CHAPTER XII
AN ARREST
After half a week in the saddle Lieutenant Bucky O'Connor of the ArizonaRangers and Curly Flandrau reached Saguache tired and travel-stained. Theyhad combed the Rincons without having met hide or hair of the men theywanted. Early next morning they would leave town again and this time wouldmake for Soapy Stone's horse ranch.
Bucky O'Connor was not disheartened. Though he was the best man hunter inArizona, it was all in the day's work that criminals should sometimeselude him. But with Curly the issue was a personal one. He owed LuckCullison a good deal and his imagination had played over the picture ofthat moment when he could go to Kate and tell her he had freed herfather.
After reaching town the first thing each of them did was to take a bath,the second to get shaved. From the barber shop they went to the bestrestaurant in Saguache. Curly was still busy with his pie _a la mode_ whenBurridge Thomas, United States Land Commissioner for that district, tookthe seat opposite and told to O'Connor a most interesting piece of news.
They heard him to an end without interruption. Then Curly spoke one word."Fendrick."
"Yes, sir, Cass Fendrick. Came in about one o'clock and handed me therelinquishment just as I've been telling you."
"Then filed on the claim himself, you said."
"Yes, took it up himself."
"Sure the signature to the relinquishment was genuine?"
"I'd take oath to it. As soon as he had gone I got out the original filingand compared the two. Couldn't be any possible mistake. Nobody could haveforged the signature. It is like Luck himself, strong and forceful anddecided."
"We're not entirely surprised, Mr. Thomas," Lieutenant O'Connor told thecommissioner. "In point of fact we've rather been looking for something ofthe kind."
"Then you know where Luck is?" Thomas, a sociable garrulous soul, leanedforward eagerly.
"No, we don't. But we've a notion Fendrick knows." Bucky gave thegovernment appointee his most blandishing smile. "Of course we know _you_won't talk about this, Mr. Thomas. Can we depend on your deputies?"
"I'll speak to them."
"We're much obliged to you. This clears up a point that was in doubt tous. By the way, what was the date when the relinquishment was signed?"
"To-day."
"And who was the notary that witnessed it?"
"Dominguez. He's a partner of Fendrick in the sheep business."
"Quite a family affair, isn't it. Well, I'll let you know how things comeout, Mr. Thomas. You'll be interested to know. Have a cigar."
Bucky rose. "See you later, Curly. Sorry I have to hurry, Mr. Thomas, butI've thought of something I'll have to do right away."
Bucky followed El Molino Street to the old plaza and cut across it to theHotel Wayland. After a sharp scrutiny of the lobby and a nod ofrecognition to an acquaintance he sauntered to the desk and looked overthe register. There, among the arrivals of the day, was the entry he hadhoped to see.
Cass Fendrick, C. F. Ranch, Arizona.
The room that had been assigned to him was 212.
"Anything you want in particular, Lieutenant?" the clerk asked.
"No-o. Just looking to see who came in to-day."
He turned away and went up the stairs, ignoring the elevator. On thesecond floor he found 212. In answer to his knock a voice said "Come in."Opening the door, he stepped in, closed it behind him, and looked at theman lying in his shirt sleeves on the bed.
"Evening, Cass."
Fendrick put down his newspaper but did not rise. "Evening, Bucky."
Their eyes held to each other with the level even gaze of men whorecognize a worthy antagonist.
"I've come to ask a question or two."
"Kick them out."
"First, I would like to know what you paid Luck Cullison for his Del Oroclaim."
"Thinking of buying me out?" was the ironical retort of the man on thebed.
"Not quite. I've got another reason for wanting to know."
"Then you better ask Cullison. The law says that if a man _sells_ arelinquishment he can't file on another claim. If he surrenders it fornothing he can. Now Luck may have notions of filing on another claim. Youcan see that we'll have to take it for granted he gave me the claim."
It was so neat an answer and at the same time so complete a one thatO'Connor could not help appreciating it. He smiled and tried again.
"We'll put that question in the discard. That paper was signed by Luckto-day. Where was he when you got it from him?"
"Sure it was signed to-day? Couldn't it have been ante-dated?"
"You know better than I do. When was it signed?"
Fendrick laughed. He was watching the noted officer of rangers withnarrowed wary eyes. "On advice of counsel I decline to answer."
"Sorry, Cass. That leaves me only one thing to do. You're under arrest."
"For what?" demanded the sheepman sharply.
"For abducting Luck Cullison and holding him prisoner without hisconsent."
Lazily Cass drawled a question. "Are you right sure Cullison can't befound?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you right sure he ain't at home attending to his business?"
"Has he come back?"
"Maybe so. I'm not Luck Cullison's keeper."
Bucky thought he understood. In return for the relinquishment Cullison hadbeen released. Knowing Luck as he did, it was hard for him to see howpressure enough had been brought to bear to move him.
"May I use your 'phone?" he asked.
"Help yourself."
Fendrick pretended to have lost interest. He returned to his newspaper,but his ears were alert to catch what went on over the wires. It wasalways possible that Cullison might play him false and break theagreement. Cass did not expect this, for the owner of the Circle C was aman whose word was better than most men's bond. But the agreement had beenforced upon him through a trick. How far he might feel this justified himin ignoring it the sheepman did not know.
O'Connor got the Circle C on long distance. It was the clear contralto ofa woman that answered his "Hello!"
"Is this Miss Cullison?" he asked. Almost at once he added: "O'Connor ofthe rangers is speaking. I've heard your father is home again. Is thattrue?"
