wildfire-第45节

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me。〃

〃Deal？　What　about？〃

〃About　your　red　hoss。〃

〃Wildfire！　。　。　。　No　deals；　Bostil；〃　returned　Slone；　and　made　as　if　to　pass
him。

The　big　hand　that　forced　Slone　back　was　far　from　gentle；　and　again　he　felt　the
quick　rush　of　blood。

〃Mebbe　I　can　tell　you　somethin'　thet'll　make　you　sell　Wildfire；〃　said　Bostil。

〃Not　if　you　talked　yourself　dumb！〃　flashed　Slone。　There　was　no　use　to　try　to
keep　cool　with　this　Bostil；　if　he　talked　horses。　〃I'll　race　Wildfire　against
the　King。　But　no　more。〃

〃Race！　Wal；　we　don't　run　races　around　here　without　stakes；〃　replied　Bostil；
with　deep　scorn。　〃An'　what　can　you　bet？　Thet　little　dab　of　prize　money　is
gone；　an'　wouldn't　be　enough　to　meet　me。　You're　a　strange　one　in　these　parts。
I've　pride　an'　reputation　to　uphold。　You　brag　of　racin'　with　mean'　you　a
beggarly　rider！　。　。　。　You　wouldn't　have　them　clothes　an'　boots　if　my　girl
hadn't　fetched　them　to　you。〃

The　riders　behind　Bostil　laughed。　Wetherby's　face　was　there　in　the　door；　not
amused；　but　hard　with　scorn　and　something　else。　Slone　felt　a　sickening；
terrible　gust　of　passion。　It　fairly　shook　him。　And　as　the　wave　subsided　the
quick　cooling　of　skin　and　body　pained　him　like　a　burn　made　with　ice。

〃Yes；　Bostil；　I'm　what　you　say；〃　responded　Slone；　and　his　voice　seemed　to　fill
his　ears。　〃But　you're　dead　wrong　when　you　say　I've　nothin'　to　bet　on　a　race。〃

〃An'　what'll　you　bet？〃

〃My　life　an'　my　horse！〃

The　riders　suddenly　grew　silent　and　intense。　Bostil　vibrated　to　that。　He
turned　white。　He　more　than　any　rider　on　the　uplands　must　have　felt　the　nature
of　that　offer。

〃Ag'in　what？〃　he　demanded；　hoarsely。

〃YOUR　DAUGHTER　LUCY！〃

One　instant　the　surprise　held　Bostil　mute　and　motionless。　Then　he　seemed　to
expand。　His　huge　bulk　jerked　into　motion　and　he　bellowed　like　a　mad　bull。

Slone　saw　the　blow　coming；　made　no　move　to　avoid　it。　The　big　fist　took　him
square　on　the　mouth　and　chin　and　laid　him　flat　on　the　ground。　Sight　failed
Slone　for　a　little；　and　likewise　ability　to　move。　But　he　did　not　lose
consciousness。　His　head　seemed　to　have　been　burst　into　rays　and　red　mist　that
blurred　his　eyes。　Then　these　cleared　away；　leaving　intense　pain。　He　started　to
get　up；　his　brain　in　a　whirl。　Where　was　his　gun？　He　had　left　it　at　home。　But
for　that　he　would　have　killed　Bostil。　He　had　already　killed　one　man。　The　thing
was　a　burning　flashthen　all　over！　He　could　do　it　again。　But　Bostil　was
Lucy's　father！

Slone　gathered　up　the　packages　of　supplies；　and　without　looking　at　the　men　he
hurried　away。　He　seemed　possessed　of　a　fury　to　turn　and　run　back。　Some　force；
like　an　invisible　hand；　withheld　him。　When　he　reached　the　cabin　he　shut
himself　in；　and　lay　on　his　bunk；　forgetting　that　the　place　did　not　belong　to
him；　alive　only　to　the　mystery　of　his　trouble；　smarting　with　the　shame　of　the
assault　upon　him。　It　was　dark　before　he　composed　himself　and　went　out；　and
then　he　had　not　the　desire　to　eat。　He　made　no　move　to　open　the　supplies　of
food；　did　not　even　make　a　light。　But　he　went　out　to　take　grass　and　water　to
the　horses。　When　he　returned　to　the　cabin　a　man　was　standing　at　the　porch。
Slone　recognized　Holley's　shape　and　then　his　voice。

