The One-Way Trail: A story of the cattle country

by Ridgwell Cullum

  CHAPTER XXVIII

  WILL

  It was a long day of suspense for Eve. There was so little to distracther mind from the things which troubled. A few household duties, thatwas all. There was Elia's food to be prepared when he came in fromPeter's new cutting, just outside the village limits. There was herdressmaking. But this last left her so much room for thought, and onlyhelped to lengthen the dragging hours.

  At dinner-time Elia informed her that there were some jack-rabbits ina bluff just outside the village, and declared his intention ofsnaring them for her that night. But she paid only the slightestattention to him, and gave him permission to go almost withoutthinking. Since Will had escaped there was only one thing of anyconsequence. It was Jim's safety from the angry villagers.

  That afternoon, as she sat over her work, he alone occupied herthoughts and troubled her to a degree that would have startled her hadshe been less concerned in his danger. She saw now how the cowardlypart she had played in accepting his help to save her worthlesshusband had thrown the burden of his crime upon Jim's willingshoulders. And now they wanted to hang him. She was to blame and shealone. She who would not willingly hurt one hair of his head.

  Hurt him? Oh, no, no! And yet, how she had hurt him already. She hadnever meant to. It had been rushed upon her. She had acted upon theimpulse of the moment. And then--then he had refused to listen whenshe realized the meaning of what she had done. Hurt him? No. Now shefelt that nothing else mattered if only she could see a way to clearhis name.

  She thought long and hopelessly. Then, of a sudden, she sprang to herfeet with a cry. Yes, yes, there was a way. They should not hang him.She still had it in her power to save him. She still had it in herpower to tell the whole miserable, pitiful truth. She had been acoward, but she would be a coward no longer. This was for Jim. Theother had been for herself. Yes, she would tell the truth. She wouldtell them that Will Henderson--her husband--was the thief. They wouldbelieve--yes----

  But her hope suddenly dropped from her. Would they believe? Sheremembered what Annie had told her. She had been seen with Jim severaltimes in the village since he had left McLagan's. How many times?Once--twice---- Yes, three times in all. And already the women of theplace had started scandalous stories. Would they believe her? If shedenounced Will, what then? Their retort would promptly be that she wastrying to rid herself of her husband, for--her own ends. Oh, it wascruel!

  She flung herself into her chair, and buried her face in her hands.She could do nothing. Nothing but wait for help from others. And Godalone knew into what trouble she might not plunge them.

  But gradually she became calmer. She began to think in a differentchannel. She was thinking of these scandalous tongues, and searchingfor an answer to them. She began to question her feelings. She toldherself that Jim was nothing but a friend. A well-liked friend. Shetold herself this several times, and thought she believed it. Whyshould it be otherwise? She had only seen him three times since hecame in from McLagan's. So why should it be otherwise? No, it was nototherwise.

  Slowly, as she thought, and the hours drifted on, her fears fell awayinto the background. Her heart grew very tender, and her denial lessdecided. She wondered where Jim was. She longed to go to him. Shewould have loved to carry the warning to him herself. Somehow, shewanted to be at his side, to tell him all she felt at the trouble shehad brought upon him. At the wrong she had so thoughtlessly,unintentionally done him. She wanted to show him how she had only doneas her weak woman's conscience had prompted her. She had not thoughtbeyond what she believed to be her duty. She had not paused to thinkwhat trouble she was bringing on others--on him. Had she only realizedat the time, that, with all her might, she was driving the searingbrand deeper into his flesh, she would rather have faced the ropeherself. She wanted to tell him all this, to open her heart to him,and let him see that she was not the cruel, selfish creature he mustthink her for having accepted his sacrifice in bearing the warning toWill.

  The fascination of her self-abnegating thought held her, and shedrifted on to more personal details. She pictured his kind eyes, andheard his deep, gentle voice telling her that he forgave her, that hepreferred to carry the warning rather than she should suffer. She feltin her heart that this was what he would say, for she knew, as mostwomen know these things, that the old love of a year ago was still asit was then. And the thought of it was sweet and comforting now in hertrouble.

