Black Sam welcomed the gunman with the old broad grin, disclosing a white line of teeth which seemed to extend halfway round his head. He was not one to blow hot and cold; the cowboy had done him a service; he remembered that and forgot the rest.
"Sho' am please' to see yo, sah," he greeted.
"Howdy, Sam," Sudden smiled. "On'y time to have just one o' the best liquor in pese parts."
"Bettah dan Hell City, sah?"
"Yeah, yu black rascal. See here, Jansen has some good an' bad news for yu; don't open yore face 'bout either."
Leaving the darkie scratching his wool, he set out for the Twin Diamond, satisfied with his day's work.
* While the puncher was proceeding on his way to Red Rock, Hell City had a visitor who greeted Silver familiarly and stepped into the Chief's presence, indifferent to the black look he received.
"What brings you, Turvey?"
,"Thought yu'd like to hear that the OP Man is liable to pull through--must 'a' bin a poor shot, Dessay yore hand shook; it ain't every day a fella has to down his own dad." He sniggered at the last word, and his rat-like eyes roamed round the room. "Yo're well-fixed here--seems a pity to leave it.""I've no intention of doing so," Satan snapped.
"Mebbe, but sometimes other folk do the plannin'."
"What do you mean?"
"Takin' the girl has tipped the balance: the Twin Diamond an' Double K is gittin' ready to move."
"The Double K? Has Lagley lost his senses?"
"Steve has had a change of heart," Turvey sneered. "Yu see, he wants the range to stay in the Keith family."
The expressionless eyes suddenly flamed as Satan realized that this creature knew his secret; little did Turvey suspect how near he was to death at that moment. With an effort the masked man fought down the desire to close those jeering lips for ever. But the damage was done, and this fellow might still be useful. So, when he spoke, his voice did not betray him.
"How did you learn this?"
"Overheard Steve an' Frosty talkin' las' night; that gunfighter, Sudden, 'pears to be runnin' things."
The Chief bit on an oath. Though he would not admit it, he was beginning to fear this strange cowboy who, by accident or design, was wrecking his plans. But for his craving for cruelty ... He would not think of that.
"So two dozen cow-hands imagine they can take Hell City?"
"Dugout may help--we ain't too popular there."
"Those--tradesmen?" Satan said scornfully.
"A tradesman can pull a trigger, an' his bullet's just as hard," Turvey pointed out.
"But not so likely to hit the mark," the Chief retorted. "And when is the attempt to be made?"
"Couldn't find that out; soon, I'd say; they want the girl back."
"They won't get her," the bandit assured him. "Your news has been of use. Take this." With a grin of greed, the informer deftly caught the bag of money. "Silence, they say, is golden, Turvey; you will find it so. When this little trouble is over ..." It was well for his peace of mind that the cowboy could not read that smile. "Get back to the Double K anc glean what you can."
Turvey shook his head. "I've quit," he explained. "Steve had an ugly look forme this mornin' an' I'd sooner take a hint than a chance."
"A pity," Satan said. "Still, it is one man more for us. Now leave me, I have much to do; when guests are expected, one must make arrangements."
"Shore, we gotta give 'em a warm welcome," Turvey laughed, and departed.
Satan laughed, too, but directly he was alone, became thoughtful. "So the cat is out," he mused, "and the most perfect getaway ever devised comes to grief. Keith has talked, or the gunman has guessed--correctly, but in this place no one knows save that rat and gold will keep him quiet until I substitute--lead. I still hold a trump card, Joan, but it is not safe for her to remain here--those damned cowboys may prove too strong for us. The wise general prepares for the possibility of defeat."
He summoned Silver and sent him for Miss Dalroy. When she arrived he pointed to a seat.
"Hell City is shortly to be attacked by a considerable force," he began bluntly. "What do you suppose will happen to you if it is taken?"
"One of the victors might succumb to my charms and make me his blushing bride," she returned lightly, conceiving that he was trying to frighten her for some purpose.
He frowned at her flippancy. "You would be handed over to the nearest sheriff and go back to face your trial."
The harsh statement sobered her. "What do you want?"
"I am arranging for you and Miss Keith to be taken else where. You will start this afternoon, with Silver as escort."
"Two woman, alone with that--animal?" she cried.
"He is the only man I trust, or can spare," Satan said coldly. "You will be quite safe."
"Why can't you come?"
He drew himself up. "Desert my people?" he asked, and then, remembering that this woman was not one to be impressed by heroics, added, "I shall be needed here, and will join you later."
"I won't go," she said stubbornly.
"Get ready. You need not tell the Keith girl why the journey is necessary," he replied, and with a change of tone, "Belle, you know I would not send you away but for your own sake, don't you?"
Instantly she melted. "Oh, Jeff, I'm a fool about you," she murmured. "There are times when I could kill you, and others--"
"When you would die for me," he smiled. "But I'm only asking you to live for me, my dear."
The smile remained when she had gone. "Hard words for a man, and soft for a woman, spoken at the right time, will move mountains," he soliloquized. "God! if that cursed cowpuncher had never been born."
He thrust aside the ambitious hopes his abnormal vanity had bred--the present needed all his attention. To Silver he gave detailed instructions, and the dwarf's beady eyes shone when he heard the reward he was to receive if he carried them out successfully.
"I savvy, Chief," he grunted.
"If you fail, in any way, I'll kill you--slowly," Satan said. "You can't hide from me." He tapped his forehead. "I see with my brain."
Having thus reminded the fellow of his supernatural powers, he went about the business of dealing with the threatened attack. The boom of the bell brought the dwellers running, all save the guardians of the gates. Excited questions flew back and fore. Who was the victim? What form would the punishment take? One said the gunman, Sudden, had been recaptured. The spectacular figure of their leader stilled the hubbub. In a melodramatic fashion he flung his right hand upwards.
"My friends," he cried, "it has been revealed to me that the Double K and Twin Diamond ranches are combining to drive us from our retreat. What are we to do?"
The answer came in one roar, "Fight!"
"I am glad you agree with me. These cattlemen think the earth was created solely for them, and must be taught otherwise. They can get to us only through the gates, unless"--he glanced up at the cliff walls--"they drop from Heaven, and a cowboy is as little likely to come from as go there."
"That's one for you, Turvey," a wit shouted, and raised a laugh.
"So we must have a strong force at each entrance, men who can use their rifles, with others in readiness to take the places of those who may--be unlucky," Satan went on. "We have plenty of weapons and ammunition. Roden will command at the west gate and Turvey at the east. There will be twenty gold pieces for every man if we win, and remember, you will be fighting for your very existence, so--no mercy."
Though the cheering as he turned his back on them gratified his mummer's appetite for applause, it brought a sneer to his lips. How easy it was for a clever man to mould the common clay to his own desires ! A handful of gold, a few well-chosen words, and these men were ready to lay down their lives for him. Fools ... fools ...
Meanwhile, the objects of his contempt were discussing the news. Hard-bitten, reckless, the prospect of a battle daunted them not at all. With coarse jests and a great deal ofboasting, they crowded round the two lieutenants, busy distributing cartridges and rifles. Some disdained the latter, for as one rugged-faced old freebooter expressed it: "A gun you know is like a good wife--not so purty, mebbe, but you c'n trust her."