the flying u ranch-第3节

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Miguel；　seated　upon　a　convenient　rock　in　a　sunny　spot；　was

painstakingly　combing　out　the　tangled　hair　of　his　chaps；　which　he

had　washed　quite　as　carefully　not　long　before；　as　the　cake　of

soap　beside　him　testified。



〃Combingcombinghis　chaps；　by　cripes！〃　Big　Medicine　gasped；

and　waggled　his　finger　at　the　spectacle。　〃Haw…haw…haw！　C…

combin'hischaps！〃



Miguel　glanced　up　at　them　as　impersonally　as　if　they　were　two

cackling　hens；　rather　than　derisive　humans；　then　bent　his　head

over　a　stubborn　knot　and　whistled　La　Paloma　softly　while　he

coaxed　out　the　tangle。



Pink's　eyes　widened　as　he　looked；　but　he　did　not　say　anything。　He

backed　up　the　path　and　went　thoughtfully　to　the　corrals；　leaving

Big　Medicine　to　follow　or　not；　as　he　chose。



〃Combin'his　chaps；　by　cripes！〃　came　rumbling　behind　him。　Pink

turned。



〃Say！　Don't　make　so　much　noise　about　it；〃　he　advised　guardedly。

〃I've　got　an　idea。〃



〃Yuh　want　to　hog…tie　it；　then；〃　Big　Medicine　retorted；　resentful

because　Pink　seemed　not　to　grasp　the　full　humor　of　the　thing。

〃Idees　sure　seems　to　be　skurce　in　this　outfitor　that　there

lily…uh…the…valley　couldn't　set　and　comb　no　chaps　in　broad

daylight；　by　cripes；　not　and　get　off　with　it。〃



〃He's　an　ornament　to　the　Flying　U；〃　Pink　stated　dreamily。　〃Us

boneheads　don't　appreciate　him；　is　all　that　ails　us。　What　we

ought　to　do　ishelp　him　be　as　pretty　as　he　wants　to　be；　and〃



〃Looky　here；　Little　One。〃　Big　Medicine　hurried　his　steps　until　he

was　close　alongside。　〃I　wouldn't　give　a　punched　nickel　for　a

four…horse　load　uh　them　idees；　and　that's　the　truth。〃　He　passed

Pink　and　went　on　ahead；　disgust　in　every　line　of　his　square…

shouldered　figure。　〃Combin'　his　chaps；　by　cripes！〃　he　snorted

again；　and　straightway　told　the　tale　profanely　to　his　fellows；

who　laughed　until　they　were　weak　and　watery…eyed　as　they

listened。



Afterward；　because　Pink　implored　them　and　made　a　mystery　of　it；

they　invited　Miguel　to　take　a　hand　in　a　long…winded　gamerather；

a　series　of　gamesof　seven…up；　while　his　chaps　hung　to　dry　upon

a　willow　by　the　creek　bankor　so　he　believed。



The　chaps；　however；　were　up　in　the　white…house　kitchen；　where

were　also　the　reek　of　scorched　hair　and　the　laughing

expostulations　of　the　Little　Doctor　and　the　boyish　titter　of　Pink

and　Irish；　who　were　curling　laboriously　the　chaps　of　Miguel　with

the　curling　tongs　of　the　Little　Doctor　and　those　of　the　Countess

besides。



〃It's　a　shame；　and　I　just　hope　Miguel　thrashes　you　both　for　it；〃

the　Little　Doctor　told　them　more　than　once；　but　she　laughed；

nevertheless；　and　showed　Pink　how　to　give　the　twist　which　made　of

each　lock　a　corkscrew　ringlet。　The　Countess　stopped；　with　her

dishcloth　dangling　from　one　red；　bony　hand；　while　she　looked。

〃You　boys　couldn't　sleep　nights　if　you　didn't　pester　the　life

outa　somebody；〃　she　scolded。　〃Seems　to　me　I'd　friz　them　diamonds；

if　I　was　goin'　to　be　mean　enough　to　do　anything。〃



