The making of a lawman

by Edson, John Thomas

  "Nothing much.**

  "You thinking about the hold-up at Schubert's?" asked the bartender. "Hell, neither of *em was packing a gun—I noticed that much."

  That figured, a man without a gun being something of a noveltv. Waco did not offer to enlignten WaJly as to the arms the robbers carried,

  Xikely 1 m wrong then,** the youngster said, taking the glass of beer Wally poiured. TDon't say anything about this. I don't want folks thinking I'm blaming the nesters.**

  **You can count on me," Wally assured him.

  "Why sure I can," Waco grinned. '^Especially as I saw you and Vera from the Fair Lady last night down to the Hvery bam."

  "That was only busi—,** Wally began. "No, damn it, if that's not worse'n what we was doing."

  "Shame on you, sir," Waco chuckled. "Anyways, I won't talk if you don't."

  A broad smile creased Wally*s face. "An' I thought Cap'n Fog had chased all the sharks out of town. If I see anything, 111 let you know."

  "Send word to the oflSce, IVe got some more walking to do. Say, Tm getting to like walking—^it's worrying the hell out of me."

  With that the yoimgster finished his beer and set the glass on the counter. As he turned to leave, Wally spoke in an urgent voice:

  "One thing, Waco. Vera and me—.*'

  "Yep?"

  "We don't talk about business—if you know what I mean."

  "I reckon I do," Waco answered soberly. "And I never thought you did. See you, Wally."

  "I'll be here," the bartender promised.

  Leaving the Buffalo, Waco went next to the Wooden Spoon. Tnere the entertainment emphasis lay on gambling rather than girls, so he regarded it as a less Mcely choice for the men he sought. On his arrival, Dongelon told him that no young nesters had been in all night and asked no questions about the query.

  That seemed to close the matter, for the theatre and other saloons had yet to find owners. While there had been some inquiries about vacant businesses, the interested parties had lost their desire to pm-chase on learning of the town's gambling ordnance.

  Deciding to pass his theories on to Dusty and learn what the small Texan thought of them, Waco walked towards the jail. As he approached the Buffalo Saloon, he saw something

  not entirely unusual taking place. Two brawny bouncers half-carried, half-dragged a struggling cowhand through the batwing doors and dumped him on the sidewalk.

  **Those gals in here's for looking at, not touching up, yoimg feller/' one of the pair stated. **Happen you got tiiem sort (rf ideas, go around to Lily Couch's place and she'll fit you up good."

  ^'Damn it!" Waco breathed. **What've I been using for brains? All that walking must ve addled 'em."

  Then he started forward at a faster pace as the cowhand sat up, reaching for a gun.

  **Why you dirty Yankees, youl" yelled the cowhand. "I'U—."

  ^'Shooting bouncers's plmnb again the law, friend," Waco warned, blocking the other's draw with his foot. **And going to jail for trying it's nowheres near as much fun as going to Lily Couch's place."

  *Td go there for sure, if I knew where the son-of-a-bitch-ing place is," the cowhand replied, forcing himself erect.

  "Come on then. 111 show you," Waco offered.

  '^Friend, you surely is a friend indeed," the cowhand replied, then peered closer at the badge on the youngster's vest. 'Well I swan! You're a John Law."

  **Yep. Showing you's all part of the town service."

  **Whooee! Those jaspers from the OD Connected we met going home sure called it right when they said this was a square town. I've been hauled out of a house by a deputy more'n once. But this's the first time one ever took me there."

  **I'm not sure I should be doing it myself," Waco answered with a grin.

  For all that he escorted the cowhand through the town's back streets and pointed out Lily Couch's house.

  **You coming in?" asked the cowhand. "I'll stand treat."

  "Now there's an offer I'm not likely to have beat," Waco smiled. "Trouble being I can't take you up on it. The marshal don't approve of us deputies going on his time."

  "He soimds's ornery as a trail boss."

  *Tfou can say that again. You go on in, friend and maybe one day I'll take you up on that offer."

  "Feel free any ole time," grinned the cowhand and ambled up the garden path with some speed.

