Chapter 10
A SLAP IN THE FACE
When I got out into the dark, where my hot face cooled in the wind, myrelief equaled my other feelings. Sampson had told me to clear out, andalthough I did not take that as a dismissal I considered I would be wiseto leave the ranch at once. Daylight might disclose my footprintsbetween the walls, but even if it did not, my work there was finished.So I went to my room and packed my few belongings.
The night was dark, windy, stormy, yet there was no rain. I hoped assoon as I got clear of the ranch to lose something of the pain I felt.But long after I had tramped out into the open there was a lump in mythroat and an ache in my breast. And all my thought centered roundSally.
What a game and loyal little girl she had turned out to be! I wasabsolutely at a loss concerning what the future held in store for us. Iseemed to have a vague but clinging hope that, after the trouble wasover, there might be--there _must_ be--something more between us.
Steele was not at our rendezvous among the rocks. The hour was too late.Among the few dim lights flickering on the outskirts of town I pickedout the one of his little adobe house but I knew almost to a certaintythat he was not there. So I turned my way into the darkness, not withany great hope of finding Steele out there, but with the intention ofseeking a covert for myself until morning.
There was no trail and the night was so black that I could see only thelighter sandy patches of ground. I stumbled over the little clumps ofbrush, fell into washes, and pricked myself on cactus. By and bymesquites and rocks began to make progress still harder for me. Iwandered around, at last getting on higher ground and here in spite ofthe darkness, felt some sense of familiarity with things. I was probablynear Steele's hiding place.
I went on till rocks and brush barred further progress, and then Iventured to whistle. But no answer came. Whereupon I spread my blanketin as sheltered a place as I could find and lay down. The coyotes wereon noisy duty, the wind moaned and rushed through the mesquites. Butdespite these sounds and worry about Steele, and the never-absenthaunting thought of Sally, I went to sleep.
A little rain had fallen during the night, as I discovered upon waking;still it was not enough to cause me any discomfort. The morning wasbright and beautiful, yet somehow I hated it. I had work to do that didnot go well with that golden wave of grass and brush on the windy open.
I climbed to the highest rock of that ridge and looked about. It was awild spot, some three miles from town. Presently I recognized landmarksgiven to me by Steele and knew I was near his place. I whistled, thenhalloed, but got no reply. Then by working back and forth across theridge I found what appeared to be a faint trail. This I followed, lostand found again, and eventually, still higher up on another ridge, witha commanding outlook, I found Steele's hiding place. He had not beenthere for perhaps forty-eight hours. I wondered where he had slept.
Under a shelving rock I found a pack of food, carefully protected by aheavy slab. There was also a canteen full of water. I lost no timegetting myself some breakfast, and then, hiding my own pack, I set offat a rapid walk for town.
But I had scarcely gone a quarter of a mile, had, in fact, just reacheda level, when sight of two horsemen halted me and made me take to cover.They appeared to be cowboys hunting for a horse or a steer. Under thecircumstances, however, I was suspicious, and I watched them closely,and followed them a mile or so round the base of the ridges, until I hadthoroughly satisfied myself they were not tracking Steele. They were along time working out of sight, which further retarded my venturingforth into the open.
Finally I did get started. Then about half-way to town more horsemen inthe flat caused me to lie low for a while, and make a wide detour toavoid being seen.
Somewhat to my anxiety it was afternoon before I arrived in town. For mylife I could not have told why I knew something had happened since mylast visit, but I certainly felt it; and was proportionately curious andanxious.
The first person I saw whom I recognized was Dick, and he handed me anote from Sally. She seemed to take it for granted that I had been wiseto leave the ranch. Miss Sampson had softened somewhat when she learnedSally and I were engaged, and she had forgiven my deceit. Sally asked meto come that night after eight, down among the trees and shrubbery, to asecluded spot we knew. It was a brief note and all to the point. Butthere was something in it that affected me strangely. I had imagined theengagement an invention for the moment. But after danger to me was pastSally would not have carried on a pretense, not even to win back MissSampson's respect. The fact was, Sally meant that engagement. If I didthe right thing now I would not lose her.
But what was the right thing?
