J. Allan Dunn

“ So it was Lobo who took Gardner's wife. He found that first letter from this sister of hers—she probably carried it in her gown, like women do. That don't matter. He got it, the devil. He murdered that woman and shot her husband down and now the brute thinks to have the other. They won't stand for that, even in Laguna. Come on up to the hotel!”
“There's no time to lose in making speeches, Clayborne. I tell you I've met that girl. I love her——”
“Confound it, Strong, don't be a fool. All the more reason not to go alone. ”

“ A dog barked. Perro! There were the lights of the ranch. Strong shouted, fired his revolver in the air and a figure came hurrying to the ranch gate. They thundered through. Off saddle at the porch, they went into the room where the girl Josefa and Maria started up as Strong strode in. Hurley limped in from the next room, his wrinkled face filled with expectant inquiry, his eyes shining.
“Git yore guns an' saddle up, Bill,” cried Strong. “Here's where you git yore chance fo' shootin' straight. I need you. We've got 'em. They've stolen Gardner's sister-in-law. ”

“ A man who's drunk as much as he has, and as long, has got to depend on it. Won't be able to digest 'thout it. An' I reckon a postmaster ought to know as much about the rights of his office as any half-reformed lawyer thet's forgot how to practice. He's ten years behind the law.”
“Jest the same he's the only lawyer we got in town.” Strong grinned at the offended postmaster and mollified him. He had a smile that had more than once served him. Since he had laughed at Hurley in the mud pool he had been able to grin again.
“Lobo Smith's back again,” went on the postmaster. ”

“ Josefa—her othaire name is Montez, señor—she has perhap' not always been what you call good girl, but maybe she cannot help herself. Si? For Ramon Jamarillo is a great rascal. Eet does not matter. I love her an' she love me. Maria she has seen her an' she say all right, after she talk long time weeth Josefa. Eet make me happy. Si? I hope that you weel let her come to the rancho, in time. But firs' she mus' leave that cantina. Ramon, he have her always in his debt. An' Rudd, who ees one of Lobo's band, he ees verree much fond of Josefa. ”

“ I'll bet they sure do stir up devilment when they shut themselves in thet way,” he said enviously. “They say they throw eagles an' double eagles round like it was grain for the chickens. Them cantina gals is the chickens all right,” he added with a wink, “an' Ramon an' Sprague do their share of scratchin'.”
All signs of the grin had faded from Strong's face. Things closed in once more about a grim purpose. If he had come back last night he might have met the man who killed Bramley. ”

“ Strong showed him the letter and retailed the postmaster's decision for giving it to him.
“Ah!” said Clayborne. “You are not a lawful agent; you have no power of attorney. Your looking out for Gardner's interests is based upon the law of kindness, for which we can find no legal authority. I do not think that you have the slightest right to receive this letter. ”

“ And, while the law has not yet come to Laguna in the general sense of that word, the Federal law reaches over all the territory of this United States, as many have found out to their sorrow and more will. The Federal government acknowledges no lawlessness when it chooses to exercise its functions. ”

“ It was clear that for some reason he did not approve of the unlimited license allowed to Lobo and his pack, by Ramon. His dark eyes shot fire and his fists clenched.
“Ramon Jamarillo is a dog! So long as he get the gol' he do not care what happen to those girl he have to work for heem. Señor, there ees one girl there who say she know you, that you are Caballero to her. She like you verree much. Her name is Josefa. One time she tell you not to go outside alone. You remember! The night Señor Gardner was killed, the night you first come to Bar B with Señor Bramley?”
Strong nodded. ”

“ But the place ees all full of Lobo's men, who would keel her too. But she ees smart. She theenk of me, an' of what Maria ask her to fin' out, so she laugh, she talk an' try find out some more. Also, she mean to see me so I can tell that señorita on the stage to be verree careful she know the man who want to take her.
“But she cannot do that. Ramon he weel not let the girl leave the cantina. They sleep there always an' there is an old woman who lock them in. I theenk this woman, she suspec' something. Perhaps Ramon tell her to be extra careful because he see Rudd talk so much to Josefa. ”

“ Strong replied. “I was meanin' to ask you to take the thing over. Thar's quite a few assets in the way of stock, an' thar's the ranch. We cattlemen have keen takin' turns lookin' out fo' the stock but we never got around to action. I reckon they left thet to me, an' now I'm puttin' it up to you.”
“Very good, sir. It shall be attended to. Who's this?” he asked of the young Mexican who knocked and came in without being invited, ignoring the lawyer, his eyes only for Strong.
It was Miguel, the younger son of Maria, a lithe, handsome figure in his vaquero's costume. ”

“ But none stepped forward to join the little company by the side of Strong save the stage driver.
“Why, you pack of lousy coyotes,” the driver said, “you bums, thet gal's little finger is worth all yore miserable hides an' the muck they hold together. She fit agin' the 'Paches yestiddy. Likely saved my life an' others an' you stand thar like you was made of straw. I had a notion thar was somethin' wrong this mornin', but she seemed to think it was all right, goin' off to her sick sister. I'd have twisted thet Rudd's neck off at the roots if I'd guessed the least part of what he was up to. ”

“ She takes the railroader's gun an' she lets go out of the right-hand winder. She kin shoot some, I'm tellin' you. It ain't easy to hit an Injin streakin' it on a painted mustang an' only hittin' the high spots. ”