  Waco stood watching until the cowhand had entered the building, then went towards the fence. Set in a clump of

  trees, so as to attract as little unwanted attention to itself as possible, the house was well-lit. So well that Waco could see the horses tied to the picket fence clearly enough to believe at least two did not belong to cowhands.

  An obvious Indian pony stood at the end of the line, its Cheyenne-roll saddle bearing a fine-looking Sharps buffalo rifle in the boot. Most likely it belonged to a hide-hunter celebrating the end of a successful trip. After one glance Waco ignored the pony and moved along to more likely prospects.

  Even had there only been the night*s light to guide him, the youngster would have known two of the horses had never worked half-wild longhom cattle. Bigger and heavier than range stock, they looked suitable for light-draught work, but too slow and cliunsy to ride herd on. Nesters used such horses, capable of hauling wagon or plough, but able to be saddle-ridden when necessary.

  Further proof of ownership came from studying the saddles on the big horses. First, each saddle had but a single girth. Lesser men might dally one end to the saddle when roping, so it could be hmriedly released in case of an emergency. Figuring to hang on to whatever he caught, the Texan knotted his rope to the horn. Doing so threw such a strain on the square-skirted Texas saddle mat two girths—a son of the Lone Star State scorned to use the word *cinch'—^were needed to hold it in place. While smaller than the dinner-plate style fancied by Mexicans, each saddle's horn was larger than any Texan used.

  Speaking gently to avoid disturbing the horses, Waco moved closer. His eyes went to the saddle boot of the nearer animal and he felt a thrill of excitement run through him as he saw it held a Ballard single-shot rifle. From there he looked at the coat fastened lining outwards to the cantle. Fanning open the folds, he exposed the outer siuface and found it to be a red and black check. The other nester horse carried a black wolf-skin coat on its cantle, while a long, old twin-barrel, muzzle-loading shotgun himg in a primitive boot. Neither saddle toted the flour sack usad to t^e away the loot, which did not surprise the youngster.

  After completing his study of the horses, Waco withdrew and paused to decide on his next course of action. A certain amount of antipathy always existed between farmers and cowhands, due to a clashing of interests. In Kansas a furrow

  ploughed around one's holdings rated as a fence under law, giving the owner the right to prosecute for trespass against anyone crossing it. Such 'fiurow fences' were sometimes cut on each side of cattle trails, to keep the trail-herds within certain bounds; this was regarded by some outfits as an infringement of personal liberty. So far little actual hostility had developed Detween the two factions around Mulrooney. However the nesters might regard his suspicions as imwar-ranted, or even persecution of their kind if he arrested die horses' owners. True everything pointed to the pair being the men he wanted; but it could be no more than coincidence.

  Check mackinaw jackets of every hue could be bought in most towns. Possessing long-lasting qualities, wolf-skins were much sought after to make coats. Few nesters, particularly in areas safe from Indian attack, spent money on modem weapons if they owned something capable of bringing down pot-meat or for occasional defence. Selling for from twenty-five to thirty dollars, as against the Winchester's thirty-eight to sixty, depending on quality and fittings, the Ballard single-shot rifle found much favoiu: among nesters.

  **Which means that there're plenty of macldnaws that colour, wolf-sldn coats, Ballards 'n old scatterguns around. Only not all together in one place—Or could there be?"

  A more cautious yoimg man would have headed back
to the office and asked his experienced friends for advice. Yet while he did so, the two suspects might come from the house, collect their horses and head for home. If they left town and disposed of the identifiable clothing, there would be little chance of locating them or proving their part in the hold-up. Sure Waco could point out die horses if he saw them again, but he doubted if such evidence would go far in comt.

  Once again Waco decided to act on his own. If he should prove wrong, his inexperience would offer Dusty an excuse when protesting friends of the accused came to call.

  Opening the gate, Waco walked up to the house's front door and opened it. It was his first visit to Lily Couch's establishment and he found that she had moved fast since her arrival. The main room, into which he stepped, had comfortable seats. Heavy curtains draped the windows, although they were left open so far. Seated at a piano, a Negro was playing a lively tune, while another coloured man stood be-

  hind a small combined bar and free-lunch coimter. The few customers, all cowhands, and six or so girls looked curiously at the yoimg deputy-, but none offered to move in his direction. One of the girls darted to a side door, opened it and spoke to somebody on the other side.

