W. C. Tuttle

“ Lafe Freeman leaned against the bunk-house door and contemplated the three bunks, wherein three blanketed figures reposed in deep slumber. A protruding leg, bare to the knee, was all that would absolutely identify any of the three humps as being human.
One of the humps choked over a healthy snore and sat up, blinking at Lafe.
"Whatcha say?"
Lafe Freeman squinted at Silent's yawning face and repeated his statement.
Silent reached down, picked up a boot and hit the nearest figure a resounding whack.
"Daylight in the swamp!" he yelled. "Up and at 'em, Brick!" ”

“ Suddenly they whirled around another curve, the wheels of the lumber-wagon spinning dangerously near to the outer end of the grade, and just ahead of them, blocking the road, stood a stage-coach and four horses, headed in the same direction as the runaway. The sharpness of the curve and a strong wind blowing down the canon had effectively masked the approach of the runaway, and there was no time for either man to jump nor for any of the people at the stage to get out of the road.
At the side of the coach stood a woman. Just beyond her stood a masked man, rifle in hand. ”

“ Brick studied the jumble of prints as he started to light a cigaret. Suddenly he stared at the tracks, while the match burned up and scorched his thumb. He dropped the match, circled the tracks and sprang to the top of the rock, where he perched like a buzzard, staring down at the sand.
The woman had walked to the rock, but had never walked away! Her footprints came up to the rock, but none went away. A jumble of men's tracks led to the opposite side of the ravine, but there was no sign of a woman's tracks. ”

“ Lafe Freeman watched Brick's preparations, but made no comment. If Brick wanted to go to Marlin City and call the sheriff's bluff it was Brick's own business. Lafe knew that Brick could take care of himself, in spite of the fact that he was prone to get reckless. Lafe's soul yearned to follow Brick, but he put away his desires.
But Brick was not thinking about going to Marlin City to call Bunty Blair's bluff. Brick had an idea; an idea that was not at all clear just yet. Something seemed to tell him that the answer was written in the cañon where the hold-up had been pulled off. ”

“ AN OBSERVER might have said that it was cruelty to animals to drive a team at high speed over such roads. Perhaps the two men, sitting on the seat of the swaying lumber-wagon, might have replied that it was cruelty to human beings for a team to act in that hurried manner. There was no question but what the team of pinto horses had taken the matter into their own hands—or rather feet—and the two men had nothing to say about it.
The equipage swept around the curving grade, skidding and bouncing, while the two men clung to the sides of the seat, staring straight ahead. ”

“ Brick looked at Martin and then stared at his horse. He visualized Mrs. Wesson in male garb, and a smile crossed his face. He started to put his foot in the stirrup, but stopped. Then he turned to Martin, who was putting a saddle on a tall star-faced bay.
"Say, pardner, that woman didn't neither fly nor evaporate." ”

“ He did not speak for a moment, evidently trying to control his voice, but there was a decided catch in it when he said—
"There are times when a sheriff can't even use a top-buggy to follow outlaws."
"Yeah?"
Brick leaned back, elbows on top of the bar, and grinned widely.
"When is them times, Bunty?"
"They don't make saloon doors wide enough."
Brick laughed, loudly, joyously. Bunty's hand was at the butt of his holstered Colt and he had stepped away from the table far enough to give him room to draw. Brick knew that Bunty was fast enough with a gun ”

“ BRICK nodded. The fame, or rather infamy, of the Sandy Creek gang had never died out, although they had seemingly disbanded eight or ten years before. None of them had ever been brought to justice.
"I was the leader of that gang," said Martin slowly. "For two years I rode at the head of that outlaw clan, and then I met the woman I married.
"Jean is not my daughter. Her mother was a widow, and Jean was ten years old when I met her. Men said that Mary Magone was beautiful. Women were scarce in that country—good women; and God never made a better one, Davidson. ”

