Another month passed and the drouth was still unbroken. Stores were
threatened with bankruptcy and cattlemen saw vast herds, accumulated
through years of hard toil, dwindle to one-fourth the original number,
and faced the possibility of losing that also.
The Arizona ranges for years had been badly overstocked; but each
rancher waited for his neighbour to get rid of the surplus cattle,
hoping thereby to benefit his own herd. Over-crowding ranges resulted in
the tramping out of the roots, and what was more serious, grass was
cropped so closely that there was no opportunity for seed to mature and
fall to the ground and germinate for another year. In former times a
drouth would not have been so disastrous as under the existing
conditions of the ranges.
Having done all in his power to mitigate the situation, Traynor fought a
despondency that was entirely foreign to his nature. It was augmented by
his desire to conceal the facts from his wife, and to this was added his
knowledge that Jamie was continually growing weaker. He had called the
men into the office and told them frankly that he would not be able to
keep them much longer, as he was straining every financial possibility.
The result of that conference was a surprise that unmanned him. Limber,
Bronco, Holy and Roarer declined to be "fired," stating they would work
for "chuck" until the drouth was over, and when he remonstrated, the
four of them stalked out of the room, as Limber remarked, "We've got
business to attend to outside--instead of talking foolishness inside."
"If I could manage to get a few thousands," said Traynor to Nell as
they left the breakfast table one morning, "I would not hesitate to
round up all the weakest cattle and ship at once to Colorado, leaving
the stronger ones take their chances here on the range. However, I might
as well wish for rain; that would be less improbable than obtaining the
money. The most aggravating thing is knowing that I could save the
greater part of the herd if I could only ship them. Native grass is
plentiful and pasturage cheap in Colorado this year; once I had the
cattle there I could easily raise money at one of the Colorado banks on
the stock, and so relieve the tension here as well as there. If I pull
through this year, I will keep money in readiness for such an emergency,
hereafter. It's been a good lesson; but a mighty expensive one."
As he walked slowly to the barn, he passed Paddy with a large parcel
coming into the courtyard.
"Oi've got somethings for the bye and the misthress," he explained, and
Traynor told him they were in the living-room.
"Hello, ould Sphort!" Paddy said to the boy, who was standing by his
sister, watching her water the geraniums.
"There's a new bunch of buds Paddy;" the child announced and Paddy
examined the plants critically.
"Yez can't giss what Oi brought wid me for yez;" he said. "A babby deer.
Oi caught it at Mud Springs an' brung it in fer yez."
"Oh, Paddy!" Jamie's face glowed with delight. "How did you catch it?
Where is it?"
"From the looks of it, its mother has been dead for a couple of days.
Giss the coyotes or a lion got her, and the little fellow was mighty
wake, and was willin' to make friends. Oi carried him twelve moiles in
me arrums on the ould grey horse. He's out in the stables now, and the
byes says for yez to come out and get introjuiced to him. They're goin'
to give him milk from a bottle till it gits big enough to ate ither
things."
The child's eyes were bright with excitement as he made his way to the
barn, where Bronco and the other boys surrounded a small fawn. Holy was
holding a bottle of milk to its mouth, while Bronco stroked the throat
to help it swallow, for the fawn was very weak. "Gee! he was hungry!"
said Holy to Jamie. "We have to learn him to take the milk this way, and
when he gets a little stronger he can take it from a pan. Isn't he
pretty? He is such a dark brown on the back, and just look how plain his
spots is. Funny they lose 'em when they're yearlings!"
"What you goin' to name it, Kid?" asked Bronco.
"Patsy," replied Jamie promptly, as he knelt and stroked the soft fur
with his thin hand. The fawn turned its head and licked his hand, then
gazed at the child with its beautiful eyes. The thin arms went about the
fawn's neck gently.
"He knows you won't hurt him, Kid;" spoke Holy, then turned away
quickly, swearing to himself. "They're both about all in, an' nobody
can't do nothin'."
