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Loring turned to Corliss. "I'd like to look at them papers," he said slowly. "All right. We'll ride over to the house." The two bands of riders swung toward the north, passed the tank, and trotted up to the ranch-gate. They dismounted and were met by Shoop and his companions. Loring blinked and muttered. He had been outgeneraled. One of the Concho riders laughed. Loring's hand slipped to his belt.
The marshal, a gaunt individual with a watery blue eye and a soiled goatee, shook his head. "The law is the law," he stated sententiously. "And a gun's a gun," said Shoop. "But what evidence you got that Jim Waring killed Bob Brewster and his brother Tony?" "All I need, pardner. When I thought Andy Brewster was goin' to pass over, I took his antimortim.
After supper Dorothy played for them again, with no light except the dancing red shadows from the pine logs that flamed in the fireplace. Shoop thanked her. "I'll be livin' in town," and he sighed heavily, "where my kind of piano-playin' would bring the law on me, most-like. Now, that ole piano is hacked up some outside, but she's got all her innards yet and her heart's right.
Excitement and fatigue had so overtaxed the girl's slender store of strength that she had to stay in bed for several days. Meanwhile, her father put things in order. The two saddle-horses, purchased under the critical eye of Bud Shoop, showed an inclination to stray back to Jason, so the writer turned them into Lorry's corral each evening, as his own lease was not entirely fenced.
Chance had listened gravely while his master had told Bud Shoop that "the outfit" would move over to Bald Knoll in the morning. Then the dog had barked and capered about, anticipating a break in the monotony of ranch-life. Sundown hurried to the cook-room. Chance at his heels. Hi Wingle was already installed in his old quarters, but he greeted Sundown heartily, and set him to work helping.
No cheery whistling and no wood smoke curling from the chimney and no blithe voice talking to the ponies. No jolly "Good-mornin', miss, and the day is sure startin' out proud to see you." Well, Dorothy had considered Mr. Shoop a friend. She would have a very serious talk with Mr. Shoop when she saw him.
Shoop turned and stood up. "Well, if it ain't me old pal Buddy!" exclaimed Sundown. "What you doin' in this here burg?" "Why, hello, Hawkins! Where'd you fall from? How's things over to Homer?"
And that's a fact. But you got to rub some folks' noses in a fact afore they can even smell it." "And you have the nerve to tell me that you framed up all that stuff to get my sympathy? Shoop, you are wasting time in Arizona. Go East. And forgive me for falling for your most natural appeal." The genial Bud chuckled and wiped his eyes. "But it's true from the start to the wire."
The crowd shuffled over to a more open spot, on the mesa. Shoop and High Chin mounted their horses. A tin cracker box was placed on a flat rock out in the open. The men were to reload and shoot at top speed as they rode past the box.
And while we're talkin' about it, you can tell John Torrance I said to give you a try." Lorry sat up quickly. "Guess you didn't know that Buck Hardy is lookin' for me," said Lorry. "Mr. Torrance says I got to square myself with Buck afore I get the job." "He did, eh? Well, speakin' of Buck, how would you like to hear a little talk from a real music-box?" "Fine!" Shoop waddled to the piano.
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