"It's good, Hank," Berg exulted. "It's damned good. When does he want to see him, Fagan?"
"Mustn't be for a day, at least. You see I gotta find Hank first an' that ain't goin' to be too easy; unfortunately, Paul couldn't give me no description." A shout of laughter greeted the jest, and they filled their glasses and drank to the man they meant to cheat when the time was ripe.
Chapter XVI
Two evenings later Gerry and Jacob were engaged with the chess-beard and Sudden was looking on. The game was nearing the end, and the younger man was jubilant because it appeared that he must win. Then came a reverse. He had early captured his opponent's Queen, but by seemingly unimportant moves, Jacob had gradually pushed a pawn right across the board and now replaced the more powerful piece.
"Cuss it, I warn't noticin' that no 'count fella," Gerry lamented.
"Always watch the pawns, my friend, both in this and the game of life," the old man said. "They have--potentialities." He made a move, and went on, "How do you like mining?"
"It's mighty monotonous," Gerry grumbled. "Shovellin' an' washin' dirt allatime. I'd ruther be ropin' cattle; when one goes on the prod, yu get a change." Jacob smiled at Sudden. "The poor fellow is having a dull time," he said. "We must try to find him a little excitement." Someone knocked, opened the door, and entered; it was Paul Lesurge. He nodded to the cowboys, sat down, and looked at the gold-buyer.
"Have you put it to them?" he asked.
"No, I left that to you."
"Right," Lesurge replied, and turned to the younger men. "Here is the proposition: A coach with a load of gold is going East. It is supposed that it will start to-morrow evening, but actually it goes to-night. This is known only to those who are sending the stuff, like myself and our friend, Jacob. There will be no travellers save the driver and the express messenger--who will learn the starting time when it arrives. Originally, two well-armed riders were to follow the vehicle but some of the consignees think the convoy should be doubled, and Jacob mentioned your names."
"I'm afraid I took a liberty," the old man put in. "But--"
"Shucks," Sudden said gently, and waved him to silence.
"I told Stark that if he only wanted two men, Sudden would fit the bill," Lesurge smiled, "but he is of very limited intelligence. Personally, I don't apprehend much danger from roadagents--the secret has been well kept. When you reach Laramie, you can return. Now, what do you say?" The puncher did not reply at once; he was turning the matter over. He looked at Jacob, and received a slight nod. That decided him.
"We'll go yu," he agreed.
"Good," Lesurge said. "That means both of you, of course."
"I trail along with Jim, every time," Gerry told him. "Quite a David and Jonathan, eh? Well, that's all settled. Green, J want a private word with you." When they were outside, Lesurge said, "If the gold gets through this will put you in well with the men who matter in Deadwood. On the other hand, if someone has talked unwisely, you may meet with overwhelming odds, and fail. The gold will be lost, it is true, but you will have done your best and I'll see that you don't suffer--in any way. Understand?"
"I get yu," the puncher said.
"I made a mistake about you at first, Green," the oily voice went on. "You're no fool. A hundred thousand is a lot of money but not worth one's life, when it belongs to other folk. Personally, I'd rather have a tenth of it and go on living." He laughed meaningly. "Be behind the Monte at ten. Good luck." He held out a hand, but the cowboy did not appear to notice it; his belt had slipped and required adjustment.
"We'll be there," he said.
When he returned to the room his face was enigmatical. "Just a few final directions," he explained.
"I'm grateful to you boys," Jacob said. "Practically all I possess will be in that consignment. Where does Lesurge get dust from, Jim?"
"Yu can search me," the puncher replied. "Buys it like yu do, grubstake miners as Stark does, or wins it at cards--there's plenty ways."
"Yes, of course," the other agreed, and, thoughtfully. "He doesn't like you."
"He was apologizin' just now for havin' misunderstood me," Sudden smiled.
"Then I'll bet a blue stack he's aimin' to play yu a shabby trick." This from Gerry.
"An' he wished me good luck."
"Which makes it a certainty. Jim, we'd better renig on that job."
"Shore, if yo're scared.--Awright, yu curly-headed calamity. I on'y said 'if.' Don't forget our friend here is relyin' on us."
"I wouldn't want you to run into danger on my account," Jacob said earnestly, "I'd sooner lose the gold."
"Easy, or-timer," Sudden grinned. A point occurred to him. "Yu didn't see the jaspers who are to ride with us?"
"No, but Lesurge referred to one as `Hank'."
"There yu are," Gerry chimed in triumphantly.
Sudden carefully inspected himself. "So I am," he said gravely. "Friend Paul ain't likely to be usin' the man who smouched his sister, an' if yu took a census o' this beeyutiful city yu'd probably round up fifty Hanks. Ever heard o' mares' nests, Gerry?"
"Yeah, an' I've heard o' damn idjuts who squinted down the barrel of a gun an' pulled the trigger to see if it was loaded," the young man retorted.
"Well, we'll hope it ain't--to-night," his friend said. He looked at the clock and spoke to Jacob. "We needn't to start yet. I've been watchin' this chess caper an' I'd like to try her out." The old man, who was an enthusiast, readily agreed, and they sat down, with Mason an interested spectator. The battle lasted for nearly an hour and then the cowboy made a move and said quietly, "I guess I got yu corralled, seh." His opponent studied the board for a moment and then smilingly admitted defeat.
"I rather pride myself on the brand of chess I can produce," he said, "and here I am, beaten by a beginner. My wits must be wandering this evening." He pondered for a while, recalling the stages of the game. "Why, hang it all, you were jockeying me into that position right along and I failed to see it. Young man, I feel more hopeful about my dust."
"Time we started," Sudden said. "Fetch the horses, Gerry, an' we'll need our rifles." When the boy had gone, he added quietly, "I'm afraid he's right--there's somethin' brewin', but it's too late to do any-thin'. We've no proof--gotta go through with it. Tell Hickok, an' watch out for yorself." He smiled. "We won't be here to look after yu."
"Don't worry about me," Jacob told me. "All I have to lose now will be with you." Behind the Monte they found the coach, the body of which, slung on its leather supports, contained only a pile of packages covered with a canvas sheet. Injun Joe, the rugged-faced old driver, was examining every strap and buckle of the harness of his team of six horses. The express messenger, a shot-gun between his knees, was already on the box, and a couple of horsemen, whose turned-down hat-brims partly concealed their faces, were waiting. Reuben Stark was giving instructions.
"Slide outa town at a walkin' pace," he said to the driver,who, satisfied that all was in order, now climbed to his seat. "The escort'!! catch you up."
"Don't hold 'em too long," Injun Joe warned. "Once I'm clear, I'll be travellin'. Sabe?" Creaking and rocking over the rough ground, the cumberous vehicle rolled away and was blotted out in the darkness. Sudden moved noiselessly to where the other men sat in their saddles and struck a match to light his cigarette. The tiny flare showed him a red wheal running up the cheek of the nearest rider.
"That's an ugly scar yu got, friend," he remarked. "Looks like yore bronc had piled yu into a cactus."
"Nothin' o' the sort," the man growled. "If it's any o' yore damn business, a Greasex slung a knife at me." Sudden flipped the match into the air, but not before he had caught the malevolent gleam in the fellow's eyes. He was a poor liar; the wound was ragged; a knife-blade would have made a clean cut.