After Jamie left the room, Paddy untied the string that held a
flour-sack in an unsightly bundle. He tiptoed over to the table and laid
the parcel beside Mrs. Traynor's work-basket.
"Oi just got this from the stage dhriver, Yez mabbe afther hearin' Oi
niver knowed how to rade an' write, Misthress Thraynor?"
She nodded her head, and Paddy, finding the string obdurate, produced a
gigantic pocket-knife, such as is used by cattlemen in ear-marking
calves.
"Will, Oi hed an agrayment wid ould man Sullivan that he was to rade the
poipers fer me, an' would yez belave it, the dummed ould skoonk was
afther thryin' to make me pay him for radin' thim. He says, says he,
'Oi've been to the throuble of radin' thim for wan year, an' be jabers,
Oi desarve cumpinsation.' An Oi says to him, says Oi, 'Ahl roight,
Sullivan. Phwat's the damidge?' 'Foive dollars,' says he as bould as
brass. 'Ahl roight,' says Oi. 'Oi'll pay yez foive dollars fer radin'
thim poipers, Misther Sullivan, and yez are goin' to pay me tin dollars
for the use of thim.' He jumped up and roared at me, 'Thim poipers only
cost foive dollars for wan year.' 'Thrue for yez,' says Oi; 'and yez
nadent git hot in the collar about it, at all, at all. Oi'm only
charging yez fer takin' up my toime whilst Oi was waitin' fer yez to
spill out the big wurrds!'" Paddy smiled grimly as he crowded some fresh
tobacco into his pipe, and after taking a few preliminary puffs, he
continued. "Will, Sullivan niver collected thot foive dollars. Oi
thought Oi would be afthar bringin' thim poipers here, so you can rade
thim and till me the news forinst Oi come again."
As he spoke, he shook the sack, and a solitary paper fell on the
table--_The Tombstone Epitaph_--which was published weekly at the County
seat. It consisted of one page of local gossip, two pages of pictured
cattle, bearing various hieroglyphics, which to the initiated
represented brands and ear-marks, while the fourth page was filled with
advertising matter of the local stores. A similar paper was published
weekly at Willcox. "Oi loike the _Epitaph_ and the Willcox poiper,"
explained Paddy with twinkling eyes, "becaze Oi can look at the cows and
tell which ind of the poiper goes bottom side up. Here's a book the
stage dhriver got fer me. He says it's foine; and yez can rade it to
yourself, then tell me about it, sometoime. It's called 'The Revinge of
Bloody Dick.'"
A final shake of the sack and "Bloody Dick" appeared, followed by
several magazines of fashions, and a couple of home periodicals,
containing carefully censored stories for women and children, which
huddled together limply like shocked old maids surprised in questionable
company.
Nell struggled with a hysterical desire to laugh, as she glanced from
the strangely garbed figure of the old man to the conventional
fashion-plates; but, appreciating the rough chivalry that had inspired
the act, a lump grew in her throat, and dropping her head on the table
the sobs came unchecked.
Paddy moved to her side and stroked her hair gently, speaking as though
to an injured child.
"Shure, Oi didn't mane to make yez fale bad, at all, at all, little
gurrl. Oi thuoght if yez was radin' yez wouldn't be worritin' so much
about the cattle."
"It is Jamie, too," she sobbed. "I know he is growing weaker; but Allan
does not know it, yet. I've been keeping it from him, for he has so much
worry now. If he could ship the cattle to Colorado and save them, he
said he could get money there to carry us through."
Paddy listened thoughtfully. "He's roight about that," said the old man.
"It would save the wakest wans, and lave more fade for the sthrong wans.
Don't be afther sayin' anythin' to the Boss, Misthress Thraynor, but yez
know Oi have some money put away handy, and if the Boss wants to borry
it to hilp ship his cattle, Oi'll lind it to him. Oi've got the money
from the sale of the PL Ranch, and there's a few more dollars ilsewhere
that I can get widout trouble. The Diamond H is good property whin the
drouth is done, and Oi'm not afraid of losin' the principal wid the
Boss. Oi niver thrust any banks becoz they moight go boosted any toime."
