CHAPTER XVI
THE BEARER OF GOOD NEWS
Hollis smiled. The Judge got to his feet and approached the two men.
"Hollis," he said, "shake hands with Mr. Allen, of Lazette."
Allen's hand came out quickly and was grasped by Hollis's, both gripsbeing hearty and warm.
"My name's Ben Allen," explained the stranger with a smile. "Tacking ona handle like 'Mister' would sure make me feel like a stranger tomyself."
"We'll not quarrel about that," remarked the Judge with a smile; "we'llcall you Ben." He looked soberly at Hollis, continuing:
"Allen has been sent over here from Lazette to assist us in establishingthe law. He was formerly sheriff of Colfax County, having been defeatedby the Cattlemen's Association because he refused to become a party toits schemes. On several occasions since severing his official connectionwith Colfax County he has acted in a special capacity for thegovernment. He is an old acquaintance of the new Secretary of theInterior and much trusted by him. He is to be the inquisitor mentionedin the letter which I read in the presence of Dunlavey."
Hollis looked at Allen with a new interest. After noting again thesteady, serene eyes, narrowed always with a slight squint; the firmstraight lips, the well set jaws, Hollis mentally decided that theSecretary of the Interior could not have made a better choice.Certainly, if he had served as sheriff of Colfax County, he had had someexcellent experiences, for from reading the _Lazette Eagle_, Hollis hadacquired considerable knowledge of the character of the inhabitants ofColfax. The editor of the _Eagle_ had many times felicitated himself uponthe fact that his town (Lazette) had not been built ten miles farthereast--in which case he would have been a resident of Union--and ashamedof it.
"I think we need you," said Hollis simply. "But I imagine you will haveto concentrate your efforts upon one ranch only--the Circle Cross. Ifyou make Dunlavey bow to the law you may consider your work finished."
"I think Dunlavey will change his views of things shortly," remarkedAllen, quietly, but significantly. He smiled at Hollis. "I have readyour paper regularly," he said. "You've got the editor of our paperhopping mad--with your claims about Dry Bottom being superior toLazette. Also, you've stirred up the Secretary of the Interior some. Iwas called to Washington three weeks ago and invited to tell what I knewof conditions out here. I didn't exaggerate when I told the Secretarythat hell was a more peaceful place for a law loving man to live in.Though," he added with a smile, "I wasn't ever in hell and couldn't bepositive. I was just accepting what I've heard preachers say about it.The Secretary asked me if I knowed you and I told him that though Ididn't I would be right glad to if you was doing anything in my line. Helaughed and said he'd miss his guess if you wasn't making thingsinteresting. Told me to get you to one side and tell you to go to it."He smiled dryly. "According to what I've read in the _Kicker_ you don'tneed to be told that and so I'm keeping my mouth shut."
He dropped his humor and spoke seriously, questioning Hollis about thelocation of his ranch, listening quietly and attentively to the latter'sanswers. Half an hour later after having arranged with Judge Graney forthe registering of his brand and the listing of his cattle, Hollis leftthe court house and went to his office. In running through his mail hecame upon Judge Graney's notification and also another letter,postmarked "Chicago," which drew a pleased smile to his face. A fewminutes later Norton came in, and though Hollis had done very little onthe paper he rose and smilingly announced his intention of returning tothe Circle Bar.
"We'll take the Coyote trail," he informed Norton, after they hadmounted and were riding away from the _Kicker_ office; "I'm stopping for amoment at the Hazelton cabin. Of course," he added, seeing a knowinggrin on Norton's face, "I expected you would be suspicious--marriedfolks have a habit of adopting a supercilious and all-wise attitudetoward those of us who have been unfortunate enough to remain in a stateof single blessedness."
"Meanin' that you're some sore because you ain't got hooked up yet?"grinned Norton.
"Perhaps," laughed Hollis. "But I have been thinking seriously of tryingto reach your altitude."
"Girl willin'?" queried Norton, as they rode down through a littlegully, then up to a stretch of plain that brought them to the Coyotetrail.
"That's where I am all at sea," returned Hollis. He laughed. "I supposeyou've read Ace's poem in the Kicker?" He caught Norton's nod andcontinued. "Well, Ace succeeded in crowding a whole lot of truth intothat effort. Of course you remember the first couplet:
"'Woman--she don't need no tooter, Be she skule ma'am or biscut shooter."'
he quoted.
"A woman seems to have an intuitive knowledge of man's mental processes.At least she gauges him pretty well without letting him into the mysteryof how she does it. A man can never tell where he will land." Ace camevery near striking the nail on the head when he wrote in the secondcouplet that:
'She has most curyus ways about her, Which leads a man to kinda dout her.'
"And then, knowing man so well, she absolutely refuses to let him knowanything of her thoughts. Which again, Ace has noted in this manner:
'Though lookin' at her is sure a pleasure; There ain't no way to get her measure. I reckon she had man on the run A long while before the world begun.'
"That seems to be the exact truth," he laughed.
