the man of the forest-第35章

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〃Wal；　if　I　thought　so　I'd　beg　her　forgiveness。　　But　I　reckon
I　don't。　　What's　more；　I　feel　better　than　before。　　I'm　only　a
cowboy　an'　never　was　much　good　till　I　met　her。　　Then　I
braced。　　I　got　to　havin'　hopes；　studyin'　books；　an'　you　know
how　I've　been　lookin'　into　this　ranchin'　game。　　I　stopped
drinkin'　an'　saved　my　money。　　Wal；　she　knows　all　thet。　　Once
she　said　she　was　proud　of　me。　　But　it　didn't　seem　to　count
big　with　her。　　An'　if　it　can't　count　big　I　don't　want　it　to
count　at　all。　　I　reckon　the　madder　Bo　is　at　me　the　more
chance　I've　got。　　She　knows　I　love　her　　thet　I'd　die　for
her　　thet　I'm　a　changed　man。　　An'　she　knows　I　never　before
thought　of　darin'　to　touch　her　hand。　　An'　she　knows　she
flirted　with　Turner。〃

〃She's　only　a　child；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃And　all　this　change　
the　West　　the　wildness　　and　you　boys　making　much　of　her
　why；　it's　turned　her　head。　　But　Bo　will　come　out　of　it
true　blue。　　She　is　good；　loving。　　Her　heart　is　gold。〃

〃I　reckon　I　know；　an'　my　faith　can't　be　shook；〃　rejoined
Carmichael；　simply。　　〃But　she　ought　to　believe　thet　she'll
make　bad　blood　out　here。　　The　West　is　the　West。　　Any　kind　of
girls　are　scarce。　　An'　one　like　Bo　　Lord！　　we　cowboys　never
seen　none　to　compare　with　her。　　She'll　make　bad　blood　an'
some　of　it　will　be　spilled。〃

〃Uncle　Al　encourages　her；〃　said　Helen；　apprehensively。　　〃It
tickles　him　to　hear　how　the　boys　are　after　her。　　Oh；　she
doesn't　tell　him。　　But　he　hears。　　And　I；　who　must　stand　in
mother's　place　to　her；　what　can　I　do？〃

〃Miss　Nell；　are　you　on　my　side？〃　asked　the　cowboy；
wistfully。　　He　was　strong　and　elemental；　caught　in　the　toils
of　some　power　beyond　him。

Yesterday　Helen　might　have　hesitated　at　that　question。　　But
to…day　Carmichael　brought　some　proven　quality　of　loyalty；
some　strange　depth　of　rugged　sincerity；　as　if　she　had
learned　his　future　worth。

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　Helen　replied；　earnestly。　　And　she　offered　her
hand。

〃Wal；　then　it　'll　shore　turn　out　happy；〃　he　said；　squeezing
her　hand。　　His　smile　was　grateful；　but　there　was　nothing　in
it　of　the　victory　he　hinted　at。　　Some　of　his　ruddy　color　had
gone。　　〃An'　now　I　want　to　tell　you　why　I　come。〃

He　had　lowered　his　voice。　　〃Is　Al　asleep？〃　he　whispered。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃He　was　a　little　while　ago。〃

〃Reckon　I'd　better　shut　his　door。〃

Helen　watched　the　cowboy　glide　across　the　room　and　carefully
close　the　door；　then　return　to　her　with　intent　eyes。　　She
sensed　events　in　his　look；　and　she　divined　suddenly　that　he
must　feel　as　if　he　were　her　brother。

〃Shore　I'm　the　one　thet　fetches　all　the　bad　news　to　you；〃　he
said；　regretfully。

Helen　caught　her　breath。　　There　had　indeed　been　many　little
calamities　to　mar　her　management　of　the　ranch　　loss　of
cattle；　horses；　sheep　　the　desertion　of　herders　to　Beasley
　failure　of　freighters　to　arrive　when　most　needed　
fights　among　the　cowboys　　and　disagreements　over
long…arranged　deals。

