on the frontier-第15章

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her；　and　said；　hesitating　and　mechanically；　〃You　meant　well；

Captain　Poindexter；　in　bringing　me　here；　I　know！　　You　must　not

think　that　I　blame　you　for　it；　or　for　the　miserable　result　of　it

that　you　have　just　witnessed。　　But　if　I　have　gained　anything　by　it；

for　God's　sake　let　me　reap　it　quickly；　that　I　may　give　it　to　these

people　and　go！　　I　have　a　friend　who　can　aid　me　to　get　to　my　husband

or　to　my　home　in　Kentucky；　where　Spencer　will　yet　find　me；　I　know。

I　want　nothing　more。〃　　She　stopped　again。　　With　another　woman　the

pause　would　have　been　one　of　tears。　　But　she　kept　her　head　above

the　flood　that　filled　her　heart；　and　the　clear　eyes　fixed　upon

Poindexter；　albeit　pained；　were　undimmed。



〃But　this　would　require　time；〃　said　Poindexter；　with　a　smile　of

compassionate　explanation；　〃you　could　not　sell　now；　nobody　would

buy。　　You　are　safe　to　hold　this　property　while　you　are　in　actual

possession；　but　you　are　not　strong　enough　to　guarantee　it　to

another。　　There　may　still　be　litigation；　your　husband　has　other

creditors　than　these　people　you　have　talked　with。　　But　while　nobody

could　oust　youthe　wife　who　would　have　the　sympathies　of　judge　and

juryit　might　be　a　different　case　with　any　one　who　derived　title

from　you。　　Any　purchaser　would　know　that　you　could　not　sell；　or　if

you　did；　it　would　be　at　a　ridiculous　sacrifice。〃



She　listened　to　him　abstractedly；　walked　to　the　end　of　the

corridor；　returned；　and　without　looking　up；　said；



〃I　suppose　you　know　her？〃



〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃



〃This　woman。　　You　have　seen　her？〃



〃Never；　to　my　knowledge。〃



〃And　you　are　his　friend！　　That's　strange。〃　　She　raised　her　eyes　to

his。　　〃Well；〃　she　continued　impatiently；　〃who　is　she？　and　what　is

she？　　You　know　that　surely？〃



〃I　know　no　more　of　her　than　what　I　have　said；〃　said　Poindexter。

〃She　is　a　notorious　woman。〃



The　swift　color　came　to　Mrs。　Tucker's　face　as　if　the　epithet　had

been　applied　to　herself。　　〃I　suppose；〃　she　said　in　a　dry　voice；　as

if　she　were　asking　a　business　question；　but　with　an　eye　that　showed

her　rising　anger；〃I　suppose　there　is　some　law　by　which　creatures

of　this　kind　can　be　followed　and　brought　to　justicesome　law　that

would　keep　innocent　people　from　suffering　for　their　crimes？〃



〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Poindexter；　〃that　arresting　her　would　hardly

help　these　people　over　in　the　tienda。〃



〃I　am　not　speaking　of　them；〃　responded　Mrs。　Tucker；　with　a　sudden

sublime　contempt　for　the　people　whose　cause　she　had　espoused：　〃I　am

talking　of　my　husband。〃



Poindexter　bit　his　lip。　　〃You'd　hardly　think　of　bringing　back　the

strongest　witness　against　him；〃　he　said　bluntly。



Mrs。　Tucker　dropped　her　eyes　and　was　silent。　　A　sudden　shame

suffused　Poindexter's　cheek；　he　felt　as　if　he　had　struck　that　woman

a　blow。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　hastily；　〃I　am　talking　like　a

