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Updated: June 1, 2025
You know it better'n me. What was it you done with your own hands to Louis Borgen, the hoss-rustler, back ten years ago?" A dead voice answered Glendin: "What has set you on the trail of Bard?" "His own wrong doin'." The rancher waved a hand of careless dismissal. "I know you, Glendin," he said. The deputy stirred in his chair, and then cleared his throat.
"You seem to have come with your mind already made up, Glendin," said the rancher coldly. "Not a bit. But go through the whole town or Eldara and ask the boys what they think of this tenderfoot. They feel so strong that if he was jailed they'd lynch him." Drew raised a clenched fist and then let his arm fall suddenly limp at his side. "Then surely he must not be jailed."
"You know that you're wanted, and you know why," went on Glendin, "but I've decided to give you a chance to prove that you're white men and useful citizens. Nash has already told you what we want. It's work for seven men against one, but that one man is apt to give you all plenty to do.
"And then start after him with a gang?" "Sure." "By that time he'll be a thousand miles away." "Well?" "I'm running this little party. Let me get a gang together. You can swear 'em in and put me in charge. I'll guarantee to get him before morning." Glendin shook his head. "It ain't legal, Steve. You know that." "The hell with legality." "That's what you say; but I got to hold my job."
Hoss flesh is cheaper'n your own hides." The cavalcade separated and galloped in two directions through the town of Eldara. Glendin and Dr. Young struck out for the ranch of William Drew, but they held a moderate pace, and it was already grey dawn before they arrived; yet even at that hour several windows of the house were lighted. They were led directly to Drew's room.
"How many went after him?" "Nash, Butch Conklin, and five more. Butch's gang." "Conklin!" "I was in a hole; I needed men." "How long have they been gone?" "Since last night." "Then," said Drew, "he's already dead. He doesn't know the mountains." "I give Nash strict orders not to do nothin' but apprehend Bard." "Don't talk, Glendin. It disgusts me makes my flesh crawl.
But the river had greatly fallen the water hardly washed above the knees of the horse except in the centre of the stream; by noon he reached the town and went straight for the office of Glendin. The deputy was not there, and the rancher was referred to Murphy's saloon.
Then he returned, still chuckling, to the front of the house, and banged again on the door. A window above him raised at length and a drawling voice, apparently overcome with sleep, called down: "What's up in Eldara?" Nash answered: "Everything's wrong. Deputy Glendin, he sits up in a back room playin' poker and hittin' the redeye. No wonder Eldara's goin' to hell!"
He hesitated, and then, as if making up his mind by a great effort: "There ain't no use blamin' him; better let it drop, Glendin." "Nothin' else to do, Steve; but it's funny Sally let him do it." "It is," said Nash with emphasis, "but then women is pretty funny in lots of ways. Ready to start, Bard?" "All ready." "S'long, Sally." "Good-night, Miss Fortune." "Evenin', boys.
"You heard him talk, Glendin. You ought to know what's best." "Let's hear you say it." "I'd climb the best hoss I owned and start west, and when I come to the sea I'd take a ship and keep right on goin' till I got halfway around the world. And then I'd climb a mountain and hire a couple of dead-shots for guards and have my first night's sleep.
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