The Long Dim Trail

by Forrestine C. Hooker

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Unlike most ranches in Arizona, the Diamond H cultivated a number of itsfenced fields. Millet, sorghum and other cattle feed was stacked for useof the horses and the thoroughbred bulls during winter, thus insuringfirst-class condition of this particular stock when the grass startedand they were turned out on the open range. This system of Traynor'savoided losing time that would be otherwise required to put his bulls ingood breeding condition each spring.

  During the plowing season, the blacksmith at the Diamond H suddenlydecided to leave for parts unknown, between sunset and sunrise. Thecowboys were all able to shoe their own ponies, but tires had to be set,tools sharpened, plowpoints kept in shape, pumping machinery neededconstant repairing, and a first-class blacksmith was a necessity on theDiamond H. Willcox could not fill the vacancy, and advertisements inTucson and even Los Angeles papers brought no response. Each of the menon the ranch had done the best he could to fill the void, but allacknowledged ruefully, "it's a durn sight different from jest shoein' apony."

  In this emergency Loco, the Mexican who had obtained work at the DiamondH after leaving Walton, announced that he had been a blacksmith inMexico.

  "Well, he can't do no worse than the rest of us," Bronco decided, butone day's trial proved Loco was first-class in that work, and so he wastransferred from range work to the blacksmith shop with increased payand additional respect.

  He was pounding a red-hot iron on the anvil one day, when Traynorsauntering to the entrance of the shop, stood watching him.

  "How soon will you be ready to start, Loco?" he asked.

  "In a few minutes I will finish, Senor."

  "What is it?" Traynor asked idly.

  Without looking up the Mexican replied; "It is a branding iron, Senor."

  He skillfully bent the end of the iron, thrust it into a tub of waterfor a couple of seconds, then withdrew and examined it critically, afterwhich he heated it again. It was a peculiarly shaped iron, and Traynordropped on a box and looked with interest, as Loco pressed it on aboard, leaving a mark covering a space four inches each way.

  O--O X X

  "That's an odd brand," said Traynor, picking up the burnt board andscrutinizing it, while the Mexican regarded him closely.

  "It is my horse brand," explained Loco. "Apache is leg weary and I amgoing to turn him on the range a while. I bought another horse."

  "There are plenty good horses in the herd without using your pony,Loco."

  The Mexican shook his head; "Many thanks, Senor, but I can do betterwork with my own horse."

  "Well suit yourself;" Traynor agreed carelessly. "I want you to go withme this morning to Mud Springs, so I can show you where I want the ditchdug and the mill put up."

  Loco was studying the iron with the smile of an artisan who recognizes asatisfactory piece of work. "I will get the horses, Senor;" he said, andturned to the stable carrying the branding iron in his hand.

  If Apache, Loco's pony, was leg-weary, it was not very evident as itpranced and danced along the road beside gay little Chinati, whose swiftmovements had earned his name, "Blackbird." Mud Springs lay twelve milesaway from the Diamond H, in the Galiuros toward Hot Springs. The trailthrough Mud Springs was not often used, as the Box Springs trail, a fewmiles further north, was more direct and also much easier. It was awild, desolate place and the spring in a narrow, rocky canyon, so cattlepreferred the valley during the grass season. This spring was of greatvalue to the Diamond H and PL ranges, however, giving cattle access tofeed in the mountains that otherwise would be too far from water.Traynor, having learned wisdom from the drouth, had decided to build ahuge reservoir at the mouth of this canyon for the storage of water thatwould otherwise be wasted by spreading.

  He explained the details carefully to Loco, pointing out where the ditchwas to be dug to conduct the water to the reservoir site.

  "I want the wind-mill put up beside the reservoir, like the one at thehouse. I'll get the boys at work next week; but you can go on with themill work before then. I am going over to Hot Springs for a few days."

  "How long did you live in Mexico, Senor?" asked Loco.

  "I have never been there," answered Traynor, wondering at the question.

  "Only Americanos who have lived in Mexico speak as you do," persistedLoco.

  "I learned Spanish at college," replied Traynor. "By Jove! What a shot!It's too far for a pistol!"