I was sorely perplexed and deeply touched. Never had I a harder taskthan that of the hour--to put her out of my mind. I went boldly toSteele's house. He was not there. There was nothing by which I couldtell when he had been there. The lamp might have been turned out ormight have burned out. The oil was low. I saw a good many tracks roundin the sandy walks. I did not recognize Steele's.
As I hurried away I detected more than one of Steele's nearest neighborspeering at me from windows and doors. Then I went to Mrs. Hoden's. Shewas up and about and cheerful. The children were playing, manifestlywell cared for and content. Mrs. Hoden had not seen Steele since I had.Miss Samson had sent her servant. There was a very decided change in theatmosphere of Mrs. Hoden's home, and I saw that for her the worst waspast, and she was bravely, hopefully facing the future.
From there, I hurried to the main street of Linrock and to that sectionwhere violence brooded, ready at any chance moment to lift its hydrahead. For that time of day the street seemed unusually quiet. Fewpedestrians were abroad and few loungers. There was a row of saddledhorses on each side of the street, the full extent of the block.
I went into the big barroom of the Hope So. I had never seen the placeso full, nor had it ever seemed so quiet. The whole long bar was linedby shirt-sleeved men, with hats slouched back and vests flapping wide.Those who were not drinking were talking low. Half a dozen tables heldas many groups of dusty, motley men, some silent, others speaking andgesticulating, all earnest.
At first glance I did not see any one in whom I had especial interest.The principal actors of my drama did not appear to be present. However,there were rough characters more in evidence than at any other time Ihad visited the saloon. Voices were too low for me to catch, but Ifollowed the direction of some of the significant gestures. Then I sawthat these half dozen tables were rather closely grouped and drawn backfrom the center of the big room. Next my quick sight took in a smashedtable and chairs, some broken bottles on the floor, and then a darksinister splotch of blood.
I had no time to make inquiries, for my roving eye caught Frank Mortonin the doorway, and evidently he wanted to attract my attention. Heturned away and I followed. When I got outside, he was leaning againstthe hitching-rail. One look at this big rancher was enough for me to seethat he had been told my part in Steele's game, and that he himself hadroused to the Texas fighting temper. He had a clouded brow. He lookedsomber and thick. He seemed slow, heavy, guarded.
"Howdy, Russ," he said. "We've been wantin' you."
"There's ten of us in town, all scattered round, ready. It's goin' tostart to-day."
"Where's Steele?" was my first query.
"Saw him less'n hour ago. He's somewhere close. He may show up anytime."
"Is he all right?"
"Wal, he was pretty fit a little while back," replied Mortonsignificantly.
"What's come off? Tell me all."
"Wal, the ball opened last night, I reckon. Jack Blome came swaggerin'in here askin' for Steele. We all knew what he was in town for. But lastnight he came out with it. Every man in the saloons, every man on thestreets heard Blome's loud an' longin' call for the Ranger. Blome's palstook it up and they all enjoyed themselves some."
"Drinking hard?" I queried.
"Nope--they didn't hit it up very hard. But they laid foundations." Ofcourse, Steele was not to be s
een last night. This morning Blome and hisgang were out pretty early. But they traveled alone. Blome just strolledup and down by himself. I watched him walk up this street on one sideand then down the other, just a matter of thirty-one times. I countedthem. For all I could see maybe Blome did not take a drink. But hisgang, especially Bo Snecker, sure looked on the red liquor.
"By eleven o'clock everybody in town knew what was coming off. There wasno work or business, except in the saloons. Zimmer and I were together,and the rest of our crowd in pairs at different places. I reckon it wasabout noon when Blome got tired parading up and down. He went in theHope So, and the crowd followed. Zimmer stayed outside so to giveSteele a hunch in case he came along. I went in to see the show.
"Wal, it was some curious to me, and I've lived all my life in Texas.But I never before saw a gunman on the job, so to say. Blome's ahandsome fellow, an' he seemed different from what I expected. Sure, Ithought he'd yell an' prance round like a drunken fool. But he was coolan' quiet enough. The blowin' an' drinkin' was done by his pals. Butafter a little while it got to me that Blome gloried in this situation.I've seen a man dead-set to kill another, all dark, sullen, restless.But Blome wasn't that way. He didn't seem at all like a bloody devil. Hewas vain, cocksure. He was revelin' in the effect he made. I had himfigured all right.
