the three partners-第7章

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stage…road。　　Indeed；　the　six　horses　of　the　Pioneer　coach　were　just

panting　along　the　last　half　mile　of　the　steep　upgrade　as　they

approached。　　They　halted　mechanically　as　the　heavy　vehicle　swayed

and　creaked　by　them。　　In　their　ordinary　working　dress；　sunburnt

with　exposure；　covered　with　dust；　and　carrying　their　rifles　still

in　their　hands；　they；　perhaps；　presented　a　sufficiently

characteristic　appearance　to　draw　a　few　facessome　of　them　pretty

and　intelligentto　the　windows　of　the　coach　as　it　passed。　　The

sensitive　Barker　was　quickest　to　feel　that　resentment　with　which

the　Pioneer　usually　met　the　wide…eyed　criticism　of　the　Eastern

tourist　or　〃greenhorn；〃　and　reddened　under　the　bold　scrutiny　of　a

pair　of　black　inquisitive　eyes　behind　an　eyeglass。　　That　annoyance

was　communicated；　though　in　a　lesser　degree；　even　to　the　bearded

Demorest　and　Stacy。　　It　was　an　unexpected　contact　with　that　great

world　in　which　they　were　so　soon　to　enter。　　They　felt　ashamed　of

their　appearance；　and　yet　ashamed　of　that　feeling。　　They　felt　a

secret　satisfaction　when　Barker　said；　〃They'd　open　their　eyes　wider

if　they　knew　what　was　in　that　pack…saddle；〃　and　yet　they　corrected

him　for　what　they　were　pleased　to　call　his　〃snobbishness。〃　　They

hurried　a　little　faster　as　the　road　became　more　frequented；　as　if

eager　to　shorten　their　distance　to　clean　clothes　and　civilization。



Only　Demorest　began　to　linger　in　the　rear。　　This　contact　with　the

stagecoach　had　again　brought　him　face　to　face　with　his　buried　past。

He　felt　his　old　dream　revive；　and　occasionally　turned　to　look　back

upon　the　dark　outlines　of　Black　Spur；　under　whose　shadow　it　had

returned　so　often；　and　wondered　if　he　had　left　it　there　forever；

and　it　were　now　slowly　exhaling　with　the　thinned　and　dying　smoke　of

their　burning　cabin。



His　companions；　knowing　his　silent　moods；　had　preceded　him　at　some

distance；　when　he　heard　the　soft　sound　of　ambling　hoofs　on　the

thick　dust；　and　suddenly　the　light　touch　of　Jack　Hamlin's　gauntlet

on　his　shoulder。　　The　mustang　Jack　bestrode　was　reeking　with　grime

and　sweat；　but　Jack　himself　was　as　immaculate　and　fresh　as　ever。

With　a　delightful　affectation　of　embarrassment　and　timidity　he

began　flicking　the　side　buttons　of　his　velvet　vaquero　trousers　with

the　thong　of　his　riata。　　〃I　reckoned　to　sling　a　word　along　with　you

before　you　went；〃　he　said；　looking　down；　〃but　I'm　so　shy　that　I

couldn't　do　it　in　company。　　So　I　thought　I'd　get　it　off　on　you

while　you　were　alone。〃



〃We've　seen　you　once　or　twice　before；　this　morning；〃　said　Demorest

pleasantly；　〃and　we　were　sorry　you　didn't　join　us。〃



〃I　reckon　I　might　have；〃　said　Jack　gayly；　〃if　my　horse　had　only

made　up　his　mind　whether　he　was　a　bird　or　a　squirrel；　and　hadn't

been　so　various　and　promiscuous　about　whether　he　wanted　to　climb　a

tree　or　fly。　　He's　not　a　bad　horse　for　a　Mexican　plug；　only　when　he

thinks　there　is　any　devilment　around　he　wants　to　wade　in　and　take　a

hand。　　However；　I　reckoned　to　see　the　last　of　you　and　your　pile

into　Boomville。　　And　I　DID。　　When　I　meet　three　fellows　like　you

that　are　clean　white　all　through　I　sort　of　cotton　to　'em；　even　if

I'M　a　little　of　a　brunette　myself。　　And　I've　got　something　to　give

you。〃



He　took　from　a　fold　of　his　scarlet　sash　a　small　parcel　neatly

folded　in　white　paper　as　fresh　and　spotless　as　himself。　　Holding　it

in　his　fingers；　he　went　on：　〃I　happened　to　be　at　Heavy　Tree　Hill

early　this　morning　before　sun…up。　　In　the　darkness　I　struck　your

cabin；　and　I　reckonI　struck　somebody　else！　　At　first　I　thought　it

was　one　of　you　chaps　down　on　your　knees　praying　at　the　rear　of　the

cabin；　but　the　way　the　fellow　lit　out　when　he　smelt　me　coming　made

me　think　it　wasn't　entirely　fasting　and　prayer。　　However；　I　went　to

the　rear　of　the　cabin；　and　then　I　reckoned　some　kind　friend　had

