Benton of the Royal Mounted Part 5

"Then take a 'tie pa.s.s,' d-n you," said the Sergeant grimly. "And mind-if I catch either of you fellers around this burg tomorrow morning, I'll shove you both in the calaboose _and_ put the boots to you as _well_ as this charge. Now beat it, and go and pick up your pal!"

Harry waited for no further invitation, but vanished into the night.

Wearily Ellis gathered up the contents of the bag and, putting in the money along, closed it. He felt very tired and, lighting a cigarette, he sat down and tried to think.

"Guess I can get it through to her," he muttered. "I'll send a wire now that'll catch her on the train somewhere, and she can send me her address."

And going to the telephone he rang up the night-operator at the depot.

CHAPTER IV

And if you're wishful, O maiden kind, To know concerning me; A far-flung sentinel am I Of the R. N. W. M. P.

Renouncing women, as though wearing a cowl- I live for a monthly wage 'Way out on the bald, green-brown prairie, That stretches as far as the eye can see; Where the lone gray wolf and the coyote howl, And the badger digs in the sage.

-_The Prairie Detachment_

The day broke fine and clear. The hot sun quickly drying up the little puddles and sticky mud resulting from the recent downpour. Benton, rising early, watered and fed the horses. These duties despatched, and his own breakfast at the hotel accounted for, he leisurely proceeded to ascertain if the two partic.i.p.ants in his previous night's adventure had left town.

A few guarded inquiries and a brief, but thorough, search satisfied him on this point; so saddling up Johnny, and tying on his slicker, he rode slowly down to the depot to await the in-coming East-bound train prior to his departure for his lonely detachment.

The train arrived, and on it, Churchill. The local sergeant was a man about Ellis's own age, well set up and pa.s.sable enough in appearance, but with the florid, blotchy complexion, weak mouth, and uncertain gaze of the habitual drinker. A few lucky arrests in which chance-more than pluck or ability had figured, coupled with a certain cleverness in avoiding trouble-had somehow enabled him to retain his stripes and the sleepy little Line detachment. That there was no love lost between them was very evident; Benton, on his side, making little effort to disguise the contempt he felt for the other.

It was a long-standing hostility, dating back many years when, as recruits together in the Post, a trivial quarrel originating first in the Canteen, had terminated finally in the corral at the back of the regimental stables-with disastrous results to Churchill-who, ever since this event, had not been man enough to forget, forgive, or attempt to get even.

A few cold civilities were exchanged, and Ellis remarking, "Here's the key of your dive," chucked him over that article; then with a careless "So long," turned his horse and edged up nearer to the platform to speak to the station agent.

On account of a small wash-out that had happened to the track some few miles east, the train was held up for a short time, and the platform was crowded with pa.s.sengers who were strolling up and down, glad of the opportunity to stretch their legs after their long confinement.

Benton, less impatient than Johnny, who was pawing, eager to be off, was watching them absently, when he suddenly became aware of his being, apparently, an object of interest to somebody standing near and, turning his head slightly, he beheld a tall, magnificently-built, dark girl, eyeing him and Johnny with eager curiosity and admiration.

And in very truth, handsome, saturnine-faced Ellis Benton, and the big, black, pawing horse that he bestrode with the long-stirruped, loose-seated, easy, careless grace of an habitue of the range, were both fitting representatives of the great Force which they served.

Wistful and sweet, the girl stood there and gazed awhile at man and horse and presently she slowly came forward and, with a kind, impulsive friendliness that immediately thawed the Sergeant's habitual reserve, said:

"I'm sure you must be thinking me awfully rude-staring at you so long; but I was looking at your beautiful horse and wondering whether you were a policeman or a soldier or what."

And, smiling whimsically down into the girl's eager upturned face, the Sergeant made answer:

"Young lady," with a droll little vainglorious gesture which amused her intensely, "behold in me one of those important officials who hold the High Justice, the Middle and the Low in these parts ... a sergeant of the Mounted Police!" Then suddenly bitter remembrance set his pale, steady eyes agleam with their peculiar ruthless light and his strong white teeth gritted, as he added, "Otherwise, just a 'prairie cop.'"

She stroked and patted Johnny who, scenting a new friend, nickered softly, tucked up his nigh fetlock in a beseeching manner, and nibbled at her for sugar.

