The Complete Dan Barry Chronicles (All 4 Westerns in One Edition). Max Brand

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      22. THE WOMAN'S WAY

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      It was a day later, in the morning, that a hand knocked at Kate's door and she opened it to Jim Silent. He entered, brushing off the dust of a long journey.

      "Good-mornin', Miss Cumberland."

      He extended a hand which she overlooked.

      "You still busy hatin' me?"

      "I'm simply—surprised that you have come in here to talk to me."

      "You look as if you seen somethin' in my face?" he said suspiciously. "What is it? Dirt?"

      He brushed a hand across his forehead.

      "Whatever it is," she answered, "you can't rub it away."

      "I'm thinkin' of givin' you a leave of absence—if you'll promise to come back."

      "Would you trust my honour?"

      "In a pinch like this," he said amiably, "I would. But here's my business. Lee Haines is jailed in Elkhead. The man that put him behind the bars an' the only one that can take him out agin is Whistlin' Dan. An' the one person who can make Dan set Lee loose is you. Savvy? Will you go an' talk with Dan? This wolf of his would find him for you."

      She shook her head.

      "Why not?" cried Silent in a rising voice.

      "The last time he saw me," she said, "he had reason to think that I tried to betray him because of Lee Haines. If I went to him now to plead for Haines he'd be sure that I was what he called me—Delilah!"

      "Is that final?"

      "Absolutely!"

      "Now get me straight. They's a crowd of cowpunchers gatherin' in Elkhead, an' today or tomorrow they'll be strong enough to take the law into their own hands and organize a little lynchin' bee, savvy?"

      She shuddered.

      "It ain't pleasant, is it, the picture of big, good-lookin' Lee danglin' from the end of a rope with the crowd aroun' takin' pot-shots at him? No, it ain't, an' you're goin' to stop it. You're goin' to start from here in fifteen minutes with your hoss an' this wolf, after givin' me your promise to come back when you've seen Whistlin' Dan. You're goin' to make Dan go an' set Lee loose."

      She smiled in derision.

      "If Dan did that he'd be outlawed."

      "You won't stir?"

      "Not a step!"

      "Well, kid, for everything that happens to Lee somethin' worse will happen to someone in the next room. Maybe you'd like to see him?"

      He opened the door and she stepped into the entrance. Almost opposite her sat old Joe Cumberland with his hands tied securely behind his back. At sight of her he rose with a low cry. She turned on big Silent and whipped the six-gun from his hip. He barely managed to grasp her wrist and swing the heavy revolver out of line with his body.

      "You little fiend," he snarled, "drop the gun, or I'll wring your neck."

      "I don't fear you," she said, never wincing under the crushing grip on her wrists, "you murderer!"

      He said, calmly repossessing himself of his gun, "Now take a long look at your father an' repeat all the things you was just sayin' to me."

      She stared miserably at her father. When Silent caught Kate's hand Cumberland had started forward, but Kilduff and Rhinehart held him.

      "What is it, Kate," he cried. "What does it mean?"

      She explained it briefly: "This is Jim Silent!"

      He remained staring at her with open mouth as if his brain refused to admit what his ear heard.

      "There ain't no use askin' questions how an' why she's here," said Silent. "This is the pint. Lee Haines is behind the bars in Elkhead. Whistlin' Dan put him there an' maybe the girl c'n persuade Dan to bring him out again. If she don't—then everything the lynchin' gang does to Haines we're goin' to do to you. Git down on your ol' knees, Cumberland, an' beg your daughter to save your hide!"

      The head of Kate dropped down.

      "Untie his hands," she said. "I'll talk with Dan."

      "I knew you'd see reason," grinned Silent.

      "Jest one minute," said Cumberland. "Kate, is Lee Haines one of Silent's gang?"

      "He is."

      "An' Dan put him behind the bars?"

      "Yes."

      "If Dan takes him out again the boy'll be outlawed, Kate."

      "Cumberland," broke in Kilduff savagely, "here's your call to stop thinkin' about Whistlin' Dan an' begin figgerin' for yourself."

      "Don't you see?" said Kate, "it's your death these cowards mean."

      Cumberland seemed to grow taller, he stood so stiffly erect with his chin high like a soldier.

      "You shan't make no single step to talk with Dan!"

      "Can't you understand that it's you they threaten?" she cried.

      "I understan' it all," he said evenly. "I'm too old to have a young man damned for my sake."

      "Shut him up!" ordered Silent. "The old fool!"

      The heavy hand of Terry Jordan clapped over Joe's mouth effectually silenced him. He struggled vainly to speak again and Kate turned to Silent to shut out the sight.

      "Tell your man to let him go," she said, "I will do what you wish."

      "That's talkin' sense," said Silent. "Come out with me an' I'll saddle your hoss. Call the wolf."

      He opened the door and in response to her whistle Black Bart trotted out and followed them out to the horse shed. There the outlaw quickly saddled Kate's pony.

      He said: "Whistlin' Dan is sure headin' back in this direction because he's got an idea I'm somewhere near. Bart will find him on the way."

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