Brand Blotters

by William MacLeod Raine

  CHAPTER XI

  SQUIRE LATIMER TAKES A HAND

  "You're to make ready for a trip to town, _senorita_."

  "When?"

  "At once," Rosario answered. "By orders of _Senor_ MacQueen."

  "Then he is back?" the girl flashed.

  "Just back."

  "Tell him I want to see him--immediately."

  "I am to take you to him as soon as you are ready to ride."

  "Oh, very well."

  In a very few minutes the young woman was ready. Rosario led her to thecabin in front of which she had seen the old Indian squaw. In it wereseated Simon West and Black MacQueen. Both of them rose at her entrance.

  "Please take a chair, Miss Lee. We have some business to talk over," theoutlaw suggested.

  Melissy looked straight at him, her lips shut tight. "What have you donewith Jack Flatray?" she presently demanded.

  "Left him to find his way back to his friends."

  "You didn't hurt him ... any more?"

  "No."

  "And you left him alone, wounded as he was."

  "We fixed up his wound," lied MacQueen.

  "Was it very bad?"

  "A scratch. I had to do it."

  "You needn't apologize to me."

  "I'm not apologizing, you little wild-cat."

  "What do you want with me? Why did you send for me?"

  "We're going to Mesa to see a parson. But before we start there's somebusiness to fix up. Mr. West and I will need your help to fix up thenegotiations for his release."

  "My help!" She looked at him in surprise. "How can I help?"

  "I've laid my demands before his friends. They'll come through with themoney, sure. But I want them to understand the conditions right plainly,so there won't be any mistake. What they have got to get soaked into theirheads is that, if they do make any mistakes, they will not see Simon Westagain alive. You put that up to them strong."

  "I'm not going to be your agent in robbing people of their money!" shetold him swiftly.

  "You don't understand. Mr. West wants you to do it. He wants you toexplain the facts to his friends, so they won't act rash and get off wrongfoot first."

  "Oh! If Mr. West wishes it," she conceded.

  "I do wish it," the great man added.

  Though his face and hands were still stained with the dye that had beenused on them, the railroad builder was now dressed in his own clothes. Thegirl thought that he looked haggard and anxious, and she was sure that herpresence brought him relief. In his own way he was an indomitable fighter,but his experience had not included anything of this nature.

  Jack Flatray could look at death level-eyed, and with an even pulse,because for him it was all in the day's work; but the prospect of it shookWest's high-strung nerves. Nevertheless, he took command of theexplanations, because it had been his custom for years to lead.

  MacQueen, his sardonic smile in play, sat back and let West do most of thetalking. Both men were working for the same end--to get the ransom paid assoon as possible--and the multimillionaire released; and the outlawrealized that Melissy would cooeperate the more heartily if she felt shewere working for West and not for himself.

  "This is Tuesday, Miss Lee. You will reach Mesa some time to-night. Myfriends ought to be on the ground already. I want you and your father toget in touch with them right away, and arrange the details along the linelaid down by Mr. MacQueen. In case they agree to everything and understandfully, have the Stars and Stripes flying from your house all dayto-morrow as a signal. Don't on any account omit this--because, if you do,my captors will have to hold me longer, pending further negotiations. Ihave written a letter to Mr. Lucas, exonerating you completely, Miss Lee;and I have ordered him to comply with all these demands without parley."

  "Our proposition seems to Mr. West very reasonable and fair," grinnedMacQueen impishly, paring his finger nails.

  "At any rate, I think that my life is worth to this country a good dealmore than three hundred thousand dollars," West corrected.

  "Besides being worth something to Simon West," the outlaw addedcarelessly.

  West plunged into the details of delivering the money. Once or twice theother man corrected him or amplified some statement. In order that therecould be no mistake, a map of Sweetwater canyon was handed to Melissy to beused by the man who would bring the money to the rendezvous at the Devil'sCauseway.

  When it came to saying good-bye, the old man could scarce make up his mindto release the girl's hand. It seemed to him that she was the visible signof his safety, and that with her departure went a safeguard from thesedesperate men. He could not forget that she had saved the life of thesheriff, even though he did not know what sacrifice she had made so to do.

