CHAPTER XVII
MOSE RETURNS TO WAGON WHEEL
As Mose threw the rope over the bald-faced pinto the boys all chuckledand drew near, for they knew the character of the horse. Reynolds hadsaid, "Take your pick o' the bunch," and Mose, with the eye of ahorseman, had roped the pinto because of his size, depth of chest, andsplendid limbs.
As he was leading his captive out of the bunch the cook said to Mose,"Better not take that pinto; he's mean as a hornet."
"Is his wind all right?"
"He's one o' the best horses on the range, all right, but he shore ismean all the way through. He always pitches at the start like he wasfair crazy."
"Does he go when he gets through?" asked Mose of Reynolds.
"Yes, he's a good traveler."
"I don't want to be delayed, that's all. If he'll go, I'll stay by him."
The boys nudged elbows while Mose threw the saddle on the cringingbrute and cinched it till the pinto, full of suffering, drew great,quiet gulps of breath and groaned. Swift, practiced, relentless, Mosedragged at the latigo till the wide hair web embedded itself in thepony's hide. Having coiled the rope neatly out of the way, while thebroncho stood with drooping head but with a dull red flame in his eyes,Mose flung the rein over the pony's head. Then pinto woke up. With amighty sidewise bound he attempted to leave his rider, but Mose,studiedly imperturbable, with left hand holding the reins and right handgrasping the pommel, went with him as if that were the ordinary way ofmounting. Immense power was in the stiff-legged leaping of the beast.His body seemed a ball of coiled steel springs. His "watch-eye" rolledin frenzy. It seemed he wished to beat his head against his rider's faceand kill him. He rushed away with a rearing, jerking motion, in a seriesof jarring bounds, snapping his rider like the lash of a whip, thenstopped suddenly, poised on his fore feet, with devilish intent todischarge Mose over his head. With the spurs set deep into the quiveringpainted hide of his mount Mose began plying the quirt like a flail. Theboys cheered and yelled with delight. It was one of their chiefrecreations, this battle with a pitching broncho.
Suddenly the desperate beast paused and, rearing recklessly high in theair, fell backward hoping to crush his rider under his saddle. In theinstant, while he towered, poised in the air, Mose shook his right footfree of the stirrup and swung to the left and alighted on his feet,while the fallen horse, stunned by his own fall, lay for an instant,groaning and coughing. Under the sting of the quirt, he scrambled to hisfeet only to find his inexorable rider again on his back, with mercilessspurs set deep in the quick of his quivering sides. With a despairingsqueal he set off in a low, swift, sidewise gallop, and for nearly anhour drummed along the trail, up hill and down, the foam mingling withthe yellow dust on his heaving flanks.
When the broncho's hot anger had cooled, Mose gave him his head, andfell to thinking upon the future. He had been more than eight years inthe range and on the trail and all he owned in the world was a saddle, agun, a rope, and a horse. The sight of Cora, the caressing of littlePink, and Mary's letter had roused in him a longing for a wife and ashanty of his own.
The grass was getting sere, there was new-fallen snow on Lizard Head,and winter was coming. He had the animal's instinct to den up, to seekwinter quarters. Certain ties other than those of Mary's love combinedto draw him back to Marmion for the winter. If he could only shake offhis burdening notoriety and go back to see her--to ask heradvice--perhaps she could aid him. But to _sneak_ back again--to crawlabout in dark corners--that was impossible.
He was no longer the frank and boyish lover of adventure. Life troubledhim now, conduct was become less simple, actions each day less easilydetermined. These women now made him ponder. Cora, who was accustomed tothe range and whose interests were his own in many ways, the princess,whose money and influence could get him something to do in Wagon Wheel,and Mary, whose very name made him shudder with rememberedadoration--each one now made him think. Mary, of all the group, was mostcertainly unfitted to share his mode of life, and yet the thought of hermade the others impossible to him.
The marshal saw him ride up the street and throw himself from his horsebefore the post office and hastened toward him with his hand extended."Hello! Mose, I've got a telegram for you from Sweetwater."
Mose took it without a word and opened it. It was from his father: "Waitfor me in Wagon Wheel. I am coming."
The marshal was grinning. "Did you see the write-up in yesterday'sMother Lode?"
"Yes--I saw it, and cussed you for it."
"I knowd you would, but I couldn't help it. Billy, the editor, got holdof me and pumped the whole story out of me before I knew it. I don'tthink it does you any harm."
"It didn't do me any good," replied Mose shortly.
"Say, the princess wants to see you. She's on the street somewhere now,looking for you."