〃Son；　you　raised　the　devil　to…day。〃

〃Holley；　don't　you　go　back　on　me！〃　cried　Slone。　〃I　was　driven！〃

〃Don't　talk　so　loud；〃　whispered　the　rider　in　return。　〃I've　only　a　minnit。　。　。
。　Herea　letter　from　Lucy。　。　。　。　An'；　son；　don't　git　the　idee　thet　I'll　go
back　on　you。〃

Slone　took　the　letter　with　trembling　fingers。　All　the　fury　and　gloom　instantly
fled。　Lucy　had　written　him！　He　could　not　speak。

〃Son；　I'm　double…crossin'　the　boss；　right　this　minnit！〃　whispered　Holley；
hoarsely。　〃An'　the　same　time　I'm　playin'　Lucy's　game。　If　Bostil　finds　out
he'll　kill　me。　I　mustn't　be　ketched　up　here。　But　I　won't　lose　track　of
youwherever　you　go。〃

Holley　slipped　away　stealthily　in　the　dusk；　leaving　Slone　with　a　throbbing
heart。

〃Wherever　you　go！〃　he　echoed。　〃Ah！　I　forgot！　I　can't　stay　here。〃

Lucy's　letter　made　his　fingers　tinglemade　them　so　hasty　and　awkward　that　he
had　difficulty　in　kindling　blaze　enough　to　see　to　read。　The　letter　was　short；
written　in　lead…pencil　on　the　torn　leaf　of　a　ledger。　Slone　could　not　read
rapidlythose　years　on　the　desert　had　seen　to　thatand　his　haste　to　learn
what　Lucy　said　bewildered　him。　At　first　all　the　words　blurred：

　Come　at　once　to　the　bench　in　the　cottonwoods。　I'll　meet　you　　there。　My　heart
is　breaking。　It's　a　liea　liewhat　they　say。　　I'll　swear　you　were　with　me
the　night　the　boat　was　cut　adrift。　　I　KNOW　you　didn't　do　that。　I　know　who。　。　。
。　Oh；　come！　I　will　　stick　to　you。　I　will　run　off　with　you。　I　love　you！〃



CHAPTER　XV

Slone's　heart　leaped　to　his　throat；　and　its　beating　choked　his　utterances　of
rapture　and　amaze　and　dread。　But　rapture　dominated　the　other　emotions。　He
could　scarcely　control　the　impulse　to　run　to　meet　Lucy；　without　a　single
cautious　thought。

He　put　the　precious　letter　inside　his　blouse；　where　it　seemed　to　warm　his
breast。　He　buckled　on　his　gun…belt；　and；　extinguishing　the　light；　he　hurried
out。

A　crescent　moon　had　just　tipped　the　bluff。　The　village　lanes　and　cabins　and
trees　lay　silver　in　the　moon…light。　A　lonesome　coyote　barked　in　the　distance。
All　else　was　still。　The　air　was　cool；　sweet；　fragrant。　There　appeared　to　be　a
glamour　of　light；　of　silence；　of　beauty　over　the　desert。

Slone　kept　under　the　dark　lee　of　the　bluff　and　worked　around　so　that　he　could
be　above　the　village；　where　there　was　little　danger　of　meeting　any　one。　Yet
presently　he　had　to　go　out　of　the　shadow　into　the　moon…blanched　lane。　Swift
and　silent　as　an　Indian　he　went　along；　keeping　in　the　shade　of　what　trees
there　were；　until　he　came　to　the　grove　of　cottonwoods。　The　grove　was　a　black
mystery　lanced　by　silver　rays。　He　slipped　in　among　the　trees；　halting　every
few　steps　to　listen。　The　action；　the　realization　had　helped　to　make　him　cool；
to　steel　him；　though　never　before　in　his　life　had　he　been　so　exalted。　The
pursuit　and　capture　of　Wildfire；　at　one　time　the　desire　of　his　heart；　were　as
nothing　to　this。　Love　had　called　himand　lifeand　he　knew　death　hung　in　the
balance。　If　Bostil　found　him　seeking　Lucy　there　would　be　blood　spilled。　Slone
quaked　at　the　thought；　for　the　cold　and　ghastly　oppression　following　the　death
he　had　meted　out　to　Sears　came　to　him　at　times。　But　such　thoughts　were
fleeting；　only　one　thought　really　held　his　mindand　the　one　was　that　Lucy
loved　him；　had　sent　strange；　wild；　passionate　words　to　him。