  "I know you'll do your best for me," he said, with tears in his eyes."Make Lucas see this thing right. Don't let any fool detectives bunco himinto refusing to pay the ransom. Put it to him as strongly as you can,that it will be either my life or the money. I have ordered him to pay it,and I want it paid."

  Melissy nodded. "I'll tell him how it is, Mr. West. I know it will be allright. By Thursday afternoon we shall have you with us to dinner again.Trust us."

  "I do." He lowered his voice and glanced at MacQueen, who had been calledaside to speak to one of his men. "And I'm glad you're going away fromhere. This is no place for you."

  "It isn't quite the place for you, either," she answered, with a faint,joyless smile.

  They started an hour before midday. Rosario had packed a lunch for both ofthem in MacQueen's saddlebags, for it was the intention of the latter toavoid ranches and traveled trails on the way down. He believed that thegirl would go through with what she had pledged herself to do, but he didnot mean to take chances of a rescue.

  In the middle of the afternoon they stopped for lunch at Round-upSpring--a water hole which had not dried up in a dozen years. It was asomber meal. Melissy's spirits had been sinking lower and lower with everymile that brought her nearer the destiny into which this man was forcingher. Food choked her, and she ate but little. Occasionally, with staringeyes, she would fall into a reverie, from which his least word wouldstartle her to a shiver of apprehension. This she always controlled afterthe first instinctive shudder.

  "What's the matter with you, girl? I'm not going to hurt you any. I neverhit a woman in my life," the man said once roughly.

  "Perhaps you may, after you're married. It's usually one's wife one beats.Don't be discouraged. You'll have the experience yet," she retorted, butwithout much spirit.

  "To hear you tell it, I'm a devil through and through! It's that kind oftalk that drives a man to drink," he flung out angrily.

  "And to wife beating. Of course, I'm not your chattel yet, because theceremony hasn't been read; but if you would like to anticipate a few hoursand beat me, I don't suppose there is any reason you shouldn't."

  "Gad! How you hate me!"

  Her inveteracy discouraged him. His good looks, his debonair manner, themagnetic charm he knew how to exert--these, which had availed him withother women, did not seem to reach her at all. She really gave him nochance to prove himself. He was ready to be grave or gay--to be alight-hearted boy or a blase man of the world--to adopt any role thatwould suit her. But how could one play up effectively to a chill silencewhich took no note of him, to a depression of the soul which would notlet itself be lifted? He felt that she was living up to the barest letterof the law in fulfilling their contract, and because of it he steeledhimself against her sufferings.

  There was one moment of their ride when she stood on the tiptoe ofexpectation and showed again the sparkle of eager life. MacQueen hadresaddled after their luncheon, and they were climbing a long sidehillthat looked over a dry valley. With a gesture, the outlaw checked herhorse.

  "Look!"

  Some quarter of a mile from them two men were riding up a wash that ranthrough the valley. The mesquite and the cactus were thick, and it was foronly an occasional moment that they could be seen. Black and the girl werescre
ened from view by a live oak in front of them, so that there was nodanger of being observed. The outlaw got out his field glasses and watchedthe men intently.

  Melissy could not contain the question that trembled on her lips: "Do youknow them?"

  "I reckon not."

  "Perhaps----"

  "Well!"

  "May I look--please?"

  He handed her the glasses. She had to wait for the riders to reappear, butwhen they did she gave a little cry.

  "It's Mr. Bellamy!"

  "Oh, is it?"

  He looked at her steadily, ready to crush in her throat any call she mightutter for help. But he soon saw that she had no intention of making herpresence known. Her eyes were glued to the glasses. As long as the menwere in sight she focused her gaze on them ravenously. At last a bend inthe dry river bed hid them from view. She lowered the binoculars with asigh.

  "Lucky they didn't see us," he said, with his easy, sinister laugh. "Luckyfor them."

  She noticed for the first time that he had uncased his rifle and washolding it across the saddle-tree.

  Night slipped silently down from the hills--the soft, cool, velvet nightof the Arizona uplands. The girl drooped in the saddle from sheerexhaustion. The past few days had been hard ones, and last night she hadlost most of her sleep. She had ridden far on rough trails, had beensubjected to a stress of emotion to which her placid maiden life had beenunused. But she made no complaint. It was part of the creed she hadunconsciously learned from her father to game out whatever had to beendured.

