"Very fortunately for Joan," the rancher said. "Sam is an old servant and an excellent fellow, but he has the pluck of a rabbit." His eyes flashed. "They should have died," he added vehemently. "Of course, you are a stranger...."
"I learned 'em a lesson," the puncher pointed out.
"So I heard, seh," Keith replied, and with a wisp of a smile. "I, too, have my magic. You see, my position renders it necessary that I should know all that ,.takes place in the valley; it is not idle curiosity. Neither is it when I ask why you have come to these parts?"
"I'm just a puncher who has pulled his picket-pin, havin' got tired o' lookin' at the same bit o' the world every mornin'. Allus had the travel itch--never could stay put for long. I've no folks an' no friends."
The rancher nodded. He knew the type and had not expected to receive any definite information. The average cowboy was a nomad by nature, liable to wander in search of new pastures from sheer restlessness. But though he accepted the explanation, he did so with reservations, being convinced that this nonchalant but extremely competent-looking young man, who wore two guns and had proved his ability to take care of himself, was something more than he had claimed.
'Would you care to ride for me?" he asked abruptly.
Sudden hesitated; save in moments of stress, when he could emulate lightning itself, he did not make rapid decisions. Keith misunderstood his silence.
"You have heard I'm a hard man to work for?" he suggested.
"No, seh, the word I had was that yore men are proud o'yu, an' that the pay an' grub is good," Sudden smiled. "I'm just wonderin' why yu offer me a job?"
"you have done me a service," the other reminded, and when the visitor made a gesture of dissent, "and you appear to be the kind of man I need."
"I can handle cattle."
"I want someone who can handle men--miscreants like those you dealt with yesterday," the rancher said harshly. "I want that nest of thieves and cut-throats, Hell City--of which you must now have heard--wiped out. Above all, I want to see their leader, who has robbed, flouted, and jeered at me, broken, lying in the dust at my feet, begging for his life."
The low, tense tones, flaming eyes, and clamped, set jaw testified to the passion which possessed him. In a moment it passed and Kenneth Keith was again the cold, courteous gentleman.
"The fellow is a menace to the whole community, Mister Green," he went on. "A cancerous growth which must be ruthlessly removed. I have written to the Governor, but apparently he can do nothing; we must take the law into our own hands. Well, what do you say?"
Though this was the offer for which he had hoped, Sudden did not wish to seem too eager, and it was only after a pause that he said:
"I'm takin' a hand, but I gotta play the cyards my own way. To begin with I'll be just one o' yore punchers--yu havin' put me on the pay-roll for helpin' Miss Keith. That'll give me time to look around." He waited, and then, "If I get a chance to down this leader would that be all right with yu?"
The elder man's face paled. "I would prefer to have him brought in for me to pass judgment on," he said slowly.
"I savvy," Sudden replied, and was glad he had asked the question. Somewhere in this proud, hard parent there still glowed a spark of affection for the son of his body.
The appearance of the girl interrupted the conversation, and the cowboy had to submit while she thanked him prettily.
"Green is going to ride for the Double K, Joan," Keith told her. "I scarcely think any of that devil's brood will interfere with you again." His voice grew stern. "If they do, he has my instructions to deal with them as they deserve."
"I hope the lesson they have received will be sufficient," she said, but there was fear in her eyes.
Sudden made a mental note, and then--in response to the rancher's hail--Frosty came up from the corral. His face split in a broad grin when he learned that the Double K had hired a hand.
"Show him where he sleeps, and then"--Keith's thin smile was in evidence--"you can go with him to Dugout to fetch his things."
As they went to the corral for their horses, Frosty looked at his new friend and said with a laugh:
"That's the 01' Man all over : lashes yu with that tongue o' his one minute, an' the next, does somethin' yu want but dasn't ask for. I'm thunderin' glad yo're joinin' us, Jim, an' Sam will be, too."
"He's losin' a boarder."
"He's gainin' a friend," came the swift retort, "an' bein' the colour he is, he don't have too many."
His prophecy proved correct, for when they returned to Dugout with the news, the saloon-keeper's delight and relief were obvious.
"I'se pow'ful pleased yo' ain't leavin' us, sah," he beamed. "Shucks, them hombres would say I'd run away,"
Sudden excused. "Ain't called for their guns, I s'pose?"
It appeared they had. Soon after the cowboys set out forthe Double K, a youth arrived, paid the money, and re- deemed the weapons. He left a message.
"I was to tell de stranger dat he'll suah see dem guns some mo'," the negro said.
Frosty chuckled. "I'll take to totin' a couple, Jim; that'll even up."
They devoured a meal, praised the cook until her grin of gratification threatened to engulf her ears, and headed once more for the Double K. By the time they reached it, riders were coming in from the range.
"Yu'll bring the strength up to fifteen, includin' the foreman," Frosty informed. "They's a middlin' good crew, though--well, mebbe it's my fault."
"That they's a good crew?" came the artless question.
"No, yu flathead, an' don't yu go to copyin' the 01' Man--one like him is all this ranch'll stand," Frosty said. "My fault if I can't like one or two as well as the rest. I expect I don't make friends easy."
"I've noticed it," Sudden remarked gravely. "Yu need to know a fella a long, long whiles before he captures yore youthful affection."
"Oh, go to--chapel," the young man told him, and gave his mount a swipe on the rump which sent it careering into the corral.
As they moved towards the bunkhouse a chubby, round-face cowboy approached, and was promptly hailed:
"Hi, Lazy, say `Howdy' to Jim Green, who's come to help the rest of us do yore job for yu."
The maligned one grinned and shoved out a paw. "Pleased to meetcha," he said, "My name's `Lacey'; these ignorant cow-wrestlers mis-pronounce it 'cause I do more work than any three of 'ern." He looked at Frosty. "Steve's wantin' to know where yu bin loafin' all the day?"
"Tell him to ask the Colonel."
The Double K bunkhouse was a large one and the built-in bunks arranged along each side left ample room for the long table which served for meals. At the far end a door led to the kitchen. Most of the riders had already taken their seats and were exchanging good-humoured banter when Frosty and his companions entered. Frosty conducted the newcomer to the head of the table, where Lagley was standing in conversation with a small, middle-aged man with ferrety eyes and a sour expression. This was Turvey, supposed to be more or less in the foreman's confidence.
"Oh, Steve, this is Jim Green," Frosty announced. "I reckon the 01' Man will have told yu about him."
The foreman spun round and glared when he saw the stranger who had humiliated him. Stark hostility shone in his eyes for an instant and as quickly died away. But Sudden noted it.
"I ain't seen Keith," Lagley said gruffly. "What was it he should 'a' told me?"
"Why, to put Jim on the pay-roll, o' course."
"No `of course' about it till I've spoke with the owner," the foreman snapped. "What yu bin doin' to-day?"
"Better ask him 'bout that, too," Frosty advised. "C'mon, Jim, let's git started afore these fellas wolf the lot." And, as they found seats, "Me, I'm a small eater."
"My Gawd!" the tall, thin man on his left breathed fervently.