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10 - Bransford Of Rainbow Range by Eugene Manlove Rhodes · Bransford Of Rainbow Range

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Nine taken Lord Huntley. Then he did speak out, oh
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: fair motfa his body. I here will fight double Delaine,
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: or on a thing Aylesjordie. Whom has he robbed? What
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: has he stole? Or has he killed any or what's
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: the crime that he has done? His foes? They are
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: so many old ballad hugh and cry, hubbub and mystery
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: swept the isle of Arcady that morning, but the most
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: painstaking search and query proved fruitless. It developed beyond doubt
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: that the football man had not been seen since his
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: one brief appearance on the ball room floor. Search was
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: transferred to the mainland, where as it neared noon, Lake's
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: perseverance and thoroughness were rewarded. In Chihuahua suburb beyond the
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: north wall, Lake noted a sweat marked red roan horse
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: in the yard of Rosalio Marquez better not by reason
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: of his profession as Monte Straightway. The banker reported this
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: possible clue to the sheriff and to Billy, who was
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: as tireless and determined in the chase as Lake himself.
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: The other masqueraders had mostly abandoned the chase. He found
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: them on the bridge of the La lou Sallyport. It
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: may be worth looking into Lake advised the sheriff better
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: send someone to reconnoiter, someone not known to be connected
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: with your office. You go, Billy, if you find anything suspicious,
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: the sheriff can phone to the hospital if he needs me.
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: I'm going over to see how the old watchman is
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: ought to gone before. If he gets well, I must
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: do something handsome for him. Billy fell in with this request.
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: He had a well founded confidence in Lake's luck and
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: attached much more significance to the trifling matter of the
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: red roan horse than did the original discoverer, especially since
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: the discoverer had bethought himself to go to the hospital
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: on an errand of mercy. Billy now confidently expected early developments,
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: and he preferred personally to conduct the arrest so that
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: he might interfere if necessary, to prevent any wasting of
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: good cartridges. He did not expect much trouble, however, providing
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: the affair was conducted tactfully, reasoning that a dead game
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: sport with a clean conscience and a light heart would
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: not seriously object to a small arrest. Poor Billy's own
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: heart was none of the lightest, as he went on
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: disloyal service to his presumably favored rival. Bicycle back, he
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: accompanied the sheriff beyond the outwards to the Mexican quarter.
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: Near the place indicated by the banker. Billy left his
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: wheel and strolled casually round the block. He saw the
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: red roan steed and noted the double rainbow branded on
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: his tie. Monty was leaning in the adobe doorway rolling
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: a cigarette. Billy knew him in a business way. Hello Monty,
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: good horse. You got there? As not horse, said Monty.
• 3:08
  Speaker 1: I want to sell him. He hes now my horse,
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: explained Monty. Hei of a friend. I like his looks,
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: said Billy. As your friend here or if he's downtown,
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: what's his name? I'd like to buy that horse. He
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: is weveen nobody nor a parent is a dominindo is
• 3:28
  Speaker 1: a sleepin'. It was last night to the belle mezcarrade.
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: Billy nodded, yes, I was there myself. He decided to
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: take a risk, assuming that his calculations were correct. X
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: must equal Bransford, so he said to carelessly. Let's see
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: Bransford went as a sailor, didn't he on a marine narrow? Oh?
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: No, he was a tired like one of care cosa
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: what you call the seing on a balloon barjouge on los.
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: It's oh cisy one feat ball myself.
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: I come soon back. I have no basiness. The best
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: peopul is all for the dance, said Monty, with hand
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: turned up and the shrugging shoulder. Do media not j
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: twelve of the frog. I am here back. I find
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: here the oars of my friend, and one got a
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: letter that I am not locked the door Poquet. He
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: may come to a sleep, So I meeke ado repose
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  Speaker 1: myself later I am oras or my friend am to
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: retire himself a kee ombre. I am not to a
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: smile to see.
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Him in these so ridiculous hostitos. He is a poor
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  Speaker 2: guy aka Jeff. In all ways these he's a man.
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: They're soficiante, courageous, a strong for me dabla. Yet he
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  Speaker 2: is keeping the disposition the heart of a simple little
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  Speaker 2: child on the muchacho.
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: I'll come again, said Billy, and passed on. He had
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: found out what he had come for. The absence of
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: concealment dispelled any lingering doubt of Jeff Buttinski. Yet he
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: could establish no alibim by Monty. Perhaps Billy White may
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: require here a little explanation. All things considered, Billy thought
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: Jeff would be better off in jail with a friend
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  Speaker 1: in the opposite camp, working for his interest, than getting
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: himself foolishly killed by a hasty posse. If we are cynical,
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: we may say that, being young, Billy was not averse
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  Speaker 1: to the role of deos ets machina. Perhaps a thought
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  Speaker 1: of friendly gratitude was not lacking, then too, Adventure for
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: adventure's sake is motive enough in youth. Or as a
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: final self revelation, we may hint that if Jeff was
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: a rival, so too was Lake, and one more eligible.
