CHAPTER XXIII
DEVENY SECEDES
Since the day he had heard that Harlan had appeared at the Star and hadbeen taken into the outlaw band by Haydon, Deveny had exhibited fits of asullen moroseness that had kept his closest friends from seeking hiscompanionship. Those friends were few, for Deveny's attitude toward hismen had always been that of the ruthless tyrant; he had treated them withan aloofness that had in it a contempt which they could not ignore.More--he was merciless, and had a furious temper which found its outletin physical violence.
Deveny was a fast man with the big Colt that swung at his hip, a deadlymarksman, and he needed but little provocation to exhibit his skill. Forthat reason his men kept the distance Deveny had established betweenthem--never attempting familiarity with him.
Deveny had heard from a Star man the story of Harlan's coming to the Starand when a day or so later Haydon rode into the Cache, Deveny was in astate of furious resentment.
There had been harsh words between Haydon and Deveny; the men of theCache had no difficulty in comprehending that Deveny's rage was bitter.
Not even when Haydon told him that his acceptance of Harlan had beenforced by circumstances, and that he was tricking Harlan into a state offancied security in which he could the more easily bring confusion uponhim did Deveny agree.
"You're a damned fool, Haydon!" he told the other, his face black withpassion. "That guy is slick as greased lightning--and faster. And hedon't mean any good to the camp. He's out for himself."
Deveny did not intimate that his dislike of Harlan had been caused by thelatter's interference with his plans the day he had held Barbara Morgan aprisoner in the room above the Eating-House in Lamo; but Haydon, who hadheard the details of the affair from one of his men, smiled knowingly.
It was not Haydon's plan to let Deveny know he knew of the affair, orthat he cared about it if he had heard. And so he did not mention it.
But in his heart was a rage that made his thoughts venomous; though heconcealed his emotions behind the bland, smooth smile of good-naturedtolerance.
"I'll handle him, Deveny," he said as he took leave of the other. "He'llget his when he isn't expecting it."
Deveny, however, had no faith in Haydon's ability to "handle" Harlan. Hehad seen in the man's eyes that day in Lamo something that had troubledhim--an indomitability that seemed to indicate that the man would dowhatever he set out to do.
But Deveny did not ride to the Star to see Harlan; he was reluctant tostir outside the Cache, and for many days, while Harlan was attainingsupremacy at the Star, and while Haydon was absent on a mysteriousmission, Deveny kept close to the Cache, nursing his resentment againstHaydon, and deepening--with fancied situations--his hatred for Harlan.
It did not surprise Deveny when a Star man rode into the Cache one dayand told him that Harlan had killed Latimer in a gunfight, and thatHarlan was slowly but surely gaining a following among the men. Theinformation did not surprise Deveny; but it sent his mind into a chaos ofconjecture and speculation, out of which at last a conviction came--thatHarlan was seeking control of the outlaw band; that Haydon's days as aleader were almost over, so far as he was concerned. For if Haydoninsisted on taking Harlan into the secret councils of the camphe--Deveny--was going to operate independently.
The more his thoughts dwelt upon that feature the more attractive itseemed to him. Independence of Haydon meant that he could do as hepleased without the necessity of consulting anybody. He could rustlewhatever cattle he wanted--getting them where he could without followingHaydon's plans--which had always seemed rather nonsensical, embracing asthey did the scheme of railroad building and town sites; and he could doas he pleased with Barbara Morgan, not having to consider Haydon at all.
It was that last consideration that finally decided Deveny. He was anoutlaw--not a politician; he robbed for gain, and not for the doubtfulbenefits that might be got out of the building of a town. And when helooked with desire upon a woman he didn't care to share her with anotherman--not even Haydon.
For two or three days after the conviction seized Deveny, he ponderedover his chances, and when he reached a decision he acted with thevolcanic energy that had characterized his depredations in the basin.
On the morning of the day upon which Haydon returned to the Star to findthe cattle gone and Harlan in control, Deveny appeared to a dozen Cachemen who were variously engaged near the corral, ordering them to saddletheir horses.
Later, Deveny and his men rode southward across a low plateau thatconnected the buttes near the entrance to the Cache with the low hillsthat rimmed the basin. They traveled fast, and when they reached therimming hills they veered eastward upon a broad sand plain.
There was a grin on Deveny's face now--a grin which expressed craft,duplicity, and bestial desire. And as he rode at the head of his men hedrew mental pictures that broadened his grin and brought into his eyes anabysmal gleam.