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It was Deveny who spoke. There was a snarl in his voice; he leaned forward and scowled at Laskar. Laskar nodded. Rogers cleared his throat, and Lawson moved his feet uneasily. Deveny's scowl faded; he grinned coldly. "Giving orders is he?" he snapped. "Well, we'll see." He laughed. "When Harlan hits town it will be a sign that old Morgan's crossed the Divide.
Looks like they was figurin' on grabbin' the Rancho Seco without payin' anything for it Haydon intendin', I reckon, to put dad an' me out of the way an' marry Barbara. Then he could have cut the ranch up into town lots an' made a mint of coin." "An' Deveny?" "Deveny's a wolf. Haydon brought him here from Arizona where he'd terrorized a whole county, runnin' it regardless.
He laughed, grimly, mockingly: "Front an' rear eh?" he said. "You got me, goin' an' comin'. Well, go to it I deserve it, for lettin' Barbara out of my sight. If you don't kill me, Harlan will. But if you guys are men, you won't let Deveny " "Deveny's got Barbara Morgan?" This was Colver.
There was a momentary pause, and then those that were left of Deveny's men moved uneasily. "Does that go for us guys too?" "It's wide open," announced Harlan, cold humor seeming to creep into his voice. "It's your chance to get out of this deal without gettin' what's comin' to you." There was a rush and clatter as Deveny's men joined the men of the Star, who were already on the move.
Harlan was riding across the floor of the little basin, watching Morgan and wondering at the seeming absence of Deveny's men, when he saw a smoke streak issue from one of the windows of the house, saw Morgan reel in the saddle, and slide to the ground.
You'll find my will in my desk in my office off the patio. Everything goes to Barbara. Everybody knows that. Haydon knows it Deveny's found it out. You can't get me back it's too far. Plant me here an' tell Barbara." He laughed hollowly. "I reckon that's all." He felt for one of Harlan's hands, found it, and gripped it with all his remaining strength.
He started, and the red in his face deepened, when Harlan, in the silence which followed the concerted raising of hands, spoke sharply to him: "What was you tryin' to corral that girl for? Talk fast or I'll bust you wide open!" The man grinned foolishly, shooting a furtive glance at Deveny. "Why," he said, noting Deveny's scowl, "I reckon it was because I'd took a shine to her.
Into his eyes had come a furtive, restless gleam, and his face had paled. Deveny gave no visible sign of perturbation. He coolly reached out, grasped the bottle that Rogers had been reaching for, and poured some of the amber fluid into one of the glasses. The other men watched him silently all of them intent to note the tremor they expected to see. Deveny's hand did not tremble.
She was aware of Deveny's power in the country; she knew that he ruled Lamo as he ruled every foot of land in the section; and she was convinced that it would be wasted effort to call for help. Even her own sex represented by the slattern, and most of the women in Lamo were of that type, in character seemed to be antagonistic toward her.
For by going straight to Lamo he had been able to balk Deveny's evil intentions toward the girl who, in the house now, was so terribly afraid of him. He had told Morgan why he was headed toward the Rancho Seco section, but he had communicated to Morgan that information only because he had wanted to cheer the man in his last moments.
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