"Isn't he just a beauty!" she murmured. "My, but I'd be a proud girl if I had a horse like him to ride. Do you ever?- What is it, Auntie?" she said, breaking off short as a stout, elderly lady with a petulant frown on her forbidding face, came bustling up.

"Gracious, Mary!" snapped the aunt, very much out of breath, "I've been looking everywhere for you," and angrily drawing the unwilling girl aside, Ellis heard her say, "You shouldn't go talking to strange men in that way, child ... really, Mary, I'm surprised at you!"

"But, Auntie," came that young lady's slightly indignant answer, "I was only asking him about his horse, and he speaks quite like a gentleman."

The elder woman's response was partially inaudible to the Sergeant, but a fragment of it-"Only a policeman!" smote his ears unpleasantly with its pitiful sn.o.bbishness.

As they moved away, though, he was repaid for that lady's uncharitable remark, as the girl, taking advantage of "Auntie's" ample back being turned, faced round and bowed to him with a kindly smile, an unspoken "Good-by" manifested in the gesture which he at once returned with a courtly grace, saluting gravely.

Mechanically, his eyes followed the two ladies until they became lost in the crowd, and then, with a muttered oath, he wheeled Johnny around and rode slowly out of the town.

"What a fine-looking girl that was," he reflected. "Some rich American's daughter, no doubt, en route from Banff or elsewhere in the mountain summer resorts West, after having a good time." _Why_ shouldn't she talk to him? And mixed with his brooding thoughts came the consciousness of his _own_ joyless, danger-fraught life, with the bitter, hopeless, lonely feeling that the single man past thirty knows so well, whose occupation, and more especially-means-place him without the pale of matrimony.

With the exception of those holding responsible staff appointments, marriage was not particularly encouraged amongst the rank and file of the Force, for many reasons. Lack of suitable quarters was partially the cause of this policy; also (and not the least) the indisputable fact that in the majority of cases where men are engaged in hazardous pursuits the average single man is freer, and-as is only natural-willing to run far greater personal risk in the execution of his duty than a married man.

True, many of the non-coms, and even "straight-duty bucks," _were_ Benedicts, for various reasons best known to themselves. But Ellis, forever mindful of the old fable of "The fox who lost his tail in a trap," only laughed aside cynically all their feeble, joking admonitions to him to join their ranks and, taking "Punch's" advice instead, "didn't."

Why had that cursed old frump come b.u.t.ting in? "Only a policeman!" ...

And with an angry Ellis unconsciously rammed the spurs into poor, unoffending Johnny, who immediately broke in his gait with a sidelong jump which, in its suddenness, nearly unseated him.

The spasmodic jerk of the horse brought Benton to himself again, and with a "There, there, Johnny-you old fool-I didn't mean to rake you," he patted and eased that startled animal down to his customary pace.

"She made a lot of you, didn't she, Johnny? And you know you liked it!"

He rambled on, for latterly-in the utter loneliness of his long patrols-the Sergeant had contracted the strange habit of talking aloud to his horse, and Johnny's sensitive ears would p.r.i.c.k backwards and forwards as if he thoroughly comprehended what was being said to him.

Traveling easily, and in no particular hurry, Benton made "Marshall's"

for dinner, and towards evening drew in sight of Cherry Creek district, with its few scattered ranches and mixed farms.

When about half a mile from his detachment, some objects strewn on the trail ahead attracted his attention which, on drawing near, took the form of pieces of paper, some spilt chicken-feed and flour, bits of board, and the tail-board of a wagon; also, had he but noticed it, a lot of scattered nails.

With a grim chuckle he pa.s.sed on. "Looks like somebody's had a smash-up," he muttered. Suddenly he pulled Johnny up sharply, for the latter had begun to limp perceptibly on the off-forefoot and, on examination, Ellis found a nail deeply embedded at the side of the frog.

He tried to pry it out with his fingers and a knife, but it was in up to the head and his attempts were useless.

"No help for it, Johnny," he said. "You'll have to stick it till we get home," and with a disgusted malediction at the ill-luck, he wended his way slowly ahead on foot, Johnny following on three legs like a lame dog.

On arrival at their destination the nail was eventually extracted with the aid of pincers, and after bathing and syringing the bleeding prod with hot water and peroxide of hydrogen, the horse moved easier; but Ellis was well aware that several days, perhaps a week, would elapse before it would be safe to use him. And with the knowledge of this fact oppressing him came also the realization that, should anything turn up in the meantime, he would be under the necessity of borrowing a horse from some one.

