(Lt. Cantrell) • (Mary)

• Young Lieutenant Tom Cantrell had "so long as it does not later impeach her keep her company until her father could never seen Fort Linton so grim as on testimony. Miss Beecher, please." And meet her and take her to the ranch. trial morning. Big, dark-skinned First Mary was sworn in. As the train had dwindled into the Sergeant Braxton Rutledge—C Troop, "Now, in your own words," the Cap- night, taking that special Lieutenant Ninth United States Cavalry—stood ac- tain said pleasantly, "will you acquaint with it, Mary had gone inside to greet cused of raping and then strangling the Court with your first meeting with Nate. She'd found him slumped over his popular Lucy Dabney and of shooting the accused?" telegraph key, his throat slit from ear her father, who had been Fort Linton's Cantrell saw Mary take a deep breath. to ear. commanding officer. A shocked public But she spoke steadily enough. Lurching from the station, she'd muttered for a hanging. "Well," she began, "I was returning plummeted into the arms of a huge, Angry women hissed the prisoner so to Arizona after twelve years in the faceless giant, who'd grabbed her in an bitterly that Cantrell, as defense coun- East. Passenger trains no longer run iron grip. sel, instantly requested that the room through to Spindle Station and Fort Captain Shattuck cut in on Mary's be cleared of spectators. When the Mili- Linton, but a conductor I'd known as a testimony deftly. "And this man who tary Court's President, Colonel Otis child let me ride his freight's ca- sprang at you like a nightmare. Is that Fosgate, complied, Cantrell then de- boose...." brutal stranger here in the courtroom?" clared the defense ready to proceed. It had been an odd homecoming for "Why, he's right there," she an- Captain Shattuck, the Judge Advocate Mary Beecher. The freight train took swered, and pointed to the accused. General's representative, presented eleven hours in reaching Spindle; yet, "But he didn't-" himself almost superciliously for the she'd scarcely noticed the time. She'd "That colored soldier?" Shattuck prosecution. Grimly, Colonel Fosgate been talking so eagerly to that good- went on. "He was the man who seized directed Shattuck to swear in his first looking Lieutenant Cantrell, who'd you so brutally?" Shattuck did not even witness. swung aboard the caboose on his way wait for her nod before he said, "Your "I call Miss Mary Beecher to the to Fort Linton. witness. Lieutenant." stand," the dapper Captain said. The train had slid into Spindle Sta- Cantrell sprang to his feet. "I appeal tion at midnight. Conductor Owens had • Cantrell was tight with anger. Like to the Court! Captain Shattuck knows telegraphed ahead to notify Mary's all the white officers of the Ninth and very well that Miss Beecher is here as father, but he hadn't arrived by the Tenth Cavalry, he was dedicated to the a witness for the defense!" time Mary had settled her bags on the theory that his men, hand-picked Negro "I know of no rule which says the platform. Seeing a light gleam from the troops chosen just after the close of the prosecution cannot call a defense wit- station office, Mary had figured that old Civil War, were among the finest ness," Shattuck intervened smoothly, Nate Hedges, the telegrapher, would soldiers serving anywhere.

Lurching from the deserted station in terror, Mary was grabbed by the Sergeant who gruffly warned her not to scream. • BILLIE BURKE (Mrs. Fosgate) • (Rutledge)

"A man's life is at stake here," Can- down. The carbine had roared as she'd "Just can't think no more. Wait till trell angrily told the Court, "yet prose- fired, and the Indian had gone down. mornin'." cution steals a key defense witness! I By then, the Sergeant had driven a He'd fallen asleep and Mary had cov- ask the Court not to accept these half- knife into the other Indian's heart. ered him with a blanket. Then she'd truths, but to insist on the whole truth, Rutledge had guided her back to the taken the carbine and settled herself by by letting the witness go on with her station shack and left her safe inside the window to guard him. story!" while he'd scouted the area. He'd re- In the courtroom, Cantrell leaned to- Colonel Fosgate nodded. "Sergeant moved Nate's body to a shed at the ward her eagerly. "At any time that Rutledge was holding you. What then?" rear. Returning, he'd fixed hot coffee night did Sergeant Rutledge threaten he asked Mary, for them. or molest you in any way?" "He warned me not to scream again," He'd found signs of thirty to forty "Of course not!" she snapped. "Ser- Mary murmured, shaken. ponies outside, and figured there'd been geant Rutledge saved my life!" Rutledge had scooped her up and run a big-scale break out from the San with her across the tracks to the cover Rosario Reservation. • The prosecution's first intent was to of a slight grade. Only then had his "Our ranch is on the San Rosario establish the facts and nature of the harsh whisper cut through her paralyz- Road," she'd moaned. crimes. The Colonel stiffened as his own ing fear. "May be a good thing, then, if your wife, Cordelia Fosgate, was recalled "Listen to me, Miss! I been blood- father didn't get your message," the tall and sworn in. She was first asked to trailed here to Spindle by three soldier had said. "No time to be caught identify a miniature of poor Lucy Dab- Apaches. They jumped me a mile back out on the roads, ma'am." ney; it showed her wearing the tiny and got my horse. I killed one. But the Only later, when she'd glimpsed him gold cross she had never been seen with- other two are right out yonder." trying to bandage up a wound in the out. Shattuck then wanted to know Grimly, the giant had thrust his car- back room, had Mary realized he'd been about the last time Mrs. Fosgate had bine into her hands. "You're a hurt. But it hadn't been a knife cut. seen the motherless Lucy alive—at the woman. You can use a gun. They'd have This man had taken two bullets in his sutler's store, on the day of the mur- no mercy on you, ma'am." coppery side! He'd refused to talk about ders. After that, there'd been an agony of it, even when she'd insisted on swabbing "I'd asked Chan Hubble, the sutler, waiting until a sudden silent shadow the wounds with whisky. to order me wool for socks for Otis," had hurled down on them, knife flashing. "You've got to rest," she'd said. "But Mrs. Fosgate began. "I was going into The big soldier had ducked and grabbed, suppose the Apaches come back?" the store when poor, dear Lucy rode and the two men had rolled violently. "If they do, after killin' and runnin', up. . . ." Then, the second Apache had swooped it won't be till daylight," he'd told her. Mrs. Fosgate had primly chided the

continued >

At the Fort, Lieutenant Cantrell found the Major's daughter strangled and the Major shot; Sergeant Rutledge had just disappeared. RUTLEDGE HAD SAVED ALL THEIR LIVES; CANTRELL COULDN'T

past the Sergeant of the Guard, Can- "No, sir," Rutledge had answered. trell had clipped orders for all those "Take me back, they'd hang me sure." SERGEANT not officially present to disperse. Inside, The two men coming in at the back he'd found everything just as Eckner had jumped him, then. had last seen them: Lucy, strangled "Iron him. Sergeant Skidmore!" Can- and nude, lay under a serape on the trell had barked. "And search him. sofa; her dead father sprawled face Bring me everything you find on him!" RUTLEDGE down near the door, still grasping a .31 He'd been thinking, in that moment, of Colt revolver. Lucy's tiny gold cross. Incredible as it The Major had been shot through the seemed, Rutledge's actions had seemed continued heart; he'd fired his own gun twice. a confession. The girl had been beaten, violated, then glowing girl for riding astride when strangled. • Cantrell turned to Mary Beecher. she was a young lady of sixteen. They'd Cantrell had figured that the Major "Mary—are you all right? He didn't entered the adobe store together. Ser- had surprised whomever it was and had hurt you, did he?" geant Rutledge had been there, buying wounded him. Then he'd killed the Ma- "Of course not! He saved my life! tobacco. While Mrs. Fosgate had been jor. You're treating him like an animal!" examining her wool, young Chris, the "The little gold cross Lucy always "He's under arrest for the murder of sutler's handsome son, had packed up wore—it's been torn off her," Cantrell his commanding officer," Cantrell had an order for Major Dabney's house. Mr. had observed. said. "Now what about your father? Hubble had offered to deliver it when "You never can tell about such a de- What happened to him?" he went to see her father later, but Lucy generate," Eckner had said. "He takes Mary'd told him Sam Beecher had had said she needed it at once. She'd the cross, perhaps—a symbol of purity never arrived at Spindle Station. "But also said that her father wouldn't be he has destroyed." I wasn't alone here," she'd added. "Ser- home until after Retreat. Only when he'd sent a messenger geant Rutledge was here. No officer The last Mrs. Fosgate had seen of seeking Sergeant Rutledge had Cantrell could have been more gallant." Lucy, Sergeant Rutledge had paused in discovered that his trusted officer was Then, Cantrell had been told of the the street outside to help her with her missing. He had been seen just before telegrapher's murder and of the two purchases. eight o'clock, looking for Major Dabney. Apaches who'd attacked them. By then, "And that was the last time I saw Incredibly, this suggested that the they had searched Rutledge and had Lucy Dabney alive," Mrs. Fosgate said. trusted soldier had been in Dabney's emptied his pockets. He'd had no gold "But I saw Sergeant Rutledge again house just at the fatal hour—to report cross on him. Cantrell had ordered Mary that same evening." that Apaches were on the loose and out of the room and had questioned three ranches had been raided. But what Rutledge about the Apaches. • She'd been writing a letter when she'd man with news like this could have been "There were thirty to forty unshod heard the sudden shots. Two fast shots, diverted to murder—and worse? ponies here last night before the train sounding like a small caliber gun, then While Eckner had the bodies removed came in," Rutledge had replied. "You one heavy one, as her china clock had to the post hospital for autopsies, Can- can see the sign out back." chimed eight. trell had sent a galloper to the outlying Thirty or forty meant a big break- As Mrs. Fosgate reached her window, survey camp after Colonel Fosgate. out! But Cantrell had been examining a tall shadow had burst from the door Then, he'd started a forced march for the manacled Sergeant's wounds. "This of Major Dabney's house. The figure Spindle Station where Mary Beecher wasn't Apaches. Two small caliber bul- had been holstering a service revolver had been left unguarded. let wounds. Did you do it, Rutledge?" as he'd sprung atop a waiting cavalry As Eckner finished his testimony, he'd asked. mount. Captain Shattuck was all but purring; "I refuse to answer, sir—respectful- The lone rider had sped past, directly "By now, I'm sure, this Court is aware ly." under Mrs. Fosgate's window. She'd of Lieutenant Cantrell's peculiar en- With the quietly defiant Rutledge re- seen the face clearly. It had been dis- volvement in the case. I call as my next bandaged, Cantrell had ordered in his torted by pain and panic, yet, unques- witness defense counsel himself—Lieu- non-coms to explain what lay ahead. "A tionably, it had been the face of Ser- tenant Cantrell!" strong band of hostiles attacked here geant Brax Rutledge. yesterday and murdered the telegra- Shattuck smirked triumphantly. • "We arrived at Spindle Station short- pher. We're going to track 'em down "Your witness, Lieutenant." ly after dawn," Lieutenant Cantrell be- and drive 'em back to the reservation. Tom Cantrell arose. "The defense gan; and he saw again in his mind's Three ranches are reported burned out. does not challenge Mrs. Fosgate," he eye the dust-caked line of soldiers at They seem to be moving west. So I'm said. full gallop as they bore down upon the going to swing north and west fast, to Next witness to be sworn in was the station. . . . cut them off before they can reach the Post Surgeon, Dr. Eckner. With two men covering the rear, Can- young lady's home at Spanish Wells. "As there was no senior officer on the trell had kicked open the front door, She goes with us. You, too, Rutledge. post," Dr. Eckner testified, "I ordered tensely shouting Mary's name. He'd With that many hostiles loose, I can't the bodies left where they were and met found himself facing Rutledge, who'd detach anyone to take you back to Fort Lieutenant Cantrell at the station. We held his carbine ready. Linton. You ride with us." returned to Major Dabney's. . . ." "Don't touch your gun, Lieutenant," Rutledge had lifted his handcuffs. When they'd gotten back to the com- the tall Negro had said grimly. "One hand free? Like the book says?" manding officer's quarters, a growing "I won't have to. You're going to "You know what the book says. One crowd had gathered outside. Striding hand me that carbine." hand free if and when we make contact

(cast on page 69; credits on page 70) LET HIM HANG NOW...

with enemy. Now we'll see to burying Nate before we leave." But even as he'd supervised the burial detail outside, Cantrell heard the voices of the non-coms in the station, loyal to Rutledge yet. "How 'bout that, Top Soldier?" they'd said. "He ain't sendin' you back! Top Soldier still Top Soldier! We're all your friends. Top Soldier." "Not any more, you ain't!" Rutledge had snapped back with determination. "I'm a prisoner now, in bad trouble. You're Ninth Cavalrymen. The record of the Ninth is goin' to speak for us all some day—and it's goin' to speak clean. You ain't goin' to risk it for one man's good!" "That thing at Fort Linton, we don't believe it. But why did you run away?" they asked. " 'Cause I walked into the one thing ^ Questioned by the prosecution, Mary admitted the Sergeant had seized her at the station. none of us can fight—white woman busi- V As defense counsel, Cantrell knew the whole case depended on identifying the gold cross. ness. Now don't call me Top Soldier no more. That's an order."

• Cantrell had found Mary outside the station and had told her he was taking her home. Then, he'd talked again with Rutledge in the telegraph office. "Last night," he'd said. "It's against everything I know about you! But you ran out. You deserted. And now you re- fuse to make any statement. Rutledge, you and I have served together for nine years. I know there's no better soldier. Tell me you didn't do it. I'll believe you." "Maybe you, sir—but not any court- martial. You know that." Cantrell had sent him outside with the men. Presently, from the corral, came a sound of singing—a chantey in praise of Captain Buffalo. Dressed for the trail, Mary had rejoined him. "Who is this Captain Buffalo?" "He's a lengendary character the colored troops invented when the In- dians started calling them Buffalo Soldiers. The ideal soldier, giant size. Right now they're putting it on thick— to cheer up Rutledge." "What a wonderful way to do it!" Mary had said. After breakfast, the detail had begun to move again, on toward Spanish Wells. They'd ridden fast. Before noon, Cantrell had offered to unlock the irons, if Rutledge promised not to escape. But the promise had been refused. "If you make one move to get away, I'll have to kill you," Cantrell had said at last. Well ahead, they had come upon a white man staked out by the Indians and badly mutilated. What was left of this Apache (continued on page 69) Sergeant Rutledge

continued from page 27

THE CAST Lieutenant Cantrell...... Jeffrey Hunter Mary Beecher...... Constance Towers Mrs. Fosgate...... Billie Burke Braxton Rutledge...... Woody Strode Skidmore...... Juano Hernandez Colonel Fosgate...... Captain Shattuck...... Lieutenant Mulqueen...... Judson Pratt Captain Dwyer...... Bill Henry Captain MacAfee...... Walter Reed Captain Dickinson...... Nellie...... victim trussed to trailside stakes had made Cantrell's stomach churn. But Rutledge had claimed to recognize the tattered shirt. "He's Chris Hubble, the sutler's son. He was sparkin' the Jorgenson girl, sir. Maybe he got news of the raid on her pa's ranch." The killers had left nothing much behind but a tobacco pouch. Cantrell had examined it thoroughly. No gold cross! "If you'd tell me what you keep huntin', sir—" Rutledge had breathed. "I didn't find what I was looking for this time either, Sergeant." • Captain Shattuck made no attempt to dis- credit Cantrell's testimony. What he wanted to do was remove him as defense counsel, on the grounds of his being an obviously in- terested party. The brief legal skirmish be- tween the two young officers was settled when Fosgate overruled the prosecution. Shattuck summoned Sergeant Skidmore as his next witness. "All right, Sergeant," Shattuck said. "The patrol report states you pressed on after seeing smoke signals. I'd like to hear your version of what happened then." "Like you say, sir," Skidmore testified, ''Lieutenant Cantrell forced the march, fixin' to get the young lady home and make sure the Apaches were headed back to the reser- distance had been too vast. Top Soldier had It had been no trouble to figure out what vation...." vanished into an arroyo. they'd do there. Along about sundown, the A few miles on, the Lieutenant had sud- After the troopers had buried Moffat, patrol would have to cross the river with- denly ordered the line to quit the trail and they'd followed the Apache trail on toward out knowing the Apaches had circled back. circle onto higher ground, while the flank Crazy Woman River, which they had to Either they'd be jumped in midstream, or guard of three moved in below. At the same cross to reach Spanish Wells. They hadn't as they emerged on the far bank with only time, Rutledge had ridden up to Cantrell. tried to follow Rutledge; the hostiles had to open water behind them. They'd be mowed With only brief hesitation, Cantrell had be dealt with first. In Skidmore's opinion, down, massacred. clawed out his key and unlocked the irons. there was no question that the Lieutenant But the cavalry was no longer any con- But he still hadn't given his prisoner a gun. had tried his best to shoot the escaping pris- cern of Braxton Rutledge. He had a sound The line had forged on. oner. Only Mary had stopped that. horse under him and the rations to get him Suddenly, the flank guard had been at- to the railroad. He was Top Soldier no tacked by six fanatic braves, determined to • After Skidmore left the witness stand, longer. Those doomed soldiers were no be blooded in their ancestral tradition though Shattuck addressed the judges. business of his. peace had been upon the district for years. "It must be clear to the Court that no one Cantrell had led his detail down to the At Cantrell's orders, every man had fired can tell the rest of this story but the accused water at Middle Ford in the last hour of as the braves had moved into range. Four himself. But I cannot call him. And I doubt daylight. He'd halted the main body while of the Indians had gone down, and two of Lieutenant Cantrell dares to," he said. he and three others had waded out to mid- the hard-pressed troopers had made it safely "The accused welcomes the opportunity to stream. Finding no sign of enemy action, back to the line. But the third man, Moffat, testify," Cantrell clipped. he'd motioned the others to follow. And all had been wounded and had lost control of And so, at long last, Braxton Rutledge the while, in the brush on the bank toward his horse. It had started veering away with himself was sworn in. Shattuck coldly re- which they headed, the Apaches had lain the two remaining hostiles in pursuit. Then quested him to pick up the story after he'd waiting like panthers. Rutledge had spurred out—unarmed—to cut evaded Cantrell's shots. in alongside the wounded soldier. "I rode full gallop for Crazy Woman • The moment the troopers began to strug- Rutledge had stopped the runaway horse, River," the prisoner said, "figuring to cross gle up the bank was the moment the Apaches and he'd shot one of the braves with Mof- over and head north to the railroad. . . ." would attack. A split second before that fat's gun; but the other had sped past and Alert for Apaches, he'd pressed Moffat's moment, Brax Rutledge had broken from into the rocky ravines ahead. By then, Mof- mount on through the hilly terrain until he'd cover—spurring his horse dead into the fat had fallen from his mount; Rutledge had reached the river. There, he'd found the lone midst of the ambush and scattering the star- swung down beside him when he'd died. brave who'd escaped already swimming his tled Indians. Sergeant Skidmore would swear that it pony across. In the distance, rising smoke The patrol's discipline had been apparent, was then that Rutledge's own predicament had told him Spanish Wells was burning. even in the instant of surprise; the troopers had first come back into the prisoner's mind. A shouting band of some twenty-five had quickly fallen back toward the bank. With Moffat's horse all provisioned and out- young Apaches had suddenly broken from Rutledge had seen two of them hauling fitted, and with only open range ahead, Rut- cover on the far bank and had met the re- Mary Beecher to safety, while he'd been ledge had climbed into the saddle and had turning warrior. A prisoner bound to his desperately trying to beat off the Apaches slowly wheeled away, as if he'd been invit- saddle had been with them—a white man. who had come after him. But as he'd fought, ing Cantrell's bullet. Rutledge had recognized Sam Beecher. he'd seen the Lieutenant administer a death And after a shouted command had been Too far away to intervene, he'd watched blow to one huge hostile clad in a fringed ignored, Cantrell had indeed fired. But his them brutally murder the old rancher and buckskin jacket that obviously had been pil- first shot had been ruined by Mary, who'd dump his body into the current. Then the fered from some white man. swung her horse into his mount. After that, war party had wheeled and galloped around The Apache that Cantrell had killed must two revolver shots had missed because the the bend—in the direction of Middle Ford. have been their leader; for when they saw him fall, the others had streaked for cover. "Corporal," Cantrell had ordered, "we Cantrell cried out angrily, "I object! If "And that's how it was, sir," Rutledge fin- move out for Fort Linton in twenty the color of a man's skin—" ished. "We dug in to wait out the night." minutes!" But Colonel Fosgate gestured him to si- Captain Shattuck favored the courtroom On the stand, Mary Beecher turned to lence. "In my opinion," the Colonel said, with a sneer of ridicule. glare at the defense counsel. "Sergeant Rut- "the case hangs upon this cross. Is it or is it "So, with freedom before you, you delib- ledge had saved all our lives," she said. "In not Lucy Dabney's?" erately turned your back on it and with common decency, Lieutenant Cantrell at "If it is permitted, sir"—big Chan Hub- noble disregard for your own life saved the least owed him his." ble had arisen in his place—"I could pick out patrol?" he demanded. But Cantrell ignored Mary and picked up that cross, even mixed with the others. I Rutledge stiffened. "No, sir. Nothin' no- the cross. "Miss Beecher has identified this, sold it to the Major for Lucy's twelfth birth- ble about it. I just—" gentlemen, as taken from the Apache's head- day. There's a tiny nick under the bar." "It was a brave act. Admit it! And just band. Here are twenty-seven affidavits from Fosgate investigated. "By the Lord Harry, why did you come back?" personnel at Fort Linton identifying the there is! Right here! Take the stand, Mr. "I don't rightly know, sir," the prisoner cross as one habitually worn by Lucy Dab- Hubble. Sergeant, swear in the sutler." muttered. "But the more I kept ridin' away, ney. Miss Beecher also identifies this blood- Obviously, Chris's father was bowed with the more somethin' told me to go back, sir." stained coat as one taken off the Apache. I grief as he shambled to the stand. Watching "I'll tell you why. Bravery is your stock call the Court's attention to initials sewn him closely, Cantrell felt excitement begin in trade. Your whole record shows it. So inside this coat. A 'C' and an 'H.' " to rise in him. Shattuck disdainfully you were hoping to trade your murderer's A murmur arose in the room; he pressed shrugged off his right to question. And now bravery for the mercy of this Court. Admit on. "The initials of the sutler's son, Chris it was the defense's turn. Moving forward, it, Rutledge! Don't lie!" Hubble, whose body we found on the trail. Cantrell spoke with deceptive gentleness. "That wasn't it at all!" the big man The only person from whom the Apaches "Mr. Hubble, why did you tell me earlier wailed. "It was because the Ninth Cavalry could have taken that cross!" you could not identify the cross? Take a was my home—my real freedom, my self- As the implication grew clear, cries of moment, if you want to. Collect yourself." respect! Desertin' it like I was, I weren't no protest spurted from the onlookers. The sut- "Chris was my only son. It's hard for a better than a swamp-runnin' nigger. And I ler himself groaned heavily. man to admit— I wanted to believe it was ain't that, you hear? No, I ain't! 'Cause I'm Shattuck had no cross-examination. Mary the Sergeant, but I can't stand by and see a man!" left the witness stand and resumed her seat. him hung." In the stunned silence following that wild Rutledge caught Cantrell's sleeve, protest- "Tell us just how you think it happened, vehemence, Cantrell jumped to his feet, ing troubledly that Chris Hubble had been Mr. Hubble." shouting, "I protest! This goading is an out- too nice a boy to suspect what the Lieuten- "Chris is dead. The truth can't hurt him rage! In common decency—" ant was hinting. But Cantrell spoke tightly. now. Well, after he did the thing, he must "Your witness, Cantrell," Captain Shat- "If it wasn't you, Rutledge, it was Chris. have torn the cross off Lucy. I was home, tuck cut in contemptuously. It's got to be!" upstairs, when he ran into the house that Cantrell stood before the prisoner defi- night, shoutin' somethin' about Apache antly. "I can only say this. If Rutledge had • With no other witnesses to be called, raids. When I come down, he was gone. not been my prisoner, I would have cited Colonel Fosgate directed the defense to Coat was gone, too." him for gallantry above and beyond the call proceed with its summation. Cantrell faced "What is your first name?" Cantrell went of duty during the action at Crazy Woman the Court firmly. on. "Chan—for Chandler. Chandler Hubble. River. No questions, Sergeant. Step down." "Neither side has been able to produce a C.H. Chris wasn't a big man. This coat fits witness who actually saw the crimes," he —you!" • The Court took a brief recess before the began. "Sergeant Rutledge admits under "Never said it wasn't mine. Chris just defense opened its case. Waiting with his oath that he entered Major Dabney's quar- grabbed up the first thing." client, Cantrell tried to persuade him that ters to inform him of the Apache raids, "Right! The first coat handy! And that Shattuck's attack had been meaningless found the girl naked and strangled, was cov- cross was in the pocket—because you'd put words. But one word—Guilty!—was all it ering the body with a serape when Major it there! You had the same opportunity as took to hang. Dabney entered and in blind fury at what he Chris to know Lucy was alone. You went The spectators' benches were jammed saw opened fire, wounding him twice. Only there, attacked her, killed her. And now, to again when the judges filed back. As his then, in self-defense of his own life, did save your own neck, you're trying to pin the first witness, Cantrell called Mary Beecher Rutledge return fire and kill the Major. The blame on your own dead son!" back to the stand. He asked her to tell the defense contends this story is simple truth." "Lies!" the sutler screamed. "Lies!" But Court what had happened after that ambush They were listening to him intently. Old then he crumpled. "I had to do it! The way at the river. Chan Hubble looked sick. she walked, the way her body moved, young "We did what we could for the wounded "Defense has introduced as evidence this and warm—she drove me crazy. I had to men," Mary said. "And Lieutenant Cantrell small gold cross, and this coat," he went on. have her! Oh, God help me, God help me!" took me aside and told me that Rutledge "I must remind you of Mrs. Fosgate's testi- The courtroom erupted into an uproar had—had seen my father die. . . ." mony that at the store, in Chris Hubble's that almost drowned Fosgate's sharp com- The night had been cold and the moon hearing, Lucy said her father would not be mand for his men to hold the sutler for ghostly. Trooper Otway had died of his home until after Retreat; that she would be the United States Marshal. As Hubble was wounds before morning and the men had there alone. The boy's whereabouts during dragged out a side door, Cantrell turned buried him. Mary had asked Cantrell if he that hour are unknown. Whereas all but ten wearily to his veteran First Sergeant. No planned to take Rutledge back to Fort Lin- minutes of Sergeant Rutledge's time is ac- words passed between them. But the trial of ton after all that had happened. counted for by the duty roster. I submit there Sergeant Rutledge was over. "For the first time," he'd answered slowly, is only one possible conclusion. Young Chris "I don't know what to do." Hubble violated and murdered Lucy Dab- • Outside in the street, a little later, every- "You know they'll hang him if you do!" ney, and Sergeant Rutledge is innocent of one was assuring everyone else that the Ser- she'd said. "He never touched that girl!" these crimes!" geant's innocence had been evident all along Cantrell had seemed deep in thought, that Shattuck was on his feet at once, deplor- and that young Lieutenant Cantrell certainly night. Toward dawn, he'd led a scouting ing this accusation of a dead boy unable now had done the service proud. Cantrell emerged party across the river. Riding back just to defend his name. Lucy Dabney had worn from the building to find Mary Beecher after daybreak, he'd brought the news that a cross, he agreed, but why this cross? He waiting, flushed and fair. the war party had retreated clear back to spread a dozen small gold crosses, all on "Well, Tom—" She hesitated. "Go ahead. the reservation. Down by the river's edge, broken chains, onto the table. He defied any- Say it." Cantrell had halted by the body of the dead one present to mix in the cross in evidence "All right." But what he said wasn't what Apache in the stolen buckskin, studying it and then identify it. she had expected. "I still think you're the moodily. Abruptly, he'd called Mary. Angrily, Cantrell had to admit that even most beautiful girl I've ever seen." When she'd reached the spot where the he would not know the cross he had taken While they stood gazing at each other, fallen Indian lay, he'd said quietly, "I'm from the dead hostile from the other crosses. smiling at each other, the tall figure of sorry, Mary, but I must have a witness." But Shattuck was not through. The coat First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge paused He'd knelt by the corpse and she'd watched with initials, he said, could have been taken beside them. He had trouble steadying his him detach a tiny gold cross on a broken from any of several raided ranches; it could voice. "Ain't nothin' I can say, Lieutenant." chain from the dead brave's headband. He'd have belonged to Charlie Haight, say, or to Cantrell held out his hand. "Don't try, held it out for her to look at. "Just remem- Crim Hagathorn. So much for the defense's Rutledge. You're home again." ber you saw me take it from this hostile's evidence! THE END headband. Thank you, Mary." Shattuck had two further points to make. Adapted from the Production—Re- And then he'd ridden up the bank to his If the accused were not guilty, he asked, leased through WARNER BROTHERS— Directed men; he'd picked up the hated handcuffs and why had he run ? Certainly, he added, it by JOHN FORD—Produced by WILLIS GOLD- BECK and PATRICK FORD—Screenplay by snapped them back on Rutledge's unresist- hadn't been the prosecution who had tried JAMFS WARNER BELLAH and WILLIS GOLD- ing wrists. A rumble of anger had arisen to write Murderer on the gravestone of an BECK—Color by TECHNICOLOR—Adapted for among the troopers, but Rutledge had spo- innocent white lad to shield the life of a SCREEN STORIES by JEAN FRANCIS WEBB 70 ken out sharply: "No! Leave it be!" Negro! (This story began on page 23)