Judith of the Godless Valley Part 61

"I don't know but I depone it was Scott and Charleton. They never spoke but I depone it. Like it was Charleton and John tied me to the mule and that was how."

"Steady, Johnny! Which way did they go?"

"I don't know. I was riding down to Mary. I knew Mary--"

"Steady, Johnny." Douglas looked up at the circle of faces.

"Is there anybody friendly enough here, if they knew who did this, to tell me?"

There was no reply, and Peter said, "I don't think if it was Scott and Charleton working together, they'd confide in anybody!"

There was a murmur of a.s.sent. Douglas stood, the kind hand still on Johnny's shoulder, drawing long shuddering breaths.

"If they hurt my old sky pilot," he said, "G.o.d pity 'em, for I sha'n't.

'Are any of you folks going to help me organize a hunt for him?"

"How do you know the two old fools didn't set fire to it themselves?"

demanded John thickly. "The sky pilot was in bad and that would be a good way out."

Douglas swung himself up on the Moose. In the vivid light his lips were twisted contemptuously.

"Glad to help you out personally any way, Doug!" exclaimed Jimmy Day.

"But you'd better let the sky pilot go. They ain't going to hurt him.

You've been the church buildingest d.a.m.n fool in the Rockies."

"Speak for yourself, Jimmy!" cried Peter. "I'm with you, Doug."

"And so am I!" exclaimed Judith. "This is the rottenest trick ever sprung in Lost Chief!"

"You will not stir a step after the preacher, miss!" roared John.

Douglas stood in the stirrups facing his old friends and neighbors. But words failed him. He spurred the Moose out onto the trail.

Peter urged his horse up beside the Moose. "Where are you heading for, Doug? You mustn't go off half-c.o.c.ked."

"I'm going down to Inez' place and see if I can sweat the truth out of her."

"It's a slim chance!"

"I don't think so! It's too dark to follow tracks now, and you can bet they've covered themselves well, anyhow. I have a feeling that Inez knows. She must have been willing to murder the sky pilot after his sermon. If we don't get anything out of her by dawn, we'll get Frank Day and start. I know I can count on him."

"Well, perhaps you're right. Inez has been venomous about this and I can't say that I blame her. Easy now, Doug. The Moose is about all in."

Douglas grunted and the way to Inez' house was covered in silence.

Douglas had no sense of confusion, nor of defeat. He was angry, but with his anger was a l.u.s.t for battle and an exultation in the opportunity for it that smacked almost of joy. I'll get him back, he told himself, and I'll rebuild the chapel and I'll punish Charleton and Scott. Maybe I am nothing but a rancher a thousand miles from anywhere but no old crusader ever fought for the grail harder than I'm going to fight for my little old sky pilot. And if they hurt him--! Old Moose groaned as Douglas involuntarily thrust the spurs home.

There was a light in the kitchen of the Rodman ranch house. Douglas banged on the door, and when Inez called, he strode in, followed by Peter. Inez was sitting before the stove, on which a coffee-pot simmered. Scott Parsons stood beside the fire, coffee-cup in hand.

Douglas helped himself to a chair and Peter imitated him.

"You folks didn't come up to my fire," said Doug.

Inez, who had followed his movements intently, smiled sardonically. "Did you expect either of us?"

"Not exactly. I didn't expect to see Scott here, either. It was rumored that you'd had a quarrel and that was why you left the party early."

Inez shrugged her shoulders. "Where's Judith?"

"She's probably helping old Johnny up at my place. There didn't seem to be anybody else likely to stay, after the fireworks."

"And what are you and Peter doing down here at a time like this?" asked Inez, looking at the postmaster as she spoke.

"I was going to get you to tell me what Scott and Charleton had told you about this partners.h.i.+p affair of theirs. But as long as Scott is here, I'll just sweat it out of him."

Scott laughed.

"What makes you think I know anything about it?"

"You have cause to hate the preacher more than any one," replied Douglas simply.

Inez' chin came up proudly. "I'm glad you realize that!" she exclaimed.

"But it's not exactly evidence," said Scott suddenly, "that Charleton and I had anything to do with the affair."

"No, nor, if they did put over the job, that I knew about it," added Inez.

"Which job do you refer to?" asked Peter.

"Running the preacher," replied Inez.

"But how did you happen to know he had been run?" Peter's eyes were half shut. "You came home early and didn't go up to the fire."

Inez bit her lip. Peter smiled grimly, his long, sallow face wearier than ever in the lamplight. "You aren't the kind to get away with a plot, Inez. Leave that to Charleton."

"No reason why some one couldn't have telephoned, is there?" demanded Scott.

"No reason at all," replied Peter, "except that Inez' phone has been out of order for a week and I promised to come up to-morrow and fix it for her."

"I didn't think," said Douglas, "that you were the kind to get mixed up in a rough deal like this, Inez. I'll admit that Fowler's sermon was raw and all that, but still you are no hand to blink facts. Didn't you have it coming to you?"

Inez' lip twitched. She looked from one man to the other, finally focussing on Peter.

"Did I?" she asked.

"Yes, you did," he answered. "You've got to lay the blame finally on the women. Otherwise civilization would cease."

"Oh, forget it!" growled Scott. "What are you dragging Inez in on this for? She's always been a good friend to you, Peter."

"I like Inez," said Peter slowly, "but no one is a good friend of mine who is bucking against Douglas in this stunt he's at himself. Douglas is easily the coming man of this valley and if I'm not mistaken, of this State, and I'm back of him, boots, spurs and saddle."