the Monte. The proprietor was in his private room, and his greeting was none too cordial.
'Damned if I savvy yore play, Paul,' he said irritably. 'A piece back you wanted Sudden put outa business, an' now you snatch his neck out'n the noose.'
'He saved my sister,' Paul pointed out. 'And you can add to that he was an innocent man.'
'Mebbe, but a hangin' wouldn't 'a' done any harm,' was the brutal reply. 'These murderin' thieves need a lesson; we'll be havin' a treasure coach stopped next.' Paul's eyes gleamed, but his tone betrayed little interest when he said carelessly, 'I suppose it would be worth while?'
'Worth while?' Stark echoed. 'Well, I'd call a hundred to a hundred an' fifty thousand, that.'
'The shipments are well guarded, of course.' Stark shrugged. 'What can we do? The express messenger is armed, but to send a big escort is tellin' everybody what the coach carries. An' where you goin' to get 'em? All the fellas you could trust is too busy searchin' out gold to risk their lives protectin' other folks's dust. Secrecy is the best caper--on'y a few knows when the stuff is sent.'
'Good. Pass me word about the next time,' Paul said. 'I'd like to send a small consignment myself.' The saloon-keeper nodded and went on with his grumbling:
'That Hickok is gettin' too Gawd Almighty. 'Pears to think that 'cause he run one or two tough towns he can have the say-so here. Some o' the boys ain't likin' the way he talked to 'em.'
'You needn't worry about him--he'll be attended to, and so will Sudden, if my plans work out right. The man who is going to run Deadwood is in this room.' Stark's ill-humour vanished. 'You've got a brain, Paul,' he complimented, 'an' when I'm on top, you'll find I ain't ungrateful to my friends.'
'I'm relying on you, of course, Reub,' Lesurge told him, and the other did not detect the hidden sneer.
* * * Fagan, on leaving Lesurge, had hurried back to the shanty where he had left his fellow-rogues. They were still there, and the bottle of whisky he had purchased on his way, insured his welcome.
'Fagan, yore an angel in disguise,' Hank grinned. 'But I'm bound to say the disguise is perfect,' he added, helping himself liberally. 'What's the news?'
'I've just left Paul--he wants to see you.'
'The hell he does. Why?'
'I expect he's achin' to thank you for lettin' his sister loose,' Rodd suggested.
Hank ignored the sarcasm. 'He can go to blazes,' he decided.
'Don't be seven sorts of a fool,' Fagan snapped. 'Would I push you into trouble? He thinks he can use you-- it'll make you one of us. Can't you see what that means?'
'Makes a difference, o' course, but why pick on me?' Hank was clearly suspicious.
'Paul wants a few fellas what ain't finicky,' Fagan explained. 'Mebbe you can pull Lem in too; that'll fill our hand. Now do you savvy?'
'It's good, Hank,' Berg exulted. 'It's damned good. When does he want to see him, Fagan?'
'Mustn't be for a day, at least. You see I gotta find Hank first an' that ain't goin' to be too easy; unfortunately, Paul couldn't give me no description.' A shout of laughter greeted the jest, and they filled their glasses and drank to the man they meant to cheat when the time was ripe.
Chapter XVI
Two evenings later Gerry and Jacob were engaged with the chess-beard and Sudden was looking on. The game was nearing the end, and the younger man was jubilant because it appeared that he must win. Then came a reverse. He had early captured his opponent's Queen, but by seemingly unimportant moves, Jacob had gradually pushed a pawn right across the board and now replaced the more powerful piece.
'Cuss it, I warn't noticin' that no 'count fella,' Gerry lamented.
'Always watch the pawns, my friend, both in this and the game of life,' the old man said. 'They have-- potentialities.' He made a move, and went on, 'How do you like mining?'
