the fellow who had crippled the sheriff. He decided not no reply.`Yo're forgettin' Stinker an' the cattlemen,' Drait said.
The taunt stung like a whip-lash. Quivering with rage, the badgered jurist cried, `I won't put up with this; I'll have you charged with contempt of court, and...'
`I'll plead guilty to that,' was the biting reply. `Listen, Towler; I came here to find out whether you were fool or crook. Yo're both, but you haven't the guts to be real bad, or to run winh the rats who are usin' you. Yo're on the wrong trail, an' it'll land you in the pen--if you live. Adios.' With which ironical farewell, the visitors filed out. Towler sat staring at the closed door for some moments, and then opened a drawer, produced a flask, and took a hearty pull at it.
`Damn Bardoe,' he said fervently.
Chapter V
`Where we bound for, Jim?' Yorky wanted to know when they set off on the following morning.
Payin' a visit to Mister Bardoe,' Sudden said. `But we ain't intendin' to intrude, in fact, we're goin' to be real shy. What's yore opinion o' Nick?'
The boy thought for a moment. `A mighty good friend and a damn bad enemy,' he replied. `If th' other man fights dirty, he'll do th' same, or wuss.'
Sudden nodded. `That's how I figure him.' He glanced slyly at his companion. `I dunno how things'll break, but backin' his play won't exactly be a pleasure trip.'
`If yo're worryin' about me, forget it,' Yorky said. `Think I wanta ride around gazin' at scenery? I like action.'
They were headed west, through a jumbled mess of country--open plain, forested slopes, stony, dry ravines, all of which led to higher ground. In front, but miles distant, rose a wide, flat-topped bluff.
`That'll be Table Mesa,' Sudden remarked. `Somewhere around there is Mister Bardoe's hang-out. If we run into him, keep yore hat pulled down; he's had a look at yu.'
`Not much o' one, 'less he's got eyes in th' back of his head,' the boy laughed. `Allasame, there's times I like to be forgotnen.'
As they drew nearer to the Mesa the surface of the country became less irregular; stretches of good grazing studded with mottes of scrub-oak, thorn, and cactus were frequent, and in the distance, moving spots which could only be cattle. Not wishing to be seen, the intruders were forced to skirt the edges of these open spaces, where the brush afforded cover. Presently, in a secluded grassy hollow, they came upon a dozen or more steers. The animals appeared no be disturbed, restless, and now and again one would turn no lick its haunch. There was a lingering odour of burnt hair, and on one side of the hollow a tiny curl of blue smoke from the remains of a fire.
`Fresh brands,' Sudden remarked. `If they're 8 B it's none of our business.'
They edged their horses slowly forward until the tell-tale marks could be read. `Double X an' the bottom halves is new--put on within the hour,' the puncher commented. `Up to then they were owned by the Double V. This is gettin' interestin'.'
They went on, discovering more Double X cattle, these with the alterations partly healed, and then lighted on a bunch bearing the brand 8 B.
`That's his own, same as on th' hoss he rode into th' valley,' Yorky said.
`Take another squint, son,' the elder man advised. 'Bout a coupla weeks back, these were S P steers. See where the S has been turned into the figure, an' a lower loop added to the P?'
'Yo're right, Jim,' Yorky agreed. `I don't know it all yet.'
`An' that's allus worth findin' out,' Sudden smiled. `Wonder why he's keepin' off Cullin?'
`Mebbe he ain't; we just don't happen to 'a' found 'em'
They continued the search, but a broad expanse of open range compelled them to stay in the shelter of the undergrowth, and they found no more cattle. On the edge of a small clearing they halted; in it stood a largish log building, one-storied, and of uncared-for appearance. This, they guessed, must be the 8 B ranch-house. Screened by the trees, they waited, and presently a rider, coming from the east, loped across the plain and pulled up. They saw him pass, heard his hail, `Hello, the house,' and a gruff greeting.
`Gilman, of the S P, by thunder!' Sudden muttered, and slid from his saddle. `I'm goin' to take a chance; stay put--yo're my ace in the hole.'
There was a window facing them, and it was partly open. Stooping and moving swiftly, Sudden reached and crouched beneath it. Two men were within, evidently the host and his visitor, for there was a clink of bottle against glass.
`Here's how, Jack,' the gruff voice said. `An' what brought you this way?'
`Well, I hears yo're dead, an' then that you ain't,' Gilman replied. `Figured I'd better come over an' find out my chances o' collectin' for that hundred head I let you lift.'
`You'll have to wait till I've sold 'em,' came the reply. `I was comin' to settle when I run into that blasted nester.' He gave his own version of the encounter, ending, `He took my money, hoss, an'--all.'
'You came back to this yer world o' sin a day too soon; by what I hear,' the other chuckled.
Bardoe's burst of profanity betrayed his soreness. `Made me a laughin'-stock,' he added. 'Camort's a blunderin' idjut. 'Bout time we had a sheriff whose head ain't full of sawdust. Drait has gotta go.'
The foreman's voice sounded indifferent. `Not ownin' the S P, I dunno as I care much.'
`Why shouldn't you own it? If you work things right, by the time they find Pavitt's kid you'll have the cash to buy, an' the ranch that poor, he'll be glad to sell.'
`Shore is an idea.'
'Skittles! Don't pretend I'm tellin' you anythin'. Count me on yore side, an' I reckon that goes for Cullin an' Vasco, none of us wants a stranger buttin' in here.'
`I'm obliged,' Gilman replied. `Well, I'll be taggin' along.'
The eavesdropper at the window took the hint and regained cover without delay. He grinned when he saw that Yorky had his rifle out. They watched the visitor depart, and then followed suit, taking a more southerly line.
`If we can find the Double V ranch-house we'll mebbe put a kink in Mister Bardoe's rope,' Sudden explained.
They covered some half-dozen miles and then the scattered cattle they encountered advised them that they were on the right range. Suddenly a horseman emerged from a clump of brush. He had a rifle across his knees, and his face, though hard and suspicious, was not aggressive. Apparently their interest in the grazing cows had aroused his curiosity.
`You fellas lookin' for anythin'?' he asked mildly.
`Why, we're kind o' searchin' for the Double V ranch-house,' Sudden replied.
`Three mile further on. If yo're wantin' Vasco, you've found him. What's yore trouble?'
`It ain't our'n, but I'll explain,' the puncher said. Getting down, he trod a bit of sand level, and with his finger drew on it the Double X brand. `Who owns that iron about here?'
`Nobody as I knows of. Why?'
`We've seen cows wearin' it,' Sudden told him. `The odd thing was that the upper half o' the brand was old, an' the lower added today.' He swept a toe over the latter, and stepped back. `Easy done' ain' it?'
The rancher swore. `Where'd you see them cattle?'
'Bout six mile o' here, bearin' north; they was mixed with some 8 B steers.'
Vasco swore again. `I'll git some o' the boys an' we'll look into this straightaway.'
Sudden hoisted himself into his saddle. 'Yo're playin' the wrong card,' he suggested. `He'll plead ignorance; you know, we could have done the blottin, for reasons of our own. No, sir, yore game is to keep cases an' catch him red-handed.'
The rancher considered this for a moment; something he had heard recurred to him; he studied the pair more closely, and suspicion grew in his eyes. `You ridin' for Drait?' he asked, and when Sudden nodded, went on. `Mebbe yo're right--I'd better hold off an' collect evidence my own self.'
`Shore,' the puncher smiled. `An' don't forget I've been tellin' yo to do that very thing. Yore friend in the scrub is gettin' impatient. What's the matter with him? Modest--or somethin'?'
