lahoma(拉霍马)-第20节
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attracted by the gunshot； and soon after； the cabin door opened； and the
girl of the cove looked out inquiringly。
In the meantime the young man slowly descended the hill to the oval
valley； while Willock hurried forward to meet him。
〃Don't you come no futher！〃 Willock commanded； threatening with his
gun。 〃Keep your hands above your head until I can ship your cargo。〃
Obediently he stood while the great whiskered fellow took the
weapons from his belt； and dived into his hip pockets。
〃That'll do。 Nowwhat do you want？〃
〃It's hard to put it into a few words；〃 the other complained。 〃I'd like to
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have a little talk with you。〃
〃You are one of them fellows that come here to run us out of the
country； ain't you？ I don't remember seeing you； but I guess you belong to
the bunch over on Red River。 Well； you see we're still here； meaning to
stay。 Are your pards outside there； waiting for a message？〃
〃Nobody knows I'm here； or thought of coming。 Let me put that affair
in its true light。 The boys are all under our boss； and when he lays down
the law it isn't for us to argue with himwe carry out orders〃
〃Unless there's a Brick Willock involved in them orders；〃 returned the
man； with a grim smile。
〃But it's our duty to TRY to carry out the orders； whether we like 'em
or not。 So you won't hold that against methat little scrimmage of last
month； especially as you came out best man。〃
〃I used to have a boss； myself；〃 Willock spoke uncompromisingly。
〃But when he give me certain orders； one particular night that I recollect； I
knocked him on the head and put out for other parts。 You must of thought
yourself in PRETTY business coming over here to take away the land and
all on it； that's belonged to me for nine years； and nobody never having
tried to prize me out of it except some trifling Injuns and horse…thieves。
Ain't they NO honesty in the world？ Hasn't no man his property rights？ I
guess your boss knowed this wasn't HIS land； didn't he？ What's going to
become of this country when man isn't satisfied with what is his'n？ Well；
now you've had a little talk with me； and hoping you've enjoyed it； you
can just mosey along。 I'll send your weapons after you by a messenger。〃
The young man cast a despairing glance toward the girl who stood like
a statue in her doorway； gravely listening。 The man with the bushy white
hair had drawn near； hut evidently with no thought of interfering。
〃Willock；〃 the voice came so eager； so impetuous； that the words were
somewhat incoherent； 〃I've GOT to talk to your daughterhold on； don't
shoot； LISTEN！that's what I've come for； to see her andand meet her
and hear her voice。 I can't help it； can I？ It's been two long years since I
left home； back East； and in all these two years I've never seen anything
like your little girl andand what harm can it do？ I say！ Have pity on a
fellow； and do him the biggest favor he could enjoy on this earth when it
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won't cost you a penny； or a turn of your hand。 Look herehold on； don't
turn away！ I'm just so lonesome； so homesick； so dead KILLED by all
these sand…hills and alkali beds and nothing to talk to from one year's end
to the next but men and cattle。。。。〃
Willock glared at him in silence； fingering the trigger thoughtfully。
〃There I've sat； on that hill；〃 he continued； 〃since two o'clock last night；
waiting for daylight so I could ask you to help a miserable wretch that's
just starving to death for the sound of a girl's voice； and the sight of a girl's
smile。 Isn't this square； waiting for you； and telling you the whole truth？ I
never saw her but once； and that was from this same hill。 She didn't know
I was watching； it was yesterday。 Maybe all I'm saying sounds just crazy
to you； and I reckon I am out of my senses； but until I saw her I didn't
know how heart…sick I was of the whole business。〃
〃It IS kinder lonesome；〃 remarked the other gruffly。 He lowered his
gun and leaned on it； irresolutely。 〃You've sure touched me in the right
spot； son； for I knows all you mean and more that you ain't even ever
dreampt of。 But you see； we don't know nothing about your name； your
character； if you've got one； nor what you really intends。 I like your looks
and the way you talk； fine； just fine； but I've saw bobcats that was mighty
sleek and handsome when they didn't know I was nigh。〃
〃My name in Wilfred Compton。 II have a letter or two in my pocket
that I got a long time ago； they'd tell something about me but I'd rather not
show 'em； as they're private〃
〃From your gal； I reckon？〃 asked Willock more mildly。
〃Yes；〃 he answered gloomily。
〃Carried 'em as long as a year？〃
〃Nearly two years。〃
〃Mean to still lug 'em around？〃
〃Of course I'm going to keep 'em。〃
〃Well； I don't deny THAT'S pretty favorable。 Now look here； son； I've
been half…crazy from lonesomeness； and I don't believe I've got the heart
to send you away。 That gal of oursshe's just a kid； you understand。。。。
Now you wouldn't be taking up no idea that she was what you'd classify as
a young lady； or anything like that； eh？〃
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〃Of course notshe's fifteen or sixteen； I should think。 Upon my honor；
Willock； any thought of sentiment or romance is a thousand miles from
my mind。〃
〃Yes； just so。 But such thoughts travels powerful fast； don't take 'em
long to lap over a thousand mile。〃
〃But it's because she IS a young girl； fresh and unartificial as the
mountain breezes； that I want to be with her for a little whileyes； get to
know her； if I may。〃
Willock turned to the taciturn old man standing a little behind him。
〃Bill Atkins； what do you say？〃
〃I say； fire him and do it quick！〃 was the instant rejoinder；
accompanied by threatening twitchings of the huge white mustache。
Willock was not convinced。 〃Son； if you sets here till we have had our
breakfast； and has held a caucus over you； I'll bring you the verdict in
about an hour。 If you don't like that； they's nothing to do but put out for
your ranch。〃
〃I go on duty at seven；〃 replied the young man composedly； 〃but I
have a friend riding the line that'll stay with it till I come。 So I'll wait for
your caucus。〃
〃That friendone of them devils I shot at the other day？〃
Wilfred Compton smiled with sudden sunniness。 〃Yes。〃
Somewhere beneath the immense whiskers； an answering smile
slipped like a breeze； stirring the iron…gray hair。 〃I kinder believe in you；
son！ Nobody can't gainsay that you've played the man in this matter。 Now；
just one thing more。 You must swear here before me； with Bill Atkins for
an unwilling witness； that should we let you make the acquaintance of our
little gal； and should you get to be friends； you two； that the very fust
minute it comes to you that she ain't no little gal； but is in the way of being
food for loveBill Atkins； air I making myself plain？〃
〃You ain't；〃 returned the old man sourly。 〃You're too complicated for
ordinary use。〃
〃Then YOU tell him what I mean。〃
The old man glared at Wilfred fiercely。 〃If we decide to grant your
request； young man； swear on your honor that the second you find yourself
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thinking of our little girl as a WOMAN； to be wooed and won； you'll put
out； and never stop till you're so far away； you'll be clear out of her world。
And not one word to her； not so much as one hint； mind you； as to the
reason of your going； it'll just be good…by and farewell！〃
〃You see；〃 Willock interpolated； 〃she is nothing a little gal； and we
don't want no foolish ideas to the contrary。 You takes her for what she is；
nothing took from nor added to。 In course； she'll be growed up some day； I
reckon； though may the good Lord take a good long time finishing up the
work He's begun so noble。 When she's growed up； when she's a woman； it
