XV
WHEN JOHNNY SLOPED
Johnny Nelson hastened to the corner of the bunkhouse and then changedhis pace until he seemed to ooze from there to the cook shack door,where he lazily leaned against the door jamb and ostentatiously pickedhis teeth with the negative end of a match. The cook looked up calmly,and calmly went on with his work; but if there was anything raspingenough to cause his calloused soul to quiver it was the aforesaidcalisthenics executed by Johnny and the match; for Cookie's blunt naturehated hints. If Johnny had demanded, even profanely and with largepersonal animus, why meals were not ahead of time, it would be a simplematter to heave something and enlarge upon his short cut speech. But thesubtleties left the cook floundering in a mire of rage--which he wasvery careful to conceal from Johnny. The youthful nuisance had beenevincing undue interest in early suppers for nearly a month; and judgingfrom the lightness of his repasts he was entirely unjustified in showingany interest at all in the evening meal. So Cookie strangled thebiscuit in his hand, but smiled blandly at his tormentor.
"Well, all through?" he pleasantly inquired, glancing carelessly atJohnny's clothes.
"I 'm hopin' to begin," retorted Johnny, and the toothpick moved rapidlyup and down.
Cookie condensed another biscuit and gulped. "That's shore some stone,"he said, enviously, eying the two-caret diamond in Johnny's new, bluetie. Johnny never had worn a tie before he became owner of the diamond,but with the stone came the keen realization of how lost it was in aneck-kerchief, how often covered by the wind-blown folds; so he hadhastened to Buckskin and spent a dollar that belonged to Red for thetie, thus exhausting both the supply of ties and Red's dollars. Thehonor of wearing the only tie and diamond in that section of thecow-country brought responsibilities, for he had spoken hastily toseveral humorous friends and stood a good chance of being soundlythrashed therefor.
He threw away the match and scratched his back ecstatically on the doorjamb while he strained his eyes trying to look under his chin. Fixedchins and short ties are trials one must learn to acceptphilosophically--and Johnny might have been spared the effort were itnot for the fact that the tie had been made for a boy, and was awesomelyshortened by encircling a sixteen-inch neck. Evidently it had been madefor a boy violently inclined toward a sea-faring life, as suggested bythe anchors embroidered in white down its middle.
"Lemme see it," urged Cookie, sighing because its owner had resolutelyrefused to play poker when he had no cash. This had become a blightingsorrow in the life of a naturally exuberant and very fair cook.
"An' for how long?" demanded Johnny, a cold and calculating lightglinting in his eyes.
"Oh, till supper 's ready," replied Cookie with great carelessness.
"Nix; but you can wear it twenty minutes if you 'll get my grub quick,"he replied. "Got to meet Lucas at half-past five." He cautiouslydropped the match he had thoughtlessly produced.
The cook tried to look his belief and accepted the offer. Johnny'sremarkably clean face, plastered hair and general gala attire suggestedthat Lucas was a woman--which Lucas profanely would have denied. Also,Johnny had been seen washing Ginger, and when a puncher washes a cayuseit's a sign of insanity. Besides, Ginger belonged to Red, who also hadowned that lone dollar. Red's clothes did not fit Johnny.
"Goin' to surprise Lucas?" inquired the cook.
"What you mean?"
Cookie glanced meaningly at the attire: "Er--you ain't in th' habit ofputtin' on war paint for to see Lucas, are you?"
Johnny's mental faculties produced: "Oh, we 're goin' to a dance."
"Where 'bouts?" exploded the cook.
"_Way_ up north!" One's mind needs to be active as a flea to lieproperly to a man like the cook. He had made a ghastly mistake.
"By golly! I 'll give th' boys cold grub an' go with you," and the cookbegan to save time.
Johnny gulped and shook his head: "Got a invite?"
Cookie caught the pan on his foot before it struck the floor and gasped:"Invite? Ain't it free-fer-all?"
"No; this is a high-toned thing-a-bob. Costs a dollar a head, too."
"High-toned?" snorted the cook, derisively. "Don't they know you? An' Ithought Red was broke. Show me that permit!"
"Lucas 's got it--that's why I 've got to catch him."