  The outlaw, though he saw her fatigue, would not heed it. She had chosento set herself apart from him. Let her ask him to stop and rest, if shewanted to. It would do her pride good to be humbled. Yet in his heart headmired her the more, because she asked no favors of him and forbore thewomanish appeal of tears.

  His watch showed eleven o'clock by the moon when the lights of Mesaglimmered in the valley below.

  "We'll be in now in half an hour," he said.

  She had no comment to make, and silence fell between them again until theyreached the outskirts of the town.

  "We'll get off here and walk in," he ordered; and, after she haddismounted, he picketed the horses close to the road. "You can send foryours in the mornin'. Mine will be in the livery barn by that time."

  The streets were practically deserted in the residential part of the town.Only one man they saw, and at his approach MacQueen drew Melissy behind alarge lilac bush.

  As the man drew near the outlaw's hand tightened on the shoulder of thegirl. For the man was her father--dusty, hollow-eyed, and haggard. The twocrouching behind the lilacs knew that this iron man was broken by hisfears for his only child, the girl who was the apple of his eye.

  Not until he was out of hearing did Melissy open her lips to the stifledcry she had suppressed. Her arms went out to him, and the tears rolleddown her cheeks. For herself she had not let herself break down, but forher father's grief her heart was like water.

  "All right. Don't break down now. You'll be with him inside of half anhour," the outlaw told her gruffly.

  They stopped at a house not much farther down the street, and he rang thebell. It took a second ring to bring a head out of the open windowupstairs.

  "Well?" a sleepy voice demanded.

  "Is this Squire Latimer?"

  "Yes."

  "Come down. We want to get married."

  "Then why can't you come at a reasonable hour?--consarn it!"

  "Never mind that. There's a good fee in it. Hurry up!"

  Presently the door opened. "Come in. You can wait in the hall till I get alight."

  "No--I don't want a light. We'll step into this room, and be married atonce," MacQueen told him crisply.

  "I don't know about that. I'm not marrying folks that can't be lookedat."

  "You'll marry us, and at once. I'm Black MacQueen!"

  It was ludicrous to see how the justice of the peace fell back in terrorbefore the redoubtable bad man of the hills.

  "Well, I don't know as a light is a legal necessity; but we got to havewitnesses."

  "Have you any in the house?"

  "My daughter and a girl friend of hers are sleeping upstairs. I'll callthem, Mr. Black--er--I mean Mr. MacQueen."

  The outlaw went with the squire to the foot of the stairs, whence Latimerwakened the girls and told them to dress at once, as quickly as possible.A few minutes later they came down--towsled, eyes heavy with sleep,giggling at each other in girlish fashion. But when they knew whosemarriage they were witnessing, giggles and sleep fled together.

  They were due for another surprise later. MacQueen and his bride werestanding in the heavy shadows, so that both bulked vaguely in mereoutline. Hitherto, Melissy had not spoken a word. The time came when itwas necessary for the justice to know the name of the girl whom he wasmarrying. Her answer came at once, in a low, scarcely audible voice:

  "Melissy Lee."

  An electric shock could scarce have startled them more. Of all the girlsin Mesa none was so proud as Melissy Lee, none had been so far abovecriticism, such a queen in the frontier town. She had spent a year inschool at Denver; she had always been a social leader. While she hadalways been friendly to the other girls, they had looked upon her with atouch of awe. She had all the things they craved, from beauty to money.And now she was marrying at midnight, in the dark, the most notorious badman of Arizona!

  Here was a wonder of wonders to tell the other girls to-morrow. The onlypity was that they could not see her face--and his. They had heard that hewas handsome. No doubt that accounted for it. And what could be moreromantic than a love match with such a fascinating villain? Probably hehad stormed her heart irresistibly.

  The service proceeded. The responses of the man came clearly andtriumphantly, those of the girl low but distinctly. It was the custom ofthe justice to join the hands of the parties he was marrying; but when hemoved to do so this girl put both of hers quickly behind her. It was hiscustom also to kiss the bride after pronouncing them man and wife; but heomitted this, too, on the present occasion. Nor did the groom kiss her.

