the man of the forest-第46节

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there　were　several　hundred；　not　counting　many　lost　on　range
and　mountain；　or　the　unbranded　colts。

Roy　took　off　his　sombrero　and　greeted　her。　　This　Mormon　had　a
courtesy　for　women　that　spoke　well　for　him。　　Helen　wished　she
had　more　employees　like　him。

〃It's　jest　as　Las　Vegas　told　us　it　'd　be；〃　he　said；
regretfully。　　〃Mulvey　an'　his　pards　lit　out　this　mornin'。　　I'm
sorry；　Miss　Helen。　　Reckon　thet's　all　because　I　come　over。〃

〃I　heard　the　news；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃You　needn't　be　sorry；
Roy；　for　I'm　not。　　I'm　glad。　　I　want　to　know　whom　I　can
trust。〃

〃Las　Vegas　says　we're　shore　in　for　it　now。〃

〃Roy；　what　do　you　think？〃

〃I　reckon　so。　　Still；　Las　Vegas　is　powerful　cross　these　days
an'　always　lookin'　on　the　dark　side。　　With　us　boys；　now；　it's
sufficient　unto　the　day　is　the　evil　thereof。　　But；　Miss
Helen；　if　Beasley　forces　the　deal　there　will　be　serious
trouble。　　I've　seen　thet　happen。　　Four　or　five　years　ago
Beasley　rode　some　greasers　off　their　farms　an'　no　one　ever
knowed　if　he　had　a　just　claim。〃

〃Beasley　has　no　claim　on　my　property。　　My　uncle　solemnly
swore　that　on　his　death…bed。　　And　I　find　nothing　in　his　books
or　papers　of　those　years　when　he　employed　Beasley。　　In　fact；
Beasley　was　never　uncle's　partner。　　The　truth　is　that　my
uncle　took　Beasley　up　when　he　was　a　poor；　homeless　boy。〃

〃So　my　old　dad　says；〃　replied　Roy。　　〃But　what's　right　don't
always　prevail　in　these　parts。〃

〃Roy；　you're　the　keenest　man　I've　met　since　I　came　West。
Tell　me　what　you　think　will　happen。〃

Beeman　appeared　flattered；　but　be　hesitated　to　reply。　　Helen
had　long　been　aware　of　the　reticence　of　these　outdoor　men。

〃I　reckon　you　mean　cause　an'　effect；　as　Milt　Dale　would
say；〃　responded　Roy；　thoughtfully。

〃Yes。　　If　Beasley　attempts　to　force　me　off　my　ranch　what　will
happen？〃

Roy　looked　up　and　met　her　gaze。　　Helen　remembered　that
singular　stillness；　intentness　of　his　face。

〃Wal；　if　Dale　an'　John　get　here　in　time　I　reckon　we　can
bluff　thet　Beasley　outfit。〃

〃You　mean　my　friends　　my　men　would　confront　Beasley　
refuse　his　demands　　and　if　necessary　fight　him　off？〃

〃I　shore　do；〃　replied　Roy。

〃But　suppose　you're　not　all　here？　　Beasley　would　be　smart
enough　to　choose　an　opportune　time。　　Suppose　he　did　put　me
off　and　take　possession？　　What　then？〃

〃Then　it　'd　only　be　a　matter　of　how　soon　Dale　or　Carmichael
　or　I　　got　to　Beasley。〃

〃Roy！　　I　feared　just　that。　　It　haunts　me。　　Carmichael　asked　me
to　let　him　go　pick　a　fight　with　Beasley。　　Asked　me；　just　as
he　would　ask　me　about　his　work！　　I　was　shocked。　　And　now　you
say　Dale　　and　you　〃

Helen　choked　in　her　agitation。

〃Miss　Helen；　what　else　could　you　look　for？　　Las　Vegas　is　in
love　with　Miss　Bo。　　Shore　he　told　me　so。　　An'　Dale's　in　love
with　you！　　。　。　。　　Why；　you　couldn't　stop　them　any　more　'n　you
could　stop　the　wind　from　blowin'　down　a　pine；　when　it　got
ready。　。　。　。　　Now；　it's　some　different　with　me。　　I'm　a　Mormon
an'　I'm　married。　　But　I'm　Dale's　pard；　these　many　years。　　An'
I　care　a　powerful　sight　for　you　an'　Miss　Bo。　　So　I　reckon　I'd
draw　on　Beasley　the　first　chance　I　got。〃

