by Hal Dunning
CHAPTER II
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST
In spite of the fact that Cannondale was the county seat, and that ithad also the advantage of being on the transcontinental railroad, ithad always remained just a cow town.
Main Street, little over a block in length, was the business center. Itwas paralleled by Madison and North Streets. Madison was given over toone or two boarding houses, a few cottages, and many empty lots. NorthStreet was closely lined with Mexican shacks. State and Depot Streetsintersected Main.
The town had three hotels, two large, combination dance-and-gamblinghalls, and ten smaller saloons. Of the gambling halls the Red Queen wasfar the most pretentious. Located in the center of the block on MainStreet, it was really the hub of the whole town.
On the day before the trial of Pete Cable for murder the Red Queen wasdoing a land-office business, for Dame Rumor had been busy, and it wasfreely predicted that there was bound to be trouble at the trial.
Just what form this trouble would take no one seemed to know, but amurder trial, with the added attraction of a possible jail breaking orlynching, was sufficient to send every able-bodied man within ridingdistance scurrying into town.
Thus, on this occasion, every hotel was full and the hitching racksalong Main Street were lined with horses and buckboards; crowds milledabout the courthouse, surged in and out of saloons, gathered in hotellobbies and in the street, drank, sang, and excitedly discussed thecoming trial. The general opinion was that Pete Cable would hang. Inspite of this, however, odds were offered freely in the Red Queen thatthe accused man would be acquitted.
In the late afternoon, "Tad" Hicks, "Windy Sam," and "Kansas" Jones,three Frying Pan punchers, rode into town. They tied their horses tothe hitch rack of Moe's Emporium and went across the street to theComfort House. They pushed through the crowd at the bar and shouted fora drink. But, having thirstily downed that, they refused a second roundvirtuously. They had been ordered by their boss, Sam Hogg, to remainsober until after the transcontinental train arrived. Now theyswaggered down Main Street; and as they passed the Hogg Hardware Store,run by Sam's brother, its owner greeted them.
"Howdy, boys. This town's so durned full of strangers, and I'm so gladto see a gent what I know, that I'll buy yuh a drink," Jim Hogg saidheartily.
"Yuh're durn right. She's so full of strangers I don't know her," Windyagreed.
"An' they is all bad-lookin' hombres," Kansas said. Suddenly he wasstruck with an idea and he added hopefully: "Do yuh reckon there'sanything in this talk about the Lava Gang bustin' up the trialto-morrow?"
"Hello, Toothpick, you ole hoss thief!" Kansas hailed a passing rider.
Toothpick Jarrick pulled in his pony and edged it toward the sidewalk.The pony's head drooped; its coat was rough with dried sweat and dust.Its rider's genial, grinning face was streaked with grime; dust coveredhis jeans. Both he and the pony bore evidence of having come far andfast that day.
"'Lo," he greeted. "Mr. Hogg, ain't yuh afraid of being seen with threemutton eaters like them jaspers?"
"Howdy, Toothpick. Hit the ground and have a drink," Jim Hogg invited.
Toothpick shook his head and turned his horse into the street again.
"Where yuh been all week?" Windy asked.
"Me? Fellow, I've been playin' the messenger of destiny." Toothpickgrinned over his shoulder as he headed his horse toward the liverystable.
"Darn idiot!" Jim Hogg spluttered as the four lined up at the bar ofthe Lone Star. "I'm plumb sick of this here mystery. My brother Sam ispackin' a gun under his vest and another on his hip. The sheriff isnutty with worry, an' if yuh ask him anything he looks sick and scared.Tough hombres drift into town, and the sheriff gets him more deputies.I hear gents betting the judge don't dare come back to town, and now Ihears he's due to arrive. I'm bettin' Sam sent yuh boys to town to helpguard him when he comes in."
"Safe bet," Windy admitted, "for he sure enough told us plain to staysober and meet him at the depot."
"Why for, did he tell yuh? Not any!" Jim Hogg continued his complaint."Yuh can't talk natural without some gent sayin', 'Hush!' Toothpickdisappears and comes back an' says he's the 'messenger of destiny.'What in blazes did he mean by that, and where's he been for the lastsix days? Lava Gang! Why, this town is gettin' so scared it's going todrop dead of heart failure, an' if yuh ask some one what he thinks, helooks over his shoulder and says, 'Hush.' Maybe yuh boys knows whatit's all about."
