lla.thelonelymen-第16节
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Our enemies should e from the east； but trust an Apache to use the sun's glare if he figured on an attack。 But the sun sank behind the mountains to to westward and I studied the country all around with great care； and saw nothing。
Where were Dorset Binny and the boy？ If they had ridden the way we planned they should be not too far away； for our course had veered around and we； too； had e west。
From the watch tower I could study the terrain and my eyes searched out all possible hiding places。 The position of the ranch had been well chosen。 The place had a good field of fire in every direction and must have been easy to defend back in the old days； yet the Indians had taken it； burned it out； and more than likely killed everybody on the ranch。
It seemed to me at least fifteen to twenty men would have been needed to defend the ranch。 Maybe they were shorthanded when the attack came。
In the last minutes of daylight； I saw them ing … two riders； not over half a mile off。
I called softly to Murphy； who was closest and knelt by one of the openings left in the wall for a firing position。 But I was sure right from the start。 As they drew nearer I could see them clear enough。
Standing up on the tower I called out； 〃Dorset！ Dorset Binny！ e on in！〃
Chapter 10
Laura Pritts Sackett was immaculate。 She was cool； aloof； yet she managed to convey the idea that beneath that still surface there was turmoil； waiting to be exploited。 A cold； emotionless young woman； she had learned very early that the appearance of deep emotion and passion beneath the quiet exterior was a tool and a weapon to be used； and so she had used it
Her adoration for her father had resulted in hatred for all who in any way thwarted or opposed him。
As the days passed into weeks and she heard nothing from Mexico； she grew worried。 Suppose； after all； Tell Sackett was not killed by the Apaches？ Suppose he did return； and her falsehood was exposed？ She was less worried； however； about being exposed … she had no intention of remaining in Tucson anyway … than about Sackett not being killed。
She knew enough about the Sacketts to know they had a way of getting out of corners。 Suddenly； she made up her mind。
She would leave Tucson。 She would go back east without waiting any longer。 She might never hear what happened in Sonora； and there was no sense in staying on here； in this heat； and merely waiting。 Her father had a little property in the East； and it was time she returned to settle the estate。 But first she would make one final effort
She was seated in the Shoo…Fly when she reached that decision。 She knew； as did everyone； about the gun battle in the Quartz Rock Saloon； and she had seen the Hadden boys around town。 She knew also that the Maddens had been doing some talking about what would happen when they met Tell Sackett and Tampico Rocca again。
Suddenly the door opened and Captain Lewiston came in； acpanied by Lieutenant Jack Davis； whom she remembered from the stage ride to Tucson。
They came to her table。 〃Mrs。 Sackett；〃 Davis said； 〃I want to present Captain Lewiston。〃
She turned her wide blue eyes on the Captain and sensed a coolness； a reserve。 This one would not be so easy as Davis to wind around her finger。 〃How do you do； Captain；〃 she said。 〃Won't you sit down？〃
The men seated themselves and ordered coffee。 〃I hope you will forgive the intrusion； Mrs。 Sackett；〃 Captain Lewiston said； 〃but we were wondering if you could tell us anything about the present location of Tell Sackett。 I believe he is a relative of yours。〃
〃He is my brother…in…law；〃 she said； 〃although I had never met him until a few weeks ago。 Right here in this room； in fact。 He was with some other men。 I don't know where they went。 Is he in trouble？〃
Lewiston hesitated。 〃Yes and no；〃 he said finally。 〃If he rode into Apache country； as we have heard that he did； he may be in very serious trouble indeed。〃
She allowed her lip to tremble。 〃He 。。。 he hasn't been killed； has he？ The Sacketts are reckless； daring men； and 。。。〃 She let her words trail away。
〃We have heard nothing；〃 Lewiston said。 〃We are planning a strike against the Apaches that will take us deep into Mexico。 We would not want them stirred up by some unauthorized foray into their country。〃
〃I 。。。 I did not know。 If anything should happen to Mr。 Sackett my husband would be very upset。 They are very close。〃
〃Mrs。 Sackett； I understand you provided Mr。 Sackett with a horse？ Is that true？〃
〃Of course。 His own had been killed and he was unable to purchase one。 I merely helped。〃 She smiled。 〃What else could I do？〃