"Oh! An' is _he_ goin' all feathered up, too?"
"Shore, he 's got to."
"Huh! He wouldn't dress like that to see a _fight_. Has she got anysisters?" Cookie finished, hopefully.
"Now what you talkin' about?"
"Why, Lucas," answered the cook, placidly. "Lemme tell you something.When you want to lose me have a invite to a water-drinkin' contest. An'before you go, be shore to rub Hoppy's boots some more; that's such apasty shine it 'll look like sand-paper before you get to th'--dance.You want to make it hard an' slippery. An' I 've read som'ers that onlywimmin ought to smell like a drug-store. You better let her do th'fumigatin'."
Johnny surrendered and dolefully whiffed the crushed violets he had paidtwo bits a pint for at El Paso--it was not necessary to whiff them, buthe did so.
"You ought to hone yore razor, too," continued the cook, critically.
"I told Buck it was dull, I ain't goin' to sharpen it for him. But,say, are you shore about th' perfumery?"
"Why, of course."
"But how 'll I git it off?"
"Bury th' clothes," suggested Cookie, grinning.
"I like yore gall! Which clothes are best, Pete's or Billy's?"
"Pete's would fit you like th' wide, wide world. You don't want blanketson when you go courtin'. Try Billy's. An' I got a pair of socks,though one 's green--but th' boots 'll hide it."
"I did n't put none on my socks, you chump!"
"How'd _I_ know? But, say! Has she got any sisters?"
"No!" yelled Johnny, halfway through the gallery in search of Billy'sclothes. When he emerged Cookie looked him over. "Ain't it funny, Kid,how a pipe 'll stink up clothes?" he smiled. Johnny's retort was madeover several yards of ground and when he had mounted Cookie yelled andwaved him to return. When Johnny had obeyed and impatiently demandedthe reason, Cookie pleasantly remarked: "Now, be shore an' give her mylove, Kid."
Johnny's reply covered half a mile of trail.
Johnny rode alertly through Perry's Bend, for Sheriff Nolan was nofriend of his; and Nolan was not only a discarded suitor of Miss Joyce,but a warm personal friend of George Greener, the one rival Johnnyfeared. Greener was a widower as wealthy as he was unscrupulous, and apower on that range: when he said "jump," Nolan soared.
The sheriff was standing before the Palace saloon when Johnny rode past,and he could not keep quiet. His comment was so judiciously chosen asto bring white spots on Johnny's flushed cheeks. The Bar-20 puncher wasnot famed for his self-control, and, wheeling in the saddle, he pointeda quivering forefinger at Mr. Nolan's badge of office, so conspicuouslydisplayed: "Better men than you have hid behind a badge and banked on aman's regard for th' law savin' 'em from their just deserts. Politicsis a h--l of a thing when it opens th' door to anything that might rollin on th' wind. You come down across th' line tomorrow an' see me,without th' nickel-plated ornament you disgraces," he invited. "Any dogcan tell a lie in his kennel, but it takes guts to bark outside th'yard."
Mr. Nolan flushed, went white, hesitated, and walked away. To fight indefense of the law was his duty; but no sane man warred on the Bar-20unless he must. Mr. Nolan was a man whose ideas of necessity followedstrange curves, and not to his credit. One might censure Mr. Cassidy orMr. Connors, or pick a fight with some of the others of that outfit andnot get killed; but he must not harm their protege. Mr. Nolan not onlywalked away but he sought the darkest shadows and held conversation withhimself. If it were only possible to get the pugnacious and very muchspoiled Mr. Nelson to fracture, smash, pulverize some law! This,indeed, would be sweet.
Meanwhile Johnny, having watched the sheriff slip awa
y, loosed a fewmore words into the air and went on his way, whistling cheerfully.Reaching the Joyce cottage he was admitted by Miss Joyce herself and atsight of her blushing face his exuberant confidence melted and left himtimid. This he was wont to rout by big words and a dashing air he didnot feel.
"Oh! Come right in," she invited. "But you are late," she laughed,chidingly.
He critically regarded the dimples, while he replied that he had drawnrein to slay the sheriff but, knowing that it would cost him morevaluable time, he had consented with himself to postpone the event.
