Part 2

It’s funny how deciding cleared my head. I did my work all day without getting Frozen-face’s goat once, and thought out all my plans. I pretended to have an errand to the Inspector’s--knowing he was in Calgary conferring about the Duff gang, but not knowing how soon he’d be back. And sure enough the gabby wife told me all about it and that he wouldn’t be back till the early morning train. That suited me fine. I filled his car with oil and gas, which was all right too, since I’d be expected to meet him at the station, and looked to the tires.

Somehow it came hard trying to swallow supper. I found that the barracks made mighty good scenery. I’d always liked most of the boys, but never thought about it much; and now the idea of cutting away from them hurt me in the throat. And once when I saw old Frozen-face stalking into his mess, I could’ve laughed, I was that near crying. After all, he’d been white, and what was I going to do but hit him below the belt? “What the high,” I told myself; “you can’t suit everybody in this crazy world!”

I made out I had a bad headache and was going to bed early. I stuck a bundle of papers under the blankets with a handkerchief over its face so the orderly would think I was sleeping, and stole away. An hour later I sailed into Macleod with my heart jumping like a school of fish. Would she see level with me and go along, or would she make me go alone? For I’d have to go anyway, now.

* * * * *

It staved off the worry to have to hunt for Aunt Jennie’s, and when I got there, luck had my girl sitting alone reading. At least she had been reading, and the magazine had lost out to her thoughts, for she was staring ahead as if looking at some far-off place. I whistled our call, and laughed to see the brightness cross her face; then she ran quietly to the door, whispering: “Is that you, Ed? Ed, is that you, really? _Sshh!_” And I had her in my arms with no need for questions.

“But, Ed,” she said presently, “what terrible thing have you done?”

“Does it feel so terrible?”

“But it will be terrible to think you’re in heaven and wake up to find it Macleod.”

“When you wake up, sweetheart, it wont be Macleod.” And I broke it to her what I wanted us to do and what we’d be in for.

It must have taken her off her feet, for she just leaned against me, stroking my head and quivering. That touch of hers would have swung even Frozen-face off his base, I’ll bet, and if I’d had any qualms before, I laid them to rest now. My cue was to get her away and then add up the score; and she fell for it. We even laughed a bit as we tiptoed around, getting her things and leaving a note in the coffee-pot where it couldn’t be found before breakfast, even if her aunt did wake up. And so before a single second thought entered either of our fool heads, we were sliding out of Macleod, the two suddenest elopers that ever slipped off under a setting moon.

There was one thing not so good: to make a quick get-away toward the border we had to double back through Lethbridge and strike south for Coutts. Not that I was leery of them catching us, even though I’d kept on my uniform, not wishing to ask for a pass, but I wondered how Rena would feel clipping so close by her home. It made me nervous, like having a skunk in the road, and I began to think about my own home; and gosh, if those barracks didn’t pull like a tow-rope! We were mighty quiet in our home streets. Before we got well away, the moon had set.

Funny, how a feeling hangs on. I calculated that my spirits would hit the top again as soon as we turned south, but the dark seemed to have soaked in through my skin. Nothing more than just a shade, you know, nothing you could grab and wring its neck, but a dim and doubtful feeling, like not having had your dinner. It made me sore. What did that want to come over me for when I’d just got everything I asked for and was headed for freedom? There I was, with a thousand berries on my hip, the niftiest girl at my side, and behind me those cursed stables and calls and choke-offs from Frozen-face. Yet I wasn’t so damned happy, not even at being rid of him. Funny, as I say.

* * * * *

Rena wasn’t acting as if it was any carnival, either. She cuddled up close against my shoulder, saying nothing at all. So I started in prophesying, bearing down good and hard on the high times ahead. But I guess they didn’t sound too impressive, since she knew I didn’t have much idea myself of what was ahead of Coutts, after we’d left the Inspector’s car. For naturally I wasn’t going to start married life by stealing anything besides the girl.

Seeing that the future wasn’t going too well as a topic, I switched to the past. It was old Mounted Police country we were running through, every mile of it. Every coulee had some tale of its own. We crossed the Pot-hole country by Fort Whoop-up, the scene of the first Police doings. Then a little farther on was where Buffalo Heeney had rounded up a lot of cattle-lifters by straight bluff, by just talking rougher than they could. Over toward the mountains was Indian Charcoal’s hunting-grounds, where he’d killed Sergeant Wilde; and others came to mind, fine fellows all. And suddenly it swung over me that I was giving up a big thing in dropping the outfit, running away from the best bunch on earth. Not that I was getting cold feet over Rena so soon. That was fixed, inevitable. But I wanted the fellows, too, and every mile that clicked off only proved it.

