by B. M. Bower
*CHAPTER VIII*
*AFTER DARK*
Murphy's blocked-up box car was dark and showed no signs of life, makingonly a blacker spot in the night. To any prowler who might haveinvestigated its externals, the raised shades and the closed door wouldhave left him undecided as to whether or not its tenant was within; butthe closed windows on such a night as this would have suggested that hewas not, for the baked earth radiated heat and the walls of the modesthabitation were still warm to the touch. Inside the closed car the heatmust have been well-nigh intolerable.
The silence was natural and unbroken. The brilliant stars seemed ratherto accentuate the darkness than to relieve it. An occasional breath ofheated air furtively rustled the tufts of drought-killed grass, butbrought no relief to man or beast; but somewhere along the branch line astronger wind was blowing, if the humming of the telegraph wires meantanything. In the west gleamed a single glowing eye of yellow-white,where the switch light told that the line was open. To the right of itblotches of more diffused and weaker radiance outlined the windows anddoors of the straggling buildings facing the right-of-way. Anoccasional burst of laughter or a snatch of riotous song came from them,mercifully tempered and mellowed by the distance. From the east arosethe long-drawn vocal atrocity of some mournful coyote who could not waitfor the rising of the crescent moon to give him his cue. Infrequentmetallic complaints told of the contraction of the heat-stretched rails.
In the south appeared a swaying thickening of the darkness, an elongatedconcentration of black opacity. Gradually it took on a more definiteoutline as its upper parts more and more became silhouetted against asky of slightly different tone and intensity. First a moving cone, thena saucer-like rim, followed slowly by a sudden contraction and a furtherwidening. Hat, head, and shoulders loomed up vaguely, followed by thelonger bulkiness of the body.
This apparition moved slowly and silently toward the rectangular blot atthe edge of the right-of-way, advancing in a manner suggestingquestionable motives, and it paused frequently to peer into thesurrounding void, and to listen. After several of these cautious waitsit reached the old car, against whose side it stood out a little moredistinctly by contrast. The gently rolling tattoo of finger nails onwood could scarcely be heard a dozen feet away and ceased beforecritical analysis would be able to classify it. Half a minute passedand it rolled out again, a little louder and more imperative. Anotherwait, and then came a flat clack as a tossed pebble bounced from thewall at the waiter's side. Its effect was magical. The figure wheeled,crouched, and a hand spasmodically leaped hip high, a soft, dull gleamtipping it. While one might slowly count ten its rigid posture wasmaintained and then a rustling not far from the door drew its instantattention.
"What ye want?" demanded a low, curious voice. "If it's Murphy, he'ssleepin' out, this night av h--l."
The figure at the door relaxed, grew instantly taller and thinner and achuckle answered the query of the section-boss. "Don't blame you," itsoftly said, and moved quietly toward the owner of the car.
"To yer left," corrected the Irishman. "Who's wantin' Murphy at thistime av night, an' for what?"
"Yore fellow-conspirator," answered Tex, sinking down on the blanket ofhis companion. "Didn't Jerry tell you to expect me?"
"Yes, he did; but I wasn't shore it was you," replied Murphy. "So Iacted natural. Th' house is past endurin' with th' winders an' doorclosed; an' not knowin' what ye might have to talk about I naturallydistrusted th' walls. This whole town has ears. Out here in th' open aman will have more trouble fillin' his ear with other people's business.How are ye?"
"Hot, an' close," chuckled Tex. "Also curious an' lonesome." Hecrossed his legs tailor fashion, and then seemed to weigh something inhis mind, for after a moment he changed and lay on his stomach andelbows. "I don't stick up so plain, this way," he explained.
"I hear ye trimmed old Frowsyhead at poker," said Murphy, "an' won agood hoss. Beats all how a man wants to smoke when he shouldn't. Havea chew?"
"I'll own to that vice in a limited degree and under certainconditions," admitted Tex, taking the huge plug. "An' I'll confess thatto my way of thinkin' it's th' only way to get th' full flavor of th'leaf; but I ain't sayin' it's th' neatest."
"'Tis fine trainin' for th' eye," replied Murphy, the twinkle in his ownhidden by the night.
"An' develops amazin' judgment of distance," supplemented Tex,chuckling. "There's some I'd like to try it on--Hennery Williams, forinstance."
"Aye," growled Murphy in hearty accord. "He'll be lucky if he ain't hitby somethin' solider than tobaccy juice. I fair itch to twist hisskinny neck."