Paddy crammed fresh tobacco in his pipe. "Oi kin let the Boss have
twenty-foive thousand dollars in gold if he wants it. Now moind, don't
yez till him onything, but lit me fix it up my own way wid him. Oi'm
goin' to Willcox airly in the marnin', Misthress Thraynor, an' whin Oi
come back Oi'll talk wid the Boss, and foind out whin he wants the money
ready."
Nell started up, but Paddy waved her back. "Don't yez begin a thankin'
me," he commanded fiercely, "or ilse Oi won't lit him have a dummed
cent! It's jist a matter of business, an' Oi'll charge him intherest,
all roight. Oi moight as well be makin' intherest on my money as to be
lavin' it buried in the ground."
He held out a grimy, calloused hand, saying, "Good noight, Misthree
Thraynor. Git a good noight's slape and don't worrit ony more. Oi'll say
that the Boss has what money he nades, and a little over, so that you
and the bye can go to Californy for a while, until this dry spell is
over. Thin whin the rains comes, the little chap will be afther comin'
back with chakes as rid as thim posies;" and he disappeared through the
door, leaving Nell feeling he had carried her troubles with him.
A couple of hours after sunrise the next morning, Paddy riding leisurely
along the road from the Diamond H to Willcox, encountered Limber a few
miles out of town. Limber had ridden from the Hot Springs.
After the usual salutation, Paddy reined his grey, gaunt horse close to
Peanut's side, leaned over, held his hand cupped about his mouth and
with a glance at the miles of prairie that sheltered no eavesdropper,
the old Irishman whispered, "Say, Limber, thar's somewan sleeperin'.
Warkin' on the PL and Diamond H. Oi tould the Boss and he's goin' to
warn the byes to look out. Oi mebbe misthaken, but Oi've got an idee
that Glendon's at the bottom of it. 'Twon't hurt to kape an oye on him
over at the Springs. Goin' back soon?"
"I have some thing to attend to for the doctor. He's up to Tucson this
week," Limber answered as they unsaddled their ponies at the Rest. "I'm
goin' to the Diamond H tonight, after sundown. It'll be cooler then and
give Peanut a good rest."
"Oi'll see yez before yez start." Paddy had reached the gate but turned
back, "Say, Limber, Oi want yez to pick out a noice little collar. I
found a fawn and packed it in for the bye, so long as you're goin' to
the Diamond H, yez can take it along. I've got to go to the San Pethro
for a few days."
He held out a twenty-dollar gold piece, which Limber slipped into his
pocket.
"Say, Paddy, if I was you I'd put my dinero in a bank. You take lots of
chances," remonstrated Limber seriously. "Someday you'll go to your
cache and find your money's been dug up."
"They'll have a dummed hard toime a foindin' it," retorted Paddy
cunningly, "and a dummed harder toime gettin' away wid it, for Oi kape a
close watch on it. Oi'm figgerin' on makin' a loan to the Boss, so's to
help him ship cattle. Oi got thirty-five thousand dollars put away. Oi
ain't no Rockyfeller, but Oi've got enough for salt pork and frijoles
for the nixt tin years, an' Oi don't belave Oi'll be in urgent nade of
thim afther that toime. If the Good Lard thinks Oi'll pass the
Inspection Chute, Oi'll be fading on milk an' honey widout payin' fer
it. Oi'm siventy-six, come my nixt birthday."
"Well, your money will be safer if the Boss has it," Limber finished the
conversation as he turned into the store, while Paddy walked up the
street, stopping to speak to people he knew. Every one liked the old
fellow, who was noted for his sobriety and honesty as much for his
peculiarities. He was passing the swinging door of a saloon which had
none too savory a reputation, when Alpaugh, the Constable of Willcox,
who was also the Deputy Sheriff of Cochise County, called to him.
