The Lone Ranger Rides

by Fran Striker

  Chapter XV

  INTRIGUE COMES CLOSER

  When Penny reached home just after dark, she noticed a peculiarlydeserted air about the ranch. Most of the horses belonging to thecowboys were gone from the corral when she turned Las Vegas in. Theshack where Becky had lived was dark, and the big house nearly so. Therewas one lamp burning in the living room, and the kitchen wing waslighted. That was all. The usual bunkhouse sounds of laughter, ormurmuring voices against an occasional accordion or guitar background,were not there. Penelope entered by the kitchen door. Gimlet rose togreet her, with anxiety showing in every one of the enumerable lines onhis battered old face.

  "Keee-ripes!" burst out Gimlet. "Where you been?"

  Penny was somewhat taken aback by the old man's obvious agitation."What's the matter, Gimlet? Is anything wrong?"

  "That's jest it, I dunno. It seems like all hell's due tuh bust loosean' yet they ain't a thing I c'n put a finger on. They's things bilin'up, I tell yuh. I was scared damn near tuh death somethin'd happened tuhyou."

  "But why?"

  "Yuh sure everything's all right with yuh? Yuh ain't met with notrouble?"

  "What kind of trouble? Where is everyone?"

  "I dunno what kind, jest trouble. Trouble like bein' shot at, or likehavin' threats made at yuh."

  Penny shook her head. "I rode quite a way," she said, "and didn'trealize it was so late. Where is Uncle Bryant?"

  It was when Gimlet replied that Penny felt her first frustration. "He'sgone, an' God knows where to, or why."

  "Gone," echoed the girl. "Didn't he say anything?"

  "He come here tuh the kitchen, told me tuh pack some vittles in a sack,an' stayed while I done it. He took the sack, tho'wed it intuh thebuckboard, which same had two strong hosses all hitched, then fetchedMort outen the house with his neck still bandaged, an' the two druvoff."

  Penny hadn't known Bryant to leave the Basin in years. Yet she knewGimlet must be telling the truth. "Didn't he say when he was comingback?" she asked.

  "Not a damn word."

  Penny had counted on a heart-to-heart talk with her uncle. Now that thetalk was out of the question, at least for the time being, she felt ahopelessness that made her aware of how much she had counted on thattalk.

  "How long ago," she said, "did Uncle Bryant leave?"

  "Jest a little while after the argyment."

  "Argument? What argument?"

  "Him an' that cowboy callin' himself Yuma had another set-to."

  "Yuma?" In her confusion of emotions Penny could do little more thanecho what Gimlet said.

  "I tell yuh, they's been things goin' on, but nothin' I c'n lay a fingeron. Bryant an' Yuma talked low fer a time, then both got tuh howlin'. Ic'd hear some o' what 'uz said. Yuma was callin' on Bryant tuh see to itthat Mort got what he deserved, an' got told tuh go tuh hell."

  "That's what Uncle Bryant would tell him."

  "Yuma said he'd done some thinkin' since the last row they had an' hefiggered that if Mort wasn't given what a killer sh'd git, it wasbecause Bryant didn't give a damn what went on in the Basin."

  "Oh, if Yuma could only understand Uncle Bryant!" said Penny. "UncleBryant can't be bulldozed into doing anything. One way to make certainhe doesn't turn Mort over to the law is to order him to do it."

  "They had aplenty o' hot words," said Gimlet, shaking his head slowly."They was a heap o' cussin' on both sides. When I heard what Bryant toldabout the shootin' of Becky, I was fit tuh be tied, I was so gol-darnmad."

  "What did he say?" asked Penny eagerly.

  "Said that Mort told him he never had no intent o' shootin' Becky."

  Penny's lips compressed.

  "Mort claimed that he seen a snake, a rattler an' a big one, an' he wasshootin' at that same, but his shot went wild an' through the window tuhgit his wife."

  "So," said Penny softly, "that's the story he's going to tell."

  "He's told it an' Bryant's told it, an' I reckon it'll stand. Hain't noway tuh prove otherwise."

  "No," responded the girl, her confidence in Uncle Bryant severelythreatened, "there's no way to prove otherwise."

