Oliver Strange - Sudden Westerns 01 - The Range Robbers(1930)

by Oliver Strange

  Simon shook his head feebly. “Guess it’ll have to wait, Tarman, I ain’t in no condition to do business,’ he said. “You spoken to Norry yet?’

  “No, nothin’ definite, but I reckon she knows,’ replied the other, striving to keep the irritation he felt from his voice. “What’s the use o’ delayin’? This place needs a man to handle it just now an’ yu won’t be in a fit state to tackle it for some time.’

  “It’ll have to wait,’ reiterated the sick man, and although Tarman went on to argue the question at greater length, he stuck to his decision.

  “Well, it’s yore say-so, o’ course, but I claim yu ain’t treatin’ me fair? Peterson,’ the big man said meaningly. The ranch-owner’s face flushed at the name and the implied threat, but before he could reply the door opened and Noreen entered.

  “Time’s up, Mr. Tarman,’ she said. “I cannot allow my patient to be bothered with business any longer.’

  “I’ve been tryin’ to fix things so that he won’t be troubled with it at all,’ was the reply. “So long, Simon; keep a-smilin’.’

  He went out, after telling the girl that it was worth while being shot up to have such a nurse, a compliment which did not produce the effect he intended. Noreen had no illusions about him now, and when she heard of his attempt to get hold of the ranch, her temper flared up.

  “The coward, to try and bully you into doing that when you are so ill,’ she cried. “Don’t sign anything, Daddy.’

  The old man assured her that he had no intention of doing so and the girl was satisfied, but she found it difficult to appear friendly with the unwelcome guest. This difficulty increased as the days passed and Tarman acted more and more as master of the ranch and of herself. Had it not been that the invalid claimed most of her time she would have resented this, for she would have seen more of it than she did. It was Snap who opened her eyes fully.

  “Blaynes has got orders to give Ginger, Dirty, an’ Simple their time,’ he said. “Mebbe yu ain’t heard?’

  The girl stared at him in astonishment. “Orders? From whom?’ she asked.

  “Tarman, I s’pose; I’m bettin’ high the Old Man never give ‘em,’ said Lunt.

  “I should think not,’ the girl cried indignantly. “What have those boys done to be turned off?’

  “They were friendly to Green, an’ they ain’t made any secret of it.’

  “They are not to go—I will speak to Mr. Tarman. Have you any idea where Green is now, Snap?’

  “I ain’t, Miss Norry, I wish I had. Tonk an’ his posse have

  combed the country an’ ain’t seen a trace of him; he seems to have vanished complete, but I’m dead shore he’s around.’ He watched her walk back to the house, his face set grimly. “An’ he’ll stay around too, as long as yu need him, or I’m a gopher,’ he muttered. “An’ if he don’t, I will.’

  Noreen found Tarman in the office, which had been resnored to a state of neatness again. The sight of him sitting at her father’s desk drove discretion to the wind and she plunged at once into her business.

  “I understand that you are dismissing some of the men,’ she began. “Is my father aware of it?’

  Tarman looked at her in surprise; this was a different Noreen, and he suddenly realised that instead of a chattel to be disposed of at his will, she had become a factor to be considered, and one requiring careful handling.

  “It wasn’t worth while botherin’ yore father,’ he explained. “Blaynes complained to me that the men were insubordinate an’ I told him to get rid of ‘em. This isn’t a time no carry men who are not loyal to the ranch.’

  “These men are,’ she replied shortly.

  “Then you don’t trust yore foreman’s judgment,’ he argued.

  “I prefer to rely on my own, and my father would agree with me,’ she retorted. “I will not have them sent away.’

  There was no mistaking the note of determination in her voice and Tarman hesitated for a moment, pondering the best course to pursue. Her opposition enraged him, but he fought down his anger and smiled instead.

  “Guess it ain’t worth quarrellin’ about—a man oughtta give into a girl, specially when it’s the girl,’ he said indulgently, and then, noting her look, he added, “I’m presumin’ that Simon told yu what we was both hopin’—that yu an’ me would tie up?’

  “You certainly are presuming, Mr. Tarman,’ Noreen told him. The question of “tying up”—to you or anyone else—is one I have not yet considered.’

