CHAPTER XIV.
THE DOCTOR TURNS CONSPIRATOR--THE PLOT TO ROB THE RANCHE.
The pseudo doctor had been at the ranche a week, during which he hadbecome quite chummy with Jim Cummings and Dan Moriarity, who, findingthat time hung very heavy on their hands, welcomed the jovial,story-telling doctor and spent most of their time in his company.
Swanson, who was moving his stock further west and making preparationsfor the spring round-up, was obliged to be in the saddle all day andsometimes late at night. Although a hard drinker, an unscrupulousrascal and an inveterate gambler, he was a good stock-raiser, and keptgood care of his cattle. He employed a large force of cowboys orherders, and, acting himself as captain of the round-up, he wouldabsent himself from home for days at a time.
One morning the Doctor, flashing a significant glance toward Scip,which said, "Take your cue and follow me," remarked in a careless tone:
"I reckon the old man must have considerable dust salted down by thistime."
As the remark was a general one made to Cummings, Moriarity and Scip,the latter answered:
"Yes, sah; Mass Swanson got a pile of gold laid up for a rainy day,suah."
The Doctor continued:
"He's had more than the average run of good luck the last few years. Hetold me the other day that he only lost a few head all year, and wasjust going to ship a big lot to Chicago."
Cummings, blowing a blue column of tobacco smoke toward the rafters,said:
"It's always been a question to me where he keeps his money. There's nobank around here."
"Oh! he's a shrewd old chap, Swanson is," replied the Doctor. "He has aprivate bank somewhere near here probably."
"Seems to me that would be pretty risky," said Cummings. "If he keepsit planted around here what would hinder some one from finding thecache and getting off with the plunder?"
"I made that very remark to him," the Doctor answered; "and he laughedand said it would take something smarter than a cowboy or an Injun tofind it, but there are others beside cowboys and Injuns that come thisway," with a meaning smile. Cummings noted the smile, and glancing atMoriarity, said:
"How would you go at it, Doctor, if you were to make the attempt?"
The Doctor laughed quietly, as if he appreciated the joke, and leaningback in his chair, his thumbs in the arm-holes of his vest, his feetstretched on a chair before him, he answered:
"Well, Cummings, I don't know as I would like to do it. Swanson's agood friend of mine, and--"
"Hang it all, man, who the devil asked you to do it?" replied Jim,hotly. "I was only joking; do you think I wanted you to--"
"Not at all, my dear fellow, not at all," said the Doctor, in asoothing tone. "No one supposed for a minute that you thought of such athing, but if I was going to do a job like that I wouldn't care to doit alone. Two, certainly not more than three, more to help would benecessary. I would go at it about this way: The first thing would be tofind out where Swanson kept his money. It is doubtless kept in closeproximity to this place, evidently well secreted, for Swanson is not aman to let his right hand know what his left hand is doing. I think Iwould be apt to get him full some evening, then let him win a big potfrom me in poker, and, feigning drunkenness, I would watch very keenlywhat he did with the money. You may depend on it, it is somewhere inthis house. After I ascertained the hiding-place I would surprise theold fellow in his sleep with the aid of my confederates, and gagginghim, and then binding his arms and feet, would rob his bank at mypleasure. THAT is the way I should do it."
Cummings had followed every word, nodding his approval and manifestinghis interest in various ways, and, without noticing what he was saying,muttered to himself, but so loud that the Doctor overheard it, "Justthe way I would do it, and I will yet."
"What makes you think Swanson keeps his wealth on the premises,Doctor?" asked Moriarity.
"Safest and most convenient place," replied the Doctor, "He probablyhas had a special hole or cranny made for it, a double wall of someroom, behind some picture or something like that. I recollect a chapthat had a picture in his room, fastened close to the wall just likethat picture there," and the Doctor pointed to the only picture in thehouse, a representation of the ranche painted by some wandering artist."It was a painting of a man's face and by pressing the eye a spring wasreleased and the whole picture swung back, showing a cavity back of itin which the old miser kept his valuables."
Scip, who was always cutting some caper, here rose to his feet, saying
"Dunno, but mebbe Massa Swanson keep he truck behind that chromiow.Heah now, I'se Massa Swanson," and Scip imitated Swanson's gait, "I'seplayin' poker wid you gemmen. I'se out o' cash; Massa Cummins thar, hegot a king full, and lay ovah my bob-tail flush, I say, 'Hole on thar,Massa Cummins, I'se got to unlock de combinashun of my safe.' Den Iwalk ovah to de picture, an' I hit a crack with my fist, so Well, I bedamned!"
The rest sprang to their feet in astonishment for, illustrating hisremarks, Scip had struck the center of the oil painting with his hand,and stood dumb-founded, for the picture noiselessly swung forward anddisclosed a large recess in the wall in which little sacks of some sortof money were piled one on the other. Scip, who was evidently the mostsurprised one of the party, was, however, the first to regain hiscomposure. Pushing the frame to its place again the sharp click of thespring lock was heard, and turning swiftly around he caught meaningglances passing between Cummings and Moriarity.
"Humph!" he said to himself, "Swanson's money is as good as gone nowunless we nab these two rascals soon."
The Doctor, who had reseated himself, remarked in a tone of wonder,
"Really, this is a most remarkable coincidence, most remarkable indeed."
"Oh! shut up that mummery, Doctor," broke in Cummings roughly, as hereared his head and squared his shoulders evidently intending to make astrike, "You and your nigger knew all about this, so you may as wellown up."
The Doctor, receiving a nod from Scip, leaned forward, his eyesfastened intently on Cummings and his voice sunk to a low whisper,replied:
"And you may as well own up, too. We're all in the same boat. That isjust what you are here for, and if you think I am fool enough to loafaround this hole a week for nothing, it shows you don't know me. I needyou two and you need Scip and myself. Come, is it a bargain?"