〃Your　uncle　Al　makes　a　heap　of　this　here　Jeff　Mulvey；〃
asserted　Carmichael。

〃Yes；　indeed。　　Uncle　absolutely　relies　on　Jeff；〃　replied
Helen。

〃Wal；　I　hate　to　tell　you；　Miss　Nell；〃　said　the　cowboy；
bitterly；　〃thet　Mulvey　ain't　the　man　he　seems。〃

〃Oh；　what　do　you　mean？〃

〃When　your　uncle　dies　Mulvey　is　goin'　over　to　Beasley　an'
he's　goin'　to　take　all　the　fellars　who'll　stick　to　him。〃

〃Could　Jeff　be　so　faithless　　after　so　many　years　my
uncle's　foreman？　　Oh；　how　do　you　know？〃

〃Reckon　I　guessed　long　ago。　　But　wasn't　shore。　　Miss　Nell；
there's　a　lot　in　the　wind　lately；　as　poor　old　Al　grows
weaker。　　Mulvey　has　been　particular　friendly　to　me　an'　I've
nursed　him　along；　'cept　I　wouldn't　drink。　　An'　his　pards　have
been　particular　friends　with　me；　too；　more　an'　more　as　I
loosened　up。　　You　see；　they　was　shy　of　me　when　I　first　got
here。　　To…day　the　whole　deal　showed　clear　to　me　like　a　hoof
track　in　soft　ground。　　Bud　Lewis；　who's　bunked　with　me；　come
out　an'　tried　to　win　me　over　to　Beasley　　soon　as
Auchincloss　dies。　　I　palavered　with　Bud　an'　I　wanted　to　know。
But　Bud　would　only　say　he　was　goin'　along　with　Jeff　an'
others　of　the　outfit。　　I　told　him　I'd　reckon　over　it　an'　let
him　know。　　He　thinks　I'll　come　round。〃

〃Why　　why　will　these　men　leave　me　when　　when　　Oh；　poor
uncle！　　They　bargain　on　his　death。　　But　why　　tell　me　why？〃

〃Beasley　has　worked　on　them　　won　them　over；〃　replied
Carmichael；　grimly。　　〃After　Al　dies　the　ranch　will　go　to　you。
Beasley　means　to　have　it。　　He　an'　Al　was　pards　once；　an'　now
Beasley　has　most　folks　here　believin'　he　got　the　short　end
of　thet　deal。　　He'll　have　papers　　shore　　an'　he'll　have
most　of　the　men。　　So　he'll　just　put　you　off　an'　take
possession。　　Thet's　all；　Miss　Nell；　an'　you　can　rely　on　its
bein'　true。〃

〃I　　I　believe　you　　but　I　can't　believe　such　　such
robbery　possible；〃　gasped　Helen。

〃It's　simple　as　two　an'　two。　　Possession　is　law　out　here。
Once　Beasley　gets　on　the　ground　it's　settled。　　What　could　you
do　with　no　men　to　fight　for　your　property？〃

〃But；　surely；　some　of　the　men　will　stay　with　me？〃

〃I　reckon。　　But　not　enough。〃

〃Then　I　can　hire　more。　　The　Beeman　boys。　　And　Dale　would　come
to　help　me。〃

〃Dale　would　come。　　An'　he'd　help　a　heap。　　I　wish　he　was　here；〃
replied　Carmichael；　soberly。　　〃But　there's　no　way　to　get　him。
He's　snowed…up　till　May。〃

〃I　dare　not　confide　in　uncle；〃　said　Helen；　with　agitation。
〃The　shock　might　kill　him。　　Then　to　tell　him　of　the
unfaithfulness　of　his　old　men　　that　would　be　cruel。　。　。　。
Oh；　it　can't　be　so　bad　as　you　think。〃

