Prairie Flowers Page 8

  CHAPTER VII

  THE TEXAN "COMES A-SHOOTIN'"

  Alice Endicott gazed searchingly into the Texan's flushed face andwondered at the steadiness of his eyes. "They--they said you weredrunk," she faltered.

  The cynical smile that she remembered so well twisted the man's lips:"They were right--partly. I was headed that way, but I'm cold sober,now."

  "Then leave your guns here and come with me. You must submit to arrest.They'll fine you and make you pay for the damages and that will be allthere'll be to it."

  The Texan shook his head: "No. I told that marshal he couldn't arrestme, an' he can't."

  Alice's heart sank. "Please--for my sake," she pleaded. "If you haven'tgot the money----"

  "Oh, I've got the money, all right--a whole year's wages right here inmy pocket. It ain't the money, it's the principle of the thing. I mademy brag, an' I've got to see it through. They might _get_ me, butthey'll never arrest me."

  "Oh, please----"

  Tex interrupted her sharply, and the girl was startled at the gleam thatleaped suddenly from the grey eyes: "What are you doing here? Hashe--didn't you an' Win--hit it out?"

  "Oh, yes! Yes! Win is here----"

  "An' he let you come in alone--an' stayed outside----"

  "No--he doesn't know. He's up at the Camerons. I went for a ride, andcoming back I saw the crowd, and when they told me the man in here was aTexan, somehow, I just knew it was you."

  The gleam faded from the man's eyes and he regarded her curiously; "But,what are you doin' in Timber City--you an' Win?"

  "Why, it's our anniversary! We wanted to spend it here where we weremarried. And besides we've got the grandest scheme. Win wants to seeyou. Come on, give yourself up, and pay their old fine."

  "I won't be arrested," repeated the Texan stubbornly, "an' don't countme in on any scheme with you an' Win." Once more his eyes blazed, andhis words came low and tense: "Can't you see--I haven't forgot. I don'treckon I ever will forget! I loved you then, an' I love you now----"

  "Don't, don't, Tex! You haven't tried to forget. How many girls have youknown since--a year ago?"

  "None--an' I don't want to know any! There ain't any more like you----"

  Alice interrupted him with a laugh: "Don't be a fool! I know loads ofgirls--and they're all prettier than I am, and they've got lots moresense, too. Please don't spoil our anniversary this way. There aretwenty men out there, and they're all armed, and they've sworn to killyou if you don't give yourself up."

  "They better start in killin', then." Throwing back his shoulders, hestruck the bar with his fist. "I'll tell you what I'll do--an' that'sall I'll do. You go back an' tell 'em I'll pay my fine, an' a reasonableamount of damages if they'll leave my horse outside and let me go awayfrom here. It ain't because I'm afraid of 'em," he hastened to add, "nota man of 'em--nor all of 'em. But, if you want it that way, I'll do it."

  "But, we don't want you to go away!" cried the girl. "Win wants to seeyou."

  The cowboy shook his head: "I'm goin' away--an' far away," he answered,"I don't know what his scheme is, an' I don't want to know. We'd all befools to tackle it. If that plan suits you, go ahead--no arrest--I'lljust pay my fine an' go. An' if it don't suit you, you better go back toWin. This is no place for you anyhow. Let 'em go ahead with theirkillin', if they think they can get away with it."

  For a moment the girl hesitated, then, picking up her candle from thebar, she started slowly toward the door. "If I can only get word to Winand Mr. Colston," she thought, "I can delay things until they get here."

  "Well, what'd he say?" growled Hod Blake, stepping from among hisretainers.

  The tone angered the girl and she glanced contemptuously into the eyesthat stared boldly at her from beneath the wide hat-brim: "He said thatyou can't arrest him," she answered defiantly, "and if you knew him aswell as I do, you'd know he told the truth."

  "Oh-ho, so he's got a record, has he?" leered the marshal. "Mebbethey'll be more to this here business than just pickin' up a plaindrunk--little reward money, mebbe--eh?"