  Despite his hardihood, the man flushed. “I’m clumsy—ought not to have put it just that way,’ he excused. “I ain’t no ladies’ man, Miss Noreen, an’ I can’t make pretty speeches. The straight of it is, I want yu—want yu bad. Will you have me?’

  The girl was silent, studying this, her first real lover. Big, handsome, virile, many a woman would have asked no more; but Noreen, inexperienced in the world as she was, had seen beneath the surface and she profoundly distrusted Tarman. Besides—but that was a reason she would not admit, even to herself. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Tarman,’ she said.

  “Think again, girl,’ he urged. “I’ve got money an’ I’ll make more. We needn’t stay here; after a spell we can sell out an’ travel; see the world an’ see it in style. I’m buildin’ big an’ as my wife you’ll be somebody. Who else around here can offer yu as much?’

  “And the Devil took Him to a high mountain and showed Him all the cities of the world and the glories thereof,” the girl quoted softly, and again she said, “No, Mr. Tarman.’

  This time there was a finality in her tone which even his egotism could not ignore; he saw that she was not to be persuaded and a black anger welled up in him. Was he, Tarman, who had broken men and brushed them out of his way like flies, to be bested by a chit of a girl? A hard look came into his eyes as they rested on her.

  “Yu are takin’ a high hand, girl, but there’s one or two points yu are overlookin’,’ he sneered. “First off, I’m part owner o’ the Y Z. The purchase price is not paid, nor the agreement signed.’

  “Shucks! Mere formalities. It’s all settled an’ Simon ain’t the man to go back on his word, even if he dared. Besides which’—and here he grinned in savage anticipation of the blow he was about to deal—‘what’s it gotta do with yu? Yu was talkin’ about presumin’ a while ago. Well, yu are presumin’ yo’re Simon’s daughter an’ all the time yu ain’t no relation to him.’

  For a moment she stared at him in utter amazement, and then she laughed contemptuously. “You must be mad,’ she said. ‘Perhaps you can tell me whose daughter I am?’

  “Shore thing,’ came the reply. ‘Yo’re Mina, short for Wilhelmina, only child of Bill Evesham, who used to have a ranch on Crawlin’ Creek, Texas. A man named Peterson stole yu when yu were a kid an’ brought yu here; he now calls himself Simon Petter.’

  Though the girl’s eyes were incredulous, her brain was telling her that the man was speaking the truth.

  “Evesham was the chap who befriended Sudden, an’ set him on the hunt for Peterson—an’ he got him,’ Tarman went on. Almost she cried out that it was a lie, that he himself had shot Simon, but with an effort she restrained herself; after all, she was not sure. Her mind in a whirl, she was conscious of one recurring thought—that for years Green had been searching for her—with a vengeful motive, doubtless, but still, searching for her. In some intangible way the knowledge gave her courage.

  Tarman watched her gloatingly, well aware of the effect of the blow so ruthlessly dealt. His eyes roamed over the slim, rounded, youthful figure lustfully, and the girl’s attitude of despair gave him only a sensation of savage triumph. He wanted her—he meant that she should oe his, but first he would crush her to the very earth.

  “So now yu know where yu get off,’ he continued harshly. “If the old fool cashes—an’ by the look of him he’s due to—I’m yore best bet. I can turn yu adrift without a dollar if I like, an’ if yu are cherishin’ any notions about that feller Sudden, yu better los
e ‘em; he’ll be stretchin’ a good rope before long.’

  The girl straightened herself up and said stormily, “I’d sooner starve than be beholden to you for anything.’

  “Starvin’ is none so easy, ‘specially for folks who have lived soft an’ had all they wanted,’ he sneered. “Reckon yu will change yore tune when the pinch comes. ‘Nother thing yu gotta keep in mind, if Simon does get well he’s liable to be sent to the pen for abduction, if the’ boys at Hatchett’s don’t lynch him first.’

  She had not thought of this and her face paled at the possibility, for what she had learned could not obliterate the affection of years and the old man was very dear to her. More than ever she realised how completely she was in the power of the leering ruffian before her. But she would not let him see it.

  “Have you anything else to say?’ she asked, and when he did not reply, she swept from the room.

  The man watched her go with narrowed, squinting eyes and a clamped jaw.