"But you must not do that!" she cried. "Why, that's terrible! Youshouldn't even think of such things."
"Well, of course--if yo 're agin' it I wont."
"But what did he do?"
"Oh, I don't reckon I can tell that. But do you really want him tolive?"
"Why, certainly! What a foolish question."
"But why do you? Do you--_like_ him?"
"I like everybody."
"Yes; an' everybody likes you, too," he growled, the smile fading."That's th' trouble. Do you like him very much?"
"I wish you wouldn't ask such foolish questions."
"Yes; I know. But do you?"
"I prefer not to answer."
"Huh! That's an answer in itself. You do."
"I don't think you 're very nice tonight," she retorted, a little poutspoiling the bow in her lips. "You 're awfully jealous, and I don'tlike it."
"Gee! Don't like it! I should think you 'd want me to be jealous. Ionly wish you was jealous of _me_. Norah, I 've just got to say it now,an' find out--"
"Yes; tell me," she interrupted eagerly. "What _did_ he do?"
"Who?"
"Mr. Nolan, of course."
"Nolan?" he demanded in surprise.
"Yes, yes; tell me."
"I ain't talkin' about him. I was goin' to tell you something that I've--"
"That you 've done and now regret? Have you ever--ever killed a man?"she breathed. "Have you?"
"No; _yes_! Lots of 'em," he confessed, remembering that once she hadexpressed admiration for brave and daring men. "Most half as many asHopalong; an' I ain't near as old as him, neither."
"You mean Mr. Cassidy? Why don't you bring him with you some evening?I 'd like to meet him."
"Not _me_. I went an' brought a friend along once, an' had to lick himth' next day to keep him away from here. He 'd 'a' camped right outthere in front if I had n't. No, ma'am; not any."
"Why, the idea! But Mr. Greener's very much like your friend, Mr.Cassidy. He 's very brave, and a wonderful shot. He told me sohimself."
"What! He told you so hisself! Well, well. Beggin' yore pardon, heain't nowise like Hoppy, not even in th' topics of his conversation.Why, he 's a child; an' blinks when he shoots off a gun. Here--can heshow a gun like mine?" and forthwith he held out his Colt, buttforemost, and indicated the notches he had cut that afternoon. Afleeting doubt went through his mind at what his outfit would say whenit saw those notches. The Bar-20 cut no notches. It wanted to forget.
She looked at them curiously and suddenly drew back. "Oh! Arethey--_are_ they?" she whispered.
He nodded: "They are. There is plenty of room for Nolan's, an' mebbyhis owner, too," he suggested. "Can't you see, Norah?" he asked in aswift change of tone. "Can't you see? Don't you know how much I--"
"Yes. It must be terrible to have such remorse," she quicklyinterposed. "And I sympathize with you deeply, too."
"Remorse nothin'! Them fellers was lookin' for it, an' they got justwhat they deserved. If I had n't 'a' done it somebody else would."
"And _you_ a murderer! I never thought that of _you_. I can hardlybelieve it of you. And you calmly confess it to me as though it werenothing!"
"Why, I--I--"
"Don't talk to me! To think you have human blood on your hands. Tothink--"
"Norah! Norah, listen; won't you?"
"--that you are that sort of a man! How dare you call here as you have?How dare you?"
"But I tell you they were tryin' to get _me_! I just _had_ to. Why, Ididn't do it for nothin'. I 've got a right to defend myself, ain't I?"
"You _had_ to? Is that true?" she demanded.
"Why, shore! Think I go 'round killin' men, like Greener does, just forth' fun of it?"
"He doesn't do anything of the kind," she retorted. "You know he doesn't! Did n't you just say he blinks when he shoots off a gun?"
"Yes; I did. But I didn't want you to think he was a murderer likeNolan," he explained. Even Cookie, he thought, would find it hard toget around that neat little effort.
"I 'm so relieved," she laughed, delighted at her success in twistinghim. "I am so glad he does n't blink when he shoots. I 'd hate a manwho was afraid to shoot."
Johnny's chest arose a little. "Well, how 'bout me?"
