Chapter Sixteen
Telltale Marks
It was sundown when the Double O and the Box B riders finished the taskof getting the cattle back on their own ranges. They stopped at theboundary between the ranches and the Double O cattle plodded northwardonto their own range.
"How many cattle you figure you've lost?" Joe asked the owner of theDouble O.
"Right around 350," replied Nels. "How many have you?"
"It's more than that. A good 500 head and maybe a few more have beenstolen in the last few months. I tell you, it's hit us mighty hard."
Nel's pale eyes hardened and his huge hands moved convulsively for hewas a man of deep emotion.
"We shall stop that, and soon," he roared. "Tomorrow we go see Cook andline him up. After that we'll clean out Dirty Water and maybe that willstop the rustling."
Joe looked thoughtful.
"I don't think we'll be able to swing Cook along with us," he said, "andwhen it comes to cleaning up Dirty Water, we'll have to have someproof."
"I'm tired of waiting," said Nels. "Action I got to have. There's no lawin the valley unless we make it ourselves."
"You're right," agreed Slim, "but let's wait until we're sure of thegang responsible for this rustling."
Nels grumblingly agreed that Slim's advice was logical and they partedwith the agreement that the Box B foreman would ride over to the DoubleO in the morning and that Nels would accompany him on a visit to theCook ranch.
"What sort of a fellow is this Cook?"
"All bad," replied Joe. "He runs the Diamond Dot, a small outfit thatlies east of the Double O and the Box B and north of Dirty Water. Hisrange backs right up against the Cajons. We've had lots of trouble withhim over our water rights."
"Has he been losing cattle the last year?"
"Claims he's lost a bunch, but I wouldn't take his word for anything.Unless we keep a close watch, he runs his cattle over on our range andthey clean up some of our best grazing land."
"Then it won't be much use to see him tomorrow?"
"I don't think so, but it will satisfy Nels, and if Cook has really beenlosing beef he may throw in with us. He has a lot of riders and they'reall tough birds. If the three outfits made a united stand, we'd sweepthis valley clean of every undesirable hombre that's come in here thelast couple of years."
When they reached the home place, Joe went at once to report the eventsof the day to the owner of the Box B while the cowboys hurried into thecookhouse, where Lee Wu had supper ready.
"Golly, but I thought there was going to be trouble when Joe called NelsAnderson a rustler," said Walt Kelly, between mouthfuls of bread.
"There would have been if Al Bass hadn't grabbed his hand," put injovial Pat Beals. "I'm telling you, my hair was standing on end."
"We're finally getting started on the right track," said Walt, "even ifit almost took bloodshed to get these outfits together. Believe me, it'sgoing to be tough for the rustlers from now on."
Slim had been watching Doug Huston and he thought he saw the cowboy'sface twitch slightly. One thing, Doug had expressed no elation at thepeacemaking with the Double O.
There was only the faintest tinge of light over the Three Soldiers asthey left the cookhouse. Up at the ranch house, a light glowed in AdamMarks' bedroom and Slim knew that the foreman was recounting in greatdetail the happenings of the day.
Slim walked down to the corral and whistled softly. Out of the shadowscame Lightning, and Slim climbed up to the top rail and ran his handsthrough the sorrel's thick mane.
"We made a little progress today," he said softly and Lightning tossedher head in agreement. "But we've got a long way to go," added Slim, andagain the sorrel nodded.
Chuck came down from the bunkhouse and climbed atop the corral.
"Doing a little heavy thinking?" he asked.
"Trying to, but the results are about zero."
"I'd like to know how the 800 and some head that have been stolen fromthe Box B and the Double O were taken out of the valley," said Chuck.
"When we discover how that's been done, we'll be just about at the endof this mystery."
"They've been rustled in small lots, but even then cattle can't fly."
"That's one reason I'm anxious to see what kind of a place the DiamondDot runs. Joe Haines don't like that outfit a bit."
"He didn't like the Double O until he realized that somebody was tryingto get the two outfits to fighting," pointed out Chuck.
"There won't be any more trouble along that line and I feel we've made alittle progress, but not enough."
Slim's fingers, exploring an inside pocket, came in contact with thecartridge he had found at the scene of Adam Marks' ambush. He had twodefinite clues, the exploded shell and the V-shaped hoofprint. Somewherein the valley he must find the rider of that horse.
The cowboy detectives returned to the bunkhouse. The foreman was stillat the ranch house and the other Box B riders were engaged in variouspersonal tasks.
Slim and Chuck rolled in early, and a few minutes later the others werein their blankets.
