CHAPTER IX
TAKEN
"Lord Huntley then he did speak out-- O, fair mot fa' his body!-- 'I here will fight doublet alane Or ony thing ails Geordie!
"'Whom has he robbed? What has he stole? Or has he killed ony? Or what's the crime that he has done His foes they are so mony?'"
--_Old Ballad._
Hue and cry, hubbub and mystery, swept the Isle of Arcady that morning,but the most painstaking search and query proved fruitless. It developedbeyond doubt that the football man had not been seen since his one briefappearance on the ballroom floor. Search was transferred to themainland, where, as it neared noon, Lake's perseverance and thoroughnesswere rewarded. In Chihuahua suburb, beyond the north wall, Lake noted asweat-marked, red-roan horse in the yard of Rosalio Marquez, betterknown, by reason of his profession, as Monte.
Straightway the banker reported this possible clue to the sheriff and toBilly, who was as tireless and determined in the chase as Lake himself.The other masqueraders had mostly abandoned the chase. He found them onthe bridge of the La Luz sallyport.
"It may be worth looking into," Lake advised the sheriff. "Better sendsome one to reconnoiter--some one not known to be connected with youroffice. You go, Billy. If you find anything suspicious the sheriff can'phone to the hospital if he needs me. I'm going over to see how the oldwatchman is--ought to have gone before. If he gets well I must dosomething handsome for him."
Billy fell in with this request. He had a well-founded confidence inLake's luck and attached much more significance to the trifling matterof the red-roan horse than did the original discoverer--especially sincethe discoverer had bethought himself to go to the hospital on an errandof mercy. Billy now confidently expected early developments. And hepreferred personally to conduct the arrest, so that he might interfere,if necessary, to prevent any wasting of good cartridges. He did notexpect much trouble, however, providing the affair was conductedtactfully; reasoning that a dead game sport with a clean conscience anda light heart would not seriously object to a small arrest. Poor Billy'sown heart was none of the lightest as he went on this loyal service tohis presumably favored rival.
Bicycle-back, he accompanied the sheriff beyond the outworks to theMexican quarter. Near the place indicated by the banker Billy left hiswheel and strolled casually round the block. He saw the red-roan steedand noted the Double Rainbow branded on his thigh.
Monte was leaning in the adobe doorway, rolling a cigarette. Billy knewhim, in a business way.
"Hello, Monte! Good horse you've got there."
"Yais--tha's nice hor-rse," said Monte.
"Want to sell him?"
"Thees ees not my hor-rse," explained Monte. "He ees of a frien'."
"I like his looks," said Billy. "Is your friend here? Or, if he'sdowntown, what's his name? I'd like to buy that horse."
"He ees weetheen, but he ees not apparent. He ees_dormiendo_--ah--yais--esleepin'. He was las' night to the _bailemascarada_."
Billy nodded. "Yes; I was there myself." He decided to take a risk:assuming that his calculations were correct, _x_ must equal Bransford.So he said carelessly: "Let's see, Bransford went as a sailor, didn'the? _Un marinero?_"
"Oh, no; he was atir-re' lak one--_que cosa_?--what you call theestheeng?--_un balon para jugar con los pies_? Ah! si, si!--one feetball!Myself I come soon back. I have no beesness. The bes' people ees all forthe dance," said Monte, with hand turned up and shrugging shoulder."So, _media noche_--twelve of the clock, I am here back. I fin' here thehor-rse of my frien', and one _carta_--letter--that I am not to lock thedoor; _porque_ he may come to esleep. So I am mek to r-repose myself.Later I am ar-rouse when my frien' am to r-retir-re heemself. Ah, _quehombre_! I am yet to esmile to see heem in thees so r-redeeculous_vestidos_! He ees ver' gay. Ah! _que_ Jeff! Een all ways thees ees aman ver' _sufficiente_, cour-rageous, es-trong, formidabble! Yet he eeskeep the _disposicion_, the hear-rt, of a seemple leetle chil'--_unmuchacho_!"
"I'll come again," said Billy, and passed on. He had found out what hehad come for. The absence of concealment dispelled any lingering doubtof Jeff Buttinski. Yet he could establish no alibi by Monte.
