CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Another month passed and the drouth was still unbroken. Stores werethreatened with bankruptcy and cattlemen saw vast herds, accumulatedthrough years of hard toil, dwindle to one-fourth the original number,and faced the possibility of losing that also.
The Arizona ranges for years had been badly overstocked; but eachrancher waited for his neighbour to get rid of the surplus cattle,hoping thereby to benefit his own herd. Over-crowding ranges resulted inthe tramping out of the roots, and what was more serious, grass wascropped so closely that there was no opportunity for seed to mature andfall to the ground and germinate for another year. In former times adrouth would not have been so disastrous as under the existingconditions of the ranges.
Having done all in his power to mitigate the situation, Traynor fought adespondency that was entirely foreign to his nature. It was augmented byhis desire to conceal the facts from his wife, and to this was added hisknowledge that Jamie was continually growing weaker. He had called themen into the office and told them frankly that he would not be able tokeep them much longer, as he was straining every financial possibility.
The result of that conference was a surprise that unmanned him. Limber,Bronco, Holy and Roarer declined to be "fired," stating they would workfor "chuck" until the drouth was over, and when he remonstrated, thefour of them stalked out of the room, as Limber remarked, "We've gotbusiness to attend to outside--instead of talking foolishness inside."
"If I could manage to get a few thousands," said Traynor to Nell asthey left the breakfast table one morning, "I would not hesitate toround up all the weakest cattle and ship at once to Colorado, leavingthe stronger ones take their chances here on the range. However, I mightas well wish for rain; that would be less improbable than obtaining themoney. The most aggravating thing is knowing that I could save thegreater part of the herd if I could only ship them. Native grass isplentiful and pasturage cheap in Colorado this year; once I had thecattle there I could easily raise money at one of the Colorado banks onthe stock, and so relieve the tension here as well as there. If I pullthrough this year, I will keep money in readiness for such an emergency,hereafter. It's been a good lesson; but a mighty expensive one."
As he walked slowly to the barn, he passed Paddy with a large parcelcoming into the courtyard.
"Oi've got somethings for the bye and the misthress," he explained, andTraynor told him they were in the living-room.
"Hello, ould Sphort!" Paddy said to the boy, who was standing by hissister, watching her water the geraniums.
"There's a new bunch of buds Paddy;" the child announced and Paddyexamined the plants critically.
"Yez can't giss what Oi brought wid me for yez;" he said. "A babby deer.Oi caught it at Mud Springs an' brung it in fer yez."
"Oh, Paddy!" Jamie's face glowed with delight. "How did you catch it?Where is it?"
"From the looks of it, its mother has been dead for a couple of days.Giss the coyotes or a lion got her, and the little fellow was mightywake, and was willin' to make friends. Oi carried him twelve moiles inme arrums on the ould grey horse. He's out in the stables now, and thebyes says for yez to come out and get introjuiced to him. They're goin'to give him milk from a bottle till it gits big enough to ate itherthings."
The child's eyes were bright with excitement as he made his way to thebarn, where Bronco and the other boys surrounded a small fawn. Holy washolding a bottle of milk to its mouth, while Bronco stroked the throatto help it swallow, for the fawn was very weak. "Gee! he was hungry!"said Holy to Jamie. "We have to learn him to take the milk this way, andwhen he gets a little stronger he can take it from a pan. Isn't hepretty? He is such a dark brown on the back, and just look how plain hisspots is. Funny they lose 'em when they're yearlings!"
"What you goin' to name it, Kid?" asked Bronco.
"Patsy," replied Jamie promptly, as he knelt and stroked the soft furwith his thin hand. The fawn turned its head and licked his hand, thengazed at the child with its beautiful eyes. The thin arms went about thefawn's neck gently.
"He knows you won't hurt him, Kid;" spoke Holy, then turned awayquickly, swearing to himself. "They're both about all in, an' nobodycan't do nothin'."
