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Several times Antrim observed that the lantern became stationary as though it had been placed upon the ground. He grinned coldly as he spoke to Krell and Selden. "That's Lawler's mother, I reckon. She's huntin' for them boys that was foolish enough to try an' stop Slade. Looks like she's findin' 'em, too!" Antrim watched until the light began to bob as its bearer went toward the ranchhouse.
Lawler had gone inside and said lowly: "Lord, man! you've got this state raving over you! Your fight against the ring is talked about in every corner of the country. And that scrap with Antrim, Selden, and Krell in the old Dickman cabin will go down in history it will be a classic! What made you rush in on Antrim that way giving him the first shot?" Lawler smiled faintly.
Krell, the other man, was smooth of face, with a strong, bold, thrusting jaw and thick, pouting lips. His eyes were big, but they had a disquieting habit of incessant watchfulness a crafty alertness, as though their owner was suspicious of the motives of those at whom he looked.
The shock of Shorty's first bullet striking him had turned him partially around, so that his left side was toward Shorty. He had lurched forward a little; and was turning, trying to use the gun in his left hand, when another bullet struck him. He grunted, stood slowly erect, and then fell backward stiffly. Shorty ran to him and to Krell, scanning their faces with savage intentness.
Shorty had approached the cabin from the rear, having cut across the space behind the bunkhouses when he heard the shooting. He could not be seen by Selden and Krell as they plunged out of the door; but he had seen Lawler when the latter dodged behind the corner of the cabin, and as he ran toward Lawler he drew his guns. As yet Shorty had seen no one but Lawler.
They were Antrim's constant companions, except when the necessities of his trade drove the outlaw to work alone. They knew his whims and understood his methods. Now, as Antrim paused near the table and looked at them, Krell smiled evilly. "I reckon we'll be settin' here twirlin' our thumbs till the outfit gits back?" he suggested. Antrim laughed.
Selden and Krell had been recruited from the southern border, they represented an element that the ranger service was slowly and surely eliminating and driving northward into states whose laws were less stringent for the evil-doer the professional gunmen who took life for the malicious thrill it gave them. Krell and Selden were "killers."
And as Shorty ran toward the spot where Lawler was standing, he expected to see Antrim follow, to complete his work. Within a dozen feet of Lawler he halted, facing the corner. He had not long to wait. For Selden and Krell, guns in hand, appeared almost instantly their faces hideous with passion. As they rushed around the corner they saw Shorty.
They saw Shorty first, because Shorty dominated the scene. A gun in each hand, he made a terrible figure. His eyes were blazing with the cold rage that had seized him at sight of Lawler, wounded for Lawler was now leaning against the wall of the cabin, and his gun had dropped from his hand. The unexpected appearance of Shorty startled Krell and Selden.
He heard them approach the door and he leaped, swaying a little, toward the corner of the cabin nearest him. He had reached it, had just dodged behind it, when Selden and Krell rushed out. At the same instant Shorty thundered up, slipped out of the saddle and ran toward Lawler, drawing his guns.
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