on the frontier-第13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！



getting　a　cent　of　it。　　If　your　wife　insults　her　again；　that　chance

is　gone。　　And　if　YOU　do〃



〃Well？〃



〃As　sure　as　there　is　a　God　in　Israel　and　a　Supreme　Court　of　the

State　of　California；　I'll　kill　you　in　your　tracks！　。　。　。　　Stay！〃



Patterson　turned。　　The　irrepressible　look　of　humorous　tolerance　of

all　human　frailty　had　suffused　Poindexter's　black　eyes　with

mischievous　moisture。　　〃If　you　think　it　quite　safe　to　confide　to

your　wife　this　prospect　of　her　improvement　by　widowhood；　you　may！〃





CHAPTER　III





Mr。　Patterson　did　not　inform　his　wife　of　the　lawyer's　personal

threat　to　himself。　　But　he　managed；　after　Poindexter　had　left；　to

make　her　conscious　that　Mrs。　Tucker　might　be　a　power　to　be　placated

and　feared。　　〃You've　shot　off　your　mouth　at　her；〃　he　said

argumentatively；　〃and　whether　you've　hit　the　mark　or　not　you've　had

your　say。　　Ef　you　think　it's　worth　a　possible　five　thousand　dollars

and　interest　to　keep　on；　heave　ahead。　　Ef　you　rather　have　the

chance　of　getting　the　rest　in　cash；　you'll　let　up　on　her。〃　　〃You

don't　suppose；〃　returned　Mrs。　Patterson　contemptuously；　〃that　she's

got　anything　but　what　that　man　of　hersPoindexterlets　her　have？〃

〃The　sheriff　says；〃　retorted　Patterson　surlily；　〃that　she's

notified　him　that　she　claims　the　rancho　as　a　gift　from　her　husband

three　years　ago；　and　she's　in　POSSESSION　now；　and　was　so　when　the

execution　was　out。　　It　don't　make　no　matter；〃　he　added；　with　gloomy

philosophy；　〃who's　got　a　full　hand　as　long　as　WE　ain't　got　the

cards　to　chip　in。　　I　wouldn't　'a'　minded　it；〃　he　continued

meditatively；　〃ef　Spence　Tucker　had　dropped　a　hint　to　me　afore　he

put　out。〃　　〃And　I　suppose；〃　said　Mrs。　Patterson　angrily；　〃you'd

have　put　out　too？〃　　〃I　reckon；〃　said　Patterson　simply。



Twice　or　thrice　during　the　evening　he　referred；　more　or　less

directly；　to　this　lack　of　confidence　shown　by　his　late　debtor　and

employer；　and　seemed　to　feel　it　more　keenly　than　the　loss　of

property。　　He　confided　his　sentiments　quite　openly　to　the　sheriff

in　possession；　over　the　whiskey　and　euchre　with　which　these

gentlemen　avoided　the　difficulties　of　their　delicate　relations。　　He

brooded　over　it　as　he　handed　the　keys　of　the　shop　to　the　sheriff

when　they　parted　for　the　night；　and　was　still　thinking　of　it　when

the　house　was　closed；　everybody　gone　to　bed；　and　he　was　fetching　a

fresh　jug　of　water　from　the　well。　　The　moon　was　at　times　obscured

by　flying　clouds；　the　avant…couriers　of　the　regular　evening　shower。

He　was　stooping　over　the　well；　when　he　sprang　suddenly　to　his　feet

again。　　〃Who's　there？〃　he　demanded　sharply。



〃Hush！〃　said　a　voice　so　low　and　faint　it　might　have　been　a　whisper

of　the　wind　in　the　palisades　of　the　corral。　　But；　indistinct　as　it

was；　it　was　the　voice　of　the　man　he　was　thinking　of　as　far　away；

and　it　sent　a　thrill　of　alternate　awe　and　pleasure　through　his

pulses。



He　glanced　quickly　around。　　The　moon　was　hidden　by　a　passing　cloud；

and　only　the　faint　outlines　of　the　house　he　had　just　quitted　were

visible。　　〃Is　that　you；　Spence？〃　he　said　tremulously。



〃Yes；〃　replied　the　voice；　and　a　figure　dimly　emerged　from　the

corner　of　the　corral。



〃Lay　low；　lay　low；　for　God's　sake；〃　said　Patterson；　hurriedly

throwing　himself　upon　the　apparition。　　〃The　sheriff　and　his　posse

are　in　there。〃



〃But　I　must　speak　to　you　a　moment；〃　said　the　figure。



〃Wait；〃　said　Patterson；　glancing　towards　the　building。　　Its　blank；

shutterless　windows　revealed　no　inner　light；　a　profound　silence

encompassed　it。　　〃Come　quick；〃　he　whispered。　　Letting　his　grasp

