CHAPTER FIVE
It was almost noon when Katherine saw two horsemen coming along the roadthat led from Hot Springs, and her fears returned. But as the ridersapproached more closely, a look of almost incredulous relief showed onher pale face. Hastening from the cave, she stood on the slope of thecanyon, holding out her arms.
"Limber! Limber!" she called, half-laughing, half-sobbing.
The men jerked their ponies suddenly, stared up and exchanged a fewhasty words, then sprang from their saddles and hurried toward her.
"What is the matter, Mrs. Glendon?" Limber was the first to reach her,and his face was almost as white as hers, as she swayed slightly. Heroutstretched hands were caught in his firm grasp and the touch steadiedher. She tried to smile into his eyes.
"I'm all right now," she said, making a brave effort to control herfaltering voice, "but, you see, the Indians passed here this morning.Donnie and I hid in the cave. I thought they were coming back when I sawyou."
"Whar's Glendon?" demanded Limber sharply, his eyes narrowing as hespoke.
"At Jackson Flats with Juan. They will be home tonight."
"He had no business leavin' you alone;" the cowboy's voice was angry."He knowed the Indians was restless. I warned him last week when I seenhim down in town, and he promised me he wouldn't take no chances withyou and Donnie."
"Doctor King told us this morning, but we did not think there was anyimmediate danger, Limber," she said. The man understood the gentlereproof.
"I didn't mean to knock Glendon, but it was takin' a heap of chances,jest the same, and Glen hadn't orter done it when he knowed Geronimo hadjumped the Reservation an' your ranch right on the old Indian trail toMexico."
He turned to Powell who had been observing the woman.
"This is Doctor Powell, Mrs. Glendon. We rid across from the Diamond Hto see Doctor King. He ain't home today, though."
Powell clasped the extended hand and felt the quivering nerves, butbefore he could speak, Donnie appeared at the entrance of the cave, hisdarkly-circled eyes telling the hours of fear.
"Hello, Donnie!" called Limber cheerfully, placing a calloused handgently on the lad's shoulder. "You fooled ol' Geronimo that time, allright. We've got the laugh on him, haven't we?"
A faint smiled rewarded the cowboy, whose glance now rested on thelittle pile of cartridges and the pistol. Limber said nothing, butstooped for the gun and ammunition, then he saw the two cartridges lyingapart from the others. The muscles of his jaws twitched. As he picked upthe last two, he hesitated and looked closely at the ground. His eyestravelled toward the rear of the cave then past the brushy entrance.Katherine and Powell were making their way down the side of the canyonand Donnie's hand was held by the doctor. Limber followed them, liftedthe child to Peanut's back, and with a nod at Powell, mounted the otherpony and rode slowly toward the ranch house, while the doctor andKatherine talking earnestly together, took a shorter cut.
They found the kitchen of the ranch in chaos. It had been rifled of allprovisions, but owing to the haste of Geronimo nothing but blankets andsome Navajo rugs had been taken from the rest of the house. Limber,hearing the milk cow bawling at the corral, left Powell, Donnie andKatherine in the house taking inventory while he announced his intentionof milking the cow.
When the cowboy opened the corral gate, Beauty, the cow, rushed into thecorral and sniffed the ground suspiciously. She caught the scent offresh blood and lifted her head, her eyes rolling wildly as she bellowedrapidly and shrilly, sucking her breath audibly between her cries, liketerrible sobs.
"You may be only a cow, but you know enough to have it hurt you jestlike humans," said Limber pityingly, as he offered feed which sherefused to touch. Gently he stroked her heaving sides, and she paused inher cries, looking at him with eager, appealing eyes. Then, as thoughunderstanding he could not help her, she resumed her shrill grief.
Limber tied her to the fence, milked her and carried the bucket to thekitchen. He put it on the table, glanced at the empty wood-box and leftthe room. In a few minutes the sound of splitting wood mingled withDonnie's chatter and Powell's occasional remarks to Limber. From thekitchen they heard the cheerful clatter of pans and the hum of anegg-beater.
