The Bad Man   By: Charles Hanson Towne (1877-1949)

THE BAD MAN

A Novel

by

CHARLES HANSON TOWNE

Based on the Play by Porter Emerson Browne

G. P. Putnam's Sons New York and London The Knickerbocker Press

1921

Copyright, 1921, by G. P. Putnam's Sons Printed in the United States of America

[Illustration: HOLBROOK BLINN AS "THE BAD MAN."]

To

HOLBROOK BLINN

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. Wherein it is shown that a young American had the courage to come into a new country; how fate played against him, and a neighbor looked longingly at his ranch

II. Wherein, far away, another man hears whispers of the wealth along the border, and comes down to see about it

III. Wherein Uncle Henry speaks his mind as usual

IV. Wherein "Red" reveals his heart, and Mrs. Quinn gives him good coffee and good advice

V. Wherein Gilbert Jones is worried, and Lucia Pell is asked to do an impossible thing

VI. Wherein an old love awakens, Pell reveals his true colors, a mortgage is about to be foreclosed, the contents of a satchel are made known, Uncle Henry springs a sensation, and Pell takes an option

VII. Wherein Lucia sees treachery brewing, Pell proves himself a brute, and an unexpected guest appears

VIII. Wherein the bandit expounds a new philosophy, and makes marionettes of the Americans

IX. Wherein Uncle Henry chatters some more, there is an auction, and things look black indeed

X. Wherein an old friendship comes to life, Lopez learns a thing or two, and finally makes a match

XI. Wherein a man proves himself a craven, a shot rings out, and the bad man explains one little hour

XII. Wherein the bad man cannot understand the good man, and disappears; and a dead man stirs

XIII. Wherein an old situation seems about to be repeated, another shot is fired, and the bad man comes back

XIV. Wherein an old friend returns, and there is a joyful reunion

THE BAD MAN

CHAPTER I

WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN THAT A YOUNG AMERICAN HAD THE COURAGE TO COME INTO A NEW COUNTRY; HOW FATE PLAYED AGAINST HIM, AND A NEIGHBOR LOOKED LONGINGLY AT HIS RANCH

Looking back now, after so many months of struggle and foreboding, he wondered how he had ever had the high courage to come to this strange country. Had he been a few years older he would not have started forth he was sure of that now. But the flame of youth was in him, the sure sense that he could conquer where others had miserably failed; and, like all virile young Americans, he had love of adventure, and zest for the unknown was in his blood. The glamour of Arizona lured him; the color of these great hills and mountains he had come to love captivated him from the first. It was as if a siren beckoned, and he had to follow.

For days he had been worried almost to the breaking point. Things had not shaped themselves as he had planned. Event piled upon event, and now disaster definite disaster threatened to descend upon him.

All morning, despite the intense heat, he had been about the ranch, appraising this and that, mentally; pottering in the shed; looking at his horses the few that were left! smiling at the thought of his wheezing Ford, wondering just when he would clear out altogether.

Not that young Gilbert Jones was a pessimist. And yet he wasn't one of those damnable Pollyanna optimists he so abominated the kind who went about saying continually that God was in His heaven and all was right with the world. No, indeed! He was just a normal, regular fellow, ready to face a difficult situation when it came about as the natural result of a series of events. He saw the impending catastrophe as the logical finale of many happenings for some of which he was not in any way responsible.