Part 32 (1/2)
”He'll dance in h.e.l.l for that trick before the sun goes down on another day!”
”His big play for sympathy fell flat,” said King, with a contemptuous laugh. ”There wasn't much of a crowd on hand when he arrived at the ranch.”
Silence. A little s.h.i.+fting of feet, a growl from Chadron, and a curse.
”But as for your proposal involving Miss Chadron, I am honored by it,”
said King.
”Any man would be!” Chadron declared.
”And we will just let it stand, waiting the lady's sanction.”
That brightened Chadron up. He moved about, and there was a sound as if he had slapped the young officer on the back in pure comrades.h.i.+p and open admiration.
”What's your scheme for drawin' that feller into firin' on your men?”
he asked.
”We'll talk it over as we go,” said King.
A bugle lifted its sharp, electrifying note in the barracks.
”Boots and saddles!” Chadron said.
”Yes; we march at nine o'clock.”
CHAPTER XVIII
THE TRAIL OF THE COFFEE
”You done right to come to the mission after me, for I'd ride to the gatepost of h.e.l.l to turn a trick agin Saul Chadron!”
Banjo's voice had a quaver of earnestness in it that needed no daylight to enforce. The pitchy night made a bobbing blur of him as he rode his quick-stepping little horse at Frances Landcraft's side.
”Yes, you owe him one,” Frances admitted.
”And I'll pay him before mornin' or it won't be no fault of mine. That there little ten-cent-size major he'd 'a' stopped you if he'd 'a'
known you was goin', don't you suppose?”
”I'm sure he would have, Mr. Gibson.”
”Which?” said Banjo.
”Banjo,” she corrected.
”Now, that sounds more comfortabler,” he told her. ”I didn't know for a minute who you meant, that name's gittin' to be a stranger to me.”
”Well, we don't want a stranger along tonight,” said she, seriously.