“That’s wonderful,” he whispered. “I don’t understand it, but it’s wonderful, anyway.”
“Can yuh get out?” asked Harry. “A man wants to speak with yuh. It’s Mendoza, Blaze; he got hit accidentally.”
Cultus helped Blaze out of the buggy and they went in the saloon. Mendoza smiled up at Blaze, who knelt down beside him.
“Buenas dias compadre,” he whispered. “I’m glad you come. I mus’ tell you biffore too late. You tell me ’bout dem mortgage paper; so I rob bank. I guess you almost catch me, eh, compadre. I’m not know eet be you, until after. I burn papers, and den I set fire to courthouse in Broad Arrow.”
“You—Jules?” whispered Blaze. “You did this? Why?”
“You ’ave give word to Marsh to ’elp heem; so I fix it thiz way. No mortgage paper—no help. Madre de Dios, w’at a fire! I’m scare. Then you tell me eff anything ’appen to you, I’m ruin de Los’ Trail. We find heem together—I spoil heem alone. Beeg boom! Trail all gone. I’m feenish now, Blaze; everyt’ing is all right. Buenas noches, comp—compadre.”
Blaze got slowly to his feet, staring down at the little half-breed, who had willingly committed robbery and arson for him.
“Well,” he said weakly, staring around, “there goes a man.”
Jane was staring at Blaze through her tears, and he went to her.
Cultus walked out through the rear of the saloon and circled around to the restaurant. He wanted to be alone for a few minutes. The Chinamen were so excited that they could hardly take his order. Cultus leaned wearily on the table, just a little weak over what had transpired, now that it was all over, and he was still waiting for his order when Bad News came in and sat down with him.