Again came the hubbub of voices. Men had crowded in from the street. Someone stated that he'd seen Hondo and his two pals down near the T.N. & A.S. railroad station a short time before, but the words were lost in the noise.
The deputy finally managed to make himself heard. 'So, what are you proving, Hub?' he asked caustically. 'You saw a gun barrel shoved over the top of your swingin' doors. Are you telling me that you recognized Hondo's gun?'
'Didn't have to,' Hub grunted disdainfully. 'When the flash of the explosion come it lighted up Hondo's ugly features. Now, is that good enough for you, Larry?'
'You could have been mistook, Hub,' the deputy commenced lamely.
The Senator cleared his throat. 'Mr. Hub may be right,' he said quietly, when the voices had died down. 'Though it is easy to make an error of recognition in the brief flash of a gunshot, as I think well all concede. On the other hand, on my part, I saw Mr. Willets reach for his gun the instant he saw the Deputy U.S. Marshal come in —'
Hub demanded, 'Senator, did you see him draw the gun?'
Whitlock hesitated. 'No, I can't say that I did. I'd turned toward Marshal Jordan when he spoke my name and started to reach out to shake hands with him.' He turned to Cal who stood near. 'You saw Mr. Willets reach for his gun, didn't you?'
'Well, er-' Cal stalled.
'I know you did,' the Senator stated. 'You saw his movement and looked surprised. There was a suspicious look on your features as you asked him some question. Surely, you won't deny that.'
Cal shrugged. 'I don't remember,' he said lamely. Then added, 'But I do know damn' well Willets didn't fire his gun.'
'And can you be certain?' the Senator asked. 'You looked away a moment later. A fast man with a gun could fire and reholster in mighty swift time—'
'I'm not that fast,' I put in. 'Anyway, look here, why don't you consider the angle from which the shot came? Jordan was plugged right between the shoulderblades and from where I was sitting—'
'Yeah, yeah,' Hub nodded, 'Willet's has got a point there. And I know what I seen.'
'And I know what I saw,' the Senator said. 'I've witnessed enough court trials in my time to know that the unexperienced—you'll note, gentlemen, that I say
Several men nodded agreement to that. The deputy said finally, 'Hub, I'll keep what you say in mind. Meanwhile, I'll just have to take Willets along for further questioning. I want to look into his story a mite.' My heart sank as he added, 'Is it going to be necessary to put the cuffs on you, Willets?'
'I'll come along peaceful,' I told him hopelessly.
We stepped out to the street, followed by a crowd. Cal walked next to me. 'Look here, Joe, if you'll point out your hawss, I'll lead him down to the jail for you and tether him at the hitch-rack.'
I said, 'Thanks, Cal,' and indicated my pony in the line of broncs at the pole-rack before the saloon.
The crowd following us fell off as we entered the office of the jail. 'Y'know, Willets, that story of Hub's won't stand up. Everybody knows he's got a grudge against that Hondo hombre. Oh, sure, Hub's honest as the day is long, but he's biased in his judgment, ever since he and Hondo had an argument a few days back. Hondo was drunk and had broken a bottle of liquor—in here,' indicating a dark passageway leading from the deputy's office.
In the gloom I couldn't be sure where I was going, and before I could realize what was happening he'd shoved me into a cell and clanged the door shut behind me.
I said, 'What the hell—!'
'Take it easy now, Willets. No use you gettin' riled. My night-man will be around shortly and bring you some supper—'
'But you said you were just bringing me here for questioning.'
'I've had a long day. Too doggone weary to start that now. In the mornin', mebbe. For sure at your trial, anyway.'
He left me in darkness, after slamming shut the door that led to his office.
I yelled after him, but he paid no attention. Then I indulged in a fit of useless imprecations. Realizing that wasn't doing any good, I finally calmed down. Fortunately, the deputy hadn't made me empty my pockets. I scratched a match and found an oil lamp on a shelf in one corner. Now I could have some light. The cell was the usual type. A bunk and straw mattress at one side. Two buckets in a corner, one filled with drinking water. A door of strong steel bars. In the outer wall, high up, an open barred window. For the rest, walls, ceiling and floor of cement and rock. It all looked escape-proof.
I rolled and lighted a cigarette, and dropped wearily on the cot to think things over. Now I was really in a hell of a mess. Any story I told wouldn't stand up under investigation, even if Hub and Cal did back up my story that I'd done no shooting at Jordan. And I wondered about Jordan's condition too. Had he died yet? That and a thousand other thoughts passed through my mind, as I paced back and forth in my cell. Once I reached up and grasped the bars at the window, tried to shake them. No dice. They were imbedded solidly in a rock foundation.
I returned to my cot and sat down. I had to admit that Hub had done his best for me, but I was afraid it wouldn't go far, that 'best,' when stacked up against the prestige carried by the word of Senator Cyrus Whitlock. Whitlock, the great philanthropist. I uttered a short bitter laugh. Whitlock called it as he figured was correct, so perhaps I couldn't blame him for that. Just the same this was one time when I was wishing he'd stayed in Washington and minded his politics, instead of dashing all around the country trying to help the little man.
And right now I felt they didn't come any littler than one Johnny Cardinal. Hell and blast! I just had to get out of this place. But how? I was on my feet again, pacing back and forth. The rest of the cells were empty, I guessed. Leastwise I hadn't heard any signs of life. It was all dark along the corridor fronting them.
Then an angle of light appeared, as the office door opened. I waited, expecting to see the deputy. Instead a middle-aged, brown-haired man appeared at my cell door, bearing a small bucket of coffee and a plate. He didn't seem too steady on his feet, and I guessed he'd been drinking.
'You want some fodder, Willets?' he asked in a complaining sort of voice.
'Sure, bring it on in.'
'Uh-uh!' A negative shaking of the head accompanied the words. 'You don't catch Hoot-Owl Tanner on that old trick. You go on back to the far corner of your cell, then I'll set this food inside. I been night-man here too long to be fooled. Go on, get back now.'
I stayed where I was. 'Where's your deputy?'
' 'Round town someplace I reckon, or maybe he's gone home to bed. Larry's had a long day. Ain't no use askin' for him. He won't be back here tonight. Allus leaves early, Larry does, less'n he's got a immediate job in hand. Now, you want this food or don't you? Well, get on back there then, y'hear?'
I still hesitated. 'What's the news on that marshal who was shot?'
'Dead, I reckon. Ain't heard nothin' to the contrary. You goin' to get back, or ain't you?'
I moved to the back of the cell. Tanner placed the bucket and plate on the floor, near the door. He was pretty bulky about the middle and his six-shooter hung sloppily low against the right leg. A bit tipsy as he was, there was a mean look in his pale eyes, and I wasn't yet ready to take any chances.
From one pocket he produced a big key and inserted it in the lock. Then he drew his six-shooter and kept it leveled on me, while he edged the door inward about a foot and with the toe of one scuffed boot shoved the bucket and plate within the cell. Then he closed the door again and turned the key. I hadn't dared to make a move with that gun bearing on me.
I crossed the cell floor and started for the food. 'Hey, you forgot to bring a knife and fork.'
'Didn't forget. You think you're at some swell hotel? I'll get 'em for you, but we don't furnish 'em regular. It'll cost you extra, though. Say, half a dollar. How 'bout it?' I told him to go to hell and he snickered, 'Eat hearty,