been　bringing　you　kindlings　and　firewood　for　your　early　breakfast。

But　that　didn't　satisfy　me；　so　I　knelt　down　as　he　had　knelt；　and

then　I　sawwell；　Mr。　Demorest；　I　reckon　I　saw　JUST　WHAT　YOU　HAVE

SEEN！　　But　even　then　I　wasn't　quite　satisfied；　for　that　man　had

been　grubbing　round　as　if　searching　for　something。　　So　I　searched

tooand　I　found　IT。　　I've　got　it　here。　　I'm　going　to　give　it　to

you；　for　it　may　some　day　come　in　handy；　and　you　won't　find　anything

like　it　among　the　folks　where　you're　going。　　It's　something　unique；

as　those　fine…art…collecting　sharps　in　'Frisco　saysomething　quite

matchless；　unless　you　try　to　match　it　one　day　yourself！　　Don't　open

the　paper　until　I　run　on　and　say　'So　long'　to　your　partners。　　Good…

by。〃



He　grasped　Demorest's　hand　and　then　dropped　the　little　packet　into

his　palm；　and　ambled　away　towards　Stacy　and　Barker。　　Holding　the

packet　in　his　hand　with　an　amused　yet　puzzled　smile；　Demorest

watched　the　gambler　give　Stacy's　hand　a　hearty　farewell　shake　and　a

supplementary　slap　on　the　back　to　the　delighted　Barker；　and　then

vanish　in　a　flash　of　red　sash　and　silver　buttons。　　At　which

Demorest；　walking　slowly　towards　his　partners；　opened　the　packet；

and　stood　suddenly　still。　　It　contained　the　dried　and　bloodless

second　finger　of　a　human　hand　cut　off　at　the　first　joint！



For　an　instant　he　held　it　at　arm's　length；　as　if　about　to　cast　it

away。　　Then　he　grimly　replaced　it　in　the　paper；　put　it　carefully　in

his　pocket；　and　silently　walked　after　his　companions。





CHAPTER　I





A　strong　southwester　was　beating　against　the　windows　and　doors　of

Stacy's　Bank　in　San　Francisco；　and　spreading　a　film　of　rain　between

the　regular　splendors　of　its　mahogany　counters　and　sprucely　dressed

clerks　and　the　usual　passing　pedestrian。　　For　Stacy's　new　banking…

house　had　long　since　received　the　epithet　of　〃palatial〃　from　an

enthusiastic　local　press　fresh　from　the　〃opening〃　luncheon　in　its

richly　decorated　directors'　rooms；　and　it　was　said　that　once　a

homely　would…be　depositor　from　One　Horse　Gulch　was　so　cowed　by　its

magnificence　that　his　heart　failed　him　at　the　last　moment；　and

mumbling　an　apology　to　the　elegant　receiving　teller；　fled　with　his

greasy　chamois　pouch　of　gold…dust　to　deposit　his　treasure　in　the

dingy　Mint　around　the　corner。　　Perhaps　there　was　something　of　this

feeling；　mingled　with　a　certain　simple…minded　fascination；　in　the

hesitation　of　a　stranger　of　a　higher　class　who　entered　the　bank

that　rainy　morning　and　finally　tendered　his　card　to　the　important

negro　messenger。



The　card　preceded　him　through　noiselessly　swinging　doors　and　across

heavily　carpeted　passages　until　it　reached　the　inner　core　of　Mr。

James　Stacy's　private　offices；　and　was　respectfully　laid　before

him。　　He　was　not　alone。　　At　his　side；　in　an　attitude　of　polite　and

studied　expectancy；　stood　a　correct…looking　young　man；　for　whom　Mr。

Stacy　was　evidently　writing　a　memorandum。　　The　stranger　glanced

furtively　at　the　card　with　a　curiosity　hardly　in　keeping　with　his

suggested　good　breeding；　but　Stacy　did　not　look　at　it　until　he　had

finished　his　memorandum。



〃There；〃　he　said；　with　business　decision；　〃you　can　tell　your　people

that　if　we　carry　their　new　debentures　over　our　limit　we　will　expect

a　larger　margin。　　Ditches　are　not　what　they　were　three　years　ago

when　miners　were　willing　to　waste　their　money　over　your　rates。

They　don't　gamble　THAT　WAY　any　more；　and　your　company　ought　to　know

it；　and　not　gamble　themselves　over　that　prospect。〃　　He　handed　the

paper　to　the　stranger；　who　bowed　over　it　with　studied　politeness；

and　backed　towards　the　door。　　Stacy　took　up　the　waiting　card；　read

it；　said　to　the　messenger；　〃Show　him　in；〃　and　in　the　same　breath

turned　to　his　guest：　〃I　say；　Van　Loo；　it's　George　Barker！　　You　know

him。〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Van　Loo；　with　a　polite　hesitation　as　he　halted　at　the