"Blome sat on the edge of a table an' he faced the door. Of course,there was a pard outside, ready to pop in an' tell him if Steele wascomin'. But Steele didn't come in that way. He wasn't on the street justbefore that time, because Zimmer told me afterward. Steele must havebeen in the Hope So somewhere. Any way, just like he dropped from theclouds he came through the door near the bar. Blome didn't see him come.But most of the gang did, an' I want to tell you that big room wentpretty quiet.
"'Hello Blome, I hear you're lookin' for me,' called out Steele.
"I don't know if he spoke ordinary or not, but his voice drew me up sameas it did the rest, an' damn me! Blome seemed to turn to stone. Hedidn't start or jump. He turned gray. An' I could see that he was tryin'to think in a moment when thinkin' was hard. Then Blome turned his head.Sure he expected to look into a six-shooter. But Steele was standin'back there in his shirt sleeves, his hands on his hips, and he lookedmore man than any one I ever saw. It's easy to remember the look of him,but how he made me feel, that isn't easy.
"Blome was at a disadvantage. He was half sittin' on a table, an' Steelewas behind an' to the left of him. For Blome to make a move then wouldhave been a fool trick. He saw that. So did everybody. The crowd slidback without noise, but Bo Snecker an' a rustler named March stuck nearBlome. I figured this Bo Snecker as dangerous as Blome, an' resultsproved I was right.
"Steele didn't choose to keep his advantage, so far as position inregard to Blome went. He just walked round in front of the rustler. Butthis put all the crowd in front of Steele, an' perhaps he had an eye forthat.
"'I hear you've been looking for me,' repeated the Ranger.
"Blome never moved a muscle but he seemed to come to life. It struck methat Steele's presence had made an impression on Blome which was new tothe rustler.
"'Yes, I have,' replied Blome.
"'Well, here I am. What do you want?'
"When everybody knew what Blome wanted and had intended, this questionof Steele's seemed strange on one hand. An' yet on the other, now thatthe Ranger stood there, it struck me as natural enough.
"'If you heard I was lookin' for you, you sure heard what for,' repliedBlome.
"'Blome, my experience with such men as you is that you all brag onething behind my back an' you mean different when I show up. I've calledyou now. What do you mean?'
"'I reckon you know what Jack Blome means.'
"'Jack Blome! That name means nothin' to me. Blome, you've been braggin'around that you'd meet me--kill me! You thought you meant it, didn'tyou?'
"'Yes--I did mean it.'
"'All right. Go ahead!'
"The barroom became perfectly still, except for the slow breaths Iheard. There wasn't any movement anywhere. That queer gray came toBlome's face again. He might again have been stone. I thought, an' I'llgamble every one else watchin' thought, Blome would draw an' get killedin the act. But he never moved. Steele had cowed him. If Blome had beenheated by drink, or mad, or anythin' but what he was just then, maybe hemight have throwed a gun. But he didn't. I've heard of really brave mengettin' panicked like that, an' after seein' Steele I didn't wonder atBlome.
"'You see, Blome, you don't want to meet me, for all your talk,' went onthe Ranger. 'You thought you did, but that was before you faced the manyou intended to kill. Blome, you're one of these dandy, cock-of-the-walkfour-flushers. I'll tell you how I know. Because I've met the realgun-fighters, an' there never was one of them yet who bragged or talked.Now don't you go round blowin' any more.'
"Then Steele deliberately stepped forward an' slapped Blome on one sideof his face an' again on the other.
"'Keep out of my way after this or I'm liable to spoil some of yourdandy looks.'
"Blome got up an' walked straight out of the place. I had my eyes onhim, kept me from seein' Steele. But on hearin' somethin', I don't knowwhat, I turned back an' there Steele had got a long arm on Bo Snecker,who was tryin' to throw a gun.
"But he wasn't quick enough. The gun banged in the air an' then it wentspinnin' away, while Snecker dropped in a heap on the floor. The tablewas overturned, an' March, the other rustler, who was on that side, gotup, pullin' his gun. But somebody in the crowd killed him before hecould get goin'. I didn't see who fired that shot, an' neither didanybody else. But the crowd broke an' run. Steele dragged Bo Sneckerdown to jail an' locked him up."
