'Jesse Rogers, Bowman and Humit.' Some among the bloodthirsty throng looked doubtful--they knew these names. Others, more callous, eager only to see a man die, yelled in derision.
'He's playin' for time; he don't know them fellas. Swing the --, anyway; there's bin too many o' these killin's.' With threatening curses, the ruffianly element in the crowd surged forward, only to sway back before the muzzles of the puncher's pistols. The jutting jaw and the bleak unwavering eyes told them that the man on the black horse was not bluffing.
'Twelve of yu get--hurt, first,' he warned, and those who had witnessed the encounter with Lefty Logan did not doubt the statement.
'I raise the ante--make it twenty-four, Green,' a quiet voice added, and though he dared not take his eyes from the mob, the puncher knew that Wild Bill was standing beside his horse. The gunman waited for a few tense moments, and then said, 'I guess we'll hear what those three men have to say.'
'Here they come--the ol' Jew-fella is a-fetchin' 'em,' someone shouted.
It was true. A moment later, Jacob, and the men he had gone in search of, hurried up. Sudden told the rope- bearer to question them. Their testimony was convincing--Gerry had been in their company all day, not leaving them until after the murder was discovered. A few of the crowd, disappointed of their ghoulish excitement, went away murmuring; others remained to congratulate the man they had come to hang.
'Shore was lucky yore friend showin' up, son,' one grinned. 'We come mighty near puttin' one over on you.'
'You did oughta get rid o' them leather pants,' another chimed in. 'One o' these days you'll trip over em an' break yor neck.' Bill Hickok put forward a different aspect of the affair.
'These outrages are becomin' frequent an' they have a family resemblance which suggests the same hand,' he remarked. 'Find out who planned this frame-up an' yu will be near to discoverin' the killer.'
'Rodd is in with Berg,' Sudden said.
'Berg is on'y a tool--yu'll have to look higher,' Hickok replied. 'Watch yore step an'--keep clear o' the women.'
'Now what the devil did he mean by that?' Sudden pondered, when the gunman had gone.
'I'd say he meant Miss Lesurge, an' if yo're wise, yu'll take his tip,' Gerry said.
'I reckon I will,' his friend agreed.
Chapter XII
At the Lesurge residence, that same evening, Paul, his sister, and Mary Ducane gathered to hear the result of the prospector's expedition into the wild.
* 'So you found the place?' Lesurge asked. 'There's no doubt?'
'Shore I found it,' Snowy replied. 'My ol' hut was still a-standin' an' I'll bet a stack nobody's put a foot in that gully since I was thar.'
'That's fine,' Paul responded. 'In a little while we'll take a gang out, but there are things to see to here first. How did you get along with Green?'
'He's all right,' was the casual reply. 'Useful fella, but he don't savvy nothin' 'bout gold-minin'.'
'Excellent, but he knows the location? Of course, it couldn't be avoided, but there's a remedy for that.' H>> smiled at Lora, but for once she did not appear to find any humour in the remark. Snowy's face remained expressionless; he could have made a good guess at the nature of the 'remedy.'
'You think we can depend on him?'
'Yeah, but you'll have to take in his pardner.'
'Ah, Mason. Wasn't he in trouble of some kind today?' Snowy laughed wheezily. 'He was within two shakes o' bein' strung up, if you call that `trouble.' It was wings an' a harp for him if Jim an' me hadn't arrove.' He gave the details, and his keen little eyes noted the colour creeping back into Mary's cheeks as she listened. Paul waved a nonchalant hand.
'Too bad,' he said, 'but these fellows work hard for their wealth, and to lose that and life as well ... You can't wonder they are vindictive.'
'But to hang an innocent man,' Mary shuddered.
'Well it didn't happen,' Paul smiled. 'My old schoolmaster, when he punished me by mistake, used to justify it by saying that the thrashing was probably due for something he hadn't discovered.'
'Mister Mason would not murder,' the girl insisted.
'Gold alone makes existence possible in this wild corner of the world,' he replied. 'A man must get it-- somehow, or go under. How long does it take to reach this mine of yours, Phil?'
'Less'n a day, the way we come back,' the old man told him. 'Got lost a bit goin'--a-purpose.'
'When we go we might take the ladies--make a change for them. What do you think?'
'It's fearsome country an' there's a chance o' them red devils,' Snowy said dubiously. 'They'd have to live rough.'
'We shall be a strong party,' Paul argued.
'You may count on us,' Lora broke in. 'Thank you, Paul.'
'lt won't be yet,' Lesurge laughed. 'You'll have time to exercise the privilege of your sex and alter your mind.'
'Don't hope for it,' she cried gaily. 'Nothing could keep me from such an experience. Think of it, Mary; riding, hunting and searching for gold.'
'Your occupation will be mainly preparing meals,' Paul bantered.
'Then I'm sorry for you,' she retorted. 'When I die someone will be the worst cook in the world.' Later, in the seclusion of her room, Mary Ducane tried--not for the first time--to analyse her feelings for Paul Lesurge. Handsome, well-dressed, and apparently cultured, he stood out among the uncouth, coarsely-garbed men who formed the major portion of Deadwood's population--men who spent their days burrowing into the hill-sides and their nights drinking and gaming away their gains. Though there were many sober, industrious citizens, she had not met them, which heightened Paul's pre-eminence in her mind. When he chose,he could be charming, and, so far, she had not seen him otherwise. It was inevitable that she should be attracted, yet she had doubts. She remembered, rather angrily, that Gerry Mason's peril had interfered with the beatlng of her heart.
'After all, he was good to me on that horrible journey,' she told herself, well aware that did not explain it.
Lora, she had to confess, presented a conundrum to which she could find no answer. Though she had been kind, Mary was always conscious of a barrier she could not penetrate. Her uncle she liked, despite his eccentricity, which she attributed to the hard life he had led.
* * * Gerry, having decided that he had enjoyed all the excitement he needed for one day, elected to spend the evening at home, Jacob having promised to instruct him in the game of chess. Sudden, who watched the opening game, grinned widely when, after a few moves, the old man called 'Check,' and sat back with a quiet smile. Gerry studied the board with ludicrous surprise.
'My King 'pears to be throwed an' hawg-tied; yore Queen has him cornered an' if he takes her, that Bishop guy gets him at long range. I'm good an' licked. Tom Bowman said this was a slow game; he ain't seen you play.'
'That was just a little trap for beginners,' Jacob confessed. 'You could have defeated it by threatening my Queen with that Knight--can't afford to lose her ladyship--she's the most powerful piece of all.'
'The King fella just loafs around an' lets all the rest, includin' his lady, fight for him,' Gerry said. 'I reckon the gent who made this game didn't think a lot o' monarchs.'
'The game is the oldest known,' Jacob said. 'It is believed to have originated in Hindustan....' Sudden left them to it, and made his way--on foot, for once --to the Paris, the proprietor of which greeted him with a reproving shake of the head.
'My fren',' he said. 'I no like to see you--alone.'
'Gerry stayed in--Jacob is teachin' him chess.'
'Ver' good--for him,' Bizet replied. 'But for you ...'
'Shucks, I'm man-size,' Sudden smiled.
The saloon-keeper did not laugh. 'I know not'ing, but I am disturb',' he said. 'Go home, my fren', an' learn ze chess.' The cowboy shrugged. 'I'm playin' it right now, Bizet, an' waitin' for the next move.' It came sooner than