  The voice of the justice died away. They stood before him man and wife.The witnesses craned forward to see the outlaw embrace his bride. Instead,he reached into his pocket and handed Latimer a bill. The denomination ofit was one hundred dollars, but the justice did not discover that untillater.

  "I reckon that squares us," the bad man said unsentimentally. "Now, all ofyou back to bed."

  MacQueen and his bride passed out into the night. The girls noticed thatshe did not take his arm; that she even drew back, as if to avoid touchinghim as they crossed the threshold.

  Not until they reached the gate of her father's house did MacQueen speak.

  "I'm not all coyote, girl. I'll give you the three days I promised you.After that you'll join me wherever I say."

  "Yes," she answered without spirit.

  "You'll stand pat to our agreement. When they try to talk you out of ityou won't give in?"

  "No."

  She was deadly weary, could scarce hold up her head.

  "If you lie to me I'll take it out on your folks. Don't forget that JackFlatray will have to pay if you double-cross me."

  "No."

  "He'll have to pay in full."

  "You mean you'll capture him again."

  "I mean we won't have to do that. We haven't turned him loose yet."

  "Then you lied to me?" She stared at him with wide open eyes of horror.

  "I had to keep him to make sure of you."

  Her groan touched his vanity, or was it perhaps his pity?

  "I'm not going to hurt him--if you play fair. I tell you I'm no cur. Helpme, girl, and I'll quit this hell raising and live decent."

  She laughed without joy, bitterly.

  "Oh, I know what you think," he continued. "I can't blame you. But what doyou know about my life? What do you know about what I've had to fightagainst? All my life there has been some devil in me, strangling all thegood. Th
ere has been nobody to give me a helping hand--none to hold meback. I was a dog with a bad name--good enough for hanging, and nothingelse."

  He was holding the gate, and perforce she had to hear him out.

  "What do I care about that?" she cried, in a fierce gust of passion. "Isee you are cur and coward! You lied to me. You didn't keep faith and freeJack Flatray. That is enough."

  She was the one person in the world who had power to wound him. Nor did ithurt the less that it was the truth. He drew back as if the lash of a whiphad swept across his face.

  "No man alive can say that to me and live!" he told her. "Cur I may be;but you're my wife, 'Lissie MacQueen. Don't forget that."

  "Go! Go!" she choked. "I hope to God I'll never see your face again!"

  She flew along the grass-bordered walk, whipped open the front door, anddisappeared within. She turned the key in the lock, and stood trembling inthe darkness. She half expected him to follow, to attempt to regainpossession of her.

  But the creak of his quick step on the porch did not come. Only herhammering heart stirred in the black silence. She drew a long breath ofrelief, and sank down on the stairs. It was over at last, the horriblenightmare through which she had been living.

  Gradually she fought down her fears and took hold of herself. She mustfind her father and relieve his anxiety. Quietly she opened the door ofthe hall into the living room.

  A man sat at the table, with his back to her, in an attitude of utterdejection. He was leaning forward, with his head buried in his arms. Itwas her father. She stepped forward, and put her hands on his bowedshoulders.

  "Daddy," she said softly.

  At her touch the haggard, hopeless, unshaven face was lifted toward her.For a moment Lee looked at her as if she had been a wraith. Then, with ahoarse cry, he arose and caught her in his arms.

  Neither of them could speak for emotion. He tried it twice before he couldget out:

  "Baby! Honey!"

  He choked back the sobs in his throat. "Where did you come from? I thoughtsure MacQueen had you."

  "He had. He took me to Dead Man's Cache with him."

  "And you escaped. Praise the Lord, honey!"

  "No--he brought me back."

  "MacQueen did! Goddlemighty--he knows what's best for him!"

  "He brought me back to--to----" She broke down, and buried her head in hisshoulder.

  Long, dry sobs racked her. The father divined with alarm that he did notknow the worst.

  "Tell me--tell me, 'Lissie! Brought you back to do what, honey?" He heldher back from him, his hands on her shoulders.

  "To marry me."

  "What!"

  "To marry me. And he did--fifteen minutes ago, I am Black MacQueen'swife."

  "Black MacQueen's wife! My God, girl!" Big Beauchamp Lee stared at her ina horror of incredulity.

  She told him the whole story, from beginning to end.