“That’s your story,” Herrick sneered, deceived by Lance’s quiet manner
“Hell, Cherry-Cow,” Oscar said disgustedly,
“Kilby’s just lucky Lance didn’t plug him. He was asking for it. Lance was decent to him just as long as he dared be——”
“Yaah!” Herrick said scornfully. “That’s why Tolliver hit him. He wouldn’t dare cross guns with George Kilby. Kilby would shoot rings——”
“Oh, cripes,” Lance said wearily, “let’s forget it. There was no powder burned and no one hurt to any extent. If Kilby’s got any sense he’ll be glad I acted as I did when he sobers up. Let’s skip it, Herrick…. I hope you learned that I spent the night at Moreles’ fonda in Tipata the night Bowman was killed.”
Herrick laughed skeptically. “Yeah—that’s what Moreles says, but I wouldn’t believe that Mex on a stack of Bibles. You probably paid him plenty pesos for backing up your play. But we’ll get the deadwood on you yet ——”
“If you’re trying to make trouble,” Lance said firmly, “I’ll do what I can to accommodate you——”
“… and square matters for the murder of our old pal, Frank Bowman,” Herrick raged on, the angry words gushing from his lips.
“Herrick,” Lance asked, “you keep talking about your old pal, Bowman. Just how long has he been a pal of yours?”
Herrick paused. “Why—why,” he finally said lamely, “me and the boys have only known him about a month or so, but we were right friendly. We all thought a heap of Frank——”
“I think you’re a liar,” Lance said quietly.
“You can’t call me a liar!” Herrick flared hotly.
“I’ve already done it.”
“That sounds like war talk, Tolliver,” Herrick said menacingly.
“It’s meant to be!” Lance took a step nearer Herrick. “If you don’t like that kind of war talk get out your iron and go to work.”
Herrick eyed Lance unbelievingly. “You’re offering to cross guns with
“I’m not even interested in it,” Lance snapped. “I don’t like you or anybody that does. Furthermore, you’re so damned anxious to pin Bowman’s murder on me I’m commencing to wonder just who you’re shielding——”
“Huh? What did you say?” A certain consternation appeared in Herrick’s beady eyes. “Where did you ever get such a crazy idea as——?”
“And I’d also like to know,” Lance interrupted, “just why you have to report to the bank that my alibi was airtight.” This last was largely a feeler to see what it might draw forth from Herrick.
“You—you—you’re crazy as a hoot owl,” Herrick stammered.
“What were you doing in the bank a spell back?” Lance flashed.
“Why, I—I wasn’t at the bank—I——”
“Don’t lie, Herrick!”
“Oh yes, I know what you mean.” Herrick’s words sounded a bit crippled. “Yeah, I remember now. I dropped in to get a ten-dollar bill changed.”
Oscar chuckled dryly. “All the saloons in town out of change, I suppose.”
Herrick directed a look of hate at Oscar and swung back to Lance. He was regaining some of his courage now. “What in hell business is it of yours, anyway?” he demanded. “I got a right to go in the bank——”
“I’m not denying that.” Lance nodded coolly. “As a matter of fact, I didn’t open this conversation. In the restaurant you said you wanted to see me. I waited here until you’d finished your dinner. So far you haven’t had anything to say that amounts to a damn, aside from voicing some threats that sound pretty empty to me.”
“They won’t sound so empty before long,” Herrick snarled, again losing his temper. “I said I was going to get you. I’m not backing down any on that statement.”
“I’ve already invited you to pull your iron and start,” Lance said quietly. “The first move is up to you!” He stood easily before Herrick, right thumb hooked into cartridge belt, waiting.
Herrick backed a step, then another. Suddenly he threw both arms wide of his sides and shook his head. “I’m not drawing now,” he said thickly. “Not when you got that deputy to back your play. I’ll get you sometime when the odds are even. A man can’t get a square deal with the peace officers in this town.”
Oscar drawled indolently, “Cherry-Cow, how would you like me to knock your ugly mug out from under your hat?”
“There you are, there you are!” Herrick spat hotly. “Like I say, the law’s taking sides. I ain’t fool enough to take on two men at once——”
“You’re fool enough to stand here talking about it, I notice,” Oscar stated disgustedly. “Go on, on your way, Herrick. First thing you know, I’ll be running you out of town for good.”
Herrick commenced backing away, his gaze still on Lance. “You got things your way right now, Tolliver,” he grated, “but just remember, there’s new cards turn up in every deal.”
“I’m remembering,” Lance said coldly. “Any time, anywhere—the play’s up to you. I’ll meet any stakes you name!”
Herrick mouthed a muffled curse and, swinging around, strode swiftly down Main Street as though anxious to get away.
VI Peaceful Yaquentes?
Oscar and Lance arrived back at the sheriff’s office after a time to find Lockwood donning his sombrero preparatory to going to dinner. Lockwood eyed the two gravely as they entered.
“I understand,” the sheriff said, “that you two exchanged a few words with Chiricahua Herrick.”
“Where’d you hear that?” Lance asked.
“Herrick dropped in a few minutes back to make a complaint. He claims you tried to pick a fight with him, Lance, and you, Oscar, was ready to jump in to help. He asked that I tell you to leave him alone.”
Oscar said calmly, “He’s a bloody liar if he claims we picked on him. Here’s what happened.” He gave the sheriff the story of what had taken place.
Lockwood nodded. “I figured it was something like that. I wasn’t impressed none. I told Herrick to mind his business, and you boys would mind yours. He was inclined to get a mite cocky, so I told him when he was willing to trust the law hereabouts the law would trust him. He claimed he didn’t know what I meant, so I asked him what in hell was his idea riding to Tipata to check up on Lance’s alibi after I’d passed my word the alibi was good. I reckon he hadn’t figured on me knowing that, and he got sort of flustered. I poured it on him pretty strong, and he was glad to get out of here, I reckon.”
“At that, I figure he’d be a mean man to tangle with,” Lance commented.
“You’re probably right.” Lockwood nodded. “Well, I’m going to get some chow. My stomach is commencing to think my throat’s cut. What you going to do, Lance?”
“I’m aiming to drop in on the hotel sometime this afternoon and get further acquainted with Professor Jones. I’ve got to see about getting a room there myself anyway.”
Oscar asked, mouthing a lemon drop, as he dropped into the chair vacated by Lockwood, “You figuring to see if you can pump him about those Loafer-for-William plants?”
“Mebbe.” Lance smiled. “I’d just like to get better acquainted with him.”
He and the sheriff passed through the doorway and started along Main Street. Lance mentioned that he had seen Herrick leave the bank with the bank’s owner, Gillett Addison. Lockwood frowned and said, “I doubt if it means anything. Gill Addison has always been on the up-and-up so far as I know. Incidentally, if you’re going to see the professor you’ll probably meet his niece. She’s a right likely looking filly, if I ever saw one. Her father owned a ranch down in Sonora. He was murdered about a year back. Nobody ever did know who done it. Some Yaquente Indians found the body and brought it into Pozo Verde——”
“They’re sure the Yaquentes didn’t kill him, eh?”
