CHAPTER XXIII
COUSINS DISAGREE
It was essential to Kirby's plans that he should be at liberty. If heshould be locked up in prison even for a few days the threads that hehad begun to untangle from the snarl known as the Cunningham mysterywould again be ensnared. He was not sure what action James would takeat his brother's demand that he withdraw from the bond. But Lane hadno desire to embarrass him by forcing the issue. He set about securinga new bond.
He was, ten minutes later, in the law offices of Irwin, Foster &Warren, attorneys who represented the cattle interests in Wyoming withwhich Kirby was identified. Foster, a stout, middle-aged man with onlya few locks of gray hair left, heard what the rough rider had to say.
"I'll wire to Caldwell and to Norman as you suggest, Mr. Lane," hesaid. "If they give me instructions to stand back of you, I'll arrangea new bond as soon as possible."
"Will it take long? I can't afford to be tied up behind the bars rightnow."
"Not if I can get it accepted. I'll let you know at once."
Kirby rose. He had finished his business.
"Just a moment, Mr. Lane." Foster leaned back in his swivel-chair andlooked out of the window. His eyes did not focus on any detail of theoffice building opposite. They had the far-away look which denotes apreoccupied mind. "Ever been to Golden?" he asked at last abruptly,swinging back in his seat and looking at his client.
"No. Why?"
"Golden is the Gretna Green of Denver, you know. When young peopleelope they go to Golden. When a couple gets married and doesn't wantit known they choose Golden. Very convenient spot."
"I'm not figuring on gettin' married right now," the cattleman said,smiling.
"Still you might find a visit to the place interesting and useful. Iwas there on business a couple of weeks ago."
The eyes of the men fastened. Lane knew he was being given a hint thatFoster did not want to put more directly.
"What are the interestin' points of the town?" asked the Twin Buttesman.
"Well, sir, there are several. Of course, there's the School of Mines,and the mountains right back of the town. Gold was discovered theresomewhere about fifty-seven, I think. Used to be the capital of theterritory before Denver found her feet."
"I'm rather busy."
"Wouldn't take you long to run over on the interurban." The lawyerbegan to gather toward him the papers upon which he had been workingwhen the client was shown in. He added casually: "I found it quiteamusing to look over the marriage licenses of the last month or two.Found the names there of some of our prominent citizens. Well, I'llcall you up as soon as I know about the bond."
Lane was not entirely satisfied with what he had been told, but he knewthat Foster had said all he meant to say. One thing stuck in his mindas the gist of the hint. The attorney was advising him to go to thecourt-house and check up the marriage licenses.
He walked across to the Equitable Building and dropped in on his cousinJames. Cunningham rose to meet him a bit stiffly. The cattleman knewthat Jack had already been in to see him or had got him on the wire.
Kirby brushed through any embarrassment there might be and told franklywhy he had come.
"I've had a sort of row with Jack. Under the circumstances I don'tfeel that I ought to let you stay on my bond. It might createill-feelin' between you an' him. So I'm arrangin' to have some Wyomingfriends put up whatever's required. You'll understand I haven't anybad feeling against you, or against him for that matter. You've beenbully all through this thing, an' I'm certainly in your debt."
"What's the trouble between you about?" asked James.
"I've found out that he an' Miss Harriman were in Uncle James's roomsthe night he was killed. I want them to come through an' tell whatthey know."
"How did you find that out?"
The eyes of the oil broker were hard as jade. They looked straightinto those of his cousin.
"I can't tell you that exactly. Put two an' two together."
"You mean you _guess_ they were there. You don't _know_ it."
A warm, friendly smile lit the brown face of the rough rider. Hewanted to remain on good terms with James if he could. "I don't knowit in a legal sense. Morally, I'm convinced of it."
"Even though they deny it."
"Practically they admitted rather than denied."
"Do you think it was quite straight, Kirby, to go to Miss Harriman withsuch a trumped-up charge? I don't. I confess I'm surprised at you."In voice and expression James showed his disappointment.
"It isn't a trumped-up charge. I wanted to know the truth from her."
"Why didn't you go to Jack, then?"'
"I didn't know at that time Jack was the man with her."
"You don't know it now. You don't know she was there. In point offact the idea is ridiculous. You surely don't think for a moment thatshe had anything to do with Uncle James's death."
"No; not in the sense that she helped bring it about. But she knowssomethin' she's hidin'."
"That's absurd. Your imagination is too active, Kirby."
"Can't agree with you." Lane met him eye to eye.
"Grant for the sake of argument that she was in Uncle's room thatnight. Your friend Miss Rose McLean was there, too--by her ownconfession. When she came to Jack and me with her story, we respectedit. We did not insist on knowing why she was there, and it was of herown free will she told us. Yet you go to our friend and distress herby implications that must shock and wound her. Was that generous? Wasit even fair?"
The cattleman stood convicted at the bar of his own judgment. Hiscousins had been magnanimous to Esther and Rose, more so than he hadbeen to Miss Harriman. Yet, even while he confessed fault, he feltuneasily that there was a justification he could not quite lay hold ofand put into words.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, James. Perhaps I was wrong. But youwant to remember that I wasn't askin' about what she knew with any ideaof makin' it public or tellin' the police. I meant to keep it under myown hat to help run down a cold-blooded murderer."
"You can't want to run him down any more than we do--and in that 'we' Iinclude Jack and Miss Harriman as well as myself," the older mananswered gravely. "But I'm sure you're entirely wrong. Miss Harrimanknows nothing about it. If she had she would have confided in us."
"Perhaps she has confided in Jack."
"Don't you think that obsession of yours is rather--well, unlikely, toput it mildly? Analyze it and you'll find you haven't a singlesubstantial fact to base it on."
This was true. Yet Kirby's opinion was not changed. He still believedthat Jack and Miss Harriman had been in his uncle's rooms just beforeWild Rose had been there.
He returned to the subject of the bond. It seemed to him best, hesaid, in view of Jack's feeling, to get other bondsmen. He hoped Jameswould not interpret this to mean that he felt less friendly toward him.
His cousin bowed, rather formally. "Just as you please. Would youlike the matter arranged this afternoon?"
Lane looked at his watch. "I haven't heard from my new bondsmen yet.Besides, I want to go to Golden. Would to-morrow morning suit you?"
"I dare say." James stifled a yawn. "Did you say you were going toGolden?"
"Yes. Some one gave me a tip. I don't know what there's in it, but Ithought I'd have a look at the marriage-license registry."
Cunningham flashed a startled glance at him that asked a peremptoryquestion. "Probably waste of time. I've been in the oil business toolong to pay any attention to tips."
"Expect you're right, but I'll trot out there, anyhow. Never can tell."
"What do you expect to find among the marriage licenses?"
"Haven't the slightest idea. I'll tell you tomorrow what I do find."
James made one dry, ironic comment. "I rather think you have too muchimagination for sleuthing. You let your wild fancies gallop away withyou. If I were you I'd go back to bronco busting."
Kirby laughed. "D
are say you're right. I'll take your advice after weget the man we're after."