ButthisismerelytoexplainwhyBudOakleyandIgladlystretchedourselvesonthebankofthenearbycharcoafterthedipping,gladforthewelcomeinanitionandpurecontactwiththeearthafterourmuscle-rackinglabours.Theflockwasasmallone,andwefinishedatthreeintheafternoon;soBudbroughtfromthemorralonhissaddlehorn,coffeeandacoffeepotandabighunkofbreadandsomesidebacon.Mr.Mills,theranchownerandmyoldfriend,rodeawaytotheranchwithhisforceofMexicantrabajadores.
“Timeshavechanged,Bud,”saidI,oracularly.“LawandorderistherulenowintheSouthandtheSouthwest.”
IcaughtacoldgleamfromBud’spaleblueeyes.
“NotthatI—”Ibegan,hastily.
“But—”Ibegan.
“‘Bud,’saysLuketome,‘IwantyoutofixupalittleandgouptoSanAntonewithme.’
“‘LetmegetonmyMexicanspurs,’saysI,‘andI’myourcompany.’
“‘I’llwaitforthedecreeifitwon’ttakeoverhalfanhour,’saysLuke.
“‘Tut,tut,’saysthelawyerman.‘Lawmusttakeitscourse.Comebackdayafterto-morrowathalf-pastnine.’
“AtthattimemeandLukeshowsup,andthelawyerhandshimafoldeddocument.AndLukewriteshimoutacheck.
“‘Decreeofab-so-lutedivorcewithcus-to-dyofthechild.’
“‘SkippingovermuchwhathashappenedofwhichIknownothing,’saysI,‘itlookstomelikeasplit.Couldn’tthelawyermanhavemadeitastrikeforyou’
“‘Bud,’sayshe,inapainedstyle,‘thatchildistheonethingIhavetolivefor.Shemaygo;buttheboyismine!—thinkofit—Ihavecus-to-dyofthechild.’
“‘Itain’tpossible,Bud,’sayshe,‘forthistobe.It’scontrarytolawandorder.It’swroteasplainasdayhere—“Cus-to-dyofthechild.”’
“‘Thereiswhatyoumightcallahumanleaning,’saysI,‘towardsmashing’emboth—nottomentionthechild.’
“Hecomebacktwoweeksafterward,notsayingmuch.
“Lukehadhisownideasoflegalityandjustice.Hewaskindoftrainingmetosucceedhimwhenhewentoutofoffice.Hewasalwayslookingaheadtothetimewhenhe’dquitsheriffing.Whathewantedtodowastobuildayellowhousewithlattice-workundertheporchandhavehensscratchingintheyard.Theonemainthinginhismindseemedtobetheyard.
“‘Whatkindofacontractor’saysI.‘Itsoundslikeakindofabusinesstome.Youain’tgoingtohaulcementorestablishbranchesorworkonarailroad,areyou’
“That’sthekindofamanhewas.Hewashome-like,althoughhe’dhadbadluckinsuchinvestments.Buthenevertalkedaboutthemtimesontheranch.Itseemedlikehe’dforgottenaboutit.Iwonderedhow,withhisideasofyardsandchickensandnotionsoflattice-work,he’dseemedtohavegotoutofhismindthatkidofhisthathadbeentakenawayfromhim,unlawful,inspiteofhisdecreeofcourt.Buthewasn’tamanyoucouldaskaboutsuchthingsashedidn’trefertoinhisownconversation.
“Theenginebellwasringing,andthetrainstartingoffslow.Igoesuptothekidandplaceshimunderarrest,andtakesawayhisgun.ButthefirstthingIknewthatcaballardofcapitalistsmakesabreakforthetrain.Oneof’emhesitatesinfrontofmeforasecond,andkindofsmilesandshoveshishandupagainstmychin,andIsortoflaiddownontheplatformandtookanap.Ineverwasafraidofguns;butIdon’twantanypersonexceptabarbertotakelibertieslikethatwithmyfaceagain.WhenIwokeup,thewholeoutfit—train,boy,andall—wasgone.IaskedaboutPedro,andtheytoldmethedoctorsaidhewouldrecoverprovidedhiswoundsdidn’tturnouttobefatal.
“WhenLukegotbackthreedayslater,andItoldhimaboutit,hewasmadallover.
