"So I understood, but " Her eyes traveled swiftly round the table, and appraised the sudden sense of responsibility that had fallen on these reckless, careless frontiersmen."I am wondering what else he is.Really, he seems to be the bogey man of Gimlet Butte."There was another instant silence, and again it was Soapy that lifted it."I expaict you'll like Wyoming, Miss Messiter; leastways I hope you will.There's a right smart of country here." His gaze went out of the open door to the vast sea of space that swam in the fine sunset light."Yes, most folks that ain't plumb spoilt with city ways likes it.""Sure she'll like it.Y'u want to get a good, easy-riding hawss, Miss Messiter," advised Slim.
"And a rifle," added Texas, promptly.
It occurred to her that they were all working together to drift the conversation back to a safe topic.She followed the lead given her, but she made up her mind to know what it was about her neighbor, Mr.Bannister, the sheep herder, that needed to be handled with such wariness and circumspection of speech.
Her chance came half an hour later, when she stood talking to the landlady on the hotel porch in the mellow twilight that seemed to rest on the land like a moonlit aura.For the moment they were alone.
"What is it about this man Bannister that makes men afraid to speak of him?" she demanded, with swift impulse.
Her landlady's startled eyes went alertly round to see that they were alone."Hush, child! You mustn't speak of him like that," warned the older woman.
"Why mustn't I? That's what I want to know." "Is isn't healthy.""What do you mean?"
Again that anxious look flashed round in the dusk."The Bannister outfit is the worst in the land.Ned Bannister is king of the whole Big Horn country and beyond that to the Tetons.""And you mean to tell me that everybody is afraid of him--that men like Mr.Sothern dare not say their soul is their own?" the newcomer asked, contemptuously.
"Not so loud, child.He has spies everywhere That's the trouble.You don't know who is in with him.He's got the whole region terrified.""Is he so bad?"
"He is a devil.Last year he and his hell riders swept down on Topaz and killed two bartenders just to see them kick, Ned Bannister said.Folks allow they knew too much.""But the law--the Government? Haven't you a sheriff and officers?" "Bannister has.He elects the sheriff in this county.""Aren't there more honest people here than villains?""Ten times as many, but the trouble is that the honest folks can't trust each other.You see, if one of them made a mistake and confided in the wrong man--well, some fine day he would go riding herd and would not turn up at night.Next week, or next month, maybe, one of his partners might find a pile of bones in an arroyo.
"Have you ever seen this Bannister?"
"You MUST speak lower when you talk of him, Miss Messiter," the woman insisted."Yes, I saw him once; at least I think I did.Mighty few folks know for sure that they have seen him.He is a mystery, and he travels under many names and disguises.""When was it you think you saw him?"
"Two years ago at Ayr.The bank was looted that night and robbed of thirty thousand dollars.They roused the cashier from his bed and made him give the combination.He didn't want to, and Ned Bannister"--her voice sank to a tremulous whisper--"put red-hot running-irons between his fingers till he weakened.It was a moonlight night--much such a night asthis--and after it was done I peeped through the blind of my room and saw them ride away.He rode in front of them and sang like an angel--did it out of daredeviltry to mock the people of the town that hadn't nerve enough to shoot him.You see, he knew that nobody would dare hurt him 'count of the revenge of his men.""What was he like?" the mistress of the Lazy D asked, strangely awed at this recital of transcendent villainy.""'Course he was masked, and I didn't see his face.But I'd know him anywhere.He's a long, slim fellow, built like a mountain lion.You couldn't look at him and ever forget him.He's one of these graceful, easy men that go so fur with fool women; one of the kind that half shuts his dark, devil eyes and masters them without seeming to try.""So he's a woman killer, too, is he? Any more outstanding inconsistencies in this versatile Jesse James?""He's plumb crazy about music, they say.Has a piano and plays Grigg and Chopping, and all that classical kind of music.He went clear down to Denver last year to hear Mrs.Shoeman sing."Helen smiled, guessing at Schumann-Heink as the singer in question, and Grieg and Chopin as the composers named.Her interest was incredibly aroused.She had expected the West and its products to exhilarate her, but she had not looked to find so finished a Mephisto among its vaunted "bad men." He was probably overrated; considered a wonder because his accomplishments outstepped those of the range.But Helen Messiter had quite determined on one thing.She was going to meet this redoubtable villain and make up her mind for herself.Already, before she had been in Wyoming six hours, this emancipated young woman had decided on that.
