Double Challenge Page 4

  4

  THE FUGITIVE

  The words brought Ted to a shocked halt, just as he was entering thekitchen. He turned to stare in disbelief and Tammie, sensing thatsomething was wrong, searched his master's face as though this wouldshow him what he must do. Failing to find any guiding sign, the collieturned toward the two strangers. He did nothing and would do nothinguntil Ted or Al told him to. But he was ready for any part he must take.

  In his turn, Ted looked to his father for a clue and found none.Whatever Al might feel, he was successfully hiding it, and his voice wasneither raised nor lowered when he spoke.

  "Somebody finally got him, huh?"

  Jack Callahan challenged, "What do you mean by that?"

  "Where you been the past twenty or twenty-five years, Jack? Smoky's beenaskin' for it at least that long."

  Callahan's voice was hard as ice and as brittle. "You didn't answer myquestion."

  "So I didn't, but I will. I know nothin' 'bout who might've shot Smoky,but I can think of lots of reasons why."

  "Is this yours?"

  Callahan's hand dipped into his pocket and came up bearing Al'sdistinctive tobacco pouch. Ted gasped. His father was unmoved.

  "Yep. But I haven't seen it for two weeks or more."

  "That's true!" Ted asserted. "He hasn't had it for at least that long!"

  Al said quietly, "Stay out of this, boy."

  "You needn't stay out." Callahan swung toward Ted. "Was your father withyou today?"

  "Well--no."

  "Where was he?"

  "He was out hunting a coyote."

  A note of triumph in his voice, Callahan turned again to Al. "By anychance, a two-legged coyote?"

  Al said disgustedly, "Don't be a fool!"

  "Did you have your rifle with you?"

  "What would you carry if you was huntin' a coyote? A pocketful ofpebbles?"

  "Can you account for your actions of today?"

  "Yep. Crossed the nose of Hawkbill, went into Coon Valley, climbed thatto its head, swung behind Burned Mountain, crossed the Fordham Road andcome back by way of Fiddlefoot Crick."

  "Can you prove all this?"

  "Sure!" Al snorted. "I'll get you an affy-davit from a couple of crowsthat saw me."

  "That is your tobacco pouch?"

  "I've already said it is."

  "That pouch," and again Callahan's voice rose in triumph, "was found notsix feet from where Smoky fell!"

  "So?"

  "Al, I'd hate to have to get tough with you."

  "Don't think you'd better try it."

  "Loring heard you threaten to shoot Delbert."

  "And I also," Loring Blade broke in, "heard Smoky threaten to shoot Al.There's more than one side to this, Jack, and suppose you simmer down?"

  "I'm in charge here!"

  "But you're getting nowhere. Al, will you talk to me?"

  "I'll tell you what I can, Lorin'."

  "If you had anything to do with this, tell your story now. I don't holdwith shooting, but certainly I never held with Smoky Delbert. I, forone, am willing to believe that, no matter how it happened or who hemet, Smoky raised his rifle first. I've known him a long while."

  "But you never jailed him."

  "Only because," the warden said, "I could never catch him. He was craftyas he was mean. But he's still a human being."

  "Could be some argument 'bout that," Al murmured. "Lorin', where wasSmoky shot?"

  "Coon Valley," the warden answered reluctantly. "Almost beside thosethree big sycamores near Glory Rock."

  "Is he dead?"

  "No, but he probably would be if he hadn't dragged himself to theFordham Road. Bill Layton, passing in his logging truck, found him andtook him into the hospital at Lorton."

  "Is he goin' to die?"

  "He's in a bad way."

  "Has he talked?"

  "Not yet."

  "How about the bullet?"

  "It went right through him; we couldn't find it."

  "How do you know he was shot near them three sycamores in Coon Valley?"

  "Bill told us where he picked him up. Jack and I went up there to seewhat we could find and," the warden shrugged, "the back trail wasn'thard to follow. Smoky was hit hard."

  "And you found my tobacco pouch?"

  "That's right, Al. It was within a few feet of where Smoky fell."

  "How do you know he fell there?"

  Loring Blade shrugged again. "He laid a while before he started to draghimself out. There was plenty of evidence."

  "Now here's a point, Lorin'. I've already said I was in Coon Valleytoday. Suppose I had my pouch, couldn't I have lost it when I passed thesycamores?"

  "You could have."

  "What time did you go up Coon Valley?" Jack Callahan broke in.

  "'Twas before eight. I started early."

  "Then you crossed back to the Fordham Road?"

  "Don't try to snarl my words up," Al warned. "I've already said that Iwent up Coon Valley to its head and crossed back of Burned Mountain tothe Fordham Road."

  "But you heard no shooting?"

  Al seemed a little contemptuous. "You ever make that crossin'?"

  "I asked you a question."

  "And I asked you one. Did you ever cross that way?"

  "No." Put on the defensive, Callahan sulked.

  "Try it," Al advised shortly. "It's a right smart hop. There's placesback in there where you couldn't hear a cannon fired in Coon Valley."

  "Look, Al," Loring Blade pleaded, "I'll ask you again to tell yourstraight story. I'm sure there has to be more to it than this. I knowyou too well to think you'd shoot Delbert or anyone else down in coldblood. Won't you help me to help you?"

