A Texas Ranger | Page 8

Tom. We all thought a heap of Dave and you're
his brother. But Dave died for the law. Both you boys have always
stood for order. He'd be troubled if he knew you were turned enemy to
it on his account."
"I'm for justice, Steve. This skunk deserves death and I'm going to see
he gits it."
"No, Tom."
"I say yes. Y'u ain't sitting in this game, Steve."
"I reckon I'll have to take a hand then."
The ranger's voice was soft and drawling, but his eyes were
indomitably steady. Throughout the Southwest his reputation for
fearlessness was established even among a population singularly
courageous. The audacity of his daredevil recklessness was become a

proverb.
"We got a full table. Better ride away and forget it," said another.
"That ain't what I'm paid for, Jack," returned Fraser good-naturedly.
"Better turn him over to me peaceable, boys. He'll get what's coming to
him all right."
"He'll get it now, Steve, without any help of yours. We don't aim to
allow any butting in."
"Don't you?"
There was a flash of steel as the ranger dived forward. Next instant he
and the prisoner stood with their backs to the cottonwood, a revolver
having somehow leaped from its scabbard to his hand. His
hunting-knife had sheared at a stroke the riata round the engineer's
neck.
"Take it easy, boys," urged Fraser, still in his gentle drawl, to the
astonished vigilantes whom his sudden sally had robbed of their victim.
"Think about it twice. We'll all be a long time dead. No use in hurrying
the funerals."
Nevertheless he recognized battle as inevitable. Friends of his though
they were, he knew these sturdy plainsmen would never submit to be
foiled in their purpose by one man. In the momentary silence before the
clash the quiet voice of the prisoner made itself heard.
"Just a moment, gentlemen. I don't want you spilling lead over me. I'm
the wrong man, and I can prove it if you'll give me time. Here's the key
to my room at the hotel in San Antonio. In my suit-case you'll find
letters that prove--"
"We don't need them. I've got proof right here," cut in Fraser,
remembering.
He slipped a hand into his coat pocket and drew out two photographs.

"Boys, here are the pictures and descriptions of the two men that
escaped from Yuma the other day. I hadn't had time to see this
gentleman before he spoke, being some busy explaining the situation to
you, but a blind jackass could see he don't favor either Kinney or
Struve, You're sure barking up the wrong tree."
The self-appointed committee for the execution of justice and the man
from the Panhandle looked the prison photographs over blankly.
Between the hard, clean-cut face of their prisoner and those that looked
at them from the photographs it was impossible to find any
resemblance. Duffield handed the prints back with puzzled chagrin.
"I guess you're right, Steve. But I'd like this gentleman to explain how
come he to be riding the horse one of these miscreants stole from
Maloney's barn last night."
Steve looked at the prisoner. "It's your spiel, friend," he said.
"All right. I'll tell you some facts. Just as I was coming down from the
Roskruge range this mo'ning I was held up for my team. One of these
fellows-- the one called Kinney-- had started from Fort Lincoln on this
roan here, but he was wounded and broke down. There was some
gun-play, and he gave me this scratch on the cheek. The end of it was
that he took my team and left me with his worn-out bronc. I plugged on
all day with the hawss till about three mebbe, then seeing it was all in I
unsaddled and picketed. I lay down and dropped asleep. Next I knew
the necktie-party was in session."
"What time was it y'u met this fellow Kinney?" asked Long sharply.
"Must have been about nine or nine-thirty I judge."
"And it's five now. That's eight hours' start, and four more before we
can cut his trail on Roskruge. By God, we've lost him!"
"Looks like," agreed another ruefully.
"Make straight for the Arivaca cut-off and you ought to stand a show,"

suggested Fraser.
"That's right. If we ride all night, might beat him to it" Each of the five
contributed a word of agreement.
Five minutes later the Texan and the ranger watched a dust-cloud
drifting to the south. In it was hidden the posse disappearing over the
hilltop.
Steve grinned. "I hate to disappoint the boys. They're so plumb anxious.
But I reckon I'll strike the telephone line and send word to Moreno for
one of the rangers to cut out after Kinney. Going my way, seh?"
"If you're going mine."
"I reckon