After Jamie left the room, Paddy untied the string that held aflour-sack in an unsightly bundle. He tiptoed over to the table and laidthe parcel beside Mrs. Traynor's work-basket.
"Oi just got this from the stage dhriver, Yez mabbe afther hearin' Oiniver knowed how to rade an' write, Misthress Thraynor?"
She nodded her head, and Paddy, finding the string obdurate, produced agigantic pocket-knife, such as is used by cattlemen in ear-markingcalves.
"Will, Oi hed an agrayment wid ould man Sullivan that he was to rade thepoipers fer me, an' would yez belave it, the dummed ould skoonk wasafther thryin' to make me pay him for radin' thim. He says, says he,'Oi've been to the throuble of radin' thim for wan year, an' be jabers,Oi desarve cumpinsation.' An Oi says to him, says Oi, 'Ahl roight,Sullivan. Phwat's the damidge?' 'Foive dollars,' says he as bould asbrass. 'Ahl roight,' says Oi. 'Oi'll pay yez foive dollars fer radin'thim poipers, Misther Sullivan, and yez are goin' to pay me tin dollarsfor the use of thim.' He jumped up and roared at me, 'Thim poipers onlycost foive dollars for wan year.' 'Thrue for yez,' says Oi; 'and yeznadent git hot in the collar about it, at all, at all. Oi'm onlycharging yez fer takin' up my toime whilst Oi was waitin' fer yez tospill out the big wurrds!'" Paddy smiled grimly as he crowded some freshtobacco into his pipe, and after taking a few preliminary puffs, hecontinued. "Will, Sullivan niver collected thot foive dollars. Oithought Oi would be afthar bringin' thim poipers here, so you can radethim and till me the news forinst Oi come again."
As he spoke, he shook the sack, and a solitary paper fell on thetable--_The Tombstone Epitaph_--which was published weekly at the Countyseat. It consisted of one page of local gossip, two pages of picturedcattle, bearing various hieroglyphics, which to the initiatedrepresented brands and ear-marks, while the fourth page was filled withadvertising matter of the local stores. A similar paper was publishedweekly at Willcox. "Oi loike the _Epitaph_ and the Willcox poiper,"explained Paddy with twinkling eyes, "becaze Oi can look at the cows andtell which ind of the poiper goes bottom side up. Here's a book thestage dhriver got fer me. He says it's foine; and yez can rade it toyourself, then tell me about it, sometoime. It's called 'The Revinge ofBloody Dick.'"
A final shake of the sack and "Bloody Dick" appeared, followed byseveral magazines of fashions, and a couple of home periodicals,containing carefully censored stories for women and children, whichhuddled together limply like shocked old maids surprised in questionablecompany.
Nell struggled with a hysterical desire to laugh, as she glanced fromthe strangely garbed figure of the old man to the conventionalfashion-plates; but, appreciating the rough chivalry that had inspiredthe act, a lump grew in her throat, and dropping her head on the tablethe sobs came unchecked.
Paddy moved to her side and stroked her hair gently, speaking as thoughto an injured child.
"Shure, Oi didn't mane to make yez fale bad, at all, at all, littlegurrl. Oi thuoght if yez was radin' yez wouldn't be worritin' so muchabout the cattle."
"It is Jamie, too," she sobbed. "I know he is growing weaker; but Allandoes not know it, yet. I've been keeping it from him, for he has so muchworry now. If he could ship the cattle to Colorado and save them, hesaid he could get money there to carry us through."
