Chapter Twenty-Three
The Confession
Slim rode easily, keeping the fleeing owner of the Diamond Dot withinsight. They pushed deeper into the Cajon foothills and Slim knew thatCook's horse would soon commence to slow down under the pace, which wasgruelling for the average range horse.
In desperation Cook dismounted and unlimbered his rifle but Slim,sensing the move before the rustler had found cover, dropped out of hissaddle and fired rapidly at the Diamond Dot man. Cook was beaten at hisown game and he leaped back into the saddle to continue the race againstcertain capture.
If he could only hold out until nightfall there was just a chance thathe could escape, but Slim had no intention of allowing the rustler to dothat. He was closing the gap steadily when the trail opened into a long,narrow defile in the mountains.
Cook spurred his tiring horse madly, while Slim gave Lightning her head.It was a good place to end the chase. He slipped his rifle out of thescabbard and lined up the sights. Before he could raise the weapon tohis shoulder he saw Cook topple from his saddle to lie motionless alongthe trail.
Slim pulled Lightning up sharply. Perhaps it was a trick of therustler's, a ruse to bring him within sure range.
Slim dismounted and moved forward warily, his rifle ready for instantuse. Then the echo of hoofs warned him of the approach of another riderand up ahead Chuck burst into view on his calico cayuse. It was thenthat Slim knew Cook's fall from the saddle was no ruse. He had been shotdown by Chuck, who had suddenly voted himself a hand in the play.
The Flying Arrow cowboy was the first to reach the wounded rustler. Cookwas still dazed from the shock of the wound and the fall, but he was notseriously injured. Relieving him of his weapons, Slim looked up just asChuck arrived in a thunder of drumming hoofs and a cloud of dust.
"Where under the sun did you come from?" demanded the astonished Slim.
"I'll tell you all about that later. Did I get that skunk?" Chuckpointed toward the rustler.
"Through the right shoulder," nodded Slim. "If you hadn't cut in on theplay when you did, I was figuring on stopping his travels in aboutanother second."
"Yeh, but I owed him a little more than you did. What's happened since Idid the disappearing act?"
"We had a little fireworks along the railroad this afternoon," smiledSlim. "Seemed a half dozen hombres were shipping some Box B cattle underanother name and we put a stop to it."
"Did you get them all?"
"Counting Cook here, they're all in the bag."
"That must just about clean out the gang," said Chuck.
"There's a few more, but we'll round them up in time."
"I've got a score to settle with one of them," said Chuck, relatingbriefly how he had been held captive. He was especially incensed at histreatment at the hands of the masked man who had accompanied Hack Cookon the visit of the Diamond Dot owner to the hideout where he had beenheld captive.
"I'm going to find out who that fellow was," went on Chuck.
"I think I know," put in Slim, "but if you can get Cook to tell you, somuch the better."
They bent over the rustler, who was now thoroughly aware of hisdangerous situation. Slim tore off a piece of Cook's shirt and bound upthe shoulder wound.
"Give me a drink of water," the rustler begged.
"Not on your life," snapped Chuck. "You fellows didn't treat me any toowell. I want to know the name of the hombre that was with you."
Cook's face whitened, but his lips tensed and he only shook his head.
"So that's the way it is," said Chuck grimly. "Believe me, you're goingto talk."
The Circle Four cowboy took the rope off his saddle and deftly slipped anoose around Cook's shoulders.
"What are you going to do?" demanded Slim, who wasn't sure whether Chuckwas in earnest or was merely trying to scare the rustler.
"I'm going to drag the information I want out of this cheap desperado,"replied the cowboy detective.
Chuck walked toward his horse, straightened the rope out after him. Cookattempted to free himself, but Chuck had done a neat job.
The Circle Four cowboy mounted his cayuse and turned back to Cook.
"There's one more chance. Who was with you?"
Still the rustler's lips were sealed and with a warning glance at Slimnot to interfere, Chuck spoke to his horse. The cayuse moved ahead andthe rope tightened.
A startled cry broke from Cook's lips.
"I'll talk!" he screamed, "I'll talk! Don't drag me over these rocks."
Chuck dismounted.
"I thought it would work," he grinned at Slim. "This fellow's yellowclear through."
The cowboy detectives bent over Cook.
"Talk fast," Chuck warned him. "If you don't I'll take you for a realride."
Cook moistened his lips. It was plain that he was reluctant to talk andonly Chuck's threat of a terrible punishment had loosened his tongue.
"It was Titzell," he muttered. "Titzell got us into this jam. He was toogreedy. He wanted everything."
Slim looked at Chuck. He had been right. Titzell was the leader of therustlers. Disguised as a cattle buyer, he had ridden the length andbreadth of the valley, spotting choice stock to be run off by the ganglater.
"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 onmy own place."
"How many have you got there?"
