riders of the purple sage-第47章

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〃I'm　glad　that's　over；〃　he　said；　breathing　more　freely。　〃I　hope　I'm　by　that　hanging　rock　for　good　and　all。　Since　almost　the　moment　I　first　saw　it　I've　had　an　idea　that　it　was　waiting　for　me。　Now；　when　it　does　fall；　if　I'm　thousands　of　miles　away；　I'll　hear　it。〃

With　the　first　glimpses　of　the　smooth　slope　leading　down　to　the　grotesque　cedars　and　out　to　the　Pass；　Venters's　cool　nerve　returned。　One　long　survey　to　the　left；　then　one　to　the　right；　satisfied　his　caution。　Leading　the　burros　down　to　the　spur　of　rock；　he　halted　at　the　steep　incline。

〃Bess；　here's　the　bad　place；　the　place　I　told　you　about；　with　the　cut　steps。　You　start　down；　leading　your　burro。　Take　your　time　and　hold　on　to　him　if　you　slip。　I've　got　a　rope　on　him　and　a　half…hitch　on　this　point　of　rock；　so　I　can　let　him　down　safely。　Coming　up　here　was　a　killing　job。　But　it'll　be　easy　going　down。〃

Both　burros　passed　down　the　difficult　stairs　cut　by　the　cliff…dwellers；　and　did　it　without　a　misstep。　After　that　the　descent　down　the　slope　and　over　the　mile　of　scrawled；　ripped；　and　ridged　rock　required　only　careful　guidance；　and　Venters　got　the　burros　to　level　ground　in　a　condition　that　caused　him　to　congratulate　himself。

〃Oh；　if　we　only　had　Wrangle！〃　exclaimed　Venters。　〃But　we're　lucky。　That's　the　worst　of　our　trail　passed。　We've　only　men　to　fear　now。　If　we　get　up　in　the　sage　we　can　hide　and　slip　along　like　coyotes。〃

They　mounted　and　rode　west　through　the　valley　and　entered　the　canyon。　From　time　to　time　Venters　walked；　leading　his　burro。　When　they　got　by　all　the　canyons　and　gullies　opening　into　the　Pass　they　went　faster　and　with　fewer　halts。　Venters　did　not　confide　in　Bess　the　alarming　fact　that　he　had　seen　horses　and　smoke　less　than　a　mile　up　one　of　the　intersecting　canyons。　He　did　not　talk　at　all。　And　long　after　he　had　passed　this　canyon　and　felt　secure　once　more　in　the　certainty　that　they　had　been　unobserved　he　never　relaxed　his　watchfulness。　But　he　did　not　walk　any　more；　and　he　kept　the　burros　at　a　steady　trot。　Night　fell　before　they　reached　the　last　water　in　the　Pass　and　they　made　camp　by　starlight。　Venters　did　not　want　the　burros　to　stray；　so　he　tied　them　with　long　halters　in　the　grass　near　the　spring。　Bess；　tired　out　and　silent；　laid　her　head　in　a　saddle　and　went　to　sleep　between　the　two　dogs。　Venters　did　not　close　his　eyes。　The　canyon　silence　appeared　full　of　the　low；　continuous　hum　of　insects。　He　listened　until　the　hum　grew　into　a　roar；　and　then；　breaking　the　spell；　once　more　he　heard　it　low　and　clear。　He　watched　the　stars　and　the　moving　shadows；　and　always　his　glance　returned　to　the　girl's　dimly　pale　face。　And　he　remembered　how　white　and　still　it　had　once　looked　in　the　starlight。　And　again　stern　thought　fought　his　strange　fancies。　Would　all　his　labor　and　his　love　be　for　naught？　Would　he　lose　her；　after　all？　What　did　the　dark　shadow　around　her　portend？　Did　calamity　lurk　on　that　long　upland　trail　through　the　sage？　Why　should　his　heart　swell　and　throb　with　nameless　fear？　He　listened　to　the　silence　and　told　himself　that　in　the　broad　light　of　day　he　could　dispel　this　leaden…weighted　dread。

At　the　first　hint　of　gray　over　the　eastern　rim　he　awoke　Bess；　saddled　the　burros；　and　began　the　day's　travel。　He　wanted　to　get　out　of　the　Pass　before　there　was　any　chance　of　riders　coming　down。　They　gained　the　break　as　the　first　red　rays　of　the　rising　sun　colored　the　rim。

For　once；　so　eager　was　he　to　get　up　to　level　ground；　he　did　not　send　Ring　or　Whitie　in　advance。　Encouraging　Bess　to　hurry　pulling　at　his　patient；　plodding　burro；　he　climbed　the　soft；　steep　trail。

Brighter　and　brighter　grew　the　light。　He　mounted　the　last　broken　edge　of　rim　to　have　the　sun…fired；　purple　sage…slope　burst　upon　him　as　a　glory。　Bess　panted　up　to　his　side；　tugging　on　the　halter　of　her　burro。

〃We're　up！〃　he　cried；　joyously。　〃There's　not　a　dot　on　the　sage　We're　safe。　We'll　not　be　seen！　Oh；　Bess〃