lawyer　to　a　lawyer。〃　　He　would　have　taken　any　other　woman　by　the

hand　in　the　honest　fullness　of　his　apology；　but　something

restrained　him　here。　　He　only　looked　down　gently　on　her　lowered

lashes；　and　repeated　his　question　if　he　should　remain　during　the

coming　interview　with　Don　Jose：　〃I　must　beg　you　to　determine

quickly；〃　he　added；　〃for　I　already　hear　him　entering　the　gate。〃



〃Stay；〃　said　Mrs。　Tucker；　as　the　ringing　of　spurs　and　clatter　of

hoofs　came　from　the　corral。　　〃One　moment。〃　　She　looked　up　suddenly；

and　said；　〃How　long　had　he　known　her？〃　　But　before　he　could　reply

there　was　a　step　in　the　doorway；　and　the　figure　of　Don　Jose

Santierra　emerged　from　the　archway。



He　was　a　man　slightly　past　middle　age；　fair　and　well　shaven；

wearing　a　black　broadcloth　serape；　the　deeply　embroidered　opening

of　which　formed　a　collar　of　silver　rays　around　his　neck；　while　a

row　of　silver　buttons　down　the　side　seams　of　his　riding　trousers；

and　silver　spurs；　completed　his　singular　equipment。　　Mrs。　Tucker's

swift　feminine　glance　took　in　these　details；　as　well　as　the　deep

salutation；　more　formal　than　the　exuberant　frontier　politeness　she

was　accustomed　to；　with　which　he　greeted　her。　　It　was　enough　to

arrest　her　first　impulse　to　retreat。　　She　hesitated　and　stopped　as

Poindexter　stepped　forward；　partly　interposing　between　them；

acknowledging　Don　Jose's　distant　recognition　of　himself　with　an

ironical　accession　of　his　usual　humorous　tolerance。　　The　Spaniard

did　not　seem　to　notice　it；　but　remained　gravely　silent　before　Mrs。

Tucker；　gazing　at　her　with　an　expression　of　intent　and　unconscious

absorption。



〃You　are　quite　right；　Don　Jose；〃　said　Poindexter；　with　ironical

concern；　〃it　is　Mrs。　Tucker。　　Your　eyes　do　NOT　deceive　you。　　She

will　be　glad　to　do　the　honors　of　her　house；〃　he　continued；　with　a

simulation　of　appealing　to　her；　〃unless　you　visit　her　on　business；

when　I　need　not　say　I　shall　be　only　too　happy；　to　attend　you；　as

before。〃



Don　Jose；　with　a　slight　lifting　of　the　eyebrows；　allowed　himself　to

become　conscious　of　the　lawyer's　meaning。　　〃It　is　not　of　business

that　I　come　to　kiss　the　Senora's　hand　to…day；〃　he　replied；　with　a

melancholy　softness；　〃it　is　as　her　neighbor；　to　put　myself　at　her

disposition。　　Ah！　the　what　have　we　here　for　a　lady？〃　he　continued；

raising　his　eyes　in　deprecation　of　the　surroundings；　〃a　house　of

nothing；　a　place　of　winds　and　dry　bones；　without　refreshments；　or

satisfaction；　or　delicacy。　　The　Senora　will　not　refuse　to　make　us

proud　this　day　to　send　her　of　that　which　we　have　in　our　poor　home

at　Los　Gatos；　to　make　her　more　complete。　　Of　what　shall　it　be？　　Let

her　make　choice。　　Or　if　she　would　commemorate　this　day　by　accepting

of　our　hospitality　at　Los　Gatos；　until　she　shall　arrange　herself

the　more　to　receive　us　here；　we　shall　have　too　much　honor。〃



〃The　Senora　would　only　find　it　the　more　difficult　to　return　to　this

humble　roof　again；　after　once　leaving　it　for　Don　Jose's　hospitality；〃

said　Poindexter；　with　a　demure　glance　at　Mrs。　Tucker。　　But　the

innuendo　seemed　to　lapse　equally　unheeded　by　his　fair　client　and

the　stranger。　　Raising　her　eyes　with　a　certain　timid　dignity　which

Don　Jose's　presence　seemed　to　have　called　out；　she　addressed　herself

to　him。



〃You　are　very　kind　and　considerate；　Mister　Santierra；　and　I　thank

you。　　I　know　that　my　husband〃she　let　the　clear　beauty　of　her

translucent　eyes　rest　full　on　both　men〃would　thank　you　too。　　But

I　shall　not　be　here　long　enough　to　accept　your　kindness　in　this

house　or　in　your　own。　　I　have　but　one　desire　and　object　now。　　It　is

to　dispose　of　this　property；　and　indeed　all　I　possess；　to　pay　the

debt　of　my　husband。　　It　is　in　your　power；　perhaps；　to　help　me。　　I

am　told　that　you　wish　to　possess　Los　Cuervos；〃　she　went　on；　equally

oblivious　of　the　consciousness　that　appeared　in　Don　Jose's　face；

and　a　humorous　perplexity　on　the　brow　of　Poindexter。　　〃If　you　can

arrange　it　with　Mr。　Poindexter；　you　will　find　me　a　liberal　vendor。

That　much　you　can　do；　and　I　know　you　will　believe　I　shall　be

