Polly bit her lip. The first seed of suspicion had been sown in her mind by the man’s manner, but his willingness to go on and leave her convinced her that he was carrying out a disagreeable errand.
She galloped after him and soon they came to the cross trail. This was in reality the trail to the badlands that branched off from the main trail some distance north of the bridge. They rode along this trail at a fast pace with the guide in the lead. Just as they reached the shadow of the trees, a number of horsemen burst from the cover.
Polly sensed the truth instantly and tried to whirl her horse, but too late. She was surrounded by a dozen riders—hemmed in. The message from Wayne had been false. Her heart fluttered and then she steadied. What harm did she, daughter of one of the most important stockmen on the range, have to fear? Her courage returned and she felt the hot glow of anger.
“What kind of a trick is this and who is responsible?” she demanded.
“This is a winning trick, ma’am, and I’m responsible.” The speaker was a tall man, dressed in corduroy, mounted on a magnificent black horse. His eyes sparkled in the light of the stars.
“What is the meaning of it and who are you?” asked Polly angrily.
“It means that you’re to be my guest for a time and you had better make the best of it.” The voice was cold and convincing. “It won’t do you any good to cut up. If you don’t ride along with us lady like, I’ll tie you up and put you on a horse with one of my men. If you behave yourself, you’ll be treated like the lady you are. My word is good.”
Polly was startled. The man smiled and a gold front tooth flashed. She drew a quick breath and her left hand flew to her breast. “I know who you are!” she exclaimed tremulously. “You’re … you’re …”
Darling!” the leader supplied. “Now you’ll understand it’ll be best to take it easy.” He twisted in the saddle. “Fall in!” he called sharply. Then to the girl: “Ride along ahead of me, ma’am, and later you can talk all you want to. I’ll treat you right, but you’ll take my orders.”
The other riders were in motion, some ahead, some behind; there was nothing for it but to do as she was told. She rode on into the beginning of the wilderness, her heart pounding, tears of fear and chagrin in her eyes, conscious that she was utterly helpless and in the power of a notorious outlaw, the mention of whose name gave men pause. And Wayne? Thought of him steadied her. Was he, too, a captive? Or killed? Perhaps she could find out when they got to where they were going. And she knew in her heart they were going to the impregnable stronghold of the outlaws in the badlands east of the butte.
Chapter Twenty
Polly Arnold might have been an automaton in so far as being cognizant of her surroundings or the route taken on that night ride into the heart of the Rainbow Butte wilderness was concerned. Her brain was numb from futile conjectures, wild schemes, questions that would not answer themselves, and a growing fear for her own safety. About her were only dark shadows of trees, an occasional glimpse of wide expanse of sky as they topped a high ridge, the occasional ghostly white soap holes where the quicksands lurked. She seemed in a stupor when they finally halted and the stir about her brought her into her full senses.
They were in what appeared to be a small basin with sheer rock walls rising on every side. There was a stream and trees and horses and a number of cabins from some of which yellow rays of lamplight streamed through the windows. Men were moving about and someone was lighting a lamp in the small cabin before which they had stopped.
“All right, ma’am, get down.” It was Darling’s voice and he was standing on the left side of her horse. Polly thought she would faint when he grasped her arm to steady her as she dismounted. “Right in here,” he said, putting as cheerful a note as possible into his voice.
He led the way into the cabin and Polly followed mechanically and sat down immediately on one of the two chairs by the small table upon which was the lamp. The cabin was small with but one window, scantily furnished with a bunk, the table, and two chairs, a cupboard, and a small stand. The floor was bare. There was nothing in the bunk save a straw mattress. This, then, was her prison.
“Your horse will be well looked after,” the outlaw told her. “I’m sending a man along with some things, and later I’ll look in myself to see that you’re all right. There are two foolish things you can do … try to get away, which is impossible unless you can wade through quicksand, and worry. I’m not even going to lock the door on the outside. You can bolt it on the inside if you want. But I won’t be responsible for my men if you are outside this cabin.”
