J. Allan Dunn

“ She’s always riding over with something for the children that we couldn’t afford. Sometimes she’s met Bud Jarrett here lately. That’s how he happened in to take you my letter, thinking he might find a note from her. Bradey’s told him to stay away from the B-in-a-box. They make a fine couple. She’s just what Bud Jarrett needs, some one to steady him, and he’s a fine man in the makings.”
Gorman listened silently. He admired Bud for braving Bradey’s additional wrath, but there was no doubt that rivalry spurred the action. ”

“ Gorman passed some cattle grazing here and there. They had various brands, but they were probably all Bradey’s. In his purchase of the five ranches that made up his main ranch, King Bradey had acquired the registered brands that came with them. B-in-a-box was his own special totem, but he had the right to use the others. The steers he bought carried their late owners’ marks. The conglomeration provided a fertile field for crookery, if Bradey wanted to acquire cattle otherwise than legally and cover up his operations. ”

“ An’ you’ll find Bradey’s got somethin’ to do with the law.”
“Not the law I’m actin’ on. Jake stays here. I didn’t tell the woman at first becos I didn’t figger she’d be anxious to bother with a cuss who was helpin’ to rob her—mebbe worse—but he ain’t fit to be moved. An’ she’s sorry for him. Somethin’ you couldn’t sabe, but she is. He stays. I don’t know how her husband is goin’ to feel erbout it—if he ever shows up.”
Looking keenly at Moore, Gorman fancied the foreman blanched. Certainly the pupils of his eyes contracted. It might have been the pain of the wounded wrist. ”

“ Suddenly the woman, answering a motion of Jarrett, retreated into the cabin and shut the door. Jarrett stood blocking it.
It was not very far to the shack. Gorman made it on foot, leaving the mare where she was. Bent almost double, he achieved the gully, came up through the vegetable patch between rows of corn to the back door. It was unlatched. The woman, bewildered, frightened, had left her rear defences open.
“Her man ain’t home,” Gorman told himself as he softly opened the door and entered the main room, the full width of the house, combined living room and kitchen. ”

“ King Bradey ain’t high card round here—not even trumps—when he plays agen public rights. I’m tellin’ you to tell him that if this woman’s bothered the least way, her fences touched, her water closed off, there’s goin’ to be hell poppin’.”
Moore sneered and said nothing. Streaks of scarlet stained his gun hand.
“You’re usin’ the wrong methods, Moore, if you’re in the right. If you’re wrong an’ I’m lookin’ up the patents on this land right away, you’d better quit. This is nineteen-twenty-two. The Apache Kid is dead. Bad men don’t git by enny more. ”

“ Moore’s teeth were sunk into his lip to suppress a groan. He glared up at Gorman, speaking with an effort.
“Talk big to a man in my fix,” he said. “That’s easy. You-all started the shootin’.”
“I suppose you were bluffin’ with yore countin’ five? Bud, can you help me git the hawss off him?” He picked up Moore’s gun as he spoke, though the man’s wrist was out of commission. ”

“ He’s a brave hombre, is Moore. I’ll bet his spinal cord is yeller as a sand lily.
“I reckon this gits you in wrong with Bradey, Jarrett. But you sure coppered his play. How’d you happen erlong so handy?”
“I was keepin’ an eye on the cabin from my place with field glasses. When I saw them ride up an’ you not on hand I started out.”
“I see,” said Gorman. “Bud, you got a phone to yore place, ain’t you? Will you git in touch with Doc Marshall an’ tell him you’re talkin’ fo’ me? Ask him to come up soon’s he kin to treat a man shot through the lungs—some internal hemorrhage. ”

“ Tell him the minnit he steps outside the law he don’t rank enny higher or lower than enny other hombre in this county. I’ll look out for Jake.”
“We ain’t askin’ you to look out for our hands. You an’ yore law. ”