Part 31 (1/2)
Then Corliss explained his plan. He told Sundown to keep the water-hole fenced and so keep the sheep-men from using it. This would virtually control several thousand acres of range around the water-hole ranch. He told Sundown that he expected him to homestead the ranch for himself--do the necessary work to secure a t.i.tle, and then at his option either continue as a rancher or sell the holding to the Concho.
”I'll start you with some stock--a few head, and a horse or two. All you have to do is to 'tend to business and forget that I have ever spoken to you about homesteading the place. You'll have to play it alone after you get started.”
”Suits me, boss. I ain't what you'd call a farmer, but me and Chance can scratch around and act like we was. But the smooth gent as pinched me--ain't he goin' to come again?”
”Sure as you're wearing spurs! But you just take it easy and you'll come out all right. Loring put Jim Banks after you. Jim is all right and he's business. Loring wants the water-hole ranch. So do I. Now, if Loring tells the sheriff he saw you in Usher, and later at the water-hole, Jim will begin to think that Loring is keeping pretty close trail on you. When Jim finds out you've filed on the water-hole,--and he already knows that Loring wants it,--he'll begin to figure that Loring had you jailed to keep you out of his way. And you can take it from me, Jim Banks is the squarest man in Apache County. He'll give you a chance to make good. If we can keep you out of sight till he hears from over the line, I think you'll be safe after that. If we can't, why, you still have your t.i.tle to the water-hole ranch and that holds it against trespa.s.sers.”
”Well, you're sure some shark on the long think! Say, I been scared stiff so long I'm just commencin' to feel me legs again. The sun is s.h.i.+nin' and the birds are sawin' wood. I get you, boss! The old guy that owns the wool had me pinched. Well, I ain't got nothin' ag'in'
him, but that don't say I ain't workin' for you. Say, if he comes botherin' around me farm, do I shoot?”
”No. You just keep right on. Pay no attention to him.”
”Just sick Chance on him, eh?”
”He'd get Chance. I'm going to run some cattle over that way soon.
Then you'll have company. You needn't be scared.”
”Cattle is some comp'ny at that. Say, have I got to ride that there bronc Bud jest went down the street on?”
”As soon as we get out of town.”
”Which wouldn't be long if we had hosses like him, eh?”
”I'll give you a note to Murphy. He'll send your horse back to Usher and let you take a fresh horse when you start for the Concho. Take it easy, and don't talk.”
”All right, boss. But I was thinkin'--”
”What?”
”Well, it's men like me and you that puts things through. It takes a man with sand to go around this country gettin' pinched and thrun and burnt up and bein' arrested every time he goes to spit. Folks'll be sayin' that there Sundown gent is a brave man--me! Never shot n.o.body and dependin' on his nerve, every time. They's nothin' like havin' a bad repetation.”
”Nothing like it,” a.s.sented Corliss, smiling. ”Well, here's your road.
Keep straight on till you cross the river. Then take the right fork and stick to it, and you'll ride right into Murphy's. He'll fix you up, all right.”
”Did you think in this note to tell him to give me a hoss that only travels one way to onct?” queried Sundown.
Corliss laughed. ”Yes, I told him. Don't forget you're a citizen and a homesteader. We're depending on you.”
”You bet! And I'll be there with the bells!”
Shoop and Corliss watched Sundown top a distant rise and disappear in a cloud of dust. Then they walked back to the station. As they waited for the local, Shoop rolled a cigarette. ”Jest statin' it mild and gentle,” he said, yawning, ”the last couple of weeks has been kind of a busy day. Guess the fun's all over. Sundown's got a flyin' start; Loring's played his ace and lost, and you and me is plumb sober. If I'd knowed it was goin' to be as quiet as this, I'd 'a' brought my knittin' along.”
”There are times . . .” said Corliss.
”And we got just five minutes,” said Shoop. ”Come on.”
CHAPTER XX
THE WALKING MAN
Sundown's sense of the dramatic, his love for posing, with his linguistic ability to adopt the vernacular of the moment so impressed the temperamental Murphy that he disregarded a portion of his friend Corliss's note, and the morning following his lean guest's arrival at the ranch the jovial Irishman himself saddled and bridled the swiftest and most vicious horse in the corral; a gla.s.s-eyed pinto, bronc from the end of his switching tail to his pink-mottled muzzle. He was a horse with a record which he did not allow to become obsolete, although he had plenty of compet.i.tion to contend with in the string of broncs that Murphy's riders variously bestrode. Moreover, the pinto, like dynamite, ”went off” at the most unexpected intervals, as did many of his riders. Sundown, bidding farewell to his host, mounted and swung out of the yard at a lope. The pinto had ideas of his own. Should he buck in the yard, he would immediately be roped and turned into the corral again. Out on the mesas it would be different--and it was.
He paid no attention to a tumble-weed gyrating across the Apache road.