the twins of table mountain-第19节

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friend　awaited　them。　　Miss　Alice　was　first　to　speak。　　In　this
trackless；　uncharted　terra　incognita　of　the　passions；　it　is　always
the　woman　who　steps　out　to　lead　the　way。

〃You　know　this　place　very　well。　　I　suppose　you　have　lived　here
long？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　were　not　born　hereno？〃

A　long　pause。

〃I　observe　they　call　you　'Stanislaus　Joe。'　　Of　course　that　is　not
your　real　name？〃　　（Mem。Miss　Alice　had　never　called　him　ANYTHING；
usually　prefacing　any　request　with　a　languid；　〃O…er…er；　please；
mister…er…a！〃　explicit　enough　for　his　station。）

〃No。〃

Miss　Alice　（trotting　after　him；　and　bawling　in　his　ear）。〃WHAT
name　did　you　say？〃

The　Man　（doggedly）。〃I　don't　know。〃　　Nevertheless；　when　they
reached　the　cabin；　after　an　half…hour's　buffeting　with　the　storm；
Miss　Alice　applied　herself　to　her　mother's　escort；　Mr。　Ryder。

〃What's　the　name　of　the　man　who　takes　care　of　my　horse？〃

〃Stanislaus　Joe；〃　responded　Mr。　Ryder。

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃No。　　Sometimes　he's　called　Joe　Stanislaus。〃

Miss　Alice　（satirically）。〃I　suppose　it's　the　custom　here　to　send
young　ladies　out　with　gentlemen　who　hide　their　names　under　an
alias？〃

Mr。　Ryder　（greatly　perplexed）。〃Why；　dear　me；　Miss　Alice；　you
allers　'peared　to　me　as　a　gal　as　was　able　to　take　keer〃

Miss　Alice　（interrupting　with　a　wounded；　dove…like　timidity）。〃Oh；
never　mind；　please！〃

The　cabin　offered　but　scanty　accommodation　to　the　tourists；　which
fact；　when　indignantly　presented　by　Mrs。　Rightbody；　was　explained
by　the　good…humored　Ryder　from　the　circumstance　that　the　usual
hotel　was　only　a　slight　affair　of　boards；　cloth；　and　paper；　put　up
during　the　season；　and　partly　dismantled　in　the　fall。　　〃You
couldn't　be　kept　warm　enough　there；〃　he　added。　　Nevertheless　Miss
Alice　noticed　that　both　Mr。　Ryder　and　Stanislaus　Joe　retired　there
with　their　pipes；　after　having　prepared　the　ladies'　supper；　with
the　assistance　of　an　Indian　woman；　who　apparently　emerged　from　the
earth　at　the　coming　of　the　party；　and　disappeared　as　mysteriously。

The　stars　came　out　brightly　before　they　slept；　and　the　next　morning
a　clear；　unwinking　sun　beamed　with　almost　summer　power　through　the
shutterless　window　of　their　cabin；　and　ironically　disclosed　the
details　of　its　rude　interior。　　Two　or　three　mangy；　half…eaten
buffalo…robes；　a　bearskin；　some　suspicious…looking　blankets；　rifles
and　saddles；　deal…tables；　and　barrels；　made　up　its　scant　inventory。
A　strip　of　faded　calico　hung　before　a　recess　near　the　chimney；　but
so　blackened　by　smoke　and　age　that　even　feminine　curiosity
respected　its　secret。　　Mrs。　Rightbody　was　in　high　spirits；　and
informed　her　daughter　that　she　was　at　last　on　the　track　of　her
husband's　unknown　correspondent。　　〃Seventy…Four　and　Seventy…Five
represent　two　members　of　the　Vigilance　Committee；　my　dear；　and　Mr。
Ryder　will　assist　me　to　find　them。〃

〃Mr。　Ryder！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Alice；　in　scornful　astonishment。