  Al said doggedly, "I've told my story. Seems like there's an easy way tosettle this whole works."

  "What is it?"

  "Delbert ain't dead. When he talks, he'll tell who shot him."

  "There's no guarantee that Delbert will ever talk."

  Jack Callahan said, "I'm afraid I'll have to take you in, Al."

  "On what grounds?"

  "Suspicion. If Delbert lives, the charge will be assault with a deadlyweapon. If he dies--" Callahan shrugged.

  Al looked aside, and the fierce storms that could rage in his usuallygentle eyes were raging now. Ted shivered, and then Al calmed.

  "All right, Jack. If that's the way it must be."

  "You won't resist?"

  "I promise I won't raise a hand against you or Lorin'."

  Loring Blade said relievedly, "That's a help, Al. Thanks."

  "Is there any reason," Al asked, "why a body can't eat first? Ted andme've been out sinst early mornin' with only a snack in between."

  Loring Blade said agreeably, "No reason at all, Al." Callahan glared atthe warden. Al smiled faintly.

  "Have a bite with us, Lorin'?"

  "I'll be glad to."

  "How about you, Jack?"

  "Look here, Al, if you try anything--"

  "I've give my word that I'll raise no hand to either of you."

  "See that you keep your word."

  "Leave that to me. Will you eat with us?"

  Callahan answered reluctantly, "I'll stay."

  "Then Ted and me'll be rustlin' a bite."

  Silent, but seething inwardly, Al joined Ted in the kitchen. Knowingsomething was amiss, but not what he could do about it, Tammie lay downwoefully on his bearskin rug. Wanting to speak, but not knowing what tosay, Ted looked dully at his father's face. It was unreadable.

  Finally Al said, "We'll all feel better when we've had a bite to eat,and I for one am hungry."

  He lighted a burner and stooped to take a kettle from beneath the sink.Ted stared his astonishment. Al had the huge kettle, the one they usedwhen there were ten or more hunters staying with them. Half-filling itwith water, he put it over the burner to heat and took an unopened peckof potatoes from their storage place. Industriously he began to peelthem.

  Ted said, "Dad--"

  "We'll need plenty," Al
broke in. "S'pose you get about four moreparcels of pork chops out and start 'em cookin?"

  "But, Dad--"

  "Let's not," Al whirled almost savagely, "waste our time talkin'. Let'sjust do it."

  Sick with fear, Ted did as directed. He and Al froze pork chops six to apackage, and three were all a hungry man wanted. Four more packagesmeant that they would cook thirty pork chops, and what were any fourmen--even four ravenous men--to do with them? Ted got four more packagesout and began breaking them apart. He stole a sidewise glance at hisfather. Had this sudden, terrible accusation unseated Al's reason? Tedput the still frozen pork chops into two of their biggest skillets andbegan thawing them over burners. Loring Blade came into the kitchen.

  "Can I help?"

  Al said, "Reckon not, Lorin'."

  "My gosh! You're making enough for an army!"

  "Might's well have plenty. Ted, give me another sack of biscuit mix."

  Ted's head whirled. He licked dry lips and looked at the two pans ofbiscuits Al had already prepared. Loring Blade turned away and in thatinstant when they were unobserved, Al shook a warning head. Ted tookanother sack of biscuit mix from the cupboard while cold fear gnawed athim as a dog gnaws a bone. If there was some idea behind this madness,what could it possibly be? Al was preparing enough food for a dozen men.

  Ted turned to his skillets full of sputtering pork chops while Al testedthe boiling potatoes with a fork.

  "Most done," he commented. "How you comin'?"

  "Another five minutes."

  "Guess I can drain the spuds."

  He drained them into the sink, shook them, and added a generous handfull of salt and a bit of pepper. He shook the kettle of potatoes againto mix the seasoning thoroughly. Then he put them on the table andpushed the hot coffee pot to a warming burner. While Ted took theirbiggest platter from the cupboard and began forking pork chops onto it,Al slipped in to set four places at the table.

  "Ready?"

  "All ready."

  "Guess we can eat, then."

  Leaving the potatoes in their huge kettle, he carried it in and put itin the center of the table. Ted brought the platter of pork chops andreturned to the kitchen for coffee. Al passed him with two plates ofbiscuits.

  "Chow."

  Jack Callahan, who had been so grim and unrelenting and now seemed toregret it, smiled.

  "Whew! Are four of us going to eat that?"

  "If we can."

  "I'll do my darndest."

  "You're s'posed to."

  "Doggonit, Al," Callahan said plaintively, "don't blame me for this. Ihave a job and I intend to do it!"

  "I know."

  "There's nothing personal."

  "I know that, too."

  "Do you have to be so gloomy?"

  "What'd you do if you was on your way to jail? Turn handsprings?"

  Loring Blade grinned mirthlessly, speared two pork chops and added agenerous helping of potatoes. He broke a hot biscuit and lathered itwith butter. The game warden began to eat.

  "Seen Damon and Pythias lately?" he asked companionably.

  "Nope."

