Graham M. Dean

“ Even at that distance it was clear that there were many open meadows and from what Slim knew of the country, they would be rich with the grass needed to make fat cattle. It seemed incredible that such a beautiful country was a land of lawlessness and violence where the life and wealth of a man like Adam Marks was in daily danger.
From a distance came the faint drumming of hoofs. Slim had no desire to be seen on the trail and he sent Lightning leaping behind the protection of a dense thicket. His rifle was in camp, but his revolver was in the holster at his side. ”

“ Slim shook hands with the outfit as the breakfast bell clanged. A Chinese cook, Lee Wu, brought steaming bowls of breakfast food, a pitcher of black coffee, and then stacks of cakes and bacon. There was little conversation as the cowboys stowed away enough food to carry them through the day if need be.
Slim made a survey of his companions while they were eating. Pat Beals and Walt Kelly were only a little older than himself and there was a reckless glint in their eyes. Doug Huston was sandy-haired and Slim put him down as probably thirty. ”

“ The trout was a beauty, at least a pound and a half if Slim was any judge, and he played the fish carefully, finally drawing it close enough to the bank so Chuck could reach down and get it in his hands.
“What a beauty,” said the Circle Four cowboy as he held the trout in his hands. “Some people have all the luck.”
“You mean some people have all the skill,” grinned Slim, casting the fly back into the now quiet waters of the pool. He was patient and a fair judge of trout water, the result being that a few minutes later he got another strike, but this one finally eluded him. ”

“ Chuck, who had been making a tour of the town, returned and dropped into a chair beside Slim. It was quiet and peaceful, a far cry from the bitter cattle war which Old Bill Needham had told them was raging in the valley. They talked for another half hour with Titzell and were about to go up to their room when the sound of wildly drumming hoofs came from across the creek.
“Someone’s coming mighty fast,” said Titzell, half rising from his chair and shielding his eyes in an attempt to peer into the darkness beyond the creek. ”

“ With the first streak of dawn over the distant Cajons, he had Lightning saddled and ready for the trail. An hour later he came upon the overnight camp of the unknown rider and his heart leaped. The trail was getting hot. Another hour and he should be within striking distance.
Slim felt that if he could but overtake the gunman who had shot down the owner of the Box B, he would have captured an important man in the gang of rustlers. It might be the opening wedge to splitting up the gang and freeing the entire valley of the menace which hung over the cow country. ”

“ Chuck looked at his companion sharply and saw that Slim was deeply affected.
“I never had anything but a cayuse,” he said. “Maybe if I’d had a really fine horse I would have some idea of how you feel.”
“Maybe you would. You see, Lightning was almost human. I could talk to her and she’d understand almost everything I said.”
“That’s a lot more than a good many humans can do.”
“Lightning was smarter than a lot of humans.” Slim stretched his long legs on the blanket beside the fire, pillowed his head on the saddle and looked up toward the new moon. ”

“ Slim exclaimed bitterly, for a rain at this time would obliterate the trail and his day of hard riding would be without reward. Talking almost constantly to Lightning, he pushed the sorrel as rapidly as the rough ground would permit. He knew that he was gaining steadily and if the rain would only hold off another hour, he should have his quarry. ”

“ From the trail, it was evident that the cattle had been driven hard, but the small herd had been fairly easy to handle.
They penetrated more than a mile into the Double O range when a group of riders galloped into sight over a low hill.
“Here comes trouble,” grinned Chuck, loosening his rifle and making sure that it was ready for fast action. The other Box B riders looked at their guns and Slim’s heart tightened. Tempers were at a fighting pitch. It would require some real diplomacy to get through the next few minutes without someone being hurt, perhaps seriously. ”

“ There was Pike Carberry, who ran the general store, and his clerk, Jim Ferris, who also did the barbering for the whole valley. Next was Leo Kovec, whose star on his vest proclaimed him to be the marshal and beyond him sat Newt Bemis, whom Denkman introduced as an assistant cattle buyer. The man at the end of the table drew Slim’s attention. He was well groomed in spite in the heat of the day, immaculately shaved, and his linen was fresh and white. His dark hair was slightly curly and he had a pleasant smile.
“I’ll introduce myself,” he said. “I’m Hal Titzell, cattle buyer.” ”

