'Yu done a good job,' Sudden grinned. 'I dunno as I'll ever believe yu any more. Took us all in, 'cept Jacob, an' he's a clam.'
'What a man calls himself, that's his business,' the gold-dealer defended. 'I too was sailing under false colours.'
'I didn't suspect, but--after the exposure--I wondered how you knew T resembled my mother,' Mary said softly.
'I near slipped up there,' Snowy confessed. 'Lesurge wondered too. I had to explain that it was a compliment any girl would 'preciate. I got full marks from him for that. But it happened to be true.' I dunno as I'll ever believe you any more either,' she told him, and her mimicry of the puncher made them all laugh.
'I reckon you know the rest,' the old man continued. 'I let Paul play his game while I collected a few friends to help me beat it. He smiled round on them. 'I'm sayin' no man ever got better, an' it was a durn' good day for us when Jim drifted into Wayside.' A chorus of approval greeted the statement, but the recipient of the praise might have been sitting on a cactus.
'Shucks,' he said. 'If yo're all goin' to talk foolish, I'm turn-in' in.'
'There's one thing we have to decide,' Jacob reminded. 'What are we to tell Deadwood?' No one spoke, but all eyes went to the man upon whom they instinctively relied for leadership. The cowboy did not fail them. -
'Anybody honin' to go back there?' he asked, and getting no response, went on, 'Explanations would shorely be--difficult. Why not head for Laramie? There's a risk o' runnin' into redskins but we're well-armed an' mounted; I guess we can get through.' So it was decided.
* * * The note was addressed to Gerry, and he knew instantly that he had lost a friend. The journey from the Rocking Stone had been safely accomplished, and by the time it ended, plans for the future made. Snowy, Mason and Mary were travelling East in search of a ranch, and the others were going with them, for a while, at least. Sudden only, would give no promise. The missive was brief: DEAR GERRY, This is to tell yu all good-bye. I couldn't face it, so I've played coward an' run away. I ain't wishin' yu happiness--. yo're takin' it with yu. Good Luck.
JIM
'01' son-of-a-gun,' the boy muttered. 'I'm shore proud to 'a' knowed you.'
* * *
Miles out of Laramie, as the climbing sun painted the sky red and gold, a rider on a big black horse loped steadily southward. The air was sharp and laden with the pungent breath of the pine-trees. The grass was gem- studded with dew. Birds chirped and whistled in the branches overhead, rabbits scudded away at his approach, and once, a grateful doe crashed into the undergrowth and turned to gaze, with startled, gentle eyes, at the strange intruder on her solitude.
The rider noticed none of these things. He was visioning a different scene; a woman, young and lovely, curled up on a bed of dead leaves, a cheek pillowed on one palm, a half-smile on her rosy lips, asleep in the wilderness, while he watched.
THE END