〃I　reckon　it　couldn't　be　no　worse。　　An'　　Miss　Nell；　there's
only　one　way　to　get　out　of　it　　an'　thet's　the　way　of　the
West。〃

〃How？〃　queried　Helen；　eagerly。

Carmichael　lunged　himself　erect　and　stood　gazing　down　at
her。　　He　seemed　completely　detached　now　from　that　frank；
amiable　cowboy　of　her　first　impressions。　　The　redness　was
totally　gone　from　his　face。　　Something　strange　and　cold　and
sure　looked　out　of　his　eyes。

〃I　seen　Beasley　go　in　the　saloon　as　I　rode　past。　　Suppose　I
go　down　there；　pick　a　quarrel　with　him　　an'　kill　him？〃

Helen　sat　bolt…upright　with　a　cold　shock。

〃Carmichael！　　you're　not　serious？〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Serious？　　I　shore　am。　　Thet's　the　only　way；　Miss　Nell。　　An'　I
reckon　it's　what　Al　would　want。　　An'　between　you　an'　me　　it
would　be　easier　than　ropin'　a　calf。　　These　fellars　round　Pine
don't　savvy　guns。　　Now；　I　come　from　where　guns　mean
somethin'。　　An'　when　I　tell　you　I　can　throw　a　gun　slick　an'
fast；　why　I　shore　ain't　braggin'。　　You　needn't　worry　none
about　me；　Miss　Nell。〃

Helen　grasped　that　he　had　taken　the　signs　of　her　shocked
sensibility　to　mean　she　feared　for　his　life。　　But　what　had
sickened　her　was　the　mere　idea　of　bloodshed　in　her　behalf。

〃You'd　　kill　Beasley　　just　because　there　are　rumors　of
his　　treachery？〃　gasped　Helen。

〃Shore。　　It'll　have　to　be　done；　anyhow；〃　replied　the　cowboy。

〃No！　　No！　　It's　too　dreadful　to　think　of。　　Why；　that　would　be
murder。　　I　　I　can't　understand　how　you　speak　of　it　　so　
so　calmly。〃

〃Reckon　I　ain't　doin'　it　calmly。　　I'm　as　mad　as　hell；〃　said
Carmichael；　with　a　reckless　smile。

〃Oh；　if　you　are　serious　then；　I　say　no　　no　　no！　　I　forbid
you。　　I　don't　believe　I'll　be　robbed　of　my　property。〃

〃Wal；　supposin'　Beasley　does　put　you　off　　an'　takes
possession。　　What　're　you　goin'　to　say　then？〃　demanded　the
cowboy；　in　slow；　cool　deliberation。

〃I'd　say　the　same　then　as　now；〃　she　replied。

He　bent　his　head　thoughtfully　while　his　red　hands　smoothed
his　sombrero。

〃Shore　you　girls　haven't　been　West　very　long；〃　be　muttered；
as　if　apologizing　for　them。　　〃An'　I　reckon　it　takes　time　to
learn　the　ways　of　a　country。〃

〃West　or　no　West；　I　won't　have　fights　deliberately　picked；
and　men　shot；　even　if　they　do　threaten　me；〃　declared　Helen；
positively。

〃All　right；　Miss　Nell；　shore　I　respect　your　wishes；〃　he
returned。　　〃But　I'll　tell　you　this。　　If　Beasley　turns　you　an'
Bo　out　of　your　home　　wal；　I'll　look　him　up　on　my　own
account。〃

Helen　could　only　gaze　at　him　as　he　backed　to　the　door；　and
she　thrilled　and　shuddered　at　what　seemed　his　loyalty　to
her；　his　love　for　Bo；　and　that　which　was　inevitable　in
himself。

〃Reckon　you　might　save　us　all　some　trouble　　now　if　you'd
　just　get　mad　　an'　let　me　go　after　thet　greaser。〃