“ The sun was swinging well along toward the horizon and the country was flattening out. They had reached the foothills, but there was still no sign of human habitation. Coming out of a patch of timber, they looked down a long, broad valley, the grass of which had been burned out by the sun.
“I pity cattle trying to live off this stuff,” said Slim.
“Better pity us. If we don’t find something real to eat, we may have to take to grass.”
Chuck started down the trail again when Slim’s call stopped him.
“Wait a minute. There’s a horseman riding into the lower end of the valley.” ”

“ Here indeed was a clue to the mystery of the rustling in the Creeping Shadows. It might be worth only a little, but Slim carefully cataloged it in his mind for future reference.
“Not much travel through here,” he said, pointing to the name which had been placed on the book three months before.
“Not enough,” grunted the hotel keeper. “Still, with the riders coming in off the range, I manage to get along.”
“Country seems right healthy,” said Chuck, glancing through the dust-fogged windows toward the broad expanse of the valley. ”

“ A small stream ran a half mile back from the right-of-way and it was here that the rustlers paused to water the cattle. Slim, watching from the protection of the rock outcropping, counted six riders.
The sound of an engine whistle came to them faintly and he turned to see a plume of smoke far up the track. The local freight was coming. The rustlers heard the whistle and started the cattle moving toward the tracks. The showdown was near and Slim felt cool and ready for anything that might happen. ”

“ Haines laughed bitterly. “Kovec’s nothing but a tool for the rustlers. It’s a wonder you ever got out here alive.”
“I left when the town was asleep,” grinned Slim.
“That town never sleeps. It’s bad from top to bottom and Hal Titzell is one of the worst of them. He rides all over the country but I never heard of him ever buying any stock to amount to anything and Maxie Denkman and Newt Bemis, who say they’re helping him, are nothing but hired gunmen.” ”

“ Then he spotted the horse which had been shot down. The animal was lying just in front of the smaller valley. There was a huge boulder a little to Slim’s left and he managed to crawl on top of it. From this point of vantage the entire scene unfolded.
The rider of the dead horse was trapped in the small wash. His cayuse shot down, he had attempted to escape, only to find himself in a box-like canyon with walls too steep to scale. He had taken refuge behind the rocks and now was firing carefully and methodically at the men who had brought him down. ”

“ Lee Wu’s kept some food hot for you. Better get over to the cookhouse and fill up. I’ll go up to the house and tell Joe Haines and the boss. They’ve been mighty anxious about you.”
“I’ll eat in a little bit,” said Slim, as he pulled his saddle off Lightning. “What do you think of the outfit here?”
“Everything rings true to me, except Doug Huston. He hasn’t made a move out of the way, but I don’t like his eyes.”
“Neither do I. Maybe it’s unfair to Doug, but I’m going to play a hunch and keep a mighty close watch on him. Think the other boys suspect we’re anything but a couple of punchers?” ”

“ Slim found Doug to be a silent riding partner, but Doug knew the range well and they worked west toward the foothills where he had ridden the day before. The rain had freshened the grass overnight and Slim marveled at the sleek, well fed condition of the Box B cattle. It was little wonder rustlers would take extreme risks to get such stock as grazed on the rolling acres of the Marks’ ranch. ”

“ He was also the Newt who had tried to bushwhack Chuck on the trail.
Maxie Denkman, in introducing the others, had failed to mention his own business, but Slim knew he was allied with the rustlers.
The last man and the hardest of them all to catalog was Hal Titzell. He might be thirty-five and again he might be almost fifty. His skin was a clear tan, and his hands and fingernails much better kept than the average. He might be a cattle buyer, but Slim also put him down as a gambler, a man of rare courage and ability, which also meant an exceedingly dangerous man. ”

“ Al Bass leaned over and spoke to Slim.
“Once the rustlers get the cattle to the Cajons, it will be tough finding them. They’ll break up the herd and we’ll have to comb every valley.”
Slim nodded and gave voice to his thoughts.
“Aren’t we likely to run into the Diamond Dot, going through their range this way?”
“I’m kind of hoping we will,” shot back Al. “My own hunch is that the Diamond Dot is in thick with the rustlers. If they aren’t actually doing the rustling, they know who it is. Why, the Box B or the Double O would never let rustlers drive a herd across their range.” ”

“ The chief’s either getting ready to pull a big raid or he’s getting cold feet and is going to leave the valley.”
The voices were fainter as the riders went up the trail, but Slim listened eagerly to get the reply of the taller puncher.
“Don’t worry about the chief getting cold feet. He’s got all of the nerve in the world. In a little while, he’s going to be the cattle king of the Creeping Shadows.”
Slim smiled grimly. The “chief” would be cattle king only after he had disposed of Adam Marks and if there was anything Slim and Chuck could do to prevent it, that would never be accomplished. ”