The little dining-room into which Powell was summoned half an hourlater, showed no traces of the hurried visit of the Apaches. The tablewas spread with fresh linen and decorated with a bowl of wild flowers.Despite the raid on her larder, Katherine had managed to provide aluncheon to tempt even a jaded palate.
"You must have Aladdin's lamp hidden somewhere," Powell remarkedadmiringly as he took the place opposite Limber.
Katherine glanced up smiling, as she served a dainty omelette.
"Nothing so magical as that," she said. "The truth is that the Indiansoverlooked the springhouse where we keep surplus stores. Limber helpedmore than Aladdin, for he milked the cow, found a few eggs and choppedthe wood. With that much accomplished, any woman could manage a meal."
"We must agree to disagree," dissented Powell, but the conventionalcompliment was sincere. He was filled with admiration for the woman, whowithin twenty-four hours had gone through such experiences, yet retainedher poise. "I wish some of my hysterical women patients could meet you,Mrs. Glendon."
Her surprise was not assumed. "Don't give me credit that I do notdeserve," she answered simply. "When circumstances conspire against one,there is no time to plan or think. You just do things instinctively.Then, too, women living on ranches learn to adapt themselves to manythings that would seem hardships to other women. Beside, you and Limberreached me just as I was beginning to quake. So I don't feel entitled toany praise."
"I am thankful that we happened to come when you needed us most," thedoctor responded heartily. "We wanted to see Doctor King; but, findinghim away from the ranch, Limber suggested that we ride down here andpossibly find out when he might return."
"Leon's baby was sick," she explained, and Limber nodded. "He'll be backin a couple of days, he said."
"I want to find out whether the doctor will consider a proposition ofmine regarding building a sanitarium at the Springs," Powell went on."Mr. Traynor said King had such an idea, himself, and needed apartner-physician. That was how Limber and I came this way today."
"You know our Arizona custom--our homes are the homes of our friends.You are royally welcome to the best we have until Doctor King returns."
The two men exchanged sudden glances, and Limber hastened to say, "I'vegot to get to Willcox this evening, for the boys are on the road with ashipment of stock. But, Doctor Powell could wait here till King getsback. I was thinkin' I had better ride down to Leon's and head King backthis way. Then he and Doctor Powell could talk together, whilst I kingo to Willcox by the San Pedro road instead of comin' back here."
"Don't change any plans on my account," the woman said quickly, sensingtheir thoughts. "My husband and Juan will be home tonight, so there isno occasion for anxiety."
"We'll wait till they come," Powell's voice was decided. "After theyreach here, Limber and I can follow Doctor King. We have a new moontonight and Limber says the trail is plain." Then Powell changed theconversation by asking Donnie if he spoke Spanish, and the child noddedassent.
"Marmee and I talk with Juan in Spanish all the time."
The doctor continued, "I used to live in South America, so I learned itdown there. It varies a bit, but I have been able to understand and makemyself understood, so far."
Luncheon over, the doctor went on the porch with mother and child, andLimber sauntered back to the stables to water their ponies. He washolding the halter-ropes of the animals while they stood by thewater-trough, when he saw Glendon and Juan riding down the trail back ofthe house.
"Hello, Limber!" called Glendon as he swung from his saddle.
Limber regarded him with angry eyes. "Well, Glen, you sure kept yourword to me in fine shape," he said in open disgust.
The other man shrugged his shoulders. "There's no danger. I can't sitaround the place all the time ho
lding a gun because some fool rumour isstarted about the Indians."
He was unfastening the double cinches of his saddle, but the leatherstraps fell from his fingers when Limber said slowly and meaningly; "No.Thar ain't no danger now! The whole bunch headed by ol' Geronimo passedhere today. That's all!"
Glendon's face paled; "Katherine--"
Limber relented. "Mrs. Glendon seen 'em in time to get away, or else theApaches would of got her and Donnie. She hid in a cave, and when wefound her thar was two cartridges put one side. You know what thatmeans. 'Tain't a pleasant thing for any woman to be alone and get to apoint where she has to save two cartridges. No man has any right to asther to take such chances--and if he is skunk enough to expect it, heain't wuth doin' it for."
