Sheriff on the Spot Read Online Free PDF Page B

odds.
    Pat said, “All right, Deems. Go ahead an’ play your cards. But be damned sure they’re not topped.”
    â€œJust back up toward the door and don’t let your hands get careless.”
    Pat backed slowly toward the front door of the hotel, keeping his hands in front of him. He said, “You’re a fool, Deems. I aim to find Sam an’ Ezra. What’s all this gun-play about?”
    Deems darted a sideways look at Kitty. “What’s he been saying to you?”
    â€œHe acts crazy. Said I had to go upstairs with him.”
    Deems swung on Pat abruptly. “You’ve already been upstairs—while I was out in the kitchen getting my head fixed. What did you find that time?”
    Pat shook his head and said blandly, “Sam’s an’ Ezra’s doors were locked an’ I couldn’t find ’em. I thought maybe Kitty would know where a key was.”
    â€œThere’s something else on his mind,” Kitty told her employer faintly. “He asked me the funniest thing. Asked me what I knew about some other man I never heard of. Some name like—Fred something or other.”
    â€œFred Ralston,” Pat supplied coldly.
    â€œThat’s it. What do you suppose he meant, Joe? He’s acting awfully funny.”
    Deems grated, “What do you know about Fred Ralston?”
    â€œNot much,” Pat admitted frankly. “He’s a dude from Denver that came in on the stage tonight. I’d like to know what he’s doing in Powder Valley.”
    â€œWhy don’t you ask him?”
    â€œThat’s what I’d like to do,” Pat said mildly. “I knocked on his door, too, but it was locked.”
    He saw a swift spasm of relief flicker over Kitty’s face, but Joe Deems frowned and addressed Tom Forrest behind the counter.
    â€œIs that Ralston fellow up in his room?”
    â€œI reckon,” the clerk’s voice quavered. “He went up an’ I ain’t seen him come back down.”
    Deems frowned and said, “Maybe something’s happened to him.” He went toward the clerk. “Give me an extra key to his room.”
    â€œJoe!” Kitty spoke in sharp warning.
    Deems ignored her. He got a key from the clerk and told Pat, “I’m sorry about all this trouble. But you’ve got to understand that a man just naturally doesn’t like to get pushed around in his own hotel.”
    Pat said, “Pulling guns on a sheriff is a good way to get pushed around a lot more.”
    Deems nodded affably. “I guess that wasn’t very smart, but I’ve got a crazy temper when I get riled up.” He turned to his men and ordered, “You boys put your guns away and go on into the back. I won’t need you any more.”
    Kitty Lane came forward swiftly as the men turned and disappeared. She asked fearfully, “What are you going to do, Joe?”
    He looked at her in some surprise. “Why, I guess I’d better prove to the sheriff there isn’t anything wrong here. If that Ralston man is wanted by the law, I’m not going to protect him. Come on, Sheriff.” He turned toward the stairway.
    â€œWait, Joe.” Kitty clung to him desperately. Her eyes were round and enormous. “Can’t you—?”
    â€œI know what I’m doing.”
    â€œBut you don’t!” Her voice rose hysterically. “Don’t take him up there, Joe! Don’t do it.”
    Joe Deems thrust the entertainer away roughly. “This is still my hotel and I’ll run it.”
    Pat stepped forward and said quietly, “I’d mighty well like to know why Miss Kitty don’t want me upstairs.”
    â€œYou know how women are,” Deems grunted with disgust. “Always getting crazy ideas about what somebody’s going to think. Quit acting so innocent,” he went on brutally to Kitty. “Every man in Dutch Springs knows what you are by this