Paddy listened thoughtfully. "He's roight about that," said the old man."It would save the wakest wans, and lave more fade for the sthrong wans.Don't be afther sayin' anythin' to the Boss, Misthress Thraynor, but yezknow Oi have some money put away handy, and if the Boss wants to borryit to hilp ship his cattle, Oi'll lind it to him. Oi've got the moneyfrom the sale of the PL Ranch, and there's a few more dollars ilsewherethat I can get widout trouble. The Diamond H is good property whin thedrouth is done, and Oi'm not afraid of losin' the principal wid theBoss. Oi niver thrust any banks becoz they moight go boos
ted any toime."Paddy crammed fresh tobacco in his pipe. "Oi kin let the Boss havetwenty-foive thousand dollars in gold if he wants it. Now moind, don'tyez till him onything, but lit me fix it up my own way wid him. Oi'mgoin' to Willcox airly in the marnin', Misthress Thraynor, an' whin Oicome back Oi'll talk wid the Boss, and foind out whin he wants the moneyready."
Nell started up, but Paddy waved her back. "Don't yez begin a thankin'me," he commanded fiercely, "or ilse Oi won't lit him have a dummedcent! It's jist a matter of business, an' Oi'll charge him intherest,all roight. Oi moight as well be makin' intherest on my money as to belavin' it buried in the ground."
He held out a grimy, calloused hand, saying, "Good noight, MisthreeThraynor. Git a good noight's slape and don't worrit ony more. Oi'll saythat the Boss has what money he nades, and a little over, so that youand the bye can go to Californy for a while, until this dry spell isover. Thin whin the rains comes, the little chap will be afther comin'back with chakes as rid as thim posies;" and he disappeared through thedoor, leaving Nell feeling he had carried her troubles with him.
A couple of hours after sunrise the next morning, Paddy riding leisurelyalong the road from the Diamond H to Willcox, encountered Limber a fewmiles out of town. Limber had ridden from the Hot Springs.
After the usual salutation, Paddy reined his grey, gaunt horse close toPeanut's side, leaned over, held his hand cupped about his mouth andwith a glance at the miles of prairie that sheltered no eavesdropper,the old Irishman whispered, "Say, Limber, thar's somewan sleeperin'.Warkin' on the PL and Diamond H. Oi tould the Boss and he's goin' towarn the byes to look out. Oi mebbe misthaken, but Oi've got an ideethat Glendon's at the bottom of it. 'Twon't hurt to kape an oye on himover at the Springs. Goin' back soon?"
"I have some thing to attend to for the doctor. He's up to Tucson thisweek," Limber answered as they unsaddled their ponies at the Rest. "I'mgoin' to the Diamond H tonight, after sundown. It'll be cooler then andgive Peanut a good rest."
"Oi'll see yez before yez start." Paddy had reached the gate but turnedback, "Say, Limber, Oi want yez to pick out a noice little collar. Ifound a fawn and packed it in for the bye, so long as you're goin' tothe Diamond H, yez can take it along. I've got to go to the San Pethrofor a few days."
He held out a twenty-dollar gold piece, which Limber slipped into hispocket.
"Say, Paddy, if I was you I'd put my dinero in a bank. You take lots ofchances," remonstrated Limber seriously. "Someday you'll go to yourcache and find your money's been dug up."
"They'll have a dummed hard toime a foindin' it," retorted Paddycunningly, "and a dummed harder toime gettin' away wid it, for Oi kape aclose watch on it. Oi'm figgerin' on makin' a loan to the Boss, so's tohelp him ship cattle. Oi got thirty-five thousand dollars put away. Oiain't no Rockyfeller, but Oi've got enough for salt pork and frijolesfor the nixt tin years, an' Oi don't belave Oi'll be in urgent nade ofthim afther that toime. If the Good Lard thinks Oi'll pass theInspection Chute, Oi'll be fading on milk an' honey widout payin' ferit. Oi'm siventy-six, come my nixt birthday."
"Well, your money will be safer if the Boss has it," Limber finished theconversation as he turned into the store, while Paddy walked up thestreet, stopping to speak to people he knew. Every one liked the oldfellow, who was noted for his sobriety and honesty as much for hispeculiarities. He was passing the swinging door of a saloon which hadnone too savory a reputation, when Alpaugh, the Constable of Willcox,who was also the Deputy Sheriff of Cochise County, called to him.