Windy put his finger to his lips, looked over his shoulder, thenwhispered: "This here town is goin' to have its sins wiped out, likeSodom an' Gomore."
"Yuh dang fool!" Hogg spluttered.
Here the bartender cut in. "I ain't boastin' that I knows anything, butI've kept bar all over this here territory, an' I'm tellin' yuh I neversee so many tough gangs gathered together as they is in this town. Hellis sure goin' to pop."
"Why? How? When?" The irate little storekeeper shot out his questionslike a machine gun. "What makes yuh think so?"
"Feel it in my bones," the bartender hedged mysteriously.
They left the bar and headed toward the station.
The arrival of the Limited was a big event in Cannondale, and a largegroup of loafers always watched it hurl itself across the prairie andcome to an impatient stop at the little station. On this night thethree riders found nearly a hundred people lounging there. Sam Hogg waswalking up and down impatiently and talking to Tim Lynch, owner of theLone Star Saloon. The three punchers found perches on a baggage truck,rolled their cigarettes, and looked about for some one to annoy.
They saw Toothpick and the sheriff whispering together in the shadow ofthe freight house, but the lanky cow-puncher was too quick on thecome-back for their taste, and Sheriff Tom Powers was touchy thesedays, so they continued to search for easier prey. Tad Hicks jerked histhumb toward Dutchy and Silent Moore, leaning against the wall.
"Wish I'd thought of tellin' Jim Hogg to go question them hombres," hegrinned.
The others chuckled and then grew glum at this lost opportunity, forDutchy and Silent had the reputation of being morose and taciturn.
Mrs. Ransom, the judge's wife, her daughter, Mary, and SnippetsMcPherson strolled by.
"Howdy, ladies," Kansas called.
Mrs. Ransom nodded, Mary giggled, and Snippets smiled.
"Hello, boys," she cried. "Kansas, when are you going to bring me overthat dun horse to break for you?"
Kansas flushed and the others guffawed. The week before, the said dunhad set him afoot ignominiously, where he had been found by Snippets.
"Never mind, Kansas. I was only funnin'. I know your cinch broke,'cause I found your saddle," she added contritely.
"Now, yuh darned tadpoles, will yuh believe what I tole yuh? Yuh knowdarn well _that_ girl don't lie!" Kansas cried. He gazed after Snippetsgratefully, for, if the truth be known, his cinch had not broken; thathad been his alibi for the greatest disgrace that can happen to apuncher--to have a broken horse throw him and leave him afoot.
"She's sure a swell gal," Tad Hicks said admiringly.
"She's more like a fellow than a gal, an' she sure rides like one,"Windy agreed.
The three women passed on down the platform. When they reachedToothpick and the sheriff, Snippets stopped and stared at the tallcowboy.
"Why, Snip," Mary giggled. "Are you in love with Toothpick? You'reblushing."
Snippets did not heed her. When Toothpick failed to see her she pluckedat his sleeve.
"Toothpick?" Her greeting was a question.
The lanky cow-puncher swung about and snatched off his hat. He hadknown Snippets ever since she was a child. Then he had worked for herfather up North.
"'Lo, kid," he greeted.
"Did yuh see him?" she asked in an eager whisper.
"See who?" Toothpick feigned ignorance.
"Don't tease. You know," she pleaded.
"Yuh can spill it to her," Tom Powers said as he went over to join Mrs.
Ransom and Mary.
"Yeh, I seen him," Toothpick told the girl.
She waited for him to go on. Her dark eyes, wistfully eager, were fixedupon him.
"I goes to El Crucifixo, like yuh tells me to," drawled Toothpick. "An'I'm tellin' yuh I seen there a million dollars' worth of outlaws,'cause a gent down there ain't known socially unless he carries athousand, dead or alive. I ambles into the Palace Saloon, and the gentslook hard at me, an' that bunch can sure look hard. A couple slid up tome and ask me bluntlike who I am. I tell 'em quick I'm huntin' Jim-twinAllen. At that they eye me different. Then I spots Jim sittin' at atable by his lonesome, and I calls him. He's darned glad to see me. Fietells those hard hombres I'm his friend, and they get soft, pronto."