  He was gazing up at a magnificent blacktail deer which stood like astatue on a ledge six hundred feet above them. Its head was thrown back,nostrils dilated, the slender legs were tense and ready for flight as itsniffed the wind. Then with a snort, it whirled and vanished.

  Traynor had been so absorbed in admiration of the buck that he hadmomentarily forgotten Loco's presence. The Mexican, fifteen feet in therear of Traynor had untied the riata which hung on his saddle and coiledit cautiously, watching the other man sharply. With a swift movement heflung the rope about Traynor's body, pinioning his arms firmly. Chinati,feeling the jerk on his bridle, leaped forward and Traynor fell helplessto the ground.

  The sun was setting when Traynor again became conscious of hissurroundings and saw Loco standing over him.

  "What happened, Loco?" he asked stupidly. "Was I thrown?"

  Loco made no reply, and as Traynor still dazed from a deep gash on hishead, tried to rise, he realized that he was securely bound, hand andfoot. The loss of blood made him faint and sick, and his brain seemedincapable of lucid ideas. He had struck his head on a sharp rock infalling from his horse.

  For a while he lay with closed eyes, then he looked up and saw Loco ashort distance away, gathering pieces of dead wood, which he heapedsystematically into a pile. Traynor recalled the Mexican's peculiar waysand wondered if the man had suddenly become insane. He knew that if suchwere the case, the best plan would be to avoid irritating him.

  Traynor turned his head. The hope that Chinati had gotten away and mightgive the alarm by returning to the ranch riderless died, when he saw hisown pony standing quietly beside Loco's. Then he noticed his pistolglistening a few feet from him, and wondered if he could worm his way toit without attracting Loco's attention. Keeping close watch upon theMexican, Traynor slowly writhed toward the firearm until he was within afoot of it. By half turning he believed he could grasp the pistol as hishands were tied in front of him. Loco lit the fire, and with a fiendishgrin untied the branding iron from his saddle and laid it on the flame.

  A thrill of sickening fear shot through Traynor as he strained at therope binding him. One more effort and he would be able to touch thepistol. The Mexican calmly arranged the wood which had fallen, thenwalked over to Traynor, who closed his eyes, hoping to throw the man offhis guard; but Loco, with a malicious leer, picked up the pistol andseated himself on the ground beside his captive.

  "I saw you, Senor;" he chuckled.

  "What are you going to do, Loco?" asked Traynor, trying to appearunconcerned. He now understood that he was at the mercy of a maniac, andthought what a fool he had been to forget the many irrational actions ofthe man, whose name, Loco, should have been warning enough in itself.The loco weed of Arizona and Mexico effects the brains of horses,causing even the most reliable and well-broken animal to develop suddenfits of viciousness. Loco's moodiness, his outbursts of anger, hadfastened the nickname on him while he worked for Walton.

  Loco rolled a cigarette, which he lighted deliberately.

  "So! You have not been in Mexico, Senor?" he drawled sarcastically.

  "Never! I have no object in lying typo about it;" said Traynorearnestly. "Why should I deny it?"

  "Oh, no, Senor! You never knew Ramoncita?"

  "I never heard of her." Then catching sight of a small crucifix thathung against Loco's breast where the blue flannel shirt fell apart,Traynor looked the man steadily in the eyes, and said slowly, "Hold thatcrucifix before me, Loco, and I will swear that. I am telling you thetruth."

  The man wavered a second, then laughed cunningly, "A crucifix meansno
thing to a Gringo, and fear makes liars of all men."

  "Let me go, and I will give you money to make life easy for you, Loco.You can go back to Mexico to your friends and be happy."

  The words roused the man to frenzy. He leaped to his feet, murder andinsanity stamped on his distorted features.