"How did you happen to find her?" asked Glendon, fingering the hangingstrap of the cinch, and avoiding the other man's eyes.
"I come over with Doctor Powell. He's a friend of Mr. Traynor's and beenat the Diamond H over a month. We come to see Doc King and rid down hereto trail him up. He wasn't at the Springs. That's how we found Mrs.Glendon, and it made me hot all the way through."
"Oh, she's able to take care of herself. I guess there wasn't so muchdanger. Katherine always exaggerates things. She's too melodramatic. I'mused to her ways, you aren't."
Limber's eyes flashed and he grasped Glendon's arm roughly, compellingthe man to face him.
"Look here, Glen! I've stood by you when every other decent man hasthrowed you down for a yellow cur. I done it because I thought mebbethar was a white streak in you that didn't show on top, but the bunchyou're getting mixed with ain't goin' to do you no good, and you've gotto pull up mighty quick. Best thing you kin do, and what you'd oughterdone without any one telling you, is quit this country. If you ain't manenough to do it for your own sake, do it for their'n;" Limber's headjerked toward the house.
"You've been a true friend, Limber, or else I wouldn't let you talk tome that way. I can't leave here now, but I will pull out as soon as Ican arrange it. I give you my word of honour."
Limber gripped the outstretched hand, "I'm durned glad you told me," hesaid earnestly. "I'll do anything I know how for you and Mrs. Glendonany time you call on me."
Juan approached and removed the bridle from Glendon's pony, replacing ahalter on it he was turning away, when Limber spoke, "Thar's fresh liontracks leadin' to that cave whar Mrs. Glendon and Donnie hid thismornin'. I didn't tell 'em, but they'd better keep away from the cave._Lucky the lion wasn't thar._ You lay for it, Juan."
"Si, Senor," the Mexican's promise was emphatic, and Glendon, too,declared he would "run the brute down."
"I've been having a lot of bad luck lately," Glendon said as he andLimber walked to the house. "This rough range is hard to work and cattleso wild you can't round 'em up without running all the fat off theirbones. By the time they are driven thirty-five miles to Willcox, nobutcher wants 'em. The longer I stay here the worse off I will be. I'vewritten the old man and asked him to give me a chance somewhere else. Hemay not answer my letter, but it won't be any worse than now, if hedoesn't. I didn't have enough money when I started to pay expenses."
They reached the house where Glendon welcomed Doctor Powell effusively.Something of the charm that had attracted friends in other days, stillwas apparent when Glendon was not drinking. Powell's keen eyes observedthe handsome face marred by lines of weakness and self-indulgence.
"Glad to meet you," Glendon's voice sounded sincere and he graspedDoctor Powell's hand warmly. "We don't have very many visitors aroundhere, but from what Limber tells me, it's been a regular reception dayat the ranch. I wouldn't have gone away from the house if I had thoughtthere was any real danger."
Powell, remembering that Limber had warned Glendon previously about theIndians, and that Mrs. Glendon had spoken of Doctor King's warning them,knew Glendon was lying, and Powell hated a liar. Glendon's eyes shiftedunder the steady gaze of the doctor, and he hastened to say, "I don'tsuppose Katherine offered you a drink. Lucky I don't keep it in thecloset or Geronimo would have it by this time."
He started to get the liquor, but Powell prevented it by rising from hischair and holding out his hand to Mrs. Glendon.
"Now that you are not alone, I think Limber and I had better be on ourway, trailing Doctor King. I am anxious to meet him as soon aspossible."
Katherine and Donnie bade him farewell. Glendon kept talking volubly."I'm glad we know the Apaches have passed here. No danger when you havea line on their whereabouts, but when you don't know, they always bobup. They hike for the Mexican border when the soldiers make it too hotfor 'em in Arizona." Limber now led the ponies to the gate, and Glendonheld out his hand to Powell, saying, "Glad to have met you, Doctor, andlet me know if there is anyway in which I can show my appreciation forwhat you have done for Mrs. Glendon and Donnie."
Katherine smiled her gratitude, then Powell and Limber rode down thetrail to the San Pedro River, followed by the eyes of husband and wifewho stood on the porch of the Circle Cross ranch.
