The Rustlers of Pecos County

re him, making a lane through the crowd, it w

us element might have pulled a gun. I wondered if Steele knew how I watched those men

power to cow ordinary men that explained so many of his feats; just the same it was

ddle of the main street and watched him secure a team

. In the expression of silent men I found something which I had sought; from the hurried departure of oth

urprise, the smaller part-was the ro

rock that wanted law, but for some reason not yet c

uld be done long before the year was up Linrock would be free o

to bar, watching, listening, recording; and not

rrying through my supper, to get away from questions and to

y lamps that had been lit were in Sampson's big sitting room at the fa

lk right then, and certainly intended to

ell hidden in the bushes, so well screened that I cou

t man, intense beneath the surface, with an air of dig

use without speaking,

en step and wall, and there in the shadow I hid. If Sampson or Wright vi

ce whether or not Diane Sampson was told the truth. So I waited th

ll the difference in light when the big one

ss Sampson say anxiously. "Papa just met me in th

"For once, he didn't try to kiss me. Something's happe

tic sound brought me vividly out of my sordid busi

in amused surprise. "Oh, I see-I

very old deuce. I'll ne

-affair with Ru

re she si

s just as well short," said Diane earn

n-in spite of things-even though he

different now from what he was at first. It's only occasionally I get the impression I had of him after that night he saved me from

, mark my words," whispered Sally. "He swore

are wild men. George makes life misera

nts to spoon," declared Sally empha

to me, Cousin Sal

"It's so. He's spoony. And when he's been

o do something dreadful to George," said Diane

l of me would if I weren't afraid of Russ. I've got a feeling-I don'

on the hall floor, step

its usual gaiety. Then ensued a pause that made

ntly. "I never saw papa as he is to-night, nor

to-day," replied Wright, wi

both the gir

ght passionately, as if the sound of his voice augmented

throat in a way that betr

ning my muscles for a protracted spell of rigidity,

ntly uttered in a moment of passion, migh

were there in consultation with three ranchers from out of town. First we were disturbed

ought there was a fire. Then that Ranger, Steele, stalked in, dragging a fellow by the name of S

Hoden didn't accuse anybody, didn't know who attacked him. Snell, being obviously innocent, was dis

heard his intake of breath.

ce. There was no law. Your father's office as mayor should be impeached. He made arrests only for petty offenses. He was afraid of the r

father, Diane, insulted in his own court by a rowdy Ranger! Not only ins

ried Diane, in mingle

right. "These Rangers are all a low set, many of them worse than the outlaws t

he is to be feared. He wanted to kill. He meant to kill. If your father had made the least move Steele would have shot

speakable ruffian!" cri

ate. He's infamous and he loves his name. He seeks notoriety. He made that play with Snell just for a chance to rant against y

with feeling. "After a moment's thought no one will be influenced by them. Do not worry, George, tell

There are many bitter men here, men who have failed at ranching. And your father h

ng which, evidently, the worr

e of Steele and his prison

and shifting points of view, to ask a question the an

ed me. Sally might be a f

all of it who had heard the mayor's order to discharge Snell,"

is Ranger was able to arrest Snell, the innocen

ght ended abruptly, and then broke out fier

om the parlor, leaving behind him a silence elo

e mean?" asked Dia

led," replied Sally

y, my wits are sadly mixed. I ought to be glad if so

n't want me to stay for good. And no wonder. S

pirit to the grand stature of him. How can so splendid a man be so bloody, base at heart? It's hideous. How li

In the experience of activity of body and mind, with a prospect that this

a sorrow. So perhaps my downfall as a lover w

Sampson and Wright, and only awaited Steele's

ng did not worry me. I had heard many su

ot see any man or men on the present horizo

, I had even more freedom. I went down to the town a

the money I spent, and I never neglected being free with both. I

s, Jim?" I a

head was circled by a bandage that did not conceal the lump where he

gave you, the skunk," I remarke

ll," remonstrated Jim with

ot. I saw his face when he made his talk to Sampson's court. Snell lied. And I'll tell

tated by my forcible i

r. Maybe you've noticed that about me. In some parts of Texas it's policy to be close-mouthed. Policy an

y eye, how Hoden gave a quick start. I expected so

s habitual set taciturnity, but even as I looked the light that might hav

scent. "Thet's funny, Russ, seein' as you drift wi

an't gamble with gentlemen

ht start, and this t

e heard you was

I'm a little bet

With cards, an

n't had much chance to show how good I am on

en with his dry laugh. "Same as you leanin'

ang! The way he called Sampson-why, it was great! The justice of that call doe

s pale cheeks and I saw him swal

work for Samps

pson's man. He and Wright have

said curious

ings on me, Jim. And I

t here," replied Hoden. "But I ain't see

s I stop buying drinks. Talking about

dn't

e powerful peevish to-day. It's the bump

which sure ain't often,

ther day to find I was losing good money at Sampson's faro game. Sure if I'd won I wouldn't ha

erable property hereabouts,

afraid to open your mug about Sampson. Get me straight, Jim Hoden. I don't care a damn for Colon

oden, making light of my bluster,

. "My temper gets up, Jim. Then it's not

. But Sampson's name isn't connected w

n't have lots of crooked faro dealers. A fellow can stand for them. But Blandy's mean, back handed

agined his voice a little husky. "Di

ou?" I sai

ce, made additions twice,

'll be d

be surprised, and with th

not there now, Jim

t lost t

lk-to tell. Sympathy had made him soft.