"Where's the telegraph office?" he abruptly asked.
The telegram from his father had put the idea into his head tocommunicate in that way with Mary and Jack.
The marshal led the way to a stage office wherein stood a counter and arow of clicking machines.
"What is the cost of a telegram to Marmion, Iowa?" asked Mose.
"One dollar, ten words. Each ad----"
Mose thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out all his money, ahandful of small change. His face grew bitter, his last dollar wasbroken into bits.
"Make it night rates for sixty," said the operator. "Be deliveredto-morrow morning."
"Go ahead," said Mose, and set to work to compose a message. Themarshal, with unexpected delicacy, sauntered out into the street.
Now that he was actually face to face with the problem of answeringMary's letter in ten words the youth's hand refused to write, and hestood looking at the yellow slip of paper with an intensity that wascomical to the clerk. Plainly this cowboy was not accustomed totelegraphing.
Mose felt the waiting presence of the clerk and said:
"Can I set down here and think it over?"
"Why sure, take a seat at that table over there."
Under the pressure of his emotion Mose wrote "Dear Mary" and stopped.The chap at the other end of the line would read that and comment on it.He struck that out. Then it occurred to him that if he signed it "Harry"_this_ operator would marvel, and if he signed "Mose" the other end ofthe line would wonder. He rose, crushing the paper in his hand, and wentout into the street. There was only one way--to write.
This he did standing at the ink-bespattered shelf which served aswriting desk in the post office.
"DEAR MARY: I have just received your letter. It's a little late but perhaps it ain't too late. Anyhow, I'm banking on this finding you just the same as when you wrote. I wish I could visit you again but I'm afraid I couldn't do it a second time without being recognized, but write to me at once, and, if you say come, I'll come. I am poorer than I was four years ago, but I've been on the trail, I know the mountains now. There's no other place for me, but I get lonesome sometimes when I think of you. I'm no good at writing letters--can't write as well as I could when I was twenty, so don't mind my short letter, but if I could see you! Write at once and I'll borrow or steal enough money to pay my way to you--I don't expect to ever see you out here in the West."
While still pondering over his letter he heard the rustle of a woman'sdress and turned to face the princess, in magnificent attire, her glovedhand extended toward him, her face radiant with pleasure.
"Why, my dear boy, where have you been?"
Mose shook hands, his letter to Mary (still unsealed) in his left hand."Been down on the range," he mumbled in profound embarrassment.
She assumed a girlish part. "But you _promised_ to come and see me."
He turned away to seal his letter and she studied him with admiringeyes. He was so interesting in his boyish confusion--graceful in spiteof his irrelevant movements, for he was as supple, as properly poised,and as sinewy as a panther.
"You're a great boy," she said to
him when he came back. "I like you, Iwant to do something for you. Get into my carriage, and let me tell youof some plans."
He looked down at his faded woolen shirt and lifted his hand to hisgreasy sombrero. "Oh, no! I can't do that."
She laughed. "You ought to be able to stand it if I can. I'd be ratherproud of having 'Black Mose' in my carriage."
"I guess not," he said. There was a cadence in these three words towhich she bowed her head. She surrendered her notion quickly.
"Come down to the Palace with me."
"All right, I'll do that," he replied without interest.
"Meet me there in half an hour."
"All right."
"Good-by till then."
He did not reply but took her extended hand, while the young fellow inthe postal cage grinned with profound appreciation. After the princesswent out this clerk said, "Pard, you've struck it rich."
Mose turned and his eyebrows lowered dangerously. "Keep to your letterpunchin', young feller, and you'll enjoy better health."
Those who happened to be standing in the room held their breath, for inthat menacing, steady glare they recognized battle.
The clerk gasped and stammered, "I didn't mean anything."
"That's all right. You're lately from the East, or you wouldn't get gaywith strangers in this country. See if there is any mail for MoseHarding--or Harry Excell."
"Sorry, sir--nothing for Mr. Harding, nothing for Mr. Excell."
Mose turned back to the desk and scrawled a short letter to Jack Burnsasking him to let him know at once where Mary was, and whether it wouldbe safe for him to visit her.
As he went out in the street to mount his horse the marshal met himagain, and Mose, irritated and hungry, said sharply:
"See here, pardner, you act most cussedly like a man keeping watch onme."
The marshal hastened to say, "Nothing of the kind. I like you, that'sall. I want to talk with you--in fact I'm under orders from the princessto help you get a job if you want one. I've got an offer now. TheExpress Company want you to act as guard between here and Canon City.Pay is one hundred dollars a month, ammunition furnished."
