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Updated: June 4, 2025
There was a little porch with a stone flooring, and here several children were playing. The door stood open. At my knock Mrs. Hoden bade me come in. Evidently Steele was not there, so I went in with the girls. "Mrs. Hoden, I've brought Miss Sampson and her cousin to see you," I said cheerfully. The little room was not very light, there being only one window and the door; but Mrs.
Jim Hoden, the restaurant keeper, was present also, and on second glance I saw that he was pale. There was blood on his face. I knew Jim, liked him, had tried to make a friend of him. I was not dead to the stinging interrogation in the concluding sentence of Steele's speech. Then I felt sure I had correctly judged Steele's motive. I began to warm to the situation.
"Didn't you ever hear I used to run it?" "No. Did you?" I said quickly. "I reckon. I built the place, made additions twice, owned it for eleven years." "Well, I'll be doggoned!" It was indeed my turn to be surprised, and with the surprise came glimmering. "I'm sorry you're not there now, Jim. Did you sell out?" "No. Just lost the place." Hoden was bursting for relief now to talk to tell.
"His wife's in bad shape. She's not a strong woman. There are a lot of kids, and you know Jim Hoden was poor. She told me her neighbors would keep shy of her now. They'd be afraid. Oh, it's tough! But we can put Jim away decently and help his family." Several days after this talk with Steele I took Miss Sampson and Sally out to see Jim Hoden's wife and children.
"I guess Mr. Steele hasn't dressed many babies." "He did the best he could," said Mrs. Hoden. "Lord only knows what would have become of us! He brought your cowboy, Russ, who's been very good too." "Mr. Steele, then is is something more than a Ranger?" queried Miss Sampson, with a little break in her voice. "He's more than I can tell," replied Mrs. Hoden. "He buried Jim. He paid our debts.
He's a rustler, too, but I reckon he's not the brains of thet secret outfit, if he's in it at all." Steele appeared pleased with Hoden's idea. Probably it coincided with the one he had arrived at himself. "Now, I'm puzzled over this," said Steele. "Why do men, apparently honest men, seem to be so close-mouthed here? Is that a fact or only my impression?" "It's sure a fact," replied Hoden darkly.
"Too many silver trimmings on me, Jim. And I pack my gun low down." "Wal, them two don't go much together out here," replied Hoden. "But I ain't seen thet anyone has shot off the trimmin's." "Maybe it'll commence, Jim, as soon as I stop buying drinks. Talking about work who'd you say Snell worked for?" "I didn't say." "Well, say so now, can't you? Jim, you're powerful peevish to-day.
But I keep a light burning in the 'dobe house and make it look as if I were there." "Good. That worried me. Now, what's this murder of Jim Hoden going to do to Morton, Zimmer, and their crowd?" "Russ, they've all got blood in their eyes. This'll make them see red. I've only to say the word and we'll have all the backing we need." "Have you run into Blome?" "Once. I was across the street.
You can gamble on this. If thet secret work does commence you'll have more reason to suspect Wright. I won't feel very safe from now on. "I heard you call him rustler. He knows thet. Why, Wright won't sleep at night now. He an' Sampson have always been after me." "Hoden, what are your eyes for?" demanded Steele. "Watch out. And now here. See your friend Morton. Tell him this game grows hot.
Steele, after the first start, showed no unusual feeling. He greeted both girls pleasantly. "Russ, that was thoughtful of you," he said. "It was womankind needed here. I could do so little Mrs. Hoden, you look better to-day. I'm glad. And here's baby, all clean and white. Baby, what a time I had trying to puzzle out the way your clothes went on! Well, Mrs.
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