Morton concluded his narrative, and then evidently somewhat dry oftongue, he produced knife and tobacco and cut himself a huge quid."That's all, so far, to-day, Russ, but I reckon you'll agree with me onthe main issue--Steele's game's opened."
I had felt the rush of excitement, the old exultation at the prospect ofdanger, but this time there was something lacking in them. The wildnessof the boy that had persisted in me was gone.
"Yes, Steele has opened it and I'm ready to boost the game along. Waittill I see him! But Morton, you say someone you don't know played a handin here and killed March."
"I sure do. It wasn't any of our men. Zimmer was outside. The otherswere at different places."
"The fact is, then, Steele has more friends than we know, perhaps morethan he knows himself."
"Right. An' it's got the gang in the air. There'll be hell to-night."
"Steele hardly expects to keep Snecker in jail, does he?"
"I can't say. Probably not. I wish Steele had put both Blome and Sneckerout of the way. We'd have less to fight."
"Maybe. I'm for the elimination method myself. But Steele doesn't followout the gun method. He will use one only when he's driven. It's hard tomake him draw. You know, after all, these desperate men aren't afraid ofguns or fights. Yet they are afraid of Steele. Perhaps it's his nerve,the way he faces them, the things he says, the fact that he hasmysterious allies."
"Russ, we're all with him, an' I'll gamble that the honest citizens ofLinrock will flock to him in another day. I can see signs of that. Therewere twenty or more men on Hoden's list, but Steele didn't want somany."
"We don't need any more. Morton, can you give me any idea where Steeleis?"
"Not the slightest."
"All right. I'll hunt for him. If you see him tell him to hole up, andthen you come after me. Tell him I've got our men spotted."
"Russ, if you Ranger fellows ain't wonders!" exclaimed Morton, withshining eyes.
Steele did not show himself in town again that day. Here his cunning wasmanifest. By four o'clock that afternoon Blome was drunk and he and hisrustlers went roaring up and down the street. There was some shooting,but I did not see or hear that any one got hurt. The lawless element,both native to Linrock and the visitors, followed in Blome's tracks fromsaloon to saloon. How often had I seen this sort of procession, thoughnot on
so large a scale, in many towns of wild Texas!
The two great and dangerous things in Linrock at the hour were whiskyand guns. Under such conditions the rustlers were capable of any mad actof folly.
Morton and his men sent word flying around town that a fight wasimminent and all citizens should be prepared to defend their homesagainst possible violence. But despite his warning I saw manyrespectable citizens abroad whose quiet, unobtrusive manner and watchfuleyes and hard faces told me that when trouble began they wanted to bethere. Verily Ranger Steele had built his house of service upon a rock.It did not seem too much to say that the next few days, perhaps hours,would see a great change in the character and a proportionate decreasein number of the inhabitants of this corner of Pecos County.
Morton and I were in the crowd that watched Blome, Snecker, and a dozenother rustlers march down to Steele's jail. They had crowbars and theyhad cans of giant powder, which they had appropriated from a hardwarestore. If Steele had a jailer he was not in evidence. The door waswrenched off and Bo Snecker, evidently not wholly recovered, broughtforth to his cheering comrades. Then some of the rustlers began to urgeback the pressing circle, and the word given out acted as a spur tohaste. The jail was to be blown up.
The crowd split and some men ran one way, some another. Morton and Iwere among those who hurried over the vacant ground to a little ridgethat marked the edge of the open country. From this vantage point weheard several rustlers yell in warning, then they fled for their lives.
It developed that they might have spared themselves such headlongflight. The explosion appeared to be long in coming. At length we sawthe lifting of the roof in a cloud of red dust, and then heard anexceedingly heavy but low detonation. When the pall of dust drifted awayall that was left of Steele's jail was a part of the stone walls. Thebuilding that stood nearest, being constructed of adobe, had been badlydamaged.
However, this wreck of the jail did not seem to satisfy Blome and hisfollowers, for amid wild yells and huzzahs they set to work withcrowbars and soon laid low every stone. Then with young Snecker in thefore they set off up town; and if this was not a gang in fit mood forany evil or any ridiculous celebration I greatly missed my guess.