  Coming throu^ the door, Lily Gouch showed scHne surprise at the sight of Waco. Then she crossed the room, a welcoming smile on her hps despite a wary glint in her eyes.

  "Hey, deput)'," she greeted. "Can I do something for you?"

  *Yes, ma*am,* he rephed, then paused, not quite sure how to go on.

  For a moment Lily's smile wavered and the suspicious gleam grew more intense. In other towns such a isit and comment usually heralded a request for some kind of funds, or the free services of one of the girls. So far there had been no such demands made by either the peace oflBcers or civic authorities in Mulroone% but she could never shake off the imeas- feeling that it might start. So she waited to see how much, or for what reason, the bite would be put on her.

  *TouVe got a couple of nester kids in here, ma'am,** Waco said.

  "Sure," Lih' agreed and annoyance replaced the other emotions on her face. *Xook, if their folks've been bitching about it, you tell them from me it's the first time they've been here and my gals didn't go out and drag 'em in ^ith ropes."

  "I don't reckon their folks know they're here, ma'am," Waco assured her, pleased that his theories had proved correct so far. There's no need to get riled."

  "Damn it, deput)% being treat^ fair's spoiling me," Lily said with a grin. "I was never tiiis touchy when I had to hand over 'campaign fimds' or pay up every time anybody felt they'd a grief against me. Have a drink?"

  "A cup of Arbuckle's'd go do^-n good, ma'am."

  *An>thing else?" Lily inquired, darting a glance aroimd the room.

  "No offence, ma'am," Waco repHed, *T)ut all I %vant's to talk about them two nester kids. How long've they been in?"

  TLKX)k. I don't like talking about my visitors where anybody can see me. It's not good for business. Come into the office and have that cup of coffee ^iiile we talk"

  Although not as phishl)' furnished as the main room, Lily's office offered a fair amount of comfort Taking the c
  fortable chair she pointed out, Waco sank into it with a grin.

  **You should try the chairs in our office," he told her. **Would you mind if we left the door open, so's I can see if those nesters come in?^

  ''Nobodyll tell them you re here—.'*

  **You're getting touchy again, ma'am.**

  *T)amned if I m noti Sure, I'll open the door for you.'*

  When sure he could see into the main room, Waco settled back in the chair and continued the questioning.

  **When'd you say they came in, ma'am?"

  **Maybe half an hour or so back. They're upstairs with two of the gak now."

  "For the night?"

  **At my prices?" Lily scoffed. *1 was surprised to see *em come in for a short time even.**

  "They didn't have much money then?** Waco asked, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment.

  TDo their kind ever?** Lily sniffed. "Their folks make eating-money at most and not much of that. Like I said, I was siu*prised to see *em come in here. And 111 bet this's the first time they've been into a house, or paid for it."

  "They shouldn't be long afore tiiey're coming down then?"

  "Not with a dollar 'short time*."

  "Mind if I stay on in here and look th^n over when they do?"

  A madam, even in a town like Muhooney, could not easily refuse any request made by a peace officer. In addition to knowing that, Lily felt she owed the marshal's office consideration for their treatment since her arrival. While not sinre just what Waco's interest in the two young nesters might be, she decided to help him all she could.

  "Stay as long as you Uke," she said. "1*11 have some food sent in. Say, what*ve they done?"

  "I don*t know as they've done anything," Waco admitted. "That*s what I want to find out."

  "Uh huh. Do me a favour, will you?**

  "If I can."

  "Don't jiunp them in here. I wouldn't want the marks getting the idea Td sic the law on *em."

  "1*11 not make a move until they leave," Waco promised. "Is there another way out of here?"

  'Through that door over there," Lily replied. "I'll keep

  'em talking for long enough to let you get through the garden and over the fence."

  "That'd do fine, ma'am," the youngster said.

  Lily shook her head as she walked out of the office and left the door open enough for her guest to watch the room. Never had she met such an accommodating lawman. Most peace officers, even honest ones, would not have been so considerate even though she co-operated with them.