  “Guess that’ll hold yu for a bit, my girl,’ he grated. “Later on we’ll take some o’ the stiff enin’ out o’ yu. Dunno, though, seem’ we’ve come to a showdown, it wouldn’t be as well to—’

  He paused, and after a moment’s consideration, got up and went in search of Laban.

  Noreen meanwhile, in the seclusion of her bedroom, was pondering on her strange position. Save for the sick man and the old Indian housekeeper she had no one to turn to, and both of these were helpless. Then she thought of Leeming and decided to go and see him. She went to make sure that Simon was comfortable, but said nothing of her purpose, nor of what she had learned, not wishing to give him more cause for worry. The ranch appeared to be deserted when she went to the corral and saddled Blue. She wondered if the three punchers had already been sent packing and peeped into the bunkhouse, only to find it empty, even the cook being absent. So she rode away, unaware that cunning eyes were watching her every movement.

  She had covered a bare couple of miles and was passing along a brush-filled arroyo when a movement in a thicket made her pull in. Ere she could start again, a rope swished and settled about her shoulders, while another dropped over the head of her mount. Dragged from the saddle, she had a brief glimpse of masked faces and then a blanket was thrown over her and secured by a rope which also confined her arms to her sides. A gruff voice gave an order and she felt herself lifted and flung across a saddle.

  “Best lead the roan, safer, huh?’ she heard one of her captors say.

  “I reckon,’ came the answer, and then she knew in whose hands she was, and that Tarman had scored again.

  Chapter XXI

  “WHAT’S up now?’ muttered the owner of the Frying Pan as he emerged from his doorway and saw three riders approaching at a leisurely pace. Evidently catching sight of him, they swung their hats and let out a cowboy yell which put instant life into. the heels of their mounts. In a few brief moments Leeming was looking into the grinning countenances of Ginger, Dirty, and Simple. His quick eye noted that each man had his warbags tied to the cantle of his saddle.

  “Howdy, boys, what can I do for yu?’ was his greeting.

  “Give us jobs if yu can use us,’ smiled Ginger. “We’re shore homeless.’

  “Yu left the Y Z?’ queried Leeming incredulously. “How come?’

  “Tarman don’t like us none, that’s how,’ chimed in Dirty. “What’s he gotta do with it?’

  “He’s runnin’ things—claims he’s part owner o’ the ranch, an’ Simon bein’ a pretty sick man there ain’t no one to call his bluff,’ explained Ginger. “Blaynes shore eats out of his hand.’

  “Huh! I’m agoin’ over to see Simon this mornin’,’ said Job. “Yu boys go down to the bunkhouse an’ put yoreselves outside a good breakfast. Tell Dirk that yu are all on the Frying Pan payroll till the Y Z wants yu again, an’ that’ll be just as soon as I’ve had a word with the Old Man.’

  “Yu wouldn’t like us to come back with yu?’ suggested Simple, hopefully.

  “I just would, but it won’t do,’ grinned the Frying Pan owner. “Simon was talkin’ o’ letting Tarman in on the Y Z an’ its just possible he’s done it; if so, we should be on the wrong side o’ the fence. Wait till I’ve seen him. Heard anythin’ o’ Green?’

  “Not a damn whisper,’ replied Ginger. “Reckon he’s jumped the reservation this time.’

  “Well, it ain’t no loss—we don’t want no darn outlaws cavortin’ round here,’ returned Leeming.

  “Mebbe he is an outlaw, but he’s a man, an’ I’d sooner have him oack o’ me than most o’ the fellers who’re huntin’ him,’ retorted Ginger hotly, and wondered why his reply made the cattleman smile.

  At the bunkhouse they needed no introduction and found a hearty welcome, being known as good men, but they got chaffed.

  “This outfit is gettin’ some brainy,’ observed Lucky Lomas. “Three “Wise heads” at one gather; Old Simon is shore losin’ his intellects.’

  “An’ the Frying Pan is shore gettin’ what it needs,’ grinned Ginger, as he dumped his saddle, slid into an empty seat and reached for the nearest dish, an example his friends lost no time in following.

  “How’s the Old Man makin’ it?’ asked Dirk presently, when the newcomers had taken the edge off their by no means small appetites. Ginger, remembering Snap’s injunction, shook his head.

  I ain’t seen him myself, but Snap says he’s mortal bad,’ he replied. “That feller Tarman’s actin’ as if he owned the whole shootin’ manch a’ready.’