“‘Why’n’tyoutelegraphtoSanAntone,’heasks,‘andhavethebuncharrestedthere’
“‘Oh,well,’saysI,‘Ialwaysdidadmiretelegraphy;butastronomywaswhatIhadtookupjustthen.’Thatcapitalistsureknewhowtogesticulatewithhishands.
“Lukegotmadderandmadder.HeinvestigatesandfindsinthedepotacardoneofthemenhaddroppedthatgivestheaddressofsomehombrecalledScudderinNewYorkCity.
“‘I’myourcompany,’saysI.‘IneverseethisNewYork,butI’dliketo.But,Luke,’saysI,‘don’tyouhavetohaveadispensationorahabeascorpusorsomethingfromthestate,whenyoureachoutthatfarforrichmenandmalefactors’
“‘DidIhavearequisition,’saysLuke,‘whenIwentoverintotheBrazosbottomsandbroughtbackBillGrimesandtwomoreforholdinguptheInternationalDidmeandyouhaveasearchwarrantorapossecomitatuswhenweroundedupthemsixMexicancowthievesdowninHidalgoIt’smybusinesstokeeporderinMojadaCounty.’
“‘Andit’smybusinessasofficedeputy,’saysI,‘toseethatbusinessiscarriedonaccordingtolaw.Betweenusbothweoughttokeepthingsprettywellcleanedup.’
“So,thenextday,Lukepacksablanketandsomecollarsandhismileagebookinahaversack,andhimandmehitsthebreezeforNewYork.Itwasapowerfullongride.Theseatsinthecarswastooshortforsix-footerslikeustosleepcomfortableon;andtheconductorhadtokeepusfromgettingoffateverytownthathadfive-storyhousesinit.Butwegottherefinally;andweseemedtoseerightawaythathewasrightaboutit.
“‘Luke,’saysI,‘asofficedeputyandfromalawstandpoint,itdon’tlooktomelikethisplaceisproperlyandlegallyinthejurisdictionofMojadaCounty,Texas.’
“‘Amen,’saysI.‘Butlet’sturnourtricksudden,andride.Idon’tlikethelooksofthisplace.’
“OncealadysittingatatableandplayingagamekindoflikepushpintoldmetogointoaclosetthatshecalledNumber3.Iwentinandshutthedoor,andtheblamedthinglititselfup.Isetdownonastoolbeforeashelfandwaited.ThinksI,‘Thisisaprivatedining-room.’Butnowaiternevercame.WhenIgottosweatinggoodandhard,Igoesoutagain.
“‘Didyougetwhatyouwanted’saysshe.
“‘No,ma’am,’saysI.‘Notabite.’
“‘Thenthere’snocharge,’saysshe.
“‘Thanky,ma’am,’saysI,andItakesupthetrailagain.
“ByandbyIthinksI’llshedetiquette;andIpicksuponeofthemboyswithblueclothesandyellowbuttonsinfront,andheleadsmetowhathecallsthecaffaybreakfastroom.AndthefirstthingIlaysmyeyesonwhenIgoinisthatboythathadshotPedroJohnson.Hewassettingallaloneatalittletable,hittingaeggwithaspoonlikehewasafraidhe’dbreakit.
“Itakesthechairacrossthetablefromhim;andhelooksinsultedandmakesamovelikehewasgoingtogetup.
“AndmayIaskwhoyouare’sayshe.
“‘Youmay,’saysI.‘Goahead.’
“‘Isupposeyou’reon,’saysthiskid,withoutbattinghiseyes.‘ButwhatareyoueatingHere,waiter!’hecallsout,raisinghisfinger.‘Takethisgentleman’sorder.
“‘Abeefsteak,’saysI,‘andsomefriedeggsandacanofpeachesandaquartofcoffeewillaboutsuffice.’
“Wetalkawhileaboutthesundriesoflifeandthenhesays:
“‘WhatareyougoingtodoaboutthatshootingIhadarighttoshootthatman,’sayshe.‘HecalledmenamesthatIcouldn’toverlook,andthenhestruckme.Hecarriedagun,too.WhatelsecouldIdo’
“‘We’llhavetotakeyoubacktoTexas,’saysI.
