The Coming of the Law
Page 23
CHAPTER XXIII
TEN SPOT USES HIS EYES
The crash of Ten Spot's pistols aroused Nellie Hazelton, and she sat upand stared stupidly about--at Hollis, who was just rising from thefloor; at Ten Spot, who still stood in the doorway; and then at Yuma'sbody, stretched out on the floor beside the overturned table. Sheshuddered and covered her face with her hands. The next instant Holliswas bending over her, helping her to her feet, leading her to the doorand assuring her in a low, earnest voice that everything was all right,and that Yuma would never trouble her again, and that he wanted her toget on her pony and go to the Circle Bar. She allowed herself to be ledout on the porch, but once there she looked at him with renewed spirit.
"It was you who came first," she said; "I didn't see you, but I heardYuma curse, felt something strike him, and then--I must have fainted.You see, I felt it must be you--I had been expecting you."
As she spoke she seized his hands and pressed them tightly, her eyeseloquent with thankfulness. "Oh, I am so glad!" she whispered. Then shesaw Ten Spot standing in the doorway and she ran over and seized hishands also, shaking them hysterically. And Ten Spot stood, red of face,grinning bashfully at her--like a big, awkward, embarrassed schoolboy.
"That's the first time I've ever been thanked for shootin' anybody!" heconfided to Hollis, later. "An' it cert'nly did feel some strange!"
In spite of Hollis's remonstrances the girl insisted on returning to theinterior of the cabin, to "bundle up her things." Feeling the futilityof further objection, Hollis finally allowed her to enter. But while shewas busy in one of the rooms he and Ten Spot carried Yuma's bodyoutside, around to the rear of the cabin.
Then, when the girl had finally secured her "things" and they had beensecurely tied to her pony, and she had started down the trail toward theCircle Bar ranch, Hollis and Ten Spot returned to the rear of the cabin,took up Yuma's body, carried it to a secluded spot at some littledistance from the cabin and there buried it deep and quickly.
"I want to thank you again," said Hollis as he and Ten Spot stood on theporch when Hollis was ready to depart; "it was a great stroke of luckthat brought you here just when you were needed."
Ten Spot grinned. "I don't think it was just luck that brought me," hesaid; "though mebbe it was luck that took me into the Fashion thismorning. Whatever it was, I was in there, an' I heard Dunlavey an' Yumacookin' this here deal. I wasn't feelin' entirely ongrateful for the wayyou'd treated me after you'd got my gun that day in the _Kicker_office an' I wasn't intendin' to let happen what Dunlavey wanted tohappen. So I got out of the Fashion as soon as I could an' trailed Yuma.I've been after him all day, but somehow or other I lost him an' didn'tfind out where he'd gone till a little while ago--when I heard a gun gooff. Then I hit the breeze here--after Yuma. That's all. That's how Icome to get here so lucky." He stuck out a hand to Hollis. "Well,so-long," he said; "I'm hittin' the breeze out of the country." Hestepped forward to his pony, but hesitated when he heard Hollis speak.
"Then you're not going back to the Circle Cross--to work for Dunlavey?"questioned the latter.
"Well, no," grinned Ten Spot. "You see, it might not be so pleasant nowas it's been. I reckon when Dunlavey hears this he won't be exactlytickled."
Hollis contemplated him gravely. "So you're going to leave the country?"he said slowly, his eyes twinkling. "I take it you are not afraid----"
"Don't!" said Ten Spot coldly and sharply. Then he grinned with felinecordiality. "I reckon I ain't scared of anyone," he said, "but I ain'tlikin' to go back to the Circle Cross after puttin' Yuma out ofbusiness. I've done some mean things in my time, but I ain't dealin'double with no man, an' I couldn't go back to the Circle Cross an' workfor Dunlavey when I ain't sympathizin' with him none."
"I'm shy of good cowhands," offered Hollis quietly. "If forty a monthwould be----"
Ten Spot's right hand was suddenly gripping Hollis's. "You've hired aman, boss!" he said, his eyes alight with pleasure. "Ever since youclawed me that day in the _Kicker_ office I've had a hankerin' towork for you. I was wonder in' if you'd ast me. There ain't no damn----"
"Then it's a bargain," laughed Hollis, interrupting. "You can startright now." He pointed to the ridge upon which he had been riding whenhe heard the shot that had brought him to the cabin. "Some of EdHazelton's cattle are in the basin on the other side of that ridge," hesaid. "You go over there and keep an eye on them until I can get achance to send some one here to help you drive them back up the rivertoward the Circle Bar." As he came to the edge of the porch to mount hispony his gaze fell on Yuma's horse, still hitched to one of the columns."What are we going to do with Yuma's horse?" he questioned.
Ten Spot grinned. He walked over to the pony, unhitched it, and with avicious slap on the flank sent it loping down the trail toward theriver.
"That'll be my message to Dunlavey that Yuma ain't here any more," hesaid grimly.
Hollis mounted and rode a short distance, but halted and turned in thesaddle when he heard Ten Spot call to him.
"Boss," he said with a grin, "I ain't exactly blind, an' mebbe you'vegot your eyes with you, too. But I saw that there Hazelton girl lookin'at you sorta----"
He saw a smile on Hollis's face, but the rest of his speech was drownedin a clatter of hoofs as the "boss's" pony tore down the Coyote trail.Then Ten Spot smiled, mounted his pony, and rode away toward the ridge.