  She remained in her wondrously seductive dreamland while the minutescrept on. And, as the dusky shadows of evening gathered, she satsilent in her woman's dream of the man. It was gentle, soothing,irresistible. It was the natural reaction after long hours of mentalstruggle, when a merciful Providence brings relief to the sufferingmind, the saving sedative of a few restful moments in the realms of agentle dreaming of subconsciousness.

  But perhaps this respite was something in the nature of an inversionof the tempering of the wind. Perhaps a strange Providence was givingher a few moments in which to strengthen herself for the blow that wasto follow so quickly. It is of small consequence, however. Thesethings pass in a lifetime almost unobserved. It is only on subsequentreflection that they become apparent.

  The darkness had closed down, and for once the usually brilliantsummer evening was clouded, and the twilight quickly lost. The woman'sintrospective gaze was smiling, the drawn lines about her prettymouth, the shadows under her eyes seemed to have fallen from her. Italmost seemed as though the happiness of her dreams had entirelybanished the trouble that had so long weighed her down.

  Then suddenly the latch of her door lifted with a rattle. She startedat once into perfect consciousness. At last. It was Peter Blunt comewith his ready help. She started to her feet, all her dream-castlestumbling about her. The door was pushed roughly open, and Will, herhusband, came hurriedly in:

  "You?"

  Eve's exclamation was the last thing in horror, the last thing inunconscious detestation. But his eyes held hers as one fascinated bythe eyes of some cruel reptile. Nor was it until he nodded his replythat the spell was broken.

  "Yes--and I guess you ain't too pleased."

  There was a harsh sarcasm in his tone, which added to the steelyhorror in the woman's heart. Now her eyes glanced swiftly over hisbody. He was dressed differently to anything she had ever seen him in.He was wearing a suit of store clothes, and a soft cotton shirt with acollar. His whole appearance suggested the Sunday costume of any ofthe villagers, which they generally wore when setting out on a visitto a town of some importance. Just for a moment she wondered if thiswas Will's intention. Was he about to make a bolt out of the country?

  He shut the door carefully, and glanced round the darkened room. Therewas just sufficient glow from the stove to tell him there was no oneelse in the place.

  "Where's Elia? Are you alone?"

  His tone was peremptory and suspicious. His furtive eyes told Eve thathe was apprehensive. She nodded.

  "Elia's gone snaring jack-rabbits on the bluff, out back," she saidunsuspiciously. "Shall I light a lamp?"

  "No." His negative came emphatically.

  He came round to the stove, and stood looking down at her for somemoments. There was a dark, sullen frown in his eyes which might wellhave suggested possibilities to the most unsuspicious. But she was notsuspicious, just then. She was wondering and fearful that he hadreturned to the village instead of getting away. Why had he come? sheasked herself. But her question found no voice.

  "Well?" he said at last, with such a sneer that she lifted a pair ofstartled eyes to his face. Her heart was hammering in her bosom. Shehad suddenly realized his temper.

  "I'm going away," he said sharply. "I've got to get out. I came in formoney. Have you got any of my money?"

  "All of it."

  "Ah, good. You're more use than I thought you. How much?"

  "Over a thousand dollars."

  Eve's voice was icy. Her whole attitude seemed almost mechanical. Yeta wild terror was slowly creeping over her, mounting steadily to herbrain. Nor was
the reason for it quite apparent yet.

  The man's eyes sparkled, and for a moment his frown lightened.

  "Good. You can hand it over." And his voice was almost friendly.

  Eve went into her bedroom and returned with a pile of bills. Will heldout his hand for them, but she ignored it, and laid them on the table.He seized upon them greedily, glancing queerly at her as he pocketedthem.

  "Good," he said thoughtfully, "now I can get busy." He lifted his eyesto his wife's face again, and stared at her malevolently, and thewoman shivered under his scrutiny. She had shrunk from coming intocontact with the hand that had shot down one of the boys, and now shewas thinking of this man as the murderer.

