Neither man had anticipated this; neither had the slightest conception
that any suspicion of this kind pointed at them. The direct question
was like the sudden explosion of a bomb. What did Westcott know? How
had he discovered their participation in the affair? The fact that
Westcott unhesitatingly connected Matt Moore with the abduction was in
itself alone sufficient evidence that he based his inquiry on actual
knowledge. Enright had totally lost power of speech, positive terror
plainly depicted in his eyes, but Lacy belonged to another class of the
_genus homo_. He was a Western type, prepared to bluff to the end.
His first start of surprise ended in a sarcastic smile.
"You have rather got the better of me, Westcott," he said, shrugging
his shoulders, as though dismissing the subject. "You refer to the New
York newspaper woman?"
"I do--Miss Stella Donovan."
"I have not the pleasure of that lady's acquaintance, but Timmons
informed me this morning that she had taken the late train last night
for the East--isn't that true, Enright?"
The lawyer managed to nod, but without venturing to remove his gaze
from Westcott's face. The latter never moved, but his eyes seemed to
harden.
"I have had quite enough of that, Lacy," he said sternly, and the
watchful saloon-keeper noted his fingers close more tightly on the butt
of his revolver. "This is no case for an alibi. I know exactly what I
am talking about, and--I am going to have a direct answer, either from
you or Enright.
"This is the situation: I was the man listening at the window of your
shack last night. Moore may, or may not have recognised me, but,
nevertheless, I was the man. I was there long enough to overhear a
large part of your conversation. I know why you consented to close
down La Rosita for the present; I know your connection with this gang
of crooks from New York; I know that Fred Cavendish was not murdered,
but is being held a prisoner somewhere, until Enright, here, can steal
his money under some legal form. I know you have claimed, and been
promised, your share of the swag--isn't that true?"
"It's very damn interesting anyway--but not so easy to prove. What
next?"
"This: Enright told you who Stella Donovan was, and what he suspected
her object might be. Force is the only method you know anything about,
and no other means occurred to you whereby the girl could be quickly
put out of the way. This was resorted to last night after you returned
to Haskell. I do not pretend to know how it was accomplished, nor do I
greatly care. Through some lie, no doubt. But, anyway, she was
inveigled into leaving the hotel, seized by you and some of your gang,
forced into a wagon, and driven off by Matt Moore."
"You are a good dreamer. Why not ask Timmons to show you the letter
she left?"
"I have already seen it. You thought you had the trail well covered.
That note was written not by Miss Donovan, but by the blonde in your
outfit. The whole trouble is that your abduction of Stella Donovan was
witnessed from a back window of the hotel."
Lacy leaped to his feet, but Westcott's gun rose steadily, and the man
stood with clenched hands, helpless in his tracks.
"Who says that?" he demanded.
"I am mentioning no names at present, but the very fact that I know
these things ought to be sufficient. You better sit down, Lacy, before
you forget yourself and get hurt. If you imagine this gun isn't
loaded, a single step forward will test it. Sit down! I am not
through yet."
There was a quiet, earnest threat in the voice which Lacy understood,
the sort of threat which meant strict attention to business, and he
relaxed into his chair.
"I'll get you for this, Westcott," he muttered savagely, hate burning
in his eyes. "I haven't played my last cards--yet."
The miner smiled grimly, but with no relaxation of vigilance. He was
into it now, and proposed seeing it through.
"I have a few left myself," he returned soberly. "Your man Moore drove
south, taking the road leading into the Shoshone desert, and he had
another one of your gang with him. Then you, and two others, went back
into the hotel, using the outside stairs. I take it the two others
were Enright, here, and Ned Beaton."
He leaned forward, his face set like flint.
"Now see here, Lacy. I know these things. I can prove them by a
perfectly competent witness. It is up to you to answer my questions,
and answer them straight. I've got you two fellows dead to rights
anyway you look at it. If you dare lay hands on me I'll kill you; if
you refuse to tell me what I want to know, I'll swear out warrants
inside of thirty minutes. Now what do you choose?"
