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Gillis and Welborn did not return from their mission the next day asthey had planned. Sunday passed by without word of their whereabouts.The stay-at-homes wondered if it was to be peace or war with maudlinggangsters. Did Welborn's fifty-to-one chance fail? Davy had planned toride over to the B-line, and go over his speech-plans with his managerand promoter. Now, it seemed necessary that he and Landy ride down tothe filling station seeking news of the missing ones. Monday noon, thefaithful old Gillis car labored up the hill and came to a stop. Jimand Sam got out to inquire if dinner was ready.
Little was said during the meal as to the outcome of their trip. Jimmade a brief explanation that they had been as far as Rawlins,accompanying the sheriff in his disposition of his boarders. Thesheriff explained that he wanted to take them past the penitentiary toshow them what they missed, and where they would live if they evercame back to this section. He took them all to the railway station,loaded two on the east-bound train and two went west. The sheriffretained the count's car as security for advances made.
That evening, however, after Davy had returned from delivering Welbornhis supper, the four gathered in the Gillis sitting room and Jim gavemore details. "This man Welborn musta been in the army," he declared."Musta been a tough old top sergeant, er the general in command, theway he took charge. He managed every detail and managed it right.Everything worked out as planned.
"We kept old Maddy out of the judge's sight, 'en it was well enoughthat we did, for Judge Withers was pretty hostile towards these crazygaloots that invaded the community and disturbed the peace. He wouldenforce the sentence, but he listened to the sheriff's complaint thatfour such prisoners were too many for his cramped quarters, too costlyfor the results obtained. The judge agreed to suspend sentence oncondition that the sheriff would deport 'em and keep 'em deported.
"We didn't have any trouble establishing Maddy's claim to the twosacks of dust. Maddy easily identified 'em and I knew they were his,but what about these gangsters? Would the count surrender title to thedamaged car to compensate for rail transportation? And would theyagree to leave and never come back? The sheriff had had severalinterviews with 'em on these matters and had never gained assent tothe plan, especially as to the count and his car. The sheriff wasbothered, didn't believe it could be done.
"Again it was Welborn who made the plan and gave orders. 'Bring thatcount in here,' he said, 'and leave me alone with him for about tenminutes. I'll find out if he wants to live or die.' And the sheriffdid as Welborn said, and before the ten minutes were up, the count hadreadily and eagerly accepted all the conditions. We took all of 'emover to court, the judge repeated the sentence, suspended it if theystayed out of the court's jurisdiction. We had 'em in Rawlins and ontheir way by Sunday noon.
"No, I don't know what Welborn said to the count," was Jim's reply toDavy's eager question. "It must have been potent and terrifying, theway that gangster wet his lips and swollered."
"Did young Goff accept Maddy's gift of the gold dust?" Jim laughed."That's another Welborn plan and order and it wasn't ignored. Thisyoung Goff is a fine fellow. He took good care of Maddy during thewhole trip. When we got back to the filling station and Goff was to goon his way, Maddy offered him the dust and he refused it. HereWelborn stepped in. He shook a little out of one sack to make 'emequal; he handed one sack to Mrs. Carter and placed the other inGoff's car. 'You keep that,' he ordered. 'This old man will livelonger, happier, more contented in knowing he has a neighbor that hecan freely call on for help who will respond to his call. He's got aright to this comfort and satisfaction. You take it.' And young Gofftook it."
The next morning David Lannarck was up bright and early, intent on hisplans to visit the B-line ranch, but Mrs. Gillis had beat him to thedraw. Landy was directed to change the stock cattle over into theravine pasture while Jim did the milking. Davy would take Welborn'sbreakfast to him and wait at the Point until Landy, and the dogs, hadfinished their job.
Like the rest of the men folk at the Gillis ranch, Davy accepted hisorders. He saddled the colt, maneuvered him up to the kitchen door forthe basket of breakfast, and rode to the Point alone. Early as it was,he found Welborn up the ravine examining the gravel in a shelterednook.
"I can work this area this winter, when the rest of the valley iscovered with snow," Welborn explained as they walked back to the cabinand the basket of breakfast.
"Yes, and if you had a dynamo and electric lights," retorted Davy,"you could work nights. What's all the rush? This stuff will keep."
Welborn laughed, but he grew serious to explain: "I would like to takenine thousand dollars out of this hole by early spring, and as near asI estimate values, I've got the job about half done. There's nearlytwo hundred ounces in those little sacks. If my partner will belenient in demanding his share, I think I can get it done thiswinter."
"If I advance the nine thousand right now, say by the end of the week,will you let up on this drive-drive-drive stuff, and relax and beyourself?" Davy's question was a demand, earnestly stated.
Welborn gave an inquiring look to see if he was being scolded orkidded. He decided that it was neither of these. "Why would you wantto do that, Laddie?" he asked in a subdued tone.