  "No, no!" cried the girl, "not that! It's just his--his pride. He willnever submit to arrest."

  "He won't, eh? Well, then he'll shove up the posies!"

  "He'll go away peaceably if you give him the chance. He offered to payhis fine and the damages to the saloon, if you'll allow him to ride awayunmolested."

  "Oh, he will, will he?" sneered the marshal. "It wouldn't take no mindreader to tell that he's goin' to pay them fine an' damages--peaceableor onpeaceable, it don't make no difference to me. But, about lettin'him ride off without arrestin' him--they ain't nothin' doin'. I said I'darrest him, an' I will--an' besides, I aim to hold him over a spell tillI can find out if they ain't a reward out fer him. If they ain't nothin'on him what's he anxious to pay up an' git out fer?"

  "Oh, can't you listen to reason?"

  "Sure, Hod," urged Barras, jumping at the Texan's offer, "listen toreason. He ain't done nothin' to speak of. Let him pay up an' git."

  "You shet yer mouth!" snapped the marshal. "They's reason enough in whatI said. If they ain't nothin' on him it ain't goin' to hurt him none tohold him over a few days. It'll do him good. Give him a chanct to soberup."

  "He's as sober as you are, now," flashed the girl angrily, "an' if hewas as drunk as he could get, he'd have more sense than you'll everhave."

  "Kind of peppery, ain't you? Well, you c'n go back an' tell him what Isaid. He c'n take it or leave it. An' while yer gone, I'll jest sliparound an' put a couple of more boys guardin' the back door."

  The man turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness. Glancingabout in desperation, Alice saw the tall man who had first spoken toher, still seated upon a corner of the horse trough, a little apart fromthe crowd. She hastened to his side: "Will you do something for me?" sheasked, breathlessly.

  With a dexterous contortion of his nether lip, the man gathered an endof his huge moustache into the corner of his mouth: "What would it be?"he asked noncommittally.

  "Hurry to Mr. Cameron's and tell my husband and Mr. Colston to come downhere quick!"

  "Y Bar Colston?" he asked, with exasperating deliberation.

  "Yes. Oh, please hurry!"

  His left eyelid drooped meaningly, as he audibly expelled the moustachefrom between his lips, and jerked his head in the direction of thesaloon, "Y'ain't helpin' his case none by draggin' Y Bar into it," heopined. "Hod hates Y Bar on account he trades over to Claggett. Hod, heruns the main store here besides bein' marshal."

  "Oh, what shall I do!"

  Making sure they were out of earshot, the man spoke rapidly. "They ain'tonly one way to work it. You hustle back an' tell him to slip downcellar an' climb up the shoot where they slide the beer-kaigs down. Itopens onto the alley between the livery barn an' the store. Hod ain'tthought of that yet, an' my horse is tied in the alley. Tell him to takethe horse an' beat it."

  For an instant the girl peered into the man's eyes as if to fathom hissincerity. "But why should you sacrifice your horse?"

  The man cut her short: "I'll claim his'n, an' it's about an even trade.Besides, he done me a good turn by not shootin' me in there when he hadthe chanct, after I tried to help Barras hold him. An' I'm one of thesehere parties that b'lieves one good turn deserves another."

  "But," hesitated the girl, "you were shooting into the saloon at him. Isaw you."

  "Yup, I was shootin', all right," he grinned, "but he'd of had to be'nten foot tall fer me to of hit him. It wouldn't of looked right fer menot to of be'n a-shootin'."

  "But, won't they shoot him when he tries to get away?"

  The grin widened: "They won't. Tell him to come bustin' right out thefront way on the high lope, right into the middle of 'em. I know them_hombres_ an' believe me, it's goin' to be fun to see 'em trompin' overone another a-gittin' out of the road. By the time they git in shootin'shape, he'll be into the dark."

  "But, they'll follow him."

  "Yes, mom. But they ain't goin' to ketch him. That horse of mi
ne kin runrings around anything they've got. Better hurry now, 'fore Hod thinksabout that beer-kaig shoot."