  "Danmed if I've ever been in such a town afore," she told herself in a mystffied voice and went to order a meal for Waco.

  LORD, WHAT A FOOL MISTAKE

  Sitting in Lily Couch's office, nursing a plate loaded with slices of ham, chicken and other choice items selected from the free-lunch counter, Waco again gave thought to his conclusions about the hold-up. He went through each item in its turn, examining it as he ate and watched the main room. All he knew increased the belief that he had called the play right.

  No matter that the clerks at the freight office thought they were victims of the James brothers, or at least of Tricky Dick Cansole's gang, Waco felt certain that greenhorns had pulled the robbery.

  Take the weapons the thieves used for a starter. While a double-barrelled ten-gauge shotgun might be unequalled as a pacifier, it could not be termed an ideal weapon for an outlaw. Nor did a single-shot rifle strike Waco as the kind of weapon an experienced owlhoot would carry. Neither the rifle nor the shotgun offered ease of concealment and both lacked the potential for sustained rapid fire in case of a fight.

  Although successful and profitable, the hold-up had been carried out in a most amateurish manner. On entering the office, the thieves had taken the clerks' wallets and watches before going to the money-loaded safe. More than that, they had failed to bring along a container capable of toting off a large siun of money and had to use a floursack that chanced

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  to be in the room. Men who knew their business would never have left the clerks free, even if face down on the floor, to endanger their escape. Nor would they have left the lamp illuminating the outside stairs ht while they went down, allowing themselves to be clearly seen by anyone passing by.

  No, nothing in the way the two robbers had acted led him to beheve they were experienced outlaws.

  Before Waco had half finished his snack, he saw two yoxmg men coming down the stairs. Even without Lily going towards them, he would have known them to be the pair he wanted. Dressed in cheap, poorly-fitting town suits, they looked like any other young nesters in town for a celebration. They fitted the scanty descriptions of the robbers, although Waco could not state positively that he recognised them.

  Thinking back, Waco remembered seeing the two young men in the Fair Lady and recalled their behavior when l
osing the girls to the more prosperous cowhands. Neither wore a revolver and he could see nothing to hint they carried a concealed weapon of any kind. One thing was for sure. The two nesters did not look or act Uke owlhoots.

  "If Tm wrong— ^ Waco mused, rising and putting his plate on Lily's desk. "Damn it, a whole lot points to them. I'll take a chance."

  With that he crossed to the rear door and let himself out of the building. Crossing the garden, he vaulted the picket fence and moved aroimd to where the nesters' horses stood. From what he had seen, the taller of the pair looked the kind to take rash chances. So the youngster decided to nullify the risk. Quickly he slid the Ballard partly from its boot. Always eager to learn, he had taken the opportunity offered by being a deputy to study the various weapons on sale in town. Among them were several Ballard rifles, a popular item among folks who did not wish to pay a high price yet wanted a rehable weapon. So he knew how to operate the rifle's mechanism. Thrusting down the trigger guard opened the breech, but he had to work the shding stud under the frame to extract the bullet. With the rifle rendered harmless, he replaced it and went to the shotgun. Disarming this proved easier, for all he needed to do was remove the percussion caps from the nipples and he did not even have to draw it from the boot to do so.

  Light glowed as the front door opened. Waco drew back

  from the horses and crouched down, watching the nesters come along the path to the front gate. Laughing, shoving each other, they looked to be in excellent spirits.

  **That was good, Vic," the smaller of die pair annoimced. "Say, that gal I went with told me she was a Russian countess—^What's that?**

  "A pack of lies, I'd say," Vic answered in a tone of worldly wisdom.

  "Well have to go in there again. For the whole night next time."

  "Maybe, Tommy. Maybe." "Aw, Vic. We can aflFord to now."

  "Siu-e but we don't want folks noticing that, do we?" Vic replied, walking to his horse's head.

  "Hold it right therel" Waco ordered, drawing and cocking his right hand Colt as he moved forward. "Wha—I" Tommy began, spinning around. **Do what he says. Tommy," Vic said, just a shade too calmly. "If you're looking to rob us, mister, you'll have mighty shm pickings."