The Max Brand Megapack. Max Brand

what?”

      The eyes of Haines were sad.

      “I was a clean man, once,” he said quietly, “and you’ve done a clean man’s work!”

      He put out his hand and that of Buck’s advanced slowly to meet it.

      “Was it for Dan or Kate that you did it?”

      The glance of Buck roamed far away.

      “I dunno,” he said softly. “I think it was to save my own rotten soul!”

      On the other side of the room Silent beckoned to Purvis.

      “What is it?” asked Hal, coming close.

      “Speak low,” said Silent. “I’m talking to you, not to the crowd. I think Buck is crooked as hell. I want you to ride down to the neighbourhood of his house. Scout around it day and night. You may see something worth while.”

      Meanwhile, in that utter blackness which precedes the dawn, Kate and her father reached the mouth of the canyon.

      “Kate,” said old Joe in a tremulous voice, “if I was a prayin’ man I’d git down on my knees an’ thank God for deliverin’ you tonight.”

      “Thank Buck Daniels, who’s left his life in pawn for us. I’ll go straight for Buck’s house. You must ride to Sheriff Morris and tell him that an honest man is up there in the power of Silent’s gang.”

      “But—” he began.

      She waved her hand to him, and spurring her horse to a furious gallop raced off into the night. Her father stared after her for a few moments, but then, as she had advised, rode for Gus Morris.

      CHAPTER XXXII

      THOSE WHO SEE IN THE DARK

      It was still early morning when Kate swung from her horse before the house of Buck Daniels. Instinct seemed to lead her to the sick-room, and when she reached it she paid not the slightest attention to the old man and his wife, who sat nodding beside the bed. They started up when they heard the challenging growl of Black Bart, which relapsed into an eager whine of welcome as he recognized Kate.

      She saw nothing but the drawn white face of Dan and his blue pencilled eyelids. She ran to him. Old Sam, hardly awake, reached out to stop her. His wife held him back.

      “It’s Delilah!” she whispered. “I seen her face!”

      Kate was murmuring soft, formless sounds which made the old man and his wife look to each other with awe. They retreated towards the door as if they had been found intruding where they had no right.

      They saw the fever-bright eyes of Dan open. They heard him murmur petulantly, his glance wandering. Her hand passed across his forehead, and then her touch lingered on the bandage which surrounded his left shoulder. She cried out at that, and Dan’s glance checked in its wandering and fixed upon the face which leaned above him. They saw his eyes brighten, widen, and a frown gradually contract his forehead. Then his hand went up slowly and found hers.

      He whispered something.

      “What did he say?” murmured Sam.

      “I dunno,” she answered. “I think it was ‘Delilah!’ See her shrink!”

      “Shut up!” cautioned Sam. “Ma, he’s comin’ to his senses!”

      There was no doubt of it now, for a meaning had come into his eyes.

      “Shall I take her away?” queried Sam in a hasty whisper. “He may do the girl harm. Look at the yaller in his eyes!”

      “No,” said his wife softly, “it’s time for us to leave ’em alone.”

      “But look at him now!” he muttered. “He’s makin’ a sound back in his throat like the growl of a wolf! I’m afeard for the gal, ma!”

      “Sam, you’re an old fool!”

      He followed her reluctantly from the room.

      “Now,” said his wife, “we c’n leave the door a little open—jest a crack—an’ you c’n look through and tell when she’s in any reel danger.”

      Sam obeyed.

      “Dan ain’t sayin’ a word,” he said. “He’s jest glarin’ at her.”

      “An’ what’s she doin’?” asked Mrs. Daniels.

      “She’s got her arm around his shoulders. I never knew they could be such a pile of music in a gal’s voice, ma!”

      “Sam, you was always a fool!”

      “He’s pushin’ her away to the length of his arm.”

      “An’ she? An’ she?” whispered Mrs. Daniels.

      “She’s talkin’ quick. The big wolf is standin’ close to them an’ turnin’ his head from one face to the other like he was wonderin’ which was right in the argyment.”

      “The ways of lovers is as queer as the ways of the Lord, Sam!”

      “Dan has caught an arm up before his face, an’ he’s sayin’ one word over an’ over. She’s dropped on her knees beside the bed. She’s talkin’. Why does she talk so low, ma?”

      “She don’t dare speak loud for fear her silly heart would bust. Oh, I know, I know! What fools all men be! What fools! She’s askin’ him to forgive her.”

      “An’ he’s tryin’ all his might not to,” whispered Mrs. Daniels in an awe-stricken voice.

      “Black Bart has put his head on the lap of the gal. You c’n hear him whine! Dan looks at the wolf an’ then at the girl. He seems sort of dumbfoundered. She’s got her one hand on the head of Bart. She’s got the other hand to her face, and she’s weepin’ into that hand. Martha, she’s give up tryin’ to persuade him.”

      There was a moment of silence.

      “He’s reachin’ out his hand for Black Bart. His fingers is on those of the girl. They’s both starin’.”

      “Ay, ay!” she said. “An’ what now?”

      But Sam closed the door and set his back to it, facing his wife.

      “I reckon the rest of it’s jest like the endin’ of a book, ma,” he said.

      “Men is all fools!” whispered Mrs. Daniels, but there were tears in her eyes.

      Sam went out to put up Kate’s horse in the stable. Mrs. Daniels sat in the dining-room, her hands clasped in her lap while she watched the grey dawn come up the east. When Sam entered and spoke to her, she returned no answer. He shook his head as if her mood completely baffled him, and then, worn out by the long watching, he went to bed.

      For a long time Mrs. Daniels sat without moving, with the same strange smile transfiguring her. Then she heard a soft step pause at the entrance to the room, and turning saw Kate. There was something in their faces which made them strangely alike. A marvellous grace and dignity came to Mrs. Daniels as she rose.

      “My dear!” she said.

      “I’m so happy!” whispered Kate.

      “Yes, dear! And Dan?”

      “He’s sleeping like a child! Will you look at him? I think the fever’s gone!”

      They went hand in hand—like two girls, and they leaned above the bed where Whistling Dan lay smiling as he slept. On the floor Black Bart growled faintly, opened one eye on them, and then relapsed into slumber. There was no longer anything to guard against in that house.

      * * * *

      It was several days later that Hal Purvis, returning from his scouting expedition, met no less a person that Sheriff Gus Morris at the mouth of the canyon leading to the old Salton place.

      “Lucky