"Just to keep a good man from worrying himself to death," retorted themidget. "I want to prevent a funeral, make an asset out of aliability. I want to get a big, fine man back to his normal self. Ifyou will agree to let up on this push-drive-urge stuff; stop longenough to read a book, to laugh at Jiggs or Popeye or Dagwood, or anyof the other funnies, go with me over to Adot where the mine-run folkscan see what a big, fine upstanding partner I've got, why I'll havethat little, old nine thousand in here by Saturday.
"Oh, I know that money is scarce, hard to get just now," Davyexplained in response to Welborn's shake of the head, "but this moneyis idle, and there's plenty of security up in that ravine. It's notthe loan, it's the results, I'm wanting. Of course, there's somethingeating you, some past catastrophe or mistake, that's got you down.You're worried, killing yourself trying to get it corrected. I don'tknow what it is, and don't want to know, until you are ready. Ofcourse it will work out all right. There'll be a climax, a denouement,as old director Mecklin used to call the final act, and I want you tobe right here, in person, in good health and spirits, to join with therest of us in the applause and cheers."
Welborn had walked over to the window, but not to look out. His headwas down, he was taking punishment. Presently he lifted his shouldersand head. There was a smile on his face even if his voice was husky."In all my varied years, Sonny Boy, I never heard finer complimentsmixed up with some real truths. What you've said is worth more to methan your kindly offer of funds. I wouldn't take your money under anycondition, it would add complications, but I am going to take youradvice. From now on, I'll try to do as you say, try to save myself forthe glorious finish that you picture."
The arrival of Jim in the old car and Landy's clamorous calls broke upthe conference. Davy hurried out to join his friend in their plannedtrip to the B-line ranch. He was very quiet in the hazards of BrushyFork, but on arriving at the level stretch beyond he stopped Landy."What am I going to name this colt, Landy? He's got to have a name, ifhe's to be taught to do things. Old Boss Fletcher had a name for everyelephant in the herd, and they would step right out when their nameswere called. Horses, dogs, elephants, even the cats quickly learnedtheir names and the short words like 'halt,' 'go,' 'kneel,' 'turn,'and the like. This colt is smart, wants to do things, if you're nottoo dumb in telling him what you want. But he's got to have a name."
"Alice and I were talkin' about that the other night," replied the excow-hand. "She had some flossy ones: Emperor, Commander, President, ensich, but I vetoed that trash, the colt couldn't carry 'em and live. Isuggested Red, er Monty, er some sich. Thar we adjourned and left thecolt without a moniker. What's yer notion of a name fer this littlehoss?"
"I just can't think of the right one," said Davy resignedly. "Itwouldn't do to name him after some of the fo
lks around here, thatwould mix things up. The circus folks have worn out such names asBarnum, Ringling, Robinson, Bailey, Coles, Sells, Barnes, Wallace, andothers and they don't fit a small hoss anyhow. I am in hopes that thisfine, smart Adine girl at the B-line has some sort of a suggestion.Maybe, she's got a name that will do."
At a favorable place on the narrow road where the travelers could gazedown on a bunch of the B-line cattle quietly grazing and where themorning sun splashed varied colors on the distant hills, Davy pushedhis mount in front of old Gravy to halt the party. He flung his handin a wide sweep to include everything in sight.
"That's Paradise, Landy. It's what I've dreamed about for the last tenyears. It's the wide open spaces filled with all the variations in oldNature's book of scenery. And best of all, there's no mob of nit-witsto titter and smirk. It's my Heaven.
"Just now, two things blur the picture; I want to get this speechthing off my hands, and I want to find a resister, a sass-back, acontrary cuss, that will argue back at me. I want to keep him nearbyto remind me of old times. Why back two years ago, I used to visit oldPolo Garrett, who had the concession in the menagerie tent, just toget cussed out. Polo's vocabulary was limited to sassing back. 'What'seatin' ya?,' 'Git outa here,' 'Who's a-running this dump?' 'Whar do yagit that stuff?' were his mildest phrases. When I got fed up on abunch of simpering women and their, 'ain't he cute?' stuff, all I hadto do was to barge in on Polo and get cussed out and learn that theworld wasn't all gush and guff.
"And particularly I need this 'argufyer' right out here now. I'mgetting tired of having my own way. The people are too kind, tooconsiderate, regard me as a child to be petted and pampered. There'stoo much mushy sentiment. A day or two ago, I told Mrs. Gillis my lifehistory. It was mushy and without climax. She wanted to cry over it.This morning, before you came to the Point, I gave Welborn a big goingover about his working all the time. And he never sassed back. Heshould have kicked me out. Instead of that, he agreed with me. Him, abig, strong man that had made a gangster eat his gun and ordered thejudge and sheriff what to do! The idea! Him letting a midget order himaround! What we need here is a good cusser-outer."
"You're too late," said Landy dryly. "You've missed yer appointment byabout forty years. We had a party up state wunst, that filled all yerrequirements. Hit was a woman. She'd fuss at the sun fer comin' up, ancuss hit fer goin' down. She buried three husbands en was deserted byseveral more. At her death, en in honor of the happy event, they nameda little crick after her. They called hit Crazy Woman's Crick.... Hi,Potter," Landy called, as they approached the stables of the B-lineranch. "Git that gate opened and throw out yer welcome rug."
