located the room allocated to them.
“Reckon we are,” she agreed with a grin. “I wonder how much can be heard in the other rooms?”
“I don’t know, but let’s hold our voices down.”
Calamity stripped off her dress and sat on the edge of the bed to peel the stockings from her legs. There was not much room in the section allocated to them and the window had heavy drapes covering it. Danny blew out the lamp and blackness descended on the room.
“How’s it going, Calam?” he asked, holding his voice down.
“Fair. I don’t figure they know me or think I’m anything but what I say I am. And I know how they get the cowhands involved. Fact being, I’m supposed to be involving you right now.”
“That figures. Young Sammy was caught like it. He was one of the pair Gooch gunned down.”
“I know,” Calamity grunted. “Had words with his grieving sweetie, only she wasn’t grieving until after I got through with her.”
“Know anything more?”
“Not much. Ella’s in this real deep, likely behind it. She slips out of the saloon at nights, and sometimes in daylight, dressed in man’s clothes and goes off some place.”
“Does huh?” said Danny.
His interest sounded plain in his voice and Calamity tried to see him in the blackness of the room. “What’s that mean?”
Quickly Danny explained his findings when he located the bodies of the two cowhands, then of the circumstances surrounding Gooch’s death. He mentioned the fact that the bounty hunter’s gun had been in its holster; and also about the third cow thief, the one who escaped death at Gooch’s hands.
“What do you reckon about that?” he asked.
“Same as you,” Calamity replied. “Gooch wouldn’t’ve gone up to any man with his gun still in leather, but he might to a woman. I could say she done good for the world if it was her who downed Gooch.”
“Maybe,” Danny drawled. “Only don’t let that stop you finding out all you can. The sooner we nail this business shut the happier I’ll feel. Tempers are a mite high about Sammy and Pike. Comes pay day and the Forked C getting to town at the same time as the Bench J, there might be trouble. The boys are sore enough to start it. Say, do you see much of that lawyer?”
“He comes around visiting with the boss. I don’t know how he figures in the game though. Reminds me of somebody, only I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Looks and sounds like one of them radical Republicans who used to run with Carpetbag Davis’ bunch,” Danny remarked.
“You hit it!” Calamity whooped.
The next instant Danny’s hand clamped over her mouth. “Hold it down, hot head!” he growled.
“Sorry, I forgot,” she whispered when he moved his hand. “That Soskice acts and talks like that cuss who was strangling the gals early this year in New Orleans. He was one of Henry George’s bunch, them Socialists or whatever they call themselves and Soskice carries the same brand.”
“Then why’s he down here?” Danny mused. “They hate the guts of us Southern folks and I can’t see one of ’em coming down here to live unless he’d good reason. We bust up the best reason when we run Carpetbag Davis’ bunch of scum out.”
“I’ll watch him, see what I can learn. Say, how do we play this lot between you and me?”
“Just how Ella Watson wants it. I’ve been trying to make her think I’m a young hard-case with a yen for money and who isn’t too particular how he gets it.”
“You’ve done it,” Calamity told him. “I’ve got to lead you on, get you all broke and eager for more of me. Then she’ll move in, or I miss my guess.”
“Then that’s how we’ll play it,” drawled Danny.
“What’re we going to do right now?” inquired Calamity, sliding into the bed.
For a moment Danny did not reply, then he said, “Well, I
“Danged if I ever afore got paid for
Half an hour passed before either spoke again.
“Say, Calam,” came Danny’s voice.
“Yeah?”
“How in hell do I mark down that ten dollars on my expenses?”
Chapter 12 I WANT TO STEAL SOME OF YOUR CATTLE
BY TUESDAY DANNY FIGURED HE HAD SET THINGS up to the point where Ella Watson would make him an offer. He spent the night with Calamity on Saturday and took the girl along with Mousey and Tommy on a picnic the following afternoon. Monday evening found him in town again, watched by a worried Mousey as he spent money on Calamity and the redhead urged him to extravagance. All in all, Danny gave a good impersonation of a lovesick young cowhand making a big play for a money-hungry saloon-girl.
Ella Watson walked across the room on Tuesday evening and looked down at Danny as he sat moodily staring into a glass of beer. Knowing the signs, she came to a halt and smiled at him.
“Hi there,” she greeted. “You look like a man with worries.”
“Reckon I am, ma’am,” he replied. “Where-at’s Marty?”
“She’ll be down soon. How serious are you about her?”
“Mighty serious, ma’am. She’s a real nice gal.”
“But expensive. A girl like Marty is used to living high on the hog, Danny.”
“Yes’m.”
“Short of money, are you?” asked Ella sympathetically.
“Not short, ma’am. Flat busted.”
“The trouble is that Marty likes money spent on her,” the saloonkeeper went on, glancing to where Stocker sat by the door. “That’s the way we women are. She loves you, of course, but a girl has to live.”
“Reckon so, ma’am. Trouble being, a cowhand’s pay don’t go far.”
“I know. Well, I’ve work to do. If you want another drink, Danny, tell Izzy to let you have what you feel like and pay me back when you’ve some money.”
“Gee, that’s swell of you, ma’am,” Danny answered. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Just keep Marty happy is all you need do,” she smiled and walked away.
Although Ella did not go near Stocker, Danny saw her nod to the man and then walk into her office. A few seconds later Stocker rose and slouched out of the main doors. For half an hour nothing more happened. Danny crossed to the bar and gave the bartender Ella’s message, then asked for another bottle of beer. He took his seat again, sipping the beer and idly smoking.
The batwing doors opened and Danny saw Stocker and Soskice enter. Crossing the room, they halted at his table.
“Mind if we join you?” Soskice asked.
“Feel free,” Danny replied, glancing first at the lawyer then looking hard in Stocker’s direction. “But I thought——”
“Hell, I had to stand by Dutchy,” Stocker interrupted. “He rides for me and comes cheap. Mind, I admit he’s a mean cuss when he’s likkered.”
“Sure!” Danny grunted.
“Liked the way you handled him, though. Have a drink to show there’s no hard feelings.”
“Couldn’t buy you one back,” Danny warned.
“Don’t expect it. I know having a gal keeps a young feller short of cash.”
“It sure as hell does,” agreed Danny, wondering why the lawyer sat in on the deal and waiting to find out.
