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diff --git a/77345-0.txt b/77345-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25533c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/77345-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,963 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77345 *** + + + + + THE REBELLION OF CONSTABLE KITT + + + A stirring and individual story of the Royal Canadian + Mounted, by the recognized historian of that noted force. + + + By T. Morris Longstreth + + Illustrated by W. O. Kling + + +Take this afternoon, when the boys were grousing at stables as per +customary: you’d think this outfit was a disease nobody could get over +too soon. I guess you gathered that the Mounted Police was run by a +bunch of apes, didn’t you now? With old Frozen-face for the particular +head baboon! + +Well, all that jaw’s just a sign of health, showing they’ve still got an +interest in living. I like to hear them shoot off their face, so long as +the talk’s on the O C’s ways, where it can’t do much harm. But when they +start bumping Frozen-face for merely acting as a sergeant-major should, +I feel like wanting to tell them a thing or two. + +I agree with them, of course, that Frozen-face is an old model. He +joined up with this outfit when the West was a horse country and the +price of oats was the overpowering topic. They tell me he was one of +those hard seeds that nobody knew where he came from and nobody dared +inquire. But he looked useful, with that map. Even a recruiting officer +could see he could make an easy living robbing trains. He admitted right +off that he could ride anything with hair, as the saying goes. And not +like so many admitters, he made good. He didn’t shine up to anybody, +though, even then, and you only got to know him by mistake. + +I’ll not forget the day I first made that mistake. I’d just come down +from the training depot at Regina, and I was probably the greenest +article they ever crated out. Along with the handicaps usual to a +recruit, I’d brought some special blemishes. One was a swelled head from +winning a bunch of money at the races. Another was the idea I was all +right with the girls. But the worst, in the sergeant-major’s estimation, +was my views on horses. I didn’t love ’em, to be frank. I wanted my +horsepower canned and ready to go when you let in the clutch. Valeting +horses three or four hours a day in a cold stable had strained our +relations; and when it came to the riding-school, there wasn’t a square +yard of it I didn’t know by personal introduction, and there wasn’t a +nag in it I couldn’t have said good-by to without tears. If I had to +smell, I preferred to smell of oil and gasoline. + + * * * * * + +For that was my crime, gasoline--what with the race money and the girls, +I’d developed a neat little taste in roadsters. But everybody did. Even +the cheapest immigrant had a prairie Lincard in his shed; if you asked a +girl out, she looked at your wheelbase before she looked at you. The +date you could make with a horse and buggy wasn’t worth making. + +But old Frozen-face had never been broke to women, I guess, and he +wasn’t concerned with dates. His heart was sewed up in horseflesh. He +was still living in the days of the poets when the hush of silence hung +over the plains and you did the chores with Government mules. So when I +arrived and didn’t fall down and worship horses whenever I saw one, it +hurt him bad. The little feelin’ I had against the brutes must have +shown in my face, or maybe he suspected it from the fact I didn’t have +bowed legs. Anyway, being a good sergeant-major, he ordered me off on a +horse patrol. + +Now, you know sergeant-majors by this time, and how it’s easier to chum +up with King George than with a good one. Why, even today I’d risk +telling His Majesty his crown’s not on straight rather than suggest to +an S. M. that I think he’s not perfect. It doesn’t go, not a little +ways. So you can savvy what happened when I advised Frozen-face that I +could accomplish his old patrol quicker and better on a motorcycle. + +He didn’t speak, at first, so I went on to tell him where I could borrow +one. Even then he didn’t speak the way an angry man should--for I saw he +was angry; but after a long cold stare, he began one of the grandest +choke-offs that ever ascended in a slow blue cloud. + + * * * * * + +“Is it possible, Constable Kitt,” he said, “is it possible that you’ve +been on the strength here for a week? Have I grown so careless as all +that? You arrived last Monday. On Tuesday you were observed to hurry +through stables in order to get into trouble downtown. Strutting along +Main Street, you were so engrossed with one of these modern, +half-dressed, hand-painted, warmed-up apologies for women that you +passed Inspector Tagget without saluting. On Thursday you again hurried +through stables to engage in