He　found　the　narrow　path；　its　white　crossed　by　slowly　moving　black　bars　of
shadow；　and　stealthily　he　followed　this；　keen　of　eye　and　ear；　stopping　at
every　rustle。　He　well　knew　the　bench　Lucy　had　mentioned。　It　was　in　a　remote
corner　of　the　grove；　under　big　trees　near　the　spring。　Once　Slone　thought　he
had　a　glimpse　of　white。　Perhaps　it　was　only　moonlight。　He　slipped　on　and　on；
and　when　beyond　the　branching　paths　that　led　toward　the　house　he　breathed
freer。　The　grove　appeared　deserted。　At　last　he　crossed　the　runway　from　the
spring；　smelled　the　cool；　wet　moss　and　watercress；　and　saw　the　big　cottonwood；
looming　dark　above　the　other　trees。　A　patch　of　moonlight　brightened　a　little
glade　just　at　the　edge　of　dense　shade　cast　by　the　cottonwood。　Here　the　bench
stood。　It　was　empty！

Slone's　rapture　vanished。　He　was　suddenly　chilled。　She　was　not　there！　She
might　have　been　intercepted。　He　would　not　see　her。　The　disappointment；　the
sudden　relaxation；　was　horrible。　Then　a　white；　slender　shape　flashed　from
beside　the　black　tree…trunk　and　flew　toward　him。　It　was　noiseless；　like　a
specter；　and　swift　as　the　wind。　Was　he　dreaming？　He　felt　so　strange。　Thenthe
white　shape　reached　him　and　he　knew。

Lucy　leaped　into　his　arms。

〃Lin！　Lin！　Oh；　I'm　soso　glad　to　see　you！〃　she　whispered。　She　seemed
breathless；　keen；　new　to　him；　not　in　the　least　afraid　nor　shy。　Slone　could
only　hold　her。　He　could　not　have　spoken；　even　if　she　had　given　him　a　chance。
〃I　know　everythingwhat　they　accuse　you　ofhow　the　riders　treated　youhow
my　dad　struck　you。　Oh！　。　。　。　He's　a　brute！　I　hate　him　for　that。　Why　didn't　you
keep　out　of　his　way？　。　。　。　Van　saw　it　all。　Oh；　I　hate　him；　too！　He　said　you
lay　stillwhere　you　fell！　。　。　。　Dear　Lin；　that　blow　may　have　hurt　you
dreadfullyshamed　you　because　you　couldn't　strike　back　at　my　dadbut　it
reached　me；　too。　It　hurt　me。　It　woke　my　heart。　。　。　。　Wherewhere　did　he　hit
you？　Oh；　I've　seen　him　hit　men！　His　terrible　fists！〃

〃Lucy；　never　mind；〃　whispered　Slone。　〃I'd　stood　to　be　shot　just　for　this。〃

He　felt　her　hands　softly　on　his　face；　feeling　around　tenderly　till　they　found
the　swollen　bruise　on　mouth　and　chin。

〃Ah！　。　。　。　He　struck　you。　And　II'll　kiss　you；〃　she　whispered。　〃If　kisses
will　make　it　wellit'll　be　well！〃

She　seemed　strange；　wild；　passionate　in　her　tenderness。　She　lifted　her　face
and　kissed　him　softly　again　and　again　and　again；　till　the　touch　that　had　been
exquisitely　painful　to　his　bruised　lips　became　rapture。　Then　she　leaned　back
in　his　arms；　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　white…faced；　dark…eyed；　and　laughed
up　in　his　face；　lovingly；　daringly；　as　if　she　defied　the　world　to　change　what
she　had　done。

〃Lucy！　Lucy！　。　。　。　He　can　beat　meagain！〃　said　Slone；　low　and　hoarsely。

〃If　you　l