"Ten altogether, but you got four of them and Newt Bemis when you jumpedus at the train."
"That leaves six more Diamond Dot riders, plus Maxie Denkman and themarshal at Dirty Water," said Slim. "Maxie's out of the way, because Iput a slug in his elbow when he tried that ambush on the Sky Hightrail."
"Where's the other six?" demanded Chuck.
"Two of the boys are watching the Sky High trail, two of them are overon the trail through the Three Soldiers and the last two are on thetrail from the valley south."
"Think he's telling the truth?" Chuck asked.
The tall cowboy nodded and walked over and picked up Cook's rifle.Calmly he fired a bullet into the ground and then picked up the spentshell. He produced another cartridge from an inner pocket and comparedthe firing pin marks on the base of the shell.
"I guess your days are numbered," he told Cook when he turned back. "Theshell from your gun corresponds exactly with one I found at the scene ofthe ambush of Adam Marks and your horse has the same V-shaped nick onthe left rear shoe."
"There's marks like that all over the range. That don't prove anything."
"Oh yes, it does. Remember that I'll testify I heard you and Titzelltalking about that in the cabin and you figured you were pretty smart tofile marks like that on a number of shoes."
Chuck's words crushed the last resistance in the rustler.
It was twilight when the first of the Box B riders came up the trail.Pat Beals was ahead and the cowboy detectives placed Hack Cook in hishands for safekeeping.
"Where you going?" Pat demanded.
"To finish the job of cleaning up this gang of rustlers," said Slim."We'll see you tomorrow sometime at the ranch."
Before Pat could protest, Slim and Chuck spurred away up the trail,determined to strike fast and hard at the rest of the rustlers.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Showdown
The sky was clear that night and the trail through the Cajons was easyto follow. They stopped at the rustlers' hideout and cooked a latesupper.
"I've got a little errand to do," said Chuck, leaving the campfire. Hemounted and disappeared up the sidetrail. A few minutes later Slim sawtongues of flame licking above the tree tops. Chuck had set fire to thecabin where he had been held captive.
Before they left, they got an
axe from the main cabin and chopped awaythe main poles of the corral. Then, fastening ropes on the other poles,they pulled the whole structure down. Again a match was touched to thecorral and cabin and flames licked hungrily at the dry wood.
"There'll be no more use of this layout by rustlers," said Chuck grimly.
From then on they rode at an easy pace for it was useless to attempt toreach Dirty Water before morning. Stopping at the line camp, they foundLee Wu keeping guard and the cook rustled them an early breakfast.
They told him briefly of what had happened at the railroad and how theyhad set fire to the rustlers' hideout.
"Plenty good," the Chinaman grinned, giving them extra portions ofbacon. "Plenty good."
Before they left the line camp, Slim wrote a note to Joe Haines. He hadslipped badly, having forgotten to tell Pat Beals that rustlers werestill stationed on three trails leading out of the valley.
It was this information he left in the note, urging Joe to send ridersout at once to capture the other rustlers.
Then Slim and Chuck pressed on. Dawn found them nearing Dirty Water andthe village was just beginning to show signs of life when they rodeacross the creek and tied their horses at the rail in front of thePalace Hotel.
"They eat early here," said Slim. "You stay outside and be ready to takecare of any of the boys who decide to get away in a hurry."
"You're not going into the hotel alone," protested Chuck.
"I'm going to do that very thing," said Slim with a definiteness thatChuck knew was final. "I'm counting on you to discourage them if theyget outside. Remember, we want Hal Titzell, Leo Kovec and MaxieDenkman."
"I'll remember," promised Chuck.
Slim looked up and down the street. Pike Carberry and Jim Ferris werecoming down from Carberry's store for breakfast at the hotel. Theygreeted 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 hisrifle in his hands.
"He's right," he advised the storekeeper. "I'll be satisfied with cheeseand crackers. Come on."
They turned and hurried back to the store and Slim stepped into thesmall lobby of the hotel. Sounds from the dining room indicated thatbreakfast was in progress.
Slim took off his hat and pinned the small shield that had been hiddenthere on his vest. Then he walked into the dining room. There were fourmen at the long table, the hotel owner at the head with Hal Titzell athis right. On the other side were Leo Kovec and Maxie Denkman and Maxie,with his wounded arm, was making a poor job of eating the hot cereal.
Titzell looked up as Slim entered.
"Hello, there. What's the news from the wide open spaces?"
"Plenty," said Slim easily. Then Titzell's eyes caught the gleam of thesmall shield on Slim's vest and the smile vanished. In its place came anexpression of repressed fury and alarm.
"Seems as though some of the Diamond Dot boys were caught trying to shipsome Box B cattle yesterday afternoon," said Slim.
Maxie Denkman sneezed into the cereal and Leo Kovec let his fork dropwith a clatter.