slip　down　to　the　unresisting　hand　of　the　stranger；　he　half…dragged；

half…led　him；　brushing　against　the　wall；　into　the　open　door　of　the

deserted　bar…room　he　had　just　quitted；　locked　the　inner　door；

poured　a　glass　of　whiskey　from　a　decanter；　gave　it　to　him；　and　then

watched　him　drain　it　at　a　single　draught。　　The　moon　came　out；　and；

falling　through　the　bare　windows　full　upon　the　stranger's　face；

revealed　the　artistic　but　slightly　disheveled　curls　and　moustache

of　the　fugitive；　Spencer　Tucker。



Whatever　may　have　been　the　real　influence　of　this　unfortunate　man

upon　his　fellows；　it　seemed　to　find　expression　in　a　singular

unanimity　of　criticism。　　Patterson　looked　at　him　with　a　half…

dismal；　half…welcoming　smile。　　〃Well；　you　are　a　h…ll　of　a　fellow；

ain't　you？〃



Spencer　Tucker　passed　his　hand　through　his　hair　and　lifted　it　from

his　forehead；　with　a　gesture　at　once　emotional　and　theatrical。　　〃I

am　a　man　with　a　price　on　me！〃　he　said　bitterly。　　〃Give　me　up　to　the

sheriff；　and　you'll　get　five　thousand　dollars。　　Help　me；　and　you'll

get　nothing。　　That's　my　dd　luck；　and　yours　too；　I　suppose。〃



〃I　reckon　you're　right　there；〃　said　Patterson　gloomily。　　〃But　I

thought　you　got　clean　away。　　Went　off　in　a　ship〃



〃Went　off　in　a　boat　to　a　ship；〃　interrupted　Tucker　savagely；　〃went

off　to　a　ship　that　had　all　my　things　on　boardeverything。　　The

cursed　boat　capsized　in　a　squall　just　off　the　Heads。　　The　ship；

dn　her；　sailed　away；　the　men　thinking　I　was　drowned；　likely；

and　that　they'd　make　a　good　thing　off　my　goods；　I　reckon。〃



〃But　the　girl；　Inez；　who　was　with　you；　didn't　she　make　a　row？〃



〃Quien　sabe？〃　returned　Tucker；　with　a　reckless　laugh。　　〃Well；　I

hung　on　like　grim　death　to　that　boat's　keel　until　one　of　those

Chinese　fishermen；　in　a　'dug…out；'　hauled　me　in　opposite　Saucelito。

I　chartered　him　and　his　dug…out　to　bring　me　down　here。〃



〃Why　here？〃　asked　Patterson；　with　a　certain　ostentatious　caution

that　ill…concealed　his　pensive　satisfaction。



〃You　may　well　ask；〃　returned　Tucker；　with　an　equal　ostentation　of

bitterness；　as　he　slightly　waved　his　companion　away。　　〃But　I

reckoned　I　could　trust　a　white　man　that　I'd　been　kind　to；　and　who

wouldn't　go　back　on　me。　　No；　no；　let　me　go！　　Hand　me　over　to　the

sheriff！〃



Patterson　had　suddenly　grasped　both　the　hands　of　the　picturesque

scamp　before　him；　with　an　affection　that　for　an　instant　almost

shamed　the　man　who　had　ruined　him。　　But　Tucker's　egotism　whispered

that　this　affection　was　only　a　recognition　of　his　own　superiority；

and　felt　flattered。　　He　was　beginning　to　believe　that　he　was　really

the　injured　party。



〃What　I　HAVE　and　what　I　have　HAD　is　yours；　Spence；〃　returned

Patterson；　with　a　sad　and　simple　directness　that　made　any　further

discussion　a　gratuitous　insult。　　〃I　only　wanted　to　know　what　you

reckoned　to　do　here。〃



〃I　want　to　get　over　across　the　Coast　Range　to　Monterey；〃　said

Tucker。　　〃Once　there；　one　of　those　coasting　schooners　will　bring　me

down　to　Acapulco；　where　the　ship　will　put　in。〃



Patterson　remained　silent　for　a　moment。　　〃There's　a　mustang　in　the

corral　you　can　takeleastways；　I　shan't　know　that　it's　goneuntil

to…morrow　afternoon。　　In　an　hour　from　now；〃　he　added；　looking　from

the　window；　〃these　clouds　will　settle　down　to　business。　　It　will

rain；　there　will　be　light　enough　for　you　to　find　your　way　by　the

regular　trail　over　the　mountain；　but　not　enough　for　any　one　to　know

you。　　If　you　can't　push　through　to…night；　you　can　lie　over　at　the

posada　on　the　summit。　　Them　greasers　that　keep　it　won't　know　you；

and　if　they　did　they　won't　go　back　on　you。　　And　if　they　did　go　back

on　you；　nobody　would　believe　them。　　It's　mighty　curious；〃　he　added；

