CHAPTER XXIV
IN THE OPEN
Roderick Norton, every fibre of his body alive and eager, his bloodriotous with the certain knowledge that the long-delayed hour had come,rode a foam-flecked horse into San Juan shortly after moonrise.Galloway was striking at last; at last might Norton lift his own handto strike back. As he flung himself down from the saddle he wasthinking almost equally of Jim Galloway, striking the supreme blow ofhis career, and of Billy Norton, whose death had come to him atGalloway's command. Galloway was gathering his forces, had deliveredan initial blow, was staking everything upon the one throw of the dice.And he must believe them loaded.
At the clank of spur-chain and rowel Struve came hastily into thehallway from his office. He saw the look in the sheriff's, eyes anddemanded quickly:
"What is it? What's happened?"
There were grim lines about Norton's mouth, his quiet voice had anominous ring to it.
"Hell's to pay, Julius," he retorted. "And there's little tellingwhere it'll end unless we're on the jump to meet it. Galloway's comeout into the open. Kid Rickard and ten men with him, all Mexicans orbreeds, crossed over into the next county yesterday, raided the countyjail late this afternoon, shot poor Roberts, freed Moraga, and got awayin a couple of big new touring-cars. Every man of them carried a rifleand side-arms."
"Killed Roberts, huh?" Struve's frown gathered.
"He's badly hurt, if not dead. The Kid did the shooting."
"Sure it's Galloway's work and not just the Kid's?"
"Yes. Only a couple of hours ago a lot of Galloway's crowd wasgathering up in the mountains. They've gone to his cache for therifles. I have sent word for Brocky Lane and his and my cowboys. Itbegins to look as though he were up to something bigger than we've beenlooking for. And he's sure of himself, Struve, or he wouldn't havestarted things by daylight."
Virginia had heard and came into the hallway from her room, her facewhite, her eyes filled with trouble. Struve turned back into his roomabruptly, going for his rifle.
"You heard?" asked Norton quietly. "It's the big fight at last,Virginia. But we've known it was coming all along."
"Yes, Rod." she said half listlessly. "I'll be glad when it's allover."
He sketched for her briefly what little more he knew and suspected.Throughout the county where there was telephone communication the wireswere buzzing. Over them the word had come to him of Kid Rickard'sattack on Roberts and the freeing of Moraga. But in many places thelines were reported "out of order" and towns were isolated by cutwires. Already men were riding sweating horses, carrying word fromhim. He knew that del Rio had gathered a crowd of men at Las Vegas; hewas certain that del Rio was working hand in glove with Galloway;further that the Mexican had been with Galloway on his recent tripbelow the border and among the revolutionists.
"They're solid down there," concluded Norton. "What they are up to issomething big here, then a dash for safety, carrying their booty withthem. But we're going to be on time to put a stop to it all. I amgoing down to see Engle now; will you come with me?"
But before they left the hotel he swore Struve in as a deputy and senthim hastening to carry the word to other men to be counted on. As theypassed the Casa Blanca Norton paused a moment, looking in at thewide-open door; it was very quiet within, the place seeming deserted.
"No use looking for Galloway here," he said as they went on. "Nor forany of his gang. But, when they come back . . . unless we head themoff . . ."
Her hand tightened on his arm. She looked up into his thoughtful facewith shining eyes.
"You think that they would attempt further robbery and outlawry here?"
"I am going to advise Engle to take the bulk of his money out of thebank, dig a hole, and hide it," he answered. "Just to be sure in casewe don't stop them."
He knew that he had no time to waste tonight, and so as he and Virginiaentered the Engles' living-room he began immediately telling the bankerwhat had happened and what he feared was set to happen. Engle listenedgravely.
"Galloway is making his getaway to-night," Norton said by way ofconclusion. "For every rifle he has a man. He has no reason to likeyou and he knows that you carry more money in gold and bank-notes thanany other man in the country. The fact that Kid Rickard pulled thegame the way he did this afternoon, shooting down Roberts when therewas no need of bloodshed, ought to be enough to show us that they arenot going to draw the line anywhere this side of old Mexico."
"What are you planning?" asked Engle.
"I've sent for Brocky and all the men he can bring. They'll all comeheeled and ready for trouble, every one sworn in as a sheriff's deputy.I'll get every dependable man in San Juan into the saddle with a rifleinside half an hour. Before that we'll have further word; or, if not,we ride toward Mt. Temple. I'm taking the gamble so far that that'stheir rendezvous; that the Kid and his crowd will show up there."
