The Long Dim TrailHooker, Forrestine C. (Forrestine Cooper)
General
The Long Dim Trail
Hooker, Forrestine C. (Forrestine Cooper)
Arizona -- Fiction; Cowboys -- Fiction; Ranch life -- Fiction; Western stories
"Seventy thousand gone up in smoke!" he muttered, never giving a thought
to the girl who had risked everything for his sake. His only regret was
that her inopportune death interfered with his plans for escape. His
former passion for the woman turned to resentment.
"Paddy's money is safe," he meditated as he lay staring at the wall. "If
I could only get out!"
His last hope lay in the slim possibility that Katherine might be able
to obtain a pardon for him, then he could get Paddy's money and go to
South America. But such a pardon would take months to accomplish.
Glendon got up and walked the length of his cell, kicking the wall when
he reached the end of the room. Curses rose to his lips. The wall in
front of him reminded him of the grim grey walls of the Arizona
Penitentiary, and he felt that if he could only get Wentz by the throat
and choke him slowly to death, he would be willing to go to the
Penitentiary for life. But--Wentz was free.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Wentz, hovering in the corridor of the Tombstone jail, had overheard the
conversation between the jailer and Glendon. With knowledge of
Panchita's death, Wentz realized that his own plans were in chaos.
Glendon's nonchalant attitude at the news confirmed Wentz's belief that
Glendon knew where the money had been concealed by the Mexican girl.
"If Glendon were free," Wentz muttered, "he would probably get the money
at the first opportunity. There may be a chance after all."
Deep in thought, he returned to the room where the jailer waited for the
deputy to relieve him that he might go home to supper. Wentz picked up a
newspaper and began to read. The deputy entered the room, and nodded to
the jailer, who exchanged a few casual words with him and departed.
Wentz had greeted the new-comer, but a curt nod had been the only
response.
The curse of Judas was upon Wentz. Since the trial none of the men he
had betrayed would speak to him, and their eyes were threatening. Other
men in the jail, officials as well as prisoners, held him in open
contempt. Outside were those who made dire threats of vengeance. Wentz
envied his former comrades and began to feel that he would rather share
their punishment than face his own black future. He was without money.
No place in Arizona would harbour a traitor; no man would trust him or
hold out a hand in comradeship. The railroad would give him work, so he
would not starve, but life would be unbearable. If he made his way to
another section, it would mean without a cent in his pocket, no credit,
no work. If he could only find where that undivided money from the
first hold-up had been hidden, then he could laugh at them all.
The deputy had picked up a book. Yawning and stretching, Wentz dropped
his paper, then rising slowly walked along the corridor. He reached
Glendon's cell, paused and called, "Hello, Glen!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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