with　gloomy　philosophy；　〃but　I　reckon　it's　the　reason　why

Providence　allows　this　kind　of　cattle　to　live　among　white　men　and

others　made　in　his　image。　　Take　a　piece　of　pie；　won't　you？〃　　He

continued；　abandoning　this　abstract　reflection　and　producing　half　a

flat　pumpkin　pie　from　the　bar。　　Spencer　Tucker　grasped　the　pie　with

one　hand　and　his　friend's　fingers　with　the　other；　and　for　a　few

moments　was　silent　from　the　hurried　deglutition　of　viand　and

sentiment。　　〃YOU'RE　a　white　man；　Patterson；　anyway；〃　he　resumed。

〃I'll　take　your　horse；　and　put　it　down　in　our　account；　at　your　own

figure。　　As　soon　as　this　cursed　thing　is　blown　over；　I'll　be　back

here　and　see　you　through；　you　bet。　　I　don't　desert　my　friends；

however　rough　things　go　with　me。〃



〃I　see　you　don't；〃　returned　Patterson；　with　an　unconscious　and

serious　simplicity　that　had　the　effect　of　the　most　exquisite　irony。

〃I　was　only　just　saying　to　the　sheriff　that　if　there　was　anything　I

could　have　done　for　you；　you　wouldn't　have　cut　away　without　letting

me　know。〃　　Tucker　glanced　uneasily　at　Patterson；　who　continued；　〃Ye

ain't　wanting　anything　else？〃　　Then　observing　that　his　former

friend　and　patron　was　roughly　but　newly　clothed；　and　betrayed　no

trace　of　his　last　escapade；　he　added；　〃I　see　you've　got　a　fresh

harness。〃



〃That　dd　Chinaman　bought　me　these　at　the　landing；　they're　not

much　in　style　or　fit；〃　he　continued；　trying　to　get　a　moonlight　view

of　himself　in　the　mirror　behind　the　bar；　〃but　that　don't　matter

here。〃　　He　filled　another　glass　of　spirits；　jauntily　settled

himself　back　in　his　chair；　and　added；　〃I　don't　suppose　there　are

any　girls　around；　anyway。〃



〃'Cept　your　wife；　she　was　down　here　this　afternoon；〃　said　Patterson

meditatively。



Mr。　Tucker　paused　with　the　pie　in　his　hand。　　〃Ah；　yes！〃　　He　essayed

a　reckless　laugh；　but　that　evident　simulation　failed　before

Patterson's　melancholy。　　With　an　assumption　of　falling　in　with　his

friend's　manner；　rather　than　from　any　personal　anxiety；　he

continued；　〃Well？〃



〃That　man　Poindexter　was　down　here　with　her。　　Put　her　in　the

hacienda　to　hold　possession　afore　the　news　came　out。〃



〃Impossible！〃　said　Tucker；　rising　hastily。　　〃It　don't　belongthat

is〃　he　hesitated。



〃Yer　thinking　the　creditors　'll　get　it；　mebbe；〃　returned　Patterson；

gazing　at　the　floor。　　〃Not　as　long　as　she's　in　it；　no　sir！　　Whether

it's　really　hers；　or　she's　only　keeping　house　for　Poindexter；　she's

a　fixture；　you　bet。　　They're　a　team　when　they　pull　together；　they

are！〃



The　smile　slowly　faded　from　Tucker's　face；　that　now　looked　quite

rigid　in　the　moonlight。　　He　put　down　his　glass　and　walked　to　the

window　as　Patterson　gloomily　continued；　〃But　that's　nothing　to　you。

You've　got　ahead　of　'em　both；　and　had　your　revenge　by　going　off

with　the　gal。　　That's　what　I　said　all　along。　　When　folks

especially　women　folkswondered　how　you　could　leave　a　woman　like

your　wife；　and　go　off　with　a　scallawag　like　that　gal；　I　allers　said

they'd　find　out　there　was　a　reason。　　And　when　your　wife　came

flaunting　down　here　with　Poindexter　before　she'd　quite　got　quit　of

you；　I　reckon　they　began　to　see　the　whole　little　game。　　No　sir！　　I

knew　it　wasn't　on　account　of　the　gal！　　Why；　when　you　came　here　to…

night　and　told　me　quite　nat'ral…like　and　easy　how　she　went　off　in

the　ship；　and　then　calmly　ate　your　pie　and　drank　your　whiskey　after

it；　I　knew　you　didn't　care　for　her。　　There's　my　hand；　Spence；

you're　a　trump；　even　if　you　are　a　little　looney；　eh？　　Why；　what's

up？〃



Shallow　and　selfish　as　Tucker　was；　Patterson's　words　seemed　like　a

revelation　that　shocked　him　as　profoundly　as　it　might　have　shocked

a　nobler　nature。　　The