“ That’s the best cattle country in this part of the west--plenty of rich grass and lots of water that’s good all of the year round. The valley is set down between the Cajons and the Three Soldiers and it’s warmer than most parts of Wyoming in the winter. But it’s tough country to get into--too expensive for a railroad for the amount of business, so the world has sort of forgotten the valley except when the trail herds come out in the fall on the way to the loading yards at Mopstick. ”

“ Trapped The freight train clanked to a stop while a quarter of a mile away the cattle churned restlessly. Slim was impatient for the break that would mean action, the break that he hoped would mean the end of the rustlers in the Creeping Shadows country.
While the train crew unloaded the portable chute, the rustlers drove the cattle nearer. Slim looked around at the riders grouped nearby. Impatiently Joe was fingering his six gun and behind him Al Bass sat calmly, his face tense and a little white. Three other horsemen were ready to sweep out and cut off the escape of the rustlers. ”

“ A few minutes later the smaller trail joined the one Slim had followed through the mountains, the path the rustlers used in running the cattle out of the Creeping Shadows over to the railroad. Chuck had stumbled on the hiding place where they held the stolen livestock until time to ship them out from the railroad.
Still following the trail of the cattle, Chuck swung toward the railroad. He rode steadily, ever watchful lest he run into another trap of the rustlers. ”

“ They think he’s accusing them of being cattle thieves because Adam has the biggest outfit.”
“It looks like good cattle country.”
“There’s none better in the world,” said Titzell softly. “It would be a prize worth risking your life to get. Adam Marks once had the chance to control the whole valley, but he’s getting older and losing his grip. The man who succeeds the Box B can run this little cattle empire about as he desires.”
“Unless,” thought Slim to himself, “he happens to be an ambitious rustler and runs up against the law.” ”

“ While the others had to rope their mounts to separate them from the milling string of horses in the corral, Slim only whistled once and Lightning responded instantly.
“My gosh!” exclaimed Pat Beals enviously. “You must have a circus horse. I can yell my head off and I can’t get any of my mounts to come near me.”
“Maybe they don’t like your voice,” suggested Walt Kelly, who had just finished a battle with a calico cayuse and was badly winded. ”

“ You’ve got long arms and long hands and your gun is hung just right for fast action.”
“I can make it talk,” agreed Slim, his narrowed eyes watching the approach of the rider, now almost within hailing distance. If he continued on the trail, he would pass within three rods of the two cowboys.
Chuck looked down at his aching feet.
“Gosh, but it’s going to seem good to swing back into a saddle. I’ve walked more today than in years.”
“You’ll be riding again in about five minutes, cowboy,” said Slim. “This fellow is coming right into the center of a real unpleasant surprise party.” ”

“ I’m hungry. Let’s hope the hotel doesn’t live up to the name of the town.”
They clumped across the narrow stoop in front of the hotel and entered the small room which served as a lobby. A fat, bald-headed man who had been swatting flies looked around from behind the counter.
“Bed and board?” he asked.
“Providing there’s no bugs in either one,” said Chuck.
The fat man’s face turned red and he sputtered furiously.
“Tha--, tha--, that’s an insult to the Palace Hotel,” he finally managed to say. “I never yet been accused of harboring a bed bug in my place.”
“No offense meant,” grinned Chuck. ”

“ Her mother just a plain cayuse on the Flying Arrow. We never knew just exactly what kind of a horse her father was, but my Dad swears that it must have been Nige, leader of the band of wild horses over on the Sunfield spur of the Cajons. Nige’s never been broken, and only a few people have ever been able to get a rope around him. He’s a beauty--coal black and all fire and temper.”
Chuck nodded.
Even over on the Circle Four they had heard about Nige and his small band of wild horses which roamed the eastern slope of the Cajons. ”

“ Chuck wanted to know.
“They never saw Slim in the daylight and I’ll get a little dye while I’m on the other side and we’ll make Lightning a solid sorrel. That ought to fool them.”
“Better buy me a saddle,” suggested Slim. “My own outfit looks too good for a wandering cowboy.”
“One thing,” grinned Chuck, “we’ll have a couple of days to rest here and let the swelling in our feet go down.”
“That suits me,” agreed Slim. “My main worry was getting Lightning back.” ”