〃You　would；　eh？〃　Pink　glanced　up　at　her　and　dimpled。　〃I'll　find

you　a　rich　husband　to　pay　for　that。〃　He　straightway　proceeded　to

friz　the　diamonds　of　white。



〃Why　don't　you　have　a　strip　of　ringlets　down　each　leg；　with　tight

little　curls　between？〃　suggested　the　Little　Doctor；　not　to　be

outdone　by　any　other　woman。



〃Correct　you　are；〃　praised　Irish。



〃And；　remember；　you're　not　heating　branding…irons；　mister　man；〃

she　added。　〃You'll　burn　all　the　hair　off；　if　you　let　the　tongs

get　red…hot。　Just　so　they'll　sizzle；　I've　told　you　five　times

already。〃　She　picked　up　the　Kid；　kissed　many　times　the　finger　he

held　up　for　sympathythe　finger　with　which　he　had　touched　the

tongs　as　Pink　was　putting　them　back　into　the　grate　of　the　kitchen

stove；　and　spoke　again　to　ease　her　conscience。　〃I　think　it's

awfully　mean　of　you　to　do　it。　Miguel　ought　to　thrash　you　both。〃



〃We're　dead　willing　to　let　him　try；　Mrs。　Chip。　We　know　it's　mean。

We're　real　ashamed　of　ourselves。〃　Irish　tested　his　tongs　as　he

had　been　told　to　do。　〃But　we'd　rather　be　ashamed　than　good；　any

old　time。〃



The　Little　Doctor　giggled　behind　the　Kid's　tousled　curls；　and

reached　out　a　slim　hand　once　more　to　give　Pink's　tongs　the　expert

twist　he　was　trying　awkwardly　to　learn。　〃I'm　sorry　for　Miguel；

he's　got　lovely　eyes；　anyway。〃



〃Yes；　ain't　he？〃　Pink　looked　up　briefly　from　his　task。　〃How's

your　leg；　Irish？　Mine's　done。〃



〃Seems　to　me　I'd　make　a　deep　border　of　them　corkscrew　curls　all

around　the　bottoms；　if　I　was　doin'　it；〃　said　the　Countess

peevishly；　from　the　kitchen　sink。　〃If　I　was　that　dago　I'd　murder

the　hull　outfit；　I　never　did　see　a　body　so　hectored　in　my　life

and　him　not　ever　ketchin'　on。　He　must　be　plumb　simple…minded。〃



When　the　curling　was　done　to　the　hilarious　satisfaction　of　Irish

and　Pink；　and；　while　Pink　was　dancing　in　them　to　show　them　off；

another　entered　with　mail　from　town。　And；　because　the　mail…

bearer　was　Andy　Green　himself；　back　from　a　winter's　journeyings；

Cal；　Happy　Jack　and　Slim　followed　close　behind；　talking　all　at

once；　in　their　joy　at　beholding　the　man　they　loved　well　and　hated

occasionally　also。　Andy　delivered　the　mail　into　the　hands　of　the

Little　Doctor；　pinched　the　Kid's　cheek；　and　said　how　he　had　grown

good…looking　as　his　mother；　almost；　spoke　a　cheerful　howdy　to　the

Countess；　and　turned　to　shake　hands　with　Pink。　It　was　then　that

the　honest；　gray　eyes　of　him　widened　with　amazement。



〃Well；　by　golly！〃　gasped　Slim；　goggling　at　the　chaps　of　Miguel。



〃That　there　Natiff　Son'll　just　about　kill　yuh　for　that；〃　warned

Happy　Jack；　as　mournfully　as　he　might　with　laughing。　〃He'll　knife

yuh；　sure。〃



Andy；　demanding　the　meaning　of　it　all；　learned　all　about　Miguel

Rapponifrom　the　viewpoint　of　the　Happy　Family。　At　least；　he

learned　as　much　as　it　was　politic　to　tell　in　the　presence　of　the

Little　Doctor；　and　afterward；　while　Pink　was　putting　the　chaps

back　upon　the　willow；　where　Miguel　had　left　them；　he　was　told

that　they　looked　to　him；　Andy　Green；　for　assistance。



