Brand Blotters - Page 98/180

Jack Flatray came into the room. His glance swept the young women and

fastened on the man. In the crossed eyes of the two was the thrust of

rapiers, the grinding of steel on steel, that deadly searching for

weakness in the other that duelists employ.

The deputy spoke in a low soft drawl. "Mornin', Boone. Holding an

executive session, are you?"

The lids of the detective narrowed to slits. From the first there had been

no pretense of friendship between these two. There are men who have only

to look once at each other to know they will be foes. It had been that way

with them. Causes of antagonism had arisen quickly enough. Both dominant

personalities, they had waged silent unspoken warfare for the leadership

of the range. Later over the favor of Melissy Lee this had grown more

intense, still without having ever been put into words. Now they were face

to face, masks off.

"Why yes, until you butted in, Mr. Sheriff."

"This isn't my busy day. I thought I'd just drop in to the meeting."

"You've made a mistake. We're not holding a cattle rustlers' convention."

"There are so many ladies present I can't hear you, but maybe if you said

it outside I could," the deputy suggested gently, a gleam of steely anger

in his eyes.

"Say it anywhere to oblige a friend," sneered Boone.

From the moment of meeting neither man had lowered his gaze by the

fraction of an inch. Red tragedy was in the air. Melissy knew it. The

girl from Arkansas guessed as much. Yet neither of them knew how to avert

the calamity that appeared impending. One factor alone saved the situation

for the moment. Flatray had not yet heard of the shooting of Bellamy. Had

he known he would have arrested Boone on the spot and the latter would

have drawn and fought it out.

Into the room sauntered Lee. "Hello, 'Lissie. Been looking for you an

hour, honey. Mornin', Norris. Howdy, Jack! Dad burn yore ornery hide, I

ain't see you long enough for a good talk in a coon's age."

Melissy seized on her father joyfully as an interposition of Providence.

"Father, this is Miss Yarnell, the young lady I told you about."

The ranchman buried her little hand in his big paw. "Right glad to meet up

with you, Miss Yarnell. How do you like Arizona by this time? I reckon

Melissy has introduced you to her friends. No? Make you acquainted with

Mr. Flatray. Shake hands with Mr. Norris, Miss Yarnell. Where are you,

Norris?"