  "Go back to Mexico, you Gringo dog? Do you know when I will go backthere? When I have killed you, as I swore. You stole her from me. Yourode away laughing, and that night she killed herself!" He jerked thecrucifix from his breast, and shook it in front of Traynor's face. "Youwould swear it? On this--? You did not know that I took this Cross fromher dead heart! And I swore on it as I knelt beside her coffin, that Iwould leave my country, my friends, and never rest or return until I hadfound you, who had made her an outcast. Every one turned from her whileshe was alive, and when she killed herself, the Church turned from her,and she was buried in unconsecrated ground just outside the Churchfence. The Padre said that the Saints and the Holy Angels turn awaybecause she took her own life."

  His voice rose more shrilly, "You did not think I could find you, butWalton knew you. He saw you with her in Mexico while I was away. Waltonknew you, you Gringo dog! You killed her body! You killed her soul! Youthought you were safe, but Walton knew you!"

  "Walton lied to you," Traynor answered furiously, recalling rumours ofWalton's threats of retaliation on the Diamond H owner and cowboys. TheMexican, Loco, had been Walton's catspaw. Traynor subsided, groping forsome plan to influence the Mexican.

  "You cannot escape this time!" gloated Loco, circling about Traynor asbuzzards circle about their prey. "I swore you should pay."

  He went to the fire and tested his iron. Then, seeing it was not yet hotenough, he came back and leaned over the prostrate man.

  "They are waiting patiently, Senor! As patiently as I have waited sevenlong years."

  A number of crows rose from the bushes with discordant caws as he wavedhis arms wildly in the air and cried, "Look!" They soon settled downagain, to watch the two men. Higher in the air circled a couple ofbuzzards, and the faint, quivering yelp of a coyote disturbed thesilence.

  "I shall not kill you, for I want you to live long enough to suffer. Iwill leave my brand on your face and shall cut your ears as they do thecalves. Then I will go back to Mexico to my amigos and say, 'I have keptmy oath!' The buzzards and coyotes will keep you company after I havegone, Senor!"

  With a half-suppressed groan, Traynor thought of his wife. He had toldher he would remain a few days at Hot Springs, so there would be noalarm at his absence. Later, when they missed him, a few tattered shredsof clothing and fleshless, scattered bones would tell where the buzzardsand coyotes had feasted.

  Muttering, the Mexican brought the white hot iron from the embers andknelt by Traynor's side. He pulled the crucifix from his bosom, kissedit reverently and replaced it; then he made the sign of the Cross in theair above Traynor's face. His eyes gleamed exultingly as he clutchedTraynor's hair and brought the hot iron closer and closer.

  Traynor could smell and feel the heat, and great beads of anguish brokeout as he made a last convulsive effort to free himself of his bonds. Itwas useless! His muscles relaxed, he closed his eyes, clenched his teethand waited.

  Loco was too intent upon his revenge to notice a cowboy racing towardthem down the side of the canyon, until a wild yell woke the echo of therocky walls. The Mexican looked up and recognized Limber. Fearful ofbeing thwarted in his revenge, Loco stooped quickly over Traynor andlowered the iron deliberately while a fiendish smile distorted his face,and a sibilant hiss, like a rattlesnake about to strike, sounded betweenthe gleaming teeth.

  Traynor, too, had heard the yell, but he had no hope that Limber wouldreach him in time. His eyes looked into Loco's. The iron almost touchedTraynor's flesh, the grip of the Mexican's hand that clutched hisvictim's hair, was so tense that Traynor could feel the quiveringnerves.

  A shot rang out. A look of surprise flashed over Loco's face, the ironslid from his hand, but Traynor jerked suddenly so that it fell againstthe ground, while Loco crumpled slowly across the body of the other man.Weak with reaction Traynor became unconscious once more, and when heopened his eyes, Limber had slipped his arms under Traynor's shouldersand held a flask to the white lips of the rancher.

  "Drink it," commanded the cowpuncher, who was now, trembling withnervousness. "That was a mighty close call. Did he hurt you any?"

  "I'll be all right in a few minutes," answered Traynor, as Limber cutthe rope and assisted him to his feet. The tight coils had made his bodynumb and the cut on his head was an ugly one. Traynor was no coward, buthe felt a spasm of nausea as he looked at the iron which was now turningfrom white heat to dull red.

  "Better let me fix that cut," suggested Limber.