  "Oh, how can I thank you?"

  "Well, you might set up a brass statoo of me acrost from the postoffice--when the sun hit it right it would show up clean from the top ofthe divide."

  Alice giggled, as the man extended his hand: "Here's a couple morematches. You better run along, now. Jest tell that there Texas cyclonethat Ike Stork says this here play is the best bet, bein' as they'llstarve him out if a stray bullet don't find its way between them kaigsan' git him first."

  She took the matches and once more paused in the doorway and lighted hercandle. As she disappeared into the interior, Ike Stork shifted hisposition upon the edge of the horse trough and grinned broadly as hiseyes rested upon the men huddled together in the darkness in front ofthe saloon.

  The girl crossed to the bar, and reading the question in the Texan'seyes, shook her head: "He won't do it," she said, "he's just as mean,and stubborn, and self-important and as _rude_ as he can be. He sayshe's going to arrest you, and he's going to hold you for a few days injail to see if there isn't a reward offered for you somewhere. Hethinks, or pretends to think, that you're some terrible desperado."

  The cynical smile twisted the Texan's lips: "He'll be sure of it beforehe gets through."

  "No, no, Tex! Don't shoot anybody--please! Listen, I've got a plan thatwill get you out of here. But first, you've got to promise that you willsee Win. We've set our hearts on it, and you _must_."

  "What's the good?"

  "Please, for my sake, promise me."

  The man's eyes devoured her. "I'd do anything in the world for yoursake," he said, simply. "I'll promise. Tell Win to drift over toClaggett day after tomorrow, an' I'll meet him somewhere along thetrail."

  "Surely? You won't disappoint us?"

  The man regarded her reproachfully: "You don't think I'd lie to you?"

  "No, forgive me, I--" she paused and looked straight into his eyes,"and, will you promise me one thing more?"

  "Tell me straight out what it is, an' I'll tell you straight out whatI'll do."

  "Promise me you won't drink any more until--until after you've seenWin."

  The Texan hesitated: "It's only a couple of days. Yes, I'll promise," heanswered, "an', now, what's your plan?"

  Alice glanced toward the door, and leaned closer: "It really isn't myplan at all," she whispered, "but there's a man out there with a big,drooping faded-looking moustache, he said you did him a good turn by notshooting him, or something----"

  "Ike Stork," grinned the Texan.

  Alice nodded: "Yes, that's his name, and he said to tell you it was thebest bet, whatever that is."

  "I get him. Go on."

  "Well, he says there's some kind of a chute that they slide thebeer-kegs down into the cellar with, and for you to go down and climb upthe chute. It will let you out into the alley between this building andthe livery stable. The marshal hasn't thought of posting any guardsthere, and Ike's horse is tied in the alley, and you're to take him andmake a dash out the front way, right through the crowd. He says they'llall fall over each other and be so scared that they won't think to shoottill you've had a chance to get away."

  As the girl talked she could see that the Texan's eyes twinkled and whenshe finished, his shoulders were shaking with silent mirth: "Good oldIke!" he chuckled. "You tell him I say he's a bear!"

  "He said it would be fun to see them trample over each other getting outof the way."

  "I'll sure see that he gets his money's worth," grinned the Texan.

  A troubled look crept into the girl's face: "You won't--_hurt_ anyone?"she asked.

  The man shook his head: "Not onless some of 'em don't get out of theroad. Might knock down a few with the horse, but that won't hurt 'em tospeak of. It wouldn't pain me none to knock that marshal about half waysdown the street--not for anything he's done to me, but because I've gota hunch he talked pretty rough to you."

  "Oh, I hope it's all right," whispered the girl, "do you really think itwill work?"

  "Work! Of course it'll work! I've got it all pictured out right now.It's a peach! Just you get off to one side far enough so's not to getcaught in the rush, an' you'll see some fun. Tell Ike not to forget toput up an awful howl about losin' his cayuse, just to make the playgood."

