Free Star Toter by Al Cody Page A

moment, to give nature a chance."
    "Did that work?"
    "Perfectly. Not feeling pain, he lay quietly, and recovery was rapid. Before that, he kept tearing open his wounds. You see, there was no one to nurse him, and something had to be done. Had there been anyone, they would probably have mobbed me for such treatment. But the patient recovered."
    Grant Cable, assured that Ray was in good hands, had ridden off with his crew to take part in the roundup. Locke guessed that he would be glad of a good excuse to be away for a few days. That might help postpone a decision which would lead to a showdown.
    Back in town, Locke observed activity on a side street. A lumber wagon was just pulling out, a canvas tarp thrown careless over the box, the horses trotting easily, as though with no great load. Outwardly there was nothing to distinguish this from most other wagons, nothing to excite interest.
    But several men on horseback were picking this particular time to leave town, some riding far ahead of the wagon, as though intent on business of their own. Others followed, keeping well back.
    No one had bothered to tell him what was going on, but Locke had heard enough of conditions to hazard a guess. This was a shipment of gold, and the riders were vigilantes set to guard it. With such an escort, it should be safe.
    Safe, providing everything worked as planned. Locke was too old a hand at this sort of game to have confidence in any plans which Steele and perhaps Cable had taken a hand in formulating. A gold shipment was like a load of overripe meat; vultures could smell or sight it a long way off.
    The stage was preparing to leave town. Ted Foley was on the box, handling the reins for six horses with expert ease. Two men came out from the office, carrying a wooden box which seemed to be a burden and heaving it to the boot with some difficulty. There was nothing about that to attract attention, but one fact was noteworthy. No passengers were boarding the stage.
    Foley waved a hand, settling himself, kicking off the brake and allowing his horses to run. The six yanked the lightly laden vehicle along as though it, too, were no more than a part of the scenery. Locke turned down a side street, swung and rode out of town. He took a short cut, and was alongside the road when Foley came in sight, two miles beyond.
    At his wave, Ted pulled to an easy trot, and Locke swung alongside. "I think I'll ride with you, Ted," he suggested. "It strikes me that might be a good idea."
    "Sure." Foley's grin was pleased. "Whoa, there!" He pulled to a stop as Locke dismounted. "Hop right up with me, Orin. I do'no what you got on your mind, but I'll sure be glad to chew the fat."
    "I think I'll ride inside," Locke decided. "I'd rather be up with you. But, if anything happens, it might work better to be inside."
    "What you figure's likely to happen? This is a dummy express box I'm carryin' today. You know the real load's gone on ahead, don't you?"
    "Yeah, I know," Locke agreed dryly. "And from the signs, everybody else in the Wild Butte knows all about it, too."
    Foley spat thoughtfully, holding the restive horses with practised ease. "You figure there's some shenanigan somewhere? If I'm stopped, I'm supposed to let 'em have the box without no trouble."
    "You do that," Locke agreed. "Your job is to drive." He settled himself comfortably inside and closed the door. "Since they didn't provide you with a gun guard, you'll be doing all that's expected of you."
    "Dang it, Orin, you're getting me as nervous as an old maid peerin' under the bed," Foley protested. "I'm halfway believin' mebby there'll be something there, even when I'm danged sure there can't be. You got a hunch?"
    "Maybe we better just say I got time on my hands."
    "And a pair of hog-legs at your hips," Foley grunted. "Well, if something should develop, there's nobody I'd rather have to side me than you, Orin. I'm going to be kind of regretful about leaving this country, now that you're back."
    "How do you