For the first time Lacy's eyes wavered, their defiance gone, as he
glanced aside at Enright, who had collapsed in his chair, a mere
heavily breathing, shapeless thing. The sight of the coward seemed to
stiffen him to a species of resistance.
"If I answer--what then?" he growled desperately.
"What is offered me?"
Westcott moistened his lips. He had not before faced the situation
from this standpoint, yet, with only one thought in his mind, he
answered promptly.
"I am not the law," he said, "and all I am interested in now is the
release of Fred Cavendish and Stella Donovan. I'll accomplish that if
it has to be over your dead bodies. Beyond this, I wash my hands of
the whole affair. What I want to know is--where are these two?"
"Would you believe me if I said I did not know?"
"No, Lacy. It has come down to the truth, or your life. Where is
Pasqual Mendez?"
He heard no warning, no sound of movement, yet some change in the
expression of the man's eyes confronting him caused him to slightly
turn his head so as to vaguely perceive a shadow behind. It was all
so quickly, silently done, he barely had time to throw up one hand in
defence, when his arms were gripped as though in a vise, and he was
thrown backward to the floor, the chair crushed beneath his weight.
Lacy fairly leaped on his prostrate body, forgetting his gun lying on
the desk in the violence of hate, his hands clutching at the exposed
throat. For an instant Westcott was so dazed and stunned by this
sudden attack from behind as to lie there prone and helpless, fairly
crushed beneath the bodies of his two antagonists.
It was this that gave him his chance, for, convinced that he was
unconscious, both men slightly relaxed their grip, thus giving him
opportunity to regain breath, and stiffen his muscles for a supreme
effort. With one lashing out of a foot that sent Enright hurtling
against the farther wall, he cracked Lacy's head against a corner of
the desk, and closed in deadly struggle with the third man, whom he now
recognised as Beaton.
Before the latter could comprehend what had happened the miner was on
top, and a clenched fist was driven into his face with all the force of
a sledge-hammer. But barroom fighting was no novelty to the gunman,
nor had he any scruples as to the methods employed. With teeth sunk in
his opponent's arm, and fingers gouging at his eyes, the fellow
struggled like a mad dog; yet, in spite of every effort to restrain
him, Westcott, now filled with the fierce rage of battle, broke free,
fairly tearing himself from Beaton's desperate clutch, and pinning him
helplessly against the wall.
At the same instant Lacy, who had regained his feet, leaped upon him
from behind, striking with all his force, the violence of the blow,
even though a grazing one, driving the miner's head into the face of
the gunman.
Both went down together, but Westcott was on his feet again before Lacy
could act, closing with the latter. It was hand-to-hand, the silent
struggle for mastery between two men not unevenly matched, men asking
and receiving no mercy. The revolver of one lay on the floor, the
other still reposed on the open desk, and neither could be reached. It
was a battle to be fought out with bare hands. Twice Westcott struck,
his clenched fist bringing blood, but Lacy clung to him, one hand
twisted in his neck-band, the other viciously forcing back his head.
Unable to release the grip, Westcott gave back, bending until his
adversary was beyond balance; then, suddenly straightening, hurled the
fellow sidewise. But by now Beaton, dazed and confused, was upon his
feet. With the bellow of a wild bull he flung himself on the
struggling men, forcing Lacy aside, and smashing into Westcott with all
the strength of his body. The impetus sent all three crashing to the
floor.
Excited voices sounded without; then blows resounded against the wood
of the locked door, but the three men were oblivious to all but their
own struggle. Like so many wild beasts they clutched and struck,
unable to disentangle themselves. Enright, his face like chalk, got to
his knees and crept across the floor until his hand closed on
Westcott's revolver. Lifting himself by a grip on the desk, he swung
the weapon forward at the very instant the miner rose staggering,
dragging Beaton with him. There was a flash of flame, a sharp report,
and Westcott sprang aside, gripping the back of a chair. The gunman
sank into shapelessness on the floor as the chair hurtled through the
air straight at Enright's head.
