CHAPTER X
THE PRICE
MacQueen lost no time in announcing his new program.
"Boys, the hanging's off. I've decided to accept West's offer forFlatray's life. It's too good to turn down."
"That's what I told you all the time," growled Buck.
"Well, I'm telling _you_ now. The money will be divided equally among you,except that Rosario will get my share as well as hers."
Rosario Chaves broke into fierce protests. Finding these unheeded, shecursed the outlaws furiously and threatened vengeance upon them. She didnot want money; she wanted this man's life. The men accepted this as amatter of course, and paid little attention to the ravings of the oldwoman.
At the first news of his reprieve, Jack saw things through a haze for amoment. But he neither broke down nor showed undue exultation.
His first thought was of relief, of profound comfort; his next of wonderand suspicion. How under heaven had Melissy won his life for him? Helooked quickly at her, but the eyes of the girl did not meet his.
"Melissy." Flatray spoke very gently, but something in the way he spokecompelled the young woman to meet his eyes.
Almost instantly the long lashes went down to her pale cheeks again.
MacQueen cut in suavely: "I reckon this is the time for announcements.Boys, Miss Lee has promised to marry me."
Before the stir which this produced had died away, Flatray flashed aquestion: "In exchange for my life?"
The chief of the outlaws looked at him with insolence smoldering in hisblack eyes. "Now, I wonder when you ever will learn to mind your ownbusiness, sheriff! Nobody invited you to sit into this game."
"This _is_ my business. I make it mine. Give me a straight answer,Melissy. Am I right? Is it for my life?"
"Yes." Her voice was so low he could hardly hear it.
"Then I won't have it! The thing is infamous. I can't hide behind theskirts of a girl, least of all you. I can die, but, by God, I'll keep myself-respect."
"It's all arranged," Melissy answered in a whisper.
Flatray laughed harshly. "I guess not. You can't pay my debts by givingyourself to life-long misery."
"You're right pessimistic, sheriff," sneered MacQueen.
"What do you take me for? I won't have it. I won't have it." The sheriff'svoice was rough and hoarse. "I'd rather die fifty times."
"It's not up to you to choose, as it happens," the leader of the outlawssuggested suavely.
"You villain! You damned white-livered coward!" The look of the youngsheriff scorched.
"Speaks right out in meeting, don't he?" grinned Lane.
"I know what he is, Jack," Melissy cried. "And he knows I think he's thelowest thing that crawls. But I've got to save you. Don't you see, I'vegot to do it?"
"No, I don't see it," Flatray answered hotly. "I can take what's coming tome, can't I? But if you save my life that way you make me as low a thingas he is. I say I'll not have it."
Melissy could stand it no longer. She began to sob. "I--I--Oh, Jack, I'vegot to do it. Don't you see? Don't you see? _It won't make any differencewith me if I don't._ No difference--except that you'll be--dead."
She was in his embrace, her arms around his neck, whispering the horribletruth in his ear brokenly. And as he felt her dear young fragrance ofhair in his nostrils, the warm, soft litheness of her body against his,the rage and terror in him flooded his veins. Could such things be? Was itpossible a man like that could live? Not if he could help it.
Gently he unfastened her arms from his neck. MacQueen was standing a dozenfeet away, his hands behind his back and his legs wide apart. As Flatrayswung around the outlaw read a warning in the blazing eyes. Just as Jacktore loose from his guards MacQueen reached for his revolver.
The gun flashed. A red hot blaze scorched through Jack's arm. Next instantMacQueen lay flat on his back, the sheriff's fingers tight around histhroat. If he could have had five seconds more the man's neck would havebeen broken. But they dragged him away, fighting like a wild cat. Theyflung him down and tied his hands behind him.
Melissy caught a glimpse of his bleeding arm, his torn and dusty face, theappalling ferocity of the men who were hammering him into the ground. Shetook a step forward blindly. The mountains in front of her tilted into thesky. She moved forward another step, then stumbled and went down. She hadfainted.
"Just as well," MacQueen nodded. "Here, Rosario, look after the younglady. Lift Flatray to a horse, boys, after you've blindfolded him. Goodenough. Oh, and one thing more, Flatray. You're covered by a rifle. If youlift a hand to slip that handkerchief from your eyes, you're giving thesignal for Jeff to turn loose at you. We're going to take you away, but wedon't aim to let you out of the Cache for a few days yet."
"What do you mean?"
MacQueen jeered at his prisoner openly. "I mean, Mr. Sheriff, that you'llstay with us till the girl does as she has promised. Understand?"
"I think so, you hellhound. You're going to hold me against her so thatshe can't change her mind."
"Exactly. So that she can't rue back. You've guessed it."
They rode for hours, but in what direction it was impossible for Flatrayto guess. He could tell when they were ascending, when dropping down hill,but in a country so rugged this meant nothing.
When at last he dismounted and the kerchief was taken from his eyes hefound himself in a little pocket of the hills in front of an old logcabin. Jeff stayed with him. The others rode away. But not till they hadhim safely tied to a heavy table leg within the hut.