"But you've killed men; you've shot down your fellow men; and haveghastly marks on your revolver to brag about."
"Well--say--but how can I shoot without shootin' or kill withoutkillin'?" he demanded. "An' I don't brag about 'em, neither; it makes mefeel too sad to do any braggin'. An' Greener's killed 'em, too; an' hebrags about it."
"Yes; but he doesn't blink!" she exclaimed triumphantly.
"Neither do _I_."
"Yes; but you shoot to kill."
"Lord pity us--don't _he_?"
"Y-e-s, but that's different," she replied, smiling brightly.
Johnny looked around the room, his eyes finally resting on his hat.
"Yes, I see it's different. Greener can kill, an' blink! I can't. Ifhe kills a man he's a hero; I 'm a murderer. I kinda reckon he 's gotth' trail. But I love you, an' you 've got to pick my trail--does itlead up or down?"
"Johnny Nelson! What are you saying?" she demanded, arising.
"Something turrible, mebby. I don't know; an' I don't care. It'strue--so there you are. Norah, can't you see I do?" he pleaded, holdingout his hands. "Won't you marry me?"
She looked down, her cheeks the color of fire, and Johnny continuedhurriedly: "I 've loved you a whole month! When I 'm ridin' around Isorta' see you, an' hear you. Why, I talk to you lots when I 'm alone.I 've saved up some money, an' I had to work hard to save it, too. I 'vegot some cows runnin' with our'n--in a little while I 'll have a ranchof my own. Buck 'll let me use th' east part of th' ranch, an' there 'sa hill over there that 'd look fine with a house on it. I can't wait nolonger, Norah, I 've got to know. Will you let me put this on yorefinger?" He swiftly bent the pin into a ring and held it out eagerly:"Can I?"
She pushed him away and yielded to a sudden pricking of her conscience,speaking swiftly, as if forcing herself to do a disagreeable duty, andhating herself at the moment. "Johnny, I 've been a--a flirt! When Isaw you were beginning to care too much for me I should have stopped it;but I did n't. I amused myself--but I want you to believe one thing, togive me a little credit for just one thing; I never thought what itmight mean to you. It was carelessness with me. But I was flirting,just the same--and it hurts to admit it. I 'm not good enough for you,Johnny Nelson; it's hard to say, but it's true. Can you, _will_ youforgive me?"
He choked and stepped forward holding out his hands imploringly, but sheeluded him. When he saw the shame in her face, the tears in her eyes, hestopped and laughed gently: "But we can begin right, now, can't we? Idon't care, not if you 'll let me see you same as ever. You might getto care for me. And, anyhow, it ain't yore fault. I reckon it's methat's to blame."
At that moment he was nearer to victory than he had ever been; but hedid not realize it and opportunity died when he failed to press hisadvantage.
"I _am_ to blame," she said, so low he could hardly catch the words.When she continued it was with a rush: "I am not free--I haven't beenfor a week. I 'm not free any more--and I 've been leading you on!"
His face hardened, for now the meaning of Greener's sneering laugh cameto him, and a seething rage swept over him against the man who had won.
He knew Greener, knew him well--the meanness of the man's nature, hiscold cruelty; the many things to the man's discredit loomed up largeagainst the frailty of the woman before him.
Norah stepped forward and laid a pleading hand on his arm, for she knewthe mettle of the men who worked under Buck Peters: "What are youthinking? Tell me!"
"Why, I 'm thinking what Nolan said. An', Norah, listen. You say youwant me to forgive you? Well, I do, if there's anything to forgive. ButI want you to primise me that if Greener don't treat you right you 'lltell me."
"What do you mean?"
"Only what I said. Do you promise?"
"Perhaps you would better speak to him about it!" she retorted.
"I will--an' plain. But don't worry 'bout me. It was my fault for bein'a tenderfoot. I never played this game before, an' don't know th'cards. Good-by."
He rode away slowly, and made the rounds, and by the time he reachedLacey's he was so unsteady that he was refused a drink and told to gohome. But he headed for the Palace instead, and when he stepped highover the doorsill Nolan was seated in a chair tipped back against one ofthe side walls, and behind the bar on the other side of the room JedTerry drummed on the counter and expressed his views on local matters.The sheriff was listening in a bored way until he saw Johnny enter andhead his way, feet high and chest out; and at that moment Nolan'sinterest in local affairs flashed up brightly.