'It's mighty monotonous,' Gerry grumbled. 'Shovellin' an' washin' dirt allatime. I'd ruther be ropin' cattle; when one goes on the prod, yu get a change.' Jacob smiled at Sudden. 'The poor fellow is having a dull time,' he said. 'We must try to find him a little excitement.' Someone knocked, opened the door, and entered; it was Paul Lesurge. He nodded to the cowboys, sat down, and looked at the gold-buyer.
'Have you put it to them?' he asked.
'No, I left that to you.'
'Right,' Lesurge replied, and turned to the younger men. 'Here is the proposition: A coach with a load of gold is going East. It is supposed that it will start to-morrow evening, but actually it goes to-night. This is known only to those who are sending the stuff, like myself and our friend, Jacob. There will be no travellers save the driver and the express messenger--who will learn the starting time when it arrives. Originally, two well-armed riders were to follow the vehicle but some of the consignees think the convoy should be doubled, and Jacob mentioned your names.'
'I'm afraid I took a liberty,' the old man put in. 'But--'
'Shucks,' Sudden said gently, and waved him to silence.
'I told Stark that if he only wanted two men, Sudden would fit the bill,' Lesurge smiled, 'but he is of very limited intelligence. Personally, I don't apprehend much danger from roadagents--the secret has been well kept. When you reach Laramie, you can return. Now, what do you say?' The puncher did not reply at once; he was turning the matter over. He looked at Jacob, and received a slight nod. That decided him.
'We'll go yu,' he agreed.
'Good,' Lesurge said. 'That means both of you, of course.'
'I trail along with Jim, every time,' Gerry told him. 'Quite a David and Jonathan, eh? Well, that's all settled. Green, J want a private word with you.' When they were outside, Lesurge said, 'If the gold gets through this will put you in well with the men who matter in Deadwood. On the other hand, if someone has talked unwisely, you may meet with overwhelming odds, and fail. The gold will be lost, it is true, but you will have done your best and I'll see that you don't suffer--in any way. Understand?'
'I get yu,' the puncher said.
'I made a mistake about you at first, Green,' the oily voice went on. 'You're no fool. A hundred thousand is a lot of money but not worth one's life, when it belongs to other folk. Personally, I'd rather have a tenth of it and go on living.' He laughed meaningly. 'Be behind the Monte at ten. Good luck.' He held out a hand, but the cowboy did not appear to notice it; his belt had slipped and required adjustment.
'We'll be there,' he said.
When he returned to the room his face was enigmatical. 'Just a few final directions,' he explained.
'I'm grateful to you boys,' Jacob said. 'Practically all I possess will be in that consignment. Where does Lesurge get dust from, Jim?'
'Yu can search me,' the puncher replied. 'Buys it like yu do, grubstake miners as Stark does, or wins it at cards--there's plenty ways.'
'Yes, of course,' the other agreed, and, thoughtfully. 'He doesn't like you.'
'He was apologizin' just now for havin' misunderstood me,' Sudden smiled.
'Then I'll bet a blue stack he's aimin' to play yu a shabby trick.' This from Gerry.
'An' he wished me good luck.'
'Which makes it a certainty. Jim, we'd better renig on that job.'
'Shore, if yo're scared.--Awright, yu curly-headed calamity. I on'y said 'if.' Don't forget our friend here is relyin' on us.'
'I wouldn't want you to run into danger on my account,' Jacob said earnestly, 'I'd sooner lose the gold.'
'Easy, or-timer,' Sudden grinned. A point occurred to him. 'Yu didn't see the jaspers who are to ride with us?'
'No, but Lesurge referred to one as `Hank'.'
'There yu are,' Gerry chimed in triumphantly.
Sudden carefully inspected himself. 'So I am,' he said gravely. 'Friend Paul ain't likely to be usin' the man who smouched his sister, an' if yu took a census o' this beeyutiful city yu'd probably round up fifty Hanks. Ever heard o' mares' nests, Gerry?'
'Yeah, an' I've heard o' damn idjuts who squinted down the barrel of a gun an' pulled the trigger to see if it