"A most praiseworthy longing," rejoined Tex, a sudden sharpness in hisvoice. "How long has he been deservin' such a reward?"
"Since _she_ first came here," growled his companion. "That was why Iwanted Mike Costigan to get his family out av th' way, for I'm tellin'ye flat, Costigans or no Costigans, that little miss will be a widder onher weddin' day, if it gets that far. Th' d--d blackguard! I've keptme hand hid, for 'tis a true sayin' that forewarned is forearmed.They'll have no reason to watch me close, an' then it'll be too late.Call it murder if ye will, but I'll be proud av it."
"Hardly murder," murmured Tex. "Not even homicide, which is acombination of Latin words meanin' th' killin' of a human bein'. Toflatter th' noble Hennery a little, I'd go so far as to admit it mightreach th' dignity of vermicide. An' no honest man should find faultwith th' killin' of a worm. Th' Costigans should be persuaded to move."
"Ye try it," grunted Murphy sententiously. "Can ye dodge quick?"
"Nobody ever justly accused me of tryin' to dodge a woman," said Tex."There must be a way to get around her determination."
"Yes?" queried Murphy, the inflection of the monosyllable leavingnothing to be learned but the harrowing details.
"Coax her to go to Willow," persisted Tex.
"She don't like th' town."
"Yore inference is shore misleadin'," commented Tex. "I'd take it fromthat that she does like Windsor."
"Divvil a bit; but she stays where Mike is."
"Then you've got to shift Mike. There's not enough work here for a goodman like Costigan," suggested Tex.
"Yer like a dog chasin' his tail. Costigan stays where th' lass an' herbrother are."
"Huh! Damon an' Pythias was only a dual combination," muttered thepuncher. "Cussed if there ain't somethin' in th' world, after all, thatjustifies Nature's labors."
"An'," went on Murphy as though he had not been interrupted, "th' lasssticks to her brother, an' he stays where he's put. He's not strong an'he has a livin' to make for two. Ye can take yer change out av that,Mr. Tex Jones."
Tex grunted pessimistically. "Well, anyhow," he said, brightening alittle, "mebby Miss Saunders won't be pestered for a little while byHennery--an' then we'll see what we see. I'm unlucky these days: I'mallus with th' under dog," and he went on to tell his companion of hissuggestions to the nephew.
"'Tis proud av ye I am," responded Murphy. "May th' saints be praisedfor th' rest she'll be gettin'. We can all av us breathe deep for alittle while; an' meanwhile I'll be tryin' my strength with Lefferts,th' boss at th' Junction. I've hated to leave town even that long, butnow I can make th' run; 'though I know it will do no good. Ye'll bestayin' in town tomorry?"
"Why, no; I'm goin' ridin' with Miss Saunders," and Tex explained that,to his companion's admiration and delight.
"It'll be a pleasure for her to be able to leave th' house without bein'tagged after by that scut," said the section-boss. "Yer a bye with ahead. An' I see where ye not only get th' suspicions av that Tommy lad,but run afoul of that Henry an' his precious uncle. Haven't ye beenwarned yet?" The gleam of hope in his eyes was hidden by the darkness."Ye'll mebby have trouble with th' last two--an' if ye do, keep an eyeon Bud Haines. Ye'll do well to watch him, anyhow. Why don't ye slipout quiet-like, straight southwest from her house? Less chance av
bein'seen; but a mighty slim one. They've eyes all over town."
"We are shore to be seen," quietly responded Tex. "If we sneak out itwill justify their suspicions. I don't want to do that. I'm aimin' toride plumb down th' main street, through th' middle of town, an' payTommy a little visit out at his ranch. _There is no shuffling, thereth' action lies in his true nature_. Like Caesar's wife, you know.An', by th' way, Tim: we have some friends in town, an' I'm addin' anally from Buffalo Crick. Time works for us." He paused and then asked,curiously: "Who is our friend Bud Haines, an' what does he do for alivin'? I've my suspicions, but I'd rather be shore."
Murphy swore softly under his breath. "He used to ride for Williamstill he earned a reputation as a first-class gunman; but now he followsold Frowsyhead around like a shadder. Cold blooded, like th'rattlesnake he is; a natural-born killer. They say he's chain lightnin'on th' draw."
"I've heard that said of better men than him; some of them now dead,"said Tex. "Must be a pleasant sort of a chap." He cogitated a bit."An' how long has he been playin' shadow to friend Williams? Since Icome to town, or before?" he asked as casually as he could, but tenselyawaited the answer.
