Hidden Gold Page 12

  CHAPTER XII

  DESPERATE MEASURES

  If Moran or Helen, early in their conversation, had looked out of thewindow of the hotel, during one of those vivid lightning flashes, theymight have seen a woman stealthily approaching the agent's office acrossthe street. Taking advantage of the deeper shadows and of the darknessbetween lightning flashes, she stole to the rear of the building, whereshe found an unlatched window, through which she scrambled with theagility of a boy.

  Within, the place was pitch dark, but like one amid familiarsurroundings, she crossed the hall and found the room she sought; theoffice room now of Moran, but formerly occupied by Simon Barsdale. Shebent over the big safe, and was twirling the combination knob in herslim, cold fingers, when she was startled by a noise in the hallwayoutside. With a gasp of fright, she stood motionless, listening acutely,but there was no further sound; reassured, she produced a bit of candle,which she lighted and placed to one side of the safe, so that the flamewas shaded from the windows. She was in the act of manipulating thecombination again when, her whole body rigid with fear, she stood erectonce more, holding her breath and striving for self-control. There wasno doubt about the noise this time. Some one had entered the adjoiningroom.

  Hastily snuffing out the candle, she crouched into the darkness of acorner. She never doubted that the newcomer was Race Moran, or that hewould almost immediately discover her. She tried to summon enoughresolution to bluff things through when the moment of discovery shouldcome.

  But, as the seconds slipped by and the lights were not turned on, shebegan to regain her courage. Perhaps Moran was sitting in the dark ofthe other room, smoking and thinking, and perhaps she could complete hertask without being caught, if she moved swiftly and silently. She bentagain over the shining knob, at the same time watching in the directionof the door, which was still closed as she had left it. It was difficultto work the lock in the dark, and, as she became engrossed with herpurpose, she ceased temporarily to listen acutely. She had justsucceeded in effecting the combination, when something touched her side.

  "Don't move!" a voice hissed behind her. "I'll shoot if you do!"

  She wanted to cry out, "Please don't shoot!" but her tongue clove to theroof of her mouth, which had suddenly gone dry. She had fallen forwardagainst the door of the safe, and was curiously conscious how cold itfelt. She was on the point of fainting, when in a rush of relief itdawned upon her that she knew the voice; it was not Moran's.

  "Gordon!" she cried joyously, finding the use of her tongue as quicklyas she had lost it, and scrambling to her feet. "It's me--Dorothy!"

  With an exclamation as joyous as her own and equally surprised, heseized her by the shoulders, peering through the darkness into her face.

  "Dorothy! What the...?" A lightning flash revealed them clearly to eachother. "I told you not to try this."

  "But what are you doing in town?" She clutched his arms, overcome by afear greater than that for her own safety. "Gordon, Gordon, you must notstay here. There's a warrant out for you--no, no, not for that--for theJensen shooting. You'll be arrested on sight."

  "What?" He stared at her, amazed, and she nodded. "So that's their gamenow, eh? They've stooped even to that. By God!" He struck a match.

  "Be careful," she warned him instantly. "The light--put it out. They'llsee it from the street. But, oh, Gordon, why did you come?"

  He thrilled at the anxiety in her voice.

  "To find out what Moran is hiding here; and you're after the same thing,of course."

  "Yes."

  Impulsively, he squeezed her fingers, until she could have cried out inpain but for the sweetness of it; there are some agonies which do nothurt. Her throat swelled with joy, her breast heaved, and her eyelidsfluttered. She was grateful for the darkness, which hid these outwardsigns of love from him. She blushed; she could feel the warm tidepulsing in her temples; and she laughed brokenly from sheer happiness.

  "You shouldn't have taken such a risk, Dorothy. I told you not to."

  "You're taking that risk, Gordon, and more."

  "That's different. It's so dark a night, I thought I'd chance it."

  "There's not much risk for me," she declared. "I can reach home in fiveminutes. Isn't it odd, though, that we both should have thought of doingit at exactly the same time. But come, Gordon, we must hurry!"

  Now that the safe was open, to remove its contents took only a moment,and they tossed all the papers they found into a corner. Then, when Wadehad swung the safe around on its casters, they had a snug shelter behindit, where by shaded candle-light they ran rapidly through their loot.Most of the documents related to land purchases and development, but atthe bottom of the pile Wade came upon a bundle of papers andblue-prints, held together by a rubber band, which he stripped off.

  "Oh, if we should find nothing, after all," Dorothy whispered, bendingwith him over the blue-prints. "What are they, Gordon?"

  "Maps of my own range, Dorothy!" His tone was tense with excitement, ashe leaned nearer to the light. "Well, what do you know about that? ByHeaven"--He fairly glared at the sheet before his eyes.--"It's allthere!"

  "What's all there? What is it?"

  "Gold!" He looked at her in the flickering light, like a man gone mad.

  "Gold? On your range? Oh, Gordon!"