Mose threw out his hand. "I'll do it--take it all back."
The marshal shook hands without resentment, considering the apologyample, and together they sauntered down the street.
"Now, pardner, let me tell you how I size up the princess. She's agood-hearted woman as ever lived, but she's a little off color with thewomen who run the church socials here. She's a rippin' good businesswoman, and her luck beats h--l. Why last week she bought a feller'sclaim in fer ten thousand dollars and yesterday they tapped a vein ofeighty dollar ore, runnin' three feet wide. She don't haff to livehere--she's worth a half million dollars--but she likes mining and shelikes men. She knows how to handle 'em too--as you'll find out. She'shail-fellow with us all--but I tell ye she's got to like a feller allthrough before he sees the inside of her parlor. She's stuck on you.We're good friends--she come to call on my wife yesterday, and shetalked about you pretty much the hull time. I never saw her worse bentup over a man. I believe she'd marry you, Mose, I do."
"Takes two for a bargain of that kind," said Mose.
The marshal turned. "But, my boy, that means making you a half owner ofall she has--why that last mine may go to a million within six months."
"That's all right," Mose replied, feeling the intended good will of theolder man. "But I expect to find or earn my own money. I can't marry awoman fifteen years older'n I am for her money. It ain't right and itain't decent, and you'll oblige me by shutting up all such talk."
The sheriff humbly sighed. "She is a good deal older, that's a fact--butshe's took care of herself. Still, as you say, it's none o' my business.If she can't persuade you, I can't. Come in, and I'll introduce you tothe managers of the National----"
"Can't now, I will later."
"All right, so long! Come in any time."
Mose stepped into a barber shop to brush up a little, for he hadacquired a higher estimate of the princess, and when he entered thedining room of the Palace he made a handsome figure. Whatever he woreacquired distinction from his beauty. His hat, no matter how stained,possessed charm. His dark shirt displayed the splendid shape of hisshoulders, and his cartridge belt slanted across his hip at just theright angle.
The woman waiting for him smiled with an exultant glint in herhalf-concealed eyes.
"Sit there," she commanded, pointing at a chair. "Two beers," she saidto the waiter.
Mose took the chair opposite and looked at her smilelessly. He waitedfor her to move.
"Ever been East--Chicago, Washington?"
"No."
"Want to go?"
"No."
She smiled again. "Know anything about mining?"
"Not a thing."
She looked at him with a musing, admiring glance. "I've got a big cattleranch--will you superintend it for me?"
"Where is it?"
She laughed and stammered a little. "Well--I mean I've been thinking ofbuying one. I'm kind o' tired of these mining towns; I believe I'd liketo live on a ranch, with you to superintend it."
His face darkened again, and she hastened to say, "The cattle businessis going to boom again soon. They're all dropping out of it fast, but_now_ is the time to get in and buy."
The beer came and interrupted her. "Here's to good luck," she said. Theydrank, and as she daintily touched her lips with her handkerchief shelifted her eyes to him again--strange eyes with lovely green and yellowand pink lights in them not unlike some semi-precious stones.
"You don't like me," she said. "Why won't you let me help you?"
"You want a square-toed answer?" he asked grimly, looking her steadilyin the eyes.
She paled a little. "Yes."
"There is a girl in Iowa--I make it my business to work for her."
Her eyes fell and her right hand slowly turned the mug around andaround. When she looked up she seemed older and her eyes were sadder."That need make no difference."
"But it does," he said slowly. "It makes all the difference there is."
She became suddenly very humble. "You misunderstand me--I mean, I'llhelp you both. How do you expect to live?"
His eyes fell now. He flushed and shifted uneasily in his chair. "Idon't know." Then he unbent a little in saying, "That's what's botheringme right now."
She pursued her advantage. "If you marry you've got to quit all thistrail business."
"Dead sure thing! And that scares me too. I don't know how I'd standbeing tied down to a stake."
She laid a hand on his arm. "Now see here, Mose, you let me help you.You know all about cattle and the trail, you can shoot and throw arope, but you're a babe at lots of other things. You've got to get towork at something, settle right down, and dig up some dust. Now isn'tthat so?"
"I reckon that's the size of it."
It was singular how friendly she now seemed in his eyes. There wassomething so frank and gentle in her voice (though her eyes remainedsinister) that he began almost to trust her.
"Well, now, I tell you what you can do. You take the job I got for youwith the Express Company and I'll look around and corral something elsefor you."