〃Alice；〃　said　Mrs。　Rightbody；　with　a　suspicious　assumption　of
sudden　defence；　〃you　injure　yourself；　you　injure　me；　by　this
exclusive　attitude。　　Mr。　Ryder　is　a　friend　of　your　father's；　an
exceedingly　well…informed　gentleman。　　I　have　not；　of　course；
imparted　to　him　the　extent　of　my　suspicions。　　But　he　can　help　me　to
what　I　must　and　will　know。　　You　might　treat　him　a　little　more
civillyor；　at　least；　a　little　better　than　you　do　his　servant；
your　guide。　　Mr。　Ryder　is　a　gentleman；　and　not　a　paid　courier。〃

Miss　Alice　was　suddenly　attentive。　　When　she　spoke　again；　she
asked；　〃Why　do　you　not　find　out　something　about　this　Silsbiewho
diedor　was　hungor　something　of　that　kind？〃

〃Child！〃　said　Mrs。　Rightbody；　〃don't　you　see　there　was　no　Silsbie；
or；　if　there　was；　he　was　simply　the　confidant　of　thatwoman？〃

A　knock　at　the　door；　announcing　the　presence　of　Mr。　Ryder　and
Stanislaus　Joe　with　the　horses；　checked　Mrs。　Rightbody's　speech。
As　the　animals　were　being　packed；　Mrs。　Rightbody　for　a　moment
withdrew　in　confidential　conversation　with　Mr。　Ryder；　and；　to　the
young　lady's　still　greater　annoyance；　left　her　alone　with
Stanislaus　Joe。　　Miss　Alice　was　not　in　good　temper；　but　she　felt　it
necessary　to　say　something。

〃I　hope　the　hotel　offers　better　quarters　for　travellers　than　this
in　summer；〃　she　began。

〃It　does。〃

〃Then　this　does　not　belong　to　it？〃

〃No；　ma'am。〃

〃Who　lives　here；　then？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　stammered　Miss　Alice；　〃I　thought　you　lived
where　we　hiredwhere　we　met　youinin　　You　must　excuse　me。〃

〃I'm　not　a　regular　guide；　but　as　times　were　hard；　and　I　was　out　of
grub；　I　took　the　job。〃

〃Out　of　grub！〃　〃job！〃　　And　SHE　was　the　〃job。〃　　What　would　Henry
Marvin　say？　　It　would　nearly　kill　him。　　She　began　herself　to　feel　a
little　frightened；　and　walked　towards　the　door。

〃One　moment；　miss！〃

The　young　girl　hesitated。　　The　man's　tone　was　surly；　and　yet
indicated　a　certain　kind　of　half…pathetic　grievance。　　HER　curiosity
got　the　better　of　her　prudence；　and　she　turned　back。

〃This　morning；〃　he　began　hastily；　〃when　we　were　coming　down　the
valley；　you　picked　me　up　twice。〃

〃I　picked　YOU　up？〃　repeated　the　astonished　Alice。

〃Yes；　CONTRADICTED　me：　that's　what　I　mean；once　when　you　said
those　rocks　were　volcanic；　once　when　you　said　the　flower　you　picked
was　a　poppy。　　I　didn't　let　on　at　the　time；　for　it　wasn't　my　say；
but　all　the　while　you　were　talking　I　might　have　laid　for　you〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Alice　haughtily。

〃I　might　have　entrapped　you　before　folks。　　But　I　only　want　you　to
know　that　I'M　right；　and　here　are　the　books　to　show　it。〃

He　drew　aside　the　dingy　calico　curtain；　revealed　a　small　shelf　of
bulky　books；　took　down　two　large　volumes；one　of　botany；　one　of
geology；nervously　sought　his　text；　and　put　them　in　Alice's
outstretched　hands。

〃I　had　no　intention〃　she　began；　half…proudly；　half…embarrassedly。

〃Am　I　right；　miss？〃　he　interrupted。

〃I　presume　you　are；　if　you　say　so。〃

〃That's　all；　ma'am。　　Thank　you！〃

Before　the　girl　had　time　to　reply；　he　was　gone。　　When　he　again
returned；　it　was　with　her　horse；　and　Mrs。　Rightbody　and　Ryder　were
awaiting　her。　　But　Miss　Alice　noticed　that　his　own　horse　was
missing。