deal with Sampson. We got the stock, an' my share, eighteen hundred head, was ru

en. He was white, and tea

y of the man. He had failed to meet his ob

sion had the man's spirit not been broken, lay bare

of his reticence and fear-these I thought best to try to l

s tough," I said. "But you're a

money. Between you and me, as friends, I've been adding some to that roll all the time. But b

f ranchers if there happen to be two honest ones in Pecos. Eh? No deals with r

or years. So you must know a

nds an' neighbors all my prosperous days. An' friends still. You can gamble on Fra

hy

son. The pioneers, the new cattlemen-these are easy pickin'. But the new fellers have to learn the ropes

aused. "If they knew who

op

had the

het so

What'd make

lea

leader! In my mind's eye I saw a horde of dark faced, dusty

ld haunts, and was about to turn in front of a feed and grain

cowboy," boom

ned, and whose acquaintance I had made. He was

Let's have a d

e said. "Young feller,

to me,

uld. His buckboard stood at the rai

lucky," he went on, wit

riend Hoden gave me a hunch you'd be a good man to tie to. Now, I've

or all his doubt of me h

a no-good cow puncher without any brains. Wake up, Morton. If you never size

these men, pregnant with meaning. Morton showed hi

lucky. Will you let me in on some kind of deal? Will you

ange, comin' from Samp

, but the old man? Nit! He's been after me for weeks. I won't

nt to take your money an' see you lose out. Better go back across the Pecos where the rustlers ain't so strong. I haven't had m

ith impatience. "You see, I haven't ever lived long

d at me with a cur

ker. Everybody calls them out and out

rs same as gun throwers. But thet's the love such men have for bei

y what I mean, Morton? Maybe there's more

ig jaw as if to shut

can figure ahead. It stands to reason, no matter how damn strong these rustlers are,

they'll last as long as thar's

of circumstances I just figur

of his whip. His anger flashed by then as unworthy of him,

If you're going to pretend a yell

d?" he

in Pecos they're not any different from those in other places.

Linrock who're afraid of their shadows, afraid to be out a

ast, you're pretending lack of nerve just to h

ng of rustlers stop me from going in business with a rancher? Nit! What you need out here in Pe

replied, looking as if a

to stir this really courageous old cattleman. He had grown up with the evil. T

the next time I come t

with the meeting, retraced my step

profane set, to cultivate them, to drink occasionally despite my deftness at emptying glasses on the floor, to gambl

ture, I went, as was my habit, to the rendezvous w

d for this latter fact safer to be abroad. Often from my co

velers; so far, however, this had not been our game. I had eno

all around. Not only did I listen for Steele's soft step, but for any sound-the yelp of coyote or mourn of wolf

oming like a black giant long before I heard his soft step. It was good to f

how's tricks?"

d you land that so

right there. I side-stepped Sanderson on the way back. But over here at the little village-

p?" I q

I got into the brush in time to save

get any

led. "Had to hoof it to Linroc

ur 'dobe ye

t bothered me some to make sure no

fer place. Why not take

I need grub, and I've got to have a few co

is absence, holding back one thing. What I did tell him sobered

all. Well,

rhaps. I had a pretty bad case of moons over the little Langdon girl. But

tly care for her? Th

ll! There's one thing sure, a love affair might ha

knee told me of his sympathy, another indicatio

s Sampson? Swore you'd never come back? Well, after he had gone, when Sally said he'd meant you'd be killed, Miss Sampson felt bad about i

nd your splendid stature. Called you a magnificent fellow-that was it. Well

hoed Steele, greatly

ith you-had her little dream about

eyes. It did not matter that it was dark; I saw

t only lasted a minute! She might-we might-If it wasn't for this hellish

Vaughn, you haven't

in his eyes? He did not reply to that at all

ve got to do to Diane Samp

ruin her happiness

There for a little I hoped you had worked out thing

incomprehensible as it was painful. I could not tell if it came from suddenly divined love for Diane Sampson equally

son, because, as arrest looks improbable

Why, why?

he leader of the Linr

gone rather deeply into the plan

nal vigilance. If he got shot in a fair encounter with his enemies-well, that was a Ranger's risk and no disgrace. But to be massacred in

his back on anyone-made me wonder too, at the menace in his voice. Steele seeme

y myself of their trustworthiness reveal my identity to them. Through this I was to cult

might eventually fix guilt on the rustler gang, but also just as imper

im. We agreed, moreover, that the bolder the front now the better the chance of ultimate success.

arrest, or the work would be useless, almost a farce, a

for a jail, because that could b

d had been long in disuse. Steele would rent it, hire men to guard and feed his prisoners; and if these pri

reasoning, had arrived at a conviction of Sampson's guilt

senses for that particular thing. Steele acknowledged a few mistakes in his day; b

ermore, when proof was secured, then came the crowning task-

t with infinite patience and implacable resolve. Steele and I differed only in the dri

present the law of Texas, and by so doing render som

anted to help harassed people, especially women and children; but mainly with me it was t

persistently flagrant advances, to which I was apparently blind, I

ul, reliable, and respectful attendant, seeing to the safety of my cha

d piqued her; she had made advances and then my coldness had roused her spirit. She was the kind o

ure, when I thought of it I had no reason to

ng kissed again by her admirers. Then, in all seriou

ifferent part I pla

. Mine I took in the shade of a scrubby mesquite. The girls strolle

a thrill. First I saw Sally's little brown hands on my shoulders. Then her head, with hair all shiny and flying and fragr

love me any mor