As the turn of the trail back of the stables hid the riders from view,Glendon said to his wife, "I wonder what they want to see King about.Looks urgent, chasing him that way."
"Doctor Powell said that he and Doctor King might form a partnership tobuild a Sanitarium at the Springs. You know that has been Doctor King'sdream for many years; but he never has found any one who could qualifyas physician and also have sufficient capital. I hope they may carry outthe plan. It is such a splendid idea!"
"Oh, you do, eh?" Glendon snarled the words as he scowled at his wife."Well, you may be interested in knowing that I'm figuring on getting theSprings myself. I've written father about the place. The only hitchwould be that it is on unsurveyed ground, and no one can get a titleexcept Squatter's Rights."
"But Doctor King won't sell to any one except a physician who will livethere with him and establish a Sanitarium," Katherine asserted. "I'veheard him say that so many times. He also told me that Mr. Traynor hadmade a good offer for the place, but it was refused for those reasons.Maybe Mr. Traynor wrote Doctor Powell about it. You see, Doctor Powellcould qualify as a physician, and if he has not the money to finance thebuildings, Mr. Traynor could supply that, or interest other capital."
Glendon did not answer, but sat on the lower step of the porch, staringmoodily down the canyon trail toward San Pedro. His wife, learning fromJuan that they had not eaten the lunch in their saddle bags, busiedherself preparing an early dinner, for the hands of the clock announcedfour. She arranged the table then came to the front door and spokequietly. Glendon did not hear her.
She moved to his side and touched him lightly on the shoulder, saying,"Dinner is ready, Jim. Juan said you had not eaten lunch."
He leaped violently to his feet uttering an oath and glaring at her.
"What are you doing? Spying on me?" he demanded furiously, and brushedpast her, knocking against her shoulder as she stood in the doorway.
Her face paled. She made no answer, but turned to the dining-room whereJuan was at the table. Glendon fortified his ragged nerves with agenerous drink of whiskey and slumped into his chair, only to grumble ateverything before him and finally push away his untasted food. Then herose so suddenly that his chair fell backward with a crash. He started,glanced at the chair, gave it a kick and with another oath, flunghimself from the house. Through the window Katherine saw him again mounthis pony.
She sat with trembling lips, tears slowly forcing themselves from thedrooping eyelids and wetting her white cheeks. Juan's face was filledwith pity, but he knew he could do nothing--say nothing, and he rosesoftly and slipped away that she might be alone with her misery.Donnie's hand touched her cheek, and she opened her eyes and smiled athim, thankful that the child was safe. Nothing else mattered, after all.So while she removed and washed the dishes, she talked cheerfully toDonnie.
Back in the front room again, the boy moved to and fro, and at lastturned his anxious face to his mother.
"I can't find my book, Marmee. Do you
think the Indians took it?"
"Why, no, dear," she replied, looking at the table. She had noticed thebook where Donnie had left it. It had been there when she called Glendonfrom the porch for dinner. No one had passed through the room since thenbut Glendon.
Carefully she and Donnie searched the room, but no trace of the bookcould be found. She stood staring down the front walk to the gate,unwilling to acknowledge her suspicions against the father of her child.Then on the walk she saw something that caused her to hurry out.
The wind carried a torn page to her feet. She stooped and picked up thefluttering, tell-tale bit of paper, and as she held it in her tremblinghand, the words caught her eyes, "and he shall be a better man than hisfather." On the upper part of the page rode Sir Galahad.
"Donnie, dear," she called and the boy came quickly to her side. "Comeand help me look out here for the book. Maybe we can find it in thebushes, somewhere. See, here is a page, and the rest of it must be closeby."
They found it torn, soiled, the covers broken and cracked, and thechild's sobs came unchecked as his mother's arms went about him; theache in her heart was too great for tears.
"Donnie, we can mend it so it will be almost as good as ever," shecheered him, and the child's sobs were choked though the quiet tearsrolled down his cheeks, as he went back to the house with his mother,the mutilated book held in his little hands.
The Long Dim Trail Page 5