But there wasn’t a hell of a lot I could do about it by then, not with that little girl leaning against my shoulder. If I’d been running over the edge of the world, I couldn’t have thought of a way to let on. “Happy, sweetheart?” I whispered. “Pretty happy,” she whispered back, being game, all right, like that Greek chump who hugged the fox while it gnawed him.

One thing I’ll say for our old stonecrusher, the cool night air made it run like a watch. I let it roll along smooth and even and do everything but pick the trail, for it was about two A. M., and the old bean pretty well primed for sleep, when Rena grabs my arm. “What’s that?”

* * * * *

I was too busy with the narrow road to see. All I got was one flash of a low gray speed-wagon parked by the cut-off to West Coutts, and a man pouring water in the radiator with the light catching him up the side of his head. “Honeymoonin’s in the air, it looks like,” I said.

“No, Ed. They were all men. Did you ever see such a face as that man’s?”

“I have, somewhere,” I said; but I’d run around the curve for a minute before I remembered--that long side-face and funny ear, curving in instead of out, the bulletin-board poster: “_$1,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Samuel Duffer, alias Simpson Duffer, alias Slinker Duff._” Like a struck match the whole thing shone up clear and lit up what I should do. Without even thinking, I pulled up along the road and put an arm around my girl.

“Rena dearest,” I said, “I’ve got to--there’s something I’ve got to--”

“Yes, Ed?” I could feel her shiver, but she was helping me.

“I’ve got to start you trusting me right now.”

She was silent, but she pressed closer. “I do,” she said.

“I’ve got a job to do on that car.”

“Oh, Ed!” And she held me tight.

“It’s the Duff gang, Rena; and while I’m in this rig, I’m still a policeman.”

“I know.”

“You wont be scared waiting here in the car?”

A moment of nothing, and then what do you suppose? She threw her arms around my neck and started laughing, not the crazy laughing, but the glad, relieved kind. You might think we’d run into a clergyman instead of a parcel of bandits. “Did you dream I would, Ed darling? Did you really think I’d stay behind, dear? I’m going with you, where you have to go. Let’s get turned around, quick.”

The tone of that “quick” gave her away. It was the idea of getting turned around that hit her so pleasant, bandits or no bandits; and though I was politer about it, I felt the same. The only hole in the road was that I had no side-arms, so the party couldn’t be guaranteed safe. In fact Duff had a reputation all the other way. No sir, I wasn’t going to risk our happiness that easy. “Listen, sweetheart, what’d you think I was aiming to do? Walk into his arms and say ‘Take me’? If I had a gun, it’d be different. I’m just going to ease back and look things over.”

With that all nicely explained, she lets me fade off into the night, and it didn’t take long to cut across the little ridge to where they still were. A breeze was blowing, making little noises, and I crept close enough to get the odd word. They were waiting for something, another car, and not too patient. Duff had climbed back beside the man in front and there was a third in the rear. “Lord, what a haul!” I thought, and for the first time I wished for old Frozen-face to rush them with me. Even Sergeant Head, at Coutts, would’ve been helpful, and it was then I got the big idea.

In ten minutes I was back, sitting by Rena, getting my breath. “I’ll watch ’em,” I said, “and you bring him. Get me?”

Being a Western girl, I didn’t have to write out the instructions. She knew. “Keep them for twenty minutes,” she said, all business now, “and we’ll hand them over as a going-away present.”

“Twenty minutes,” I said, and she was gone.

I hadn’t any more than crept back to the Duffs when I saw they had company. The car they’d been waiting for had arrived, and they were all busy transferring the goods. In a way that was plumb satisfactory, but supposing they cleared out in five minutes--or ten? There wasn’t a chance in Alberta of our catching them if they got their piece of lightning to sliding good.

I crawled right up close, behind a bush, thinking and listening, and the first thing I heard was miles from being good news. “Count it out, quick,” their visitor was saying. “The sergeant’s patrolling tonight. I want to slide in before he sees me.”

[Illustration: “Count it out, quick!” their visitor was saying. I got a good look at the Coutts man while he was counting the bills.]

They stepped in front of the car and I got a good look at the Coutts man while he was counting the bills, then he starts the engine.

I was in a jam, now, wondering what to do. Five minutes hadn’t gone yet, and they’d be off in two. It didn’t seem fair to step out, and it did seem yellow not to. I was on the fence ready to jump either way when the other man calls he’s stuck and needs a push. Duff wasn’t for going, but the other two went, and Duff joined them in a rage, pretty soon, saying they couldn’t stay there all night no matter how many fools got bogged up.