Norton grinned at him. "You single guys have certa'nly got a whole lotto learn," he said, "for a fact. Of course if she's any kind of a womanat all she's got him runnin'. But which way?"
"Why, toward her, of course!" laughed Hollis.
Norton's smile widened. "You've tumbled to that, then," he observeddryly. "Then you're ready for the next lesson."
"And that?" questioned Hollis.
Norton smiled with ineffable pity. "Lordy!" he laughed; "you single guysdon't know a thing not a durned thing!"
After that they rode on in silence. When they came in sight of theHazelton cabin Norton reined in his pony and sat motionless in thesaddle, grinning at Hollis.
"You run along now," he advised. "I'll be hittin' her off toward the DryBottom trail for the rest of the way--I sorta like that trail betteranyway."
He urged his pony off at a tangent and Hollis continued on his way. Hefound Nellie alone, her brother having gone out on the range. She cameout on the porch, hearing his pony's hoofs on the hard sand and rocks ofthe trail, and there was a sincere welcome in her eyes. It was the firsttime that he had visited the cabin since he had returned to the CircleBar.
"Oh!" she said delightedly. And then, aware of the sudden light that hadcome into Hollis's eyes at this evidence of interest, she blushed andlooked down at the hem of her skirt, nervously pushing it out with thetoe of her shoe.
During the days of Hollis's convalescence at the Hazelton cabin he hadseen the young woman in many moods. In none of them, however, had sheseemed so attractive as now. Confusion became her, he decided, and heregarded her with a new interest as he sat on his pony, awaiting herinvitation to dismount. It came presently.
"It is frightfully hot," she said, moving over to where stood twochairs--one in which he had passed many hours during the days of hisconvalescence, the other in which she had sat quite often--near him. Notuntil now did he realize how full and satisfying those days had been. Ashe dismounted and tied his pony to one of the slender porch columns hesmiled--thinking of Norton's question during their discussion of Ace'spoem. "Of course"--the range boss had said--"if she's any kind of awoman at all she's got him runnin'. But which way?" Ofcourse--literally--she did not have him running, but he knew that someuncommon passion had gripped him and that he was unaccountably pleased.
His smile grew when he remembered her sudden indignation over histhoughtless statement that women had never interested him. Of course hewould not tell her that he felt a serious interest in _one_ woman.When he dropped into his favorite chair, removing his hat and moppingthe perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief, he caught herlooking swiftly at the scar under his right
eye--which would always be areminder of his experience on the night of the storm. She saw his browscontract in a frown.
"You have quite recovered," she said; "except for that slight scar underthe eye you are the same as before the meeting with Dunlavey's men."
He looked beyond her at the tawny mountains that rose in thedistance,--miles on the other side of the big basin--swimming in theshimmering blur of white sky--somber guardians of a mysterious world.What secret did they guard? What did they know of this world of eternalsunlight, of infinite distance? Did they know as much of the world uponwhich they frowned as he knew of the heart of the slender, motherly girlwhose eyes betrayed her each time he looked into them?
A smile that lurked deep within him did not show in his face--it wasunborn and it gripped him strangely, creating a sensation in his breastthat he could not analyze, but which pleaded to be expressed. He couldnot express it--now. He feared to trust himself and so he fought itdown, assuring himself that it was not yet time. But he knew that he wasnot the same as before his experience with Dunlavey on the night of thestorm. Something had stolen into his heart and was enthroned there;something deeper than a mere scar--a girl who had mothered him in hisextremity; who had hovered over him, attending to his bruises, bindinghis wounds, tenderly smoothing his brow during the days and nights ofthe fever; attending his wants during convalescence; erecting a citadelin his heart which would stand as a monument to his gratitude. No, notgratitude merely. The smile was born. He turned and looked at her,meeting her eyes fairly, and hers dropped in confusion.
"Do you think that I am the same as before?" he asked suddenly.
She stood up, radiant, pointing a finger toward the Coyote trail. "Ed iscoming!" she declared.
Before he could say another word she was down off the porch and runningtoward her brother, holding his horse while he dismounted, kissing him,patting him lovingly as they came toward the porch.
The latter greeted Hollis warmly. "A fellow couldn't help but feel goodwith a sister like that--now could he?" he inquired as he came upon theporch and took the chair which Nellie had vacated. She had disappearedinto the cabin, not even looking at Hollis, but she could not have heardHollis's reply had she remained. For it was wordless. There are timeswhen men understand perfectly without speech.
Hollis stayed for dinner. Nellie was radiantly silent during the meal,attending to the wants of the two men, listening while they discussedrecent happenings in the county. Ed was much pleased to hear of thecoming of Ben Allen.
"That guy is business--through and through," he assured Hollis. "He wasthe best sheriff Colfax County ever had--and it's had some good ones.Allen's quiet, but there ain't anyone going to herdride him. Some havetried it, but they found it didn't pay and so they don't try it anymore."
