Essential Western Novels - Volume 4. Max Brand

      "We'll try it down in the bottom of the wash," said Butts. "If he started pitchin' up on the bank here he'd be sure to fall in."

      "Let me have him," said Blaine. "You can ride behind."

      "I always get the worst of it," said the other.

      Cory mounted and rode down into the wash, reining the sorrel close to a low spot along the bank, from which Butts lowered himself gingerly onto the animal's rump.

      "I guess he aint goin' to do nuthin'," said Blaine.

      "I hope not," said Butts.

      "I suppose there is a lot of excitement at the ranch," said Blaine, as the sorrel walked off like an old family horse.

      "I guess they is," said Butts. "I wasn't there long. Her father came today."

      Blaine whistled. "Has he offered a reward?" he asked.

      "He'll give a reward all right, but he didn't say how much."

      "Well, it's goin' to be plenty," said Blaine, "unless—"

      "Unless what?" asked Butts.

      "When I pull this rescue stunt from Kelly's ranch, I won't want no reward or ransom money nor nuthin', if she'll marry me; for if I'm ever John White's son-in-law, I'll be sittin' pretty for the rest of my life."

      "But how about the rest of us?" asked Butts. "Where do we come in? We aint goin' to be no son-in-laws, and we want our cut of the ransom."

      "That's so," said Blaine, scratching his head. "Well, I reckon he'll have to pay the ransom; but he won't have to pay no reward."

      "You be a regular hero and refuse to take it," said Butts. "That'll make a hit with him."

      "But I still get my cut of the ransom," Blaine reminded him.

      "I don't care what you get as long as I get mine," and then they rode on in silence for some time.

      "I'd hate to trust my girl to that bunch," said Butts, "especially Hi Bryam."

      "They know I'd kill 'em," said Blaine.

      "Well, she's your girl," said Butts; "but I wouldn't trust Bryam, at least not way down in Mexico where he could make his getaway."

      "I aint worryin' none," said Blaine, and then as though the subject bored him, "Did that Marvel fellow get away today?" he asked.

      "Say, don't mention that son-of-a-gun's name to me. Every time I think of him I could chaw the head off a rattlesnake."

      "There was somethin' fishy about him," said Blaine. "He sure had me worried. Did I ever tell you how he rid this colt?"

      "I knew he took him when he went to look for them fool horse's teeth," said Butts.

      "I was watchin' him when he rid away, and I seen this little son-of-a-gun start to pitch down there just before the road makes the big bend around the hill. He sure gave that dude the works, but it never seemed to faze him; and when he come in that night, sayin' he's been lost, he swore the colt never did a thing and was gentle as a kitten."

      "I can't figure it out," said Butts. "Maybe it was just an accident, and then again maybe he kin ride, but he sure can't shoot; and he aint got real good sense, either—huntin' for horse's teeth."

      "Did he ever find a tooth?" asked Blaine.

      "He found a whole mouth full of 'em in that pinto o' yourn; but it stunk so that Bud said he lost interest, real sudden like, and wouldn't even look for no more."

      "He sure was a damn fool," said Blaine, "throwin' my boot away. I think he done it apurpose."

      "And shootin' a hole in his bedroll," scoffed Butts. "That dude sure was loco."

      "I wish I was sure he was a dude," said Blaine.

      "What do you think he was?" demanded Butts.

      "I dunno," said Blaine; "but he sure was the funniest dude I ever seen, if he was a dude."

      "Well, he's gone now. You won't never see him again."

      "I hope not."

      When Blaine and Butts rode into the yard at the home ranch they found a depressed and worried company gathered on the veranda of the big house.

      Dora Crowell was the first to recognize him as the two rode up. "There's Cory now!" she exclaimed, and immediately the entire party came down the steps and surrounded him as he and Butts dismounted from the sorrel colt.

      "What happened?" demanded John White. "Where is my daughter?"

      "You are Mr. White?" asked Blaine; and without waiting for a reply, "Something terrible has happened, Mr. White," he said. "Two fellows stuck us up this morning. I was unarmed, and we didn't have a chance. I thought they just wanted money; so I didn't even try to make a fight, though it wouldn't have done no good if I had and maybe your daughter would have been shot during the rumpus. They bound and gagged me and then rode off with her. During the day I managed to work the gag out of my mouth, but I couldn't get my hands and feet loose."

      "I found him tied up like a sack of barley over in Dry Spring Gulch," said Butts. "If he hadn't of got that gag out, I'd of rid right by him in the dark."

      "Which way did they take her?" asked White.

      "They went west over the ridge," said Blaine.

      "I wish we had known that sooner," said White, "the sheriff was just here with a posse; and it might have helped him to know which way they went."

      "Which way was he aimin' to look?" asked Blaine.

      "He wouldn't tell me," said White. "He just said that he had a tip. They only stopped here long enough to see if we'd heard anything, and then they rode on."

      "How did the sheriff hear of it?" asked Blaine.

      "I telephoned to town just as soon as it was obvious that something must have happened to you and Kay," explained White.

      Cory seemed thoughtful. "I wonder where he got his tip and what it is?"

      Butts had departed, taking the sorrel colt to the stable. "Ask one of the boys to get Blue up for me, Butts," Blaine called after him.

      "None of the boys are here," said Dora. "They are all out looking for you and Kay."

      "I'll get him up," said Butts.

      "What are you going to do?" asked White.

      "I'm goin' out to look for your daughter, Mr. White," replied Cory, "and I'll never come back until I find her."

      "It will mean ten thousand dollars, Mr. Blaine, to you or any other man that brings her back alive," said White.

      "I don't want no money, sir," Blaine assured him. "It means more to me than all the money in the world to get her back to you safe and sound. I feel like it was all my fault that this happened."

      "Don't take it too hard, Blaine," said White generously. "I don't see what you could have done to prevent it."

      "I'm all broke up over it," said Blaine, "but by God, sir, I'll get her back; and if anything's happened to her, somebody's goin' to get kilt."

      "Whoever they are," said White, "you may rest assured that they shall be brought to justice. I have already telegraphed to business associates in Mexico and to the sheriffs of adjoining counties to be on the lookout. If they get away, it will be a miracle."

      For a moment Cory Blaine stood in thoughtful meditation.

      "Perhaps that wasn't the right thing to do, Mr. White," he suggested. "Them sort of fellers is desperate. If they're surrounded they might make away with her in some lonely spot and bury her where she wouldn't never be found in a hundred years; then they could scatter, and even if some of 'em was caught, it would be hard to prove anything on 'em; for they was masked and I couldn't never identify 'em. If I was you I would telegraph all them people