  "Yes; on my range. It's inconceivable, almost; but it seems to be true.See! Look here!" Their heads were almost touching, so that her soft haircaressed his face. "This is a map of the upper valley, and thedescription says these red crosses indicate the location of gold. One isnear the head of Piah Creek, not half a mile from my buildings."

  "Oh, Gordon, I _am_ so glad!" Dorothy exclaimed. "How wonderful it allis. You'll be rich, won't you?" She was not too excited to remember thathis wealth would probably be shared by another woman, but she was toogenerous to be any the less glad on that account.

  "That remains to be seen," he replied. "It may not prove to amount tomuch, you know. At any rate, Moran won't get any of it. That's worth awhole lot."

  She nodded vehemently.

  "I thought it must be something like that, Gordon. They would never havedone the things they have without some powerful reason."

  "Yes, you were right, Dorothy. You're usually right." He caught her handand squeezed it again, and in this moment of their triumph together shecould not help returning the pressure. "You're a jewel, a brick, atrump--all those things and then some. The sweet...."

  "Now, we haven't time for that sort of thing, Mr. Man. We...."

  "Must get away while we can, yes," he finished for her. "But just thesame I...."

  Her cold fingers on his lips stopped him.

  "Listen!"

  She put out the candle and they crouched down beside the safe. Some onewas coming up the stairs, not stealthily this time but boldly, as onewho had a right there, whistling softly. Wade could feel the girl'sshoulder tremble against his side, as he slipped his revolver out of itsholster.

  "Don't, Gordon! You--you mustn't shoot, no matter what happens." Herteeth were chattering, for she was far more frightened now than she hadbeen for herself alone. "That's Moran. He mustn't see you here. Rememberthat warrant. Hide behind the safe. Please!"

  "Never!" he muttered grimly. "He'd find us anyhow."

  "Yes, yes. Please!" She was almost hysterical in her excitement. "I canbluff him till you can get away. He won't hurt me. If he does you canshow yourself. Do it for me, for your friends. Please! Remember, hemustn't know that _you've_ learned his secret."

  It was Moran, for they heard him now in conversation with some passer-byin the hallway. Dorothy was grateful for the respite, for it gave themtime to throw the loose papers back into the safe and close it. Wadethen pushed the safe to its original position, the casters making littlenoise as they rolled. Then he crouched behind it.

  "I don't like this stunt!" he protested; but yielded to her beseeching"Please." She was right, too, he knew. It would be far better if Morancould be kept in ignorance of his visit there.


  The office now bore little sign of their invasion of it, and, drawing adeep breath, Dorothy schooled herself to calmness as she awaited Moran,who was walking down the hall toward the entrance to the room. A planhad flashed into her mind by means of which she might save both Wade andherself, if he and her heart would only be quiet. The unruly heart wasbeating so violently that it shook her thin dress, and that her voicemust tremble, she knew.

  Moran was almost at the threshold, when Dorothy opened the door for him.

  "Good evening, Mr. Moran. Did I startle you?"

  "Well, not exactly," he said, striking a match, after an instant'spause. "What are you doing here?"

  Passing her, he lighted the large oil lamp, and swept the room with aquick, keen glance. Finding nothing apparently wrong, he turned again tohis visitor with a puzzled expression in his face.

  "Well?"

  "I wanted to see you and I thought you'd be here. The door was unlockedso I just walked in. I've been here only a minute or two." Fortified byanother deep breath, drawn while his back was turned, Dorothy found hervoice steadier than she expected.

  The agent looked at her keenly.

  "That's strange," he commented. "I don't know what the door was doingunlocked. I always lock it when I leave."

  "You must have forgotten to do so to-night."

  "I surely must have, if you found it open."

  Half convinced that she was telling the truth, Moran could see but onereason for her evident fright: she was afraid of him. The suggestion ofthat strengthened the impulse which her beauty stirred in him. If shethought so, why not?

  "Say, you're a good-looking kid, all right," he leered. "What did youwant to see me for?"

  A slight sound from behind the safe, or perhaps she imagined it, causedDorothy's heart to flutter wildly. She had not anticipated this attitudein Moran, and she instantly realized that it brought a fresh danger intothe situation. She knew that Wade would not remain in concealment if theagent insulted her. She must avoid the chance of that, if possible; mustget him out of the office so that Gordon might escape.

  "This is no place to talk that way," she said bravely. "It isn't a goodplace for me to be anyway. If people knew I was here, there would be aterrible scandal. I've something important to tell you. Won't you comefor a walk?"

  "In this rain? Not much," he chuckled. "Come here!" She shook her headand tried to smile. "Well, if you won't, I'll have to go to you." Sheshrank back from him, as he approached her, with an evil smile. "Say,little one," he went on, "this is a damned funny game of yours, cominghere at night. What's the idea, eh?"