  "I saved some chow fer yuh," Gimlet said in an incidental way, "if yuhwant it. I reckon yore hungry."

  Penelope shook her head. "I'm not hungry, Gimlet."

  "I dunno what's goin' tuh happen," the old man said sadly. "I do knowone thing though, an' that's jest this. Becky wasn't kilt by noaccident, an' if Bryant says she was he's as big a damn liar as Mort."

  Penny looked at Gimlet. She laid one hand on his skinny forearm belowthe rolled-back shirtsleeve. Softly she said, "Gimlet, have you any ideawhy Rebecca was shot?"

  Gimlet dropped the gaze of his one eye to the floor and shifted hisweight uneasily from one foot to the other.

  "Tell me," said Penny. "I want to know."

  Gimlet nodded slowly. "I know," he said. "That's what made me afearedfer you." He stopped there, and Penny said:

  "Go on."

  Gimlet drew a deep breath as if, in telling the girl what he knew, hewere leaping into a bottomless pit filled with icy water.

  "I--I'm the one that got her kilt."

  Penny waited, knowing that when he enlarged on the amazing statement itwould be vastly modified.

  "I couldn't o' helped it, though. I dunno where Becky learned that apack o' killers from all parts o' the state was bein' brought tuh jobshere, so's they c'd hide while they stole hosses an' cattle from outsidethe Basin. She knowed it though, an' sent me with a note intuh CaptainBlythe in Red Oak. I gave him the note an' left, like she tol' me tuhdo. I dunno how the crooks here learned about it, but they sure as hellwas ready when the Texas Rangers rid through the Gap. They wiped 'em outaplenty."

  "But there'll be other Rangers coming to see what happened to them,"said Penny.

  "An' alibis an' lies aplenty waitin' fer them same. By the time the nextRangers git here, there won't be a damn thing fer 'em tuh see. Thestolen cattle'll have new brands an' the crooks that's hidin' here willbe hidin' where they cain't be found. No one'll know nothin' aboutnothin'."

  Penny nodded slowly, realizing the truth in what old Gimlet said.

  "If it's knowed by the crooks that you know what's goin' on, they'll dotuh you the same as they done tuh Becky. As fer me, I'm expectin' tuhgit kilt most any time."

  "You said there wasn't anything you could put your finger on, Gimlet. Itseems to me you know just about all there is to know."

  "Can't prove nothin' though; 'sides that, I dunno where Bryant stands."

  "I wish I knew that," said Penny thoughtfully.

  "One thing's sure. As long as he's here, there won't no harm come tuhyou. Let him git killed though, as I know damn well he's expectin', an'God knows what'll happen. 'Nuther thing I dunno is who is bossin'things!"

  "Vince?"

  Gimlet shook his head. "Too cussed fer any man tuh take orders from."

  "Mort?"

  Again the old man's head moved slowly from one side to the other. "Idon't think so. We c'n figger Jeb an' Wallie out as a matter o' course.Maybe they know what's goin' on, maybe they don't. Jeb ain't the brainsof a jackass an' Wallie ain't hardly ever home."

  "Has he returned from town?"

  "Nope. He left tuh tomcat around some more an' maybe find a woman tuhraise Becky's kids. He ain't come back yet."

  "Where have the other men gone?"

  "They moseyed out soon after the buryin'. I dunno where they went. Vincean' some o' them are in the front room o' the house."

  "Who is with Vince?"

  "Sawtell an' Lombard an' the man that talked with Bryant t'othernight--Lonergan. They been chewin' the rag in there ever since Bryanttook Mort away."

  Gimlet turned to the huge stove and shoved a pan back from the heat."Yuh sure yuh won't eat?" he asked.

  Penny felt that food would choke her. She wondered if there were anyonein the world to whom she might turn in confidence and trust.

  The door swung open suddenly, and Yuma stood in the opening. The bigblond
cowboy's face was grim. He glanced at Gimlet, then the girl.

  "Saw yer hoss in the corral," he explained. "I got tuh ask yuh jest onething, Miss Penny."

  Penny nodded without speaking. She noticed that Yuma wore two guns, bothtied low. His hat was well down on his forehead and he had a leatherjacket over his shirt. He seemed to be dressed for a considerable ride."Jest one thing," he repeated ponderously.

