Yes, he agreed reluctantly, she would steal the money. She would do just what Doris had suggested.
He knew what the trouble was, for he had a touch of it himself. There was a feeling here that this was somehow out of the world, that what one did in the West belonged only to the West, and when one left, it could be left behind. Of course, that was not true. But … hadn’t it been true for some people?
So many of them had that idea. They came to get rich and get out.
Chapter 20
When he left the private car, Tom
Chantry moved quickly to the shadow of a pile of lumber. There, crouching in the darkness, he waited and watched.
He had been in the West only a short time, but it was true that circumstances had changed him. He had grown more watchful, less trusting of people or appearances. He had enemies of whom he knew little except that they seemed prepared to stop at nothing. He had some friends, but he could not feel entirely sure who were friends and who were enemies. He would do well to play out his hand as if he were alone, and without help.
Undoubtedly Earnshaw wanted to make a quick deal, a quick profit that would put him on his feet once more. Then there could be the purchase and shipment of a second herd that would launch him into business again. That made sense, and this was the place to do it.
But Sarah was in town, and she had with her the Talrims, who killed without qualm or hesitation. Apparently she had also established a working arrangement with the killers of his father. These were his enemies, persons to whom his death seemed a necessity.
The area covered by the town, even with the scattered piles of building materials, corrals, and freight cars, was small, and his enemies would be moving in and around that area; there was small chance of avoiding them. He must locate their headquarters, for there had to be a focal point.
He thought of Mobile Callahan, who had helped him, paid to do so by Sparrow … why? For the time being he would dismiss that, while keeping it in the back of his mind. No matter what the motive, this did not present any immediate danger.
Bone McCarthy was, he believed, still working for him. Of Sun Chief there had been no sign, and it seemed likely that he had been killed in the stampede. And where was French Williams? Knowing the man, Chantry was sure he would not give up without a fight.
Crouching and waiting to see if he had been followed, or if anyone was watching the car, he considered his situation.
Sparrow’s warning had been a good one. He must avoid further shooting if possible. What he had to do was simple enough. He must bring the sale of the cattle to Colonel Enright to a conclusion, get the money into Earnshaw’s hands, effect the purchase and shipment of a second bunch of cattle, and then get out.
Though a move now against the herd was possible, it was unlikely. Doris’ conclusion, he felt sure, was the right one. Sarah would be apt to make an attempt to get the purchase price into her hands. So … the car must be guarded against any such attempt.
He must get Enright and Earnshaw together at once, and effect the sale and the transfer of money. And then he had to find a herd of cattle available for purchase within a reasonable distance of the railroad.
All this he had to do while avoiding trouble with any of his enemies. He was going to need eyes in the back of his head.
Sarah would wait until she found out the payment had been made for the cattle, and she would keep the Talrims in check until then … at least, that was the way he saw it. With him out of the way, the whole affair might be moved along quickly.
He straightened up and went around a tent and between two piles of lumber to the street. He stopped there, scanning the street carefully.
It was likely that this town was only temporary. This was for a brief time the end of the tracks, and when they built them on west, the town itself would move too. Everything here was set up to be torn down. The camp of the construction workers was a mile further west even now; but the whiskey, the women, and the gambling were still here.
The street was scarcely two hundred yards long, with frequent gaps. There were occasional piles of lumber, stacks of goods covered with tarpaulins, wagons drawn up, back end to the street. At least fifty men were walking or standing along the street, most of them only dark figures, and any one of them might be an enemy. The tents and shacks were jammed to the doors with men.
Chantry waited a moment, then crossed the street and made his way back to the herd.
Bone McCarthy was squatting by the fire. “Gettin’ worried about you, boss. I nigh come a-huntin’ you.”
“Who’s out there?”
“Four cowhands from town. All of ‘em busted and
glad for the work. Good men, too. I punched cows with two of ‘em down on the Brazos one time.”
“Bone, I want you to guard that private car where Earnshaw and his daughter are.” He explained the situation, and added, “There’s just the two of them and a man named Whitman. He’s out here for the railroad, and the private car is his. I don’t expect any trouble until the gold is transferred from Enright to Earnshaw. I understand that Enright has a couple of tough railroad detectives guarding his car on the inside.”
“Have you seen French?”
“No.”
Bone filled his cup. “Worries me, that
does. It ain’t like him to give up.”
With the cattle guarded and Bone McCarthy taking over the job of watching over Earnshaw and Doris, Chantry had made his first move in the events that were shaping up.
He left McCarthy and went to the general store, where he bought a new outfit, with several extra shirts and pairs of pants. He selected a new pistol, oiled it well, and tried the balance. He loaded his belt with cartridges, filling all the empty loops, and then, carrying his purchases, he went to the barber shop, where he got a shave and a haircut. He went back to the private car and asked for the use of the bath. He scrubbed and soaked, and came out wearing fresh clothes and feeling clean for the first time in days.
When he glanced outside the car window there was no one in sight. A minute later Colonel Enright appeared with Earnshaw.
“I’ve been looking at your cattle, young man. They’re in good shape. I’d buy another herd of the same size at the same price.”
“We’ll see what we can do,” Chantry said.
Then they discussed the price, and it was finally
settled at twenty-two dollars per head—more than he had expected, much more than Sarah had hoped for. In round numbers it came to forty-five thousand dollars in gold.
“You’ll have to come and get it,” Enright said, and added, “Once that gold is out of my hands it is your responsibility—and if I were you I’d have myself ready for trouble.”
“We’ll be all right,” Earnshaw said. “I don’t expect any trouble.”
Chantry walked out on the brass-railed observation platform. Bone McCarthy was loitering nearby and he strolled over.
“You stay where you are, Bone,” Chantry said.
“Keep an eye on things and don’t let
anybody get behind you.”
“All right.”
Chantry went back inside. “Doris,
keep the door of the car locked while we’re gone, but be prepared to open it quickly to get your father inside.”
“Do you think they will try to steal the gold?”
“You figured it out last night—remember? I
think you were right.”
They talked quietly, and of many things, but always his ears were alert for other sounds. Earnshaw came from the inner room and stood waiting.
Chantry looked up. “Now?”
“Yes.”
“It might be safer to wait until daylight.”
“They wouldn’t attempt a robbery right
here in the middle of everything. I think we’re safe enough, Tom. Let’s go.”
Reluctantly, Chantry got to his feet. He opened the door. “Excuse me,” he said, and stepped out first.
All was quiet. On the street, perhaps sixty yards away, there were the usual sounds. Occasionally a wild cowboy yell would leap from the jumble of sound and hang in air for an instant.
A dozen yards away was a pile of lumber, and beyond it, much further off, were several boxcars and tents. Tom went down the steps facing forward, and stepped off. There was no sign of Bone McCarthy, but he had expected none. Earnshaw came down the steps after him and together they walked back beside the track to Enright’s car.