  "There isn't any, really." She snatched her hands away from him. "I'vealready tried to explain that I have important news for you; but I won'ttell you what it is here."

  "Why not? We're dry and cozy here. Go ahead."

  "No."

  "Oh, come on!" He had driven her to the wall, and now he slipped an armabout her waist and pulled her toward him. "Say, kiss me once, won'tyou?"

  "Hands up, you low-lived hound!"

  With an oath, Moran whirled around to find himself staring into themuzzle of Wade's revolver. The ranchman moved his weapon significantly.

  "Up!"

  As the agent's hands went above his head, Dorothy leaned against thewall for support. She had not made a sound, but she was the color ofchalk, and her heart seemed to be trying to jump out of her mouth. Shewas no whiter than Wade, whose fury had driven every vestige of colorfrom his face and fired his eyes with a murderous light.

  "Shall I kill him?" he asked Dorothy, and at the frightful tone of hisvoice she found the power to shake her head, although her mouth was toodry for speech.

  "Take his gun," said Wade sharply and the girl stepped forward.

  She reeled toward Moran, who, to do him justice, showed little fear,and pulled his revolver from his hip pocket. She held it out to Wade,who broke it with his free hand by pressing the butt against the top ofthe safe, and spilled the cartridges on the floor.

  "Now you can leave us, Dorothy," he said quietly.

  "No. I'll stay, Gordon," she answered.

  "Moran," Wade continued evenly, without paying any more attention toher, "the only reason why I shall not kill you is because Miss Purnelldoes not want your worthless life upon her conscience. A man like youought to die. You're not fit to live."

  "Can I put my hands down?"

  "No; keep 'em where they are!" Wade gestured again with the gun. "I wishI had a string on each of your thumbs so I could hoist them higher. I'vejust been through this safe of yours." The agent started. "I've gotthose maps of my range in my pocket."

  "Much good they'll do you."

  "They'll do me more good alive than they will you dead, and you're goingto die. So help me God, you are! We'll come together again some day."

  "I hope so," Moran declared venomously, and even Dorothy was struck bythe courage he showed.

  "And then there won't be anybody to be held responsible but me." Wadegrinned in a slow, horrible fashion. "It'll rest light on me, I promiseyou. And another thing. I'm going to leave you trussed up here in thisoffice, like I left your friend the Sheriff a few days ago, and alongabout morning somebody'll find you and turn you loose. When you getloose, you want to forget that you saw Miss Purnell here to-night. I'vemeant to have her and her mother leave town for a bit until this messblows over, but things aren't fixed right for that just now. Instead,I'm going to leave her in the personal care--the _personal_ care, youunderstand me, of every decent man in Crawling Water. If anythinghappens to her, you'll toast over a slow fire before you die. Do you getthat?"

  "She's a good kid," said Moran, with a grin. Nor did he flinch when theweapon in Wade's hand seemed actually to stiffen under the tension ofhis grasp.

  "I guess it's a good thing you stayed, Dorothy," the latter remarkedgrimly. "This fellow must be tied up. I wonder what we can find to do itwith?"

  "My cloak?" Dorothy suggested. "It's an old one."

  He shook his head.

  "It's hard to tear that rain-proof stuff, and besides you'd get wetgoing home. There's no sense in that. Isn't there something else?"

  She blushed a little and turned away for a moment, during which sheslipped off her underskirt. Then, as Moran watched her cynically, shetore it into strips. When she had thus made several stout bands, Wadespoke again.

  "You take the first throw or two about him," he directed, "and when youhave him partly tied you can take my gun and I'll finish the job. Startwith his feet, that's right. Now draw it as tight as you can. Put yourarms down back of you! Tie them now, Dorothy. That's fine! Here, youtake the gun. You know how to use it, if he struggles."

  Wade tightened up the linen bands, and kicked forward a straight-backedchair, into which he forced Moran and lashed him fast there, to all ofwhich the agent made no great protest, knowing that to do so would beuseless. He grunted and swore a bit under his breath, but that was all.When he was well trussed up, the ranchman made a gag out of what wasleft of the linen and his own handkerchief and strapped it into hisprisoner's mouth with his belt.

  When the job was done, and it was a good one, he grinned again in thatslow, terrible way. A grin that bore no semblance to human mirth, butwas a grimace of combined anger and hatred. Once before, during thefight at the ranch, Bill Santry had seen this expression on hisemployer's face, but not to the degree that Dorothy now saw it. Itfrightened her.

  "Oh, Gordon, don't, please!" She closed her eyes to shut out the sight."Come, we must hurry away."

  "Good night," Wade said ironically, with a last look at Moran.

  He let Dorothy draw him away then, and by the time they reached thestreet he was his old boyish self again. Aping Moran, he slipped his armaround her waist, but she did not shrink from _his_ embrace, unexpectedthough it was.

  "Say, kid," he laughed mockingly. "Kiss me once, won't you?"