Chapter XXI
ON the morningofSevern's dramatic return to captivity, the town seethed with excitement. This state of affairs provided material for thought of someofthe citizens.
"Suthin's goin' on," Bent remarked to Callahan. "There's men spendin' money on licker that never had none to spend afore, an' I got Greasers at my bar now that I'd 'a' throwed out on their ears yestiddy, knowin' they couldn't pay."
"What possessed Severn to come trapesin back?" asked the storekeeper.
"He's one square fella--he wouldn't run away," Bent told him. "Trouble is, he won't git a straight deal."
"True for ye. Kape an eye on the store while I step up to the `Come Again' an' find out about Lufton."
As the storekeeper went along the street, the signsofunrest were apparent. Little groupsofmen were dotted about arguing, gesticulating, and the grimnessoftheir faces conveyed an atmosphere of menace. He noticed that the nucleusofnearly every gathering consisted of one or two of the Bar B punchers.
"Bart's workin' the town up, an' for what?" he asked himself.
Passing through nhe swing-doorsofthe saloon, he found that rumour for once had spoken truly. At a table in a far corner, apart from the sullen, threatening customers who crowded the bar, Black Bart was entertaining a visitor. This was a thin, shambling figureofa man approaching fifty, dressed in a shiny black coat, trousers stuffed into boot-tops, a collar far from clean, and a cravat which bore abundant evidenceofhaving been too often tied by stumbling fingers. The puffy face, receding jaw, and vacillating eyes told their own story. This was Judge Luf ton, who had obtained office by political wire-pulling, and in spiteofcertain lapses, had hitherto managed to hold it by the same means. Had Callahan been able to hear their conversation, he would have found the answer to his question.
"Yu've happened along just hunky, Judge," Bart was saying, as he filled the visitor's glass. "Yo're the man this town's needin' bad right now."
The manoflaw straightened up in his chair. "As an unworthy servantofthe public, Mr. Bartholomew, I am at the disposalofthe citizens," he said unctuously. "In what way--?"
"There's a criminal in the calaboose here waitin' to be tried," Bart told him. "He's a desperate character--got away last night, but was recaptured by the sheriff." The lie slipped easily from his lips.
"What is the offence?" Lufton inquired.
"He robbed the bank here, shot the manager, an' murdered an old friend o' mine," the Bar B owner returned coolly. "If that ain't enough, there's other charges."
"Providence having given us only one neck apiece, I should say it was more than enough," the Judge said, with ponderous humour. "Why don't you send him to the capital?"
"To escape on the way, or get off with a packed jury 'cause he's got a pull somewheres, huh?" Bart retorted. "No, sir, this town can do its own tryin'. As I told yu, the fella's a hard case. Mebbe it'll surprise yu to hear he's the chap as used to be known as Sudden, the outlaw."
The Judge was surprised; his vacuous eyes opened. "But if I remember rightly, Sudden was supposed to have been in the employ of the Governor," he remarked.
"There yu are," Bartholomew said triumphantly. "That was the excuse for lettin' him off; yu see, he has got a pull."
"If he's still got it--" Lufton began dubiously.
"He ain't," the rancher cut in. "An' the cases against him are plain open an' shut this time. Besides, all yu gotta do is try the fella; the jury finds the verdict. Once that's given, what happens ain't no business o' yourn."
There was a sinister suggestion in the last words which made the other man look up apprehensively.
"You mustn't forget that I represent the law, Mr. Bartholomew," he pointed out, with a rather ludicrous attempt at dignity.
"Ain't that the very reason I'm askin' yu to take charge?" the big man retorted. "Now, see here, Judge; the folks in thisyer town are gettin' all het up over this case--mostof'em lost money m the robbery, an' the fella as was rubbed out was plenty popular. I've got 'em millin' as yet, but if they stampede there'll be a neck-tie party shore as yo're born, an' that won't look too good with a reg'ler judge in the town who might 'a' given the accused a fair trial an' done things legal."
Lufton emptied his glass, replenishing it with a shaky hand. He had experienceofthe West, had seen mob law at work, and knew that in the stateoftension the town was now in, a spark would cause an explosion. Surely, in the interestoflaw and order, it was his duty to step in and see justice meted out to the malefactor. Bartholomew's next remark decided him.
"There'll be a fee o' two hundred dollars," he said. "Course, if yu'd rather we waited for Embley ..."
Lufton winced like a spurred horse; he hated the Desert Edge jurist, a factofwhich Bartholomew was well aware.
"No need for that," he said. "I'll take the case."
"Good for yu," Bartholomew smiled. "I don't mind admittin' that I'm glad. Embley ain't popular round here, he's a pal o' the prisoner, an' there's more than a suspicion that he's in cahoots with him to grab the murdered man's property."
Lufton's eyes gleamed evilly. "Shouldn't be surprised," he sneered. "There's usually mud at the bottom o' still water. When yu startin' the trial?"
"Half an hour's time," replied the rancher. "No sense in waitin', an' it wouldn't be safe anyways. I'll tell Muger to get this place cleared for it."
The news that the accused was to be tried at once by Judge Lufton spread like wildfire through the town, and the general feeling was oneofsatisfaction. Never before had Hope Again enjoyed such a sensation. Killings, followed by summary justice were not unknown, but a regular trial by an official judge was a novelty, and the "Come Again" soon bore witness to the fact. Indeference to Lufton's position, some endeavour was made to give the room a court-like appearance. The judge's bench was represented by a table, with seats on either side for the more important citizens. Twelve chairs were arranged for the jury, another for the sheriff. Immediately in frontofthe Judge were three more chairs, the middle one for the prisoner, and the others for the deputies guarding him; this was the dock. The onlookers perched themselves on such support as they could find, or lolled against the walls.
Severn's first intimation that he was to be put on his trial immediately came from the deputy, Jake, whom he had treated so unceremoniously the night before. The man appeared to bear no malice, for he grinned cheerfully through the spyhole as he said :
"Better be gittin' ready to speak yore piece, Severn; the Judge'll be wantin' yu at the court mighty soon."
"Has Embley turned up, then?" asked the prisoner.
"Now, Lufton's goin' to try yu, an' I'm bound to say it's mean luck he should happen along. If yu got any argyments yu better think 'em up, for yu'll need some."
The voice of the other deputy broke in. "Fetch him along--just got word he's needed."
"There, I've done wasted yore time," Jake said regretfully. "Yu'll have to think up suthin' on the way."
Certainly the prisoner had plenty to occupy his mind as, with an armed deputy on either side, he paced up the street. Calculating his chances the night before, he had come to the conclusion that apart from a possibilityofbeing lynched, he was in no immediate danger; einher he would be tried in Hope by Judge Embley, or sent to the capital. The advent of a strange and possibly hostile judge was, as he had to admit, "a hossofa different brand," and this indecent haste to bring him to account looked ominous. He wished now that he had not ordered his outfit to keep away from Hope; if it came to the worst ...
The entry of the accused increased the buzzofconversation in the crowded court-room. With calm confidence he walked to the dock, took off his hat, and sat down. His bonds had been removed, but the deputies drew their guns as they sat beside him. There was a suspicion of a smile on Severn's face as he noted the precaution. He looked at the Judge, then the jury--which had already been empanelled--and realised that he stood no chance; the twelve "good men and true" were all supportersofBartholomew, and had been chosen for that reason. His steady eyes swept the audience. He saw Bent, Callahan and Larry, and was searching for Lunt when the little gunman entered, followed by four of the Bar B outfit. His face told Severn a story.