With a crash the door fell, and a black mass of men surged in through
the opening, the big bartender leading them, an axe in his hand.
Beaton lay motionless just as he had dropped; Enright was in one
corner, dazed, unnerved, a red gash across his forehead, from which
blood dripped, the revolver, struck from his fingers, yet smoking on
the floor; Westcott, his clothes torn, his face bruised by blows,
breathing heavily, went slowly backward, step by step, to the farther
wall, conscious of nothing now but the savagely hostile faces of these
new enemies. Lacy, staggering as though drunk, managed to attain his
feet, hate, the desire for revenge, yielding him strength. This was
his crowd, and his mind was quick to grasp the opportunity.
"There's the man who did it," he shouted, his arm flung out toward
Westcott. "I saw him shoot. See, that's his gun lying on the floor.
Don't let the murderer get away!"
He started forward, an oath on his lips, and the excited crowd surged
after, growling anger. Then the mass of them seemed suddenly rent
asunder, and the marshal ploughed his way through heedlessly, his hat
gone, and a blue-barrelled gun in either hand. He swept the muzzle of
one of these into the bartender's face menacingly, his eyes searching
the maddened crowd.
"Wait a minute, you," he commanded sharply. "I reckon I've got
something to say 'bout this. Put down that axe, Mike, or ye'll never
draw another glass o' beer in this camp. You know me, lads, an' I
never draw except fer business. Shut your mouth, Lacy; don't touch
that gun, you fool! I am in charge here--this is my job; and if there
is going to be any lynching done, it will be after you get me. Stand
back now; all of you--yes, get out into that barroom. I mean you,
Mike! This man is my prisoner, and, by God, I'll defend him. Ay! I'll
do more, I'll let him defend himself. Here, Westcott, pick up your gun
on the floor. Now stand here with me! We're going out through that
bunch, and if one of those coyotes puts a paw on you, let him have it."
The crowd made way, reluctantly enough, growling curses, but with no
man among them sufficiently reckless to attempt resistance. They
lacked leadership, for the little marshal never once took his eye off
Lacy. At the door he turned, walking backward, trusting in Westcott to
keep their path clear, both levelled revolvers ready for any movement.
He knew Haskell, and he knew the character of these hangers-on at the
"Red Dog." He realised fully the influence of Bill Lacy, and
comprehended that the affair was far from being ended; but just now he
had but one object before him--to get his prisoner safely outside into
the open. Beyond that he would trust to luck, and a fair chance. His
grey eyes were almost black as they gleamed over the levelled revolver
barrels, and his clipped moustache fairly bristled.
"Not a step, you!" he muttered. "What's the matter, Lacy? Do you want
to die in your tracks? Mike, all I desire is an excuse to make you the
deadest bung-starter in Colorado. Put down that gun, Carter! If just
one of you lads come through that door, I'll plug these twelve shots,
and you know how I shoot--Lacy will get the first one, and Mike the
second. Stand there now! Go on out, Jim; I'm right along with you."
They were far from free even outside the swinging doors and in the
sunshine. Already a rumour of what had occurred had spread like
wildfire, and men were on the street, eager enough to take some hand in
the affray. A few were already about the steps, while others were
running rapidly toward them, excited but uncertain.
It was this uncertainty which gave the little marshal his one slender
chance. His eyes swept the crowd, but there was no face visible on
whom he could rely in this emergency. They were the roughs of the
camp, the idlers, largely parasites of Lacy; those fellows would only
hoot him if he asked for help. No, there was no way but to fight it
out themselves, and the only possibility of escape came to him in a
flash. Suddenly as this emergency had arisen the marshal was prepared;
he knew the lawless nature of the camp, and had anticipated that some
time just such a situation as this might arise. Now that it had come,
he was ready. There was scarcely an instant of hesitancy, his quick
searching eyes surveying the scene, and then seeking the face of his
prisoner.