Helen　strove　for　utterance；　but　it　was　denied　her。　　Roy's
simple　statement　of　Dale's　love　had　magnified　her　emotion　by
completely　changing　its　direction。　　She　forgot　what　she　had
felt　wretched　about。　　She　could　not　look　at　Roy。

〃Miss　Helen；　don't　feel　bad；〃　he　said；　kindly。　　〃Shore　you're
not　to　blame。　　Your　comin'　West　hasn't　made　any　difference　in
Beasley's　fate；　except　mebbe　to　hurry　it　a　little。　　My　dad　is
old；　an'　when　he　talks　it's　like　history。　　He　looks　back　on
happenin's。　　Wal；　it's　the　nature　of　happenin's　that　Beasley
passes　away　before　his　prime。　　Them　of　his　breed　don't　live
old　in　the　West。　。　。　。　　So　I　reckon　you　needn't　feel　bad　or
worry。　　you've　got　friends。〃

Helen　incoherently　thanked　him；　and；　forgetting　her　usual
round　of　corrals　and　stables；　she　hurried　back　toward　the
house；　deeply　stirred；　throbbing　and　dim…eyed；　with　a
feeling　she　could　not　control。　　Roy　Beeman　had　made　a
statement　that　had　upset　her　equilibrium。　　It　seemed　simple
and　natural；　yet　momentous　and　staggering。　　To　hear　that　Dale
loved　her　　to　hear　it　spoken　frankly；　earnestly；　by　Dale's
best　friend；　was　strange；　sweet；　terrifying。　　But　was　it
true？　　Her　own　consciousness　had　admitted　it。　　Yet　that　was
vastly　different　from　a　man's　open　statement。　　No　longer　was
it　a　dear　dream；　a　secret　that　seemed　hers　alone。　　How　she
had　lived　on　that　secret　hidden　deep　in　her　breast！

Something　burned　the　dimness　from　her　eyes　as　she　looked
toward　the　mountains　and　her　sight　became　clear；　telescopic
with　its　intensity。　　Magnificently　the　mountains　loomed。
Black　inroads　and　patches　on　the　slopes　showed　where　a　few
days　back　all　bad　been　white。　　The　snow　was　melting　fast。
Dale　would　soon　be　free　to　ride　down　to　Pine。　　And　that　was
an　event　Helen　prayed　for；　yet　feared　as　she　had　never
feared　anything。


The　noonday　dinner…bell　startled　Helen　from　a　reverie　that
was　a　pleasant　aftermath　of　her　unrestraint。　　How　the　hours
had　flown！　　This　morning　at　least　must　be　credited　to
indolence。

Bo　was　not　in　the　dining…room；　nor　in　her　own　room；　nor　was
she　in　sight　from　window　or　door。　　This　absence　had　occurred
before；　but　not　particularly　to　disturb　Helen。　　In　this
instance；　however；　she　grew　worried。　　Her　nerves　presaged
strain。　　There　was　an　overcharge　of　sensibility　in　her
feelings　or　a　strange　pressure　in　the　very　atmosphere。　　She
ate　dinner　alone；　looking　her　apprehension；　which　was　not
mitigated　by　the　expressive　fears　of　old　Maria；　the　Mexican
woman　who　served　her。

After　dinner　she　sent　word　to　Roy　and　Carmichael　that　they
had　better　ride　out　to　look　for　Bo。　　Then　Helen　applied
herself　resolutely　to　her　books　until　a　rapid　clatter　of
hoofs　out　in　the　court　caused　her　to　jump　up　and　hurry　to
the　porch。　　Roy　was　riding　in。

〃Did　you　find　her？〃　queried　Helen；　hurriedly。

〃Wasn't　no　track　or　sign　of　her　up　the　north　range；〃　replied
Roy；　as　he　dismounted　and　threw　his　bridle。　　〃An'　I　was
ridin'　back　to　take　up　her　tracks　from　the　corral　an'　trail
her。　　But　I　seen　Las　Vegas　comin'　an'　he　waved　his　sombrero。
He　was　comin'　up　from　the　south。　　There　he　is　now。〃