Ring　growled　and　sniffed　the　keen　air　and　bristled。　Venters　clutched　at　his　rifle。　Whitie　sometimes　made　a　mistake；　but　Ring　never。　The　dull　thud　of　hoofs　almost　deprived　Venters　of　power　to　turn　and　see　from　where　disaster　threatened。　He　felt　his　eyes　dilate　as　he　stared　at　Lassiter　leading　Black　Star　and　Night　out　of　the　sage；　with　Jane　Withersteen；　in　rider's　costume；　close　beside　them。

For　an　instant　Venters　felt　himself　whirl　dizzily　in　the　center　of　vast　circles　of　sage。　He　recovered　partially；　enough　to　see　Lassiter　standing　with　a　glad　smile　and　Jane　riveted　in　astonishment。

〃Why；　Bern！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃How　good　it　is　to　see　you！　We're　riding　away；　you　see。　The　storm　burstand　I'm　a　ruined　woman！。。。I　thought　you　were　alone。〃

Venters；　unable　to　speak　for　consternation；　and　bewildered　out　of　all　sense　of　what　he　ought　or　ought　not　to　do；　simply　stared　at　Jane。

〃Son；　where　are　you　bound　for？〃　asked　Lassiter。

〃Not　safewhere　I　was。　I'mwe're　going　out　of　Utahback　East；〃　he　found　tongue　to　say。

〃I　reckon　this　meetin's　the　luckiest　thing　that　ever　happened　to　you　an'　to　mean'　to　Janean'　to　Bess；〃　said　Lassiter；　coolly。

〃Bess！〃　cried　Jane；　with　a　sudden　leap　of　blood　to　her　pale　cheek。

It　was　entirely　beyond　Venters　to　see　any　luck　in　that　meeting。

Jane　Withersteen　took　one　flashing；　woman's　glance　at　Bess's　scarlet　face；　at　her　slender；　shapely　form。

〃Venters！　is　this　a　girla　woman？〃　she　questioned；　in　a　voice　that　stung。

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　you　have　her　in　that　wonderful　valley？〃

〃Yes；　but　Jane〃

〃All　the　time　you　were　gone？〃

〃Yes；　but　I　couldn't　tell〃

〃Was　it　for　her　you　asked　me　to　give　you　supplies？　Was　it　for　her　that　you　wanted　to　make　your　valley　a　paradise？〃

〃OhJane〃

〃Answer　me。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　you　liar！〃　And　with　these　passionate　words　Jane　Withersteen　succumbed　to　fury。　For　the　second　time　in　her　life　she　fell　into　the　ungovernable　rage　that　had　been　her　father's　weakness。　And　it　was　worse　than　his；　for　she　was　a　jealous　womanjealous　even　of　her　friends。　As　best　he　could；　he　bore　the　brunt　of　her　anger。　It　was　not　only　his　deceit　to　her　that　she　visited　upon　him；　but　her　betrayal　by　religion；　by　life　itself。

Her　passion；　like　fire　at　white　heat；　consumed　itself　in　little　time。　Her　physical　strength　failed；　and　still　her　spirit　attempted　to　go　on　in　magnificent　denunciation　of　those　who　had　wronged　her。　Like　a　tree　cut　deep　into　its　roots；　she　began　to　quiver　and　shake；　and　her　anger　weakened　into　despair。　And　her　ringing　voice　sank　into　a　broken；　husky　whisper。　Then；　spent　and　pitiable；　upheld　by　Lassiter's　arm；　she　turned　and　hid　her　face　in　Black　Star's　mane。

Numb　as　Venters　was　when　at　length　Jane　Withersteen　lifted　her　head　and　looked　at　him；　he　yet　suffered　a　pang。

〃Jane；　the　girl　is　innocent！〃　he　cried。

〃Can　you　expect　me　to　believe　that？〃　she　asked；　with　weary；　bitter　eyes。

〃I'm　not　that　kind　of　a　liar。　And　you　know　it。　If　I　liedif　I　kept　silent　when　honor　should　have　made　me　speak；　it　was　to　spare　you。　I　came　to　Cottonwoods　to　tell　you。　But　I　couldn't　add　to　your　pain。　I　intended　to　tell　you　I　had　come　to　love　this　girl。　But；　Jane　I　hadn't　forgotten　how　good　you　were　to　me。　I　haven't　changed　at　all　toward　you。　I　prize　your　friendship　as　I　always　have。　But；　however　it　may　look　to　youdon't　be　unjust。　The　girl　is　innocent。　Ask　Lassiter。〃

〃Jane；　she's　jest　as　sweet　an'　innocent　as　little　Fay；〃　said　Lassiter。　There　was　a　faint　smile　upon　his　face　and　a　beautiful　light。

Venters　saw；　and　knew　that　Lassiter　saw；　how　Jane　Withersteen's　tortured　soul　wrestled　with　hate　and　threw　itwith　scorn　doubt；　suspicion；　and　overcame　all。

〃Bern；　if　in　my　misery　I　accused　you　unjustly；　I　crave　forgiveness；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　what　I　once　was。　Tell　mewho　is　this　girl？〃

