Wentz, hovering in the corridor of the Tombstone jail, had overheard the
conversation between the jailer and Glendon. With knowledge of
Panchita's death, Wentz realized that his own plans were in chaos.
Glendon's nonchalant attitude at the news confirmed Wentz's belief that
Glendon knew where the money had been concealed by the Mexican girl.
"If Glendon were free," Wentz muttered, "he would probably get the money
at the first opportunity. There may be a chance after all."
Deep in thought, he returned to the room where the jailer waited for the
deputy to relieve him that he might go home to supper. Wentz picked up a
newspaper and began to read. The deputy entered the room, and nodded to
the jailer, who exchanged a few casual words with him and departed.
Wentz had greeted the new-comer, but a curt nod had been the only
response.
The curse of Judas was upon Wentz. Since the trial none of the men he
had betrayed would speak to him, and their eyes were threatening. Other
men in the jail, officials as well as prisoners, held him in open
contempt. Outside were those who made dire threats of vengeance. Wentz
envied his former comrades and began to feel that he would rather share
their punishment than face his own black future. He was without money.
No place in Arizona would harbour a traitor; no man would trust him or
hold out a hand in comradeship. The railroad would give him work, so he
would not starve, but life would be unbearable. If he made his way to
another section, it would mean without a cent in his pocket, no credit,
no work. If he could only find where that undivided money from the
first hold-up had been hidden, then he could laugh at them all.
The deputy had picked up a book. Yawning and stretching, Wentz dropped
his paper, then rising slowly walked along the corridor. He reached
Glendon's cell, paused and called, "Hello, Glen!"
The figure on the bunk turned heavily, and Glendon's bloodshot eyes
glared in fury at his former comrade. He uttered no word. With a
peculiar expression Wentz returned to the office.
The deputy glanced up carelessly, and resumed his reading. Wentz passed
back of him and, with a swift movement, snatched the man's pistol from
the holster that hung on his hip, and struck him a stunning blow on the
head. The deputy dropped to the floor. Tying and gagging him, Wentz
secured the keys, then ran rapidly along the corridor, unlocking the
door of each cell until he reached Glendon's.
"Get up, Glen! Hurry!"
Already the escaping prisoners, including Alpaugh and the other
train-robbers, were rushing past. Glendon leaped to his feet bewildered.
"You--"
"Don't waste time, you fool! Some one may come!" said Wentz, pulling
Glendon through the door and keeping close at his heels as they reached
the street, having stopped only to pick up guns and cartridges in the
room where the deputy, now conscious but helpless, watched the
procession of escaping prisoners.
A number of cowponies were tied to the hitching-posts in the streets, as
is usual, while their owners were about town, or eating supper. These
were hastily mounted by the outlaws. The presence of a number of
horsemen galloping through the streets of Tombstone was too common a
sight at the County seat to cause curiosity or comment. The escaping
prisoners broke into small groups and left town in different directions,
to avoid any suspicion.
The fugitives had another advantage in the unusual darkness, not only
because of the hour, but, also, of the gathering black clouds that
presaged a storm at any moment. So, even those who might have recognized
the men in the daytime, would be apt to pass them without a second
glance in the dim light.
When the jailer returned from supper an hour later and discovered what
had happened, a posse was formed without delay. It divided into several
parties, that all roads might be covered as soon as possible; otherwise
the darkness and approaching storm would make pursuit practically
impossible until morning. By that time any trail made by the horses of
the fleeing men, would be completely obliterated, should it rain.
The band headed by the furious deputy who had been the victim of the
treachery, finally caught sight of Wentz and Glendon, who were keeping
together; and a rapid-fire duel began between the pursuers and
prisoners. The gait of the horses, the uncertain light, and the
intervening rocks about the outlying district of Tombstone, all favoured
the fugitives. A bullet brought down the horse Wentz was riding, pinning
the man under it as it fell. He struggled desperately to free himself.
Seeing capture was inevitable, the traitor lifted his pistol to his own
head--and the posse saw a flash.
Glendon, in advance of Wentz, heard the shot and looked back. Then
something struck his leg and he felt the blood oozing down into his
boot. Rather than give up now, he determined to follow Wentz' example
and use a bullet on himself.
Ahead of him rose huge boulders, looming like gigantic tombstones. Once
he could attain their shelter, it would be almost impossible for the
posse to catch him, or to take accurate aim. The horse he was riding
responded to the hammering of the man's heels--he had no whip or spurs.
At last he reached the shelter of the rocks and darted in circles from
one to the other, keeping them between himself and any chance bullets.
By degrees, the sounds of shots died away, the voices of his pursuers
ceased. He knew he had outwitted them for the night; but there was no
time to lose before dawn.
When he had pressed on a couple of miles, he pulled up his horse and
slipped to the ground, laying his ear against the wet earth while he
listened intently. But the only sound he heard was the rumble of distant
thunder growing louder and louder. Back of him the sky was inky black,
punctured at short intervals with zigzag streaks of dazzling light. The
storm was already upon the town from which he had escaped.
