I warn't near forgettin' why we come here," he confessed. "She told me enough --I'll reckernize the place when I see it. Want me to start in the mornin'?"
"Hell, no. How far is it?"
"Mebbe twenty mile an' rough travellin'."
"You'll need company, at least one man who's good with his gun. Got any ideas." Snowy was without the confidence of Lesurge and Stark; he had not been informed of Berg's activities. "What about that cowboy fella, Green?" he asked. "You won't find a better gun-swinger barrin' Wild Bill, an' some has their doubts about that." To his surprise the suggestion met with approval. "The very man I had in mind, Phil," Lesurge smiled. "I'll arrange it. Once the mine is located, we can take out a strong party to work it. And, by the way, Reuben Stark is our friend, so I want you to boost him whenever you can. Sabe?" He went without waiting for a reply, and the old man grimaced at his back. "Shore I sabe, Paul, an' I'll boost him--into hell," he muttered. The malevolent expression cleared from his face. "Glad about Green; if he'd sent Fagan I'm afeared there'd have been an accident--to Fagan." * * * The cowboys were at work on their claim when Sudden heard the slither of shod hoofs on gravel and slipped into the undergrowth to find out who was intruding. He
arrived just in time to see the visitor, a woman, descend from her saddle and slap the pony smartly on the rump. As the animal clattered away, she dropped to the ground and uttered a cry of "Help!" Somewhat mystified by these proceedings, Sudden waited a few moments and then hurried from his hiding-place. The face which looked appealingly up to his was beautiful, and to his surprise, was that of Lora Lesurge.
"Oh, I'm so glad someone heard me," she cried. "My pony slipped and threw me. I ride quite well, but I suppose I wasn't noticing. I've damaged an ankle."
"Can yu stand up?" the puncher asked.
From beneath the short, divided riding-skirt, she thrust out a slim, silk-clad leg and wriggled the dainty foot.
"Ouch!" she gasped. Then the red lips parted, showing the perfect white teeth as she tried to smile. "It hurts like--the devil. I hope nothing is broken." It was an invitation, but Sudden did not accept. "I guess yu couldn't 'a' moved it," he said. "I'll go chase yore broncs' "And leave me alone?" she queried in dismay.
"I'll call my partner to keep cases on yu," he smiled.
A tiny frown indicated that the suggestion did not please her. "The animal is half-way to Deadwood by now, and while you are catching it, I am in pain," she pouted.
Sudden looked contrite. "Which I'm shorely a bonehead not to remember that," he said. "Yu can have my hoss."
"That great black?" she cried. "I never could stay on him with a crippled foot."
"He'll be all right with me along," Sudden assured her.
The smile of thanks he received was sweet, but there was a tinge of contempt in it; how easily a pretty woman could lead a man! But her strategy was not so successful as she had assumed. When the puncher returned he was leading two horses, his own, and the piebald mustang which Gerry called "Joseph" because its coat was of many colours. Sudden solved the problem of mounting by lifting her without effort into the saddle. For a brief instant one soft arm encircled his neck, her face temptingly close to his, and then she was looking down at him from the back of the big horse.
"You must be frightfully strong," she said, a little breathlessly.
"Shucks," he smiled. "I s'pose ropin' long-horns mebbe toughens a fella's muscles some." He spoke one sharp word to Nigger. whose ears had gone back at the strange burden.
"It looks a long way to fall," she said, her eyes on the smaller animal.
Sudden swung into the piebald's saddle and for a while they paced slowly along in silence, the woman covertly studying a companion about whom she was getting new ideas. Somehow the task Paul had set her did not seem quite so "amusing." He had not told her why he wanted this man, but she divined it was for no good. Also, it was not going to be so easy as she had anticipated; this product of the plains appeared to possess a severely practical mind; so far, she had not received even one glance of approbation.
Sudden was similiarly occupied. It seemed incredible that such a woman could have slain a man because he insulted her, and yet it was true--or all the town lied. He felt the allure of her despite the fact that he knew she was playing a part. Why had she come to seek him, and why the pretended injury?--for he was fully aware that both her shapely ankles were well able fo support her equally shapely body. Why did she desire his company to the settlement? What had her brother to do with it? His fruitless search for answers to these questions was interrupted by the lady;
"So you got tired of punching cows?"
"I allus was a restless fella--never could stay put nohow," he replied.
She made one or two tentative efforts to probe into his past, but the puncher was on his guard and she learned nothing. As they rode through the town more than one pair of envious eyes followed them; Lora Lesurge had plenty of admirers. Paul, from the shelter of the Monte, saw them pass.
"Good, she's hooked him," he muttered.
When they reached the house, Sudden lifted her down and carried her in. He declined to stay, though she urged that her brother would wish to thank him.
"It don't need speakin' of," he told her. Mary Ducane had come in and was regarding him with something very like repulsion. "Gerry is up in the gulch there all alone."
"You are anxious about your friend?" Lora asked.
The cowboy detected the sneer. "I don't have many, so I gotta take care of 'em," he smiled. "Gerry's a pretty ornery cuss, but I'd hate to find some wandering war-whoop had took a fancy to his curly locks." He noted the younger girl's instant look of alarm and smothered a grin as he took his leave.