a game which is not only forbidden to +members of this Force but is generally considered unwise for fools. You +were reprimanded. Today I give you an order, and you venture to suggest +that I do not know my business. + +“Did they teach you no manners at Regina? Were you never told to express +your regret at having to put your sergeant-major in his place? Having +been in the Force only twenty-three years, I cannot boast of your +ripeness of judgment nor your advanced methods. But I am still unhappily +responsible for the discipline at this post. You, still more unhappily, +are elected to obey the orders given you. Do you hear?” His eyes went a +curious shade of green. “If I catch you shirking stables again, watch +out. If you mention motorcycle to me once more, you wont even have time +to watch. Unfortunately I’m not always in a good temper and I might +resent your obvious efforts to improve the Force and educate me. That +will do.” + +You might think it would. I went out smoking hot, with those words +burned on. + +“He’ll see,” I said bitterly to a girl I’d met the day before. “That +scrawny buzzard’ll see if motors wont run his horses out of business.” + +“Mercy, Ed, what a rough way to talk of my uncle!” she said. + +“That bird your uncle! He don’t look it, with that face.” + +“I like Uncle Howard,” Rena went on. “He’s so interesting. He’s a living +contradiction.” + +“I’ll say he is!” + +“Listen till I tell you, Ed. You’ve only heard his growl. He’s strict +like that because he’s so wrapped up in the Force. Really he is--the way +his superiors were strict with _him_. Anything else, he thinks, would +show that the Force is going down, and that’d kill him. He’s in love +with it, but naturally he’s got to hide all that. It’s just his way, +Ed.” + +“It’s a hell of a way to show you’re in love,” I said, still sulking. + +“You talk just like a little boy.” + +“Well, isn’t it? That crankcase never knew what love is.” + +“Wrong again,” she said quietly. “He was in love with Mother once. But +she chose Dad.” + +“Congratulations.” + +“There’s no use talking to you, Edward Kitt.” + +“Right. That cuckoo’s talked enough for the family. If he’s got the +Force so close to his warm heart, why can’t he tell when progress goes +dusting by? How about that bunch of customs-beaters, the Duff gang? Why +did they give Sergeant Geary the dust? Because you can’t catch an +eight-cylinder car with a one-cylinder horse. Now, can you?” + +“A garageful of cars wouldn’t have caught the Duff gang that time, Ed. +They jumped back across the border too soon.” + +“Isn’t that what I’m telling you? Men like them with a reward on their +heads wont wait. There’s a poster on our bulletin-board in barracks with +their pictures, and every time I see it I wish I’d been after them with +that bus I had at Regina. I hate to see the outfit thrown down by dopers +simply because we’re too slow.” + +“You do love it, don’t you, Ed?” + +“Next best to a certain girl somewhere.” + +“You should love it ahead of any girl.” + +“Hypocrite!” + + * * * * * + +For that she smacks me, most agreeable, on the cheek, and runs away, but +I could see I’d made a dent; and believe me, that girl Rena was worth +starting for. She was sound, with just enough style to raise a nice +breeze. She didn’t have to shoot a fellow to get his money, but she +didn’t want his money--a new one on me. She made you feel like a spring +morning to go with her. Lots of times I couldn’t work for making plans, +and I’d be all uneasy until I was with her, and then I was uneasy. A +hell of a nice feeling, you understand, though uncomfortable; and it +made all other girls and women seem like last year’s. I just naturally +had to tour in her direction.... + +One day I was down emptying ashes for the Inspector’s wife, a gabby lot +if I do have no right to remark it, when she says: + +“Do you know anything about cars? My husband’s wont start. Nobody around +here seems to understand it. You’d think the Government would have more +self-respect than to send us a thing like that.” + +Well, she didn’t know what she was doing for me. The moment I stretched +out under that pile of junk, I was as happy as a tourist asking +questions. It wasn’t a car, rightly speaking, but a warning, and it +sounded like a stone-crusher in action. You couldn’t have sold it for +its tires, but it ran, after I’d nursed it along, and you bet I had to +give it some expensive tryouts, with Rena in to tell me the names of the +stars. Those were happy times, with dusk on the plains and glory +overhead, but I don’t think they helped Frozen-face’s temper when he +found out. Of course he couldn’t come down on me very heavy, seeing as I +was doing a favor for the Inspector, but being a good sergeant-major, as +I said, he had other ways of putting on the brakes. It occurred to him +to find out if I knew anything about his other hobby, the constables’ +manual. + +Perhaps you haven’t looked into that little testament of ours. It’s a +terror. It’s a book they’ve made up so that we constables can compete +with the law on its home grounds. It’s hot with the latest news on +warrants and arrests and summary convictions and exciting things like +that. But the real smacker is the chapter on giving evidence. Now, +slovenly riding was one thing that Frozen-face hated good and hard, but +no worse than to see a buck constable ball up a perfectly good case by +giving faulty evidence. That was one of his bad dreams, and he took good +care that we shouldn’t furnish him with that nightmare. The day he +discovered I didn’t know the difference between a summons and a subpoena +was another milestone of misunderstanding between us. My temper was +pretty well shot, too, when I came out of that interview, only I had to +keep it to myself. I’d have asked for a transfer that afternoon but for +one little circumstance, which was Rena. I found out I had, sometime in +the past, ceased to be a free man. I couldn’t break away! + + * * * * * + +A few evenings later, just at “lights out,” my chum Draughty Macklin +tells me there’s a boy wants to see me out by the corral. + +“What the high do I want with a boy out there?” I asked him. + +“I don’t give a fried potato what you want; I’m just telling you,” says +Draughty. + +I couldn’t figure it, so I dragged my boots on again and sneaked out, +and I was in a fair rage by the time I noticed a slender chap standing +in the shadow by the gate. “What the hell--” I began. + +“It’s Rena, Ed,” she said, “and don’t swear so! I’ve risked coming here +to tell you something serious.” + +It was Rena, all right, dolled out in her brother’s clothes. “Why this +rig?” I asked. + +“Because I had to see you, and if you were caught with a girl, it would +go even harder with you than it is going.” + +“What do you mean, ‘is going?’” + +“I’m worried, Ed. You see, you don’t seem to know where you stand. I +heard somebody saying that he’d heard Uncle Howard telling a person, no +matter who, that he was tired of having Regina send him brick-heads who +didn’t know the first thing about court procedure, and that he was going +to shoot them back with you heading the column. I couldn’t bear that to +happen, Ed.” + +That sent me cold, and I said: “What in blazes does he want? How can I +memorize his blooming manual if he keeps me riding circus ponies all +day?” + +“Now you’re just making excuses, Ed.” + +“You’re starting to sound like a bum sergeant-major yourself.” + +“Listen, Ed: You’ve _got_ to learn that manual, and if you can’t do it +yourself, you’ve got to be taught.” + +“You’ve doped it. I’ll wire Vancouver for a teacher in the morning.” + +“Silly boy, why do you make it so hard for me? I could teach you.” + +“That’s service,” I said, still sarcastic, “especially when you and me +are poison if seen together.” + +“We needn’t be seen,” she said, very low. “Draughty Macklin is stable +orderly, isn’t he? And there’s a light always in the little room, isn’t +there? And if you can come down tonight, you can come other nights, +can’t you? Besides--” + +Oh, she knew her powers all right, and how a chap was lost if he got +within a length of her. I was only hard starting, anyway, because I +hadn’t thought of it first. “I expect you’ll find me terrible dumb,” I +told her. + +“I know how dumb you are,” she said, and left me there like a light +blown out. + + * * * * * + +The plan ran smoother than I thought. You might suppose that girl had +been studying the statutes since she could dress herself. “Now, Ed, tell +me again, what is a writ of habeas corpus?” And I, naturally knowing +nothing about it, would try bluffing. But you couldn’t bluff her any +better than a sergeant-major, and before long I could tune in on any +chapter she said. + +The joke came one day when I put a J. P. straight to the effect that a +dying declaration couldn’t be used as a deposition. This miracle got to +Frozen-face’s ears. He said something very decent to me, being square at +heart, and when I broke the news to Rena, she let me almost kiss her. +Only almost, though, for our meetings had been as cold and businesslike +as a cash-register. She sure didn’t let her feelings double-cross her, +but I was like one of these Indian kids in the agency Sunday-school, +jammed with mischief but afraid to show it. + +We had been going for weeks and were well along to the back cover when +the inevitable knock developed. We’d got careless, and one night I +forgot to fix the shutter over the window, and I was just shooting to +Rena the fine points of a coroner’s inquest, when the door opened and +who should it be but that walking icicle, old Frozen-face himself. The +lamp flared, and he didn’t see everything at once, but he recognized me +and said, “Rolling the bones again, Kitt?” and his voice was so fake +pleasant you might almost