With a sigh of relief, he examined the wound in his leg. It was
superficial. Glendon tore a sleeve from his shirt and bandaged the
wound. Then, mounting the panting horse, he doubled back on his trail
for a mile and made a cut across the mountains at a point where no one
but an Apache had ever dared to cross, except in daylight.
This trail had not been used for a long time. Glendon knew the danger of
it; but death in the mountains at the bottom of a gully, was preferable
to the Yuma Penitentiary for ten years, or longer.
By morning the rain would have completely obliterated his tracks, and
the posse would, no doubt, continue their search in the direction they
had last seen him following. He realized there was another danger. He
was trying to reach the Circle Cross. The authorities would probably
telegraph to Willcox and a posse be started from that point to Hot
Springs. He must reach the Circle Cross, get clothes, food and a fresh
horse before any one else could make that ranch. But first, there was
something else to do.
His thoughts were interrupted by the storm breaking over his head. The
reverberating thunder, incessant flashes of lightning and shrieking wind
sounded as though all the fiends of the netherworld were keeping pace
with him, rejoicing at his escape and conspiring to aid him. Across the
backbone of the range he urged his frightened, stumbling horse. Five
miles from the Circle Cross, Glendon halted and sat peering in all
directions when a flash illuminated the brush and trees. He had no fear
of pursuers now, but he was searching for one particular tree, and it
was hard to identify in the fitful glare.
At last he found it, dismounted and tied his horse. Then from the
underbrush Glendon dragged a rusty shovel and began to dig. The ground
was soft from recent rains, but he paused frequently to wipe the beads
of perspiration that mingled with the rain dashing into his eyes.
"I didn't put it so deep," he muttered, plying the shovel more rapidly.
"I wonder if some one else has found it!"
A rustling in the trees caused him to straighten up suddenly and with a
startled jump he glared about on all sides. The lightning showed only
the waving branches, the pouring rain and the wind-whipped bushes.
His tongue licked his lips. "God! I wish I had a drink! My nerve's all
shot to pieces!" He dug furiously. "It's lucky I caught old Paddy
burying this money. That gave me a chance to get the old fool out of the
way without suspicion. Even Alpaugh was in the dark about that. He's as
big a fool as the rest. Damn 'em. Why didn't they blow out
Three-fingered Jack's brains before they left him there!"
Still he dug, and the rain hammered down while the wind whistled and
screamed around him. The shovel struck a deep root of the tree.
Something brushed against Glendon's face. With a scream of fright he
dropped the shovel and ran to the snorting horse. Glendon's eyes staring
into the darkness pictured Paddy's sardonic face in the bushes, and back
of Paddy was old Doctor King, looking at him with infinite pity.
Glendon's arm went across his face as though shielding himself, and his
foot was thrust into the stirrup of his saddle. The horse moved a few
paces, then Glendon looked back, and jerked violently on the reins. He
lifted his fist and shook it at the gloom, shouting wildly, "Damn you!
You can't frighten me away! I'll have it in spite of you and Heaven and
Hell!"
He leaped from his saddle and grabbed the shovel, cursing as he resumed
his work until he found the canvass bags with the buried money. Unable
to cram the sacks into the saddle pouches, he tore off the strings of
the bags and poured the gold into the leather saddle pouches on either
side of the horse. Once more he mounted, but as he faced the trail to
the Circle Cross he shouted at the nickering shadows, "Damn you! I've
got it!" Then he rode on his way.
"It'll take four hours yet for any posse to reach the Circle Cross from
Willcox," he said, leaning low on the saddle to avoid the lash of the
wind and the rain. "There'll be a big flood at Hot Springs. I'll have to
leave this gold with Katherine. It's too heavy to pack and too big a
risk. I'll take a couple of hours to rest and get ready. Then I can hit
the trail for the border. Easy to do after I get away from here and
across the Willcox flats. I'll take Fox. He has no brands on him. My
saddle's at the ranch, too--That'll get rid of this horse and
saddle--They'll all be looking for this outfit now. With Fox and some
money--I can make my way without any trouble, once I get clear of the
flats. I must cross before dawn--or hide in the mountains till tomorrow
night, then cross. Sixty miles to the border--then I am safe!"
A thought of his wife intruded. "I suppose she will balk at keeping the
gold," he muttered, "but she will have to do it! There is no one else I
can trust with it. I won't stand any nonsense now. She'll have to do
what I tell her, by God!"
He had no fear of Juan, knowing the Mexican's dog-like devotion to
Katherine. Beside, the Mexican could not reach any place to give an
alarm until after Glendon was well upon his way. Katherine's exaggerated
sense of duty would keep her silent, no matter what might transpire.
Everything was propitious.
His hand went back and patted the wet leather of the saddle-bags that
held ten thousand dollars in gold, and his lips twisted in a sneer, "You
old fool, Paddy! You thought it was safe!"