It was a remarkable fact, however, and one that convinced me of deviltryafoot, that the crowd broke up, dispersed, and actually disappeared offthe streets of Linrock. The impression given was that they weresatisfied. But this impression did not remain with me. Morton wasscarcely deceived either. I told him that I would almost certainly seeSteele early in the evening and that we would be out of harm's way. Hetold me that we could trust him and his men to keep sharp watch on thenight doings of Blome's gang. Then we parted.
It was almost dark. By the time I had gotten something to eat and drinkat the Hope So, the hour for my meeting with Sally was about due. On theway out I did not pass a lighted house until I got to the end of thestreet; and then strange to say, that one was Steele's. I walked downpast the place, and though I was positive he would not be there Iwhistled low. I halted and waited. He had two lights lit, one in thekitchen, and one in the big room. The blinds were drawn. I saw a long,dark shadow cross one window and then, a little later, cross the other.This would have deceived me had I not remembered Steele's device forcasting the shadow. He had expected to have his house attacked at night,presumably while he was at home; but he had felt that it was notnecessary for him to stay there to make sure. Lawless men of this classwere sometimes exceedingly simple and gullible.
Then I bent my steps across the open, avoiding road and path, to thefoot of the hill upon which Sampson's house stood. It was dark enoughunder the trees. I could hardly find my way to the secluded nook andbench where I had been directed to come. I wondered if Sally would beable to find it. Trust that girl! She might have a few qualms and comeshaking a little, but she would be there on the minute.
I had hardly seated myself to wait when my keen ears detected something,then slight rustlings, then soft steps, and a dark form emerged from theblackness into the little starlit glade. Sally came swiftly towards meand right into my arms. That was sure a sweet moment. Through theexcitement and dark boding thoughts of the day, I had forgotten that shewould do just this thing. And now I anticipated tears, clingings, fears.But I was agreeably surprised.
"Russ, are you all right?" she whispered.
"Just at this moment I am," I replied.
Sally gave me another little hug, and then, disengaging herself from myarms, she sat down beside me.
"I can only stay a minute. Oh, it's safe enough. But I told Diane I wasto meet you and she's waiting to hear if Steele is--is--"
"Steele's safe so far," I interrupted.
"There were men coming and going all day. Uncle Roger never appeared atmeals. He didn't eat, Diane said. George tramped up and down, smoking,biting his nails, listening for these messengers. When they'd leave he'dgo in for another drink. We heard him roar some one had been shot and wefeared it might be Steele."
"No," I replied, steadily.
"Did Steele shoot anybody?"
"No. A rustler named March tried to draw on Steele, and someone in thecrowd killed March."
"Someone? Russ, was it you?"
"It sure wasn't. I didn't happen to be there."
"Ah! Then Steele has other men like you around him. I might have guessedthat."
"Sally, Steele makes men his friends. It's because he's on the side ofjustice."
"Diane will be glad to hear that. She doesn't think only of Steele'slife. I believe she has a secret pride in his work. And I've an ideawhat she fears most is some kind of a clash between Steele and herfather."
"I shouldn't wonder. Sally, what does Diane know about her father?"
"Oh, she's in the dark. She got hold of papers that made her ask himquestions. And his answers made her suspicious. She realizes he's notwhat he has pretended to be all these years. But she never dreams herfather is a rustler chief. When she finds that out--" Sally broke offand I finished the sentence in thought.
"Listen, Sally," I said, suddenly. "I've an idea that Steele's housewill be attacked by the gang to-night, and destroyed, same as the jailwas this afternoon. These rustlers are crazy. They'll expect to kill himwhile he's there. But he won't be there. If you and Diane hear shootingand yelling to-night don't be frightened. Steele and I will be safe."
"Oh, I hope so. Russ, I must hurry back. But, first, can't you arrange ameeting between Diane and Steele? It's her wish. She begged me to. Shemust see him."
"I'll try," I promised, knowing that promise would be hard to keep.
"We could ride out from the ranch somewhere. You remember we used torest on the high ridge where there was a shady place--such a beautifuloutlook? It was there I--I--"
"My dear, you needn't bring up painful memories. I remember where."
Sally laughed softly. She could laugh in the face of the gloomiestprospects. "Well, to-morrow morning, or the next, or any morning soon,you tie your red scarf on the dead branch of that high mesquite. I'lllook every morning with the glass. If I see the scarf, Diane and I willride out."