After dinner they went out on the porch for a smoke, leaving Nellieinside. They could hear her singing as she washed the dishes. Hazeltonsmiled as a particularly happy note reached his ears. "I don't knowwhat's got into Sis," he said, flashing a swift glance at Hollis. "Idon't know as I ever heard her sing that well before."
Hollis made no reply and the conversation turned to the drought--as allconversations did during that period. Word had come to Hazelton ofDunlavey's warning to the cattle owners. He had heard also of Hollis'sannounced intention of taking sides with the small owners.
"Dunlavey's ten days is up the day after tomorrow," said Hazelton. "IfDunlavey starts anything what are you going to do?"
"That will depend on what Dunlavey starts," smiled Hollis.
"H'm!" inexpressively grunted Hazelton. He flashed a glance at the faceof the young man beside him, noting the firm mouth, the steady eyes, andthe faint, grim smile. "H'm!" he said again. "I suppose you know whoyou're going to give your water to?" he questioned.
Hollis nodded. "To men who refused to help my father when he neededhelp," he returned.
Hazelton smiled oddly. "I've heard about that," he said. He laughed. "Itstrikes me that I wouldn't give such men any water," he added.
Hollis turned and looked at him, meeting his gaze fairly, and holdingit.
"Yes, you would, Hazelton," he said, a broad smile on his face.
"How do you know that?" queried the latter, slightly defiant.
Hollis motioned toward the kitchen door. "I know," he said; "you're herbrother."
"Well," began Hazelton hesitatingly,--"I----"
The screen door opened--slammed, and Nellie Hazelton came out upon theporch. She had found time to change her morning dress for a soft, fluffycreation of some sort, and she stood before them, flushing slightly asboth looked at her, a picture that smote Hollis's heart with a suddenlonging. Only one glance did she give him and then she was over nearEd's chair, leaning over him, stroking his hair.
For a long time Hollis sat, watching them with sympathetic, appreciativeeyes. Then he thought of the letter in his pocket, the one postmarked"Chicago," which he had discovered at the _Kicker_ office onreturning from the court house. He drew it from his pocket and read thelegend in the upper left hand corner:
"Dr. J. J. Hammond, ---- Hospital, Chicago, Ill."
He studied the legend for some little time, his thoughts busy with thecontents of the envelope. Fortunately, his letter to the great physicianhad fallen into the hands of the son, Tom Hammond, and the latter, notforgetting his old schoolmate, had appealed to his father. This was whatthe surgeon had written in the letter--he would not have agreed toaccept the case had it not been for the fact that Hollis had been, andwas Tom's friend. He would be pleased if the patient would make thejourney to Chicago within a month, that he might be able to take up hiscase before entering upon some scientific investigations which had beendeferred a long time, etc.
Hollis had been reading the letter again. He finished it and looked up,to see Ed and Nellie watching him. He flushed and smiled, holding outthe letter to Nellie.
"I beg your pardon," he said. "I found this interesting. Perhaps youwill also find it so."
He leaned back with a smile and watched them. But he did not, watchlong. He saw Nellie start, saw the color slowly recede from her face,saw her hands clench tightly--as she began to read the letter. He turnedaway, not caring to watch them during that sacred moment in which theywould read the line of hope that the great surgeon had written. Helooked--it seemed--for a long time down the Coyote trail, and when hefinally turned his head toward them he saw Ed Hazelton sitting erect inhis chair, apparently stunned by the news. But before him, close to him,so close that he felt her breath in his face--her eyes wide withdelight, thankfulness--and perhaps something more--Nellie was kneeling.
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Hollis!" she said earnestly, her lips all a-quiver;"Thank you, and God bless you!"
He tried to sit erect; tried to open his lips to tell her that he haddone only what any man would have done under the circumstances. But hemoved not, nor did he speak, for her arms had gone around his shoulders,and her lips were suddenly pressed firmly and quickly to his. Then hewas released and she turned, crying:
"Come and thank him, Ed!"
But Ed had taken himself off--perhaps he did not care to allow anyone towitness his joy.
Some time during the evening Hollis took his departure from the Hazeltoncabin. Ed had come back, silently taking Hollis's hand and gripping itearnestly. And before Hollis had departed Ed had taken himself into thehouse. Perhaps he divined that there were other's joys beside his.
That night before retiring Nellie stole softly into her brother's roomand kissed him lightly on the forehead. That same night also Hollis rodeup to the Circle Bar corral gate--singing. Norton and Potter weresitting on the gallery, waiting for him. While Hollis was removing thesaddle from his pony Norton rose from his chair and smiled at Potter.
"Well," he said to the latter, "I'm goin' to bed." He moved a few stepstoward the door and then turned and looked back at Potter, who had alsorisen. He laughed.
"Listen, Potter," he said. Then he quoted:
"Woman--she don't need no tooter
Be she skule ma'am or biscuit shooter."
He hesitated and looked again at Potter. "Why," said the latter,puzzled, "that's from Ace's poem!"
"Sure," laughed Norton; "that's just what it is!"
The Coming of the Law Page 16