"Couple av years," answered Murphy; "an' mebby longer." He tried topeer through the darkness. "Was ye thinkin' ye made th' job for him?"
"Well, hardly," replied Tex. "I'm naturally conceited, suspicious, andallus lookin' out for myself. Th' thought just happened to hit me."
Their conversation began to ramble to subjects foreign to Windsor andits inhabitants, and after a little while Tex arose to leave. He meltedout of sight into the night and half an hour later rode into town fromthe west, along the railroad, and soon stopped before the hotel.
The customary poker game was in full swing and he nodded to the players,received a civil greeting from Gus Williams, and after a short, politepause at the table, wandered over to the bar, where Blascom leaned inblack despondency.
"How'd'y," said Tex affably. "Fine night, but hot, an' close."
"Fine, h--l!" growled Blascom, sullenly looking up. "Not meanin' you nooffense, stranger," he hastily added. "I'm grouchy tonight," heexplained.
"Why, what's th' trouble?" asked Tex after swift scrutiny of the other'scountenance. "Barkeep, give us two drinks, over yonder," and he led hiscompanion to the table. "No luck?"
Blascom growled an oath. "None at all. My stake's run out, all butthis last bag," and he slammed it viciously onto the table. "Th'claim's showin' nothin'." He scowled at the bag and then, avarice inhis eyes and desperation in his voice, he looked up into the faceopposite him. "This is next to no good: I'll double it, or lose it.What you say to a two-hand game?"
Tex looked a little suspicious. "I don't usually play for that much,rightaway, ag'in' strangers." He looked around the room and flushedslightly at the knowing smiles and sarcastic grins. "Oh, I don't care,"he asserted, swaggering a little. "Come on; I'll go you. Deck of cards,friend," he called to the dispenser of drinks, and almost at the wordsthey were sailing through the air toward his hands. "You've got as muchchance as I have; an' if I don't win it, somebody else will. Draw, Ireckon?" he asked nervously. "All right; low deals," and the game wason.
Blascom won the first hand, Tex the second. For the better part of anhour it was an up-and-down affair, the ups for Tex not enough to offsetthe downs. Finally, with a big pot at stake he pressed the betting onthe theory that his opponent was bluffing. Suddenly becoming doubtful,he let a palpable fear master him, refused to see the raise, and slammedhis hand down on the table with a curse. Blascom laughed,grandiloquently spread a four-card flush under his adversary's nose, andraked in his winnings.
"Shuffle 'em up." chuckled the prospector. "Things are lookin'better."
Glancing from the worthless hand into Blascom's exultant face Tex kickedthe chair from in under him, arose and went to the bar where he gulpedhis drink, glanced sullenly around the room, and strode angrily to thestairs to go to his room. Wide and mocking grins followed him until hewas hidden from sight, the expressions on the faces of Williams and hisnephew transcending the others.
The prospector gleefully pocketed the money and dust, sighed with reliefand swaggered over to the other table, one thumb hooked in an armhole ofhis vest. He stopped near Williams and beamed at the players, pattinghis pocket, but saying nothing until the hand had been played and thecards were being scooped up for a new deal.
"Williams," he said, laughing, "my supplies are cussed low, but now thatI can pay for what I want I'm comin' in tomorrow mornin' an' carry off'most all yore grub."
The storekeeper had glanced meaningly at one of the players and now helazily looked up, his face trying to express pleasure andcongratulation. The man he had glanced at arose, yawned and stretched,mumbled something about being tired and out of luck and pushed back hischair. As he slouched away from the table he turned the chairinvitingly and nodded to Blascom.
"Take my place; I'm goin' to turn in soon," he said.
"Why, shore," endorsed Williams. "Set in for a hand or two, Blascom.It's early yet, too early to head for yore cabin. This game's beendraggin' all evenin'; mebby it'll move faster if a new man sets in."Waiting a moment for an answer and none being forthcoming, he leanedback and stretched his arms. "How you makin' out on th' crick--bad?"
"Couldn't be much worse," answered the prospector, his face becominggrave. "I can't do much without water, an' th' only water I got is asump for drinkin' an' cookin' purposes. You know that I ain't th' oneto put up no holler as long as I'm gettin' day wages out of it; but whenI can't make enough to pay my way, then I can't help gettin' a littlemite blue."
"We all have our trials," replied Williams. He waved his hand towardthe vacant chair. "Better set in for a little while. You've had goodluck tonight: give it its head while it's runnin' yore way. Besides, alittle fun an' company will shore cheer you up. You ain't got no reasonto be hot-footin' off to yore cabin so early in th' evenin'."