"That's fine. Sally, you have ideas in your pretty little head. And onceI thought it held nothing but--" She put a hand on my mouth. "I must gonow," she said and rose. She stood close to me and put her arms aroundmy neck. "One thing more, Russ. It--it was dif--difficult telling Dianewe--we were engaged. I lied to Uncle. But what else could I have toldDiane? I--I--Oh--was it--" She faltered.
"Sally, you lied to Sampson to save me. But you must have accepted mebefore you could have told Diane the truth."
"Oh, Russ, I had--in my heart! But it has been some time since you askedme--and--and--"
"You imagined my offer might have been withdrawn. Well, it stands."
She slipped closer to me then, with that soft sinuousness of a woman,and I believed she might have kissed me had I not held back, toying withmy happiness.
"Sally, do you love me?"
"Ever so much. Since the very first."
"I'm a
marshal, a Ranger like Steele, a hunter of criminals. It's a hardlife. There's spilling of blood. And any time I--I might--All the same,Sally--will you be my wife?"
"Oh, Russ! Yes. But let me tell you when your duty's done here that Iwill have a word to say about your future. It'll be news to you to learnI'm an orphan. And I'm not a poor one. I own a plantation in Louisiana.I'll make a planter out of you. There!"
"Sally! You're rich?" I exclaimed.
"I'm afraid I am. But nobody can ever say you married me for my money."
"Well, no, not if you tell of my abject courtship when I thought you apoor relation on a visit. My God! Sally, if I only could see this Rangerjob through safely and to success!"
"You will," she said softly.
Then I took a ring from my little finger and slipped it on hers. "Thatwas my sister's. She's dead now. No other girl ever wore it. Let it beyour engagement ring. Sally, I pray I may somehow get through this awfulRanger deal to make you happy, to become worthy of you!"
"Russ, I fear only one thing," she whispered.
"And what's that?"
"There will be fighting. And you--oh, I saw into your eyes the othernight when you stood with your hands up. You would kill anybody, Russ.It's awful! But don't think me a baby. I can conceive what your work is,what a man you must be. I can love you and stick to you, too. But if youkilled a blood relative of mine I would have to give you up. I'm aSoutherner, Russ, and blood is thick. I scorn my uncle and I hate mycousin George. And I love you. But don't you kill one of my family,I--Oh, I beg of you go as far as you dare to avoid that!"
I could find no voice to answer her, and for a long moment we werelocked in an embrace, breast to breast and lips to lips, an embrace ofsweet pain.
Then she broke away, called a low, hurried good-by, and stole like ashadow into the darkness.
An hour later I lay in the open starlight among the stones and brush,out where Steele and I always met. He lay there with me, but while Ilooked up at the stars he had his face covered with his hands. For I hadgiven him my proofs of the guilt of Diane Sampson's father.
Steele had made one comment: "I wish to God I'd sent for some fool who'dhave bungled the job!"
This was a compliment to me, but it showed what a sad pass Steele hadcome to. My regret was that I had no sympathy to offer him. I failed himthere. I had trouble of my own. The feel of Sally's clinging arms aroundmy neck, the warm, sweet touch of her lips remained on mine. What Steelewas enduring I did not know, but I felt that it was agony.
Meanwhile time passed. The blue, velvety sky darkened as the stars grewbrighter. The wind grew stronger and colder. I heard sand blowingagainst the stones like the rustle of silk. Otherwise it was asingularly quiet night. I wondered where the coyotes were and longed fortheir chorus. By and by a prairie wolf sent in his lonely lament fromthe distant ridges. That mourn was worse than the silence. It made thecold shudders creep up and down my back. It was just the cry that seemedto be the one to express my own trouble. No one hearing that long-drawn,quivering wail could ever disassociate it from tragedy. By and by itceased, and then I wished it would come again. Steele lay like the stonebeside him. Was he ever going to speak? Among the vagaries of my moodwas a petulant desire to have him sympathize with me.
I had just looked at my watch, making out in the starlight that the hourwas eleven, when the report of a gun broke the silence.
I jumped up to peer over the stone. Steele lumbered up beside me, and Iheard him draw his breath hard.