“ He told Brick that there was nobody he would sooner see win the thousand dollars.
Then came Topaz Tyler, and King invited him to join them. For a man who was already drunk Brick stood an amazing lot of liquor. Topaz and Cleeve mourned over the fact that they could not drink liquor as Brick could. It was a gift. They boasted over his ability, and Brick's chest swelled. Brick admitted that he was a wonder.
But finally a glass of liquor eluded him. Then he stalked it, cautiously. King Cleeve's foot was elevated on the bar-rail, his leg encased in a very expensive, pearl-colored trouser. ”

“ Bunty stared at Limpy and then at Silent and Brick, who were grinning.
"This is the ——est conversation I ever heard!" snapped Bunty, and then turned to Harp. "Go hitch up my horse."
"Ain'tcha goin' to take a posse?" asked Silent. "Yuh sure ain't goin' huntin' road-agents with a top-buggy."
"Since when did you start running my office, Slade?"
Harp went around behind the building, and Bunty and Three Star went back into the office, leaving Silent, Brick and Limpy looking at one another.
"This country is goin' to the dogs," declared Limpy. ”

“ And Limpy had disappeared. Whether on the track of the bandits or on personal business, no one knew. Limpy had been very brief in his statements, and outside of his first words to the sheriff, had not mentioned the woman. No one except Silent, Lafe, Brick and Limpy actually knew what happened at the hold-up.
Brick and Silent had not been to Marlin since the day of the robbery, but Harp had made the trip each day, gathering the latest gossip. Harp had no idea of why they wanted first news of the reward, but it was easier to ride to Marlin and loaf around than it was to work on the ranch. ”

“ Bunty had been forced, against his will, to demand an explanation from the three cowboys. They had refused.
The bunch of men were no longer in front of the store. As Brick and his two companions went up the narrow sidewalk a tall cowboy came across from the Dollar Down, heading for the store.
"That's Topaz Tyler," said Harp.
"Walks like he had club feet."
"That's how Brick's goin' to walk if he don't wear proper boots," declared Silent seriously; but Brick was studying Topaz Tyler and did not resent Silent's implication. ”

“ Mohr was a burly, silent man, swarthy as a Mexican, but his nerve had never been questioned. Bunty, on the other hand, was slight of physique, prone to alibi himself out of all trouble—and to keep out. Limpy's expression, "swell-elegant," covered Bunty better than any description.
Men agreed that Brick Davidson might make a good sheriff—but Lafe Freeman, owner of the Nine Bar Nine, announced openly in the Dollar Down Saloon the night before election:
"No, Brick won't git elected, and I'll tell yuh why. He knows too much for the size of the jail. ”

“ Brick and Silent looked at each other for a moment and then down at the note. Brick folded it up and replaced it in his pocket.
"Know who Scott Martin is?" asked Silent.
Brick nodded and puffed on his cigaret.
"Bought out the old Weepin' Tree ranch. Tall, freckled hombre, about fifty years old. Ties his gun down."
"Rides a blaze-faced bay," added Silent. "I've seen him. Kinda puts the deadwood on him, Brick. Gee cripes, a man's a sucker to take chances on losin' that kind of a note."
"Fools ain't all dead," grinned Brick. "In fact, I reckon, they're right in their prime." ”

“ Silent turned in his saddle and stared at Brick.
"Yuh are, are yuh?" he exploded. "Well, now lemme tell yuh somethin', cowboy; don't yuh try to hang deadwood on that lady."
"A thousand dollars is a lot of money," mused Brick.
"I ain't so danged miserly as all that," grunted Harp. "Forty a month and feed ain't so much, but yuh can live on it."
"That would mean three hundred and thirty-three dollars apiece," stated Brick seriously. "Take a long time to save up that much, if yuh don't, drink much and don't gamble." ”

“ Ha, ha, ha! Three Star ain't so bad, but he's in bad company. Talkin' about standin' up reminds me of— Honey, let's go in out of the sun."
Jean led Mrs. Wesson inside, where she immediately began another discourse, breaking off to eulogize Jean's taste in room decoration.
"Get your bronc," said Brick. "Let her entertain Jean. I think that me and you have got a job ahead of us."
Martin nodded and listened to Mrs. Wesson talking.
"She's the goods, Davidson. Rough as a file, but I'll bet she's got a solid-gold heart. Put overalls and boots on her and she'd look just like a man." ”

