“The Iron Horse”

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3280, 25 February 1926, Page 13

“ The Iron Horse”

By Edwin 0. Hill.

Chapter xxiii. A BROKEN PLEDGE. Before nightfall the 1 news of the finding of the pass and of Brandon’s escape and his return to accuse Jesson spread through the town, the main topic in a score of saloons. Ordinarily Julesburg could not have been stirred by rumours of trouble between any two men. Gun play and knlft battles were of hourly occurrence, commonplaces of a Hair-trig-gered community. But practically everybody knew that Deroux was mixed up in the quarrel; that young Brandon had interfered in the plans of this powerful person. The talk was that the road would not be built through Deroux’s country, after all, and that It was Brandon who had wrecked the Frenchman's ambitious schemes. Men speculated over their liquor as to what Deroux would do; as to how Jesson would square the blow that had felled him in the afternoon. Half a dozen men In the railroad yards had seen Brandon knock Jesson down. They had seasoned the gossip with a spicy account of the fight, adding that Miss Marsh had caused it. Sensing a connection between DeroUx and Jesson, and assuming that the latter would have to fight it out With Brandon, all JuleSburg Jooked for trouble to come to a head before the night passed. Haller’s was unusually crowded when Deroux entered, alone, and found an unoccupied table near the door. Many of the habitues of the rival saloons and gUmbllnj* houses had been attracted to The Arabian N'gMsin the hope Of witness’iig “he inevitable climax. Men were three deep along the bar, and the press around the gambling tables was so thick that newcomers eager to buck the tiger ha'd to stand back, peering over the heads of the absorbed players. The air was electric with the tingling expectation of * excitement, Old Haller, perched on his high stool at the middle of the bar, his .monumental plug hat pushed to the back of his head, a sure sign of mental stress, chewed an unllghted cigar as his shrfewd eyes played over the close-packed throng. All of the rumours had come to him and they fitted together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The ; answer was trouble.

He Saw ; Jesson ,enter, 6|op to speak to Kilby, VVho hail been waiting,, obviously, for the engineer's appearance; saw them talk for a little while, Ruby seemed to plead With Jesson as she held his arm, and saw Jesson finally weave a way through the Crowd anl drop Into a seat at Deroux’s table. From under his shaggy eyebrows the Judge StudfOT both meh,. Ho observed that Deroux was tense, strung like a bow, savage eyes turning frequently to the door, and that Jesson’a face was pale and drawn. His gaze roamed over the crowd. He fidgeted In his chair. ", , • “He’s desprit,” mused old Haller, watching Jesson. “WKe k rat In a corner: Doesn't want to fight, BW knows he may have to. Them kind IS the most dangerous.” The Nueces Kid sauntered W. threw a swift glance at Deroux and strolled to the bar, unceremoniously pushing his Way to the rail. He slouched upon it, his right side turned to the room, thumb of his right hand tucked into the armhole of his vest; squarely above the low-swing-inlg gun whose holster was str&ppeu to his thigh. That was enough for the judge. He could see through a grindstone When somebody made a, hole for him. Turning to the nearest bartender he quietly gave an Order. The drink dispenser immediately sidled out from behind the bar and walked over to the gambling tables. He stopped there as he got the car of one after another of these impassive but always alert gentlemen of chance. Each nodded quick understanding, presently turned his game over to an assistant and eased out of the press about his immediate table. Again the door opened, this time to admit Henry Thornton, known throughout the territory as Deroux’s fastest g.un fighter, a short, heavyset killer with a record of homicide which stretched from Mexico to Canada, a cold-eyed master Of skilful murder. Thornton’s bleak eyes found Deroux, glinted at MS master’s nod. He went to the wall and from this post of observation near the door surveyed the crowd as he stood with folded arms. Texas Jack came in a few minutes later and stood at the edge of the crowd of players at the monte table.

“All here but the flashy greaser,” thought Haller. “Ah, there he Is!” Don Pilipe Gonzales glided into the saloon, white teeth showiing as he smiled a greeting to acquaintances. He flourished a bow to a group of Haller's girls, sweeping a half-circle with his wide-brimmed sombrero which jingled silver bells as he bent. He began to weave through the crowd, graceful as a Serpent.