"Hello, Paddy! Come in and have a drink," he invited cordially slappingthe old man's shoulder.
"Ahl roight, Dick," was the reply, "Oi'm goin' to git somethin' to ate,and it will be an appytizer. I rid from the Diamond H this marnin', butit was too airly for breakfast whin I started out."
The bar-tender mixed the concoctions ordered and set two glasses on thebar, then saying, "I'll be back in a minute," he left the room inresponse to a call, leaving Paddy and Alpaugh alone, except for a mansprawled across a table at the end of the room.
Paddy looked at the man. "That Glendon is always dhrunk," he remarked indisgust. "Pity his woife don't loight out and lave him." He moved,nearer, "Say, Dick," he whispered, though his voice carried distinctly,"Oi think yez had betther kape an oye on Thray-fingered Jack, Glendon,Bentz and Burks. Oi run into them last wake nigh Glendon's place, andthey was squattin' on the ground drawin' loines. They didn't say me, butthey was talkin' about the Express car to the Jumpin' Frog Moines. Oidon't loike the looks of it."
Alpaugh glanced at him sharply. "Much obliged, Paddy;" he replied. "Didyou speak of it to any one else?"
"Nary a sould," responded Paddy.
"Don't tell any one else," cautioned Alpaugh.
"Ahl roight, Dick;" answered Paddy, lifting the glass to his lips."Here's lookin' at yez."
A shot pinged through the air, and the glass fell from Paddy's fingersas he tumbled in a grotesque heap on the floor. Glendon, holding thestill smoking pistol, sprang to Paddy's side and emptied four morecartridges into the motionless figure.
Alpaugh stooped quickly, breaking the buckskin thong around the triggerof Paddy's pistol, and threw the gun beside the dead man.
"He didn't know you and Bentz saw him out there. Stick to self-defence,"said Alpaugh. "Dead men tell no tales, and the damn fool knew too much."
A crowd of excited men filled the place when Limber came running in."Who done it?" he demanded, looking around.
"I did," replied Glendon, facing him; and Limber stepped back as thoughmenaced with a blow.
"You--"
"Yes! Alpaugh was drinking with Paddy when he turned on me without anywarning, and I shot in self-defence. The old man's been nutty for sometime, and had it in for me ever since we had trouble at the corral overthat cow. If you don't believe me, you can ask Alpaugh. He saw it all."
Alpaugh looked at the faces of the crowd, and knew he must keep his headlevel, for Glendon was not popular, and Paddy had many friends.
"I saw Paddy going past, and asked him in to have a drink with me," saidthe constable with apparent frankness. "Otto mixed the drinks and wentback to the end of the room, and Paddy was talking to me. Glendon was atthe other end of the room, but got up and started to walk over to us,and I was going to ask him to have something with us, when Paddy saw himand reached for his gun. Glendon had to shoot quick or be shot himself.The trigger of Paddy's gun caught in the buckskin loop of his holster,or else he'd got Glendon first. That's all there is about it. Paddy'sbeen itchy against Glendon for some time. Every one knows that."
He turned to Glendon, "I've got to arrest you, Jim, until after theinquest."
"That's all right," answered Glendon, then he saw Limber scrutinizinghim sharply. "Say, Limber, will you tell my wife? She's expecting mehome tonight."
Limber's eyes were riveted on Glendon, as though trying to read theman's thoughts. "Yes," he replied curtly, turning on his heel andwalking out the room without another word.
"There's something crooked in back of it," he muttered to himself, as hereached the Cowboys' Rest and picked up his saddle. Then he rememberedPaddy's promised assistance for Traynor. "No one knows where Paddy hidhis money, and that settles the Boss," he stopped to pet the nose ofPaddy's gaunt, old, flea-bitten grey horse, which had been a joke withevery one, then Limber flung his saddle on Peanut and mounted."Sometimes it looks like it don't pay to be square, Peanut," he said asthe little pinto pony headed for the road leading to the Circle CrossRanch.