Things couldn’t have fallen better, for I slid out in the dark, raised the hood, jerked out the rotor arm of the distributor and threw it behind a rock, and was halfway to the bush again when my luck gave out. The other car moved, its lights caught me like some wild animal posing for a night photo, and somebody yells. I straightens up just like I’d always meant to be there, and they swarms up.

If you’ve ever seen the look on a rat’s face as it greets the terrier, you’ve got the expression on Duff’s map when the scarlet caught him in the eye. He stiffened up; his lips drawn back--the catch of the year. I knew then I wasn’t going to let him slip. I knew I was constable first and lover second. The other two beans rolled up, but didn’t figure. Duff asked:

“Who in hell are you?”

“It’s plain enough who I am, or maybe you’re blind,” I said.

“No, I’m not blind, but perhaps deaf. How’d you get here?”

“On my gallant steed,” says I sarcastic, thinking of Frozen-face. “They haven’t given us boys individual cars yet.”

“Where’s your horse?” asked one of the fellows.

“Have we a rope?” I heard the other say to Duff.

“My horse is waiting.” And I points into space, hoping they’ll waste time hunting. “But I’m thinking of riding back with you fellows. Samuel Duffer, alias Slinker Duff, I put you and your party under arrest.”

Duff’s funny ear wiggled as he said: “Haven’t you forgot something? You state no reason; you serve no warrant; and you’ve left your revolver home.”

“Never you mind about all that--” I began.

“The rope, boys,” calls Duff to the two who were looking for it.

I knew then I was in for a bit of bango, but ten minutes was up and I hoped to keep ’em interested the other ten.

“Submit to be tied,” says Duff, “and that’s the worst’ll happen. Resist, and there may be an accident, a fatal accident.”

“Not to me,” says I, brighter than I felt.

* * * * *

They grabbed me, at that, and it didn’t take a second to get all worked up, scuffling in and out of the headlights, getting dirt and bruises and near knock-outs pretty general. I jumped once for the Duff man’s chin, and thought I got it right on the point. But he didn’t fade like he ought. Both the other bums took care to come at me at the same time, and I plastered ’em several biffs, getting a few horse-kicks on my own person. But it couldn’t last, and I wished old Sergeant Head would hurry. Then it happened. Somebody caught me from behind, and I saw all the stars shoot together, and then the sky closed in over me.

[Illustration: Somebody caught me from behind; I saw all the stars shoot together, and the sky closed in.]

I don’t know how long I was under the influence. It must’ve been some time, for they’d been trying to get their car to go and had found out why it wouldn’t. I don’t blame ’em for being mad. There they were, all nicely loaded up with enough dope to give ’em a maximum sentence in the pen, all set to glide, and she wouldn’t glide. And dawn coming. So they turned to me, and I guess that fatal accident might’ve occurred, they was that mad, only it was necessary to keep me alive long enough to tell where I’d misplaced the rotor arm.

I know how I was brought to--my ribs, where they’d been kicking me, told me. I opened a lazy eye to find Duff shaking me. “Where is it?” he snapped out, ferocious.

For a minute I hadn’t an idea what he was talking about, so he made it plainer with another shake. “Where in hell’ve you hid that rotor arm?” he asked.

“What is that?” I stalled. “If it aint on a horse, I don’t know it.”

“You know it, all right.” And drops of sweat stood out on his thin mug. “Give it up or I’ll kill you.”

They was fairly dancing around, what with wanting to cut me up into little pieces for rage, and yet not daring to get rid of this here lost-and-found on legs until I’d told all.

“Cough it up,” said Duff, squinting in his violence, “or I’ll tie you to a bush and pour gasoline on you so you’ll burn faster.”

“Then you’ll get hanged.”

* * * * *

With a dirty oath he turns to the boys. “Give him a turn and see if he’ll talk!” And for all I could do, being still a shade dazed, they had my hands tied together behind my back, and started to raise me by ’em. Say, that hurt! Just as they began again, I thought I saw a flash in the distance, and I prayed for Head to come. But he’d have to be quick, for no flesh and blood was going to stand that agony long. “Going to tell?” asked Duff, and I give in, thinking I could stall till Head arrived; so I nodded toward the wrong rock. “Find it,” Duff orders, and they strikes matches while I grubs for what aint there. It might’ve been funny at another time.

“He’s fooling,” yells Duff, soon. “Give him another dose.” That was the worst moment for me. If that flash I’d seen had been the car, she’d’ve come. Maybe Rena had had an accident, or was waiting for the patrol to come in. I felt low as hell. They give me such a wrench then that I let out a yell. Duff slapped me across the mouth. “Will you find it?” he screams. “Will you find it, this time? Once more, boys! Pull it out of him.”