  He helped Traynor to the spring, and washed the ugly wound as tenderlyas a woman, then he bound it with Traynor's white silk handkerchief ashe listened to the explanation of what happened.

  "It's a lucky thing for Walton he ain't in the Territory," said thecowboy tersely. "You can't blame the Greaser for believin' Walton'slies. He's been off his cabeza a long time and everybody knowed it; butLoco wouldn't of hurt nobody if Walton hadn't put him up to it. Wewondered why Walton was so all-fired rushed to catch that train, and hadfiggered out it was because Billy Saunders ordered him to quit thecountry. It's Walton oughter be layin' there instead of Loco."

  The two men moved to the side of the dead Mexican, and as they stoodlooking down at him, Traynor recalled Loco's words, "and she was buriedin unconsecrated ground, just outside the Church fence, and the Padresaid the Saints and Holy Angels turn away because she took her ownlife."

  The little crucifix dangling from the cord on Loco's neck had slippedfrom the half-open shirt. Traynor knelt down and placed it on the deadman's breast, then lifted the limp hands and laid them above thecrucifix. Limber took off his coat and covered the Mexican's face.

  "I'll send a wagon from the ranch," said Traynor. "It's a mighty luckything for me that you happened across here today. I was on my way to theSprings to see you about a letter I had from Doctor Powell."

  "I was workin' on the Divide, when I seen you and Loco comin' this way;but I was busy with some cattle and didn't pay much attention. When Igot through and rid up on the Divide I seen Loco with the two horses andyou layin' on the ground. I thought mebbe you'd been throwed till I gotnear enough to see what he was up to. I had to shoot him. Thar wasn'tnothin' else to do."

  Traynor laid his hand on the cowboy's shoulder, looking at himearnestly, "I owe you a debt that can never be paid, Limber."

  The cowboy flushed with embarrassment. "You ain't got no call to thankme, Mr. Traynor. Peanut done it, not me. He just busted hisself gettin'here in time. I never seen him run so fast. Looked like he knowed it wasup to him and he done it."

  "Peanut can't have all the credit," responded Traynor. Then he drew aletter from his pocket. "Doctor Powell has written me that he would liketo make you his partner in the P L ranch and cattle, provided it wouldnot interfere with my plans."

  Limber looked up in open surprise. "I ain't got enough to pay for 'em"he said. "I only saved up nine hundred dollars, all told."

  "Well, Powell says if you won't accept half interest, he will close outhis cattle entirely. The Sanitarium will take all his time andattention, and he wanted you to handle the stock for him. I wrote him Iwould be glad to see you two in partnership."

  The cowboy stared at the ground. "I don't say that I wouldn't be glad totake the chanct, because I've been savin' up hopin' some day I could buya bunch of stock; but I can't let him give it to me. I can't owe noman, Mr. Traynor."

  "Neither can I, Limber," was the quick retort. "The debt I owe you cannever be paid; but I can pay part of the interest due on it. Let me buythe half-interest for you from Powell."

  Limber shook his head slowly. "I don't want you to think I'm mulish, orthat I don't appreciate what you and Doctor Powell is offerin' me, but Ijust can't do it."

  "Then, let me
make it a straight business deal, as if we were allstrangers. Give me your note and pay when you feel able. Surely youcan't make any objection to that?"

  Limber took the proffered hand, "If you make the note out reg'lar, justas if it was some one else," he stipulated.

  Traynor smiled broadly, "All right, Limber. That's a go. I'll writePowell about it. Now, I'll hurry down to the ranch and send one of theboys with the wagon."

  Peanut looked up as Chinati galloped away with Traynor, but seeingLoco's horse, Apache, tethered to a bush, and that Limber was sittingquietly not far away, the gallant little pony fell contentedly tocropping the grass.

  Limber rose, loosened the cinch and removed the saddle and blanket fromPeanut's lathered back which he rubbed with a wisp of grass. He strokedthe pony's nose absently and looked with pity at the dead Mexican.

  "Dern that Walton! The cards was sure stacked against you, Loco. I'msorry I had to do it."