"Willing to fight this out, Jim?" he asked shortly.
"You bet, Dan; what's the plan?"
"The big rock in Bear Creek. We can hold out there until dark.
Perhaps there'll be some men come to help us by that time; if not we
might crawl away in the night. Take the alley and turn at the hotel.
Don't let anybody stop you; here comes those hell-hounds from inside.
Christopher Columbus, I hate to run from such cattle, but it's our only
chance."
There was no time to waste. They were not yet at the mouth of the
alley when the infuriated pursuers burst through the saloon doors,
cursing and shouting. Lacy led them, animated by the one desire to
kill Westcott, fully aware that this alone would prevent the exposure
of his own crime.
"There they go!" he yelled madly, and fired. "Get that dirty murderer,
boys--get him!"
There were a dozen shots, but the two runners plunged about the corner
of the building, and disappeared, apparently untouched. Lacy leaped
from the platform to the ground, shouting his orders, and the crowd
surged after him in pursuit, some choosing the alley, others the
street. Revolvers cracked sharply, little spits of smoke showing in
the sunlight; men shouted excitedly, and two mounted cowboys lashed
their ponies up the dusty road in an effort to head off the fugitives.
Twice the two turned and fired, yet at that, hardly paused in their
race. Westcott held back, retarded by the shorter legs of his
companion, nevertheless they were fully a hundred feet in advance of
their nearest pursuers when they reached the hotel. In spite of Lacy's
urging the cowardly crew exhibited small desire to close in. The
marshal, glancing back over his shoulder, grinned cheerfully.
"We've got 'em beat, Jim," he panted, "less thar's others headin' us
off; run like a white-head; don't mind me."
The road ahead was clear, except for the speeding cowboys, and the
marshal made extremely quick work of them. There was a fusillade of
shots, and when these ended, one rider was down in the dust, the other
galloping madly away, lying flat on his pony, with no purpose but to
get out of range. The two fugitives plunged into the bushes opposite,
taking the roughest but most direct course to where the rather
precipitous banks dropped off to the stream below. There was a dam a
half mile down, and even at this point the water was wide and deep
enough to make any attempt at crossing dangerous. But half-way over an
upheaval of rock parted the current, forcing the swirling waters to
either side, and presenting a stern grey face to the shore. The
marshal, pausing for nothing, flung himself bodily down the steep bank,
unclasping his belt, as he half ran, half rolled to the bottom.
"Here, take these cartridges," he said, "and hold 'em up. Save yer
own, too, fer we're going to need 'em. That water out thar is plumb up
to my neck. Come on now; keep them things dry, an' don't bother 'bout
me."
He plunged in, and Westcott followed, both cartridge belts held above
his head. There was a crackling of bushes on the bank behind them,
showing their pursuers had crossed the road and were already beating up
the brush. Neither man glanced back, assured that those fellows would
hunt them first in the chaparral, cautiously beating the coverts,
before venturing beyond.
The water deepened rapidly, and Westcott was soon to his waist, leaning
to his right to keep his feet; he heard the marshal splashing along
behind, convinced by his ceaseless profanity that he also made progress
in spite of his shortness of limbs. Indeed they attained the rock
shelter almost together, creeping up through a narrow crevasse, leaving
a wet trail along the grey stone. This was accomplished none too soon,
a yell from the bank telling of their discovery, followed by the crack
of a gun. The marshal, who was still exposed, hastily crept under
cover, wiping a drop of blood from his cheek where a splinter of rock
dislodged by the bullet had slashed the flesh. He was, nevertheless,
in excellent humour, his keen grey eyes laughing, as he peered out over
the rock rampart.
"If they keep up shootin' like that, Jim, I reckon our insurance won't
be high," he said, "I'm plumb ashamed of the camp, the way them boys
waste lead. Must 'a' took twenty shots at us so far an' only skinned
me with a rock. Hell! 'tain't even interestin'. Hand over them
cartridges; let's see what sorter stock we got."