"Troubles never come single, they come in bunches," grumbled Potter ashe complied. "Two hosses go lame this mornin', en Jim Finch, thegrazing commissioner, comes from up on the Mad Trapper Fork a-callin'on us fer help to round up some of old Hull Barrow's misfits of horns,hoofs, and hides, en to add further miseries, here you arrive on thescene. Why, Peaches gave out strict orders, that if old Turkeyneckcame prowlin' around, to say, that she wasn't at home at all en totell the little gent to ride right into the house."
"Who said that?" demanded Davy, with alacrity.
"Why, Peaches, Miss Adine, she said if old Landy--"
"Ye, Ho!" yelled Davy excitedly. "This colt is named. That's it!Peaches! Why didn't we think of that before, Landy?" Davy patted thecolt's neck affectionately. "That's your name, old boy, Peaches!"
Hearing the outcry, Adine Lough came out of the house, and down thegraveled way. "Good morning," she called. "I was expecting you. My,but he's handsome," she exclaimed, examining the little horse thatarched his neck in approval of the inspection. "You look like agallant cavalier out of the old picture books."
"We've just named him," said Davy proudly. "We named him after you.His name is Peaches."
"Ah, pshaw," said the girl, laughing and blushing. "That's just anickname that these men out here call me behind my back, of course,and the poor colt deserves a better fate. But come in, both of you, Ihave good news." The girl led the way into the hall. "You go in andvisit with grandpa, Landy, while we talk shop in the library.
"I talked with the Nazarene preacher and he's very enthusiastic overthe plan and prospects," Adine explained after they were settled inthe workshop. "I told him of the ad, that I was to run in the paperand he's somewhat of an artist and is putting up signs all over town.It augurs a good crowd, the biggest ever to assemble in Adot. He playsan accordion and his wife sings and they have arranged for a quartetteof girls to sing a couple of numbers and then you are to talk. Themeeting is to be held in Joe Burns's big warehouse and it won't holdthe people. Now this is not a church meeting, it's an entertainment.You can laugh and applaud at will. You can tell funny stories aboutcircuses or what-have-you, it's informal, go as far as you like!"
"Well, here's how I had mapped out the talk. I'll tell 'em somethingabout midgets," said Davy, "for midgets seem to be a forgotten subjectin literature. If you will comb your college library down at Boulder,you'll not find a single book on the subject, and I am not sure that Iknow enough about 'em to fill out a talk on the subject."
"That's the very subject you ought to talk on. Why I can hardly waitto hear it. Who better can tell it? If you are short of facts, justromance a little, that's allowable where facts are scarce. Tell 'empersonal incidents and don't make 'em too solemn or pathetic. Make 'emlaugh. Personally, I'm going to get a close-up seat, for in that bigbarn of a place I doubt if you can reach the outer fringes."
"Well, if the preacher gent can make himself heard, I can too,"retorted Davy. "I practiced up on that stuff, there's where Ispecialized. You see, Miss Adine, when I joined up with the SingerMidgets at Saint Louis, I didn't have an act, a specialty, anything togive the public. I just joined up because Baron Singer was collectingmidgets, showing 'em a good time, with no thought of making a profit.But it did make profit. The public wanted to see midgets.
"It was my first contact with my clan. I noticed that midgets didn'tchange their voices when they reached maturity, still spoke inchildish tones. Not having much to do, I practiced voice culture,deepened and strengthened my speech. I made my voice reach to the backseats. It earned me a job. I became the announcer; made thein-front-of-the-curtain talks. In the summer, with the Big Top, Ioften simulated the ringmaster to make announcements from the centerring. It was a feature all right, seeing a little guy doing a bigman's job.
"Oh I'll make 'em hear all right, but what they are to hear is theproblem. To the midget stuff I thought I would add a few paragraphsabout circus people, the different kinds and what they do. The generalpublic never contacts the real circus people, just the ticket takers,ushers, and roustabouts. They never meet the managers and performers.And because grafters, shilabers, and skin-game artists followcircuses, the public thinks these are a part of it. It's only fair tocircus people that this connection be denied."
"Why, I didn't know that," exclaimed Adine, "I just supposed thegrafters were a part of it. Here I am, learning a lot of things andschool not yet started. Anyhow, I'm going to buy a ticket for Mrs.Carmody and inveigle her to the entertainment. She said circus peopleought not be allowed to participate in a church benefit.
"Now you are to come over here Saturday morning. Bring Landy with you,as we can all three ride to Adot in my roadster. There, we will laythe top back, and with you between us, sitting up on the back cushion,we'll parade the town. The door opens at seven o'clock. Performancebegins at seven-thirty. Then we come back here for the night and youcan ride home Sunday morning. You can talk for an hour if you want to,but you should speak for thirty minutes at least."
David Lannarck, Midget Page 10