Part 23 (1/2)
There were a dozen or more horses in the corral. Pan, glancing over them with appraising eye, decided the cowboys had not spoken of them with the degree of satisfaction that they really merited.
”Fine string, Blinky,” said Pan, with glistening eyes. ”Is that sorrel the one I can't ride?”
”Yep, thet's him. Ain't he a real hoss?”
”Best of the bunch, at first sight. Blinky, are you sure you're not giving me your own horse?”
”Me? I don't care nothin' aboot him,” declared Blinky, lying glibly.
”Sh.o.r.e he's the orfullest pitchin' son-of-a-gun I ever forked. But mebbe you can ride him.”
It developed presently that Pan could ride the sorrel, and that Blinky had done the horse a great injustice. How good to be back in the saddle! Pan wanted to ride down at once to show Lucy his first mount west of the Rockies. Indeed he was possessed of a strong yearning desire to hurry to see Lucy, a feeling that he had to dispel. If all went well he could go to his mother's for dinner. Meanwhile he must meet the exigencies here in Marco.
”Wal, what's next on the ticket?” queried Blinky, who appeared to be rather jerky this morning.
”I'm going downtown,” replied Pan.
”Ahuh! I want to trail along with you.”
”No, I'll go alone. I'll make my bluff strong, Blinky, or draw Matthews out. Honest, I don't think he'll show.”
”Thet yellow dawg? He won't face you, Pan. But he's in thet Hardman outfit, an' one of them--mebbe Purcell--might take a shot at you from a winder. It's been done heah. Let me go with you.”
”Well, if they're that low down your being with me wouldn't help much,”
replied Pan, pondering the matter. ”I'll tell you, Blink. Here's how I figure. Marco is a pretty big place. It's full of men. And western men are much alike anywhere. Matthews is no fool. He couldn't risk murdering me in broad daylight, from ambush.”
”I'm not trustin' him,” said Blinky, somberly. ”But I admit the chances are he won't do thet.”
”You and Gus pack up for the wild-horse drive,” went on Pan briskly.
”We ought to get off in the morning. One of you ride out to see if Charley Brown will throw in with us. I'll see Dad at dinner. He'll need horse and outfit. It may turn out we can get our jailer friend, Hurd. Wonder if he lost his job.... Ha! Ha! Well, boys, I'll know more when I see you again.”
Pan strolled down toward the town. A familiar unpleasant mental strain dominated his consciousness. His slow, cool, easy nonchalance was all outward. He had done this thing before, but that seemed long ago. His father, Lucy, his mother, somehow made an immense difference between the cowboy reactions of long ago and this stern duty he had set himself today. He hated what his actions meant, what might well ensue from them, yet he was glad it was in him to meet the issue in this way of the West.
By the time he had reached a point opposite the stage office all reflections had pa.s.sed out of his mind to give place to something sinister.
His alert faculties of observation belied the leisurely manner of his approach to the main street. He was a keen-strung, watching, listening machine. The lighting and smoking of a cigarette was mechanical pretense--he did not want to smoke.
Two men stood in front of the stage office. One was Smith, the agent.
Pan approached them, leaned on the hitching rail. But he favored his right side and he faced the street.
”Mornin', cowboy,” Smith greeted him, not without nervousness. ”See you're down early to git arrested.”
”Howdy, Smith. Can you give me a drink?” returned Pan.
”Sorry, but I haven't a drop.”
The other man was an old fellow, though evidently he was still active, for his boots and clothes showed the stain and wear of mining.
”Tell you, cowboy,” he spoke up, dryly, ”you might buy a bottle at the Yellow Mine.”
Pan made no reply, and presently the old man shambled away while Smith entered his office. Pan kept his vigil there, watching, waiting. He was seen by dozens of pa.s.sing men, but none of them crossed toward the stage office. Down the street straggling pedestrians halted to form little groups. In an hour the business of Marco had apparently halted.