He could not refuse to take her hand upon this compact. Then she saidwith an attempt to be careless, "Have you a picture of this girl? I'dlike to see how she looks."
His face darkened again. "No," he said shortly, "I never had one ofher."
She recognized his unwillingness to say more.
"Well, good-by, come and see me."
He parted from her with a sense of having been unnecessarily harsh witha woman who wished to be his good friend.
He was hungry and that made him think of his horse which he returned toat once. After watering and feeding his tired beast he turned in at acoffeehouse and bought a lunch--not being able to afford a meal.Everywhere he went men pointed a timid or admiring thumb at him. Theywere unobtrusive about it, but it annoyed him at the moment. His mindwas t
oo entirely filled with perplexities to welcome strangers'greetings. "I _must_ earn some money," was the thought which broughtwith it each time the offer of the Express Company. He determined eachtime to take it although it involved riding the same trail over and overagain, which made him shudder to think of. But it was three times thepay of a cowboy and a single month of it would enable him to make histrip to the East.
After his luncheon he turned in at the office and sullenly accepted thejob. "You're just the man we need," said the manager. "We've had two orthree hold-ups here, but with you on the seat I shall feel entirely atease. Marshal Haney has recommended you--and I know your record as adaring man. Can you go out to-morrow morning?"
"Quicker the better."
"I'd like to have you sleep here in the office. I'll see that you have agood bed."
"Anywhere."
After Mose went out the manager winked at the marshal and said:
"It's a good thing to have him retained on our side. He'd make a bad manon the hold-up side."
"Sure thing!" replied Haney.
While loitering on a street corner still busy with his problems Mose sawa tall man on a fine black horse coming down the street. The riderslouched in his saddle like a tired man but with the grace of a truehorseman. On his bushy head sat a wide soft hat creased in the middle.His suit was brown corduroy.
Mose thought, "If that bushy head was not so white I should say it wasfather's. It _is_ father!"
He let him pass, staring in astonishment at the transformation in theminister. "Well, well! the old man has woke up. He looks the real thing,sure."
A drum struck up suddenly and the broncho (never too tired to shy) gavea frenzied leap. The rider went with him, reins in hand, heels set wellin, knees grasping the saddle.
Mose smiled with genuine pleasure. "I didn't know he could ride likethat," and he turned to follow with a genuine interest.
He came up to Mr. Excell just as the marshal stepped out of the crowdand accosted him. For the first time in his life Mose was moved to jokehis father.
"Marshal, that man is a dangerous character. I know him; put him out."
The father turned and a smile lit his darkly tanned face. "Harry----"
Mose made a swift sign, "Old man, how are ye?" The minister's mannerpleased his son. He grasped his father's hand with a heartiness thatchecked speech for the moment, then he said, "I was looking for you.Where you from?"
"I've got a summer camp between here and the Springs. I saw the noticeof you in yesterday's paper. I've been watching the newspapers for along time, hoping to get some word of you. I seized the first chance andcame on."
Mose turned. "Marshal, I'll vouch for this man; he's an old neighbor ofmine."
Mr. Excell slipped to the ground and Mose took the rein on his arm."Come, let's put the horse with mine." They walked away, elbow to elbow.A wonderful change had swept over Mr. Excell. He was brown, alert, andvigorous--but more than all, his eyes were keen and cheerful and hissmile ready and manly.
"You're looking well," said the son.
"I _am well_. Since I struck the high altitudes I'm a new man. I don'twonder you love this life."
"Are you preaching?"
"Yes, I speak once a week in the Springs. I ride down the trail from mycabin and back again the same day. The fact is I stayed in Rock Rivertill I was nearly broken. I lost my health, and became morbid, trying topreach to the needs of the old men and women of my congregation. Now Iam free. I am back to the wild country. Of course, so long as my wifelived I couldn't break away, but now I have no one but myself and myneeds are small. I am happier than I have been for years."
As they walked and talked together the two men approached anunderstanding. Mr. Excell felt sure of his son's interest, for the firsttime in many years, and avoided all terms of affection. In his return tothe more primitive, bolder life he unconsciously left behind him all the"soft phrases" which had disgusted his son. He struck the right notealmost without knowing it, and the son, precisely as he perceived in hisfather a return to rugged manliness, opened his hand to him.
Together they took care of the horse, together they walked the streets.They sat at supper together and the father's joy was very great when atnight they camped together and Mose so far unbent as to tell of hisadventures. He did not confide his feeling for Mary--his love was fartoo deep for that. A strange woman had reached it by craft, a father'saffection failed of it.