Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-11-09
CHAPTER xiv

Simon Turner had given Dave very
definite instructions concerning his
embassy to Hudson. "The first thing
this Bruce will do" Simon had said.
"is to hunt up Hudson-the one living
man that witnessed that agreement
between Ross and old Folger. One
reason is that he'll want to verify
Linda's story. Tie next is to per-
sunde the old man to go down to the
courts with him MS his witnesA And
what you have to do Is line him up
for our side first"
f"YOu think" Dawes eyes wan
dered about the room. 'yOu think
that's the best wny?"
II wouldn't he tellin' you to do It
II I didn't think So" Simon laughed
sudden, grim syllable. "Dave. you're
blOodthlrsty devil. I see what you're
thinking of-of safer way to keep
him from telling. But you know the
word I sent out. Go easy! That's
the wisest course to follow at present.
The valley people pay more attention
to such things than they used to; the
fewer the killings, the wiser we will
be. II hell keep quiet for the hun
dred let him have 1t in peace"
Dave hhdn't forgotten. But his fea.
lures were sharper and more ratlike
than ever, when he came In sight Of
Hudson's camp. just after the fall Of
darkness of the second day out. The
trapper was cooking his simple meal
q blue grouse frying In his skillet,
coffee boiling, and flapjack batter
ready for the moment the grouse was
done. Dawes thoughts returned to
the hundred dollars in his pocket-a
good sum in the hills. A brass rife
cartridge, such MS he could fire in
the thirty thirty that he carried In the
hollow of his arm. cost only about six
cents. The net gain would be-the
figures flew quickly through his mind
ninety-nine dollars and ninety-four
cents: quite good piece of business
for Dave. But the trouble was that
Simon might find out. The word had
gone out. for the present at least, to
ego easy" Such little games as Oc-
CURED to Dave now-as he watched
the trapper In the freight with one
hundred dollars Of the clans money
IN his own po&ket-had been prohibit
ed until further notice.
The thing looked so simple that
Dave sQurmed all over with annoy
ance. 1t hurt him to think that the
hundred dollars that he carried was
to be passed over, without a wink of
an eye, to this bearded trnpper; and
the only return for 1t was to be a
promise that Hudson would not tes-
tify in Bruce's behalf And a hundred
dollars was real money: Just little
matter of single glance down his
.i1e barrel at the figure in the silhou-
ette of the fire glow-and n hnlf-Ounce
Of pressure on the hair trigger. Half
Jesting with himself, he dropped on
one knee and raised the weapon. The
trapper did not guess his presence.
The blood leaped in Dawes veins.
But he caught himself with
wrench. He realized that Simon had
spoken true when he said that the old
days were gone, that the arm Of the
law reached farther than formerly,
and 1t might even stretch to this far
place. He remembered simon's in
structions. "The quieter we can do
these things. the better" the clan
leader had said. "If we can get
through to October thirtieth with no
killings. the snfer 1t Is for us. Go
easy; Dave. Sound this Hudson out.
II he'll keep still for hundred, let
him have It In peace" K
Dave slipped his rifle into the hol-
Gov Of his arm and continued on down
the trail He didn't try to stalk. In
4 moment Hudson heard his step and
looked up They met in a circle Of
EreliEht m,e ; 5ylei