It was unnecessary for him to continue. Engle nodded and went for hisrifle. Norton, turning toward Mrs. Engle and Virginia, was shocked bythe look he saw in the eyes of the banker's wife.
"Florrie!" gasped Mrs. Engle, her hands gripped in front of her, herface paling. "I thought she was in her room; when I missed her fiveminutes ago I thought that she had slipped out and run up to the hotelto see Virginia. Virginia hasn't seen her."
Norton smiled and patted the two clasped hands.
"Oh, Florrie'll be all right, Mrs. Engle," he comforted her. "Wemustn't get nervous and begin to imagine things, must we?"
But no lessening of that look of fear came into the mother's eyes.Galloway was striking, Florrie was not to be accounted for. Though sheturned quickly and went again through the house, the patio, and therear gardens, she was apprehensively certain that she would not findFlorence. Virginia came hurriedly to Norton, whispering:
"I'm afraid for her, Rod. I'm afraid! I have seen her and JimGalloway together, I have known all along that he had an influence overher which he might exert if he wanted to. And, just before JimGalloway went to Mexico, Elmer saw them walk down the street together,stop and talk together under the trees. . . . Oh, I'm afraid for her,Rod!"
Engle's face was as white as chalk when a little later he came backinto the room with his wife; his two hands were like rock upon hisrifle.
"Florence isn't in the house," he announced in a voice which, whilecalm, seemed not John Engle's voice. "If she is in San Juan it won'ttake the half-hour to know it. I'm rather inclined to think that I'mjust a fool, Rod Norton. My wife has told me that Galloway was lookingat Florence in a way which meant no good. I wouldn't believe. Andnow, if . . ."
Norton had no reply to make. Florence's disappearance at a time likethis might mean either a very great deal or nothing whatever. But, asEngle had intimated, it would require but little time to learn if shewere in San Juan and safe, and, as Norton had said, there was no timenow to be wasted. Engle would institute inquiries immediately; Norton,his own work looming large before him, would prepare to meet Galloway'slatest play.
The sheriff decided promptly that it would be unwise to leave the townabsolutely drained of men in whom he could put faith. It was alwayspossible that either the entire crowd of Galloway's men or a smallerdetachment might find their way here. Julius Struve, four armed menaiding him, was to be responsible for the welfare of women andchildren. If Galloway's stroke should turn out to be bolder and harderthan was now known, then Struve and his men had horses saddled and wereto get their wards out of danger by hard riding. Norton was to posttwo men a few miles out as he rode north and they were to report backto Struve in case of necessity.
These latter plans were made only at the moment before the sheriff'sdeparture. A man sent by Brocky Lane had raced into San Juan's street,bringing fresh word. It began to appear that Galloway was working inconjunction with aid from below the border. Del Rio with a score ofmen, Mexicans for the most part who had dribbled into the county duringthe last few months, was reported to have swept down upon Jo
hn Engle'sranches, and to be gathering herds of cattle and horses, starting themsouthward on the run. Three of Engle's cowboys had been shot down; asimilar attack had been delivered upon other ranches. The little townof Las Vegas had been looted, post-office, store, and saloon safesdynamited, stock driven off to augment del Rio's other herds. Further,the cowboy sent by Lane reported that a signal-fire had been lighted inthe mountains an hour ago and that there had been another fire like ananswer leaping up from the desert in the south. Word had also come toLane that telephone messages hinted that Kid Rickard and his unit wereworking further outlawry along the county line, headed toward Mt.Temple.
There were seventeen armed horsemen in the street waiting for the wordfrom Norton.
"I'll come back to you," he said quietly to Virginia. "Because afterwhat you have done for me, I belong to you . . . if you want me."
"I want you, Rod," she answered steadily. "And I know that you willcome back to me. And now . . . kiss me good night."
She clung to him a moment, then pushed him from her and watched himswing up into the saddle and ride out among the men who were pledgedand sworn to do his bidding. As he did so Engle came to him.
"Going with us, John?" asked Norton.
"No," said Engle. "We haven't found her yet, Rod. I'll try to pick upa trace of her here. And . . . you'll send a man to me if you findher?"
"Yes," Norton promised.
"And if Galloway has got her . . ."
"I'll know what to do, John," said Norton gently.
Then, without again looking back, he turned his horse toward the north.The seventeen men, riding two and three abreast, silent and grave forthe most part, followed him. The moon shone upon their rifle-barrelsand made black, grotesque shadows underfoot.
Against the northern sky Mt. Temple was lifted sharply outlined; fromits crest a leaping flame was stabbing at the stars, a new signal-fireto be seen across many miles.