His deliberation irritated the girl.
"But is he coming?" she demanded impatiently.
"Sure is."
Snippets' eyes lighted with joy.
"I tell him about the Lava Gang, and he won't come. Then I tell him yuhwant him to come, and still he refuses. He gets sorta bitter an' sayshe ain't no cow-thief catcher--that's his brother Jack's job. I pleadwith him and tell him how your uncle's in danger. He says he's notcomin' up here to help your uncle hang a man. By accident I tell howthe Lava Gang now and then runs off gals across the border fer ransomand how they murdered that Courfay woman. At that he says quicklikehe'll come a-runnin'."
"When is he coming?" she asked quickly.
He shook his head. "I dunno."
"And when you told him I wanted him to come, he wouldn't?" she askedsoftly.
"Positively not," Toothpick said bluntly.
Another question trembled on her lips, but her eyes clouded and sheturned away, leaving it unsaid. Toothpick called to her.
"Yuh know why he refused," he grumbled. "Yuh know darn well Jim Allenis an outlaw and hasn't a Chinaman's chance of being pardoned. He'd bea hell of a fellow if he came to see a girl like yuh. But I'll tell yuhthis: He talked a heap about yuh and made me promise I'd tell yuh hewas no good, an' that he thought yuh was only a fool romantic gal whatthinks yuh like him' cause he's the famous 'White Wolf.'"
"That's not true, Toothpick," she said quietly.
"Sure, I knows," he told her.
"It's not the Wolf I like, but----"
"Sure, you and me and Dutchy is the same. We likes the kid, Jim Allen,what blubbers about his hosses." Toothpick twirled his hat to hide hisemotion.
"It's a damned shame!" he exploded. "Just the same, kid, yuh want toforget yuh ever see him and marry some nice tame gent."
"Like you, Toothpick?" she asked, smiling.
"Me?" Toothpick grunted. "Not any! I knows yuh too well. Yuhr tongue istoo darned sharp. It keeps a man hoppin' all the time. Come on! Here'sthe train."
The Limited rose from a far murmur to a rasping, grinding rush of soundand roared to a stop, grumbling, sputtering, like some great steelanimal suddenly foiled in its rush through the prairie night. Withinthe lighted cars, passengers turned in casual curiosity to look at thestation throng. But, contrary to its usual custom, that throng did notreturn the stares. For once interest was not centered on the Limiteditself; all eyes were turned toward one man as he descended alone,slowly, with dignity. He faced the curious eyes calmly as he greetedhis wife and daughter.
Erect, distinguished with his white goatee and the broad black hat thatshaded sincere gray eyes, by no gesture did he betray excitement. Andyet he knew that, of that crowd, almost every one knew hisdifficulties, knew why he had gone to the capitol, were avidly curiousabout the outcome of the visit, and were even more on edge concerningthe trial to-morrow.
Cannondale knew that the judge had been in financial straits ever sincethe Lava Gang had stolen two hundred of his steers. He had triedunsuccessfully to get his notes renewed at the local bank; finally, hehad made this trip to the capitol, where he had friends. But there,also, failure stalked him. His ranch was in debt, and it was hintedthat his political position was none too secure.
Rumor said the judge had incurred the antagonism of the Mexican voteand would not be re-elected. How this story had reached Washington hedid not know. But of the two banks where he was best known, one refusedoutright to make a loan and the other postponed it until the judge wasforced to leave for Cannondale to preside at the murder trial. Vaguelyhe suspected that the tentacles of the Lava Gang stretched even intothe furthermost political and financial centers. As he boarded thetrain for home he resolved to fight the gang to the end, whatever thatend might be.
No trace of emotion, beyond pleasure at seeing her, tinctured thegreeting kiss he gave his wife; no hint of the sword above their heads.Yet one glance at his eyes told the kindly, white-haired little womanthat their difficulties were still unsolved. She pressed his hand inthe comforting reassurance of her own courage and understanding.
His daughter Mary gave him a resounding kiss and a cheery "Hello, dad."The family troubles had as yet only vaguely affected Mary; they had nottoned down her treble giggle nor her natural nineteen-year-old interestin the arrangement of her blond curls. Snippets, though a year younger,was far more seriously concerned than Mary, because she understoodbetter the gravity of the judge's situation.