Old Haller caught the eye of Kentuck Jack, leading apostle of draw poker, a square gambler and a dead shot of indomitable nerve. , The Kentuckian went to the bar, followed by two other gamblers, an Easterner named Polk and a tall Louisianan a New Orleans creole, Jules Lamar. The judge shoved a box of cigars at {them—-they were not drinking meh—and as eaoh selected a perfecto, he spoke quickly, In a low voice:

‘Boys* I want you to do hi ft ft

A Romance of East and West

favour. I don’t know what the play is,, but Deroux has got his gang here. They’ve drifted in one by one, under orders, of course. Looks like they don't mean to give that game kid, Brandon, a chance for his life. This ain’t no time to call on my shotgun deppities, fer these fetters of Deroux’s are faltered all over the room on purpose. This thing has got to be handled quiet like. "Here’s the programme, as I'Ve been figgerln’ it out. Each of you pick out his man. and git close to him. Drift alongside easy like, but stick by where you kin git action in a hurry. They won’t suspicion you’re up to anything special if you pull it off natural like. Then, If they start anything agin young Brandon, we'll be fixed to give him a fair show.”

Separately the gamblers drifted away from the bar. ' The'Kentuckian, stopping here and there, edged towards the Nueces Kid and came to a halt at the Kid’s right shoulder. Ho drew a quick dart of suspicion from the snaky eyes as he greeted the gunman and rapped for the bartender. t

"Join me,” said Kentucky Jack, as the bartender slid a bottle along the polished mahogany^ “I’m not drlnkin’t” said the Kid’ “Suit yourself," said Jack and poured the first drink of whisky he had emptied into a glass for years. The Nueces Kid edged away slightly. After a while, the Kentuckian, shifting his elbow. Imperceptibly closed the gap. measuring the distance with a glance as the Kid’s eyes switched to the door. Haller, watching 4 ’ closely, saw Lamar post himself near Thornton and nodded In satisfaction as the saturnine Polk edged toward Texas Jack. So far so good. There remained the Mexican. He himself would Keep an eye 'on Gonzales. He dropped a hand underneath the bap assured himself that HIS Gbit was handy, and called to Gonzales keros sth e room. “Howdy, Dbn Fllipe! How kbout a little aguardiente?” n

“Delighted, Senor Haller,” said .Gonzales. .V - ‘viv

After alb the Mexican reflected swiftly, one post Was as good as another for, the work that.,was expected of him. He was raising his glass do his lips when the jdoor opened. Every man in tho; room -, except the groups in feverish play at the tables straightened. -BUt Xhe ...tension broke when Cbrpora! Oasoy.' with . his ■friends, Slattery, Schultziancl O’Brien, walked in, glanced 'about, then wedged themselves among the drinkers at the bar.

Almost immediately Brandon Was in the room, swinging in hurriedly. The right iiand .pi Keijtuclc Jack darted unerringly, snatching the Nueces, Kid’s gUn from its holster. Simultaneously Lamar had his bowieknife at Thornton’s throat, while he ,swiftly disarmed the killer. Texas ‘jack was, looking straight Into the muzzle of Polk's derringer, WhTiJft had appeared from nowhere, l And Haller, ready prepared, rested upon the bar a six-shooter which pointed straight at the breast of Don Fllipe Gpnzales. Deroux, seeing In a flash how his men had been trapped, sprang to his feet, cursing Savagely. Haller’s booming voice overrode the clamour. (

“As she is, boys! If there’s any fighting’ In here, It’s goln' to be fair flghtin.’ This is a law and order place!” Hesitating, puzzled over the swift drama whose significance escaped him, Brandon came forward to Haller, who had relieved Don Fllipe of his knife, but who kept the big gun still trained on the enraged Mexican. “Is General Casement here?" Davy asked.

“Not been here,” said Haller. "Heard he went west this afternoon.” “That’s queer," Brandon Said. “I got a note from Mr. Marsh half an hour ago, saying General Casement wanted to see me here at about halfpast nine about a job.” “Reckon you’ve been tricked,” said the Judge. “Somebody wanted to make sartaln you would be here when wanted. But ye needn’t worry about that now, boy. You can Unger as long as ye please.”

“Thanks, but I’d better hunt up the General,” said Davy. "I .am, much obliged to you, judge, anyway.” As he passed the table where Deroux and Jesson were, Deroux, on his feet, called to him. “One moment, Mr. Brandon!” , . . .

Davy, hesitated, then approached the table. Stooping, Deroux hissed at Jesson:

“Now kill him if you have any guts at all!”

Davy came back to the table; cool, contemptuous, determined not to let himself be entangled in a quarrel. “What do you want with me?” he asked quietly. ‘T want you to keep your damned meddlesome nose out of my affairs,” said Deroux. "Do you get that!” “I have no Intention, Mr. Deroux of Interfering in your business," said Davy, rigidly controlling his anger.