An interval followed during which the ranger officer was put into the roleof a listener. His occasional "Yes----Yes----Yes" punctuated the rapidmurmur that reached Fendrick.
Presently Bucky asked a question. "On his way to town now?"
Again the rapid murmur.
"I'll attend to that, Miss Cullison. I am in Fendrick's room now. Makeyour mind easy."
Bucky hung up and turned to the sheepman. The latter showed him a face ofderision. He had gathered one thing that disquieted him, but he did notintend to let O'Connor know it.
"Well?" he jeered. "Find friend Cullison in tolerable health?"
"I've been talking with his daughter."
"I judged as much. Miss Spitfire well?"
"Miss Cullison didn't mention her health. We were concerned about yours."
"Yes?"
"Cullison is headed for town and his daughter is afraid he is on thewarpath against you."
"You don't say."
"She wanted me to get you out of her father's way until he has cooleddown."
"Very kind of her."
"She's right, too. You and Luck mustn't meet yet. Get out of here and huntcover in the hills for a few days. You know why better than I do."
"How can I when I'm under arrest?" Fendrick mocked.
"You're not under arrest. Miss Cullison says her father has no charge tobring against you."
"Good of him."
"So you can light a shuck soon as you want to."
"Which won't be in any hurry."
"Don't make any mistake. Luck Cullison is a dangerous man when he isroused."
The sheepman looked at the ranger with opaque stony eyes. "If LuckCullison is looking for me he is liable to find me, and he won't have togo i
nto the hills to hunt me either."
Bucky understood perfectly. According to the code of the frontier no mancould let himself be driven from town by the knowledge that another manwas looking for him with a gun. There are in the Southwest now manythousands who do not live by the old standard, who are anchored to law andcivilization as a protection against primitive passions. But Fendrick wasnot one of these. He had deliberately gone outside of the law in his feudwith the cattleman. Now he would not repudiate the course he had chosenand hedge because of the danger it involved. He was an aspirant toleadership among the tough hard-bitted denizens of the sunbaked desert.That being so, he had to see his feud out to a fighting finish if needbe.
"There are points about this case you have overlooked," Bucky told him.
"Maybe so. But the important one that sticks out like a sore thumb is thatno man living can serve notice on me to get out of town because he iscoming on the shoot."
"Luck didn't serve any such notice. All his daughter knows is that he ishot under the collar. Look at things reasonably, Cass. You've caused thatyoung lady a heap of trouble already. Are you going to unload a lot moreon her just because you want to be pigheaded. Only a kid struts around andhollers 'Who's afraid?' No, it's up to you to pull out, not because ofLuck Cullison but on account of his daughter."
"Who is such a thorough friend of mine," the sheepman added with hissardonic grin.
"What do you care about that? She's a girl. I don't know the facts, but Ican guess them. She and Luck will stand pat on what they promised you.Don't you owe her something for that? Seems to me a white man wouldn'tmake her any more worry."
"It's because I am a white man that I can't dodge a fight when it'sstacked up for me, Bucky."
He said it with a dogged finality that was unshaken, but O'Connor made onemore effort.
"Nobody will know why you left."
"I would know, wouldn't I? I've got to go right on living with myself. Itell you straight I'm going to see it out."
Bucky's jaw clamped. "Not if I know it. You're under arrest."
Fendrick sat up in surprise. "What for?" he demanded angrily.
"For robbing the W. & S. Express Company."
"Hell, Bucky. You don't believe that."
"Never mind what I believe. There's some evidence against you--enough tojustify me."
"You want to get me out of Cullison's way. That's all."
"If you like to put it so."
"I won't stand for it. That ain't square."
"You'll stand for it, my friend. I gave you a chance to clear out and youwouldn't take it."
"I wouldn't because I couldn't. Don't make any mistake about this. I'm notlooking for Luck. I'm attending to my business. Arrest _him_ if you wantto stop trouble."
There came a knock on the door. It opened to admit Luck Cullison. He shutit and put his back to it, while his eyes, hard as hammered iron, sweptpast the officer to fix on Fendrick.
The latter rose quickly from the bed, but O'Connor flung him back.
"Don't forget you're my prisoner."
"He's your prisoner, is he?" This was a turn of affairs for which Luck wasmanifestly unprepared: "Well, I've come to have a little settlement withhim."
Fendrick, tense as a coiled spring, watched him warily. "Can't be any toosoon to suit me."
Clear cut as a pair of scissors through paper, Bucky snapped out hiswarning. "Nothing stirring, gentlemen. I'll shoot the first man that makesa move."
"Are you in this, Bucky?" asked Cullison evenly.
"You're right I am. He's my prisoner."
"What for?"
"For robbing the W. & S."
Luck's face lit. "Have you evidence enough to cinch him?"
"Not enough yet. But I'll take no chances on his getting away."
The cattleman's countenance reflected his thoughts as his decision hung inthe balance. He longed to pay his debt on the spot. But on the other handhe had been a sheriff himself. As an outsider he had no right to interferebetween an officer and his captive. Besides, if there was a chance to sendFendrick over the road that would be better than killing. It would clearup his own reputation, to some extent under a cloud.
"All right, Bucky. If the law wants him I'll step aside for the time."
The sheepman laughed in his ironic fashion. His amusement mocked themboth. "Most as good as a play of the movies, ain't it? But we'd ought allto have our guns out to make it realistic."
But in his heart he did not jeer. For the situation had been nearer redtragedy than melodrama. The resource and firmness of Bucky O'Connor hadalone made it possible to shave disaster by a hair's breadth and no more.