Johnny lost no time: "Nolan," he said, rocking on his heels, "tellGreener I 'll kill him if he marries that girl. He killed his firstwife by abuse an' he don't kill no more. Savvy?"
The sheriff warily arose, for here was the opportunity he had sought.The threat to kill had a witness.
"An' if you opens yore toad's mouth about her like you did tonight, I'll kill you, too." The tones were dispassionate, the words deliberate.
"Hear that, Jed?" cried the sheriff, excitedly. "Nelson, yo 're underar--"
"Shut up!" snapped Johnny loudly, this time with feeling. "When yo 'rebetters are talkin' you keep yore face closed. Now, it ain't hardlyhealthy to slander wimmin in this country, 'specially _good_ wimmin.You lied like a dog to me tonight, an' I let you off; don't try itagain."
"I told th' truth!" snapped Nolan, heatedly. "I said she was a flirt,an' by th' great horned spoon she is a flirt, an' you--"
The sheriff prided himself upon his quickness, but the leaping gun waskicked out of his hand before he knew what was coming; a chair glancedoff Jed's face and wrapped the front window about itself in its passing,leaving the bar-tender in the throbbing darkness of inter-planetaryspace; and as the sheriff opened his eyes and recovered from the hardswings his face had stopped, a galloping horse drummed southward towardthe Bar-20; and the silence of the night was shattered by lustywar-whoops and a spurting .45.
When the sheriff and his posse called at the Bar-20 before breakfast thefollowing morning they found a grouchy outfit and learned some facts.
"Where 's Johnny?" repeated Hopalong, with a rising inflection. "Onlywish I knowed!"
A murmur of wistful desire arose and Lanky Smith restlessly explainedit: "He rampages in 'bout midnight an' wakes us up with his racket. Whenwe asks what he 's doin' with _our_ possessions he suggests we go toh--l. He takes _his_ rifle, Pete's rifle, Buck's brand new canteen,'bout eighty pounds of catridges an' other useful duffle, _all_ th'tobacco, an' blows away quick."
"On my cayuse," murmured Red.
"Wearin' my _good_ clothes," added Billy, sorrowfully.
"An' _my_ boots," sighed Hopalong.
"I ain't got no field glasses no more," grumbled Lanky.
"But he only got one laig of my new pants," chuckled Skinny. "I was toostrong for him."
"He yanked my blanket off'n me, which makes me steal Red's," grinnedPete.
"Which you didn't keep very long!" retorted Red, with derision.
"Which makes us all peevish," plaintively muttered Buck.
"Now ain't it a h--l of a note?" laughed Cookie, loudly, forthwithgetting scarce. He had nothing good enough to be taken.
"An' whichever was it run ag'in' yore face, Sheriff?" sympatheticallyinquired Hopalong. "Mighty good thing it stopped," he addedthoughtfully.
"Never mind my face!" snorted the peace officer hotly as his deputiessmoothed out their grins. "I want to know where Nelson is, an' d--dquick! We 'll search the house first."
"Hold on," responded Buck. "North of Salt Spring Creek yo 're asheriff; down here yo 're nothin'. Don't search no house. He ain'there."
"How do I know he ain't?" snapped Nolan.
"My word 's good; or there 'll be another election stolen up in yorecounty," rejoined Buck ominously. "An' I would n't hunt him too hard,neither. We 'll punish him."
Nolan wheeled and rode toward the hills without another word, his possepressing close behind. When they entered Apache Pass one of themaccidentally exploded his rifle, calling forth an angry tirade from thesheriff. Johnny heard it, and cared little for the warning from hisfriend Lucas; he waited and then rode down the rocky slope of the passon the trail of the posse, squinting wickedly at the distant group as hecaught glimpses of them now and again, and with no anxiety regardingbackward glances. "Lot's wife 'll have nothing on them if they lookback," he muttered, fingering his rifle lovingly. At nightfall hewatched them depart and grinned at the chase he would lead them whenthey returned.
