The Two-Gun Man Read Online Free PDF

gone on indefinitely arranging motives, but none of them would have brought him near the truth.
    He could, however, be sure of three things. Leviatt had seen the rustler and must know him; he had seen Ferguson, and knew that he knew that a rustler had been in the gully before him; and for some mysterious reason he had not reported to the manager. But Ferguson had one advantage that pleased him, even drew a grim smile to his lips as he rode on his way. Leviatt may have seen him near the dead Two Diamond cow, but he certainly was not aware that Ferguson knew he himself had been there during the time that the rustler had been at work.
    Practically, of course, this knowledge would avail Ferguson little. Yet it was a good thing to know, for Leviatt must have some reason for secrecy, and if anything developed later Ferguson would know exactly where the range boss stood in the matter.
    Determined to investigate as far as possible, he rode down the river for a few miles, finally reaching a broad plain where the cattle were feeding. Some cowboys were scattered over this plain, and before riding very far Ferguson came upon Rope. The latter spurred close to him, grinning.
    "I'm right glad to see you," said the puncher. "You've been keepin' yourself pretty scarce. Scared of another run-in with Leviatt?"
    "Plum scared," returned Ferguson. "I reckon that man'll make me nervous-give him time."
    "Yu' don't say?" grinned Rope. "I wasn't noticin' that you was worryin' about him."
    "I'm right flustered," returned Ferguson. "Where's he now?"
    "Gone down the crick-with Tucson."
    Ferguson smoothed Mustard's mane. "Leviatt been with you right along?"
    "He went up the crick yesterday," returned Rope, looking quickly at the stray-man.
    "Went alone, I reckon?"
    "With Tucson." Rope was trying to conceal his interest in these questions.
    But apparently Ferguson's interest was only casual. He turned a quizzical eye upon Rope. "You an' Tucson gettin' along?" he questioned.
    "Me an' him's of the same mind about one thing," returned Rope.
    "Well, now." Ferguson's drawl was pregnant with humor. "You surprise me. An' so you an' him have agreed. I reckon you ain't willin' to tell me what you've agreed about?"
    "I'm sure tellin'," grinned Rope. "Me an' him's each dead certain that the other's a low down horse thief."
    The eyes of the two men met fairly. Both smiled.
    "Then I reckon you an' Tucson are lovin' one another about as well as me an' Leviatt," observed Ferguson.
    "There ain't a turruble lot of difference," agreed Rope.
    "An' so Tucson's likin' you a heap," drawled Ferguson absently. He gravely contemplated the puncher. "I expect you was a long ways off yesterday when Leviatt an' Tucson come in from up the crick?" he asked.
    "Not a turruble ways off," returned Rope. "I happened to have this end an' they passed right close to me. They clean forgot to speak."
    "Well, now," said Ferguson. "That was sure careless of them. But I reckon they was busy at somethin' when they passed. In that case they wouldn't have time to speak. I've heard tell that some folks can't do more'n one thing at a time."
    Rope laughed. "They was puttin' in a heap of their time tryin' to make me believe they didn't see me," he returned. "Otherwise they wasn't doin' anything."
    "Shucks!" declared Ferguson heavily. "I reckon them men wouldn't go out of their way to drive a poor little dogie in off the range. They're that hard hearted."
    "Correct," agreed Rope. "You ain't missin' them none there."
    Ferguson smiled, urging his pony about. "I'm figgerin' on gettin' back to the Two Diamond," he said. He rode a few feet and then halted, looking back over his shoulder. "You ain't givin' Tucson no chancst to say you drawed first?" he warned.
    Rope laughed grimly. "If there's any shootin' goin' on," he replied, "Tucson ain't goin' to say nothin' after it's over."
    "Well, so-long," said Ferguson, urging his pony forward. He heard Rope's answer, and then rode on, deeply concerned over his