  "Well, what is it?"

  "I'm fixin' tuh pull stakes," the cowboy said. "Yuh don't know me verywell, an' yuh got no reason tuh trust me exceptin' that I tell yuh I'mon the level. I know what I'm sayin' will sound crazy loco an' yuh won'tpay no attention tuh it, but I'm wantin' tuh take you intuh Red Oak an'see yuh outen this Hell Basin. They's folks there that'd make yuh righttuh home. You c'd teach school if yuh wanted tuh. Will you leave rightnow?"

  "Of course not!" retorted Penny.

  Yuma nodded slowly. "That's what I figgered. I'll be there, though, ifever yuh need me."

  Penny could never know how Yuma had steeled himself to make theextravagant suggestion. The cowboy knew there wasn't a one-in-a-thousandchance that Penny would agree, and when he saw the scornful look, he hadno more to say, no argument to put forth. He had made his request and ithad been turned down. His simple and straightforward way of thinkinghadn't grasped the thing in the same way that Penny did. He knew thegirl was in a dangerous place and wanted to take her from it, make hersafe. She refused to go. That was all there was to it.

  The door closed, and Penny was about to voice her indignation, butGimlet spoke first.

  The old man said, more soberly than he'd spoken before, "Miss Penny, yuhshould o' gone."

  "Why, the nerve of that crazy cowboy! I don't even know his name. He'sbeen here only a short time; he's fought twice with Uncle Bryant, andtold me what he thought of the only man in the world I ever cared for,my uncle. And now he expects me to leave home and go off to Red Oakteaching school! Leave here tonight! With him! It's the most ridiculousoutlandish nonsense I--"

  Penny stopped for breath.

  Gimlet said again, "Yuh should o' gone."

  "I should, huh!" retorted Penny. "I'd have to be gagged and hog-tied togo with that crazy wrangler, and even then I'd fight every inch of theway." She turned abruptly and pushed through the door into the livingquarters of the house.

  Gimlet blinked when the door slammed, almost in his face. He fingeredhis mustache reflectively and _h'mmm'd_ through his knobby nose. "Gaggedan' hawg-tied, eh," he muttered. "Keeee-ripes, but mebbe that's a goodidee." He hurried across the kitchen in a busybody sort of stride andfollowed Yuma into the darkness.

  Penny hoped to get upstairs and to her bedroom without having to talkany further. Her mental state was in the lowest depth of despondencyshe'd ever known. It seemed that the more she learned the more futile itbecame to look ahead to happiness in Bryant's Basin. Her nerves feltdrawn to a tension that threatened to snap them like catgut drawn tootightly on a violin. It seemed as if nothing that could happen now madea great deal of difference. She turned a corner of the hall and stopped.At the foot of the stairs stood Vince Cavendish.

  At the sight of his cousin, Vince's shoulders seemed to droop, and hiseyes assumed a woebegone expression that was something new. He advancedto the girl and said, "God knows what's goin' tuh happen to us, Cousin."

  Penny had never heard Vince speak in that sort of tone. She looked athim suspiciously, wondering what was behind the beaten manner that waslike a plea for sympathy. She moved her hand behind her as Vince soughtto take it in his own.

  "What's the matter with you?" she demanded. "You act like a sick calf."

  "Double-crossed," Vince said hollowly. "Double-crossed by Uncle Bryant.He's sold the lot of us out."

  Penny recalled some of the things Gimlet had told her. "How?" she asked.

  "I already signed," said Vince. "The men 're upstairs now, gettin' Jeb'sname on the paper, an' they'll get yours when they come down."

  "My name to what paper?"

  "One that Bryant had drawed up," went on Vince in a melancholy voice."We gotta sign away any claim we might have on the ranch as his heirs.He wants tuh leave it all tuh someone else."

  "Who?"

  Vince shook his head. "Dunno."

  "Why didn't Uncle Bryant tell us to sign the agreement, or whatever itis?"

  "Left it tuh some o' the men tuh handle. He's gone in tuh Red Oak withMort. Reckon they're waitin' there fer the boys tuh git the paper signedan' bring it tuh them there."

