Essential Western Novels - Volume 4. Max Brand

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СКАЧАТЬ maybe your daughter would have been shot during the rumpus. They bound and gagged me and then rode off with her. During the day I managed to work the gag out of my mouth, but I couldn't get my hands and feet loose."

      "I found him tied up like a sack of barley over in Dry Spring Gulch," said Butts. "If he hadn't of got that gag out, I'd of rid right by him in the dark."

      "Which way did they take her?" asked White.

      "They went west over the ridge," said Blaine.

      "I wish we had known that sooner," said White, "the sheriff was just here with a posse; and it might have helped him to know which way they went."

      "Which way was he aimin' to look?" asked Blaine.

      "He wouldn't tell me," said White. "He just said that he had a tip. They only stopped here long enough to see if we'd heard anything, and then they rode on."

      "How did the sheriff hear of it?" asked Blaine.

      "I telephoned to town just as soon as it was obvious that something must have happened to you and Kay," explained White.

      Cory seemed thoughtful. "I wonder where he got his tip and what it is?"

      Butts had departed, taking the sorrel colt to the stable. "Ask one of the boys to get Blue up for me, Butts," Blaine called after him.

      "None of the boys are here," said Dora. "They are all out looking for you and Kay."

      "I'll get him up," said Butts.

      "What are you going to do?" asked White.

      "I'm goin' out to look for your daughter, Mr. White," replied Cory, "and I'll never come back until I find her."

      "It will mean ten thousand dollars, Mr. Blaine, to you or any other man that brings her back alive," said White.

      "I don't want no money, sir," Blaine assured him. "It means more to me than all the money in the world to get her back to you safe and sound. I feel like it was all my fault that this happened."

      "Don't take it too hard, Blaine," said White generously. "I don't see what you could have done to prevent it."

      "I'm all broke up over it," said Blaine, "but by God, sir, I'll get her back; and if anything's happened to her, somebody's goin' to get kilt."

      "Whoever they are," said White, "you may rest assured that they shall be brought to justice. I have already telegraphed to business associates in Mexico and to the sheriffs of adjoining counties to be on the lookout. If they get away, it will be a miracle."

      For a moment Cory Blaine stood in thoughtful meditation.

      "Perhaps that wasn't the right thing to do, Mr. White," he suggested. "Them sort of fellers is desperate. If they're surrounded they might make away with her in some lonely spot and bury her where she wouldn't never be found in a hundred years; then they could scatter, and even if some of 'em was caught, it would be hard to prove anything on 'em; for they was masked and I couldn't never identify 'em. If I was you I would telegraph all them people to lay off for awhile 'till I see what I can do. I know this country better than anyone, and if I can't find her nobody can."

      "I'll think over what you have said," replied White noncommittally.

      "I reckon I'll go and get me something to eat," said Cory. "I aint eat since breakfast, and I may not get a chance to eat again for some time."

      As he ran up the steps and entered the house, some of the party returned to the veranda; but John White detained Dora Crowell. "Don't you think now that you were mistaken about Blaine?" he asked. "He certainly had no part in the abduction, and it is evident that he is terribly cut up about it."

      "Nevertheless, Mr. White, if I were you, I wouldn't call off those telegrams," said Dora. "If those men are so desperate, they are not going to let Cory Blaine take Kay away from them single- handed."

      "I guess you are right at that," said White, "and it won't hurt to give him all the help that we can get for him, but still I can't help having confidence in him."

      "I wish I could," said Dora.

      Butts had gotten the horses up, and after considerable difficulty he managed to get ropes on two of them. These he had saddled and tied to the corral posts, and then he had gone to the bunk house.

      Rummaging in the duffle bag that was tucked beneath his cot, he finally extracted a piece of note paper. The bunkhouse was dark, and no one had seen him enter it from the veranda of the ranch house; nor did they see him emerge, but presently they saw him hurrying excitedly toward them.

      "Look here," he cried as he reached the foot of the steps. "Here's a note from the kidnappers. It was stuck to the side of the bunkhouse door."

      White took the slip of paper from him eagerly and, followed by the others, went into the ranch house where, by the light of the kerosene lamp, he deciphered the crude scrawl.

      "Tell Mr. White," it read, "that if he wants to see his daughter alive again to have one hundred thousand dollars in twenty dollar bills ready one week from today at TF Ranch. He will get further instructions then how to deliver the money and get his girl. No funny business or we'll slit her throat."

      There was no signature, and the characters were printed in an obvious effort to disguise the hand.

      Cory Blaine had eaten, and as he joined them White handed him the note. "What do you think of it?" asked White, after Blaine had read it.

      "Where did it come from?" demanded Blaine.

      "I found it stickin' on the side of the bunk house beside the door," said Butts. "It sure gave me a shock when I read it."

      "How could you read it?" asked Dora Crowell. "There is no light at the bunkhouse."

      Just for an instant Butts' jaw dropped. Perhaps no one noticed it, for he caught himself so quickly. "I seen the paper and I struck a match," he said.

      "Oh!" was Dora's only comment.

      "What would you advise, Blaine?" asked White.

      "I might fail, Mr. White," replied Cory; "and after all the first thing we care about is getting Kay back, so maybe you better get the money in case I do fail."

      "If you get in touch with them, Blaine, you may offer them the reward in my name," said White. "It is a great deal of money; but I think that I can raise it; and, of course, it is needless to say that I would make any sacrifice to get Kay back alive and well."

      "I'll sure do all I can, Mr. White," said Cory. "You may absolutely depend on me."

      "I got two horses up, Cory," said Butts. "I'm goin' with you."

      "You stay here," said Blaine. "I don't need no help, and if any other clue should turn up while I'm gone there ought to be someone here who knows the country and who can ride hard."

      Butts said nothing, but he accompanied Blaine as he walked down to the stable for his horse. "One of us has got to be here," said Cory. "If anything goes wrong and it aint safe for me to return, light a fire on the hill. I'll make a signal on Horsecamp Butte СКАЧАТЬ