Part 31 (2/2)

”You shot at a white flag!” screamed Purdy.

”You're d.a.m.n right I did! An' I'll shoot at the low-lived pup that tried to hide behind it too. My G.o.d, Purdy! No head--no guts! The only things about you that's a man is your pants, an' s.h.i.+rt, an' hat--an' I spoilt the hat!”

”Listen, Tex, listen!” the man's voice was frantic with appeal. ”Let's make medicine. You c'n have the pilgrim's woman--I don't want her--I only wanted the reward. I was only kiddin' about b.u.mpin' you off! Honest I was! Listen! Let me go, Tex! Let me git away! Ca.s.s has got me framed-up! I aimed to quit him an' turn straight! Listen--they's a girl, Tex. Over on Red Sand--I give her my word I'd quit the horse game an'

start an outfit. Listen--I----”

”Who is she?” the voice of the Texan cut in like chilled steel.

”McWhorter's girl----”

”You're a d.a.m.ned liar!”

”D'you know her?” the words came haltingly.

”Some,” answered the Texan, drily, ”she an' I are goin' to be married tomorrow.” The words had been uttered with the deliberate intent of taunting Purdy, but even the Texan was not prepared for the manifestation of insane rage that followed.

”You lie! d.a.m.n you! d.a.m.n you! You've always beat me! Yer beatin' me now!

You son of a--, take that!” With the words he leaped from behind his rock and emptied his gun, the bullets thudding harmlessly against the Texan's barrier, and instantly he was behind his rock again.

Ca.s.s Grimshaw grinned at the others. ”He's baitin' him--prob'ly be'n baitin' him fer an hour till Purdy's gone plumb mad.”

”De Injun she would stake um out an' build de leetle fire on hees belly.

But A'm t'ink dat hurt worse lak Tex do it.”

Endicott gazed in white-lipped fascination upon the scene. ”Let's make him surrender and turn him over to the authorities,” he whispered.

Grimshaw shook his head: ”No--not him. If you knew him like I do, you wouldn't say that. By G.o.d, I turned one man over to the authorities--an'

they give him a year! An' when he got out I give him what he had comin'.

Think, man what he'd of done to your wife----”

The sentence was cut short by the sound of galloping hoofs. All four craned their necks for sight of the rider. Grimshaw and Bill Harlow drew their guns, expecting to see the fourth man of Purdy's gang come rus.h.i.+ng to the aid of his leader. But not until the rider was within a hundred feet of the two combatants did they catch sight of her. At the same instant they saw the Texan, hat in hand, frantically wave her back.

Janet McWhorter saw him, too, and pulled the bay mare to her haunches at the same instant a shot rang out and Purdy's bullet ripped the Texan's hat from his hand. Almost before her horse came to a stop, the girl's gun was in her hand and she sat--tense--expectant.

With glittering eyes fixed upon the girl, Purdy laughed a wild shrill laugh, that echoed among the rocks like a sound from h.e.l.l. The words of the Texan burned like words of living fire. ”_Goin' to be married tomorrow!_” Deliberately he raised his gun and fired--just at the instant the bay mare threw up her head with a nervous jerk to rid her mouth of the feel of the cruel spade bit. The next second she reared high and crashed to the ground carrying her rider with her. With a loud cry the Texan sprang to his feet and started for the girl, and at the same moment the horse-thief that the big blue roan had knocked senseless among the rocks rose to his feet and levelling his gun at the running man, fired. At the sound of the report the Texan staggered, turned half-way round and fell sprawling among the rocks. Purdy leaped to his feet and, gun in hand, started for the prostrate Texan. The rock-ribbed valley became a roar of noise. Janet, one leg pinned in the stirrup, fired across the body of her horse. Fired swiftly and accurately. The running Purdy staggered this way and that, drew himself stiffly erect, threw his hands high above his head and spun around like a top, and as the sound of the girl's last shot died, pitched forward and lay very still.

From the rock b.u.t.tress to the left, Janet saw men running toward her.

She could not tell whether they were friends or foes--it mattered not--her gun was empty. At thought of her gun, she gave vent to a pitiful little cry and covered her face with her hands. Then the men were at her side pulling at the body of her horse. Her leg was freed and someone stood her upon her feet. She lowered her hands and stared into the bearded face of Ca.s.s Grimshaw!

”Good shootin', sis!” he patted her shoulder gently, ”why, what's the matter? D'ye think you missed him--look!” he pointed to the body of Purdy.

”Oh--oh!” moaned the girl and covered her eyes again. ”I've--I've _killed_ a man!”

Grimshaw looked puzzled: ”No, sis--you ain't killed no _man_! Not by no stretch of imagination he ain't no man!”

”But--he's a human being--and--I killed him!”

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