The conductor waved his lantern, the engine snorted response, and theLimited slid majestically past the spectators. At its rear theretrailed a smoking car. As this drew abreast of the station platform,the door banged open and a husky brakeman appeared, dragging a smallman by the scruff of the neck. The brakeman seized his victim by thecollar and, catching him by the seat of the pants, he heaved himoutward.
The small man rolled head over heels, to the spectators' howls ofmirth. He fetched up at the feet of the judge and his friends.
"You darned drunken hobo, it takes money to ride on this train," thebrakeman bawled as he shook his fist at the forlorn figure.
The little man stumbled to his feet and disclosed a dirty face largelyobscured by blue glasses. His trousers were too large and bagged at thewaist. His threadbare coat hung in tatters. A battered bit of feltdraped his head in the semblance of a hat, and one toe protruded froman overlarge shoe. He clinched a grimy fist and shook it after thejeering brakeman.
"You mutton face! Just you dare come back here, and I'll give you alicking so your mother won't know you!" he cried shrilly.
His futile rage, his puny fists, brought another gale of mirth from theonlookers.
As if stirred by the laughter, his rage mounted, and he lapsed intoshrill abuse mixed with oaths. Toothpick seized him by the shoulder andshook him.
"Hey, you little runt, there's ladies present," he warned sharply. "Getout of here, pronto!"
He gave the hobo a rough shove that sent him staggering. The small mangave one glance at the tall Toothpick and limped forlornly up theplatform.
"Poor fellow!" Mrs. Ransom fluttered after the tattered figure. Even inher own troubles she pitied this scarecrow of a man. "Why did theythrow you off the train?"
He paused, then drew down his mouth and whined to gain her sympathy.
"I bought me a ticket to Chi--that's Chicago--where I live, ma'am. Memuvver is sick. That feller stole my ticket and guv it to a friend,then threw me off."
Mrs. Ransom struggled between the contrary emotions of pity and commonsense. She knew the story was not true, yet he was so forlorn andhungry looking. Pity won.
"Here's a dollar. Go buy yourself some food," she said. Then, struckwith an idea, she added sternly: "Promise you won't drink it up."
The tramp straightened up.
"Me, ma'am?" He was all injured innocence. "Why, ma'am, I never touchthe stuff."
The crowd chuckled. Tom Powers snorted disgust. He seized the man's arm.
"What's yuhr name?" he snapped.
The hobo glanced at the star on the sheriff's coat and tried to slinkaway. Pinioned by the heavy hand, he cowered as if he expected a blow.
"Mister, I ain't done nothin'. I'll get out of town on the firsttrain," he pleaded.
"You got until to-morrow afternoon to do
it," warned the sheriff.
As the hobo slunk away the three Frying Pan riders looked after himlongingly. He was an ideal mark for their humor. Sam Hogg sensed theirlonging.
"It's all right, boys," he said. "You can go along now. Looks like theyain't goin' to be no trouble here, after all. Not right now, leastways."
As one man the three humorists started after the scarecrow. Mrs. Ransombristled to his protection.
"You bullies!" She shook a warning finger. "If I hear of you tormentingthat poor little fellow, I'll--well, I'll be angry."
"Huh, ma'am," Tad Hicks stuttered. "We wa'n't thinkin' of doin'nothin', nohow."
"We figured we'd take him to dinner with us-all," Windy added withdefensive genius.
Mrs. Ransom shook her head, smiling, as they joined the hobo. Theytowered above him--a tatterdemalion dwarf between three guardsmen.
She rejoined her husband. The sheriff nodded, and the judge and hisfamily moved toward their home. Ransom was flanked by two deputies andfurther protected by Silent and Dutchy, who brought up a grim rearguard.
Snippets turned back and ran to Toothpick.
"Thank you for protecting me from that man," she smiled, teasing.
"Huh?" Toothpick queried dumbly.
"Oh, you men! How dumb you are!" She stamped her foot. Then, on tiptoe,she delivered a quick kiss on the nose of the astounded Toothpick andran to rejoin her party.
Toothpick stared after her. He felt gingerly of his nose and scratchedhis head.
"She meant somethin' by that. But what was it?" he asked himself, andgave up the answer.