the argonauts of north liberty-第15节

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local　habitues　of　the　posada。　　But　Ezekiel；　shrewdly　surmising　that
the　private　entrance　must　be　in　the　opposite　direction；　turned　to
the　right　along　the　passage　until　he　came　unexpectedly　upon　the
corridor　of　the　usual　courtyard；　or　patio；　of　every　Mexican
hostelry；　closed　at　one　end　by　a　low　adobe　wall；　in　which　there　was
a　door。　　The　free　passage　around　the　corridor　was　interrupted　by
wide　partitions；　fitted　up　with　tables　and　benches；　like　stalls；
opening　upon　the　courtyard　where　a　few　stunted　fig　and　orange　trees
still　grew。　　As　the　courtyard　seemed　to　be　the　only　communication
between　the　passage　he　had　left　and　the　door　in　the　wall；　he　was
about　to　cross　it；　when　the　voices　of　two　men　in　the　compartment
struck　his　ears。　　Although　one　was　evidently　an　American's；　Ezekiel
was　instinctively　convinced　that　they　were　speaking　in　English　only
for　greater　security　against　being　understood　by　the　frequenters　of
the　posada。　　It　is　unnecessary　to　say　that　this　was　an　innocent
challenge　to　the　curiosity　of　Ezekiel　that　he　instantly　accepted。
He　drew　back　carefully　into　the　shadow　of　the　partition　as　one　of
the　voices　asked

〃Wasn't　that　Johnson　just　come　in？〃

There　was　a　movement　as　if　some　one　had　risen　to　look　over　the
compartment；　but　the　gathering　twilight　completely　hid　Ezekiel。

〃No！〃

〃He's　late。　　Suppose　he　don't　comeor　back　out？〃

The　other　man　broke　into　a　grim　laugh。　　〃I　reckon　you　don't　know
Johnson　yet；　or　you'd　understand　this　yer　little　game　o'　his　is
just　the　one　idea　o'　his　life。　　He's　been　two　years　on　that　man's
track；　and　he　ain't　goin'　to　back　out　now　that　he's　got　a　dead　sure
thing　on　him。〃

〃But　why　is　he　so　keen　about　it；　anyway？　　It　don't　seem　nat'ral　for
a　business　man　built　after　Johnson's　style；　and　a　rich　man　to　boot；
to　go　into　this　detective　business。　　It　ain't　the　reward；　we　know
that。　　Is　it　an　old　grudge？〃

〃You　bet！〃　　The　speaker　paused；　and　then　in　a　lower　voice；　which
taxed　Ezekial's　keen　ear　to　the　uttermost；　resumed：　〃It's　said　up
in　Frisco　that　Cherokee　Bob　knew　suthin'　agin　Johnson　way　back　in
the　States；　anyhow；　I　believe　it's　understood　that　they　came　across
the　plains　together　in　'50and　Bob　hounded　Johnson　and　blackmailed
him　here　where　he　was　livin'；　even　to　the　point　of　makin'　him　help
him　on　the　road　or　give　information；　until　one　day　Johnson　bucked
against　itkicked　over　the　tracesand　swore　he'd　be　revenged　on
Bob；　and　then　just　settled　himself　down　to　that　business。　　Wotever
he'd　been　and　done　himself　he　made　it　all　right　with　the　sheriff
here；　and　I've　heard　ez　it　wasn't　anything　criminal　or　that　sort；
but　that　it　was　o'　some　private　trouble　that　he'd　confided　to　that
hound　Bob；　and　Bob　had　threatened　to　tell　agen　him。　　That's　the
grudge　they　say　Johnson　has；　and　that's　why　he's　allowed　to　be　the
head　devil　in　this　yer　affair。　　It's　an　understood　thing；　too；　that
the　sheriff　and　the　police　ain't　goin'　to　interfere　if　Johnson
accidentally　blows　the　top　of　Bob's　head　off　in　the　scrimmage　of　a
capter。〃

〃And　I　reckon　Bob　wouldn't　hesitate　to　do　the　same　thing　to　him
when　he　finds　out　that　Johnson　has　given　him　away？〃