Lewiston was not satisfied； yet there was certainly nothing wrong with her story； nor had he any reason to suspect she knew Tell Sackett's whereabouts； except the fact that they were relatives； and had talked together。 He could not have given any reason for his dissatisfaction； but he felt it。 Moreover； he had liked Tell； and he was worried about him。
Later he said as much to Davis。 〃Oh； e now； Captain！〃 Davis said。 〃If Laura Sackett knew anything about Sackett she would tell you。 What possible reason would she have for lying？〃
〃I don't know。 But why is she staying on in Tucson？ She has no relatives here； no friends； and this is no time of year to be here if you can be anywhere else。 I mean； I like the place； but not many eastern women such as Laura Sackett are inclined to want to stay here。〃
Davis had done some wondering about that himself。 Tucson was a hot； dusty little desert town； and not a likely place for a lady of aristocratic background such as Laura had implied in a few carefully casual references。 A stopover to recover from the rigors of a stage trip from California would be natural； but the days had stretched on； and still she remained。 Had she been known in the area or had friends there； her presence would have been no cause for ment； but she kept very much to herself and indicated no desire to make acquaintances。
Laura was unconcerned as to what anyone thought。 She detested Tucson and its people； and wanted nothing so much as to go on to El Paso and thence to New Orleans and the East。 If she could only be sure Tell Sackett was dead she would leave。
She knew what she must do。 Tell Sackett had now been gone for three weeks； and while it seemed likely that he was dead； he might even now be ing north over the trails through Sonora。 So she had one more thing to do。 She had to make sure that； if he had lived through the journey into the Apache stronghold； he would die before getting back to Tucson。 Somehow she must manage to talk with Arch or Wolf Hadden。
They came rarely to the Shoo…Fly。 There were other places to eat among their own land； and she had seen them on the streets with other toughs of ugly reputation。 By listening to talk she heard around her； she learned that the Haddens were； among other things； bronc riders and wild…horse hunters。 They had e into town with several horses for sale or trade。
She spoke to Mrs。 Wallen quite casually。 〃There is a man about town；〃 she said； 〃a rough…looking man named Hadden； who has a sorrel gelding for sale。 I would like to talk to him。〃
Mrs。 Wallen hesitated； putting her hands on her hips。 〃Ma'am； those Haddens are not fit men for a lady to know。 I will have Mr。 Wallen talk to them。〃
〃If you please；〃 Laura Sackett answered coolly； 〃I would prefer to talk to them myself。 I have dealt with many rough men whom my father employed。 I have also had some experience in buying horses。〃
〃Very well；〃 Mrs。 Wallen replied stiffly； 〃have it your own way。〃
Laura was amused。 Mrs。 Wallen did not like her； she knew； and Laura cared not at all； but it made her feel good to put her in her place； if ever so gently。
She finished her tea and； getting to her feet； she gathered her skirt in one dainty gloved hand and went out on the boardwalk。 The heat struck her face like heat from the open door of a furnace。 She stood an instant； looking up and down the street； and then she went on to her rooming house。
Arch Hadden was seated on the steps。 He got to his feet as she approached。 〃Wallen said you wanted to see me about a horse。〃
She studied him for a moment。 〃About a horse；〃 she said； 〃and some other matters。 If you will saddle that sorrel you have and bring him around in the morning I shall ride out with you。 If the horse is satisfactory； I will buy him。〃 The next morning in the early coolness they rode out beyond the mission。 The little sorrel moved well； but Laura was not interested in the horse。 In a thick grove of cactus and brush； she drew up and Arch Hadden rode up close beside her。
He looked at her with a knowing leer。 〃Ma'am； I reckon you e to the right man。 Now I'll just get down an' help you off that horse 。。。〃
In her hand she held a two…barreled derringer。 〃Stay right where you are； Hadden；〃 she said。 〃I brought you out here to talk to you。 Do you know what my name is？〃
He stared at her； puzzled but wary。 〃Can't say as I do。 At the livery stable Wallen just told me to e and see the blonde lady at that roomin' house。 I reckon evertrody in town has seen you； ma'am。〃
〃I am Laura Pritts Sackett。〃
His face sharpened suddenly as if the skin had drawn tight。 He was very still； and w