She didn’t look at him, but she knew with what he had said last he had virtually surrounded her with a stone wall. He went out, closing the door after him.
It cannot be said that Polly entertained any great fear. She was nervous and frightened, as any girl of her age would be in similar circumstances, but Darling, for all of his formidable reputation, was conceded to be the smartest, as well as the boldest and most inexorable, outlaw ever to operate on the north range. He certainly would be too wise to harm the daughter of Pete Arnold and thus arouse the entire range, west and east, north and south, as well as the range across the line in Canada against him. Sheriffs’ posses were one thing, but he had been careful that the attacks upon him came only from one quarter. Polly suspected his object in abducting her, and the more convinced she became as to his purpose, the safer she felt. Gradually, sitting there alone in the lamplight, her courage grew and a cold, white heat of anger suffused her. Then there was a single rap at the door and it was thrown open. She started to her feet but resumed her chair at once.
A man came in loaded down with bed coverings. He deposited his burden on the bunk and stood across the table from her.
“Reckon you’ll want to fix your bunk up yourself.” He leered.
Polly shuddered. Evidently Darling had sent one of his most evil-appearing followers to impress her. For this thick-set man, unkempt, with close-set beady eyes, a stubble of reddish beard, and a huge, protruding jaw was the most horrible individual she had ever seen. She turned her gaze aside. “Go away,” she said with disgust.
“Oh, sure. I ain’t supposed to stay here. I’ll get you some water.” She could feel his eyes upon her and drew a long breath of relief when he went out.
She shuddered again as she looked at the pile of bedding. There would be no sleep for her here, and, if she did lie down, it would be on the mattress. She wondered as to the time. It was past midnight, of course.
In ten minutes or so the man returned. His grin, showing his wide, yellow teeth, enraged the girl. “Put what you have on the table and get out of here!” she commanded. “And you can tell that Darling that you’re not to come here again!”
“Now don’t get mad, lady.” The ruffian smirked. “I’m just tryin’ to make you feel comfortable. Here’s a basin and water, and soap and a towel, sort of, and a drinkin’ glass.” He put the articles on the small stand. “You see?” He grinned that fiendish grin again. “Now is there anything else? I’m just tryin’ to make you comfortable, and …”
He stopped short as there was a footfall behind him. Over his shoulder, Polly saw Darling. The outlaw’s eyes were narrowed and shooting fire. The look on his face was terrible. He reached for the man’s collar, swung him about as if he were made of straw, and drove his right fist fully into the bloated, leering face.
The man went down on his back, but Darling, showing amazing strength against the other’s size, grasped him again by the collar and jerked him to his feet.
“Who told you to talk?” the outlaw chief demanded.
The other’s voice gurgled in his throat, and once again that powerful right shot out, crashing on the man’s jaw and knocking him through the door into the blackness of the night.
Darling closed the door. Then, to Polly’s astonishment, he took off his hat. “If there is anything more you want,” he said in a moderate voice, “tell me. Or call one of the men from the door and send for me. They h
ave their orders and my orders are obeyed.”
“Why did you send such a man as that here?” Polly asked. She felt that Darling had done so purposely and had followed by beating the man for her benefit. But why? To intimidate her? He didn’t have to stage such a scene to do that.
“To show you the kind of beasts I have to control,” said Darling frankly. “Mine isn’t an easy job. I hold it with my fists and my gun, as well as my head. I want you to know that I’m the only one here you can depend upon and behave yourself. I’m responsible for your safety and no one else.” His tone was icy as he finished and Polly knew he spoke the truth.
“Well, Mister Darling …”
“Leave off the mister, just call me Darling,” the outlaw broke in. “We’re none too polite here.”
“But you were polite enough to take your hat off,” Polly pointed out.
Darling frowned. “I take my hat off when talking to a woman of the dance halls,” he said, “so I’m not showing you any favors.”