  "You best go," she said, vainly trying to keep her voice steady.

  But the man made no move. His malevolent stare had become moreintense. Suddenly he laughed, his teeth baring, but his eyes remainingunchanged.

  "So that's it, eh?" he said. Then the malevolence of his eyes changedto an angry fire. "I'm going sure, but not till I've done what I cameto do. Y'see, there's no great hurry. Folks aren't chasin' me here.Here, I'm a respectable, hard-working gold prospector. An' I've beendown at the saloon an' talked with the folks. Bluff, eh? Goldprospector. Gee! We know differently, eh? Don't we? Oh, yes, I'mgoin'--when it suits me. Not when it suits you. Guess you'd be glad tobe rid of me, eh? So it would leave room for Jim Thorpe. Oh, I'veheard. All the folks are talking."

  The girl started. An angry flush slowly mounted to her cheeks, and asudden sparkle lit her eyes.

  "But he don't cut any ice with me," the man went on with a laugh. "Youwon't get him. Nor will any other woman. They're goin' to hang him.Say, what was his price for riding out to me? Did you pay itbeforehand, or do you reckon to pay it before they hang him? Ha, ha!guess you ain't paid it yet. Men don't work for women after they gettheir pay. I'd say you're shrewd enough someways."

  Eve's fury at the man's loathsome suggestion drove her beyond allcaution. And she flung her answer at him with a hatred that was whollyinfuriating to the man.

  "You best go. Remember, I know the truth of you," she cried. "We'vesaved you from the rope, once. I still have it in my power to----"

  "Eh?"

  He stepped up to her and stood, his face within a few inches of hers.

  "So that's it, is it? You'd give me away. You!" He shook his headslowly, all his purpose plainly written in his furious eyes. "Youwon't give me away. I'll see to that. For two pins I'd silence younow, only--only it isn't what I want. But don't make a mistake, youwon't give me away. Sit down. Sit down right there in the chair behindyou."

  He stood over her, compelling her with the force behind his command,and the terrified woman found herself obeying him against her will.She almost fell into the chair. Then the man turned back to the doorand secured it.

  "We don't want any one buttin' in," he said. "I've got to do a bigtalk first, then I get goin'."

  He came back and stood beside the stove, opposite her, so that hecould look right down into her face and watch the effect of his words.He was brimful of a merciless project, which was to be carried outpartly for her edification, partly for his own revenge, and wholly forthe satisfaction of the devilish nature within him, which now, letfully loose, swayed him beyond any thought of consequences.

  "See here, you've been my Jonah right along. I never had a cent'sworth of luck since I got scratching around your fence," he began,almost quietly. Only was the threat in his eyes. "I don't guess I cansay just how things happened--I mean how things got going wrongwith me, unless it was you. I'm going to tell you straight when ithappened. I got mean when I was fool enough to guess I was sweeton you. Jim Thorpe was sweet on you too. I got mean toward him. Weshot a target for first chance to ask you to marry. He won. I got inahead, and, like a fool, married you. That was the beginning. An' Ididn't feel any less mean after. Yes, you were my Jonah, sure. Icouldn't work those first days 'cos of you, an' after I didn't guessI wanted to. But it set me savage I didn't want to. Well, I'm nothere to tell you all the things that followed. You know them aswell as me. But there's things you don't know. After you got hurtthat night it was Peter Blunt who drove me out of Barnriff withthreats of kicking me out, and setting the townsfolk on me for the wayI'd treated you. But Jim was behind it. He didn't do the talkin'to me--Peter did that. But Jim came in that night to see you. Ifound that out. Say, I was mad. I was mad at Jim Thorpe, and notPeter, for I read his doing in my own way. Y'see I was still a fool,an' still sweet on you. But I saw how I could get back on him. I'dbeen at work some time on the cattle-duffing, an' I saw just how Icould hurt him too.

