"Who said she could?" demanded Jim, with a fine scorn and much relieved to find the Boss so unappreciative. Eden might not be lost to them after all. Strict justice made him add: "But she"s a wise one. Spotted them blamed meddlin" hoss thieves right from the word go. Yep. That"s a fac"."
"What "blamed meddlin" hoss thieves," Jim? You are on intimate terms with so many gentlemen of that stripe,-at least your language so leads us to presume,-that I can"t keep up with the procession."
"At the bridge yistidy. I told you "bout it. Saw "em first at the Bon Amy-but they must a trailed me to the stockyards. She spotted "em right away. She"s a cute "n. Made me shet my mouth when I was a blabbin" too much, jest before the fun began. Oh, she"s a cute "n!"
"Who were they, Jim?"
"One of "em, I"m a thinkin", was Jake Sanderson, a red-headed devil who came up here from h.e.l.l, I reckon, or Wyoming, one of the two. n.o.body knows his biz. But he"ll look like a stepped-on potato bug "gainst I git through with him. Didn"t git on to t" other feller. Will next time, you bet!"
"But what makes you think they are mixed up in this affair?"
"They had their eyes on me to see what I was a doin" in Velpen. And I was a doin" things, too."
Langford gave a long, low whistle of comprehension. That would explain the unexpected waiving of examination. Jesse Black knew the steer had been recovered and saw the futility of fighting against his being bound over.
"Now, ain"t she a hummer?" insisted Jim, admiringly, but added slightingly, "Homely, though, as all git-out. Mouse-hair. Plumb homely."
"On the contrary, I think she is plumb pretty," retorted Langford, a laugh in his blue eyes. Jim fairly gasped with chagrin.
Unconcerned, grinning, Black slouched to the door and out. Once straighten out that lazy-looking body and you would have a big man in Jesse Black. Yes, a big one and a quick one, too, maybe. The crowd made way for him unconsciously. No one jostled him. He was a marked man from that day. His lawyer, Small, leaned back in his chair, radiating waves of self-satisfaction as though he had but just gained a disputed point.
It was a manner he affected when not on the floor in a frenzy of words and muscular action.
Jim Munson contrived to pa.s.s close by Jake Sanderson.
"So you followed me to find out about Mag, did you? Heap o" good it did you! We knew you knew," he bragged, insultingly.
The man"s face went white with wrath.
"d.a.m.n you!" he cried. His hand dropped to his belt.
The two glared at each other like fighting c.o.c.ks. Men crowded around, suddenly aware that a quarrel was on.
"The Three Bars"s a gittin" busy!" jeered Jim.
"Come, Jim, I want you." It was Gordon"s quiet voice. He laid a restraining hand on Munson"s over-zealous arm.
"d.i.c.k Gordon, this ain"t your put-in," snarled Sanderson. "Git out the way!" He shoved him roughly aside. "Now, snappin" turtle," to Jim, "the Three Bars"d better git busy!"
A feint at a blow, a clever little twist of the feet, and Munson sprawled on the floor, men pressing back to give him the full force of the fall. They believed in fair play. But Jim, uncowed, was up with the nimbleness of a monkey.
"Hit away!" he cried, tauntingly. "I know "nough to swear out a warrant "gainst you! "T won"t be so lonesome for Jesse now breakin" stones over to Sioux Falls."
"Jim!" It was Gordon"s quiet, authoritative voice once more. "I told you I wanted you." He threw his arm over the belligerent"s shoulder.
"Comin", d.i.c.k. I didn"t mean to blab so much," Jim answered, contritely.
They moved away. Sanderson followed them up.
"d.i.c.k Gordon," he said with cool deliberateness, "you"re too d.a.m.ned anxious to stick your nose into other people"s affairs. Learn your lesson, will you? My favorite stunt is to teach meddlers how to mind their own business,-this way."
It was not a fair blow. Gordon doubled up with the force of the punch in his stomach. In a moment all was confusion. Men drew their pistols. It looked as if there was to be a free-for-all fight.
Langford sprang to his friend"s aid, using his fists with plentiful freedom in his haste to get to him.
"Never mind me," whispered Gordon. He was leaning heavily on Jim"s shoulder. His face was pale, but he smiled rea.s.suringly. There was something very sweet about his mouth when he smiled. "Never mind me," he repeated. "Get the girls out of this-quick, Paul."
Mary and Louise had sought refuge behind the big table.
"Quick, the back door!" cried Langford, leading the way; and as the three pa.s.sed out, he closed the door behind them, saying, "You are all right now. Run to the hotel. I must see how d.i.c.k is coming on."
"Do you think he is badly hurt?" asked Louise. "Can"t we help?"
"I think you had best get out of this as quickly as you can. I don"t believe he is knocked out, by any means, but I want to be on hand for any future events which may be called. Just fly now, both of you."
The unfair blow in the stomach had given the sympathy of most of the bystanders, for the time being at least, to Gordon. Men forgot, momentarily, their grudge against him. Understanding from the black looks that he was not in touch with the crowd, Sanderson laughed-a short snort of contempt-and slipped out of the door. Unable to resist the impulse, Jim bounded out after his enemy.
When Paul hastened around to the front of the building, the crowd was nearly all in the street. The tension was relaxed. A dazed expression prevailed-brought to life by the suddenness with which the affair had developed to such interesting proportions and the quickness with which it had flattened out to nothing. For Sanderson had disappeared, completely, mysteriously, and in all the level landscape, there was no trace of him nor sign.
"See a balloon, Jim?" asked Langford, slapping him on the shoulder with the glimmer of a smile. "Well, your red-headed friend won"t be down in a parachute-yet. Are you all right, d.i.c.k, old man?"
"Yes. Where are the girls?"
"They are all right. I took them through the back door and sent them to the hotel."
"You kin bet on the Boss every time when it comes to petticoats," said Jim, disconsolately.
"Why, Jim, what"s up?" asked Langford, in amused surprise.
But Jim only turned and walked away with his head in the air. The serpent was leering at him.
CHAPTER VIII
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY
"I too am going to Wind City," said a pleasant voice at her side. "You will let me help you with your things, will you not?"
The slender girl standing before the ticket window, stuffing change into her coin purse, turned quickly.
"Why, Mr. Gordon," she said, holding out a small hand with frank pleasure. "How very nice! Thank you, will you take my rain-coat? It has been such a bother. I would bring it right in the face of Uncle Hammond"s objections. He said it never rained out this way. But I surely have suffered a plenty for my waywardness. Don"t you think so?"
"It behooves a tenderfoot like you to sit and diligently learn of such experienced and toughened old-timers as we are, rather than flaunt your untried ideas in our faces," responded Gordon, with a smile that transformed the keen gray eyes of this man of much labor, much lofty ambition, and much sorrow, so that they seemed for the moment strangely young, laughing, untroubled; as clear of taint of evil knowledge as the source of a stream leaping joyously into the sunlight from some mountain solitude. It was a revelation to Louise.
"I will try to be a good and diligent seeker after knowledge of this strange land of yours," she answered, with a little laugh half of embarra.s.sment, half of enjoyment of this play of nonsense, and leading the way to her suit-case and Mary outside. "When I make mistakes, will you tell me about them? Down East, you know, our feet travel in the ancient, prescribed circles of our forefathers, and they are apt to go somewhat uncertainly if thrust into new paths."
And this laughing, clever girl had cried with homesickness! Well, no wonder. The worst of it was, she could never hope to be acclimated. She was not-their kind. Sooner or later she must go back to G.o.d"s country.