Sonora might have returned or anything could have
happened.
Malloy wanted twenty thousand dollars, said
Bambridge. Oh, it will, Jed, replied Molly, hopefully.
Thats why I came, almost yelled Bambridge, red in
theface. They all wanted it this spring, but I coaxed off tillfall. The little
gunmandied on his feet, without a movement, even of that terribly sensitiveright
hand.
Belonged to my driver, Pedro, lyin there, said
Traft, nodding at thedead man.
They shore werent in the roadback there a ways.
They went outside, and Stone experienced a qualm when Malloy hobbled tohis favourite
seat. Something wedged into hiseager one-ideaed mind.
I never seen a madder manthan Tanner, nor a
scareder one than Darnell.
It wasan old roof of shacks an brush, an shore dry.
Jed Stone, are you aimin fer thet ten thousand? Im gonna run out under cover ofthet
smoke, an make a break fer cover.
Without speaking they threw saddles and packs, and
left theweary horses standing. Damn it, am I loony, or do I smell blood? Now, Molly,
dont you say one word aboot me tillI think it over.
The one I shot wasnt young Traft, an neither was
the other.
When daylight come I took a look out, an was
surprisedwhen the bullets began to fly. The threerustlers came very slowly up the
slope, to halt before the cabin.
Wal, I reckon you can keep them for Croak, said
Stone, with humour. Bambridge reacted slowly to that suggestion. Howdy, Tanner, said
Stone, civilly, though he did not move towardMalloys new man.
After all, he was notto ride away from the brakes
without the blood of Croak Malloy on hishands. Malloy wanted twenty thousand
dollars, said Bambridge.
But he had only aboot five hundred onhim, an some
papers.
They all wanted it this spring, but I coaxed off
tillfall. Reeves entered with the lean-jawedstranger.
Not a violentblow, though it brought
blood!
Smoke curling from the stone chimney of the
logcabin! Thet damned redskin Dunn had set fire to the cabin roof. At thetMalloy an
Bambridge rung me into the only one. Thets why I near rode Bambridge off his laigs
gettinhyar.
He did notneed to come to close quarters with the
driver. Yet he recognised familiarcountry when he rode into it.
They had turned off not toavoid him, but for
reasons of their own.
And as he glanced in he heard agirls low cry, deep,
broken with emotion.