CHAPTER VI
JANET HOSMER
A silvery brightness shone in the east as they came out of Martinez’ office, that increased as they went forward until all at once the moon arose into view, lighting the street, disclosing the flanking lines of squat buildings, revealing the tall cottonwoods about the court house and elsewhere thrust up in the town.
Janet Hosmer breathed a sigh of relief. The darkness had seemed potent for further evil, but now it was as if the latter retreated with the shadows. She felt a desire to go on alone, to separate herself from this companion with whom chance had brought her in contact at a dramatic moment, to get away from the whole terrible affair. Involuntarily her spirit shrank at the nearness of the man, for though he had struck back in self-defense he nevertheless had killed another and the act somehow appeared to set him apart from ordinary men, isolate him, give him the character of an Ishmael.
Yet her feelings were confused. Against this inclination was an avid curiosity, or rather a wonderment, as to what must now be occurring in his soul. Her eyes sought his face as he walked beside her. Neither had spoken; and his countenance wore the same stern contained aspect, calm, forceful, as the first time she had ever observed it. But what was below the surface? What were the thoughts now revolving in his mind and the emotions flowing in his breast? She could read 65 nothing on that composed mask of a face. Was it possible for a man to slay another human being, even justifiably, without suffering a hurricane of the spirit?
But perhaps he had killed men before. The fact of his carrying a weapon and his swift deadly fire pointed ominously to previous experience.
“Did you ever shoot any one before?” popped from between her lips. Then she stopped, clapping her hand over her mouth in consternation and staring at him palely.
Weir had halted too. He regarded her in silence for a little, a slight smile resting on his face. They stood before the cattle company’s office and his look went past her once to embrace the small darkened building.
“I’m not a murderer by trade, if that’s what you mean,” said he, at last. “But I’ve killed a man or two before, yes.” Then at the white anguish of her lips and cheeks, his tone softened a degree as he went on. “Unfortunately since becoming of age I’ve had to fight. If not men, then the earth. If not the earth, then men. Sometimes both together. You saw what happened to-night; that fellow was unknown to me. He was not a workman who had been discharged and felt he had a grievance–––”