Perhaps Billy White may require here a little explanation. All thingsconsidered, Billy thought Jeff would be better off in jail, with afriend in the opposite camp working for his interest, than gettinghimself foolishly killed by a hasty posse. If we are cynical, we may saythat, being young, Billy was not averse to the role of _deus exmachina_; perhaps a thought of friendly gratitude was not lacking. Then,too, adventure for adventure's sake is motive enough--in youth. Or, as afinal self-revelation, we may hint that if Jeff was a rival, so too wasLake--and one more eligible. Let us not be cynical, however, orcowardly. Let us say at once shamelessly what we very well know--thatyouth is the season for clean honor and high emprise; that boy's love isbest and truest of all; that poor, honest Billy, in his own dogged andfantastic way, but sought to give true service where he--loved. There,we have said it; and we are shamed. How old are you, sir? Forty? Fifty?Most actions are the result of mixed motives, you say? Well, that is anotable concession--at your age. Let it go at that. Billy, then, actedfrom mixed motives.
When Billy brought back his motives--and the sheriff--Monte still heldhis negligent attitude in the doorway. He waved a graceful salute.
"I want to see Bransford," said the sheriff.
"He ees esleepin'," said Monte.
"Well, I want to see him anyway!" The sheriff laid a brusk hand on thegatelatch.
Monte waved his cigarette airily, flicked the ash from the end with aslender finger, and once more demonstrated that the hand is quicker thanthe eye. The portentously steady gun in the hand was the firstintimation to the eye that the hand had moved at all. It was a verylarge gun as to caliber, the sheriff noted. As it was pointed directlyat his nose he was favorably situated to observe--looking along thebarrel--that the hammer stood at full cock.
"Per-rhaps you have some papers for heem?" suggested Monte, with gentleand delicate deference. He still leaned against the doorjamb. "But eefnot eet ees bes' that you do not enter thees my leetle house todistur-rb my gues'. That would be to commeet a r-rudeness--no?"
The sheriff was a sufficiently brave man, if not precisely a brilliantone. Yet he showed now intelligence of the highest order. He dropped thelatch.
"You Billy, stop your laughing! Do you know, Mr. Monte, I think you arequite right?" he observed, with a smiling politeness equal to Monte'sown. "That would be rude, certainly. My mistake. An Englishman's houseis his castle--that sort of thing? If you will excuse me now we will goand get the papers, as you so kindly pointed out."
They went away, the sheriff, Billy and motives--Billy still laughingimmoderately.
Monte went inside and stirred up his guest with a prodding boot-toe.
"Meester Jeff," he demanded, "what you been a-doin' now?"
Jeff sat up, rumpled his hair, and rubbed his eyes.
"Sleepin'," he said.
"An' before? _Porque_, the sheriff he has been. To mek an arres' of you,I t'eenk."
"Me?" said Jeff, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I haven't doneanything that I can remember now!"
"Sure? No small leetle cr-rime? Not las' night? Me, I jus' got up. Ihave not hear'."
Jeff considered this suggestion carefully. "No. I am sure. Not foryears. Some mistake, I guess. Or maybe he just wanted to see me aboutsomething else. Why didn't he come in?"
"I mek r-reques' of heem that he do not," said Monte.
"I see," Jeff laughed. "Come on; we'll go see him. You don't want to getinto trouble."
They crossed the bridge and met the sheriff just within thefortifications, returning in a crowded automobile. Jeff held up hishand. The machine stopped and the posse deployed--except Billy, whoacted as chauffeur.
"You wanted to see me, sheriff--at the hotel?"
"Why, yes, if you don't mind," said the sheriff.
"Good dinner? I ain
't had breakfast yet!"
"First-class," said the sheriff cordially. "Won't your friend come too?"
"Ah, senor, you eshame me that I am not so hospitabble, ees eet not?"purred Monte, as he followed Jeff into the tonneau.
The sheriff reddened and Billy choked.
"Nothing of the sort," said the sheriff hastily, lapsing intoliteralness. "You were quite within your rights. For that matter, Iknow you were at your own bank, dealing, when the crime was committed. Iam holding you for the present as a possible accessory; and, if not,then as a material witness. By the way, Monte, would you mind if I sentsome men to look through your place? There is a matter of some thirtythousand dollars missing. Lake asked us to look for it. I have papersfor it if you care to see them."
"Oh, no, senor!" said Monte. He handed over a key. "_La casa es suyo!_"
"Thank you," said the sheriff, with unmoved gravity. "Anything of yoursyou want 'em to bring, Bransford?"