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: Let us not be cynical, however, or cowardly. Let us
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: say at once, shamelessly what we very well know. That
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  Speaker 1: youth is the season for clean honor and high emprise.
• 6:08
  Speaker 1: That boy's love is the best and truest of all.
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: The poor honest Billy, in his own dogged and fantastic way,
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: but sought to give true service where he loved. There.
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: We have said it, and we are a shamed How
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: old are you, sir? Forty fifty? Most actions are the
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: result of mixed motives. You say, well, that is a
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: notable concession at your age. Let it go at that.
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: Billy then acted from mixed motives. When Billy brought back
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: his motives and the sheriff, Monte still held his negligent
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: attitude in the doorway, he waved a graceful salute. I
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: want to see Bransford, said the sheriff. He is as
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: sleepin' said Monte, Well I want is he him? Anyway?
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: The sheriff laid a brusque hand on the gate latch.
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: Monty waved his cigarette airily, flicked the ash from the
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: end with a slender finger, and once more demonstrated that
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: the hand is quicker than the eye. The portentously steady
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: gun in the hand was the first intimation to the
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: eye that the hand had moved at all. It was
• 7:12
  Speaker 1: a very large gun as to caliber, the sheriff noted,
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: as it was pointed directly at his nose. He was
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: favorably situated to observe, looking along the barrel, that the
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: hammer stood at full cock. Perhaps you have some papers
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: for yem, suggested Monty, with gentle and delicate deference. He
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: still leaned against the door jamb. Believe nort eas best
• 7:36
  Speaker 1: that you do not into these mighty la house to
• 7:39
  Speaker 1: disturb my guess, that would be to commitee the rudeness. No,
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: the sheriff was a sufficiently brave man, if not precisely
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: a brilliant one. Yet he showed now intelligence of the
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: highest order. He dropped the latch. You merely stop your laughing,
• 7:58
  Speaker 1: do you know, mister Monte, I think you are quite right,
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: he observed, with a smiling politeness equal to Monty's own.
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: That would be rude, certainly, my mistake. An englishman's house
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: is his castle, that sort of thing. If you will
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: excuse me, and now we will go and get the papers,
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: as you so kindly pointed out, They went away, the
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: Sheriff Billy and motives Billy still laughing immoderately. Monty went
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: inside and stirred up his guest with a prodding boot
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: toe me easter, Jeff, he demanded, why you've been at
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: do me now? Jeff sat up, rumpled his hair, and
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: rubbed his eyes. Thiepan, he said, and before pouquet the rieff,
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: he has been to make a rest of you, I
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: think me, said Jeff, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. I haven't
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  Speaker 1: done anything that I can remember now, sure, nos more
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: little crime, not last night me I just got up.
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: I have not here. Jeff consid tered this suggestion carefully. No,
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  Speaker 1: I am sure not for years. Some mistake, I guess,
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  Speaker 1: or maybe he just wanted to see me about something else.
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: Why didn't he come in? I me clearly, class AVEM
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: that he do not, said Monty. I see, Jeff laughed.
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: Come on, I will go see him. You don't want
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: to get into trouble. They crossed the bridge and met
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: the sheriff just within the fortifications. Returning in a crowded automobile,
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  Speaker 1: Jeff held up his hand. The machine stopped and the
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  Speaker 1: posse deployed, except Billy, who acted as chauffeur. He wanted
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: to see me, sheriff at the hotel. Why yes, if
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: you don't mind, said the sheriff. Good dinner, I ain't
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: had breakfast yet, first class, said the sheriff. Forgerly, won't
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  Speaker 1: your friend come to ah senor you ashame me that
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: I am not so speeded Babol easy did not curved
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: Monty as he followed Jeff into the tonneau. The sheriff
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: reddened and Billy choked. Nothing of the short said the sheriff,
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: hastily lapsing into literalness. You were quite within your rights
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: for that matter. I know you were at your own
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: bank dealing when the crime was committed. I am holding
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  Speaker 1: you for the present as a possible accessory, but if not,
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: then as a material witness. By the way, Monty, would
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: you mind if I sent some men to look through
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: your place? There is a matter of some thirty thousand
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: dollars missing. Lake asked us to look for it. I
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: have papers for it. If you care to see him
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: own old or, said Monty. He handed over a key
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: la casa es su Yo. Thank you, said the sheriff,
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: with unmoved gravity. Anything of yours you wanted to bring Bransford?