  "I'll not sign a thing until I talk to him," said Penny flatly, "and inthe meantime, I'm going to bed."

  Vince shook his head slowly. "Yuh can't."

  "Who's going to stop me?"

  "Sawtell an' Lombard an' Lonergan will be done with Jeb in a fewminutes. They'll see that you sign somehow."

  Penny turned to go upstairs, but Sawtell's stocky figure appeared at thetop of the flight. His voice was soft and smooth to match the blandexpression of his wide face.

  "Miss Cavendish," he said as he started down the stairs, "I'm gladyou're back. We've something to talk about."

  "You've nothing to talk about with me," the girl said to the descendingman. "Any business you have for Uncle Bryant can wait until he gets backhere."

  Sawtell smiled. "I guess you don't understand. He won't be back hereuntil we take some documents to him with your name and the names of yourcousins signed to them." He halted at the bottom of the flight, and tooka folded paper, covered with close writing, from his pocket. "Shall wego into the other room?" he said.

  "You can do what you want, I'm going to bed," retorted the girl,starting once more.

  Sawtell gripped her arm.

  "Let go of me!"

  "I don't want to use any harsh methods, Miss Cavendish," Sawtell saidwith his smile gone, and an impatient edge to his voice. "But I promiseyou, you're going to sign the agreement so we can start for town as soonas possible."

  Penny jerked her arm free. She felt panicky, helpless, but dared notshow it. Her gun was still on the belt about her waist, but thecartridges it had held were somewhere in the brush on Thunder Mountain.She was determined to get to her room, bar the door, and stay thereuntil her uncle came home. No matter what Bryant did, she knew that hewould let nothing serious happen to her. It was incredible that he'dleft instructions, such as Vince had told her about, with men likeSawtell and Lombard. She wondered about Lombard and Lonergan. Gimlet hadsaid they were here in the house. Upstairs? It was quite possible.

  The girl looked toward the front door, then at Sawtell.

  "There's no use putting us all to a lot of extra trouble," Sawtell toldher. "You'll only make it harder for yourself."

  "He's right," put in Vince, in a resigned voice. "They ain't no useputtin' off the signin' o' that paper. Might as well do it an' git itdone with."

  Penny's jaw was firm. "I won't do anything until I talk to UncleBryant."

  Sawtell nodded slowly. "All right then, we'll have to bring Jeb downhere." He called curt orders up the stairs, and in a moment Jeb,struggling between Lonergan and Lombard, was practically carried downthe stairs. His eyes were wide and staring, and his lean face white withterror.

  "Do what they want," he cried to the girl. "No matter what it is, yousign it like what I done. If yuh don't they'll brand me with a poker."

  "Take him to the fireplace," ordered Sawtell, "put some ropes aroundhim, then come back for Vince. This girl will do what Bryant says, orshe'll see slow murder, with a lot of pain."

  "No, no," cried Vince, "not me!"

  As if by magic a gun appeared in Sawtell's hand.

  "_You_," he said, "as well as Jeb."

  Penny watched the wide-eyed Jeb and the cringing, wincing Vince beingdragged, howling, to the fireplace, where Lombard and Lonergan tossedropes about them. The two were jerked off their feet and stretched onthe floor, and more ropes looped about their ankles made them helpless.Sawtell, gun still in hand, watched the procedure, unmoved andexpressionless. Lonergan's black eyes reflecte
d the leaping flames whenhe faced Sawtell. His black mustache, so carefully brushed and tapered,seemed to twitch with his eagerness to make the next move.

  Sawtell nodded, and the former gambler grabbed the poker in lean fingersand shoved it deep among the red-hot coals. Stark terror from theirsouls showed in the eyes of the captured men. Vince drooledsupplications for mercy, begging Penny to sign Bryant's agreement andsave him from the torture of the heated iron. Jeb wailed conglomeratequotations, misquoted, from the Scriptures.

  Sawtell approached Penelope. "You have a few minutes to think it over,"he said, "while the iron gets red-hot. Have you ever heard a man screamwith the pain of being branded"--he paused, lowered his voice, and added"--in the eyes?"