"What's he done?"
"Murdered a man an' stole his dust," came the answer. "That's a lie, Jim; I never was near the place," Gerry called out, trying to step forward.
"Close yore yap, you," one of the men holding him exclaimed, and both of them slung him roughly back.
The puncher's cold eyes rested on them. "Turn that man loose," he ordered. "He can't get away." Though his voice was low there was menace in it. The men shuffled uneasily for a moment and then obeyed; the crowd murmured. Sudden raised a hand.
"Mason is my partner," he said. "If he has done what yu say, yo're welcome to hang him, but yu gotta prove it first." The leader told the story; a solitary digger named Wilson had been stabbed on his claim and his money-belt was missing; the prisoner was seen near the spot soon after the crime must have been committed.
"Yu didn't find the belt on him?" Sudden asked, and there was a burst of jeering laughter. "Well, o' course, he might 'a' cached it. Where's the fella who saw him?" From the back ranks a reluctant figure was pushed forward and Sudden's eyes narrowed as he saw that it was Rodd. The man was obviously uncomfortable but with the courage born of being one of many, he faced the puncher with a malevolent sneer. Sudden gave no sign of recognition.
"Shore it was Mason you saw?" he asked.
"Sartain," was the reply, "an' he was wearin' chaps--they ain't so common in these 'arts."
"I wear 'em," the puncher pointed out.
"Then it might 'a' bin yu," Rodd said impudently, and raised a laugh.
"So yu didn't see his face--the chaps are all yu have to go on?" Sudden flashed, and the man's triumphant leer faded as he realized that he had made a slip.
"It was him, anyway," he growled. "I'd swear to lt."
"Conclusive, o' course," Sudden sneered. "Well, that clears me. Where were yu, Gerry, at the time?"
"Work in' on the claim, which ain't anywhere near Wilson's," the prisoner replied. "These hombres grabbed me soon as I hit town, an' wouldn't let me say a thing." The gathering was growing and among the new-comers Sudden noticed Berg, who, as Gerry finished speaking, thrust himself into the discussion.
"You ain't got no claim," he asserted, "an' if you had, we've on'y yore word you were on it."
"I've got a claim, an' three men were with me," Gerry snapped.
"Who are they?" demanded the leader, impatiently swinging his rope.
"Jesse Rogers, Bowman and Humit." Some among the bloodthirsty throng looked doubtful--they knew these names. Others, more callous, eager only to see a man die, yelled in derision.
"He's playin' for time; he don't know them fellas. Swing the --, anyway; there's bin too many o' these killin's." With threatening curses, the ruffianly element in the crowd surged forward, only to sway back before the muzzles of the puncher's pistols. The jutting jaw and the bleak unwavering eyes told them that the man on the black horse was not bluffing.
"Twelve of yu get--hurt, first," he warned, and those who had witnessed the encounter with Lefty Logan did not doubt the statement.
"I raise the ante--make it twenty-four, Green," a quiet voice added, and though he dared not take his eyes from the mob, the puncher knew that Wild Bill was standing beside his horse. The gunman waited for a few tense moments, and then said, "I guess we'll hear what those three men have to say."
"Here they come--the ol' Jew-fella is a-fetchin' 'em," someone shouted.
It was true. A moment later, Jacob, and the men he had gone in search of, hurried up. Sudden told the rope-bearer to question them. Their testimony was convincing--Gerry had been in their company all day, not leaving them until after the murder was discovered. A few of the crowd, disappointed of their ghoulish excitement, went away murmuring; others remained to congratulate the man they had come to hang.
"Shore was lucky yore friend showin' up, son," one grinned. "We come mighty near puttin' one over on you."
"You did oughta get rid o' them leather pants," another chimed in. "One o' these days you'll trip over em an' break yor neck." Bill Hickok put forward a different aspect of the affair.
"These outrages are becomin' frequent an' they have a family resemblance which suggests the same hand," he remarked. "Find out who planned this frame-up an' yu will be near to discoverin' the killer."
"Rodd is in with Berg," Sudden said.
"Berg is on'y a tool--yu'll have to look higher," Hickok replied. "Watch yore step an'--keep clear o' the women."
"Now what the devil did he mean by that?" Sudden pondered, when the gunman had gone.
"I'd say he meant Miss Lesurge, an' if yo're wise, yu'll take his tip," Gerry said.
"I reckon I will," his friend agreed.
Chapter XII
At the Lesurge residence, that same evening, Paul, his sister, and Mary Ducane gathered to hear the result of the prospector's expedition into the wild.
* "So you found the place?" Lesurge asked. "There's no doubt?"
"Shore I found it," Snowy replied. "My ol' hut was still a-standin' an' I'll bet a stack nobody's put a foot in that gully since I was thar."
"That's fine," Paul responded. "In a little while we'll take a gang out, but there are things to see to here first. How did you get along with Green?"
"He's all right," was the casual reply. "Useful fella, but he don't savvy nothin' 'bout gold-minin'."
"Excellent, but he knows the location? Of course, it couldn't be avoided, but there's a remedy for that." H>> smiled at Lora, but for once she did not appear to find any humour in the remark. Snowy's face remained expressionless; he could have made a good guess at the nature of the "remedy."
"You think we can depend on him?"
"Yeah, but you'll have to take in his pardner."
"Ah, Mason. Wasn't he in trouble of some kind today?" Snowy laughed wheezily. "He was within two shakes o' bein' strung up, if you call that `trouble.' It was wings an' a harp for him if Jim an' me hadn't arrove." He gave the details, and his keen little eyes noted the colour creeping back into Mary's cheeks as she listened. Paul waved a nonchalant hand.
"Too bad," he said, "but these fellows work hard for their wealth, and to lose that and life as well ... You can't wonder they are vindictive."
"But to hang an innocent man," Mary shuddered.
"Well it didn't happen," Paul smiled. "My old schoolmaster, when he punished me by mistake, used to justify it by saying that the thrashing was probably due for something he hadn't discovered."
"Mister Mason would not murder," the girl insisted.
"Gold alone makes existence possible in this wild corner of the world," he replied. "A man must get it--somehow, or go under. How long does it take to reach this mine of yours, Phil?"
"Less'n a day, the way we come back," the old man told him. "Got lost a bit goin'--a-purpose."
"When we go we might take the ladies--make a change for them. What do you think?"
"It's fearsome country an' there's a chance o' them red devils," Snowy said dubiously. "They'd have to live rough."
"We shall be a strong party," Paul argued.
"You may count on us," Lora broke in. "Thank you, Paul."
"lt won't be yet," Lesurge laughed. "You'll have time to exercise the privilege of your sex and alter your mind."
"Don't hope for it," she cried gaily. "Nothing could keep me from such an experience. Think of it, Mary; riding, hunting and searching for gold."
"Your occupation will be mainly preparing meals," Paul bantered.
"Then I'm sorry for you," she retorted. "When I die someone will be the worst cook in the world." Later, in the seclusion of her room, Mary Ducane tried--not for the first time--to analyse her feelings for Paul Lesurge. Handsome, well-dressed, and apparently cultured, he stood out among the uncouth, coarsely-garbed men who formed the major portion of Deadwood's population--men who spent their days burrowing into the hill-sides and their nights drinking and gaming away their gains. Though there were many sober, industrious citizens, she had not met them, which heightened Paul's pre-eminence in her mind. When he chose,he could be charming, and, so far, she had not seen him otherwise. It was inevitable that she should be attracted, yet she had doubts. She remembered, rather angrily, that Gerry Mason's peril had interfered with the beatlng of her heart.