〃I　reckon；〃　said　the　other；　sententiously；　〃for　it's　Johnson's
knowledge　of　the　country　and　the　hoss…stealers　that　are　in　with
Bob's　gang　of　road　agents　that　made　it　easy　for　him　to　buy　up　and
win　over　Bob's　friends　here；　so　that　they'd　help　to　trap　him。〃

〃It's　pretty　rough　on　Bob　to　be　sold　out　in　that　way；〃　said　the
second　speaker；　sympathizingly。

〃If　they　were　white　men；　p'rhaps；〃　returned　his　companion；
contemptuously；　〃but　this　yer's　a　case　of　Injin　agen　Injin；　ez　the
men　are　Mexican　half…breeds　just　as　Bob's　a　half　Cherokee。　　The
sooner　that　kind　o'　cross　cattle　exterminate　each　other　the　better
it'll　be　for　the　country。　　It　takes　a　white　man　like　Johnson　to　set
'em　by　the　ears。〃

A　silence　followed。　　Ezekiel；　beginning　to　be　slightly　bored　with
his　cheaply　acquired　but　rather　impractical　information；　was　about
to　slip　back　into　the　passage　again　when　he　was　arrested　by　a　laugh
from　the　first　speaker。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　growled　the　other。　　〃Do　you　want　to　bring　the
whole　posada　out　here？〃

〃I　was　only　thinkin'　what　a　skeer　them　innocent　greenhorn
passengers　will　get　just　ez　they're　snoozing　off　for　the　night；　ten
miles　from　here；〃　responded　his　friend；　with　a　chuckle。　　〃Wonder　ef
anybody's　goin'　up　from　here　besides　that　patent　medicine　softy。〃

Ezekiel　stopped　as　if　petrified。

〃Ef　the　　fools　keep　quiet　they　won't　be　hurt；　for　our　men　will
be　ready　to　chip　in　the　moment　of　the　attack。　　But　we've　got　to　let
the　attack　be　made　for　the　sake　of　the　evidence。　　And　if　we　warn
off　the　passengers　from　going　this　trip；　and　let　the　stage　go　up
empty；　Bob　would　suspect　something　and　vamose。　　But　here's
Johnson！〃

The　door　in　the　adobe　wall　had　suddenly　opened；　and　a　figure　in　a
serape　entered　the　patio。　　Ezekiel；　whose　curiosity　was　whetted
with　indignation　at　the　ignominious　part　assigned　to　him　in　this
comedy；　forgot　even　his　risk　of　detection　by　the　newcomer；　who
advanced　quickly　towards　the　compartment。　　When　he　had　reached　it
he　said；　in　a　tone　of　bitterness：

〃The　game　is　up；　gentlemen；　and　the　whole　thing　is　blown。　　The
scoundrel　has　got　some　confederate　herefor　he's　been　seen　openly
on　the　road　near　Demorest's　ranch；　and　the　band　have　had　warning
and　dispersed。　　We　must　find　out　the　traitor；　and　take　our
precautions　for　the　next　time。　　Who　is　that　there？　　I　don't　know
him。〃

He　was　pointing　to　Ezekiel；　who　had　started　eagerly　forward　at　the
first　sound　of　his　voice。　　The　two　occupants　of　the　compartment
rose　at　the　same　moment；　leaped　into　the　courtyard；　and　confronted
Ezekiel。　　Surrounded　by　the　three　menacing　figures　he　did　not
quail；　but　remained　intently　gazing　upon　the　newcomer。　　Then　his
mouth　opened；　and　he　drawled　lazily：

〃Wa'al；　ef　it　ain't　Squire　Blandford；　of　North　Liberty；　Connecticut；
I'm　a　treed　coon。　　Squire　Blandford；　how　DO　you　do？〃

The　stranger　drew　back　in　undisguised　amazement；　the　two　men
glanced　hurriedly　at　each　other；　Ezekiel　alone　remained　cool；
smiling；　imperturbable；　and　triumphant。