  "Say, cattle-duffing's a great gambol, an' I don't regret it. I'mgoing to keep on at it--only elsewhere. Well, I got hold of MasterJim's brand. I got kit as like he wears as two cents, in case I waslocated. We're alike in figure----"

  "But, thank God, there's no other resemblance."

  Eve's scathing comment came with startling suddenness. Her terror waspassing, and only she felt a great loathing for this man.

  "Keep all that till I've finished," Will said coolly. "Maybe you won'tbe so ready then. Well, I used his brand, and set a bunch of cattlerunning amongst his--McLagan's cattle, as you know. Then I waited fordevelopments. They came--oh, yes, they came. Jim was the cattle-thief.I the lucky gold prospector. Good, eh?" He laughed heartily.

  "But, say, I was still a fool," he went on, after a slight pause. "Iwas still sweet on you. Then I heard every time Jim came into thevillage he'd always call to see you. That set me mad--so mad you camemighty near to passing in your checks, and Jim too. I'm glad thosethings didn't happen now. Y'see, I didn't reckon on Elia. I'dforgotten him. That imp of hell can hate, and it was me he hated, eh?Y'see, I've heard how he tracked me. I hear most things doing inBarnriff. Then you did your fool stunt sending Jim out to warn me. Hegot me clear, and--and I hate him worse for it; but not so bad as Ihate you now. I see how it was done. I'm no fool. Jim did it for you,and I guess you'll pay his price. That's how you're both thinking. Butyou won't. They're goin' to hang him. There's only one person who canput them wise about this cattle stealing, that's Elia. And I'm goingto kill him to-night. That's why I came in--that an' to get money.When I've finished him I'll see to you----"

  But Eve was on her feet in a frenzy of horror and fear for the brothershe loved. All her mother's instinct was roused to a fighting pitch.

  "You shan't touch him!" she cried fiercely. "You shall kill me first!I swear it! Oh, you wretched murderer! You filth! Ha, ha--nobody butElia knows. Peter knows, and--and others. You touch Elia, and I swearyou shan't escape!"

  "Peter knows, eh? Ho, ho, my girl," the man mocked. Then he shook hishead. "It doesn't matter--not a little bit. What I'm going to do willbe done to-night. Elia will get his med'cine, and then I'll come back,and--well, you shan't get a chance of paying Jim his price. Oh, no,"as Eve opened her lips to speak again, "I'll take no chances. I'llleave you safe here. I could settle you first, but I want you to knowyour beloved brother is dead before--you join him. Get my meaning? Yousee, Peter and those others knowing have altered my plans some. You'lljoin your angel brother when I come back."

  He had been bending over her, to impress his cruel words upon her moreforcibly. Now he suddenly straightened up and snatched some dressmaterial from the table. Before the wretched woman was aware of hisintentions he had flung it over her head. She tried to scream, butinstantly he had her by the throat with one hand and choked her criesback. With the other he thrust the cloth into her mouth till she waseffectually gagged. Then he secured it in place with a long binding ofbraid. But the moment this was done, and he released her throat, shebegan to struggle violently, and he was forced to exert all hisstrength to crush her down into the chair. Here he knelt on her, whilehe lashed her hands together, and then her feet. Then he tied the twobindings together, so that her arms were locked immovable round herknees. Now, at his leisure, he took the table cover and securely boundher into the chair.

  This accomplished, he stood up and surveyed
his handiwork carefully.He was breathing hard with his exertion. Yes, she was well secured,and he smiled sardonically. He watched her thus for some moments. Thenhe glanced round the darkened room. It was the haunted look of the manengaged in crime.

  Suddenly he stepped softly to her side, and, stooping, lifted thecloth with which she was gagged from before the upper part of herface. He looked into the hunted, terrified eyes and grinned. Then heput his lips close to one of her ears.

  "Now I'm going to the bluff out back to--kill your brother, yourbeloved Elia. Then I'm coming back to--kill you," he whispered. Andthe next moment he was gone.