have forgot to worry. + +Rena dragged up a little laugh from somewhere and said: “You guessed +just right, Uncle Howard. We _are_ gambling. We’ve been taking a chance +that Mr. Kitt would learn his manual before you found us out.” + +“But we didn’t quite make the grade,” I added for company’s sake. + + * * * * * + +He paid no attention to the remarks, but stood over us, quiet as a drum +before you wallop it, staring down at her pretty boyishness. He couldn’t +seem to take it in that it was his niece there. When he did speak, it +wasn’t loud. “Is it actually you here, Rena, with this--this--big +noise?” + +“Yes, Uncle Howard. We’ve been studying.” + +“Studying what?” + +“The manual, I told you, Uncle Howard.” Her voice lost its steadiness. + +“Don’t Uncle Howard me!”--sternly. + +“But don’t you understand?” + +“Only too well.” And he meant his tone to hurt. + +I was on my feet now. “Don’t you talk to her that way, sir,” I cut in. +“It’s as she says, and we’ve been on the square. She’s kept me on the +square.” + +“The guardroom for you,” he threw at me. He was furious. + +“If you punish Mr. Kitt for studying his manual,” cried Rena, “I’ll--” + +“You’ll leave the stable, certainly.” And he took her by the arm. + +I felt as if I’d caught fire, I was that mad. I started after them, +ready to knock him over, though it would take some knocking. I didn’t +think a little more insubordination would matter much. But she threw me +a look that said “Leave him to me,” so plain I stopped still. It was one +of those looks a fellow can get only once, for it gave the show away. I +knew then she was my girl, even if miles ahead of anything a chap like +me should hope for. + +I stood there entertaining a lot of thoughts and not noticing it was +minutes before Frozen-face came striding back. But he was as changed as +if she’d been reading him the law. He didn’t even smoke at the nostrils. +I stood to attention, out of habit, but not because I was feeling +respectful, and he says: “So this is how you come to know about dying +declarations!” + +“Yes, sir, she coached me in that.” + +“Remarkable!” + +“For the good of the Force, sir.” + +“Oh, clearly!” + +“Well, didn’t it work that way?” My heat was rising. + +“Clearly, I said. How long have you been at it?” + +I couldn’t think quick enough to suit him. Just one date stood out, and +I was fool enough to spout that: “Since the Duff gang got away the last +time, sir.” + +He turned his stare on me. “You’ve got the nerve of Judas!” + +“Why do you call me that?” And then the temper boiled: “You’d better +mind what you call me! Have I ever sold the outfit? Have I ever given it +away--to a herd of horses? I know I’m just a buck constable, and you +think you made the Force; but maybe you aren’t the only one thinking for +its good. You and your damned horses! Would that gang have thumbed noses +at us if we’d been burning after them in a twin six? But no, we’ve got +to stick to the geegees. Who’s Judas now? I suppose you’ll throw me in +the clink, you’re that blind and unjust, but I’d sooner that than let +you get away with something I don’t deserve.” + + * * * * * + +It wasn’t the way to still the ruffled waters, but as he didn’t say +anything, I went right on: “And one more thing: Whatever you do to me, +you needn’t bring her into it. You can get back at me enough without +that.” + +Lord, the water was boiling in my radiator. I was just reaching to wipe +the sweat out of my eyes when he surprised me cold. He put his hand on +my shoulder and gripped me as if he was going to shake the lights out of +me, but that wasn’t in his mind. No. He looked straight into me, and I +had to notice his eyes, the first time I’d got a close look at them in +my life. They were stern all right, but the eyes of a white man. You +can’t pick up eyes like that. You have to grow ’em, slow, by looking at +a lot of life and looking at it square. They held me to a standstill, +those eyes, and when he spoke, it might have been my dad. + +[Illustration: He gripped my shoulder. “If I thought you believed I was +that sort,” he said, “I’d knock it out of you if it cost me my rank.”] + +“Do you think I’m that sort?” he said. I couldn’t make a sound, and he +went on: “If I thought you believed I was that sort, I’d knock it out of +you if it cost me my rank! It’s a good thing for both of us, Constable +Kitt, that there are no witnesses tonight. If you ever get your stripes, +you’ll realize what you’ve said. But I provoked it, unwittingly, and I +propose to consider it unsaid. You will remain confined to barracks. Now +pick up that book and get to bed.” + +So of course I went, but not to sleep. “If you ever get your stripes,” +he had said. Then he didn’t class me with the dirt I supposed. And that +glimpse of the real Frozen-face--you couldn’t dismiss a surprise like +that by turning over! I saw that I’d have to size him up all over again, +and