BAD END VALLEY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13268, 19 February 1941, Page 3

BAD END VALLEY

C’HAL’TIvR XXI

SANTOS IB BRIBED

Santos sat comfortably in one oE in the living-room ot lhC 'v, ranch-house. He "’as Ca " IC fiir title because although m Vfool-he was really rather vror;ipl about the position he was ml , la a physical sense, because W ere tied behind him and IT were hound to the chalrHT with a tough length of raw-

Bending over the drawer of a Kble m the corner. Garrick was in i ]e ac t of unlocking it. Outside, Santos knew, Bat Culver waited on '•Miarcl. Ruth and Danny the lattcr also bound with a veata —had been taken to Seth’s shack in the charge of Mcßann. “The way I’m placed, I do not theenk I can get at my tobacco,” Santos drawled. “I wonder eef you would be kind enough to roll me a cigarette?” Garrick looked round and grin-

ne( l. Holding all the aces as he did, he was disposed to be tolerant. He took a tobacco-bag out of his breast-pocket and rolled a cigai - ptte. Walking across the room, he stuck the cigarette in Santos’ mouth and lit it. "Gracias.” "You’re welcome. I aim to have that little now-wow with yuh right now, an’ yuh can smoke all the cigarettes yuh want, if- they’ll help yuh to listen to me sayin’ my piece.” "An’ what ees that?” For answer, Garrick walked back to the table, and took a bundle of papers from the drawer. Bringing them back, he shoved them under the Mexican’s nose. "Take a squint at these. Know what they are? Negotiable bonds — six grand’s worth, an’ good as gold.” “Where deed you get them?” "From Barker. He gave me six grand when he hit this spot, an’ promised me another six when he left. I never got the other six, but I ain’t kickin’. Guess I just gotta put that down as a bad debt. Anyhow, he handed me this wad so’s he could be allowed to stick around the valley without bein’ disturbed.” “You mean he was using thees place as a hide-out?” "Maybe.” Santos glanced down at the papers.

‘‘An’ these, I suppose, are stolen?” Garrick grinned meaningly. "How’d I know? I never ask questions. An’ I got a. hunch that you’re ' a smart enough feller to do the same. “What has thees to do with me, anyway?” “I told yuh there was six thousand dollars’ worth here. That’s a lot of dough, ain’t it? More than a copper like you sees in a hell of a long time. . . . Well, it’s yours—all of it —if you’ll be wise an’ do what you’re told.” "An’ that means—?” Yuh keep your gob shut about the way I came into that dough of old Seth’s., I ain’t dumb. I can see ' that it might look as if I was doin’ that kid out of his rights —At the wrong folks got to hear about how 't happened. Get it? All you gotta do is to shove this wad -into your Pants’ pocket—an’ forget about Bad n d Valley an’ everybody in it.” Foi several seconds the Mexican "as silent; then he said quietly: *hat a '°out Ruth an’ Danny? iat are you going to do weeth them?” Garrick shrugged. * ra 13088 here—always have been aad ’ on °e I got this place clear of coppeis, I start in runnin’ things my again. That little gal an’ me p Pts itched up—her old man’s smart °ugh to do as he’s told, an’ he’ll that.” eet anny ’ What eef he beats Wa ° f til6 Valley an ’ tells awkCibeles?” 1168 t 0 the sherlff ia Los arrick grinned suggestively. seen l^ 011 he said terße ly- “Yuh c ated xr Way ranc h-bouse is lowithn.. T ° b ° dy can leave this valley ton ain’t say ' so — an ’ Danny Seahere an’ aVm ’ U - He ca » stick on done before 11 ” 11 ° attle f ° r me like he "Bad End Valley. . ” c an _ “ Lt -ms“ y "Why’ 01 h f em ’ does eet- not?” ain't nevV 8 S b6en reared here—the vane , Wn any thing else but Even if r It s what he’s used to. «?at d ou i lat him on to all ■ ’ he Coa ldn’t do better. He

BY W. B. BANNERMAN

wouldn’t know what to do with it If he went out among the bright lights, hittin’ the high spots, he’d jest, get fleeced by every crook that

saw him. lie’s better off here.” “Perhaps he would not agree weeth you about that. . . ?” “I bet he wouldn’t. But a raw kid like that don’t know what’s good for him. . . . Well, say, yuh ain’t give me your answer to that proposition of mine yet?” “You mean that you geeve me these bonds, an’ I move out weethout saying anything to anybody outside about what lias happened to Seth 1 Seaton’s money?” j “Correct. An’ before yuh hit the trail outa here, I get young Danny to sign a paper sayin’ I was owed the dough by old Seth, so I’m in my rights in bangin’ on to it.” “An’ what eef Danny weel not sign that paper?” Garrick’s yellow eyes shone balefully. His coarse lips parted in a slow smile. “He’ll sign it all right. . . .” “You mean that eef he does not 9” Garrick nodded. ■ “I guess yuh catch on, greaser. Well, now yuh seen my hand, how’re yuh callin’?” For a moment Santos did not answer. Pie sat with his lids drooping consideringly over his eyes. Then he looked up at Garrick. “I theenk you win,’’ he said “Eet ees true what you say about six thousand dollars being much money for a poor Mejicano policeman. Bet ees a beeg temptation, an’ I cannot resist eet. Bueno, I agree. I weel not say anything about Seth’s money .... An’ now weel you please untie me?” Garrick shook his head. “Not yet, feller. I wanna have all this settled before I let yuh beat it outa here. First of all, I’m gonna take a walk across to Seth’s shack an’ get Danny to sign that there paper I was talkin’ about. When he does, I’ll come right back, untie yuh, an’ hand over that six grand.” He glanced at the wad he was holding in his hand. “Reckon I’ll jest go put this away till I get back,” he said. Pie went hack to the table, put the wad in the drawer, and locked it. “An’ now we’ll call Bat in to* keep an eye on yuh,” he said. “I guess you’re a swell feller for a Mex, taut I wouldn’t trust yuh alone.” He went to the door and shouted: “Bat!” The little gunman came up the steps to the porch. “Come on in.” Culver entered, and stood watching his boss inquiringly. “Yeah?” ‘ “I’m jest gonna have a chin-wag with Danny Seaton across at old Seth’s shack, an’ I want yuh to keep your lamps glued to this hombr© till I get back. I’ll be sending Joe over when I get there. An’ take no chances with this guy. . . .” With a nod, he went out. Santos did not even trouble to turn his head to watch him go. His eyes were fixed reflectively on Culver’s face. Beneath his bored, sleepy exterior, he was thinking fast. (To be continued)