The prediction proved correct. Entering the Red Ace that evening, Andy found the place packed. The news of the saloonkeeper's intended generosity had spread through Lawless like wildfire, and not only those directly affected, but nearly every other dweller, wanted to see the man who was about to give away thousands of dollars.
Standing with his back to the bar, the half-breed's black eyes gleamed with triumph as he received the thanks and homage of the throng. A contemptuous pride filled him and his narrow, warped soul sneered at and despised every one of them. Then came the man he hated most of all, who stood in the way to his cherished ambition. Bordene walked straight up to him.
'This is a mighty fine thing yo're doin', Seth,' he began. 'I gotta thank yu.'
'What for?' asked the half-breed, with unsmiling lips, though his joy was hard to hide; this was the moment he had been lusting for.
The cold query took the young man aback. 'Why, I understand yo're re-openin' the bank an' givin' every customer the balance held when the robbery took place,' he replied.
'That's correct,' Raven said. 'I've got a list o' the losses; your account don't show no balance.'
'But I gave Potter thirty thousand just before I went after Moraga,' Andy protested. 'Yu were there.'
'I heard yu say somethin' about it, an' that's all,' Raven retorted. 'Yu might 'a' changed yore mind. Anyways, there's no record in the books, an' the clerk knows nothin' of it.'
'He warn't present,' Andy said. 'I was in such a tear that I just gave Potter the notes an' didn't wait for a receipt or anythin', Damn it all, Seth, yu don't think I'd lie to yu?'
The half-breed shrugged his shoulders. 'A man who's broke'll do a deal for thirty thousand,' he said insolently, and when he saw the rancher's jaw tighten, he added, 'Mebbe Potter took a chance on yore not comin' back. All I know is the bank ain't liable. Another thing, this business is goin' to cost me a lot, an' I want that mortgage on the Box B redeemed pretty prompt.'
'Knowin' damn well that I can't do it,' the rancher said angrily.
'I dunno nothin' about yore affairs, an' I ain't carin',' the saloon-keeper replied.
It did not need the hard, merciless tone nor the sneering look to convince the cowman that any appeal would be useless. When he spoke again his voice was low, vibrant :
'Yu seem to hold the cards, but I reckon the deck was stacked. Whatever you want belongin' to me yu'll have to fight for, Raven.'
For a long moment the two men faced one another, brown eyes clashing with beady black ones. The half- breed was the first to turn away, silently cursing the mother who bore him. He sent a venomous glance after the young man as he left the bar.
'I'll make yu pay to the last cent,' he muttered. 'I'll take yore ranch, yore girl, an' break yore damned heart.'
But Bordene had spoilt his evening; he could not forget that, for all his popularity, he had once again quailed under the gaze of a hated white.
* * *
Renton's return to the Double S with the stolen steers and his story of what had happened produced an extraordinary revolution in the mind of Reuben Sarel. Shame at the thought that he had allowed himself to be used by such a man as Raven overrode every other consideration.
'The dirty dawg oughta be strung up,' he grated, and the foreman was amazed at the savage tone of his usually mild and easy-going manager.
'Meanin' Jevons?' he asked.
'Meanin' his thievin' boss, who killed him to close his mouth,' retorted Sarel.
'Which is my sentiments to a dot,' the foreman agreed. 'But thinkin' an' provin' is two different things.'
Reuben nodded gloomily and Renton left him pacing up and down the veranda. Absorbed in his thoughts, he did not notice that Tonia was watching him with a mischievous smile.
'So glad you've made up your mind to do it at last,' she said.
Sarel spun round, his fat face flushing. Hang it, had the girl read his thoughts? But the merry, affectionate look told him this could not be.
'To do what, Tonia?' he asked.
'Take that exercise you need, of course,' she laughed. 'I notice you don't go far from a chair though.'
Reuben dropped wearily into a seat. 'Quit yore foolin', girl, an' sit,' he said. 'I got somethin' serious to tell yu.' There was an awkward pause and then he blurted out, 'I've been double-crossin' yu, Tonia. No, don't say nothin'--just listen.'
Head down, drooping in his chair, he told the whole sordid story. How he had got deeper and deeper in debt, and, realizing the hopelessness of ever being able to pay, had yielded to his creditor's crafty offer to take Double S cattle.
'I was allus meanin' to pay yu back, lass, but the cussed luck wouldn't change, an' I on'y got mired worse'n before,' he pleaded. 'An' with that devil threatenin' to tell you...'
His voice tailed away miserably, and he could not look at her. Tonia rose and put an arm round his neck.
'Yu dear old silly, as if I care a hoot about the stupid cows,' she soothed. 'Why didn't you tell me and save yourself all these months of worry? I suppose that was why you thought that cur would make a good husband for me?'
'I never thought that, girl, but he had me roped,' Reuben replied. 'I knew I'd oughta throw him outa the place, but I ain't the man yore father was. I've been a poor sorta guardian.'
'You've been very good to me,' she said, 'and you're not to think anything different. As for Mister Raven--' she stopped suddenly and her cheeks grew rosy. 'Andy's coming, and he looks as though he'd been washed and hung out to dry.'
The simile was not inapt, for Bordene sat draped over his saddle, chin on chest. At the ranch-house he got down listlessly, threw the reins, and stepped heavily forward. He appeared a tired and dispirited man, but at the sight of the girl he forced a smile to his drawn lips.
'Howdy, folks,' he greeted.
His attempted gaiety did not deceive the girl. 'What's the matter, Andy?' she asked quietly.
The boy smiled bitterly. 'Nothin' the matter, Tonia, 'cept we gotta change that job yu were goin' to give me into one o' ridin' for yu.'
'What rubbish vu kids talkin'?' the fat man enquired. 'Tryin' to tell us yu lost yore ranch, Andy?'
'I reckon it amounts to just that,' he replied dully, and went on to tell of Fate's final blow to his hopes. They had heard of the robbery, but had not known that Andy was deeply affected. Raven's bid for popularity was news, and they stared open-eyed at Bordene when he related his conversation with the saloonkeeper. 'I paid the money to Potter, an' what he did with it the Lord on'y knows,' he said in conclusion. 'O' course, I was dumb to hand it to him thataway, but--'
Tonia nodded understandingly, and her look was a caress. 'It was because I was in danger, Andy, wasn't it?' she said. 'Since Raven holds your mortgage, it would naturally be inconvenient to hand you the money to redeem it, and he couldn't play favourites, so I am not surprised there is no record in the bank books.'
The two men looked at her. 'That's sound reasonin', but could he get at 'em?' Sarel asked.
'Of course he could--he'd be the first sent for, in the marshal's absence,' Tonia pointed out. 'And, anyway, he could buy the soul of that clerk of Potter's for a few dollars.'
'I'm bettin' yo're right, Tonia, but what can we do?' Andy said. 'He's got the town eatin' outa his hand now.' The girl smiled at him. 'I'm going to pay off your mortgage, Andy; the Double S will be good enough security for that amount.'
'No, I won't have you involved in this,' the young man protested. 'I'd sooner let him have the ranch.'
Sarel slapped his knee in delight. 'She's right, boy,' he cried. 'The Box B at twice the sum is a bargain; why shouldn't Tonia have it instead o' that schemin' skunk, huh? On'y point is, where we goin' to borry that much coin?'
'From the bank at Sweetwater,' Tonia told him. 'It's no use your saying anything, Andy; I am going to beat that beast if it takes every dollar I possess.'
But, as they were soon to learn, their enemy had a card up his sleeve, one powerful enough to shatter their hopes and cast them utterly in the dust.
