Part 28 (2/2)

”And another thing, I don't wish his father to learn of the matter just yet. Under other circ.u.mstances he should be the first to know, but I want the news kept from him for a special reason. Besides, it would be better if he found out about it from others and through roundabout channels. His son up there I don't see doing any talking himself for some time if he does live. When he is able to talk, I believe he'll decide to keep his mouth shut or just accept the explanation given that he was fis.h.i.+ng or something of that kind. When the doctor has looked him over, either he or you will carry him to Bowenville. If we could s.h.i.+p him at once to Gaston, where there's some sort of a hospital, I suppose, or even to Santa Fe, that would be the thing. He'd be out of the way; there'd be no talk; there would be no explanations to make except to the doctor.”

”Every doctor round these parts probably knows him,” Johnson said, ”and so would insist on taking him home.”

”There's a new one at Bowenville, father says,” Janet put in. ”A young man, just starting practice. He hasn't been there but a few weeks and may not know Ed.”

”He's the man for us!” Weir declared. ”We'll send for him. Now we must be going.”

Steele arose from the table and stretched his shoulders.

”And I'll hitch up my team immediately,” the rancher said.

”I'll go with you,” Mary exclaimed.

”Tut, tut, girl.”

”I can help you, and I want to do something to help Mr. Weir and Janet Hosmer, even if it's only a little bit. I'm strong, I don't care if it is late--anyway, I'd just have nightmares if I stayed here alone,--and I can help you with him. I'm going,” she ended, obstinately.

Johnson eyed her for a moment, then yielded.

”Nothing to be afraid of now,” he rejoined, ”but if you would rather go along with your dad, all right.”

Five minutes later Steele and Janet were emerging from the canyon upon the mesa. The drizzling rain still continued and the unseen mist beat cool upon their cheeks as the car swung away from Terry Creek for town. Except for the stream of light projected before them, they were engulfed in Stygian darkness; and save for the slithering sound of the tires on the wet road, they moved in profound night silence.

”That business is arranged,” Steele said, after a time. ”But we still have the results of the attack on Martinez to deal with. I don't know how long he'll hold out against the men who dragged him off, probably not long. I suppose Burkhardt and perhaps Vorse took him, and they'll stop at nothing to get the paper they're after. How they learned of it, I don't know, but find out about it they did; and they'll force the information they want from Martinez if they have to resort to hot irons. That's the kind of men they are. The lawyer will stick up to a certain point--then he'll tell. That brings you into their way.”

”You also,” Janet answered.

”I've been there for some time,” was his grim response. ”But in your case it's different. I'm worried, I tell you frankly.”

”Do you think they would dare try to intimidate me in my own home and with father to protect me?” she cried, incredulously.

”Not there, perhaps. But if they could inveigle you away, yes. They wouldn't use hot irons in your case, of course, and I can't guess just what they would do, but they would do--something. Those men think I have the 'goods' on them; I repeat, they would stop at nothing to save themselves if worst came to worst; their fear will make them fiends.

One couldn't suppose they would dare seize Martinez in all defiance of law--but they did. One can't believe they would dream of torturing him for information--but I haven't a doubt that's what they've done. So you see why I'm worried about you. If anything happened, if any harm came to you now, Janet--”

His voice was unsteady as he spoke her name and ceased abruptly. She thrilled to this betrayal of his feeling.

”I wish I could just stick at your side, then I know I should be safe,” she said.

And for answer she felt his hand grope and press her own for an instant.

”You can count on me being somewhere around.”

”I know that,” she said, confidently.

San Mateo was asleep, buried in gloom when they entered it, and quiet except for the barking of a dog or two that their pa.s.sage stirred to activity. But in Dr. Hosmer's cottage a light was burning and as the car came to a stop at its gate the door was flung open and the doctor himself appeared framed in the doorway. He ran hastily down the walk to meet them.

”Janet!” he cried. And the girl flung her arms about him.

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