〃Oh；　gosh！　You　don't　want　to　depend　on　me；　Pink；〃　Andy

expostulated　modestly。　〃I　can't　think　of　anythingand；　besides；

I've　reformed。　I　don't　know　as　it's　any　compliment　to　me；　by

graciousbeing　told　soon　as　I　land　that　I'm　expected　to　lie　to　a

perfect　stranger。〃



〃You　come　on　down　to　the　stable　and　take　a　look　at　his　saddle　and

bridle；〃　urged　Cal。　〃And　wait　till　you　see　him　smoking　and

looking　past　you；　as　if　you　was　an　ornery　little　peak　that　didn't

do　nothing　but　obstruct　the　scenery。　I've　seen　mean　cusseslots

of　'em；　and　I've　seen　men　that　was　stuck　on　themselves。　But　I

never〃



〃Come　outa　that　'doby；〃　Pink　interrupted；　〃mud　to　his　eyebrows；

just　about。　And　he　knew　darned　well　we　headed　him　in　there

deliberate。　And　when　I　remarks　it's　soft　going；　he　says：　'It　is；

kinda；'just　like　that。〃　Pink　managed　to　imitate　the　languid

tone　of　Miguel　very　well。　〃Not　another　word　outa　him。　Didn't　even

make　him　mad！　He〃



〃Tell　him　about　the　parrots；　Slim；〃　Cal　suggested　soberly。　But

Slim　only　turned　purple　at　the　memory；　and　swore。



〃Old　Patsy　sure　has　got　it　in　for　him；〃　Happy　Jack　observed。　〃He

asked　Patsy　if　he　ever　had　enchiladas。　Patsy　won't　speak　to　him

no　more。　He　claims　Mig…u…ell　insulted　him。　He　told　Mig…u…ell〃



〃Enchiladas　are　sure　fine　eating；〃　said　Andy。　〃I　took　to　'em　like

a　she…bear　to　honey；　down　in　New　Mexico　this　winter。　Your　Native

Son　is　solid　there；　all　right。〃



〃Aw；　gwan！　He　ain't　solid　nowhere　but　in　the　head。　Maybe　you'll

love　him　to　death　when　yuh　see　himchances　is　you　will；　if

you've　took　to　eatin'　dago　grub。〃



Andy　patted　Happy　Jack　reassuringly　on　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　get

excited；〃　he　soothed。　〃I'll　put　it　all　over　the　gentleman；　just

to　show　my　heart's　in　the　right　place。　Just　this　once；　though；

I've　reformed。　And　I've　got　to　have　time　to　size　him　up。　Where　do

you　keep　him　when　he　ain't　in　the　show　window？〃　He　swung　into

step　with　Pink。　〃I'll　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　confided

engagingly。　〃Any　man　that'll　wear　chaps　like　he's　goteven

leaving　out　the　extra　finish　you　fellows　have　given　'emhad

ought　to　be　taught　a　lesson　he'll　remember。　He　sure　must　be　a

tough　proposition；　if　the　whole　bunch　of　yuh　have　had　to　give　him

up。　By　gracious〃



〃We　haven't　tried；〃　Pink　defended。　〃It　kinda　looked　to　us　as　if

he　was　aiming　to　make　us　guy　him；　so　we　didn't。　We've　left　him

strictly　alone。　To…day〃he　glanced　over　his　shoulder　to　where

the　becurled　chaps　swung　comically　from　the　willow

branch〃to…day's　the　first　time　anybody's　made　a　move。　Unless；〃

he　added；　as　an　afterthought；　〃you　count　yesterday　in　the　'doby

patchand　even　then　we　didn't　tell　him　to　ride　into　it；　we　just

let　him　do　it。〃



〃And　kinda　herded　him　over　towards　it；〃　Cal　amended　slyly。



〃Can　he　ride？〃　asked　Andy；　going　straight　to　the　main　point；　in

the　mind　of　a　cowpuncher。



〃W…e…ell…he　hasn't　been　piled；　so　far。　But　then；〃　Pink　qualified

hastily；　〃he　hasn't　topped　anything　worse　than　Crow…　hop。　He