But he did not see them again, although his friends reported that theywere turning the range upside down to find him. One of his outfit rodeout to him with supplies and information every few days and it was Petewho told him that six posses were in the hills. "An' you can't leave,'cause one of th' cordon would get you shore. I had a h--l of a timegetting in today." Red reported that the sheriff had sworn to take himdead or alive. Then came the blow. The sheriff was at the point ofdeath from lockjaw caused by complete paralysis of the curea-frend nervejust above the phlagmatic diaphragm, which Johnny had fractured. It wasHopalong who imparted this sad news, and withered Johnny's hope ofreturning to a comfortable bunkhouse and square meals. So the fugitiveclung to the hills, shunned sky-lines and wondered if the sheriff wouldrecover before snow flew. He was hungry most of the time now becausethe outfit was getting stingy with the food supplies--and he dared notshoot any game.
Four weeks passed, weeks of hunger and nervous strain, and he wasgetting desperate. He had learned that Greener and his fiancee weregoing down to Linnville soon, since Perry's Bend had no parson; and hiscup of bitterness, overflowing, drove him to risk an attempt to leavethat part of the country. He had seen none of Pete's "cordon" althoughhe had looked for them, and he believed he could get away. So he rodecautiously down Apache Pass one noon, thoughtfully planning his flight.The sand, washed down the rock walls by the last rain, deadened allsounds of his progress, and as he turned a sharp bend in the cut healmost bumped into Greener and Norah Joyce. They were laughing at howthey had eluded the crowd of friends who were eager to accompanythem--but the laughter froze when Johnny's gun swung up.
"'Nds up, Greener!" he snapped, viciously, remembering his promise toSheriff Nolan. "Miss Joyce, if you make any trouble it 'll cost him hislife."
"Turned highwayman, eh?" sneered Greener, keenly alert for the necessaryfraction of a second's carelessness on the part of the other. He wasgunman enough to need no more.
"Miss Joyce, will you please ride along? I want to talk to him alone,"said Johnny, his eyes fastened intently on those of his enemy.
"Yes, Norah; that's best. I 'll join you in a few minutes," urgedGreener, smiling at her.
Johnny had a sudden thought and his warning was grave and cold. "Don'tget very far away an' don't make no sounds, or signals; if you do it 'llbe th' quickest way to _need_ 'em. He 'll pay for any mistakes likethat."
"You coward!" she cried, angrily, and then delivered an impromptulecture that sent the blood surging into the fugitive's wan cheeks. Butshe obeyed, slowly, at Greener's signal, and when she was out of sightJohnny spoke.
"Greener, yo 're
not going to marry her. You know what you are, youknow how yore first wife died--an' I don't intend that Norah shall beabused as the other was. I 'm a fugitive, hard pressed; I 'm weak fromwant of food, and from hardships; all I have left is a slim chance ofgettin' away. I 've reached the point where I can't harm myself byshooting you, an' I 'm goin' to do it rather than let any trouble cometo her. But you'll get an even break, because I ain't never going toshoot a man when he 's helpless. Got anything to say?"
"Yes; yo 're th' biggest fool I ever saw," replied Greener. "Yo'relocoed through an' through; an' I 'm goin' to take great pleasure inputting you away. But I want to thank you for one thing you did. Youwere drunk at the time an' may not remember it. When you hit Nolan fortalking like he did I liked you for it, an' I 'm goin' to tell you so.Now we 'll get at th' matter before us so I can move along."
Neither had paid any attention to Norah in the earnestness and keen-eyedscrutiny of each other and the first sign they had of her actions waswhen she threw her arms around Greener's neck and shielded him. He wastoo much of a man to fire from cover and Johnny realized it while theother tried to get her to leave the scene.
"I won't leave you to be murdered--I _know_ what it means, I _know_ it,"she cried. "My place is here, and you can't deny your wife's firstrequest! What will I do without you! Oh, dear, let me stay! I _will_stay! What woman ever had such a wedding day before! Dear, dear, whatcan I do? Tell me what to do!"
