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ARIZONA NIGHTS
says he don't know nothin' about poker。 Mebbe he don't； but he'll outhold
a warehouse。〃 But here Senor Johnson broke in： 〃Billy； you're just
in time。 Jed has hurt his foot and can't get on for a week yet。 I want
you to take charge。 I've got a lot to do at the ranch。〃 〃Ain't got my
war…bag；〃 objected Billy。 〃Take my stuff。 I'll send yours on when
Parker goes。〃 〃All right。〃 〃Well； so long。〃 〃So long；
Senor。〃 They moved。 The erratic Arizona breezes twisted the dust of
their going。 Senor Johnson watched them dwindle。 With them seemed
to go the joy in the old life。 No longer did the long trail possess for him
its ancient fascination。 He had become a domestic man。 〃And I'm
glad of it；〃 commented Senor Johnson。 The dust eddied aside。
Plainly could be seen the swaying wagon； the loose…riding cowboys； the
gleaming； naked backs of the herd。 Then the veil closed over them again。
But down the wind； faintly； in snatches； came the words of Jim Lester's
song：
〃Oh； Sam has a gun That has gone to the bad； Which
makes poor old Sammy Feel pretty； damn sad； For that gain it
shoots high； And that gun it shoots low； And it wabbles about
Like a bucking bronco！〃
Senor Johnson turned and struck spurs to his willing pony。
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CHAPTER TEN THE DISCOVERY
Senor Buck Johnson loped quickly back toward the home ranch； his
heart glad at this fortunate solution of his annoyance。 The home ranch
lay in plain sight not ten miles away。 As Senor Johnson idly watched it
shimmering in the heat； a tiny figure detached itself from the mass and
launched itself in his direction。 〃Wonder what's eating HIM！〃
marvelled Senor Johnson； 〃and who is it？〃 The figure drew steadily
nearer。 In half an hour it had approached near enough to be recognised。
〃Why； it's Jed！〃 cried the Senor； and spurred his horse。 〃What do you
mean； riding out with that foot？〃 he demanded sternly； when within
hailing distance。 〃Foot； hell！〃 gasped Parker； whirling his horse
alongside。 〃Your wife's run away with Brent Palmer。〃
For fully ten seconds not the faintest indication proved that the
husband had heard； except that he lifted his bridle…hand； and the well…
trained pony stopped。 〃What did you say？〃 he asked finally。
〃Your wife's run away with Brent Palmer；〃 repeated Jed； almost with
impatience。 Again the long pause。 〃How do you know？〃
asked Senor Johnson； then。 〃Know； hell！ It's been going on for a
month。 Sang saw them drive off。 They took the buckboard。 He heard
'em planning it。 He was too scairt to tell till they'd gone。 I just found it
out。 They've been gone two hours。 Must be going to make the
Limited。〃 Parker fidgeted； impatient to be off。 〃You're wasting time；〃
he snapped at the motionless figure。 Suddenly Johnson's face flamed。
He reached from his saddle to clutch Jed's shoulder； nearly pulling the
foreman from his pony。 〃You lie！〃 he cried。 〃You're lying to me！ It
ain't SO！〃 Parker made no effort to extricate himself from the
painful grasp。 His cool eyes met the blazing eyes of his chief。
〃I wisht I did lie； Buck；〃 he said sadly。 〃I wisht it wasn't so。 But it
is。〃 Johnson's head snapped back to the front with a groan。 The
pony snorted as the steel bit his flanks； leaped forward； and with head
outstretched； nostrils wide； the wicked white of the bronco flickering in
the corner of his eye； struck the bee line for the home ranch。 Jed
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followed as fast as he was able。 On his arrival he found his chief
raging about the house like a wild beast。 Sang trembled from a quick and
stormy interrogatory in the kitchen。 Chairs had been upset and let lie。
Estrella's belongings had been tumbled over。 Senor Johnson there found
only too sure proof； in the various lacks； of a premeditated and permanent
flight。 Still he hoped； and as long as he hoped； he doubted； and the
demons of doubt tore him to a frenzy。 Jed stood near the door； his arms
folded； his weight shifted to his sound foot； waiting and wondering what
the next move was to be。 Finally； Senor Johnson； struck with a new
idea； ran to his desk to rummage in a pigeon…hole。 But he found no need
to do so； for lying on the desk was what he soughtthe check book from
which Estrella was to draw on Goodrich for the money she might need。
He fairly snatched it open。 Two of the checks had been torn out； stub and
all。 And then his eye caught a crumpled bit of blue paper under the edge
of the desk。 He smoothed it out。 The check was made out to
bearer and signed Estrella Johnson。 It called for fifteen thousand dollars。
Across the middle was a great ink blot； reason for its rejection。 At
once Senor Johnson became singularly and dangerously cool。 〃I
reckon you're right； Jed；〃 he cried in his natural voice。 〃she's gone with
him。 She's got all her traps with her； and she's drawn on Goodrich for
fifteen thousand。 And SHE never thought of going just this time of
month when the miners are in with their dust； and Goodrich would be sure
to have that much。 That's friend Palmer。 Been going on a month； you
say？〃 〃I couldn't say anything； Buck；〃 said Parker anxiously。 〃A
man's never sure enough about them things till afterwards。〃 〃I
know；〃 agreed Buck Johnson； 〃give me a light for my cigarette。〃 He
puffed for a moment； then rose； stretching his legs。 In a moment he
returned from the other room； the old shiny Colt's forty…five strapped
loosely on his hip。 Jed looked him in the face with some anxiety。 The
foreman was not deceived by the man's easy manner； in fact； he knew it to
be symptomatic of one of the dangerous phases of Senor Johnson's
character。 〃What's up； Buck？〃 he inquired。 〃Just going out for a
pasear with the little horse； Jed。〃 〃I suppose I better come along？〃
〃Not with your lame foot； Jed。〃 The tone of voice was conclusive。
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Jed cleared his throat。 〃She left this for you；〃 said he； proffering an
envelope。 〃Them kind always writes。〃 〃Sure；〃 agreed Senor
Johnson； stuffing the letter carelessly into his side pocket。 He half drew
the Colt's from its holster and slipped it back again。 〃Makes you feel
plumb like a man to have one of these things rubbin' against you again；〃
he observed irrelevantly。 Then he went out； leaving the foreman leaning；
chair tilted； against the wall。
CHAPTER ELEVEN THE CAPTURE
Although he had left the room so suddenly； Senor Johnson did not at
once open the gate of the adobe wall。 His demeanour was gay； for he
was a Westerner； but his heart was black。 Hardly did he see beyond the
convexity of his eyeballs。 The pony； warmed up by its little run；
pawed the ground； impatient to be off。 It was a fine animal； clean…built；
deep…chested； one of the mustang stock descended from the Arabs brought
over by Pizarro。 Sang watched fearfully from the sla