Part 11 (1/2)

”So far,” McCay went on, ”there's been no bloodshed. To-day it seems he's had Hodgson murdered. Looks as if things are about ripe for war!”

”He seems to have mo' men than yo',” murmured Kid Wolf.

”Yuh don't know the half of it. A dozen more of his hired gunmen rode south on the Chisholm Trail this mornin'.”

”What does that signify?”

”Plenty,” McCay explained. ”Six o' my men are drivin' fifteen hundred steers up this way. Quite a haul, yuh see, for Hardy. They're due here tonight. If they don't get here----” The big man's wide mouth hardened.

”But I'm afraid I'm a poor host,” he added apologetically. ”Yuh'll have supper and stay the night with us, I'm sure. Tip, you an' Scotty go out and bring in The Kid's hoss.”

The Texan consented, thanking him, and all began to make preparations for the night. The big general store seemed more like a fort in time of war than anything else. Some of the men slept on the counters in the main room. A place was made for Kid Wolf in the rear. Sentries were on watch during the entire night, which pa.s.sed uneventfully.

In the morning, just as the dawn was glowing in the east, the Texan was awakened by a horrified cry. All rushed to the front windows. Across the wide street, over the Idle Hour Saloon, a man was dangling, suspended from the roof by a rope! It was Durham--the man who had given Kid Wolf the cigarette-paper note. Some one had seen him in the act, and the fiends had lynched him.

”That settles it,” said Kid Wolf grimly, turning to McCay. ”I reckon I'm throwin' in with yo'. My guns are at yo' service!”

It was a situation not uncommon in that wilderness where ”the law isn't, and the six-shooter is.” Kid Wolf, however, had never seen a bolder attempt to trample on the rights of honest men. His veins beat hot at the thought of it. And Jack Hardy seemed to have the power to see it through to its murderous end.

It was not long after the discovery of Durham's murder when Tip McCay brought in a new note that had been pinned to the door.

”It was put there durin' the night some time, probably by one o'

Hardy's sneakin' half-breeds, because none o' our sentries saw any one the whole night through,” Tip said.

The note was roughly penciled on a sheet of yellow paper, and the message it carried was significant:

Ef yu will all walk out of their without yore guns we promiss no harm will com to yu. Ef yuh dont, we will get yu to the last man. We alreddy got yore cattel. This offer dont go fer Kid Wolf. We no hes their and we aim to kill him!

”They don't like me.” The Texan laughed. ”Well, I don't want 'em to.

What do yo' intend to do, sah?”

The elder McCay's face was very red. His fingers, as he tore the insolent letter to bits, were trembling with anger.

”I say let 'em hop to it!” he jerked out. ”I ain't givin' in to anybody!”

The others cheered. And it was a fighting group of men who gathered for a conference as to the defense of the store. It was agreed that their position was a serious one, outnumbered as they were.

Just how serious, they soon found out, for at the rising of the sun--as if it had been a signal--a burst of gunfire blazed out from the saloon across the street. Splinters flew from the logs as bullets thudded into them. Several whined through the two windows and crashed into the wall.

Kid Wolf took an active part in quickly getting ready for a stand. The windows and the doors were heavily barricaded, at his suggestion.

Sacks of flour, salt, and other supplies were piled over the openings, as these were best for stopping lead. Mattresses were stuffed behind the barricade for further protection, and just enough s.p.a.ce was left clear to allow a gun to be aimed through.

The volley from the Idle Hour had injured no one. The firing continued more or less steadily, however, and an occasional slug ripped its way between the logs. Jack Hardy's gang were firing at the c.h.i.n.ks.

Up until this time, the defenders had not fired a shot. Even now, after the preparations had been made, Kid Wolf advised against wasting ammunition. The rustler gang were firing from the cover of the saloon, and were well protected.