He turned away, presenting his back to the pair. Pat Casey, who hao worked free from the crowd, edged near, standing With his hand gripping the back of a chair. Jesson, quickly swerving from the table, sprang to his feet. Pat saw him jam the heel of hla hand against the butt Of his gun, tipping the holster forward towards the back of the young man slowly withdrawing a few feet from the table, Casey swung the chair like a pick. The gun roared, but the bullet went into the floor. Jasson swore as he wrung a bruised hand. Davy, jvbilling, leaped at Jesson, eyes hlaz-

Ing,, with only one thought, to kill tile man who had twice tried to murder him. Casey blocked him until Slattery could aid in holding back the Infuriated youth. One of Haller’s shotgun men commanded the group, preventing Deroux from drawing. The place was in an uproar. ■ ,V

‘'Hold ’em, boys,” shouted Haller. “We’ll make this a fair fight. I’ll give the word. . NOW shut up everybody!” , Ruby Kenny slipped from the roonj while Davy was stripping off';;his' heavy buckskin shirt. He saW De T ; roujDAt Wesson’s esv nerving the man, encouraging liitn.* From the saloon she rda all '.the why-. to the railway yards and hammered'at the , door of Marsh's ear. Wheh imele TOtty. Admitted her she pushed ■fi. wild thing, screaming for ‘ When the girl,came out of herfoom, Startled, frightened, Ruby seized her by the shoulder. "They’re flghtlhg at Haller’s! 1 she cried, her bosom rising and falling, “Jesson and' Brandon. It must be Stopped! You’ve got.to come. Those men won’t interfere, damn their houlsl” : "It caft’t be so,” cried Miriam. "Mr Brandon promised me, gave me his ■word of honour he wouldn’t fight. He wouldn't break hh) ' 'f,s i • “Whdt do you men?” Ruby screamed back. ‘ “They care nothing for promises if a promise stands In the way. Any damned One of them will break a promise to a WOrfiafl. Don’t stand there like a fool.” ■

Miriam's heart was like a atohe in her breast She had humbled herSelf to appeal to Davy. She had thrown herself at him. confessing her love. She had told him how horrible It would be to her, any meeting between him and Jesson. He had pledged his honour, deliberately. And now at a word, a look, perhaps, he had broken his promise, at the first provocation careless Of her faith and lOve. She ran With Ruby, the dance-hall girl, tugging at her hand. Never 'again qould 1 she give him her trust. He had shown himself weak at the first test. ’ , i Breathless When they reached the saloon the girls paused a moment, terrified at the savage chorus of shrieks and hoWIS, the Curses, the hammering of booted feet upon the plank floor and the unmistakable thud of heavy blows. ‘"This way,” hissed Ruby. I No use trying to go In by the door. They’d block' us.” She led the way down the Side Street, Jerked a knife from her stocking, and with a ripping Stroke slashed through the canvas Of the side wall. She leaped in, dragging Miriam after her. In the centre of the swaying, Shifting ring, Brandon and Jesson were driving each Other back and forth with their arms and flailing, striking like sledge hammers. With her hand to her pounding heart, scarcely able to catch her breath, Miriam saw that - Davy’s face was smeared "with blood from a cut and that one of Jesson’s eyes was closed And that -his mouth: was puffed and dripping red. The thud-thud of heayy blows could be heard oyer the wide Veiling of the crowd as the two fought silently, blind and deaf to all - except - each - other, murder in their eyes. Miriam saw Brandon reel against the wall as Jesson landed a terrific 'blow against his'jaW, then recover and leap forward, lp s arms flying like pistons.

The girls tried to break through the ring, but men blocked them with heavy shoulders, thrusting them back. Ruby ' snatched out her knife and pricked a big miner in the ribs. He gave way with a curse, flinching from the menace In her flaming eyes. As they pushed through, Brandon broke inside Jesson’s guard, and got both hands around the engineer’s thrbat. He took blow after blow in the face, but held on like a bulldog. Miriam, now screaming louder than Ruby, calling to Davy, saw him tighten his hold until Jesson went black in the face, saw him bend Jesson backward, throw him, fall upon him and grind him down as he tightened the terrible strangling clutch. Miriam darted forward and threw herself upon the floor, her face olose to Davy’s blazing eyes, eyes from w’hlch the light of reason had flown.

"Davy! f)avy! Stop it! Por God’s sake Stop it! It*s Miriam.’*

She saw the mad glare die out of his eyes. He relaxed his grip, then released the bruised throat. Jesson, badly hurt, lay without movement except the quick lift and drop of his chest AS he struggle*, fo?.: the breath

that had nearly left him forever. Davy got up and stood, looking down at Jesson. The tumult stilled. Nobody moved. Brandon turned to Miriam, despair Wiping out the rage that had convulsed his face. "Miriam! I am sorry. I obuldn’l help it!" She gazed at him passionately, wiping the blood from his face, crying her love for the world to hear. - Miriam turned, aghast. Suddenly the whole scene sickened her —the faithlessness, deceit, dishonour, brutality. Davy, agony in his eyes, stretched out his arms to her. She retreated a step, then turned swiftly and ran from the hall through the canvas which Ruby had slltted with her ready knife. (To be continued).