"Hello, Paddy! Come in and have a drink," he invited cordially slapping
the old man's shoulder.
"Ahl roight, Dick," was the reply, "Oi'm goin' to git somethin' to ate,
and it will be an appytizer. I rid from the Diamond H this marnin', but
it was too airly for breakfast whin I started out."
The bar-tender mixed the concoctions ordered and set two glasses on the
bar, then saying, "I'll be back in a minute," he left the room in
response to a call, leaving Paddy and Alpaugh alone, except for a man
sprawled across a table at the end of the room.
Paddy looked at the man. "That Glendon is always dhrunk," he remarked in
disgust. "Pity his woife don't loight out and lave him." He moved,
nearer, "Say, Dick," he whispered, though his voice carried distinctly,
"Oi think yez had betther kape an oye on Thray-fingered Jack, Glendon,
Bentz and Burks. Oi run into them last wake nigh Glendon's place, and
they was squattin' on the ground drawin' loines. They didn't say me, but
they was talkin' about the Express car to the Jumpin' Frog Moines. Oi
don't loike the looks of it."
Alpaugh glanced at him sharply. "Much obliged, Paddy;" he replied. "Did
you speak of it to any one else?"
"Nary a sould," responded Paddy.
"Don't tell any one else," cautioned Alpaugh.
"Ahl roight, Dick;" answered Paddy, lifting the glass to his lips.
"Here's lookin' at yez."
A shot pinged through the air, and the glass fell from Paddy's fingers
as he tumbled in a grotesque heap on the floor. Glendon, holding the
still smoking pistol, sprang to Paddy's side and emptied four more
cartridges into the motionless figure.
Alpaugh stooped quickly, breaking the buckskin thong around the trigger
of Paddy's pistol, and threw the gun beside the dead man.
"He didn't know you and Bentz saw him out there. Stick to self-defence,"
said Alpaugh. "Dead men tell no tales, and the damn fool knew too much."
A crowd of excited men filled the place when Limber came running in.
"Who done it?" he demanded, looking around.
"I did," replied Glendon, facing him; and Limber stepped back as though
menaced with a blow.
"You--"
"Yes! Alpaugh was drinking with Paddy when he turned on me without any
warning, and I shot in self-defence. The old man's been nutty for some
time, and had it in for me ever since we had trouble at the corral over
that cow. If you don't believe me, you can ask Alpaugh. He saw it all."
Alpaugh looked at the faces of the crowd, and knew he must keep his head
level, for Glendon was not popular, and Paddy had many friends.
"I saw Paddy going past, and asked him in to have a drink with me," said
the constable with apparent frankness. "Otto mixed the drinks and went
back to the end of the room, and Paddy was talking to me. Glendon was at
the other end of the room, but got up and started to walk over to us,
and I was going to ask him to have something with us, when Paddy saw him
and reached for his gun. Glendon had to shoot quick or be shot himself.
The trigger of Paddy's gun caught in the buckskin loop of his holster,
or else he'd got Glendon first. That's all there is about it. Paddy's
been itchy against Glendon for some time. Every one knows that."
He turned to Glendon, "I've got to arrest you, Jim, until after the
inquest."
"That's all right," answered Glendon, then he saw Limber scrutinizing
him sharply. "Say, Limber, will you tell my wife? She's expecting me
home tonight."
Limber's eyes were riveted on Glendon, as though trying to read the
man's thoughts. "Yes," he replied curtly, turning on his heel and
walking out the room without another word.
"There's something crooked in back of it," he muttered to himself, as he
reached the Cowboys' Rest and picked up his saddle. Then he remembered
Paddy's promised assistance for Traynor. "No one knows where Paddy hid
his money, and that settles the Boss," he stopped to pet the nose of
Paddy's gaunt, old, flea-bitten grey horse, which had been a joke with
every one, then Limber flung his saddle on Peanut and mounted.
"Sometimes it looks like it don't pay to be square, Peanut," he said as
the little pinto pony headed for the road leading to the Circle Cross
Ranch.