  The foreman grunted. “Mebbe Job’ll have a word to say about that,’ he said, “an’ I reckon he can say it with a chorus, eh, boys?’

  The response was unanimous and had Tarman been there to hear it he would certainly have been less self-satisfied; the Frying Pan outfit, with its wholehearted admiration for its irascible boss, was a tough problem, and with the help of the Y Z boys was certain no give a good account of itself.

  “That misfit of a marshal still outlaw-huntin’?’ asked Charlie, and when Ginger nodded, he went on, “He came prancin’ round here yestiddy, lookin’ for Green. My ghost, yu oughtta heard the Old Man lace into him; some o’ the things he said would’ve raised blisters on most men.’

  “An’ Tonk was hoppin’ mad but he didn’t dare pull his gun,’ supplemented Woods. “He stood there with his own men grinnin’ at him, babblin’ about his representin’ the law. “Yu?” yells Job. “The law’s sunk pretty low if it’s gotta be represented by an ugly, busted-down whisky-keg like yu. Hit the trail mighty brisk or the law’ll be shy o’ the poorest marshal that ever noted a badge.” Tonk gave him a black look an’ says, “I’ll not forget this, Leeming.” The Old Man laughed in his face, an’ says, “Which you’d better not, if yu want to live,” an’ the marshal slunk off like a whipped dog.’

  “Job shore has got a poisonous tongue bun he’s white to his toenails,’ commented Lucky.

  With the disappearance of the last cup of coffee a move was made to the corral and Dirk began to apportion the day’s work. The roping and saddling of mounts was in full swing when Dirty, with a shout and a waving arm, turned all eyes on the horizon.

  ‘There’s a visitor a-comin’ an’ he’s shore fannin’ it,’ he exclaimed.

  Far out on the plain they could see a horseman, bent low in the saddle, heading for the ranch at full speed. Leeming, who had also seen the approaching rider, now joined the group at the corral.

  “Looks like Snap,’ said Ginger. “He allus crouches in the saddle when he’s goin’ fast—claims it helps the hoss by decreasin’ the wind resistance. Wonder what’s up?’

  “P’raps he’s downed Tarman an’ they’re after him,’ surmised one of the Frying Pan boys.

  “Snap ain’t the runnin’ kind—he’d stay an’ shoot it out with ‘em,’ Leeming said.

  A few breathless minutes, and the pony, a savage-eyed bunch of nerves and steel wire slid to a stop in their midst, sending the grey dust flying. As Ginger had guessed, the newcomer was Lunt.
He got down, trailed the reins and turned to Leeming.

  “Howdy, Job? Miss Norry here?’

  “Ain’t seen her,’ replied Leeming. “Why?’

  “She went out ridin’ yestiddy afternoon an’ never come back. She didn’t go to town ‘cause I’ve been there to see, an’ so I reckoned she musta come here. Look’s like somethin’s happened to her.’

  “Hell’s bells ! What’s come to this damn country?’ cried Leemifig, his face suddenly scarlet with passion. “What do yu reckon has happened to her?’

  “How do I know?’ replied Snap quietly. “She was ridin’ Blue, an’ the hoss may have turned ugly—yu never can tell with these outlaw hosses. Or she may have met up with ‘Paches or rustlers. I’ll gamble a month’s pay she ain’t stayin’ away from the Old Man of her own free will.’

  “Yo’re shoutin’,’ said Job. “By heavens, if I find a feller that’s dared to lay a finger on that girl I’ll scalp him alive!’ He glared at the men around him and suddenly became aware that they were doing nothing. “What are yu gapin’ at me for, yu goggle-eyed misfits?’ he yelled. “Get yore hosses an’ some grub, an’ put a jerk in it. No more work’ll be done on this ranch till the girl is found. Comb every mile o’ the blasted country. Yo’re in charge, Dirk. I’m goin’ over to the Y Z to have a chat with Mr. Tarman; report there to me.’

  He turned and went back to the ranch-house, leaving his grinning outfit to prepare for the search, which it did with no further loss of time. Food, weapons, and horses were soon secured, and the men split up into parties and started in different directions.

  “Ain’t he a shinin’ wonder?’ confided Lucky to the smiling Y Z men. “There ain’t another chap in the Territory we’d take nhat line o’ talk from an’ he knows it, cuss him.’