Carmichael　appeared　swinging　into　the　lane。　　He　was　mounted
on　Helen's　big　black　Ranger；　and　he　made　the　dust　fly。

〃Wal；　he's　seen　her；　thet's　shore；〃　vouchsafed　Roy；　with
relief；　as　Carmichael　rode　up。

〃Miss　Neil；　she's　comin'；〃　said　the　cowboy；　as　he　reined　in
and　slid　down　with　his　graceful　single　motion。　　Then　in　a
violent　action；　characteristic　of　him；　he　slammed　his
sombrero　down　on　the　porch　and　threw　up　both　arms。　　〃I've　a
hunch　it's　come　off！〃

〃Oh；　what？〃　exclaimed　Helen。

〃Now；　Las　Vegas；　talk　sense；〃　expostulated　Roy。　　〃Miss　Helen
is　shore　nervous　to…day。　　Has　anythin'　happened？〃

〃I　reckon；　but　I　don't　know　what；〃　replied　Carmichael；
drawing　a；　long　breath。　　〃Folks；　I　must　be　gettin'　old。　　For　I
shore　felt　orful　queer　till　I　seen　Bo。　　She　was　ridin'　down
the　ridge　across　the　valley。　　Ridin'　some　fast；　too；　an'
she'll　be　here　right　off；　if　she　doesn't　stop　in　the
village。〃

〃Wal；　I　hear　her　comin'　now；〃　said　Roy。　　〃An'　　if　you　asked
me　I'd　say　she　WAS　ridin'　some　fast。〃

Helen　heard　the　light；　swift；　rhythmic　beat　of　hoofs；　and
then　out　on　the　curve　of　the　road　that　led　down　to　Pine　she
saw　Bo's　mustang；　white　with　lather；　coming　on　a　dead　run。

〃Las　Vegas；　do　you　see　any　Apaches？〃　asked　Roy；　quizzingly。

The　cowboy　made　no　reply；　but　he　strode　out　from　the　porch；
directly　in　front　of　the　mustang。　　Bo　was　pulling　hard　on　the
bridle；　and　had　him　slowing　down；　but　not　controlled。　　When
he　reached　the　house　it　could　easily　be　seen　that　Bo　had
pulled　him　to　the　limit　of　her　strength；　which　was　not
enough　to　halt　him。　　Carmichael　lunged　for　the　bridle　and；
seizing　it；　hauled　him　to　a　standstill。

At　close　sight　of　Bo　Helen　uttered　a　startled　cry。　　Bo　was
white；　her　sombrero　was　gone　and　her　hair　undone；　there　were
blood　and　dirt　on　her　face；　and　her　riding…suit　was　torn　and
muddy。　　She　had　evidently　sustained　a　fall。　　Roy　gazed　at　her
in　admiring　consternation；　but　Carmichael　never　looked　at
her　at　all。　　Apparently　he　was　examining　the　horse。　　〃Well；
help　me　off　　somebody；〃　cried　Bo；　peremptorily。　　Her　voice
was　weak；　but　not　her　spirit。

Roy　sprang　to　help　her　off；　and　when　she　was　down　it
developed　that　she　was　lame。

〃Oh；　Bo！　　You've　had　a　tumble；〃　exclaimed　Helen；　anxiously；
and　she　ran　to　assist　Roy。　　They　led　her　up　the　porch　and　to
the　door。　　There　she　turned　to　look　at　Carmichael；　who　was
still　examining　the　spent　mustang。

〃Tell　him　　to　come　in；〃　she　whispered。

〃Hey；　there；　Las　Vegas！〃　called　Roy。　　〃Rustle　hyar；　will
you？〃

When　Bo　had　been　led　into　the　sitting…room　and　seated　in　a
chair　Carmichael　entered。　　His　face　was　a　study；　as　slowly　he
walked　up　to　Bo。

〃Girl；　you　　ain't　hurt？〃　he　asked；　huskily。

〃It's　no　fault　of　yours　that　I'm　not　crippled　　or　dead　or
worse；〃　retorted　Bo。　　〃You　said　the　south　range　was　the　only
safe　ride　for　me。　　And　there　　I　　it　happened。〃

She　panted　a　little　and　her　bosom　heaved。　　One　of　her
gauntlets　was　gone；　and　the　bare　band；　that　was　bruised　and
bloody；　tremble