His third stack was melting rapidly away, and he reflected with apprehension that the night was young, and time of no importance on the desert, anyhow. “One more hand and I drop out,” he said firmly.
“One more hand and we all drop out,” barked Madden. Something seemed to have annoyed him.
“Let’s make it a good one, then,” said Maydorf. “The limit’s off, gentlemen.”
It was a good one, unexpectedly a contest between Maydorf and Bob Eden. Drawing with the faint hope of completing two pairs, the boy was thrilled to encounter four nines in his hand. Perhaps he should have noted that Maydorf was dealing, but he didn’t—he bet heavily, and was finally called. Laying down his hand, he saw an evil smile on Shaky Phil’s face.
“Four queens,” remarked Maydorf, spreading them out with an expert gesture. “Always was lucky with the ladies. I think you gentlemen pay me.”
They did. Bob Eden contributed forty-seven dollars reluctantly. All on the expense account, however, he reflected.
Mr. Maydorf was in a not unaccountable good humour. “A very pleasant evening,” he remarked, as he put on his overcoat. “I’ll drop in again, if I may.”
“Good night,” snapped Madden.
Thorn took a flashlight from the desk. “I’ll see you to the gate,” he announced. Bob Eden smiled. A flashlight—with a bright moon overhead.
“Mighty good of you,” the outsider said. “Good night, gentlemen, and thank you very much.” He was smiling grimly as he followed the secretary out.
Madden snatched up a cigar, and savagely bit the end from it. “Well?” he cried.
“Well,” said Eden calmly.
“You made a lot of progress with your father, didn’t you?”
The boy smiled. “What did you expect me to do? Spill the whole thing in front of that bird?”
“No—but you needn’t have rung off so quick. I was going to get him out of the room. Now you can go over there and call your father again.”
“Nothing of the sort,” answered Eden. “He’s gone to bed, and I won’t disturb him till morning.”
Madden’s face purpled. “I insist. And my orders are usually obeyed.”
“Is that so?” remarked Eden. “Well, this is one that won’t be.”
Madden glared at him. “You young—you—er—young—”
“I know,” Eden said. “But this was all your fault. If you will insist on cluttering up the ranch with strangers you must take the consequences.”
“Who cluttered up the ranch?” Madden demanded. “I didn’t invite that poor fool here. Where the devil did Thorn pick him up, anyhow? You know, the secretary of a man like me is always besieged by a lot of four-flushers—tip-hunters and the like. And Thorn’s an idiot sometimes.” The secretary entered and laid the flashlight on the desk. His employer regarded him with keen distaste. “Well, your little playmate certainly queered things,” he said.
Thorn shrugged. “I know. I’m sorry, chief. But I couldn’t help it. You saw how he horned in.”
“Your fault for knowing him. Who is he, anyhow?”
“Oh, he’s a broker, or something like that. I give you my word, chief, I never encouraged him. You know how those fellows are.”
“Well, you go out tomorrow and tie a can to him. Tell him I’m busy here and don’t want any visitors. Tell him for me that if he calls here again I’ll throw him out.”
“All right. I’ll go down to the doctor’s in the morning and let him know—in a diplomatic way.”
“Diplomatic nothing,” snorted Madden. “Don’t waste diplomacy on a man like that. I won’t, if I see him again.”
“Well, gentlemen, I think I’ll turn in,” Eden remarked.
“Good night,” said Madden, and the boy went out.
In his bedroom he found Ah Kim engaged in lighting the fire. He closed the door carefully behind him.
“Well, Charlie, I’ve just been in a poker game.”
“A fact already noted by me,” smiled Chan.
“Shaky Phil has made a start on us, anyhow. He got forty-seven precious iron men this quiet evening.”
“Humbly suggest you be careful,” advised Chan.
“Humbly believe you’re right,” laughed Eden. “I was hoping you were in the offing when Thorn and our friend went to the gate.”
“Indeed I was,” remarked Chan. “But moonlight so fierce, near approach was not possible.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure of one thing after tonight,” Eden told him. “P. J. Madden never saw Shaky Phil before. Either that, or he’s the finest actor since Edwin Booth.”
“Thorn, however—”
“Oh, Thorn knew him all right. But he wasn’t the least bit glad to see him. You know, Thorn’s whole manner suggested to me that Shaky Phil has something on him.”
“That might be possible,” agreed Chan. “Especially come to think of my latest discovery.”
“You’ve found something new, Charlie? What?”
“This evening, when Thorn haste to town in little car and I hear noisome snores of Madden, who sleep on bed, I make explicit search in secretary’s room.”
“Yes—go on—quick. We might be interrupted.”
“Under mountain of white shirts in Thorn’s bureau reposes—what? Missing forty-five we call Bill Hart’s gun.”
“Good work! Thorn—the little rat—”
“Undubitably. Two chambers of that gun are quite unoccupied. Reflect on that.”
“I’m reflecting. Two empty chambers.”
“Humbly suggest you sleep now, gathering strength for what may be most excited tomorrow.” The little detective paused at the door. “Two bullets gone, who knows where?” he said in a low voice. “Answer is, we know where one went. Went crazy, landing in wall at spot now covered by desert picture.”
“And the other?” said Bob Eden thoughtfully.
“Other hit mark, I think. What mark? We watch and wait, and maybe we discover. Good night, with plenty happy dreams.”
IX
A Ride in the Dark
On Sunday morning Bob Eden rose at what was, for him, an amazingly early hour. Various factors conspired to induce this strange phenomenon—the desert sun, an extremely capable planet, filling his room with light, the roosters of P. J. Madden, loudly vocal in the dawn. At eight o’clock he was standing in the ranch-house yard, ready for whatever the day might bring forth.
Whatever it
