"I deceived them, every one, even my father," he exulted. "And those idiots away East said I couldn't act. This will make a stir in the country and drive Jeff back to me. And then, Satan must die and Lander vanish, to reappear later as a wealthy stranger in search of a ranch. He will fall in love with the Double K, also its fair owner, and those boors in Dugout will lick the dust off the boots of the man they would hang to-day if they dared. But I must get rid of that cursed cowboy--he knows--or suspects--too much."
His low laugh reached the ears of the riders in front and moved Squint to speech: "I ain't what you'd call mealymouthed, but if I'd just bumped off my of man I dunno as I'd be all that amused."
The man beside him, a half-breed, furtively crossed himself. "He make bargain wit' de Evil One," he muttered, with a fearful glance over his shoulder.
Scar grinned hardily. "I ain't carin' if he's the Evil One hisself so long as he pays well," he said. "But we ain't had no luck since that blasted cowpunch showed up."
Satan's satisfaction was to be short-lived; some hours later Belle Dalroy burst in on him, still in her riding-kit and obviously excited. He received her with a studied indifference.
"What's the news from Dugout?" he asked.
Her eyes widened. "Who told you--oh, well, perhaps you also know what happened there?" she said petulantly."Tell me."
"Colonel Keith was in Black Sam's this morning and was doing something to his gun when it exploded, and--he's dead."
The news shook him so severely that he forgot his pretence of omniscience; in a flash he saw that such an explanation would defeat the purpose for which he had committed the crime.
"Who told you that fine tale?"
"Mrs. Jansen, the store-keeper's wife; her husband was with the Colonel; he ought to know."
"All the same, it's a lie," Satan replied vehemently. "Keith was killed in a gunfight." He paused, and with sinister emphasis, added, "I ought to know; I was there."
In those stony, implacable eyes she read the truth. "You, Jeff?" she stammered. "You--shot--your own father?"
"My own father," he mimicked. "Who forced me to herd with the dregs of humanity, hired one of them to slay me, and when that failed, tried to do it himself. Yes, I shot him, and would do it again--gladly."
The last word was spat out with vicious intensity. He had no object or interest in justifying his action to this woman for whose opinion he cared nothing, but he had been playing the part of the prodigal son so long that it had become almost second nature.
That he had succeeded was soon evident. Appalled at first by the terrible confession, her shallow temperament, inured to an atmosphere of violence and wrong-doing, soon reacted, and having her own aims, she adopted his cynical attitude.
"Well, if that's how you feel about it," she said. "But I don't see it helps you to hand the Double K to the girl."
"It brings me a step nearer; if anything happened to her ..." His laugh chilled her blood. "In any case, I have two ways of regaining my heritage: take it by force, or marry Joan; this accident story should help me there."
"She might not consent."
"My dear Belle, I'm afraid you don't realize my persuasive powers," he drawled. "Obstinacy in a human being is not one of the incurable diseases."
She did not look at him, fearful that he would divine her chagrin, for his marriage to Joan Keith spelt an end to her hopes. Again she asked why this man whose face she had never seen should have such a fascination? Possibly his cold ferocity appealed to her own lawless spirit. She could not answer; he was her man, and to keep him, she was prepared to dare anything, even his vengeance. With all his cleverness, he did not dream that this woman--fit only, in his estimation, to pander to his pleasure--was resolved to baulk him.
"It would be impossible, he could never get away with such an outrage," she told herself, but with no great conviction. "If he does ..."
Chapter XXII
That same afternoon, Sudden, stepping down to the store, saw Scar, Squint, and Coger leave the Chief's quarters. They were talking and laughing boisterously, but at the sight of him they ceased, and, bunching together, discussed something in low tones. He stalked past, obtained the tobacco he needed, and set out again for the saloon. The men had vanished, but aware that Satan's patience must be nearly exhausted, he was on the alert. Anita slid by, her averted head hidden in a mantilla.
"Roden is waiting for you, behind the stones," she murmured.
Sudden took no notice, save to slacken his stride while he rolled and lighted a cigarette; he required a few moments to consider this new development. One thing was certain--he had outstayed his welcome; Scar would not dare to act without instructions. They would be three to one, but of course, they counted on a surprise.
"An' they may get one," the puncher said grimly.
Twenty yards further along were the remains of a log shack; the roof had gone, and the walls rose only a few feet, but would afford some protection to a kneeling man. Almost opposite was a group of boulders, fallen fragments from the cliff too big to be removed, and affording ideal shelter for the ambushers. The street appeared to be empty, but from several doorways Sudden saw protruding heads.
"Friend Scar has passed the word that I'm to be dealt with," Sudden told himself.
He strolled carelessly on, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, but with every nerve and muscle keyed for immediate action. At the moment he came to the shack, three men with levelled guns rose from behind the boulders and Scar's rasping tones rang out.
"Reach for the sky, Sudden; we got you to rights."
Two lightning leaps to the left and the threatened man was crouching among the tumbled timbers of the cabin. Three bullets which whizzed past his ears left him untouched.
"An' now yu ain't," Sudden retorted, punctuating the remark with a couple of shots, one of which tore the hat from Scar's head, while the other brought Coger staggering into the open, only to fall, face downwards, in the dust, the sun glinting on the barrel of the pistol in one outflung hand.
A torrent of curses testified to the feelings of the dead man's companions, and then Scar spoke again: "Hey, Sudden, whatsa use shootin' us up? The town is closed an' you can't git away. We got orders to take you in."
"Come ahead," the puncher replied. "Yu won't do it burrowin' behind them rocks like the poison toads yu are." A succession of shots answered the invitation, but the marksmen were hampered by the necessity of having to bob up, fire, and vanish all in a second or so, the accuracy of the other man's shooting leaving no margin for delay. As it was, Squint lost half an ear, and Scar's temple was scorched by a bullet which came within an inch of putting a period to his interest in earthly affairs. Followed a lull, the attackers being unwilling to take any further risks with this lean-visaged devil, who laughed at danger and shot as one inspired.
"Keep close--he can't git away," Roden growled. "If he don't give in soon, I'll sing out for help, but I didn't want the Chief to think we couldn't curry a Ii'l hoss like this."
"So it's easy, huh?" Squint replied, wiping the blood from his torn ear. "Glad you told me--I mightn't 'a' noticed it."
Secure behind his timber rampart, Sudden, while keeping a keen eye on the enemy, was trying to find a way out of his difficulty. Even if he slew Scar and Squint, there were others to take their place, and he could not fight the whole town. He had almost decided to surrender and trust to the slender chance of bluffing the bandit leader once more when a faint footfall from behind made him look round. He was just in time to leap to his feet as Muley, with a bellow of rage, hurled his huge bulk at him.