Polly flushed. Here was no ignorant bandit—which made him all the more dangerous. “What are you going to do with me?” she asked curiously, although her pulse was racing.
“That’ll depend. Just for now I’m going to hold you here. I could hold you here till winter if I wanted to, but I don’t think I’ll have to do that.”
Polly had experienced a chill. “I suppose you know this is a serious offense,” she managed to get out in a steady voice.
“I’m used to serious offenses.” Darling scowled.
“No doubt. Robbery, rustling, even killing isn’t unusual in your line, I hear, and it wouldn’t bother you to have a sheriff on your trail. But kidnapping is different, Darling … especially in the case of a girl. It has never been done on the range yet, and every stockman in half the state would be willing to send his outfit after you. I suppose you’ve thought of that.”
“I have,” said Darling calmly. “Just because a thing hasn’t been done doesn’t stop me from trying it. It takes time to get a lot of outfits on the move. It would take more time to corner me, if it could be done. Your old man wouldn’t want you held by me any length of time, would he? I reckon you’ve thought of that.”
Polly’s lips tightened. “So you propose to hold me for a ransom?”
“It will be the easiest money I ever made,” said Darling.
“And afterward … then what?”
“I have plenty of uses for money,” said the outlaw dryly. “I’ll find places to put it.”
“I mean what about yourself?” the girl persisted.
Darling smiled. His smile was grim and disagreeable and the look that went with it was cold. “I’ve always been able to take care of myself. You needn’t lose any sleep over what I’ll do. The thing for you to do is think about yourself and behave until your old man has fixed this thing up. He’ll be tickled stiff to fork over a cool fifty thousand to put you back in the Bar A parlor.”
“Fifty thousand!” Polly exclaimed. “Father hasn’t got that much cash … and you’d want it in cash.” A feeling of genuine misgiving assailed her.
“He can get it.” Darling nodded. “His name on a note is good for it in any bank in the state. I’m going to give him seventy-two hours, just to show him I’m not afraid of a chase. He won’t need more than twenty-four.”
Polly clenched her fists. “And you’ll want me to write him a note telling him to do it,” she said angrily. “Well, you might as well know here and now that I won’t do any such a thing.”
“I haven’t asked you to write any note and I’m not going to ask you to write any,” said Darling with an edge to his voice. “Your old man will take my word without any notes. He knows better than to think I’m playing a trick when I tell him I’ve got you and the price is fifty thousand.”
“You weren’t above tricking me,” said Polly with a catch in her voice. “Sending word that Ted Wayne wanted to see me and that the man would take me to him.” Her tone had changed to one of scorn.
“Don’t you suppose Wayne wants to see you?” asked Darling calmly. “As for the man taking you to him, you had a chance to back out. Those were my orders … to give you one chance. And now I’ll tell you that you are goin’ to see this Wayne.” There was a momentary gleam in the outlaw’s eyes that showed he was enjoying the situation keenly.
“Is … have you got him, too?” stammered Polly, unable to suppress the eagerness in her voice.
Darling shook his head. “He’s coming here of his own accord,” he said. “I don’t even know where he is right now.”
Polly rose impetuously. “Oh, this is mystery and trickery, yes, and lying. I don’t believe you, Darling. You’ve captured Ted and goodness knows what you plan to do with him … just because he shot one of your men. It wasn’t his fault.” Her concern for Wayne overrode her own trouble. “You know Ted wouldn’t come here of his own free will. He couldn’t come unless you arranged it, anyway. You’re everything I’ve heard say you are … a liar and thief and killer. But if you kill Ted Wayne …” Her voice swelled in her throat and she ceased.
“You’re the first person that ever called me a liar,” said Darling smoothly. “But you’re a girl, and excited, and a pampered young fool in the bargain. So I’ll have to take it from you. But you’ll find it best to get along with me while you’re here, or wherever I take you. Think that over. Because I’m not going to give you up until your old man has come across. Talk to me just once again like you did then and I’ll double the price.”
