lin mclean(林·迈林恩)-第31节
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and with the sloughing of two syllables came the brief； businesslike result…
…Separ。 Chicago； 1137…1/2 miles。 It was labelled on a board large almost as
the hut station。 A Y…switch； two sidings； the fat water…tank and steam…
pump； and a section…house with three trees before it composed the north
side。 South of the track were no trees。 There was one long siding by the
corrals and cattle…chute； there were a hovel where plug tobacco and
canned goods were for sale； a shed where you might get your horse shod； a
wire fence that at shipping times enclosed bales of pressed hay； the hotel；
the stage stable； and the little stationsome seven shanties all told。
Between them were spaces of dust； the immediate plains engulfed them；
and through their midst ran the far…vanishing railroad； to which they hung
like beads on a great string from horizon to horizon。 A great east…and…west
string； one end in the rosy sun at morning； and one in the crimson sun at
night。 Beyond each sky…line lay cities and ports where the world went on
out of sight and hearing。 This lone steel thread had been stretched across
the continent because it was the day of haste and hope； when dollars
seemed many and hard times were few； and from the Yellowstone to the
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Rio Grande similar threads were stretching； and little Separs by dispersed
hundreds hung on them； as it were in space eternal。 Can you wonder that
vigorous young men with pistols should； when they came to such a place；
shoot them off to let loose their unbounded joy of living？
And yet it was not this merely that began the custom； but an error of
the agent's。 The new station was scarce created when one morning Honey
Wiggin with the Virginian had galloped innocently in from the round…up to
telegraph for some additional cars。
〃I'm dead on to you！〃 squealed the official； dropping flat at the sight of
them； and bang went his gun at them。 They； most naturally； thought it was
a maniac； and ran for their lives among the supports of the water…tank；
while he remained anchored with his weapon； crouched behind the railing
that fenced him and his apparatus from the laity； and some fifteen strategic
minutes passed before all parties had crawled forth to an understanding；
and the message was written and paid for and comfortably despatched。
The agent was an honest creature； but of tame habits； sent for the sake of
his imperfect lungs to this otherwise inappropriate air。 He had lived chiefly
in mid…West towns； a serious reader of our comic weeklies； hence the
apparition of Wiggin and the Virginian had reminded him sickeningly of
bandits。 He had express money in the safe； he explained to them； and this
was a hard old country； wasn't it？ and did they like good whiskey？
They drank his whiskey； but it was not well to have mentioned that
about the bandits。 Both were aware that when shaved and washed of their
round…up grime they could look very engaging。 The two cow…punchers
rode out； not angry； but grieved that a man come here to dwell among
them should be so tactless。
〃If we don't get him used to us；〃 observed the Virginian； 〃he and his
pop…gun will be guttin' some blameless man。〃
Forthwith the cattle country proceeded to get the agent used to it。 The
news went over the sage…brush from Belle Fourche to Sweetwater； and
playful； howling horsemen made it their custom to go rioting with pistols
round the ticket office； educating the agent。 His lungs improved； and he
came dimly to smile at this life which he did not understand。 But the
company discerned no humor whatever in having its water…tank perforated；
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which happened twice； and sheriffs and deputies and other symptoms of
authority began to invest Separ。 Now what should authority do upon these
free plains； this wilderness of do…as…you…please； where mere breathing the
air was like inebriation？ The large； headlong children who swept in from
the sage…brush and out again meant nothing that they called harm until
they found themselves resisted。 Then presently happened that affair of the
cow…catcher； and later a too…zealous marshal； come about a mail…car they
had side…tracked and held with fiddles； drink； and petticoats； met his death
accidentally； at which they were sincerely sorry for about five minutes。
They valued their own lives as little； and that lifts them forever from
baseness at least。 So the company； concluding such things must be
endured for a while yet； wrote their letter； and you have seen how wrong
the letter went。 All it would do would be from now on to fasten upon
Separ its code of recklessness； to make shooting the water…tank （for
example） part of a gentleman's deportment when he showed himself in
town。
It was not now the season of heavy shipping； to…night their work
would be early finished； and then they were likely to play after their
manner。 To arrive in such a place on her way to her brother； the felon in
jail； made the girl's journey seem doubly forlorn to me as I wandered
down to the corrals。
A small； bold voice hailed me。 〃Hello； you！〃 it said； and here was Billy
Lusk； aged nine； in boots and overalls； importantly useless with a stick；
helping the men prod the steers at the chute。
〃Thought you were at school；〃 said I。
〃Ah； school's quit；〃 returned Billy； and changed the subject。 〃Say； Lin's
hunting you。 He's angling to eat at the hotel。 I'm grubbing with the outfit。〃
And Billy resumed his specious activity。
Mr。 McLean was in the ticket…office； where the newspaper had
transiently reminded him of politics。 〃Wall Street；〃 he was explaining to
the agent； 〃has been lunched on by them Ross…childs； and they're moving
on。 Feeding along to Chicago。 We want〃 Here he noticed me and；
dragging his gauntlet off； shook my hand with his lusty grasp。
〃Your eldest son just said you were in haste to find me；〃 I remarked。
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〃Lose you； he meant。 The kid gets his words twisted。〃
〃Didn't know you were a father； Mr。 McLean；〃 simpered the agent。
Lin fixed his eye on the man。 〃And you don't know it now；〃 said he。
Then he removed his eye。 〃Let's grub；〃 he added to me。 My friend did not
walk to the hotel； but slowly round and about； with a face overcast。 〃Billy
is a good kid；〃 he said at length； and； stopping； began to kick small
mounds in the dust。 Politics floated lightly over him； but here was a matter
dwelling with him； heavy and real。 〃He's dead stuck on being a cow…
puncher；〃 he presently said。
〃Some day〃 I began。
〃He don't want to wait that long；〃 Lin said； and smiled affectionately。
〃And； anyhow； what is 'some day'？ Some day we punchers will not be here。
The living will be scattered； and the deadwell； they'll be all right。 Have
yu' studied the wire fence？ It's spreading to catch us like nets do the
salmon in the Columbia River。 No more salmon； no more cow…punchers；〃
stated Mr。 McLean； sententiously； and his words made me sad； though I
know that progress cannot spare land and water for such things。 〃But
Billy；〃 Lin resumed； 〃has agreed to school again when it starts up in the
fall。 He takes his medicine because I want him to。〃 Affection crept anew
over the cow…puncher's face。 〃He can learn books with the quickest when
he wants； that Bear Creek school…marm says。 But he'd ought to have a
regular mother tilltill I can do for him； yu' know。 It's onwholesome him
seeing and hearing the boysand me； and me when I forget！but shucks！
how can I fix it？ Billy was sure enough dropped and deserted。 But when I
found him the little calf could run and notice like everything！〃
〃I should hate your contract； Lin；〃 said I。 〃Adopting's a touch…and…go
business even when a man has a home。〃
〃I'll fill the contract； you bet！ I wish the little son…of…a…gun was mine。
I'm a heap more n