Slim fell into a restless sleep, for even after his body relaxed hismind was working on the rustling mystery. Thus it was that he heard aslight noise down at the corral and awakened almost instantly.
Slim pulled on his trousers, picked up his boots, and left the bunkhousesilently. Someone was in the corral saddling a horse. Slim moved swiftlyforward. The moon, which had topped the Cajons, was shrouded withclouds.
The cowboy detective paused beside the main gate of the corral to seewhat was going on inside and had just stuck his head above the top railwhen a rope swished out of the shadows and settled over his head. Beforehe could utter a sound, it was jerked tight and he fell sprawling to theground, gasping for breath.
Slim clawed at the rope, but it was too tight. Someone was runningtoward him, coming out of the corral.
The moonlight brightened for an instant and Slim looked up into a maskedface.
"Smart guy," came a hard, chilling voice. "Well, you're not as smart asyou think you are."
Slim tried to dodge, but the other man struck him with a short, heavyclub, and the cowboy detective lost consciousness. When he finallyopened his eyes, the moon was well toward its zenith and his headthrobbed dismally.
He tried to move, but found his arms and feet securely bound and a tightgag in his aching mouth. He managed to roll over and lift his head. Hehad been carried a hundred yards from the corral and deposited besidethe creek. Slim tried to wriggle along the ground, but he made littleprogress and it was an exhausting effort. He rolled over on his back andlooked up at the moon. There was nothing to do but wait for morning.
It was well after midnight when Slim heard a horse approaching the BoxB. It was coming slowly as though the rider was afraid of discovery.Then the gate of the corral was opened and Slim knew that his assailanthad returned. There was no question now but that one of the Box B riderswas allied with the rustlers for Slim felt sure that the unknown riderhad slipped away to inform the other members of the gang that the Box Band the Double O were standing shoulder to shoulder to resist anyfurther depredations.
The aching hours went by slowly. The moon dropped behind the ThreeSoldiers and for over an hour the Creeping Shadows country was cloakedin the deepest night. Then the peaks of the Cajons were touched with thefirst streaks of another day and Slim moved a little to rest histortured body.
It was an hour later before he was found and then Chuck saw him lyingbeside the creek and hurried to slash his bonds.
Slim had to be helped to a sitting position, for the circulation hadlong since stopped in his feet and hands. Chuck worked carefully,rubbing the bruised members. Slim cried out in pain once or twice as theblood again coursed through the arteries and veins. His tongue was badlyswollen and Chuck ran for a cup of water. Returning, he took a cleanhandkerchief and soaked it with water. This Slim placed in his mouth,sucking gratefully at the cool liquid.
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Joe Haines heard that something was wrong and came hurrying down, theother Box B riders following him. Slim waved aside their questions forhis jaws ached too much to talk and it was not until he had downed abowl of breakfast food that he told them the full story.
"Have any idea who it was?" asked Joe.
"Not the slightest," replied Slim, deciding not to reveal that he hadheard the rider return to the Box B.
Walt Kelly hurried down to the corral to look at the horses.
"Every cayuse is there," he said when he returned.
"Then I can't figure out what anyone was doing in our corral," said Joe.
"Maybe he was going to run off with the horses and Slim came along justin time to give him a scare," suggested Doug.
"Well, maybe," agreed Joe, but it was plain that such an explanation didnot satisfy him.
When they left the cookhouse, Joe turned to Slim.
"Feel like riding over to the Double O with me?"
"I'll be all right in a few minutes. Count me in. I want to be alongwhen you talk with the boss of the Diamond Dot."
Slim went to the bunkhouse while the others hastened down to the corralto get their mounts. The cowboy detective was firmly convinced thatsomeone in the bunkhouse had slugged him the night before and left himhog-tied along the creek.
With quick, deft hands he searched one bunk after another. It was notuntil he reached Doug Huston's duffel bag that he found anything. Waddedin the bottom was a black cloth which might easily be tied around thelower part of the face to form a mask. Slim nodded grimly. Hissuspicions that Doug was the rustlers' key man on the ranch were rapidlybeing confirmed.
Slim rammed the black cloth back into the duffel bag and slipped on hischaps, slung his gun belt around his hips, and started for the corral.
An excited group was gathered at the gate, looking at tracks which ledinto the corral.
"Look here, Slim," cried Chuck. "One of the rustlers, the guy that tooka shot at the boss, rode right into our own corral last night. Here'shis tracks going in, but there's none coming out."
Slim looked down at the hoofprint to which Chuck pointed. There was thetelltale V-shaped mark.