Johnny sniffled and wished the posse had taken him. This was a side hehad never thought of. His wife! Greener's wife! Then he was too late,and to go on would be a greater evil than the one he wished toeliminate. When she turned on him like a tigress and tore him to piecesword by word, tears rolling down her pallid cheeks and untold misery inher eyes, he shook his head and held up his hand.
"Greener, you win; I can't stop what's happened," he said, slowly. "ButI 'll tell you this, an' I mean every word: If you don't treat her likeshe deserves, I 'll come back some of these days and kill you _shore_.Nolan got his because he talked ill of her; an' you 'll get yours if Idie the next minute, if you ain't square with her."
"I don't need no instructions on how to treat my wife," retorted theother. "An' I 'm beginnin' to see th' cause of yore insanity, and itpardons you as nothing else will. Put up yore gun an' get back to th'ranch, where you belong--an' _keep away from me_. Savvy?"
"Not much danger of me gettin' in yore way," growled Johnny, "when I 'mhunted like a dog for doing what any man would 'a' done. When th'sheriff gets well, if he ever does, mebby I 'll come back an' take mymedicine. How was he, anyhow, when you left?"
"Dead tired, an' some under th' influence of liquor," replied Greener, asmile breaking over his frown. He knew the whole story well, as did thewhole range, and he had laughed over it with the Bar-20 outfit.
"What's that? Ain't he near dead?" cried Johnny, amazed.
"Well, purty nigh dead of fatigue dancin' at our weddin' last night; butI reckon he 'll be driftin' home purty soon, an' all recovered."Greener suddenly gave way and roared with laughter. There was a largeamount of humor in his make-up and it took possession of him, shakinghim from head to foot. He had always liked Johnny, not because he everwanted to but because no one could know the Bar-20 protege and keep fromit. This climax was too much for him, and his wife, graduallyrecovering herself, caught the infection and joined in.
Johnny's eyes were staring and his mouth wide open, but Greener's nextwords closed the eyes to a squint and snapped shut the open mouth.
"That there paralysis of th' cure-a-friend nerve did n't last; an' whenI heard why you licked him I said a few words that made him a wiser man.He didn't hunt you after th' first day. Now you go up an' shake han'swith him. He knows he got what was coming to him and so does everybodyelse know it. Go home an' quit playin' th' fool for th' whole blamedrange to laugh at."
Johnny stirred and came back to the scene before him. His face waslivid with rage and he could not speak at first. Finally, however, hemastered himself and looked up: "I 'm cured, all right, but _they_ain't! Wait till my turn comes! What a fool I was to believe 'em; butthey usually tell th' truth. 'Cura-a-friend nerve'! They 'll pay medollar for cent before I 'm finished!" He caught the sparkle of hisdiamond pin, the pin he had won, when drunk, at El Paso, and a sicklygrin flickered over the black frown. "I 'm a little late, I reckon; butI 'd like to give th' bride a present to show there ain't no hardfeelin's on my part, an' to bring her luck. This here pin ain't no fitornament for a fool like me, so if it's all right, I 'll be plumbtickled to see her have it. How 'bout it, Greener?"
The happy pair exchanged glances and Mrs. Greener, hesitating andblushing, accepted the gift: "You can bend it into a ring easy," Johnnyhastily remarked, to cut off her thanks.
Greener extended his hand: "I reckon we can be friends, at that, Nelson.You squared up with me when you licked Nolan. Come up an' see us whenyou can."
Johnny thanked him and shook hands and then watched them ride slowlydown the canyon, hand in hand, happy as little children. He satsilently, lost in thought, his anger rising by leaps and bounds againstthe men who had kept him on the anxious seat for a month. Straighteningup suddenly, he tore off the navy blue necktie and, hurling it from him,fell into another reverie, staring at the canyon wall, but seeing in hismind's eye the outfit planning his punishment; and his eyes grew redderand redder with fury. But it was a long way home and his temper cooledas he rode; that is why no one knew of his return until they saw himasleep in his bunk when they awakened at daylight the following morning.And no one ever asked about the diamond, or made any explanations--forsome things are better unmentioned. But they paid for it all beforeJohnny considered the matter closed.
THE END
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