“ No man moved as though to leave and after the hearty breakfast, each one examined his guns.
With Nels and Joe in the lead, they swung into their saddles. It was an earnest, silent group of riders that trotted south along the Box B line to pick up the trail of the missing cattle. They found the trail and turned east into Diamond Dot territory, with the rugged foothills of the Cajons only a few miles ahead of them. ”

“ Those fellows are at the summit by this time and from what I gathered as they went by me, they’ll be there quite a while.”
Chuck emerged from the undergrowth, carrying his rifle in one hand. He jumped from one rock to another, and finally arrived on Slim’s side of the stream.
“Now we’ll have to lug all of the duffel and grub over here,” said the Flying Arrow cowboy.
“Not on your life. There’s a fine bite of grass on the other side and a little hollow to hide our fire. No more camps near the trail for me.”
“You’re getting worse than an old hen,” protested Slim. ”

“ Several horses splashed across the creek and their riders disappeared inside the portals of the pool hall.
“Quiet night,” said Titzell. “Things liven up Saturdays when the boys come in off the range.”
“You must get around the country quite a bit. Maybe you know where they’re needing help.”
“Most of the outfits are cutting down instead of adding men on the payroll,” said Titzell smoothly. “The Box B, Adam Marks’ outfit, claims to be having trouble with rustlers, so you might get on with him but it would be a chance I wouldn’t want to take if what Adam says is true.” ”

“ Slim has done a couple of little jobs for me over near Sunfield and I know he’s got a good head and a cool one. In addition, he’s a dead shot with a six gun. Chuck’s a fine rider and the best man with a rifle I’ve seen in many a year. Slim, your temper is likely to flash a bit too hot at times, but I figure that Chuck being a little slower to fly off the handle will kind of keep a check on you. In other words, you’re my idea of the right kind of a team to send into the Creeping Shadows country and ferret out these rustlers. ”

“ The cook disappeared in the kitchen to return with a double barreled sawed-off shotgun.
“Fill ’em up with nails,” he chuckled. “Hit someone and phooey!”
“Phooey, is right,” grinned Slim. “I guess you’re safe enough from the rustlers. Got any idea who’s causing all of the trouble?”
“Plenty ideas, no proof. Bad business to talk with loose tongue.”
“You’re right, Wu. A loose tongue can sure get a fellow into a lot of trouble.”
Chuck stuck his head in the door.
“They want you at the ranch house as soon as you’re through.”
“I’ll be along in a minute.” Slim finished the last of the can of peaches. ”

“ Grub ran low and I cut out my noon meal figuring that I’d be far enough down the trail tonight to reach some ranch house and get a real supper.”
“Guess you don’t know much about this country,” said Slim as he deftly flipped the bacon.
“Why?”
“There isn’t a ranch within miles. We’ve got a good thirty miles of hoofing it down the trail before we’ll be anywhere near a place we can get horses.”
“You been through this country before?” Slim thought that Chuck’s eyes were peering at him intently from beneath the bushy eyebrows. ”

“ The price was fair enough and Slim and Chuck unfastened their saddles and rifle scabbards. They were taking no risks on the honesty of anyone at Dirty Water. The hostler looked at Lightning with open admiration.
“Fine looking horse,” he said. “Must be mighty fast.”
“Fair,” agreed Slim, “but getting a little old to keep up a hard trail gait very long. See that she’s given the best of care.”
The cowboys picked up their duffel and headed toward the hotel.
“What was the idea telling the hostler Lightning was old and losing her speed?” asked Chuck. ”

“ The door of the lean-to opened and two masked men entered. The first one he knew was the owner of the Diamond Dot, but the second he could not identify.
Hack Cook bent down and looked at Chuck’s throbbing head.
“He ain’t hurt much. Couple of days and he’ll never know he was hit.”
“I’ll say he won’t,” put in the other rustler. “In a couple of more days he’ll not care what happens. I’m positive this kid and that Slim Evans are cattle dicks.”
“We searched Meade but didn’t find a thing,” replied Cook.
“Makes no difference. These boys are too dangerous to have loose on the range. ”

“ That guy is one horse thief that isn’t going to get away.”
But Slim took Chuck’s advice and the tension of his finger on the trigger lessened. The target loomed larger, for the man riding Lightning was heavy and of large stature.
Rider and horse drew nearer, the second horse trailing Lightning by a few feet. It was then that Slim noticed that the rifle of the rider on Lightning was in the scabbard on the saddle of the second horse. If he shot now, it would be at a man armed at the most with only a six shooter and one unable to answer him on even terms. ”