grateful。　　You　can　do　no　more；　unless　it　be　to　say　to　your　friends

that　Mrs。　Belle　Tucker　remains　here　only　for　that　purpose；　and　to

carry　out　what　she　knows　to　be　the　wishes　of　her　husband。〃　　She

paused；　bent　her　pretty　crest；　dropped　a　quaint　curtsey　to　the

superior　age；　the　silver　braid；　and　the　gentlemanly　bearing　of　Don

Jose；　and　with　the　passing　sunshine　of　a　smile　disappeared　from　the

corridor。



The　two　men　remained　silent　for　a　moment；　Don　Jose　gazing

abstractedly　on　the　door　through　which　she　had　vanished；　until

Poindexter；　with　a　return　of　his　tolerant　smile；　said；　〃You　have

heard　the　views　of　Mrs。　Tucker。　　You　know　the　situation　as　well　as

she　does。〃



〃Ah；　yes；　possibly　better。〃



Poindexter　darted　a　quick　glance　at　the　grave；　sallow　face　of　Don

Jose；　but　detecting　no　unusual　significance　in　his　manner；

continued；　〃As　you　see；　she　leaves　this　matter　in　my　hands。　　Let　us

talk　like　business　men。　　Have　you　any　idea　of　purchasing　this

property？〃



〃Of　purchasing；　ah；　no。〃



Poindexter　bent　his　brows；　but　quickly　relaxed　them　with　a　smile　of

humorous　forgiveness。　　〃If　you　have　any　other　idea；　Don　Jose；　I

ought　to　warn　you；　as　Mrs。　Tucker's　lawyer；　that　she　is　in　legal

possession　here；　and　that　nothing　but　her　own　act　can　change　that

position。〃



〃Ah；　so。〃



Irritated　at　the　shrug　which　accompanied　this；　Poindexter　continued

haughtily；　〃If　I　am　to　understand；　you　have　nothing　to　say〃



〃To　say；　ah；　yes；　possibly。　　But〃he　glanced　toward　the　door　of

Mrs。　Tucker's　room〃not　here。〃　　He　stopped；　appeared　to　recall

himself；　and　with　an　apologetic　smile　and　a　studied　but　graceful

gesture　of　invitation；　he　motioned　to　the　gateway；　and　said；　〃Will

you　ride？〃



〃What　can　the　fellow　be　up　to？〃　muttered　Poindexter；　as　with　an

assenting　nod　he　proceeded　to　remount　his　horse。　　〃If　he　wasn't　an

old　hidalgo；　I'd　mistrust　him。　　No　matter！　here　goes！〃



The　Don　also　remounted　his　half…broken　mustang；　they　proceeded　in

solemn　silence　through　the　corral；　and　side　by　side　emerged　on　the

open　plain。　　Poindexter　glanced　around；　no　other　being　was　in

sight。　　It　was　not　until　the　lonely　hacienda　had　also　sunk　behind

them　that　Don　Jose　broke　the　silence。



〃You　say　just　now　we　shall　speak　as　business　men。　　I　say　no；　Don

Marco；　I　will　not。　　I　shall　speak；　we　shall　speak；　as　gentlemen。〃



〃Go　on；〃　said　Poindexter；　who　was　beginning　to　be　amused。



〃I　say　just　now　I　will　not　purchase　the　rancho　from　the　Senora。

And　why？　　Look　you；　Don　Marco；〃　he　reined　in　his　horse；　thrust　his

hand　under　his　serape；　and　drew　out　a　folded　document：　〃this　is

why。〃



With　a　smile；　Poindexter　took　the　paper　from　his　hand　and　opened

it。　　But　the　smile　faded　from　his　lips　as　he　read。　　With　blazing

eyes　he　spurred　his　horse　beside　the　Spaniard；　almost　unseating

him；　and　said　sternly；　〃What　does　this　mean？〃



〃What　does　it　mean？〃　repeated　Don　Jose；　with　equally　flashing　eyes；

〃I'll　tell　you。　　It　means　that　your　client；　this　man　Spencer

Tucker；　is　a　Judas；　a　traitor！　　It　means　that　he　gave　Los　Cuervos

to　his　mistress　a　year　ago；　and　that　she　sold　it　to　meto　me；　you

hear！ME；　Jose　Santierra；　the　day　before　she　left！　　It　means　that

the　coyote　of　a　Spencer；　the　thief；　who　bought　these　lands　of　a

thief；　and　gave　them　to　a　thief；　has　tricked　you　all。　　Look；〃　he

said；　rising　in　his　saddle；　holding　the　paper　like　a　baton；　and

defining　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm　the　whole　level　plain；　〃all　these

lands　were　once　mine；　they　are　mine　again　to…day。　　Do　I　want　to

purchase　Los　Cuervos？　you　ask；　for　you　will　speak　of　the　BUSINESS。

Well；　listen。　　I　HAVE　purchased　Los　Cuervos；　and　here　is　the　deed。〃



〃But　it　has　never　been　recorded；〃　said　Poindexter；　with　a

carelessness　he　was　far　from　feeling。



〃Of　a　verity；　no。　　Do　you　wish　that　I　should　record　it？〃　asked　Don

Jose；　with　a　return　of　his　simple　gravity。



Poindexter　bit　his　lip。　　〃You　said　we　were　to　talk　like　gentlemen；〃

he　returned。　　〃Do　you　think　you　have　come　into　possession　of　this

alleged　deed　like