Essential Western Novels - Volume 4. Max Brand

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СКАЧАТЬ aint surprised," said Butts. "I always said there was somethin' phoney about that bozo, but I don't see how he ever killed anyone with a gun. He must have snuck up on 'em while they was asleep, or maybe when they seen his panties they committed suicide."

      "I don't know nuthin' about that," said Blaine, "but he sure is one bad hombre."

      "I don't believe a word of it," said Dora Crowell, looking Blaine steadily in the eye.

      The man flushed. "It's a good thing for you you're not a man," said Blaine.

      "Perhaps it's a better thing for you that I am not, Cory," she replied.

      Blaine turned away. "I aint goin' to stay here jawin' with no fool woman," he said. "I aint had no sleep for two nights; and I'm goin' to turn in," and with Butts at his side he walked back toward the bunkhouse.

      After the two men had left them, the guests fell into a discussion of Blaine's charges against Marvel. Some agreed with Dora, while others took sides with Blaine. Miss Pruell reiterated that she just couldn't believe such a thing about Mr. Marvel.

      "I guess he must be guilty," said Birdie Talbot, "after all that Cory has told us. We have known Cory much longer than we have Marvel, and there is no reason why we should not believe him. You know I always did suspect something funny about Marvel. I suspicioned him right away when he kept refusing to play bridge."

      Benson Talbot, running true to form, took sides against his wife.

      "It looks pretty bad for Marvel," said Bert Adams, "and perhaps it seems worse to some of us because we know that he was not what he pretended to be. But there was something else about him that the rest of you don't seem to recall that comes pretty nearly convincing me that he is guilty of all that Blaine accuses him of."

      "What's that?" demanded Benson Talbot.

      "His eyes," replied Adams.

      "Why I think he has nice eyes," said Miss Pruell.

      "He has the eyes of a killer," stated Adams confidently.

      "Slush!" exclaimed Dora Crowell.

      Olga Gunderstrom had not entered into the discussion because she knew nothing of either Marvel or Blaine. In fact, the whole matter seemed to bore her and now she turned away. "I am going to my room, Dora," she said. "I think I shall lie down for a few moments." And then, one by one, the guests drifted into the house to read or write letters or to rest, so that the veranda was deserted when Bruce and Kay and Eddie rode into the ranch yard.

      Marvel led them to the foot of the veranda steps, and when they had dismounted he told Kay that she had better go to her room immediately and get some rest. "I reckon the reason there's nobody about is that they are all out lookin' for you," he said, but even as he spoke John White stepped out onto the veranda. As father and daughter saw one another they rushed into each other's arms. There were tears in the man's eyes, while Kay sobbed openly.

      "You are all right, darling?" he asked.

      "All right, dad," she replied through her sobs, "and we have no one to thank for that but Bruce—Mr. Marvel."

      The older man's face hardened, but the girl did not see it for hers was buried upon his shoulder. "I know all about that, dear," he said. "Now you go to your room and get some rest and I will talk with Mr. Marvel."

      She turned and smiled through her tears at Bruce. "I haven't thanked you yet," she said, "but sometime I am going to try."

      "Never you mind the thanks," he said; "you get to bed."

      When she had gone, White descended the veranda steps and faced Marvel. "Blaine is back," he said.

      "I reckoned as much," said Marvel. "Where is he?"

      "He told the whole story," said White. "I ought to kill you, Marvel; but you brought her back unharmed, and I owe you something for that. I am going to give you a chance to get away. The sheriff is on his way here now. You get on yours and I'll tell him that I do not intend to prosecute."

      Marvel looked at the older man for a moment. "I sure would have known that Blaine was back," he said, "even if you hadn't told me. I aint goin' to try to tell you nuthin', Mr. White, except that you are all wrong. I thank you for what you think you're tryin' to do for me, but I'm not goin' away. Kay knows the truth, and you will know it after you have listened to her. I had nuthin' to do with her abduction."

      "It's no use, Marvel," replied White. "Blaine's story was too circumstantial."

      Olga Gunderstrom came onto the veranda as Marvel shook his head and was about to turn away. As their eyes met the girl stopped and hers went wide. "Buck Mason!" she exclaimed.

      "Olga!" cried the man, and started up the steps toward her.

      "Don't come near me, you murderer," she cried.

      "I had to shoot 'em both in self defense, Olga," he said. "Bryam was shootin' at me with a thirty-thirty and the other feller tried to draw after I had him covered."

      "I don't mean those two," she said. "You know who I mean."

      "Olga!" he cried. "I couldn't guess that you'd believe that about me. I heard that story, too; but I knew that you would know that I never done it."

      She shuddered. "I know your kind," she said icily; "no refinement, no instincts of decency, just a common brute, who can think of nothing else but to kill."

      He looked at her in bitter silence for a long moment. Pain, disillusionment, sorrow made a raging chaos of his brain; but at last the only outward expression of what was passing within was the reflection of the sorrow that lay deep in his eyes. Then he turned away, hesitated and turned back toward John White.

      "I'll turn this feller over to you, sir," he said, indicating Eddie with a gesture. "Hold him until the sheriff comes."

      "I told you I was not going to prosecute," said White.

      "But I am," said Mason. "I am a deputy sheriff and I deputize you to take custody of this prisoner;" and then he turned and walked away, leading the four horses toward the corral.

      "Don't let him get away, Mr. White," cried Olga. "Do something. Don't let him getaway."

      "What can I do?" asked White with a shrug. "He is a known killer; and he's carrying two guns, while I am unarmed."

      In her room Kay White was troubled. There had been something in the way that her father had listened to her praise of Marvel that had seemed cold and austere. Perhaps it was a woman's intuition that all was not right that brought her out onto the veranda while Olga was pleading with her father.

      "I tell you something must be done," cried Olga. "He must not be permitted to escape."

      "I have telephoned the sheriff," replied White. "He is on his way here now."

      "That will be too late," replied the girl. "He may get away, and then we may never be able to catch him again."

      "Who?" demanded Kay. "Who may get away?"

      "Buck Mason, the murderer of my father," replied Olga.

      "Buck СКАЧАТЬ