〃Greaser！　　Do　you　mean　Beasley？〃

〃Shore。　　He's　a　half…breed。　　He　was　born　in　Magdalena；　where　I
heard　folks　say　nary　one　of　his　parents　was　no　good。〃

〃That　doesn't　matter。　　I'm　thinking　of　humanity　of　law　and
order。　　Of　what　is　right。〃

〃Wal；　Miss　Nell；　I'll　wait　till　you　get　real　mad　　or　till
Beasley　〃

〃But；　my　friend；　I'll　not　get　mad；〃　interrupted　Helen。　　〃I'll
keep　my　temper。〃

〃I'll　bet　you　don't；〃　he　retorted。　　〃Mebbe　you　think　you've
none　of　Bo　in　you。　　But　I'll　bet　you　could　get　so　mad　　once
you　started　　thet　you'd　be　turrible。　　What　've　you　got　them
eyes　for；　Miss　Nell；　if　you　ain't　an　Auchincloss　？〃

He　was　smiling；　yet　he　meant　every　word。　　Helen　felt　the
truth　as　something　she　feared。

〃Las　Vegas；　I　won't　bet。　　But　you　　you　will　always　come　to
me　　first　　if　there's　trouble。〃

〃I　promise；〃　he　replied；　soberly；　and　then　went　out。

Helen　found　that　she　was　trembling；　and　that　there　was　a
commotion　in　her　breast。　　Carmichael　had　frightened　her。　　No
longer　did　she　hold　doubt　of　the　gravity　of　the　situation。
She　had　seen　Beasley　often；　several　times　close　at　hand；　and
once　she　had　been　forced　to　meet　him。　　That　time　had
convinced　her　that　he　had　evinced　personal　interest　in　her。
And　on　this　account；　coupled　with　the　fact　that　Riggs
appeared　to　have　nothing　else　to　do　but　shadow　her；　she　had
been　slow　in　developing　her　intention　of　organizing　and
teaching　a　school　for　the　children　of　Pine。　　Riggs　had　become
rather　a　doubtful　celebrity　in　the　settlements。　　Yet　his
bold；　apparent　badness　had　made　its　impression。　　From　all
reports　he　spent　his　time　gambling；　drinking；　and　bragging。
It　was　no　longer　news　in　Pine　what　his　intentions　were
toward　Helen　Rayner。　　Twice　he　had　ridden　up　to　the
ranch…house；　upon　one　occasion　securing　an　interview　with
Helen。　　In　spite　of　her　contempt　and　indifference；　he　was
actually　influencing　her　life　there　in　Pine。　　And　it　began　to
appear　that　the　other　man；　Beasley；　might　soon　direct
stronger　significance　upon　the　liberty　of　her　actions。

The　responsibility　of　the　ranch　had　turned　out　to　be　a　heavy
burden。　　It　could　not　be　managed；　at　least　by　her；　in　the　way
Auchincloss　wanted　it　done。　　He　was　old；　irritable；
irrational；　and　hard。　　Almost　all　the　neighbors　were　set
against　him；　and　naturally　did　not　take　kindly　to　Helen。

She　had　not　found　the　slightest　evidence　of　unfair　dealing
on　the　part　of　her　uncle；　but　he　had　been　a　hard　driver。
Then　his　shrewd；　far…seeing　judgment　had　made　all　his　deals
fortunate　for　him；　which　fact　had　not　brought　a　profit　of
friendship。

Of　late；　since　Auchincloss　had　grown　weaker　and　less
dominating；　Helen　had　taken　many　decisions　upon　herself；
with　gratifying　and　hopeful　results。　　But　the　wonderful
happiness　that　she　had　expected　to　find　in　the　West　still
held　aloof。　　The　memory　of　Paradise　Park　seemed　only　a　dream；
sweeter　and　more　intangible　as　time　passed；　and　fuller　of
vague　regrets。　　Bo　was　a　comfort；　but　also　a　very
considerable　source　of　anxiety。　　She　might　have　been　a　hel