  "Do you think he's really sincere--that it isn't just a trick to get youout where they can shoot you? How long have you known this Ike Stork?"

  "Dead sure." The Texan's tone was reassuring, "known him a goodhalf-hour. You ought to seen those eyes of his when he thought I wasgoin' to shoot him--never flinched a hair. He's a good man, told me tohurry up an' make a job of it."

  The girl held out her hand: "Good-bye, Tex--till day after tomorrow."

  The cowboy took the hand and pressed it fiercely: "You're goin' to bethere, too? That'll make it harder--but--all right."

  "Remember," smiled the girl, "what I said about there being loads ofother girls."

  "Too bad you hadn't been born in the West, so Win would never knownyou--then--maybe----"

  "What shall I tell our friend the marshal?" interrupted the girl.

  The Texan grinned: "Just tell him not to order any extra meals sent downto the jail on my account. An', here, tell him the drinks are on thehouse," he handed the girl a quart bottle of whisky. "That'll keep 'emfrom gettin' restless before the show starts."

  Candle in one hand, bottle in the other, the girl made her way to thedoor. As she stepped out into the night, she was hailed roughly by themarshal: "Well, what'd he say, now?"

  "He said," answered the girl, scornfully, "that you were not to orderany extra meals sent down to the jail on his account. And he sent youthis and asked me to tell you that the drinks were on the house." Sheextended the bottle which the marshal eagerly grasped despite thestrenuous objections of Pete Barras who clamoured for the return of hisproperty.

  "Ain't I had hell enough fer one day?" demanded the bartender, "whatwith gittin' shot in the arm, an' gittin' tried to be held up fer fourdollars of Sam's debts, an' gittin' laid out cold with a spittoon, an'gittin' my glasses an' bottles all busted, an' gittin' my place all shotup, an' my merrow shot to hell, an' my kegs all shot holes in, withoutall you's hornin' in an' drinkin' up what little I got left? As thefeller says, where do I git off at?"

  "S'pose you dry up an' let me talk," retorted the marshal. "They ain'tno one payin' _you_ nawthin' to maintain law an' order in this town."

  "If they was I'll be damned if I wouldn't maintain it, 'stead of millin'around drinkin' up other folks' whisky----"

  "Look a-here Pete Barras, this makes twict, now, you've ondertook totell me my business. You shet yer yap, 'er you don't draw no damageswhen we corral that outlaw in yonder. I ain't so sure you didn't startthe rookus, nohow. Besides, the boys needs a little drink, an' we'llcharge this here bottle up along with the rest of the damages an' makehim pay 'em."

  "Y'ain't caught him yet. Where do I git off at if you don't ketch him?"

  Ike Stork, grinning huge enjoyment over the altercation, managed tomotion Alice to his side: "Better git over to yer cayuse," he cautioned."He's pretty near had time to make it into the alley, an' when he comes,he'll come a-shootin'. Guess I'll jest keep the squabble a-goin', theyall seem right interested," he indicated the crowd that had edged closeabout the two principals. And Alice smiled as she mounted her horse tohear the renewed vigour with which retort met accusation after theredoubtable Mr. Stork had contributed his observations from the sidelines. The girl's eyes were fixed upon the black mouth of the alley,now, and with each passing minute she found it harder and harder torestrain her impatience. Would he never come? What if the window hadbeen guarded unknown to Stork? What if Stork's horse had broken loose orbeen moved by someone passing through the alley? What if--abloodcurdling yell split the darkness. And with a thunder of hoofs, anindistinguishable shape whirled out of the alley. A crash of shotsdrowned the thunder of hoofs as from the plunging shape darted thin reds
treaks of flame. Straight into the crowd it plunged. For a fleetinginstant the girl caught a glimpse of bodies in confused motion, as themen surged back from its impact. Above the sound of the guns shrillcries of fear and hoarse angry curses split the air.

  As Ike Stork had predicted, the Texan had "come a-shootin'."