Sheathing one of his weapons, but carrying the other at a threatening angle, Bertram turned back to the barroom. “Laroque,” he said, “see that these two disabled outlaws are properly guarded until the sheriff arrives.” Then, picking up Hoog’s whisky glass, Bertram held it out to Laroque. “Here, Ed, take this whisky glass in the palm of your hand. Careful, now, and don’t touch that powder on the outside of the glass. That’s state evidence against this assassin, Hoog, and his employer, Swingley. Put it away in your safe, and the district attorney will be in here in a few minutes to get it. If you’ve brushed so much as a speck of the dust off that glass, you’ll be run out of town. Swingley’s reign is ended in this county. We’re going to hand these assassins over to the court, and we’ll see that they get what is coming to them. From now on law and order are going to rule here.”
Paying no attention to the questions and congratulations that the men showered upon him, the Texan made his way to the door. As he untied his horse, he could hear the babel of voices, as the cow-punchers, with their tongues loosened, began to crowd about Swingley and Hoog.
CHAPTER X
THE TEXAN HEARS FROM HOME.
Uncle Billy Coyle, after having, as he thought, catalogued every living thing that ranged the hills and plains of Wyoming, had run across an entirely new specimen. It was the human being in love that bothered Uncle Billy.
“I’ve studied the effects of loco weed on cows and horses,” observed Uncle Billy to Alma Caldwell, “but the vagaries of human beings, who have been attacked by the love germ, are past all scientific consideration. Now you admit that you’re in love with Milton Bertram, and that ingenuous young Texan has confided in me that he thinks more of your lightest word than the council of all the encyclopedias I have in my library. Yet apparently something seems to be holding you as far apart as it is possible for persons to get.”
“If you’re going to start on that subject again, Uncle Billy, I’m going to leave you,” said Alma, flicking disconsolately at a fallen leaf with her quirt. “I came over to tell you how well little Jimmy is getting along, and how he took his first horseback ride to-day. I didn’t care to hear about Bertram.”
“Well, you’ll have to hear considerable talk about him, wherever you go,” observed the naturalist. “When a young fellow nails two such gunmen as Tom Hoog and Asa Swingley, and practically ends the reign of assassination and terror in this part of the State, he is bound to figure in the general conversation.”
The girl did not reply, and Uncle Billy continued gently:
“If you’re thinking about your stepfather, girl, it’s time I told you something. Nick Caldwell was a good man in many ways, but in some other ways he let his greed run away with him. He took good care of you, which I always held so strongly in his favor that I never took him to task for some of the things he did which I knew was wrong.”
Alma looked at the naturalist with startled eyes.