“ Brick grew very despondent.
"Other fellers can lie and make anybody believe——"
"Wait a minute!" snapped the exasperated sheriff. "You two talk too much and say nothin'."
"What can yuh expect?" wailed Silent. "They took our guns and we've got all excited. Nobody can talk sense when they're excited."
"Can you describe the robbers?" asked Bunty.
"Sure."
Brick stepped in close to Bunty and grew very accurate in his description.
"Medium size; mebbe a little taller. Both wore overalls, shirts and boots and had masks on." ”

“ Look at Brick Davidson, will yuh? Wild-ridin', good-for-nothin' cowpuncher, but some day some girl will up and marry him. Fact. Oh, I've seen girls make some awful mistakes.
"Brick's handsome—I'll say that much for him; but, honey, them handsome men don't always provide hot cakes for your breakfast. But Brick won't cuss a woman. I hate a man who cusses at women. I'm goin' to bend a gun over Bunty Blair's head some of these bright afternoons, y'betcha.
"Met him and Three Star Hennessey about half-way between here and town. ”

“ The stage was still there, but Freeman had hired Joe Le Blanc to haul the wagon to his shop at Marlin City.
Brick dismounted and walked down from the stage until he reached a point where the top of the stage was barely visible. Then he searched the ground. Suddenly he grunted and picked up an empty .45-70 cartridge-shell. Silent and Harp looked at it.
"World is full of .45-70's," stated Silent.
Brick nodded and examined the cartridge. To all appearances it was an ordinary cartridge-shell. No one except a gun crank would give it a second glance. ”

“ His face was not unpleasant, although his eyes were shallow and his teeth too short and even to make his smile friendly.
Just now he was wearing a flannel shirt and a pair of well-worn chaps.
"It's the real sport," stated Cleeve; but there was little exultation in his voice. "Think I'll get me some dogs."
"Dogs run 'em down, eh?" wondered Brick. "That's goin' some."
"Run 'em down all right," assured Mohr. "Them dogs are runners."
"Caught four of 'em, eh?" asked Brick, examining the bundle of pelts. "Betcha them dogs had to go some. Had to shoot 'em, didn't yuh?" ”

“ Bunty ignored Brick.
"Whisperin' Crick grade. Know where them two curves is? It was the one this side. There's a lot of brush——"
"I know the place. Where's the stage?"
"Ditched."
"Anybody hurt?"
"There was a female—" began Limpy, but caught a look from Brick and stopped.
"Was she hurt?"
"Not so awful danged bad," said Brick.
"I'll ask Limpy to do the talking," stated Bunty. "Where is the woman?"
"I dunno," grunted Limpy. ”

“ Wonder if she'd sing if a feller asked her?"
"What caliber was that Winchester carbine hangin' on the wall?" asked Brick.
"Forty-five-seventy," said Harp. "I gotta good look at it. Model 1886, open sights."
"Sure?"
"You're danged right I'm sure, but that don't spell nothin', Brick. This here country is full of .45-70's." ”

“ I had lost all that made life worth while, and I wanted to find something or somebody that would fight me.
"I knew that Ames and Rawls were dead, and I had no idea of who these three men could be. I didn't know but what it was my neighbor—anybody. I don't know how I expected to find 'em, but I went into the main street, looking.
"A horse had fallen in the street and hurt the rider. I met the sheriff, who was taking the injured man away. The sheriff looked like he had been fighting.
"I went to the saloon, where men shrank away from me. I don't blame them. I—I wanted to kill somebody. ”

“ You wanted to kill him just like yuh wanted to kill Scott Martin that time. I'm bettin' that Limpy knew you was the ones what pulled off that Idaho job, and he was Scott Martin's friend, and when yuh opened that treasure-box——"
Brick stopped. Not a man moved. It might have been a painting or a group of lay figures for all the movement. Every man in the room was tensed—nerves taut as fiddle-strings; waiting for the inevitable crash.
Then Silent Slade's voice snapped like a whip—
"King Cleeve was the man they wanted to lynch!"
King Cleeve threw himself sidewise, clawing at his gun ”