"Anybody hurt?" asked Titzell, his voice low and tense.
"Plenty of the Diamond Dot boys and it seems as though I recall seeing afriend of yours being shot out of the saddle."
"Who was that?" asked Maxie.
"Newt Bemis." Slim's eyes never left Titzell for he knew that if therewere to be fireworks, Titzell would start the trouble.
But Titzell never batted an eye and Slim gave him another shock.
"Hack Cook was taken, too. Hack talked."
That touched off the fuse. Titzell knew then that Slim had come to takehim. With a leap he was clear of the table, his right hand sweepingtoward the shoulder holster.
But Slim had anticipated the move. As Titzell clawed the gun from hisholster, the explosion of Slim's gun echoed through the hotel andTitzell's weapon spun across the room.
The hotel owner made a dive for safety beneath his table while Leo Kovecplunged through the window. Only Maxie Denkman remained seated.
"I know when I've had enough," he said. "You can count me out."
From outside came the report of a rifle and Slim knew that Chuck hadgone into action. There was no answering shot and Slim figured thatKovec would cause no more trouble.
Titzell was holding his right hand, numbed by the shock of Slim'sbullet.
"Get outside," commanded the cowboy detective and Maxie followed Titzellout.
There they found that Chuck was sitting astride Kovec, the marshalgroveling in the sand.
"I just took one shot at him," Chuck grinned, "and he thought he was hitsure. Gosh, to think that I missed at only fifty yards!"
Residents of Dirty Water crowded around them, seeking an explanation,but Slim refused to tell them what had taken place. Chuck stood guardover the prisoners, while Slim went around to the stable and ordered thehostler to saddle three horses. A short time later the three rustlers,with Slim and Chuck riding close behind, started the journey to the BoxB.
Titzell and Denkman were silent, but Kovec talked volubly. He was scaredto death and Slim took advantage of this fear. From a saddle bag hepulled the gun which Chuck had found outside Doc Baldridge's office thenight a second attempt had been made to kill the owner of the Box B.
"Recognize this gun?" he asked.
"It belongs to Titzell. He said he lost it."
"Shut up!" The cattle buyer roared at Kovec, but it was too late. Slimknew all that was necessary. He had all of the evidence needed to putTitzell and the Diamond Dot riders behind the bars for a long, longtime.
When they reached the Box B, they found Bill Needham waiting to greetthem.
"Great work, boys," he said, as they rode up. "You've certainly clearedout the rustlers in the Creeping Shadows."
"We've got the evidence, but you'll have to prove the case in courtagainst them," said Slim.
"I'll do that all right," said Old Bill. "I've been talking with HackCook and he's given me a full account under oath. Titzell's the big gunin this whole thing. He came in when Cook was just about ready to foldup and between the two of them they figured that if they could stealenough cattle and get the Double O and the Box B fighting each other,they'd have a good chance to step in and grab both ranches cheap."
Joe Haines came down from the ranch house. "The boss wants to see you,"he said.
"Any of the Box B or Double O boys get hurt much?" asked Slim.
"Al Bass has a flesh wound and so has another one of the Double O ridersand Doug Huston's disappeared."
"Yeh, I should think he would," said Chuck. "He was hand in glove withthis outfit. He was the guy who roped Slim that night down at the corraland left him tied up by the creek. Doug kept the gang tipped off toeverything the Box B was doing."
"You mean almost everything," put in Slim.
They found Adam Marks almost recovered and from him they receivedheartfelt thanks for their fine work.
Nels Anderson was waiting for them outside. "By gar, boys," he roared."Anytime you need help, just let Nels know. I'll come a-runnin'."
Box B and Double O riders had gone out to round up the last of therustlers who had been guarding the main trails into the valley and theend was rapidly being written on the feud which had threatened for atime to disrupt the entire valley. There was nothing more that Slim andChuck needed to do and after a hearty dinner at the cookhouse, where LeeWu was once more presiding over the pots and pans, they mounted and rodedown the trail toward Dirty Water. Behind them they left the shoutedfarewells of the Box B and Double O cowboys and a promise from BillNeedham that he would call on them again when a knotty mysteryconfronted him.
They circled Dirty Water, for they had no desire to give a longexplanation of their activities, and continued on toward the Sky Hightrail. A few miles further on they met Walt Kelly and a Double O rider
coming down with the two rustlers who had been stationed to guard thetrail. The way in and out of the valley was open once more.
By sundown they were well along the trail. Turning in their saddles theylooked back on the Creeping Shadows country. Night was already stealingout of the majestic valleys of the Three Soldiers and peace once moreruled the valley.
They turned their horses up the trail, wondering what new adventuresmight be in store for them with the coming days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber's note:
1. Copyright notice provided as in the original printed text--this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.
2. Obvious typographical errors were corrected.
3. Dialect and non-standard spellings were not changed.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends