the three partners-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



come　to　him。　　He　had　already　effected　his　purpose　of　compromising

her　with　him　in　that　flight；　but　it　was　still　known　only　to　few。

If　he　left　her　behind　for　the　foolish；　doting　husband；　would　not

that　devoted　man　take　her　back　to　avoid　a　scandal；　and　even　forbear

to　pursue　HIM　for　his　financial　irregularities？　　What　were　twenty

thousand　dollars　of　Mrs。　Barker's　money　to　the　scandal　of　Mrs。

Barker's　elopement？　　Again；　the　failure　to　realize　the　forgery　had

left　him　safe；　and　Barker　was　sufficiently　potent　with　the　bank　and

Demorest　to　hush　up　that　also。　　Hamlin　was　now　the　only　obstacle　to

his　flight；　but　even　he　would　scarcely　pursue　HIM　if　Mrs。　Barker

were　left　behind。　　And　it　would　be　easier　to　elude　him　if　he　did。



In　his　preoccupation　Van　Loo　did　not　see　that　he　had　entered　the

bar…room；　but；　finding　himself　there；　he　moved　towards　the　bar；　a

glass　of　spirits　would　revive　him。　　As　he　drank　it　he　saw　that　the

room　was　full　of　rough　men；　apparently　miners　or　packerssome　of

them　Mexican；　with　here　and　there　a　Kanaka　or　Australian。　　Two　men

more　ostentatiously　clad；　though　apparently　on　equal　terms　with　the

others；　were　standing　in　the　corner　with　their　backs　towards　him。

From　the　general　silence　as　he　entered　he　imagined　that　he　had　been

the　subject　of　conversation；　and　that　his　altercation　with　Hamlin

had　been　overheard。　　Suddenly　one　of　the　two　men　turned　and

approached　him。　　To　his　consternation　he　recognized　Steptoe；

Steptoe；　whom　he　had　not　seen　for　five　years　until　last　night；　when

he　had　avoided　him　in　the　courtyard　of　the　Boomville　Hotel。　　His

first　instinct　was　to　retreat；　but　it　was　too　late。　　And　the

spirits　had　warmed　him　into　temporary　recklessness。



〃You　ain't　goin'　to　be　backed　down　by　a　short…card　gambler；　are

yer？〃　said　Steptoe；　with　coarse　familiarity。



〃I　have　a　lady　with　me；　and　am　pressed　for　time；〃　said　Van　Loo

quickly。　　〃He　knows　it；　otherwise　he　would　not　have　dared〃



〃Well；　look　here；〃　said　Steptoe　roughly。　　〃I　ain't　particularly

sweet　on　you；　as　you　know；　but　I　and　these　gentlemen；〃　he　added；

glancing　around　the　room；　〃ain't　particularly　sweet　on　Mr。　Jack

Hamlin　neither；　and　we　kalkilate　to　stand　by　you　if　you　say　so。

Now；　I　reckon　you　want　to　get　away　with　the　woman；　and　the　quicker

the　better；　as　you're　afraid　there'll　be　somebody　after　you　afore

long。　　That's　the　way　it　pans　out；　don't　it？　　Well；　when　you're

ready　to　go；　and　you　just　tip　us　the　wink；　we'll　get　in　a　circle

round　Jack　and　cover　him；　and　if　he　starts　after　you　we'll　send　him

on　a　little　longer　journey！eh；　boys？〃



The　men　muttered　their　approval；　and　one　or　two　drew　their

revolvers　from　their　belts。　　Van　Loo's　heart；　which　had　leaped　at

first　at　this　proposal　of　help；　sank　at　this　failure　of　his　little

plan　of　abandoning　Mrs。　Barker。　　He　hesitated；　and　then　stammered；

〃Thank　you！　　Haste　is　everything　with　us　now；　but　I　shouldn't　mind

leaving　the　lady　among　CHIVALROUS　GENTLEMEN　like　yourselves　for　a

few　hours　only；　until　I　could　communicate　with　my　friends　and

return　to　properly　chastise　this　scoundrel。〃



Steptoe　drew　in　his　breath　with　a　slight　whistle；　and　gazed　at　Van

Loo。　　He　instantly　understood　him。　　But　the　plea　did　not　suit

Steptoe；　who；　for　purposes　of　his　own；　wished　to　put　Mrs。　Barker

beyond　her　husband's　possible　reach。　　He　smiled　grimly。　　〃I　think

you'd　better　take　the　woman　with　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　think；〃

he　added　in　a　lower　voice；　〃that　the　boys　would　like　your　leaving

her。　　They're　very　high…toned；　they　are！〃　he　concluded　ironically。



〃Then；〃　said　Van　Loo；　with　another　desperate　idea；　〃could　you　not

let　us　have　saddle…horses　instead　of　the　buggy？　　We　could　travel

faster；　and　in　the　event　of　pursuit　and　anything　happening　to　ME；〃

he　added　loftily；　〃SHE　at　least　could　escape　her　pursuer's

vengeance。〃



This　suited　Steptoe　equally　well；　as　long　as　the　guilty　couple　fled

TOGETHER；　and　in　the　presence　of　witnesses。　　But　he　was　not

deceived　by　Van　Loo's　heroic　suggestion　of　self…sacrifice。　　〃Quite

right；〃　he　said　sarcastically；　〃it　shall　be　done；　and　I've　no　doubt

ONE　of　you　will　escape。　　I'll　send　the　horses　round　to　the　back

door　and　keep　the　buggy　in　front。　　That　will　keep　Jack　there；　TOO；

with　the　boys　handy。〃



But　Mr。　Hamlin　had　quite　as　accurate　an　idea　of　Mr。　Van　Loo's

methods　and　of　his　OWN　standing　with　Steptoe's　gang　of　roughs　as

Mr。　Steptoe　himself。　　More　than　that；　he　also　had　a　hold　on　a

smaller　but　more　devoted　and　loyal　following　than　Steptoe's。　　The

employees　and　hostlers　of　the　hotel　worshiped　him。　　A　single　word

of　inquiry　revealed　to　him　the　fact　that　the　buggy　was　NOT　going

on；　but　that　Mr。　Van　Loo　and　Mrs。　Barker　WEREon　two　horses；　a

temporary　side…saddle　having　been　constructed　out　of　a　mule's　pack…

tree。　　At　which　Mr。　Hamlin；　with　his　usual　audacity；　walked　into

the　bar…room；　and　going　to　the　bar　leaned　carelessly　against　it。

Then　turning　to　the　lowering　faces　around　him；　he　said；　with　a

flash　of　his　white　teeth；　〃Well；　boys；　I'm　calculating　to　leave　the

Divide　in　a　few　minutes　to　follow　some　friends　in　the　buggy；　and　it

seems　to　me　only　the　square　thing　to　stand　the　liquor　for　the

crowd；　without　prejudice　to　any　feeling　or　roughness　there　may　be

against　me。　　Everybody　who　knows　me　knows　that　I'm　generally　there

when　the　band　plays；　and　I'm　pretty　sure　to　turn　up　for　THAT　sort

of　thing。　　So　you'll　just　consider　that　I've　had　a　good　game　on　the

Divide；　and　I'm　reckoning　it's　only　fair　to　leave　a　little　of　it

behind　me　here；　to　'sweeten　the　pot'　until　I　call　again。　　I　only

ask　you；　gentlemen；　to　drink　success　to　my　friends　in　the　buggy　as

early　and　as　often　as　you　can。〃　　He　flung　two　gold　pieces　on　the

counter　and　paused；　smiling。



He　was　right　in　his　conjecture。　　Even　the　men　who　would　have

willingly　〃held　him　up〃　a　moment　after；　at　the　bidding　of　Steptoe；

saw　no　reason　for　declining　a　free　drink　〃without　prejudice。〃　　And

it　was　a　part　of　the　irony　of　the　situation　that　Steptoe　and　Van

Loo　were　also　obliged　to　participate　to　keep　in　with　their

partisans。　　It　was；　however；　an　opportune　diversion　to　Van　Loo；　who

managed　to　get　nearer　the　door　leading　to　the　back　entrance　of　the

hotel；　and　to　Mr。　Jack　Hamlin；　who　was　watching　him；　as　the　men

closed　up　to　the　bar。



The　toast　was　drunk　with　acclamation；　followed　by　another　and　yet

another。　　Steptoe　and　Van　Loo；　who　had　kept　their　heads　cool；　were

both　wondering　if　Hamlin's　intention　were　to　intoxicate　and

incapacitate　the　crowd　at　the　crucial　moment；　and　Steptoe　smiled

grimly　over　his　superior　knowledge　of　their　alcoholic　capacity。

But　suddenly　there　was　the　greater　diversion　of　a　shout　from　the

road；　the　on…coming　of　a　cloud　of　red　dust；　and　the　halt　of　another

vehicle　before　the　door。　　This　time　it　was　no　jaded　single　horse

and　dust…stained　buggy；　but　a　double　team　of　four　spirited

trotters；　whose　coats　were　scarcely　turned　with　foam；　before　a

light　station　wagon　containing　a　single　man。　　But　that　man　was

instantly　recognized　by　every　one　of　the　outside　loungers　and

stable…boys　as　well　as　the　staring　crowd　within　the　saloon。　　It　was

James　Stacy；　the　millionaire　and　banker。　　No　one　but　himself　knew

that　he　had　covered　half　the　distance　of　a　night…long　ride　from

Boomville　in　two　hours。　　But　before　they　could　voice　their

astonishment　Stacy　had　thrown　a　letter　to　the　obsequious　landlord；

and　then　gathering　up　the　reins　had　sped　away　to　the　railroad

station　half　a　mile　distant。



〃Looks　as　if　the　Boss　of　Creation　was　in　a　hurry；〃　said　one　of　the

eager　gazers　in　the　doorway。　　〃Somebody　goin'　to　get　smashed；

sure。〃



〃More　like　as　if　he　was　just　humpin'　himself　to　keep　from　getting

smashed；〃　said　Steptoe。　　〃The　bank　hasn't　got　over　the　effect　of

their　smart　deal　in　the　Wheat　Trust。　　Everything　they　had　in　their

hands　tumbled　yesterday　in　Sacramento。　　Men　like　me　and　you　ain't

goin'　to　trust　their　money　to　be　'jockeyed'　with　in　that　style。

Nobody　but　a　man　with　a　swelled　head　like　Stacy　would　have　even

dared　to　try　it　on。　　And　now；　by　G…d！　he's　got　to　pay　for　it。〃



The　harsh；　exultant　tone　of　the　speaker　showed　that　he　had　quite

forgotten　Van　Loo　and　Hamlin　in　his　superior　hatred　of　the

millionaire；　and　both　men　noticed　it。　　Van　Loo　edged　still　nearer

to　the　door；　as　Steptoe　continued；　〃Ever　since　he　made　that　big

strike　on　Heavy　Tree　five　years　ago；　the　country　hasn't　been　big

enough　to　hold　him。　　But　mark　my　words；　gentlemen；　the　time　ain't

far　off　when　he'll　find　a　two…foot　ditch　again　and　a　pick　and　grub

wages　room　enough　and　to　spare　for　him　and　his　kind　of　cattle。〃



〃You're　not　drinking；〃　said　Jack　Hamlin　cheerfully。



Steptoe　turned　towards　the　bar；　and　then　started。　　〃Where's　Van

Loo？〃　he　demanded　of　Jack　sharply。



Jack　jerked　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　　〃Gone　to　hurry　up　his

girl；　I　reckon。　　I　calculate　he　ain't　got　much　time　to　fool　away

here。〃



Steptoe　glanced　suspiciously　at　Jack。　　But　at　the　same　moment　they

were　all　startledeven　Jack　himselfat　the　apparition　of　Mrs。

Barker　passing　hurriedly　along　the　veranda　before　the　windows　in

the　direction　of　the　still　waiting　buggy。　　〃Dn　it！〃　said　Steptoe

in　a　fierce　whisper　to　the　man　next　him。　　〃Tell　her　not　THEREat

the　back　door！〃　　But　before　the　messenger　reached　the　door　there

was　a　sudden　rattle　of　wheels；　and　with　one　accord　all　except

Hamlin　rushed　to　the　veranda；　only　to　see　Mrs。　Barker　driving

rapidly　away　alone。　　Steptoe　turned　back　into　the　room；　but　Jack

also　had　disappeared。



For　in　the　confusion　created　at　the　sight　of　Mrs。　Barker；　he　had

slipped　to　the　back　door　and　found；　as　he　suspected；　only　one

horse；　and　that　with　a　side…saddle　on。　　His　intuitions　were　right。

Van　Loo；　when　he　disappeared　from　the　saloon；　had　instantly　fled；

taking　the　other　horse　and　abandoning　the　woman　to　her　fate。　　Jack

as　instantly　leaped　upon　the　remaining　saddle　and　dashed　after　him。

Presently　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　fugitive　in　the　distance；

heard　the　half…angry；　half…ironical　shouts　of　the　crowd　at　the　back

door；　and　as　he　reached　the　hilltop　saw；　with　a　mingling　of

satisfaction　and　perplexity；　Mrs。　Barker　on　the　other　road；　still

driving　frantically　in　the　direction　of　the　railroad　station。　　At

which　Mr。　Hamlin　halted；　threw　away　his　encumbering　saddle；　and；

good　rider　that　he　was；　remounted　the　horse；　barebacked　but　for　his

blanket…pad；　and　thrusting　his　knees　in　the　loose　girths；　again

dashed　forwards；with　such　good　results　that；　as　Van　Loo　galloped

up　to　the　stagecoach　office；　at　the　next　station；　and　was　about　to

enter　the　waiting　coach　for　Marysville；　the　soft　hand　of　Mr。　Hamlin

was　laid　on　his　shoulder。



〃I　told　you；〃　said　Jack　blandly；　〃that　I　had　plenty　of　time。　　I

would　have　been　here　BEFORE　and　even　overtaken　you；　only　you　had

the　better　horse　and　the　only　saddle。〃



Van　Loo　recoiled。　　But　he　was　now　desperate　and　reckless。

Beckoning　Jack　out　of