〃Who　are　YOU；　sir？　　I　do　not　know　you；〃　demanded　the　newcomer；
roughly。

〃Like　ez　not；〃　said　Corwin　dryly；　〃it's　a　matter　o'　four　year　sense
I　lived　in　your　house。　　Even　Dick　Demorestyou　knew　Dick？didn't
know　me；　but　I　reckon　that　Mrs。　Blandford　as　used　to　be〃

〃That's　enough；〃　said　Blandfordfor　it　was　hesuddenly　mastering
both　himself　and　Corwin　by　a　supreme　emphasis　of　will　and　gesture。
〃Wait！〃　　Then　turning　to　the　two　others　who　were　discreetly
regarding　the　blank　adobe　wall　before　them；　he　said：　〃Excuse　me　for
a　few　minutes；　gentlemen。　　There　is　no　hurry　now。　　I　will　see　you
later；〃　and　with　an　imperative　wave　of　his　hand　motioned　Ezekiel　to
precede　him　into　the　passage；　and　followed　him。

He　did　not　speak　until　they　entered　the　stage　office；　when；　passing
through　it；　he　said　peremptorily：　〃Follow　me。〃　　The　few　loungers；
who　seemed　to　recognize　him；　made　way　for　him　with　a　singular
deference　that　impressed　Ezekiel；　already　dominated　by　his　manner。
The　first　perception　in　his　mind　was　that　Blandford　had　in　some
strange　way　succeeded　to　Demorest's　former　imperious　character。
There　was　no　trace　left　of　the　old；　gentle　subjection　to　Joan's
prim　precision。　　Ezekiel　followed　him　out　of　the　office　as
unresistingly　as　he　had　followed　Demorest　into　the　stables　on　that
eventful　night。　　They　passed　down　the　narrow　street　until　Blandford
suddenly　stopped　short　and　turned　into　the　crumbling　doorway　of　one
of　the　low　adobe　buildings　and　entered　an　apartment。　　It　seemed　to
be　the　ordinary　living…room　of　the　house；　made　more　domestic　by　the
presence　of　a　silk　counterpaned　bed　in　one　corner；　a　prie　Dieu　and
crucifix；　and　one　or　two　articles　of　bedchamber　furniture。　　A　woman
was　sitting　in　deshabille　by　the　window；　a　man　was　smoking　on　a
lounge　against　the　wall。　　Blandford；　in　the　same　peremptory　manner；
addressed　a　command　in　Spanish　to　the　inmates；　who　immediately
abandoned　the　apartment　to　the　seeming　trespasser。

Motioning　his　companion　to　a　seat　on　the　lounge　just　vacated；
Blandford　folded　his　arms　and　stood　erect　before　him。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　with　quick；　business　conciseness；　〃what　do　you
want？〃

Ezekiel　was　staggered　out　of　his　complacency。

〃Wa'al；〃　he　stammered；　〃I　only　reckoned　to　ask　the　news；　ez　we　are
old　friendsI〃

〃How　much　do　you　want？〃　repeated　Blandford；　impatiently。

Ezekiel　was　mystified；　yet　expectant。　　〃I　can't　say　ez　I　exakly
understand；〃　he　began。

〃Howmuchmoneydoyouwant；〃　continued　Blandford；　with　frigid
accuracy；　〃to　get　up　and　get　out　of　this　place？〃

〃Wa'al；　consideren　ez　I'm　travellin'　here　ez　the　only　authorized
agent　of　a　first…class　Frisco　Drug　House；〃　said　Ezekiel；　with　a
mingling　of　mortification；　pride；　and　hopefulness；　〃unless　you're
travellin'　in　the　opposition　business；　I　don't　see　what's　that　to
you。〃

Blandford　regarded　him　searchingly　for　an　instant。　　〃Who　sent　you
here？〃

〃Dilworth　&　Dusenberry；　Battery　Street；　San　Francisco。　　Hev　their
card？〃　said　Ezekiel；　taking　one　from　his　waistcoat　pocket。

〃Corwin；〃　said　Blandford；　sternly；　〃whatever　your　busin