〃Are　you　not　going　with　us？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　ma'am。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！〃

Miss　Alice　felt　her　speech　was　a　feeble　conventionalism；　but　it　was
all　she　could　say。　　She；　however；　DID　something。　　Hitherto　it　had
been　her　habit　to　systematically　reject　his　assistance　in　mounting
to　her　seat。　　Now　she　awaited　him。　　As　he　approached；　she　smiled；
and　put　out　her　little　foot。　　He　instantly　stooped；　she　placed　it
in　his　hand；　rose　with　a　spring；　and　for　one　supreme　moment
Stanislaus　Joe　held　her　unresistingly　in　his　arms。　　The　next　moment
she　was　in　the　saddle；　but　in　that　brief　interval　of　sixty　seconds
she　had　uttered　a　volume　in　a　single　sentence；

〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　me！〃

He　muttered　a　reply；　and　turned　his　face　aside　quickly　as　if　to
hide　it。

Miss　Alice　cantered　forward　with　a　smile；　but　pulled　her　hat　down
over　her　eyes　as　she　joined　her　mother。　　She　was　blushing。


PART　III。


Mr。　Ryder　was　as　good　as　his　word。　　A　day　or　two　later　he　entered
Mrs。　Rightbody's　parlor　at　the　Chrysopolis　Hotel　in　Stockton；　with
the　information　that　he　had　seen　the　mysterious　senders　of　the
despatch；　and　that　they　were　now　in　the　office　of　the　hotel　waiting
her　pleasure。　　Mr。　Ryder　further　informed　her　that　these　gentlemen
had　only　stipulated　that　they　should　not　reveal　their　real　names；
and　that　they　be　introduced　to　her　simply　as　the　respective
〃Seventy…Four〃　and　〃Seventy…Five〃　who　had　signed　the　despatch　sent
to　the　late　Mr。　Rightbody。

Mrs。　Rightbody　at　first　demurred　to　this；　but；　on　the　assurance
from　Mr。　Ryder　that　this　was　the　only　condition　on　which　an
interview　would　be　granted；　finally　consented。

〃You　will　find　them　square　men；　even　if　they　are　a　little　rough；
ma'am。　　But；　if　you'd　like　me　to　be　present；　I'll　stop；　though　I
reckon；　if　ye'd　calkilated　on　that；　you'd　have　had　me　take　care　o'
your　business　by　proxy；　and　not　come　yourself　three　thousand　miles
to　do　it。〃

Mrs。　Rightbody　believed　it　better　to　see　them　alone。

〃All　right；　ma'am。　　I'll　hang　round　out　here；　and　ef　ye　should
happen　to　have　a　ticklin'　in　your　throat；　and　a　bad　spell　o'
coughin'；　I'll　drop　in；　careless　like；　to　see　if　you　don't　want
them　drops。　　Sabe？〃

And　with　an　exceedingly　arch　wink；　and　a　slight　familiar　tap　on
Mrs。　Rightbody's　shoulder；　which　might　have　caused　the　late　Mr。
Rightbody　to　burst　his　sepulchre；　he　withdrew。

A　very　timid；　hesitating　tap　on　the　door　was　followed　by　the
entrance　of　two　men；　both　of　whom；　in　general　size；　strength；　and
uncouthness；　were　ludicrously　inconsistent　with　their　diffident
announcement。　　They　proceeded　in　Indian　file　to　the　centre　of　the
room；　faced　Mrs。　Rightbody；　acknowledged　her　deep　courtesy　by　a
strong　shake　of　the　hand；　and；　drawing　two　chairs　opposite　to　her；
sat　down　side　by　side。

〃I　presume　I　have　the　pleasure　of　addressing〃　began　Mrs。　Rightbody。

The　man　directly　opposite　Mrs。　Rightbody　turned　to　the　other
inquiringly。

The　other　man　nodded　his　head；　and　replied；

〃Seventy…Four。〃

〃Seventy…Five；〃　promptly　followed　the　other。

Mrs。　Rightbody　paused；　a　little　confused。

〃I　have　sent　for　you；〃　she