Stationed in a new district, he was naturally chary of placing himself under obligation to anybody; so, cogitating over his predicament, he watered, fed, and groomed Johnny and, after fixing up the wounded foot in a hot poultice for the night, he retired into his own domain to cook some supper.

The detachment, originally a ranch dwelling, was a square, solid-looking, log-built structure, with a commodious stable in the rear, and a corral and a fenced-in pasture. A huge, bleached buffalo skull, with its stubby black horns-a relic of bygone years-frowned down from over the main entrance, and a faded, weather-flapped Union Jack hung from a short flag-staff at one pinnacle of the roof. With whitewashed stones, the letters R.N.W.M.P. were formed in the earth banking on the front side of the dwelling. The interior bespoke its occupant's tidiness and orderly habits.

One entered directly into a moderate-sized room that was severe in its spa.r.s.ely furnished simplicity. A long, bench-like table, covered with a tartan police rug, on which were some neatly piled blank legal forms, and books, a Bible, and writing materials. A plain oak arm-chair for the said table, and several smaller ones, with a couple of form-seats, were ranged around the walls, and immediately facing the magisterial bench a strongly-built cell with a barred door and aperture was part.i.tioned off.

A few enlarged framed photographs of old-time police and legal celebrities and a green baize-covered board decorated with an a.s.sortment of brightly burnished leg-irons and handcuffs completed the adornment of the chamber. Nevertheless, in spite of the room's simple aspect, one instinctively guessed that here, as occasion occurred, the solemnity of the Law was upheld with no less a dignity than in the highest court of justice.

A door at one side of the cell opened into a larger apartment, evidently used as a combined living and bedroom which, with its strange collection of interesting objects, was typically significant of its owner's tastes and personality. A comfortable, bachelor-like abode this, yet slightly regimental withal too; for the blankets at the head of the cot were strapped into the regulation neat roll with the sheets in the center, whilst above, on a small shelf, were the folded spare uniform and Stetson hat, on either side of which stood a pair of high, brown Strathcona riding-boots with jack spurs attached. On pegs underneath hung the "Sam Browne" belt and holster containing the heavy "Colt's .45"

Service revolver, together with a bridle, a head-rope, and a slicker.

Two or three easy chairs were scattered around and some tanned calf-skin mats covered the floor. A table stood in the center littered with periodicals and other reading matter, and a plain slung bookshelf held a well-worn selection of cla.s.sical and modern works of fiction. The walls were relieved with varrious photographs, clever pen-and-ink sketches, and unframed copies of famous pictures, among which were several examples of Charles Russell's and Frederick Remington's works of art. A tent-pegging lance, standing in a corner, supported a gaudy, feathered Indian headdress on its point, while behind the door hung a set of boxing gloves.

Five years of Benton's wandering life having been spent on the veldt-two of them pa.s.sed in the Chartered Company's service-accounted for the curious South African trophies that were noticeable here and there. A stuffed _meerkat_ crouched half raised, like a gigantic gopher, and that ugly bald-headed vulture, known in the _Taal_ as an _aasvogel_, looked down with unpitying eyes. Two magnificent leopard skin karosses were flung over the armchairs, and a Zulu oxhide war s.h.i.+eld was suspended in an angle of the walls, flanked crosswise with its companion weapons-a heavy k.n.o.b-kerrie and a short, broad-bladed, stabbing a.s.segai, whilst above hung those one-time sinister symbols of authority north of the Vaal-a rhinoceros-hide _sjambok_, a Mauser rifle, and a captured "_Vierkleur_" flag. Adjoining this room were the kitchen and a small compartment used as a storehouse.

His supper finished, and the daily diary, mileage report, and "monthly returns" made out, the Sergeant lit a pipe and lay back in one of the armchairs, lazily scanning the various criminal photographs in the last copy of _The Detective_ he had brought with him from the Post, until drowsiness overcoming him, the paper fluttered to the floor and his head sank back against the leopard skin. The rays of the lamp shone full on the strong, moody face, with the pipe still held clenched between the teeth, and the athletic frame which, even in repose, contrived somehow to convey in its posture an impression of instinctive, feline readiness for sudden action.