〃Jane；　she　is　Oldring's　daughter；　and　his　Masked　Rider。　Lassiter　will　tell　you　how　I　shot　her　for　a　rustler；　saved　her　lifeall　the　story。　It's　a　strange　story；　Jane；　as　wild　as　the　sage。　But　it's　truetrue　as　her　innocence。　That　you　must　believe；〃

〃Oldring's　Masked　Rider！　Oldring's　daughter！〃　exclaimed　Jane　〃And　she's　innocent！　You　ask　me　to　believe　much。　If　this　girl　isis　what　you　say；　how　could　she　be　going　away　with　the　man　who　killed　her　father？〃

〃Why　did　you　tell　that？〃　cried　Venters；　passionately。

Jane's　question　had　roused　Bess　out　of　stupefaction。　Her　eyes　suddenly　darkened　and　dilated。　She　stepped　toward　Venters　and　held　up　both　hands　as　if　to　ward　off　a　blow。

〃Diddid　you　kill　Oldring？〃

〃I　did；　Bess；　and　I　hate　myself　for　it。　But　you　know　I　never　dreamed　he　was　your　father。　I　thought　he'd　wronged　you。　I　killed　him　when　I　was　madly　jealous。〃

For　a　moment　Bess　was　shocked　into　silence。

〃But　he　was　my　father！〃　she　broke　out；　at　last。　〃And　now　I　must　go　backI　can't　go　with　you。　It's　all　overthat　beautiful　dream。　Oh；　I　knew　it　couldn't　come　true。　You　can't　take　me　now。〃

〃If　you　forgive　me；　Bess；　it'll　all　come　right　in　the　end！〃　implored　Venters。

〃It　can't　be　right。　I'll　go　back。　After　all；　I　loved　him。　He　was　good　to　me。　I　can't　forget　that。〃

〃If　you　go　back　to　Oldring's　men　I'll　follow　you；　and　then　they'll　kill　me；〃　said　Venters；　hoarsely。

〃Oh　no；　Bern；　you'll　not　come。　Let　me　go。　It's　best　for　you　to　forget　mot　I've　brought　you　only　pain　and　dishonor。〃

She　did　not　weep。　But　the　sweet　bloom　and　life　died　out　of　her　face。　She　looked　haggard　and　sad；　all　at　once　stunted；　and　her　hands　dropped　listlessly；　and　her　head　drooped　in　slow；　final　acceptance　of　a　hopeless　fate。

〃Jane。　look　there！〃　cried　Venters；　in　despairing　grief。　〃Need　you　have　told　her？　Where　was　all　your　kindness　of　heart？　This　girl　has　had　a　wretched；　lonely　life。　And　I'd　found　a　way　to　make　her　happy。　You've　killed　it。　You've　killed　something　sweet　and　pure　and　hopeful；　just　as　sure　as　you　breathe。〃

〃Oh；　Bern！　It　was　a　slip。　I　never　thoughtI　never　thought！〃　replied　Jane。　〃How　could　I　tell　she　didn't　know？〃

Lassiter　suddenly　moved　forward；　and　with　the　beautiful　light　on　his　face　now　strangely　luminous；　he　looked　at　Jane　and　Venters　and　then　let　his　soft；　bright　gaze　rest　on　Bess。

〃Well；　I　reckon　you've　all　had　your　say；　an'　now　it's　Lassiter's　turn。　Why；　I　was　jest　praying　for　this　meetin'。　Bess；　jest　look　here。〃

Gently　he　touched　her　arm　and　turned　her　to　face　the　others；　and　then　outspread　his　great　hand　to　disclose　a　shiny；　battered　gold　locket。

〃Open　it；〃　he　said；　with　a　singularly　rich　voice。

Bess　complied；　but　listlessly。

〃JaneVenterscome　closer；〃　went　on　Lassiter。　〃Take　a　look　at　the　picture。　Don't　you　know　the　woman？〃

Jane；　after　one　glance；　drew　back。

〃Milly　Erne！〃　she　cried；　wonderingly。

Venters；　with　tingling　pulse；　with　something　growing　on　him；　recognized　in　the　faded　miniature　portrait　the　eyes　of　Milly　Erne。

〃Yes；　that's　Milly；〃　said　Lassiter；　softly。　〃Bess；　did　you　ever　see　her　facelook　hardwith　all　your　heart　an'　soul？〃

〃The　eyes　seem　to　haunt　me；〃　whispered　Bess。　〃Oh；　I　can't　remember　they're　eyes　of　my　dreamsbutbut〃

Lassiter's　strong　arm　went　round　her　and　he　bent　his　head。

〃Child；　I　thought　you'd　remember　her　eyes。　They're　the　same　beautiful　eyes　you'd　see　if　you　looked　in　a　mirror　or　a　clear　spring。　They're　your　mother's　eyes。　You　are　Milly　Erne's　child。　Your　name　is　Elizabeth　Erne。　You're　not　Oldring's　daughter。　You're　the　daughter　of　Frank　Erne；　a　man　once　my　best　friend。　Look！　Here's　his　picture　beside