"Why, no," said Jeff cheerfully. "I've got nothing there but my saddle,my gun and an old football suit that belongs to 'Gene Baird, over on theWest Side; but if you want me to stay long, I wish you'd look after myhorse."
"I too have lef' there my gun that I keep to protec' my leetle house,"observed Monte. "Tell some one to keep eet for me. I am much attach' tothat gun."
"Why, yes, I have seen that gun, I think," said the sheriff. "They'lllook out for it. All right, Billy!"
The car turned back.
"Oh--you were speaking about Monte being an accessory. I didn't get intill 'way late last night, and I've been asleep all day," said Jeffapologetically. "Might I ask before or after exactly what fact Montewas an accessory?"
"Bank robbery, for one thing."
"Ah!... That would be Lake's bank? Anything else?"
The sheriff was not a patient man and he had borne much; also, he likedLars Porsena. Perfection, even in trifles, is rare and wins affection.He turned on Jeff, with an angry growl.
"Murder!"
"Lake?" murmured Jeff hopefully.
The sheriff continued, ignoring and, indeed, only half sensing thepurport of Jeff's comment:
"At least, the wound may not be mortal."
"That's too bad," said Jeff. He was, if possible, more cheerful thanever.
The sheriff glared at him. Billy, from the front seat, threw a word ofexplanation over his shoulder. "It's not Lake. The watchman."
"Oh, old Lars Porsena? That's different. Not a bad sort, Lars. Maybehe'll get well. Hope so.... And I shot him? Dear me! When did ithappen?"
"You'll find out soon enough!" said the sheriff grimly. "Yourpreliminary's right away."
"Hell, I haven't had breakfast yet!" Jeff protested. "Feed us first orwe won't be tried at all."
* * * * *
Within the jail, while the sheriff spoke with his warder, it occurred toBilly that, since Jimmy Phillips was not to be seen, he might as wellcarry his own friendly message. So he said guardedly:
"Buck up, old man! Keep a stiff upper lip and be careful what you say.This is only your preliminary trial, remember. Lots of things may happenbefore court sets. The devil looks after his own, you know."
Jeff had a good ear for voices, however, and Billy's mustache still keptmore than a hint of Mephistopheles. Jeff slowly surveyed Billy's nattyattire, with a lingering and insulting interest for such evidences ofprosperity as silken hosiery and a rather fervid scarfpin. At last hiseye met Billy's, and Billy was blushing.
"Does he?" drawled Jeff languidly. "Ah!... You own the car, then?"
Poor Billy!
Notwithstanding the ingratitude of this rebuff, Billy sought out JimmyPhillips and recounted to him the circumstances of the arrest.
"Oh, naughty, naughty!" said the deputy, caressing his nose. "Lake'sbeen a cowman on Rainbow. He knew the brand on that horse; he knew Jeffwas chummy with Monte. He knew in all reason that Jeff was in there, andmost likely he knew it all the time. So he sneaks off to seeLars--after shooting him from ambush, damn him!--and sends you to takeJeff. Looks like he might be willing for you and Jeff to damage either,which or both of yourselves, as the case may be."
"It looks so," said Billy.
"Must be a fine girl!" murmured Jimmy absently. "Well, what are yougoing to do? It looks pretty plain."
"It looks plain to us--but we haven't got a single tangible thingagainst Lake yet. We'd be laughed out of court if we brought anaccusation against him. We'll have to wait and keep our eyes open."
"You're sure Lake did it? There was no rubber nosepiece at Monte'shouse. All the rest of the football outfit--but not that. That looks badfor Jeff."
"On the contrary, that is the strongest link against Lake. I dare sayButtinski--Mr. Bransford--is eminently capable of bank robbery at oddmoments; but I know approximately where that noseguard was at sharpmidnight--after the watchman was shot." Here Billy swore mentally,having a very definite guess as to how Jeff might have lost thenoseguard. "Lake, Clarke, Turnbull, Thompson, Alec or myself--one of thesix of us--brought that noseguard to the bank after the robbery, andonly one of the six had a motive--and a key."
"Only one of you had a key," corrected Jimmy cruelly. "But can't Jeffprove where he was, maybe?"
"He won't."
"I'd sure like to see her," said Jimmy.