Part 37 (2/2)

A horse came up the road at a slow trot and halted by the gate. A saddle creaked, then the bars complained as they were lowered. A man was whistling lightly as he rode toward the house and dismounted, leaving his horse standing.

”Must be one of the boys,” he said, and settled back. None who had other than friendly business there would come uncautious.

”I was going to say,” went on Hepburn, ”that they'll be fooled about that Hole range. It's time for the cattle to start comin' in from the desert. They'll get up there and the creek'll be an ash bed with a couple more days of this sun. They can't take 'em back through the Gap without a big loss and if they leave 'em in the Hole without water long enough they can't get 'em up the trail without loss so--”

”If you'll all rise up and put up your hands we won't have any trouble ... tonight!”

Hepburn looked slowly over his shoulder, slightly bewildered. Webb, who had been stooped forward, raised his eyes and breath slipped through his lips in a long hiss. Sam McKee, who had reached out to take a trick, let his ace drop from limp fingers. The other three started up like guilty men sharply accused of their crime.

Tom Beck, a revolver in each hand, stood framed in the doorway, bending forward from the hips, hat back, eyes burning. His voice had been level and natural, with something akin to a laugh in it, but when he spoke again it was a rasp:

”Get up on your rattles, you snakes, and put up your hands!”

With an oath Hepburn sprang to his feet, faced about and raised his arms. Webb followed, with jerky movements, his face pallid with fear.

The four card players got from their chairs. As McKee's hands went slowly above his head they trembled like aspen branches in a breeze.

For a long moment there was no sound, save Hepburn's heavy breathing.

Then Tom Beck let a curious smile run across his lips.

”This is a h.e.l.l of a way to come to talk business,” he commented. ”I don't like it ... but little more than you seem to. It's the safest way for me. That's why I'm here, to consider my safety.”

He let his gaze run from face to face. Webb's eyes met his squarely, a baleful challenge in them, but as he glared at Hepburn, Hepburn's gaze wavered, flicking back twice, only to drop again. McKee whimpered under his breath. The other three stared back sullenly, alert for an opening.

Beck moved into the room just one step.

”I don't know who it is that's been tryin' to kill me, but it wouldn't take many guesses,” he said. Again his eyes ran from face to face. ”It might be you, Hepburn, and it might be you, Webb. It's like both of you, to shoot from cover ... like you accused me of shootin'. It might be McKee, but even that takes more nerve than he's got. I wouldn't put it past any of the rest of you.

”I didn't come here to try to find out. I got more important things to do than to identify the party right now.

”I rode over this evening to make a little call an' to drop the word that if I see any of this outfit anywhere near the HC ranch or on its range there's goin' to be shootin' a-plenty and that if you want to be the first to shoot, you want to draw almighty quick! If any of you see one of my men anywhere, you hit the breeze. It's the best way out of trouble.

”Hepburn, you an' Webb tried to frame me once. That's sufficient cause.

I'd kill you like I'd kill a ... a scorpion. McKee don't count. You other three probably are in on the threat to drive me out of the country. Just workin' here puts you beyond the law that protects honest men.

”Now there's a little matter of trouble that's happened around the HC.

That's going to stop from now on. We've got lots of men over there who are handy with their artillery. They're pretty well worked up. There won't be a finger lifted to prevent you workin' within your rights, but the first crooked move one of you makes ... there'll be a new table boarder in th' devil's kitchen.

”That's all I come to say. That's all the conversation that'll be necessary between us from now on. The HC is goin' to keep doing business, and its present owner is going to stay on the job. As for me ... it's been talked around that I was to be drove out an' all I've got to say is, come on and do your driving!”

His mouth set with an expression of finality and his eyes bored into theirs. He was through, but even as he straightened preparatory to backing through the doorway into the night a flicker of cunning crossed Dad Hepburn's face, set there by a faint, faint creaking of the stable door, unheard by Beck whose own voice had been in his ears.

”Don't you think you're a little quick in pa.s.sin' judgment, Tom?” he asked.

Beck laughed shortly.

”Looking for me to handle you with gloves, Dad? After you tried to frame me? After you--” He checked himself shortly as he was about to accuse Hepburn of one specific art of treachery against the H.C. He might need that later. ”After you've tried to get me?

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