door。　　〃He　wasI　thinkerin　your　employ　at　Heavy　Tree　Hill。〃



〃Nonsense！　　He　was　my　partner。　　And　you　must　have　known　him　since

at　Boomville。　　Come！　　He　got　forty　shares　of　Ditch　stockthrough

youat　110；　which　were　worth　about　80！　　SOMEBODY　must　have　made

money　enough　by　it　to　remember　him。〃



〃I　was　only　speaking　of　him　socially；〃　said　Van　Loo；　with　a

deprecating　smile。　　〃You　know　he　married　a　young　womanthe　hotel…

keeper's　daughter；　who　used　to　wait　at　the　tableand　after　my

mother　and　sister　came　out　to　keep　house　for　me　at　Boomville　it　was

quite　impossible　for　me　to　see　much　of　him；　for　he　seldom　went　out

without　his　wife；　you　know。〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Stacy　dryly；　〃I　think　you　didn't　like　his　marriage。

But　I'm　glad　your　disinclination　to　see　him　isn't　on　account　of

that　deal　in　stocks。〃



〃Oh　no；〃　said　Van　Loo。　　〃Good…by。〃



But；　unfortunately；　in　the　next　passage　he　came　upon　Barker；　who

with　a　cry　of　unfeigned　pleasure；　none　the　less　sincere　that　he　was

feeling　a　little　alien　in　these　impressive　surroundings；　recognized

him。　　Nothing　could　exceed　Van　Loo's　protest　of　delight　at　the

meeting；　nothing　his　equal　desolation　at　the　fact　that　he　was

hastening　to　another　engagement。　　〃But　your　old　partner；〃　he　added；

with　a　smile；　〃is　waiting　for　you；　he　has　just　received　your　card；

and　I　should　be　only　keeping　you　from　him。　　So　glad　to　see　you；

you're　looking　so　well。　　Good…by！　　Good…by！〃



Reassured；　Barker　no　longer　hesitated；　but　dashed　with　his　old

impetuousness　into　his　former　partner's　room。　　Stacy；　already

deeply　absorbed　in　other　business；　was　sitting　with　his　back

towards　him；　and　Barker's　arms　were　actually　encircling　his　neck

before　the　astonished　and　half…angry　man　looked　up。　　But　when　his

eyes　met　the　laughing　gray　ones　of　Barker　above　him　he　gently

disengaged　himself　with　a　quick　return　of　the　caress；　rose；　shut

the　door　of　an　inner　office；　and　returning　pushed　Barker　into　an

armchair　in　quite　the　old　suppressive　fashion　of　former　days。　　Yes；

it　was　the　same　Stacy　that　Barker　looked　at；　albeit　his　brown　beard

was　now　closely　cropped　around　his　determined　mouth　and　jaw　in　a

kind　of　grave　decorum；　and　his　energetic　limbs　already　attuned　to

the　rigor　of　clothes　of　fashionable　cut　and　still　more　rigorous

sombreness　of　color。



〃Barker　boy；〃　he　began；　with　the　familiar　twinkle　in　his　keen　eyes

which　the　younger　partner　remembered；　〃I　don't　encourage　stag

dancing　among　my　young　men　during　bank　hours；　and　you'll　please　to

remember　that　we　are　not　on　Heavy　Tree　Hill〃



〃Where；〃　broke　in　Barker　enthusiastically；　〃we　were　only　overlooked

by　the　Black　Spur　Range　and　the　Sierran　snow…line；　where　the

nearest　voice　that　came　to　you　was　quarter　of　a　mile　away　as　the

crow　flies　and　nearly　a　mile　by　the　trail。〃



〃And　was　generally　an　oath！〃　said　Stacy。　　〃But　you're　in　San

Francisco　NOW。　　Where　are　you　stopping？〃　　He　took　up　a　pencil　and

held　it　over　a　memorandum　pad　awaitingly。



〃At　the　Brook　House。　　It's〃



〃Hold　on！　　'Brook　House；'〃　Stacy　repeated　as　he　jotted　it　down。

〃And　for　how　long？〃



〃Oh；　a　day　or　two。　　You　see；　Kitty〃



Stacy　checked　him　with　a　movement　of　his　pencil　in　the　air；　and

then　wrote　down；　〃'Day　or　two。'　　Wife　with