Polly was speechless. She was just beginning to learn how hard and unrelenting this desperado could be. His calm talk was deceiving. Under the cool exterior this man’s ruthless character could burst into flame, unseen, unsuspected. His present manner was a pose. Polly knew she was in danger. Her life, or worse, might hang in the balance. She sat down and folded her hands on the table. She must—she must keep her nerve.
“How are you going to get word to my father?” she asked dully.
“I’ll manage it in my own way,” was the answer. “If necessary, I’ll take the word myself, although I don’t like to leave you here.”
Another feeling of panic gripped the girl. After all, this monster was her protection. If he should go away …
“It won’t be necessary,” she said quickly. “I’ll write the note.”
Darling’s eyes gleamed again. He rose from his chair and took up his hat. “We’ll see about that. The man who took you out of town will bring you your breakfast in the morning. He’s about the mildest-looking man in my outfit, and I’ve got plenty of men. You might as well get some rest. Those things on the bunk are pretty clean. They’re the cook’s extras. You can open the door in the daytime, even walk a little just outside. If any man speaks to you, send for me. Good night.”
He strode to the door and was gone before Polly could reply, if she had wanted to reply. She hurried to shoot the bolt in the door. Then she sank on the bunk, facing the open window, and waited for the coming dawn.
Chapter Twenty-One
Wayne and Hunter rode like the wind as night fell, turning off into the trail that led northeast. Wayne sensed that his companion was making for the badlands district and he was minded to ask questions, but first it was essential that they outdistance any attempts at pursuit. Hunter was in a none too pleasant mood, and Wayne himself was experiencing a nervous reaction from the tension of his meeting with Barry.
Night closed in and the stars broke forth in clusters. They kept on until they reached the first clearing across the creek that formed the boundary of the breaks. There Hunter slowed his horse to a walk and they rode side-by-side.
“We’ll go on to my place for the night,” said Hunter. “That town outfit knows better than to come nosing around there. I reckon they’ll cool off anyway when they’re sure you sloped with me.”
“I don’t like the idea of running off and leaving Polly in town,” said Wayne crossly. “She … well, at first she expected me to take her home.”
“By the way she acted at the last, she didn’t expect any such thing,” Hunter remarked dryly. “But I take it she’s mad at me.”
“You can lay to that,” Wayne affirmed.
“She thinks,” said Hunter slowly, “that I’m leading you astray. Probably has the idea in her head that I framed the business tonight. As a matter of fact, if I’d thought you were too slow for Barry, I’d never have let the thing come off. At that he pulled a trick on us. The fight was a setup. It’s a wonder some of his gang didn’t pot you in the back. I expected it.”
“So did I,” said Wayne. “But that’s over. I’m worried about Polly. She’s sore at me and all that, but …” He bit his lip and ran his fingers through his hair. “I wonder who got my hat,” he finished.
“McCurdy told me he would look after the girl,” said Hunter. “Said he’d probably send his men back and take her to the ranch in the morning. He expected to see you after the fracas, if you came out all right. You don’t need to worry about her and I can stake you to a hat.”
“Humph.” Wayne’s tone was one of disgust. “I think a lot of that girl, Hunter,” he confessed after a short silence.
“Don’t blame you,” said Hunter. “Reckon she thinks right smart of you. These differences have to come before two young people understand each other. What do you plan on doing?”
“I don’t know,” Wayne admitted.
“Well, suppose you trail with me a spell until things get settled and you make up your mind,” the older man suggested.
Wayne could not make out the expression on the other’s face in the dim light of the stars. “Where’ll we trail to?” he asked.
“You’ve got me there. I don’t plan much in advance and I haven’t got anything in view just now. Anyway, you couldn’t take a hand in my game very well.”
“Why not?” Wayne demanded.
“Because a sheriff is liable to sit in on my play anytime,” was the slow answer. “I don’t just thumb cards, Wayne.”
Rainbow Range Page 16