The prospector smilingly shook his head. "I ain't needin' no cheerin'now," he asserted, again slapping the pocket. "I got a little stakethat'll let me stick it out till we get rain. I got too much faith inthat claim to clear out an' leave it; but now I got still more faith inmy luck. It broke for me tonight an' I'm bettin' it's th' turnin'point; an' if a man ain't willin' to meet a turn of good luck atsunrise, with a smile, he shore don't deserve it. At sunup I'll be inthat crick bed with a shovel in my hand, ready to go to work. I've beenbusted before; more'n once; but I don't seem to get used to it, at all.Well, good luck, everybody, an' good night," and he turned and strodebriskly toward the door and disappeared into the darkness.
Williams looked disappointed and cautiously pushed the substitute deckfarther back in its little slot under the table. Looking around, hebeckoned to the unselfish player and motioned for him to resume hisseat. The lamb having departed, the regular friendly game for smallstakes would now go on again.
"You fellers heard what I said about sand, th' very first night thatJones feller showed up," remarked Williams, chuckling. "I'm sayin' itag'in: he figgered Blascom was bluffin', played that way until th'stakes got high an' then got scared out an' quit. Quit cold withouteven feedin' in a few more dollars to see th' hand. Left th' table in arage just because he lost a hundred or two. I was watchin' him as muchas I could, an' I could see he was gettin' madder an' madder, nervouseran' nervouser all th' time; an' when a man gets like that he can't playpoker good enough to keep warm in h--l. He ain't no poker player; an'as soon as I can buffalo him into a good, stiff game, I'll show you heain't!"
He paused and looked around knowingly. "He didn't win that roan. Ijust sorta loaned it to him. Might have to bait him ag'in, too; butbefore he leaves this town I'll git it back, with all he's got to-boot.There ain't no call for nobody to start yappin' around about what I'msayin'," he warned.
"I was a-wonderin' about him winnin' that hoss," said the unselfishplayer as he resumed his seat and drew up to the table. A broad grinspread itsel
f across his face. "Prod him sharp, Gus: we'll get himplayin' ag'in' th' gang, some night, an' win him naked."
The subject of their conversation was upstairs behind his closed door.He had taken off his coat and vest and was seated facing the washstand,from which he had removed the basin and pitcher. On the bench was apile of 45's, their bullets greaseless, and he was working assiduouslyat the slug of another cartridge, his thumb pressing this way and that,and from time to time he turned the shell for assaults on the otherside. It was hard on the thumb, but no other way would do, for no otherway that he could take advantage of would leave the soft lead entirelyfree from telltale marks.
Time passed, but still he labored, changing thumbs at intervals. Atlast, all the leads removed and each one standing against its own shell,he emptied the powder from the brass containers and made a little paperpackage of it. Going to his coat and taking out the packets of chloral,he put the powder package in their place and returned with them to thebench.
The translucent crystals were of all sizes, some of them too large to beeconomically contained by the shells, which he had cleaned of powdermarks. These crystals were larger only in two dimensions, for inthickness they were practically the same as the others. Doubtfulwhether the shells would hold a full dose and permit the leads to bereplaced, he felt some anxiety as he placed the chloral in the folds ofa clean kerchief and began crushing them by the steady pressure of thebutt of his Colt. This was slower than pounding, but the latter was toonoisy a process under present conditions. Dumping the reduced crystalsinto a shell lined with paper against possible chemical action on thebrass, he gently tapped the outside of the container and watched thegranules settle until there was room for the lead. He did not dare tampit for fear it would not easily empty when inverted. Pushing home thebullet he up-ended the cartridge and tapped it again to loosen thecontents. Shaking it close to his ear, he smiled grimly. The dose wasloose enough to fall out readily, large enough to insure its propereffect, and the granules of a size small enough to dissolve quickly.When he had filled and reloaded the last shell he chuckled as he made aslight notch on the rim of each, for they would bear close inspection byweight, sight, and sound, and it was necessary that he mark them to keepfrom fooling himself.
He put them back into the pocket of the coat and grinned. "As Iremember the action of chloral hydrate somebody may lose consciousnessand muscular power and sensibility. Their expanding pupils as they wakeup will expand under sore and inflamed eyelids. They'll sleep tight andnot be worth very much for an hour or two after they do awaken. Andthese men gulp their whiskey without waiting to taste it, and it is sovile that they'll never suspect an alien flavor, 'specially if it's nottoo strong. Gentlemen, I bid you all good night: and may you sleep welland soundly."