human
Well, I got kind of notorious fer savin' the dudes an' I had a good thing there until one day I seen a man hangin' around the depot. It was Mike Hinch--an' that night I blew. I worked around after that--cowpunchin', bartendin', minin' an' lots of other jobs, but I never would stay long in a place--till I hit Wolf River an' seen you. I figgered if I had to make a stand it might's well be there as anywheres so I stayed. I know'd Mike Hinch was on my trail. It wasn't that I was afraid of him--afraid he'd shoot me--'cause I'd took care to get so good with a six-gun, either handed, that he wouldn't stand no show. But, I'd learnt my lesson--that crooked work don't pay. I wanted to be on the level, an' I was afraid that Mike would somehow tip me off fer that hold-up, to git even for me killin' Old Pete an' Wild Hoss.
gpt
But, Purdy? How did Purdy git in on it?
human
I was comin' to that. A year ago, Purdy had a little job of dirty work he wanted done an' he come to me to do it. I told him where to head in at an' then he sprung--what I've jest told you. I pulled my gun an' covered him, but--somehow I couldn't shoot him down in cold blood--not even fer that. He'd left his guns off a purpose. Then he lit in an' told how he was ridin' along Big Dry an' found a man layin' there with his back broke, which his horse had throw'd him off. Purdy seen he was all in an' while he stood lookin' at him the fellow got to mutterin' about a hold-up. Purdy fetched him some water an' the man--he was Mike Hinch--begged him to give him his gun which had fell out of his reach, so he could put hisself out of misery. Purdy thought if he was a hold-up, he'd have a _cache_ somewheres, so he dickered with him, agreein' to pass him the gun if he'd tell where his _cache_ was. Mike said he didn't have no _cache_. He was headin' to Wolf River to horn some money out of me to keep him from tippin' off the sheriff that I was in on that hold-up. So Purdy give him his gun--an' he shot hisself, but before he died he told Purdy that he was the only one left of the gang--I'd bumped off two, an' Scar Lamento had got killed down in Mexico. Cinnabar removed his hat and breathed deeply,
gpt
So now you've got it--straight. I'd ought to told you before--but, somehow--I kep' puttin' it off. He rose to his feet.
human
I'm goin' out an' git Purdy, now--I'd ought to done it long ago.
gpt
Jest one thing more, Joe? That little job of dirty work that Purdy wanted you to do--did you do it?
human
I did--an' I didn't. Ask Tex Benton--he knows.
gpt
Tex Benton! That reminds me! Jennie paused and pointed toward the cabin.
human
In there, she told me that Tex is huntin' Purdy. How it comes she's keepin' cases on Tex--an' her married--is more'n I know. But that's what she said.
gpt
Tex huntin' Purdy! he cried,
human
No, Joe--not that way.
gpt
What do you mean 'not that way'?
human
It's like--murder----
gpt
Murder! exclaimed Cinnabar,
human
Listen, Joe, the woman had risen and stood facing him,
gpt
Afraid of him! I'll show you how much I'm----
human
I don't mean that way, Joe! I know you ain't afraid to shoot it out with him. What I mean is, you're afraid to have him runnin' around loose--afraid that if he squeals, you'll do time. Now, it would be pretty clost to murder if you killed a man, no matter how ornery he is, jest to save your own hide----
gpt
But it ain't my own hide--it's you!
human
Now you're gittin' down to it. An' it ain't so much me right now, as it is that poor girl in there. There's two of us here that it's up to you to protect, an' the way to do it is to stay right here on the ranch till he comes for her----
gpt
But that'll be a week! In the meantime Purdy might tip me off.
human
No chanct fer that. With Tex on his trail he ain't goin' to have no time for no tippin' off, an' he wouldn't anyway--not till he'd squeezed you dry. It's like you said, this is only the beginin'! When he's got everything he thinks he can git out of you, then he'll tip you off--an' not before. An' he's liable to show up here any minute--after her. When Tex begins to crowd him, he's goin' to try to make a git-away, with her. An' when he comes you make him wade through lead to git to the house! There's two guns in there, an' we'll keep one loaded while you're keepin' the other one hot!
gpt
What if he gits away? If Tex don't git him--an' he don't come back here?
human
He won't git away, but if he does, you're goin' to throw the saddle on your cayuse an' ride to Wolf River, an' you're goin' to the bank an' git your friends together an' tell 'em jest what you told me. Every man there is your friend an' they'll see you through. They've know'd you fer six years--an' they'll know the same as I know that there ain't no sense in throwin' you in jail fer what happened there on the edge of the desert. You done your time fer that when you was wanderin' through them mountains. You learnt your lesson then. An' it changed you from a fool kid that was headed straight to the devil into a square man. That's what the prisons are for--if they're any good--an' if the mountains done the job first, why there ain't nothin' left fer the prison to do, is there?
gpt
Tex Benton's a friend of mine, I'd ought to be out there backin' up his play.
human
You're backin' up his play better by stayin' here an protectin' that woman. He's trailin' Purdy to save her.
gpt
But, even if we do git Purdy, there's the others--his pals.
human
I thought so, too, at first. But come to think it over you can't tell me he ever let anyone else in on this! That was a raw bluff to save his own hide. Why, his kind wouldn't trust one another nowheres with nothin'!
gpt
Women ain't got no more education than what men has, he said, thoughtfully,
human
His eyes rested for a moment on the new cabin.
gpt
But if you're wrong, an' back there in Wolf River they think the slate ain't wiped clean, an' send me up, an' the little outfit goes to the devil----
human
Why, I'll get my old job back, an' wait for you to git out, an' we'll start all over again.
gpt
Yes, he answered, with his lips close to her ear,
human
ALL FRIENDS TOGETHER
gpt
W'ere you hoss?
human
Why, I--wait, I'll step across to the hotel and borrow one of Colston's. The half-breed nodded, and hurrying across the street Endicott entered the office of the hostelry. His appearance was the signal for a sudden awkward silence among the half-dozen men that sprawled in the chairs or leaned against the cigar case. Endicott's glance swept the faces of the men:
gpt
Where's Mr. Colston?
human
Hey! he called, loudly,
gpt
Yup, he's went up. Don't know what room's his'n, but jest holler when you git to the top of the stairs, he ain't got to sleep yet.