Part 19 (1/2)
”We must carry out the farce, Burkhardt, for the sake of appearances.”
”I'd like to blow them up along with their dam!” was the scowling rejoinder, ”Well, let 'em inspect. Next time they come back there won't be any.”
”I believe we should arrest Weir before the thing's pulled off,”
Gordon said, meditatively. ”It would be surer.”
Sorenson set his heavy jaw.
”No. I want him to see the wreck; I want him to know just what's happened before he's haled away; I want him feeling good and sick already when he gets the next jolt.”
”Sure. It's him or us, as I've said from the first; and I've always believed in making a clean sweep,” Vorse remarked. ”We have the right line this time. First, make his men drunk and sore; then smash the works; then arrest him quick; and last finish him off with a bullet during a pretended jail delivery.”
”There will be elements of danger in the last,” Judge Gordon stated, cautiously.
Vorse smiled and Burkhardt grinned.
”Not so you'll notice it,” said the latter. ”The town won't know anything about it until afterwards. Just a few good men at night, masked and working fast, and the thing is done.”
”I'll not feel easy till it's over.”
”Keep up your nerve, Judge,” Burkhardt grunted. ”You used to be as lively as anybody when you were young.”
”I know, I know. But this Weir isn't going to stand idle. If he ever gets a chance with his gun----”
”He won't get it,” said Vorse.
”And he'll not resist the sheriff when Madden arrests him legally,”
Sorenson added. ”Nothing could be better for us than if he did. He knows that.”
”Still I'll be glad when next week is past,” the Judge replied, with a sigh.
CHAPTER XIII
THE CURRENT OF EVENTS
Though outwardly the world's face was as calm as ever, though peace seemed to bask on San Mateo and the broad mesa and lofty mountain range, events were rapidly shaping themselves to bring a thunder crash of contending forces. Not Weir, not even the little evil cabal plotting so desperately against him, guessed the scope and power of the pa.s.sions to be released.
As a vital impulse towards the climax, though an unconscious one on her part so far as the general play of circ.u.mstance was concerned, Janet Hosmer informed Ed Sorenson of her determination to break their engagement. This was the same evening she returned from the Johnson ranch, when he called at her telephoned request. He went to her home under the impression that his box of candy and bundle of new magazines had restored him to favor. He was very jaunty, in fact, and bent on persuading her to name an early day for their nuptials.
Imagine his wrath when she explained that she wished to say that she could not marry him, at the same time handing him his ring and the other trinkets he had bestowed upon her.
”Is it because of our little spat last night about the engineer?” he demanded. ”I apologized, Janet. I'm sorry still, and I love you above everything else.”
”I think not,” said she.
”But I do, Janet. Above everything.”
”No, not above yourself and your vices. You deceived me for a long time, but now I know the truth. You aroused my suspicions when you mentioned a Johnson girl; there's only one Johnson girl hereabouts, as I learned; and this noon I visited her and her father. They informed me fully about your conduct towards Mary at Bowenville and your promises to marry her--that, when you were engaged to me. There are other things I heard to-day. Of affairs with Mexican girls that are shameful.”