“Stand back, you curs!” said a voice from the dark near by.

“Stick up your hands!” It was Rena’s voice, hoarse and strained; a revolver banged, and the bullet sent the glass of the wind-shield flying all over us. “_Stick--them--up!_”

[Illustration: “Stick up your hands!” It was Rena’s voice, hoarse and strained. “Stick--them--up!”]

They did. For the flying glass had cut two of them about the face so they was blinded with blood, and Duff himself didn’t show the nerve to face a gun that could do damage like that: his hands went up while I got mine loose.

“Take it, Ed.” And she pressed the gun into my hands. In another minute it was all over; we had them searched; Duff was tied; the boys had mopped the blood off their faces and was repairing the distributor. Rena--well, Rena was crying!

Meanwhile, where was Sergeant Head? Still patrolling. You see, Rena’d found nobody to the detachment. That paralyzed her for a minute, she said. But she come to when she saw a spare gun over Head’s desk; the cartridges were in a drawer. She was in the car, and the big idea in her mind, all in five minutes. She knew I’d _got_ to be backed up, but she didn’t savvy how necessary until she’d left the car down around the curve and walked over to our lights. She hadn’t meant to let off that shot that killed the windshield; it just went. But I told her that was the best shot ever fired in Alberta and was glad to see she stopped crying. All my usual feelings was coming back in a mob. I wanted to laugh, but it didn’t seem quite the time.

The boys had finished now, and how to hand ’em over was the next puzzle. If we took them to our detachment at Coutts and left them with Sergeant Head, he’d ask questions and I’d be arrested, and that meant a spell in the clink....

I could see myself relying on Frozen-face’s mercy. And after a spell in jail, I’d be fired. Either way, I lost the outfit. That was my lowest moment. Then I heard Rena speaking. “Oh, Ed, Ed,” she said quietly, “I’m so proud of you I don’t know what to do. It’s simply splendid.”

“What is? This mess?”

“Mess? Nothing of the sort. You’ll be the biggest man in the division, dear, for landing these men.”

“Yes, the biggest behind bars!”

“Oh, Ed!” It was clear she had never thought of that. “But they _can’t_!”

“Can’t they! Watch old Frozen-face break out into a smile for the first time in his life. But I don’t care. It’s you I’m thinking of.”

“If you ever think of me, Ed, I’ll never speak to you again. You mustn’t, dear. While you’re in uniform you’re a policeman. You said so yourself. You-- Oh, it’s all my fault!” She began to sob.

* * * * *

It was a long drive back, Rena taking the wheel and me sitting behind with the Duffs, one on each side, while the third ran their own car, just ahead, too scared by my hints of our artillery to try any monkey-shines.

A long drive, and ticklish, but we made it. I guess it was close to six o’clock and broad daylight when we pulled into the barrack square, and a funny procession we made: three opium salesmen escorted by two elopers who now knew better, and one of them a deserter returning on a flat tire. Yes sir, a mighty comic procession--from the side-lines. As we stopped, I heard a train whistle, and I had to laugh. I was supposed to be meeting the Inspector with his car.

The whistle put an idea into Rena’s head. “If I could catch that train, Ed, I might get back to Aunt Jennie’s without being seen.”

“This is what we’re going to catch instead.” And I pointed to a figure striding towards us--Frozen-face, and in his least human mood.

We hadn’t time to frame up any good story--Rena and I. She just squeezed my hand, and then I got down and stood at attention. I could tell by his gait that if our capture didn’t melt him, all the antifreeze in the world wouldn’t help. As he reached me I said:

“The Duff gang, Sergeant-major.”

It didn’t feaze him. He glanced at my prisoners as if they were so many tame cats, then fastened his eyes on me. “What’s the meaning of this, Constable Kitt? I got a phone call from Macleod just now stating that my niece has not been home all night--and here you come rolling into the square with her. What have you to say?”

“I needed her assistance, sir, in making the arrest. This is the Duff gang, sir.”

“I see the Duff gang.” But his eyes kept eating into mine. “I fail to see how this accounts for my niece leaving her aunt’s.”

“I shouldn’t have these prisoners here, sir, if it hadn’t been for her.”

“Remarkable!” he snapped. “More than remarkable! As I remember, you enlisted her assistance once before, contrary to all discipline. Where did she and you happen to run into these?” He nodded at my prisoners.

“Two miles this side of Coutts, sir.”

“Coutts!” A new shade of sternness came into his voice. Till then he likely thought that we had just been joy-riding. “Coutts, you say? At the border! Kindly inform me what you were doing there without leave.”

* * * * *