Part 57 (1/2)

”Well, on the way back from the station I got to thinking about those raiders, and it struck me that it would be easy for them to ride down to the Kauffman cabin and do some damage, and that I'd better go over and see that everything was safe. It was late when I got home, but I saddled up and drove across. Good thing I did, for I found the house all lit up, and Henry Kitsong, young Busby, and old Pete Cuneo's girl were in full possession of the place and having a gay time. I arrested the boys for breaking into the house on the theory that they were both in that raid.

Furthermore, I'm sure they know something about Watson's death. That's what Abe and Eli were fighting me about to-night--they're afraid Henry was mixed up in it. He and Watson didn't get on well.”

The vigor and candor of the ranger's defense profoundly affected Carmody. ”You may be right,” he said, thoughtfully. ”Anyhow, I'll bring them all before the jury to-morrow. Of course, I can't enter into that raid or the housebreaking--that's out of my jurisdiction--but if you think this Cuneo girl knows something--”

”I am certain she does. She made those tracks in the flour.”

The coroner turned sharply. ”What makes you think so?”

Hanscom then told him of the comparison he had made of her shoes with the drawings in his note-book, and the coroner listened intently.

”That's mighty important,” he said, at last. ”You did right in bringing her down. I'll defend your action.”

Hanscom persisted: ”You must make it clear to that jury that Helen McLaren never entered Watson's gate in her life.”

Carmody was at heart convinced. ”Don't worry,” said he. ”I'll give you a chance to get all that evidence before the jury, and for fear Abe may try to arrest you and keep you away from the session, I reckon I'd better send you home in charge of Throop.” He smiled, and the sheriff smiled, but it was not so funny to the ranger.

”Never mind about me,” he said. ”I can take care of myself. Kitsong is only bluffing.”

”All the same, you'd better go home with Throop,” persisted the coroner.

”You're needed at the hearing to-morrow, and Miss McLaren will want you all in one piece,” he said.

Hanscom considered a moment. ”All right. I'm in your hands till to-morrow. Good night.”

”Good night,” replied Carmody. ”Take good care of him,” he added to the sheriff as he rose.

”He won't get away,” replied Throop. As he stepped into the street he perceived a small group of Kitsong's sympathizers still hanging about the door of the saloon. ”What are you hanging around here for?” he demanded.

”Waiting for Abe. He's gone after a warrant and the city marshal,” one of them explained.

”You're wasting time and so is Abe. You tell him that the coroner has put Hanscom in my custody and that I won't stand for any interference from anybody--not even the county judge--so you fellers better clear off home.”

The back streets were silent, and as they walked along Throop said: ”I'm going to lose you at the door of the hotel, but you'd better turn up at my office early to-morrow.”

Hanscom said ”Good night” and went to his bed with a sense of physical relaxation which should have brought slumber at once, but it didn't. On the contrary, he lay awake till long after midnight, reliving the exciting events of the day, and the hour upon which he spent most thought was that in Mrs. Throop's front room when he sat opposite Helen and discussed her future and his own.

When he awoke it was broad day, and as Kauffman, who occupied a bed in the same chamber, was still soundly slumbering, the ranger dressed as quietly as possible and went out into the street to take account of a dawn which was ushering in the most important morning of his life--a day in which his own fate as well as that of Helen McLaren must be decided.

The air was clear and stinging and the mountain wall, lit by the direct rays of the rising sun, appeared depressingly bald and prosaic, like his own past life. The foot-hills, in whose minute wrinkle the drama of which he was a vital part had taken place, resembled a crumpled carpet of dull gold and olive-green, and for the first time in his experience L. J. Hanscom, wilderness trailer, acknowledged a definite dissatisfaction with his splendid solitude.

”What does my life amount to?” he bitterly inquired. ”What am I headed for? Where is my final camping-place? I can't go on as I'm going. If I were sure of some time getting a supervisor's job, or even an a.s.sistant supervisor's position, the outlook would not be so hopeless. But to get even that far means years of work, years of riding.” And then, as he thought of his lonely cabin, so unsuited to a woman's life, he said: ”No, I must quit the service; that's sure.”

Returning to the hotel, he wrote out his resignation with resolute hand and dropped it into the mail-box. ”There,” he told himself, ”now you're just naturally obliged to hustle for a new job,” and, strange to say, a feeling of elation followed this decisive action.

Kauffman was afoot and dressing with slow and painful movements as Hanscom re-entered, saying, cheerily, ”Well, uncle, how do you feel by now?”

With a wan smile the old man answered: ”Much bruised and very painful, but I am not concerned about myself. I am only afraid for you. I hope you will not come to harm by reason of your generous aid to us.”

”Don't you fret about me,” responded Hanscom, st.u.r.dily. ”I'm hard to kill; and don't make the mistake of thinking that the whole country is down on you, for it isn't. Abe and his gang are not much better than outlaws in the eyes of the people down here in the valley, and as soon as the town understands the case the citizens will all be with you--and--Helen.” He hesitated a little before speaking her name, and the sound of the word gave him a little pang of delight--brought her nearer, someway. ”But let's go down to breakfast; you must be hungry.”

The old man did not reply as cheerily as the ranger expected him to do.