  Loring Blade looked down at his plate. Under ordinary circumstances theycould have made easy conversation. But circumstances weren't ordinary;the shadow of one in trouble cast its pall over the other three. Thegame warden ate a pork chop and some of his potatoes. Then, unable torefrain from talking about that which loomed so largely, he burst out,"Al, for pete's sake! If you have anything to say, say it! If you shotin self-defense, I, for one, will buy the story. There's a way out ifyou'll take it!"

  "I've told my story, Lorin'."

  "You refuse to admit you shot Delbert?"

  "I didn't shoot him."

  Callahan said, "There's evidence to the contrary."

  "So?"

  Ted toyed with a single pork chop, one potato, and almost gagged. Hetook a drink of hot coffee and found it stimulating. Tammie, lying onthe bearskin, looked questioningly at his master. Loring Blade pushedhis plate back.

  "I'm full. Told you you cooked far too much."

  "No harm's done."

  "We'll help you clean up."

  "Right nice of you."

  Al put the uneaten pork chops, a great pile of them, in two covereddishes and placed them in the refrigerator. He covered the kettle ofpotatoes and left them on the table, and put the biscuits in thebreadbox. Ted washed the dishes and Loring Blade dried them.

  While he worked Ted brought some order to his scattered thoughts. Hisfather was in trouble, serious trouble, and nothing mattered now exceptgetting him out. That meant the services of a skilled attorney and theyhad little money. But he could sell the camp for at least as much as ithad cost and probably he could get a job in Lorton. Ted washed the lastplate and Loring Blade dried it. There was an uneasy interval duringwhich nobody did or said anything because nobody knew what to do or say.

  Finally Loring Blade asked, "Are you ready, Al?"

  "Yep."

  "Shall we go?"

  "Guess so."

  Ted said firmly, "I'm following you in. I'm going to see John McLeantonight. He's a good lawyer."

  There was a ring of command in Al's voice, "No, Ted!"

  "But--"

  "Don't come to Lorton tonight! Stay right here!"

  Ted said reluctantly, "If that's what you want--"

  "That's what I do want. This thing's too harebrained already. No usemakin' it more so by actin' without thinkin'."

  "I'll come in in the morning."

  "If you think best. So long for now."

  The door opened and closed and they were gone. Ted heard Loring Bladestart his pickup and watched the red taillight bobbing down theirdriveway. They reached the Lorton Road and Loring Blade gunned hismotor.

  Ted sank dully into a chair and Tammie came to sit comfortingly besidehim. The big dog shoved his slender muzzle into Ted's cupped hand, and,getting no response, he laid his sleek head on his master's knee. Themeasured ticking of the clock on the mantel seemed like the measuredringing of tiny bells. Ted fastened his gaze on it, and because he hadto do something, he watched the clock's black hands creep slowly around.Like everything else, he thought, time was a relative thing. Fifteenminutes seemed no more than an eyewink when one was busy, but it was anage when you could do nothing except struggle with your own torturedthoughts.

  Another fifteen minutes passed, and another, and an exact hour hadelapsed when Tammie sprang up and trotted to the door. He stood, headraised and tail wagging. Ted opened the door.

  "Dad!"

  "'Fraid I got to move, Ted. Help me pack all thet grub we cooked forsupper, will you? Hills'll be full of posse men for the next few daysand I can't be startin' any fires."

  "But--"

  "I kept my promise," Al assured him, "and all I promised was that Iwouldn't raise a hand 'gainst Lorin' or Jack. Never did say I wouldn'tjump out of the truck when it slowed for Dead Man's Curve."

  "They'll be on your trail!"

  "Not right away, they won't. I went into the woods when I took off andthey're lookin' for me there." He grinned briefly. "Callahan found me.'Come out or I'll shoot!' he said. I didn't come out and he shot. Hopethe beech tree he thought was me don't mind."

  "You could have run from here if you were going to run anyhow!"

  "When I run," Al Harkness said, "nobody 'cept me gets in the way of anybullets I might draw. Think I want 'em shootin' up you or Tammie?"

  Al laid a canvas pack sack on the kitchen table. While Ted wrapped thecooked pork chops in double thicknesses of waxed paper and the excessbiscuits in single, his father spooned the potatoes into glass quartjars and mashed them down. He packed everything into the rucksack andadded a package of coffee, one of tea, some salt and a fewmiscellaneous items. Donning his hunting jacket, he shouldered the pack.Filling two pockets with matches, he slid two unopened boxes ofcartridges into another. Finally he strung a belt ax and hunting knifeon a leather belt, strapped it around his middle and took his rifle fromits rack.

  "D
on't try to find me, Ted."

  "What shall I say if they come?" Ted whispered.

  "Tell the truth and say I was here. They'll find it out anyhow."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "Lay in the hills 'til somethin' turns up. Can't do nothin' else now."

  "Dad, don't go!" Ted pleaded. "Stay and face it out. It's the best way."

  "It might have been," Al agreed, "and I was most tempted to go clear in.But it ain't any more."

  "Why?"

  "Lorin' had his radio on; listened on the way down. Smoky Delbert cometo and talked. He named me as the man who shot him and said I shot fromambush! Be seein' you, Ted."