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: Why no, said Jeff cheerfully. I've got nothing there but
• 10:44
  Speaker 1: my saddle, my gun, and an old football suit that
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: belongs to Jean Baird over on the west side. But
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: if you want me to stay long, I wish you'd
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: look after my horse. I do have leaved ere my God,
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: I keep to protect my deedle house, observed Monty. Tell
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: them one to before me. I'm much attached to that gun.
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: Why yes, I've seen that gun, I think, said the sheriff.
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: They'll look out for it, all right, Billy. The car
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  Speaker 1: turned back. Oh you were speaking about Monty being an accessory.
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: I didn't get in till way past night, and I've
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: been asleep all day, said Jeff apologetically. Might I asked
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: before or after exactly what fact Monty was an accessory?
• 11:26
  Speaker 1: Bank robbery? For one thing? Ah, that would be Lake's bank,
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: anything else. The sheriff was not a patient man, and
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: he had borne much. Also, he liked Lars Porcina. Perfection
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: even in trifles is rare, and Wind's affection. He turned
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: on Jeff with an angry growl. Murder, Lake murmured Jeff hopefully.
• 11:50
  Speaker 1: The sheriff continued ignoring, and indeed only half sensing the
• 11:54
  Speaker 1: purport of Jeff's comment. At least the wound may not
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: be mortal. That's true, bad, said Jeff. He was, if possible,
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: more cheerful than ever. The sheriff glared at him Billy
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: from the front seat through a word of explanation over
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: his shoulder. It's not Lake the watchman. Oh old Lars Porsena.
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: That's different, not a bad sort laws. Maybe he'll get well,
• 12:18
  Speaker 1: hope so, and I shot him, dear me when did
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: it happen? You will find out soon enough, said the sheriff, grimly.
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: Your preliminaries right away.
• 12:28
  Speaker 2: Hell, I haven't had breakfast yet, Jeff protested, Pete is first,
• 12:32
  Speaker 2: or we won't be tried at all.
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: Within the jail, while the sheriff spoke with his warder,
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: it occurred to Billy that, since Jimmie Phillips was not
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: to be seen, he might as well carry his own
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: friendly message. So he said guardedly. But up, old man,
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: keep a stiff upper lip, and be careful what you say.
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: This is only your preliminary trial. Remember, lots of things
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: may happen before court sets. The devil looks after his own,
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: you know. Jeff had a good ear for voices, however,
• 13:02
  Speaker 1: and Billy's mustache still kept more than a hit of mephistophiles.
• 13:07
  Speaker 1: Jeff slowly surveyed Billy's natty attire with a lingering and
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: insulting interest, for such evidences of prosperity as silken hosiery
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: and a rather fervid scarf pin. At last his eye
• 13:22
  Speaker 1: met Billy's, and Billy was blushing. Does he growled Jeff languidly. Ah,
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: you own the car? Then, poor Billy. Notwithstanding the ingratitude
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: of this rebuff, Billy sought out Jimmy Phillips and recounted
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: to him the circumstances of the arrest. Oh, naughty, naughty,
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: said the deputy, caressing his nose. Lake's been a cowman
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: on rainbow. He knew the brand on that horse. He
• 13:50
  Speaker 1: knew Jeff was chummy with Monty. He knew in all
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: reason that Jeff was in there, and most likely he
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: knew it all the time. So he sneaks off to
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: see law after shooting him from ambush, damn him and
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: send you to take Jeff. Looks like he might be
• 14:06
  Speaker 1: willing for you and Jeff to damage either which or
• 14:09
  Speaker 1: both of yourselves, as the case may be. It looks so,
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: said Billy, must be a fine girl, murmured Jimmy absently. Well,
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: what are you going to do? Looks pretty plain. It
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: looks plain to us. But we haven't got a single
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: tangible thing against Lake yet. We to be laughed out
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: of court if we brought an accusation against him. We'll
• 14:30
  Speaker 1: have to wait and keep our eyes open. You're sure
• 14:33
  Speaker 1: Lake did it. There was no rubber nose piece at
• 14:36
  Speaker 1: Monty's house. Or the rest of the football outfit, but
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: not that that looks bad for Jeff. On the contrary,
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: that is the strongest link against Lake. I dare say, Badensky,
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: mister Ransford is eminently capable of bank robbery at odd moments.
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: But I know approximately where that noseguard was at sharp
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: midnight after the watchman was shot. Here Billy swore mentally
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: having a very definite guess as to how Jeff might
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: have lost the noseguard. Lake, Clark, Turnbull, Thompson, Elick or myself.
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: One of the six of us brought that noseguard to
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: the bank after the robbery, and only one of the
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: six had a motive and a key. Only one of
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: you had a key, corrected Jimmy cruelly. But can't Jeff
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: prove where he was? Maybe he won't. I'd sure like
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: to see her, said Jimmy, end of Chapter nine,