much the better. When the work was done...
`You'll find Drait a hard nut,' he remarked. I'll expect he'll marry her--now.'
`All one to me,' Bardoe chuckled. `I don't mind a widow if she's a good-looker.'
The Big C man emptied his glass. `I wish you luck, Bull,' he said. `Don't try anythin' too raw an' rely on gettin' away with it; Midway is more than a mite doubtful o' Camort, an' the Judge is jumpy. Losin' Gilman an' Vasco, we won't be too strong.'
`You needn't to worry,' Bardoe grinned. `With that cursed nester attended to an' me in the saddle at the S P, we'll have 'em where's the hair's short.'
He accompanied his visitor to the door, and sent a satirical grimace after him. `Eggs me on, an' then fobs me off,' he mused. `Well, Mister Cullin, I dunno what yore game is but I'm playin' my own an' may the Devil take you.'
Cullin, riding with bent head, had plenty to occupy his mind. A bringer of news, he had also learned some. Presently he laughed.
`He downs Drait, an' we hang him for it,' he said, and this entirely satisfactory solution restored his temper to almost normal. At the Big C he found Lamond awaiting him.
`Want yore job back? So Drait fired you. Why?'
`Double-crossin' him, he said, but the real reason was he catched me sparkin' the gal an', believe me, she's worth a risk.'
`You were lucky; me, I'd a' beefed you,' the rancher said.
`So would he, but she begged him not to,' Lamond grinned. `Said for me to leave the country, but I'm stayin'; I mean to git him--an' her.'
Again Cullin schooled his features to impassivity. Here was a third string to his bow, and he did not hesitate. `Awright, when you've settled with the nester I'll put you on the pay-roll.'
`That's a bet,' the cowboy said jauntily, and went out.
The rancher smiled contentedly. The wise man gets others to run the risks, an' then, helps hisself to the stakes.'
Chapter X
NEARLY two weeks passed and nothing occurred to disturb the serenity of Shadow Valley. But the nester indulged in no false sense of security, and he was right--his enemies were not idle. The first evidence of this was provided by the arrival, in the early morning, of the sheriff, supported by a couple of deputies. Hammering on the gate, he demanded admittance `in the name of the Law.'
Drait and his wife came out of the house just as the procession arrived; they were about to take their usual ride. The intruder surveyed them malevolently.
`Needin' me?' the nester enquired.
`You betcha,' Camort replied, and held up a paper. `This is a warrant.'
`Another?' Drait grinned. Perseverin' fella, ain't you? What have you cooked up this time?'
`Just a little matter o' liftin' other folk's cattle, that's all,' the sheriff sneered, and turned to his assistants. `Take his gun an' put the cuffs on him. If he resists, shoot.'
Wall-eye and his companion hesitated, and then began to dismount--slowly. Drait's harsh voice interrupted the operation. `Stay in yore saddles--you'll be safer. I'm comin' with you, Stinker, free an' armed. In case you got other ideas, let me point out that Quilt is holdin' a rifle on you, an' if I nod, Midway will be able to elect a real sheriff. As for yore hirelin's, I could put 'em on the ground quicker'n they'd get there any other way. Next time you try to take me by force, you'd better bring the force.'
Camort's face was poisonous. `There won't be no next time,' he snarled. `We got the deadwood on you.'
It was at this point that Sudden and Yorky rode up. Drait grinned. 'Comin' to town, Jim? Stinker has issued an invite.' He turned to Mary. `Yorky will take you along the valley.'
In a few moments they set out, the nester and Sudden in advance, with the sheriff and his deputies following. Quilt convoyed them to the gate.
`Say, Nick, let them polecats ride ahead, in case of an accident,' he advised loudly.
`You're forgettin' Stinker represents the Law, with a big L,' his boss smiled.
`Mis-represents it, you mean,' the foreman snorted. `There's another big hell a-gapin' for him if he tries any tricks.'
`Threats from yore men won't help you, or scare me from doin' my dooty,' Camort growled.
`Quilt ain't threatenin' you, he's just makin' a promise,' Drait returned lightly. `An' he's one o' those unusual people who keeps 'em.'
Comforting himself with the reflection that his turn was coming, the sheriff dropped into a sullen silence which his underlings forbore to break. A few yards in front of them Nick and his companion conversed in low tones.
The usually busy street of Midway seemed strangely empty. Outside the bank, Drait pulled up, slipped from his saddle, and went in. The sheriff uttered an exclamation and put a hand to his gun-butt, only to fetch it away with celerity when Sudden turned a chilly eye on him, the nester was back in a few moments. A little further along they were welcomed with a whoop by Pilch.
'Lo, Nick, you've won me ten bucks,' he greeted. `I bet you'd face the music, come free, an' wearin' yore gun.'
`Good for you, ol-timer,' Drait smiled. `Hope it ain't one o' my friends yo're saltin'.'
`Not any; the victim is that happy-lookin' guy behind you, with a star on his manly buzzum.'
The nester stole a glance at the sheriff, whose face resembled a miniature thunder-cloud, and shook his head. Too bad to take advantage of a half-wit,' he said. `Where's everybody?'
`Down to the court-room. Say, they got it all arranged--jury packed--Stinker would say 'picked' but it's the same thing, witnesses primed up, and the Judge waitin' to walk in, sober, if possible. But you'll have a square deal, son, or the fur'll fly. I'll have that ten now, Camort; fat men like you is apt to die unexpected.'
The money was handed over; Pilch owned the principal store and had influence in the town, and the officer was well aware that his own popularity was on the wane. He was relying on this trial to re-establish it.
A group of idlers outside the court-house welcomed their arrival with a cheer and hurried in with the news. There was no demonstration when they entered beyond a murmur of excitement and a craning of necks to see how the accused was taking it. What they saw was an entirely unconcerned man, whose eyes twinkled when they encountered a friendly face, and froze for those which were hostile.
The room was spacious, with a raised platform at one end ors which stood a desk for the Judge, and in front, a table for his clerk. At the right and left, were railed-in stands. The sheriff pointed to one of these.
`There's the dock,' he said.
`Try an' get me into it,' Drait retorted grimly, and approached two chairs in the first row for himself and his companion.
Camort decided not to insist. The place was full, those unable to find seats lounging against the walls. Sudden recognised some of them: Vasco and his foreman, with Cullin sitting next; Gilman, whispering with the sheriff, apparently not quite at ease; Bardoe and Lanty, whose eyes gleamed evilly when they rested on the accused; Merker, and to his surprise, the lawyer, Seale. He sought the jury and found it in an enclosure which afforded a good view of nhe witness-stand and the dock, and one glance told him that the members would be more at home in the latter place.
A door at the back of the platform opened, and the Judge entered, deposited his high hat on the desk, sat down, and surveyed the gathering nhrough red-rimmed, watery eyes.
`He ain't feelin' so good,' someone remarked audibly. `I'll bet breakfast meant just nothin' to him this mornin'.'
`Where's the prisoner?' the Judge snapped. `Why isn't he in the dock?'
Draft stood up. `Because I am not a prisoner,' he said. `I came here o' my own free will.'
Towler apparently took no notice; he was listening to the sheriff's mumbled explanation.
`Most irregular,' he said irritably, and glared at the culprit. `You are charged with stealing cattle from the S P ranch. Are you guilty or not guilty?'