In answer Cummings held out his hand. The Doctor grasped it cordiallyand holding his left hand to Moriarity, who took it, said:
"We four, for Scip is my pal, can do it OK, We can--"
"Why not do it now," said Cummings, with energy. "Our horses are hereand we can put a whole day between us and the ranche before Swansonreturns."
Now this was just what Sam (the Doctor) did not want. During the weekwhich he and Scip had been spending at the ranche, seven or eight newmen had been taken in by Swanson, who, as was before said, was gettingin shape for the spring round-up. Of these new men six were Pinkertondetectives, and at this particular time were several miles from theranche herding cattle. It was necessary that these men should benotified by Scip of the plot, and be ready to spring the trap as soonas the game was in the toils. For this reason the Doctor did not wantthe robbery to occur before the next night at the earliest. So shakinghis head decidedly, he said in an emphatic manner:
"No, it won't do; it would spoil the whole thing. All the money is inthe shape of specie and tied up in bags. We have nothing in which tocarry it, and would have to load it as it is on our horses. Besides,Swanson is expecting a large payment for his last shipment to-day. Iknow this, as he told me so, and we may make ten thousand dollars bywaiting a day longer."
After some demurring, Cummings acquiesced, although with very bad grace.
"All right, have it your own way; but no later than to-morrow night."
"To-morrow night it is, then," said the Doctor; then, as if struck withsome suspicion, he turned suddenly and said:
"And the Lord have mercy on your soul, Jim Cummings, if you or yourmate play us false."
"No fear of
that, Doctor," replied the train robber. "You'll find metrue blue at any rate--you're a man after my own heart. I wish I hadknown you sooner."
"Why?"
"Because, last October I did a little job and was almost nabbed becauseone of my pals weakened."
Moriarity looked somewhat confused, but apparently not noticing it (butin reality nothing escaped the hawk eyes of the disguised detective)the Doctor said:
"Last October! By Jove, you ARE the Jim Cummings that did up the AdamsExpress Co. The papers were full of it. If there is any man I havewanted to meet it is you." And the Doctor with great enthusiasm graspedthe express robber's hand with every expression of intense admirationbeaming from his eyes.
His vanity tickled by this expression of homage, Cummings drew himselfto his full height, and replied:
"Well, yes, I did that work, and if you will stick by me we can workanother one just as good."
"I'm with you, and when I say 'I,' it means Scip, too, for he is atreasure."
Scip ducked his head as he said:
"We's a hull team and a dog under the waggin, but, Massa Doctor, I'segoin' out to look after the bosses," and he left the room.
Moriarity, picking up a rifle and cartridge belt, said he was going outfor a canter and see what luck he could have in the way of game. Thisleft Cummings and the Doctor alone.
Glancing out the window they saw Moriarity gallop off, and a shortdistance behind Scip on his horse, following.
"Where did you pick up that darkey, Doctor?" asked Cummings.
"In St. Louis, about five years ago. He is a good one, faithful andbrave, and will never squeal. He is just the man to help us on this newdeal."
The subject of this conversation was all this time galloping over thelevel prairie, following closely behind Moriarity, who, with his riflethrown across the pommel of his saddle, was on the look out foranything in the way of game which might come along.
As they rode along they would meet one of the herders sitting at easeon his horse, or galloping madly after some refractory steer that wasmaking a break for freedom. They had, in their ride, passed four ofthese men, and to every one Scip gave a signal, merely the wave of hishand in a peculiar manner, to which the men had responded likewise.They were nearing another stand, the ranchman, astride his pony, stoodagainst the sky like a bronze bit of sculpture. As they came withinspeaking distance Scip, drawing in his horse, said.
"I's goin' to loaf aroun' heah a bit, Massa Dan, I'll wait fer you."
"All right," responded Dan, who gave his horse the spurs and swiftlydisappeared behind the swell of land. Scip, walking his nag, drew nearthe cowboy.
"Hye thar, honey, got any 'bacco?"
"Plenty, blacky, plenty,"
"Den give me some."
"What is it, Chip?" asked the cowboy as Moriarity swept out of sight.
"We have work to do to-morrow night, Barney, you must get the boystogether, go down the divide to the ford and cross over, ready to comewhen I whistle. To-morrow night we must bag our game."
"We will be there, Chip, and I am glad of it, for its devilishmonotonous staying out here all day."
"There will be a break in the monotony that will suit you. Be sure tobe at the other side of the ford before twelve to-morrow night."
Chip then explained to him the details of the projected robbery and theplan of capturing the outlaws as soon as they had crossed into Kansas,for the divide was the southern state line of that state.
Barney, again repeating his statement that he would be there, loped hishorse after some cattle that was straying too far off, and Chip, orrather Scip, stretching himself on the ground, awaited Moriarity'sreturn.
They arrived home in time for supper, and found Swanson had returnedfrom Blue Jacket, where he had gone that morning, and the fact that hehad made up beds for the Doctor and Scip in a side room was accepted byCummings as proof that he had received the money he expected and wantedthe room to himself that he might put his wealth behind the pictureunobserved.
The next day the ranche was deserted save by the four conspirators, whomade preparations for the robbery of Swanson's money which was to takeplace that night. The picture was tried until the proper point fortouching the hidden spring was found. A supply of food was quietlysecreted in a bag and hid near the divide. Some heavy flour sacks madeof canvas were ripped open and suitable bags for carrying the moneywere made from the pieces. All these preparations were made withoutinterruption or discovery, and excepting a long ride which Scip made inthe afternoon, ostensibly for the purpose of exercising his horse butreally that he might again see the detectives who were acting ascowboys, the day wore along without any incident out of the ordinaryway.