maybe cut down my own proportions a bit. You wouldn’t want to be +less white than somebody else. After I’d hit on that, I fell asleep. + + * * * * * + +But the next day was long. To have our meeting-time come and know I +wasn’t going to sit by Rena, nor see her, didn’t help any, but the +bean-spiller was a note I got that evening, saying: + + They’ve found out and are furious. I’m to visit Aunt Jennie + in Macleod for a long time. They’re going to try and have you + transferred. I’m too low to cry. I never knew what it was to + be lonely before. But be good, Ed dear. Don’t tear anything, + for the Force’s sake. And do study a little more on Indictable + Offenses. I’m so anxious for you to get along fast. You’ll be + one of the officers some day. Please write tonight in our time. + +That note didn’t lead me to any shrine of peace, believe me. Maybe I +might be an officer some day, about ninety years off, and in the +meantime who would hoist Rena into the seat beside him and tread on the +gas? For she wasn’t theft-proof, not a bit. I never saw a worse chance +to grow an old maid. When the first week went by and she wasn’t engaged, +it surprised me. + +That week was no heaven. I did try my darnedest to please Frozen-face, +which pretty well took up the day. But that left the nights. I didn’t +feel like rushing anyone else, and the stars were flat without her to +show me their good points. I began to see how that girl was miles ahead +of any uniform. When no letter came for two days, I was half sick. I +fancied her walking out with our men in Macleod--with Corporal Gadshill, +the speed-king with the ladies. Or I imagined her Aunt Jennie giving +parties. Or why didn’t I get word? Perhaps you’ve never been a fool over +women and can’t hear what I’m saying, but by the tenth day I wasn’t +hitting at all. + +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.” + + * * * * * + +My tongue wouldn’t move in my mouth. How could I explain--to him! And +his searching eyes killed any excuses. They seemed to know so much. I +believe he read in my face what we had done, or rather failed to do. +Standing at attention is exposure itself, or feels like it. I was only +able to look back into his eyes. It was Rena who spoke for me. “Listen +to me, Uncle Howard,” she said quietly, “Constable Kitt couldn’t help +going. But he couldn’t help coming back, either. And it was all right my +being along. He and I are engaged, and as soon as he comes out of jail, +I’m going to marry him.” + +“Jail?” said Frozen-face, as if he couldn’t connect. + +“Absence without leave, sir,” I explained. + +“You still persist in advising me how to act?” he began, and said +something else I didn’t catch, for a taxicab came buzzing up and out of +it hopped a mad Inspector. + +“What does this mean, Sergeant-major? No car to meet me!” + +“Sorry, sir. The car was in use.” + +“How could it be in use? Who was using it?” + +That was the big moment, with Frozen-face, looking like a piece cut off +the Judgment Day, opening his jaw to pronounce hell on me. But all he +said was: “The car was used in capturing these men, sir.” + +The Inspector turned to look at them. “Who are they?” + +“The Duff gang, sir.” + + * * * * * + +It was great to watch the Inspector wilt. + +“The _Duff_ gang!” + +“Yes sir. Captured early this morning by Constable Kitt, assisted by my +niece.” + +The Inspector looked at Rena and nodded approvingly. + +“I was about to congratulate them, sir, when you drove up.” + +“Naturally! Quite right! It isn’t every morning we arrest the Duff gang +before breakfast. How was it done?” + +“With your permission, sir, I shall give you the particulars later. +Constable Kitt and I had best march the prisoners to the guardroom now.” + +I stood there dumb, shaken. To think he had bust his own principles and +taken our side! Not a word about deserting, or the rest! There wasn’t +the power in me to thank him as we locked up the prisoners, and he +didn’t give me the chance. He clicked back into being sergeant-major so +quick that I couldn’t believe that he’d just been human, except for the +results.... + +Sorry. There’s first post sounding, and no time to tell you the rest. +What do you suppose Frozen-face tried to do? Resign. Asked to be let +out. Said he wasn’t fit to keep discipline as he should, but wouldn’t +explain. White, you see, if frozen solid. Of course they wouldn’t let +him go. I got my stripes out of it, and the reward, both on his +recommendation, as I found out. So you don’t wonder I’ll not stand for +the youngsters yapping too loud just because he’s acted as a +sergeant-major should. + +What’d Rena get out of it, you say? Why not step around to the house and +take a look at our boy? Then you could ask her. + + +[Transcriber’s Note: This story appeared in the August 1929 issue +of _Blue Book_ magazine.] + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77345 *** |