Slim Evans

“ There was a consuming bitterness in Slim’s heart as he turned slowly back along the rocky trail to find his boots. Lightning was his own horse. He had trained the mare until she was the envy of every cowboy in the Flying Arrow territory. His hands gripped the stock of the rifle hard. Let him come within range of the men who had stolen Lightning and there would be no warning shouts, no fancy shots aimed only to hit an elbow. ”

“ They were at the head of the stairs where the light was better and Slim saw that the other man was watching him keenly. His eyes shifted down to the gun, which swung at Slim’s right hip. Then they jerked back again.
“Going to stay in this country long?” Slim thought there was just a tinge too much anxiety in the tone.
“Hard to say. My pardner and I are just drifting, trying to find a good outfit to tie up with.”
“Then you won’t hang around here long. Cattle business in the valley is in a bad way. I hear lots of talk about rustlers, but I guess it’s poor management more than anything.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ I want to be along when you talk with the boss of the Diamond Dot.”
Slim went to the bunkhouse while the others hastened down to the corral to get their mounts. The cowboy detective was firmly convinced that someone in the bunkhouse had slugged him the night before and left him hog-tied along the creek.
With quick, deft hands he searched one bunk after another. It was not until he reached Doug Huston’s duffel bag that he found anything. Wadded in the bottom was a black cloth which might easily be tied around the lower part of the face to form a mask. Slim nodded grimly. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Slim looked at Chuck. He had been right. Titzell was the leader of the rustlers. Disguised as a cattle buyer, he had ridden the length and breadth of the valley, spotting choice stock to be run off by the gang later.
“Who else is in the gang?” insisted the relentless Chuck.
“They’ll kill me if they learn I’ve squealed,” begged Cook.
“If you don’t talk, they’ll never see you again,” promised Slim.
“There’s Maxie Denkman and Leo Kovec and Newt Bemis, besides the boys on my own place.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ There’s no law in the valley unless we make it ourselves.”
“You’re right,” agreed Slim, “but let’s wait until we’re sure of the gang responsible for this rustling.”
Nels grumblingly agreed that Slim’s advice was logical and they parted with the agreement that the Box B foreman would ride over to the Double O in the morning and that Nels would accompany him on a visit to the Cook ranch.
“What sort of a fellow is this Cook?”
“All bad,” replied Joe. “He runs the Diamond Dot, a small outfit that lies east of the Double O and the Box B and north of Dirty Water. ”

“ Hal Titzell vaulted into the wagon and lifted the man’s face.
“It’s Adam Marks,” he cried. “He’s been shot.”
The words drummed into Slim’s brain. Adam Marks, owner of the Box B and the man they had come to help, had been shot! The rustlers were striking out boldly, bidding for a quick finish in their fight to ruin the rancher and win control of his rich grazing lands.
Chapter Eleven
Slim Rides Alone Slim vaulted over the wheel and into the wagon. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Well, I’m serving notice on you right now that I’ve got fighting men on my payroll and we’re going to fight to the end.”
“Why you crazy fool,” broke in Joe Haines, “we’re not looking for trouble. We’re offering you a chance to join us and run the rustlers out of the valley. You claim you’ve been losing stock. Here’s your chance to prove it by throwing in with us. We’re going to give this valley the once-over with a fine-toothed comb.”
Slim had been making a survey of the Diamond Dot layout. He was surprised at the number of cowboys at the bunkhouse. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Slim cached his own saddle and under it Chuck placed his extra clothing.
They brought their mounts up to the camp and saddled them. Slim patted Lightning affectionately, talking to her as he drew the cinches tight.
“We’re going on another adventure, old girl,” he said softly, “and I’m counting on you to help me win. If we get in any tight spots, it may be up to you and your speed. How about it?”
If Lightning didn’t understand the exact words, she sensed that her master was praising her, and she tossed her head proudly.
Slim looked carefully at the places where Old Bill had applied the dye. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ When he thinks it’s safe to leave you, give him any orders you have and he’ll ride out.”
“Joe Haines is my riding boss. Tell Joe I sent you. I’ve only got four men now. Others have either been shot up or scared away, but I guess you won’t scare.”
“I don’t like to run,” grinned Slim.
The Flying Arrow rider left the doctor’s office and hurried to the hotel. A dim light was burning in the lobby, but there was no one about. He shook Chuck out of a deep sleep and informed him that they were on the payroll of the Box B.
“Have any trouble getting on?” asked Chuck. ”

“ Remember, we want Hal Titzell, Leo Kovec and Maxie Denkman.”
“I’ll remember,” promised Chuck.
Slim looked up and down the street. Pike Carberry and Jim Ferris were coming down from Carberry’s store for breakfast at the hotel. They greeted Slim cordially.
“Better not go in to breakfast just yet,” said Slim.
“Why not?” asked Carberry.
“There may be trouble,” replied the cowboy detective. “Just wait a bit.”
Jim Ferris looked around at Chuck, who was lounging nearby with his rifle in his hands.
“He’s right,” he advised the storekeeper. “I’ll be satisfied with cheese and crackers. Come on.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ Joe warned him, for although he was privately convinced that Nels was right, he wasn’t going to let any outsider cast any reflections on his riders until he had ample proof.
With Nels and Joe ahead, they rode toward the Diamond Dot. Slim found Al Bass a pleasant companion and they discussed the range war at length.
“Your outfit’s pretty well loaded with men,” Slim said. ”

“ I had a talk with your boss before I left town. He wants you to stick at the ranch and watch the cattle. Maybe this is just a ruse to get you all away so the rustlers can clean out the place.”
Pausing, the foreman turned back toward Slim. “Who in thunder are you?” he asked.
“Name’s Evans--Slim Evans. I’ve been riding over on the Flying Arrow. Been hired and told to report to you for work. My pardner, Chuck Meade, is staying in Dirty Water and he’s camped right beside your boss, so you won’t need to worry about anything happening to him there.” ”

“ Slim Evans advised him spaciously. “Dumpy firmly believes he’s the world’s best flyer, frankly admits it on every provocation, and the ⸺ of it is that he’s ⸺ near right!”
“What are you going to do with a man that brags all night, and then goes out and proves the next day that he can live up to his bragging?” grinned Kennard.
“Every new man is a prospective rival to him,” Slim went on, “and he tries to put said rookie in his place. But he’s a great little cuss when you get to know him—”
“Watch him prove something now.”
Moran watched, and held his breath. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”