The woman grabbed the money, and in response to her shrill call, a barefooted, tear-stained urchin appeared.
'Abe, yo're to show the gent the way to Forby's, but if I find yu've saw the hangin', I'll take the hide off'n yu,' she warned.
The horseman stooped, lifted the child to the saddle in frontofhim, thanked the woman, and rode away.
'The shortest road, Abe,' he said. 'Get there in time and there's a dollar for you. If we're too late ...'
He did not finish the sentence, but the pleasant, genial tone had gone from his voice, and there was no warmth in the keen grey eyes.
Mad Martin, who had constituted himself master of ceremonies, placed his hands on his hips and contemplated the condemned man with mocking malice.
'This is where I even up, Severn,' he hissed. 'An' as for that dawg, I'm agoin' to cut him in strips with my quirt when yo're --gone.'
'Mind he don't send yu after Penton, yu polecat,' the cowpuncher retorted.
White with fury, Martin was about to give the signal to those at the rope, when someone shouted, 'Who's this a-comin'?'
On the eastern sideofthe glade, through a break in the trees, three riders came in sight, spurring weary horses to a last gallop. Bartholomew gave one glance, muttered a curse, and shouted:
'Finish him off.'
'At the first pull on that rope yu die, Bartholomew, an' the fellas holdin' it follow yu.'
It was Snap Lunt's voice, vibrant with menace. Standing in a half crouch, his back protected by the tree-trunk, he had both guns levelled, one of them directly covering the Bar B man.
'Who are yu, an' what are yu hornin' in for?' the rancher roared.
'My name's Snap Lunt, an' I'm just seein' fair, that's all,' the lintle man said quietly. 'Yu can hang that fella just as easy in ten minits' time, when we know what these folk want. Mebbe they're just honin' to see the hangin'.'
The name sent a quiverofexcitement through the crowd, and the men holding the rope dropped it; they were taking no chances with a marksmanofSnap's reputation for accuracy;moreover, two or them had been present at Severn's arrest, when the gunman had an attackof'nerves'. Bartholomew, too, was nonplussed, and before he could thinkofany expedient, the newcomers had arrived.
'Thank God, we're in time!' Judge Embley gasped, as he flung himself from his panting animal and helped Phil to dismount.
The thirdofthe party, a smallish, one-eyed man, whom someofthose present remembered seeing once or twice in town, got down more leisurely, and stood surveying the scene indifferently. No one took much notice of him, all interest being centred on the girl and Embley. The latter walked straight to his fellow-jurist.
'What's the meaningofthis, Lufton?' he inquired. 'Surely I don't find you assisting at a lynching?'
'Certainly not; I came here to prevent one,' Lufton replied indignantly. 'I have protested in vain.'
'And Mr. Bartholomew, has he protested?' Embley asked witheringly.
Lufton flushed. 'He has given me every assistance,' he said stiffly.
'Even to tellin' his men to finish the prisoner off when he saw yu were comin',' Bent put in.
'Is that so?' Embley flashed.
'I didn't know it was yu,' Bartholomew lied, with a savage look at the saloon-keeper. 'I thought it was a rescue party from his ranch, an' didn't want trouble. Anyway, I don't see that yore arrival makes any difference; we're strong enough to do as we like, I guess.'
'Better guess again, Bartholomew,' Embley smiled. 'Unless I'm mistaken there are folk coming now who'll have a word to say.'
In fact, the distant drumofpounding hoofs was audible, and away off on the plain a compact bodyofhorsemen was approaching at full speed. The Bar B man's face darkened as he saw that this new factor was composedofabout a dozen men from the XT and Lazy M. An awkward bunch, but his supporters outnumbered them, and if it came to a pitched battle... He turned arrogantly to Embley as the punchers dashed up, pulled their sweating, foam-flecked ponies to a halt, and whooped with delight when they saw Severn standing there, a grinofwelcome on his lean face.
'Well, what d'yu reckon yu can do?' Bartholomew sneered. 'Hope is under my jurisdiction; I can order the case to be reheard,' Embley replied.
Lufton's face crimsoned. 'It would be most unconventional to re-try a guilty man,' he protested.
'It would be a damn sight more unconventional to hang an innocent one,' snapped the other.
The principal actor in the drama, the condemned man, watched the proceedings unperturbed. He had removed the noose from his neck and was leaning carelessly against the tree which had so nearly been put to a more sinister use. With Embley there, he was content to await the issue. His friends, at a whispered word from Ridge, had kept their saddles and strung out in a half-circle, ready for instant action. Bartholomew's men, too, sullen and savage-looking, were also prepared. Only a spark was needed to start the conflagration.
'An' who's goin' to re-try the case, yu, the prisoner's pal, or Lufton?' Bartholomew asked jeeringly.
'That's a question I can perhaps settle for you, gentlemen,' said a quiet voice, and the stout little man who had found the townofHope deserted, walked forward. So absorbed were the spectators, that his advent had not been noticed.
Embley spun round and his face lit up when he saw the speaker. 'Bleke ! ' he exclaimed. 'I never in my life was so glad to see you. How in the name f--?'
The little stranger shrugged his shoulders and smiled whimsically. 'Just happened along,' he said.
He nodded to Lufton, whose unwholesome face was now the colourofcheese, and looked curiously at Black Bart.
'Mr. Bartholomewofthe Bar B, Governor,' Embley introduced.
'I've heardofhim,' Bleke said in a non-committal tone, and did not offer his hand.
The rancher's face paled under its tan, and his rage at this unexpected development nearly stifled him. But he had to control; all hopeofimposing his will by force had now gone, for hard and reckless as his outfit was, the men would not risk outlawry. He listened contemptuously while Lufton, concerned now only with his own safety, told the storyofthe trail. When he had finished, the Governor nodded comprehendingly.
'I can review the case, take any fresh evidence you may have, Embley, and order a new hearing if I deern it necessary,' he decided. 'I will do that now. It is not ften one is able to administer the law in such charming surroundings.' He walked over to a fallen tree-trunk and sat down. 'This will serve for the judicial bench, and the lady shall share it,' he smiled. 'I am afraid the restofyou will have to stand.'
Wondering and wholly impressed by this quiet little man with the shrewd, dominating grey eyes, the citizens crowded round. There were scowling, sulky faces among them, but no one ventured a protest. The nearest approach to it came from Bart.
'Keep an eye on the prisoner--he ain't cleared yet,' he audibly told his followers.
'As he returned to gaol voluntarily, I doubt if he will run away, Mr. Bartholomew,' the Governor commented. 'But he shall stand inside the ring on my left, and if you will take the opposite position, you will be able to watch him yourself.'
The rancher scowled but complied. Severn noticed that Snap had contrived to secure a place just behind where he himself was standing.
The Governor turned to Lufton. 'I should like to see the evidence the prisoner produced,' he began.
He compared the writing in the account-book carefully with the two slips and then looked at Bartholomew.
'You think these are forgeries?'
'Don't think a-tall--I know they are,' retorted the rancher. 'Very clever ones,' Bleke said dryly, and Lufton squirmed uncomfortably. 'Let us have your story, Embley.'
The Judge gave a brief but complete accountofhis abduction and subsequent interview with the owner of the Bar B, and then, at the requestofthe Governor, Phil told her experience. When she had ended, Bleke turned to Bartholomew.
'What influence had you over these outlaws?'
'The chiefof'em owed his life to me.'