"It doesn't seem to trouble him," Mary remarked, and seeing she was not understood, "I mean, killing that man." This, though the girl did not know it, was a home-thrust for her companion.
"Why should it?" Lora retorted. "The fellow purposely picked a quarrel as an excuse for shooting him. Did you expect Green to let him do it?"
"I suppose not, but it is--terrible," was the lame reply. Lora shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing of the kind," she said callously. "This is a lawless land and bloodthirsty brutes like Logan--he had already murdered ten men--must be dealt with. All this claptrap about the sacredness of human life makes me tired; when men behave like mad dogs they must be treated as such." Mary, Western-bred, knew that, to a large extent, she was right, but it was somewhat of a shock to hear a young and lovely woman express such a drastic doctrine.
* * * * When Sudden returned to the claim he found a very impatient partner awaiting him.
"Yu took yore time," was the greeting he received.
"Did yu expect a lady with a sprained ankle to gallop?" was the sarcastic retort.
"S'pose not. How d'yu get her on the hoss, Jim?"
"Made him lie down," Sudden grinned. "To tell yu the truth "
"Don't strain yoreself," the other begged.
"I don't savvy the game," Sudden continued. "She stampeded her pony and her ankle ain't damaged none whatever."
"She's fell in love with yu, Jim, an' I'll bet brother Paul don't know neither."
"Talk sense--the whole town saw us ride in."
"That's so. Shore looks as if he's in on it. Was Miss Ducane pleased to see yu?"
"I've had warmer welcomes," was the sardonic admission. Gerry laughed delightedly. "She's one fine girl," he exulted. "I'm goin' to marry her." Sudden stared at him in undisguised amazement. "Well, I'll be damned," he said, and heedless of the other's cordial agreement, continued, "Have yu informed the lady or is it to be a surprise?"
"I done told her--right away."
"An' yu still live?" Gerry grinned widely. "I lit out before the storm broke," he confessed.
"No wonder she treated me like I was an infectious disease," was Sudden's comment.
Chapter X
It was the second evening after Lora's adventure that Sudden encountered her brother. He and Gerry were in the Paris when Paul came up to them.
"Green, I want to thank you for coming to my sister's aid," he said. "It might have proved serious."
"Nothin' to that," the puncher replied. "But she didn't oughta been there."
"So I told her, but Lora is of a daring disposition," Paul answered. "It takes a lot to scare her."
"I hope her foot is mendin'," Sudden said politely.
"Better call and ask--women expect that sort of attention, you know," Lesurge smiled.
Sudden looked at his companion, of whom no notice had been taken. "That's a bet we overlooked, Gerry. We'll pay that visit to-morrow." Paul's face darkened--he was getting more than he bargained for, but his tone showed no trace of annoyance:
"Lora will be pleased to see you, Green, and remember, if I can do anything ... We Waysiders ought to hang together." The cowboy's eyes twinkled. "Well, Mister Lesurge," he drawled, "if it comes to hangin' I dunno that company'd be any comfort to me." Lesurge studied him sharply for a moment, then decided it was a joke, and laughed as he went.
They paid the promised visit in the morning but Gerry's courage failed him at the last moment and he elected to wait outside, in the hope--as he was careful to explain--that Mary would come out and
he would have her to himself; the excuse elicited a sardonic "Oh, yeah" from his companion. He was doomed to be disappointed, for he saw no sign of the lady.
Lora, reclining gracefully on a couch, received the visitor with a smile of reproof. Her foot was better, she told him; in fact, had he delayed his inquiry a little, it would have been quite well.
"Just a trifling strain, after all," she said. "I'm afraid I made too much of it. I hope you found your friend still in possession of his hair?" Sudden assured her on that point and sat fidgeting with his hat, wishing himself anywhere else. The fine furniture, rugs, pictures, and the deft touches which betrayed the hand of a woman, only made him uncomfortable; he was supremely conscious of his rough attire.
"There are cigarettes on the table and I will join you," she said. "One of my many vices." He held a light for her and helped himself to one of the "tailor-made" smokes. He had met other women who used tobacco but they had been very different from this dazzling but essentially feminine creature. He fought against the spell she was weaving, reminded himself that she had deceived him, but he was young and youth will forgive much to a pretty woman. And she was more than that, for she had the dark, exotic beauty which goes to men's heads like strong wine. In her dainty draperies, curled up among the cushions, and with her soft, purring voice, there was something feline about her.
"I am sick to death of this dreadful town, but my brother has big interests, so I must stay," she told him. "He thinks the possibilities are unlimited." Sudden hid his smile; they certainly Were for an unscrupulous person. "I'd say he's right, ma'am," he replied.
"Of course, he'll have to get good men to help him," she went on. "Paul is wonderful, but ... " She gestured with a slim, white hand.
The cowboy began to see light. Having failed to remove him, was he now to be used? That was a game two could play at. He put on a particularly wooden expression.
"One fella can't do it all," he agreed.
"My brother is generous to those who serve him," she murmured softly. "I too like to more than pay a debt." The warmth in tone and look promised much, but the visitor, convinced that he had solved the problem, was himself again, cold, insensible to the glamour of her beauty. But since he must not let her see this, stupidity was the safest card to play.
Sudden Goldseeker (1937) s-3 Page 7