“‘I’dliketogoback,’saystheboy,withakindofagrin—‘ifitwasn’tonanoccasionofthiskind.It’sthelifeIlike.I’vealwayswantedtorideandshootandliveintheopenaireversinceIcanremember.’
“‘Mystepfather,’sayshe,‘andsomebusinesspartnersofhisinsomeMexicanminingandlandschemes.’
“‘I’vehadthesescarseversinceIcanremember,’sayshe.‘Idon’tknowhowtheycamethere.’
“‘WasyoueverinTexasbefore’saysI.
“‘NotthatIrememberof,’sayshe.‘ButIthoughtIhadwhenwestrucktheprairiecountry.ButIguessIhadn’t.’
“‘Haveyougotamother’Iasks.
“‘Shediedfiveyearsago,’sayshe.
“Skippingoverthemostofwhatfollowed—whenLukecamebackIturnedthekidovertohim.HehadseenScudderandtoldhimwhathewanted;anditseemsthatScuddergotactivewithoneofthesetelephonesassoonasheleft.Forinaboutanhourafterwardtherecomestoourhotelsomeofthesecityrangersineverydayclothesthattheycalldetectives,andmarchesthewholeoutfitofustowhattheycallamagistrate’scourt.TheyaccuseLukeofattemptedkidnapping,andaskhimwhathehastosay.
“‘Haveyoutheusualandnecessaryrequisitionpapersfromthegovernorofyourstate’asksthejudge.
“‘Myusualpapers,’saysLuke,‘wastakenawayfrommeatthehotelbythesegentlemenwhorepresentlawandorderinyourcity.TheywastwoColt’s.45’sthatI’vepackedfornineyears;andifIdon’tget’emback,there’llbemoretrouble.YoucanaskanybodyinMojadaCountyaboutLukeSummers.Idon’tusuallyneedanyotherkindofpapersforwhatIdo.’
“Iseethejudgelooksmad,soIstepsupandsays:
“ThejudgehitshistablewithawoodenhammerandaskswhoIam.
“Thejudgekindofhalfsmilesandsayshewilltalkwithmeinhisprivateroom.InthereIputthewholethinguptohiminsuchlanguageasIhad,andwhenwegoesoutside,heannouncestheverdictthattheyoungmanisdeliveredintothehandsoftheTexasauthorities;andcallsthenextcase.
“Skippingovermuchofwhathappenedonthewayback,I’lltellyouhowthethingwoundupinBildad.
“Whenwegottheprisonerinthesheriff’soffice,IsaystoLuke:
“‘You,rememberthatkidofyours—thattwo-yearoldthattheystoleawayfromyouwhenthebust-upcome’
“Lukelooksblackandangry.He’dneverletanybodytalktohimaboutthatbusiness,andhenevermentionedithimself.
“Lukecomesovertomeshakingallover.Ineversawhimlosehisnervebefore.
“‘Bud,’sayshe.‘I’veneverhadthatboyoutofmymindonedayoronenightsincehewastookaway.ButIneverleton.Butcanweholdhim—Canwemakehimstay—I’llmakethebestmanofhimthateverputhisfootinastirrup.Waitaminute,’sayshe,allexcitedandoutofhismind—‘I’vegotsome-thinghereinmydesk—Ireckonit’llholdlegalyet—I’velookedatitathousandtimes—“Cus-to-dyofthechild,”’saysLuke—‘“Cus-to-dyofthechild.”Wecanholdhimonthat,can’tweLe’meseeifIcanfindthatdecree.’
“Lukebeginstotearhisdesktopieces.
“‘Holdon,’saysI.‘YouareOrderandI’mLaw.Youneedn’tlookforthatpaper,Luke.Itain’tadecreeanymore.It’srequisitionpapers.It’sonfileinthatMagistrate’sofficeinNewYork.Itookitalongwhenwewent,becauseIwasofficedeputyandknewthelaw.’
“‘I’vegothimback,’saysLuke.‘He’smineagain.Ineverthought—’
“‘Waitaminute,’saysI.‘We’vegottohavelawandorder.Youandmehavegottopreserve’embothinMojadaCountyaccordingtoouroathandconscience.ThekidshotPedroJohnson,oneofBildad’smostprominentand—’
“‘Oh,hell!’saysLuke.‘Thatdon’tamounttoanything.ThatfellowwashalfMexican,anyhow.’”