Part 43 (1/2)

He gave no heed to the two who watched him but it was a matter of ten minutes before he was finally satisfied that there had been no loss--or that nothing else would be lost that day--and rode away.

By that time Hilton's ill temper was implacable and in Bobby's face was a half frightened, bewildered look. She turned to the Easterner with a questioning little gesture but he did not respond.

”He spoiled it for a while, Bobby,” he said. ”Let's ride back.”

CHAPTER XIX

CONCERNING SAM MCKEE

Webb was building biscuits and Hepburn was slicing a steak from the hind quarter of a carca.s.s that a few days before had been an HC steer.

McKee entered with an armful of wood. He dropped it into the box beside the stove with a clatter and went out again. He was whistling a doleful little tune, as a preoccupied man will whistle. His gray eyes were peculiarly grim and when he stopped whistling, his mouth set into determined lines.

”What's got into him?” Webb asked.

The other shrugged his shoulders.

”He's changed in the last day or two. Wouldn't think he was the same man,” Webb went on. ”Do you think there's a chance....”

It was unnecessary to finish the question for there was only one subject that these men discussed which called for the cautious tone which Webb had adopted. Hepburn chuckled scornfully.

”h.e.l.l, no!” he said. ”Sam's the last one to double-cross us, 'specially when Beck's on th' other side.

”Somethin's got into him all right, but it ain't anything to hurt us.

He's changed.”

”You know how he used to be, Dad, kind of a bully, always lookin' for trouble. Well, it wasn't that he was quarrelsome like most mean men are. It was because he was afraid to be any other way. That was what made him abuse his horse that time; the pony had put a crimp in Sam an'

th' only way Sam could work up his nerve to get aboard was to work him over unmerciful.

”That give Beck his chance, an' he sure did comb poor Sam! It took all th' starch out of him, but that wasn't th' worst. It give everybody that didn't like him a chance to rub it in, an' they sure done it!

Sam's been a standin' joke ever since. They seem to look for chances to ride him. Two-Bits ain't let him alone a minute when they was near together.

”Sam used to swear he'd get both Two-Bits an' Beck, but he won't. He ain't that kind, I guess. Beck knocked what little sand he had left all out of him.

”Somethin's changed him again, though ...”

”You've rubbed it into him pretty strong yourself, Webb,” Hepburn reminded.

”Different reason.” Webb waxed philosophical. ”When a man's enemies bother him it only drives him down; that is, a man like Sam. But when his friends ride him it's likely to put a little color in his liver.

That's why I keep after him. I never did figure he'd try to get Beck in an open fight, but I used to think he might do it some other way.

That's what I'd like to see him do!”--darkly.

”Maybe he will. Somethin's changed him again, Webb. I tell you he's been goin' around today like a man whose done somethin' big! It's a sort of ... of confidence, you'd call it.”

”Mebby Hilton's got under his skin. He don't like Sam but he talks a lot to him about Beck, quiet-like, as if it wasn't of much importance.

Still, he keeps dingin' away at it.”