The Cowboy MEGAPACK ®. Owen Wister

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      “If there’d been a wind, the whole town might have burned,” the saloon man was saying.

      “Mebbe Dawes set it afire with his pipe,” another man said.

      “After barricadin’ the doors on the outside?” Houston asked, as he stepped forward. “If you’re afraid to speak out and say who you think is responsible, don’t talk at all. And if you’re tryin’ to defend the man who done it—”

      “Me, I ain’t takin’ sides in any ruckus,” the saloon man quickly interrupted.

      “There’s times when everybody should take sides,” Houston said. “That’s when some hombre ain’t playin’ fair.”

      “Them’s my sentiments” The speaker was Silky Gadley, the gambler. He wore a gun-belt beneath his long black coat, which was unusual for him. “If men want to fight, and do it fair and square, that’s their business. When they don’t play fair and square, it’s every decent man’s business to go after ’em—”

      “I want to see this Sid Jarles if he comes to town,” Houston said, “I come over to ask all you to tell him that. I never believe in postponin’ a showdown. I’ll be at the tradin’ post.”

      He left the saloon and returned to the store. With Clara to help him, he got busy cleaning and rearranging some of the stock, while Brandell sat in a rocking chair at the rear end of the counter. Both Houston and Clara knew they were working merely to keep their nerves down under the tension of waiting.

      * * * *

      It was mid-morning when riders came into town off the south trail. Sid Jarles rode ahead. Jake Walters was with him, as were five other men. They dismounted in front of the saloon and tied their horses, slapped the dust from their shoulders and tucked their riding gauntlets away as they stepped up on the plank walk.

      Houston watched through the window as Clara pointed out the men to him. Sid Jarles was a tall, powerfully built man with graying hair. Jake Walters was short, heavy in body. Ed Foster was one of the other five.

      The Three S men went into the saloon. Some of the townsmen emerged and hurried away, as if from a place of trouble. Houston saw Dawes coming down the street, and noticed that the stableman was wearing a gun. Houston stepped outside quickly and called to him, and Dawes crossed to the trading post.

      “Don’t start anything, Dawes,” Houston said. “Let Jarles start it, if it’s got to be started.”

      “If he had me burned out—”

      “If he did, it was ’cause I was sleepin’ in your stable. Whoever set the fire was after me.”

      “You can’t fight Jarles and his gang alone. Jake Walters is with him.”

      “And five others,” Houston said.

      The Three S men were still in the saloon. Sam Finch came along the walk, striding quickly, glancing across at the trading post, and then darting into the saloon to find Jarles. Houston turned to reenter the trading post, and Dawes followed him.

      Thus, by disobeying Jarles’ orders, Dawes put himself on Houston’s side. The stableman bought something he did not need—from a shelf at the front so anybody across the street could see him plainly. Then he went outside and leaned against one of the awning posts and rolled a cigarette.

      “This waiting—” Clara said to Houston.

      “Yeah, waitin’ is always the worst part,” Houston admitted. “Keeps you keyed up, huh?”

      “I hope—that is—” she muttered hesitantly.

      “You can speak right out, if the cat ain’t got your tongue.”

      “Well—I hope nothing bad happens to you. Because you must be all right, if Mr. Jim Penroy trusts you so. He and Dad have been friends since they were boys, and always promised to help each other.”

      “Jim Penroy picked me up and gave me a home when my folks died,” Houston explained. “If I can be half as good a man as he is, I’ll be pretty good.”

      “I’m sorry you had to come to us when there’s trouble,” she told him. “Vista is only a crossroads town, but the back country is fine, with more people coming in. We do a pretty good business when things are all right.”

      Houston grinned. “You mean I’ve made a good investment? Jim Penroy said as how, if I liked it here, and was liked, I could make the investment permanent and pay him back when I could. But I reckon, soon as the trouble’s settled, your father will be wantin’ me to move on.”

      “Dad is sick. He needs a man here. Sam Finch—Dad caught him stealing. The post could be built up into something big. But this trouble—”

      “I understand Jarles turned agin’ your father ’cause you refused to marry him.”

      “He’s a beast,” Clara said. “He’s about the last man in the world I’d ever marry.”

      “Who’s the first?”

      “There hasn’t been any, so far,” she said.

      “You go back and talk to your father,” Houston said. “Keep him company—and stay where you won’t be hurt.”

      He motioned toward the window with his head. Clara looked across the street and saw Sid Jarles and his Three S men coming out of the saloon.

      “I think it’s time for the showdown,” Houston said.

      Chapter IV

      Battle Smoke

      The Three S men remained grouped at the edge of the walk across the street.

      “Dawes!” Sid Jarles called. “I want to talk to you.”

      “I’m listenin’,” Dawes gruffly replied.

      “I’ve been told what happened. None of the Three S men had anything to do with burnin’ your stable. I know how it looks, but I’m tellin’ you the truth. I may fight when it’s necessary, but I wouldn’t burn a hoss.”

      “Somebody burned me out and fastened the doors so’s I almost burned, too. If none of your men did it, who did? I ain’t got any enemies in town, as I know of.”

      “You had another man sleepin’ in your stable last night,” Sid Jarles reminded him. “Whoever set the fire was prob’ly tryin’ to get him, not you.”

      “Only a skunk’d try to get a man that way,” Dawes growled. “Show me who did it. Then I’ll believe none of your men did.”

      “You’re talkin’ pretty high, seems to me,” Jarles called. “I’ve told you none of my men did it. If I learn who did, I’ll let you know. And you keep out of Brandell’s place! I don’t want folks to trade there.”

      Before Dawes could answer that, Houston stepped out of the store and stood with his fists planted against his hips, looking across the street at the Three S men.

      “Who are СКАЧАТЬ