riders of the purple sage-第32节

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all　redemption！　Yet　ever　and　ever　Lassiter　towered　above　her；　and　behind　or　through　his　black；　sinister　figure　shone　something　luminous　that　strangely　affected　Jane。　Good　and　evil　began　to　seem　incomprehensibly　blended　in　her　judgment。　It　was　her　belief　that　evil　could　not　come　forth　from　good；　yet　here　was　a　murderer　who　dwarfed　in　gentleness；　patience；　and　love　any　man　she　had　ever　known。

She　had　almost　lost　track　of　her　more　outside　concerns　when　early　one　morning　Judkins　presented　himself　before　her　in　the　courtyard。

Thin；　hard；　burnt；　bearded；　with　the　dust　and　sage　thick　on　him；　with　his　leather　wrist…bands　shining　from　use；　and　his　boots　worn　through　on　the　stirrup　side；　he　looked　the　rider　of　riders。　He　wore　two　guns　and　carried　a　Winchester。

Jane　greeted　him　with　surprise　and　warmth；　set　meat　and　bread　and　drink　before　him；　and　called　Lassiter　out　to　see　him。　The　men　exchanged　glances；　and　the　meaning　of　Lassiter's　keen　inquiry　and　Judkins's　bold　reply；　both　unspoken；　was　not　lost　upon　Jane。

〃Where's　your　hoss？〃　asked　Lassiter；　aloud。

〃Left　him　down　the　slope；〃　answered　Judkins。　〃I　footed　it　in　a　ways；　an'　slept　last　night　in　the　sage。　I　went　to　the　place　you　told　me　you　'moss　always　slept；　but　didn't　strike　you。〃

〃I　moved　up　some；　near　the　spring；　an'　now　I　go　there　nights。〃

〃Judkinsthe　white　herd？〃　queried　Jane；　hurriedly。

〃Miss　Withersteen；　I　make　proud　to　say　I've　not　lost　a　steer。　Fer　a　good　while　after　thet　stampede　Lassiter　milled　we　hed　no　trouble。　Why；　even　the　sage　dogs　left　us。　But　it's　begun　aginthet　flashin'　of　lights　over　ridge　tips；　an'　queer　puffin'　of　smoke；　en'　then　at　night　strange　whistles　en'　noises。　But　the　herd's　acted　magnificent。　An'　my　boys；　say；　Miss　Withersteen；　they're　only　kids；　but　I　ask　no　better　riders。　I　got　the　laugh　in　the　village　fer　takin'　them　out。　They're　a　wild　lot；　an'　you　know　boys　hev　more　nerve　than　grown　men；　because　they　don't　know　what　danger　is。

〃I'm　not　denyin'　there's　danger。　But　they　glory　in　it；　an'　mebbe　I　like　it　myselfanyway；　we'll　stick。　We're　goin'　to　drive　the　herd　on　the　far　side　of　the　first　break　of　Deception　Pass。　There's　a　great　round　valley　over　there；　an'　no　ridges　or　piles　of　rocks　to　aid　these　stampeders。　The　rains　are　due。　We'll　hev　plenty　of　water　fer　a　while。　An'　we　can　hold　thet　herd　from　anybody　except　Oldrin'。　I　come　in　fer　supplies。　I'll　pack　a　couple　of　burros　an'　drive　out　after　dark　to…night。〃

〃Judkins；　take　what　you　want　from　the　store…room。　Lassiter　will　help　you。　II　can't　thank　you　enough。。。butwait。〃

Jane　went　to　the　room　that　had　once　been　her　father's；　and　from　a　secret　chamber　in　the　thick　stone　wall　she　took　a　bag　of　gold；　and；　carrying　it　back　to　the　court；　she　gave　it　to　the　rider。

〃There；　Judkins；　and　understand　that　I　regard　it　as　little　for　your　loyalty。　Give　what　is　fair　to　your　boys；　and　keep　the　rest。　Hide　it。　Perhaps　that　would　be　wisest。〃

〃Oh。。。Miss　Withersteen！〃　ejaculated　the　rider。　〃I　couldn't　earn　so　much　inin　ten　years。　It's　not　rightI　oughtn't　take　it。〃

〃Judkins；　you　know　I'm　a　rich　woman。　I　tell　you　I've　few　faithful　friends。　I've　fallen　upon　evil　days。　God　only　knows　what　will　become　of　me　and　mine！　So　take　the　gold。〃

She　smiled　in　understanding　of　his　speechless　gratitude；　and　left　him　with　Lassiter。　Presently　she　heard　him　speaking　low　at　first；　then　in　louder　accents　emphasized　by　the　thumping　of　his　rifle　on　the　stones。

〃As　infernal　a　job　as　even　you；　Lassiter；　ever　heerd　of。〃

〃Why；　son；〃　was　Lassiter's　reply；　〃this　breakin'　of　Miss　Withersteen　may　seem　bad　to　you；　but　it　ain't　badyet。　Some　of　these　wall…eyed　fellers　who　look　jest　as　if　they　was　walkin'　in　the　shadow　of　Christ　himself；　right　down　the　sunny　road；　now　they　can　think　of　things　en'　do　things　that　are　really　hell…bent。〃

Jane　covered　her　ears　and　ran　to　her　own　room；　and　there　like　caged　lioness　she　paced　to　and　fro　till　the　coming　of　little　Fay　reversed　her　dark　thoughts。

The　following　day；　a　warm　and　muggy　one　threatening　rain　awhile　Jane　was　resting　in　the　court；　a　horseman　clattered　through　he　grove　and　up　to　the　hitching…rack。　He　leaped　off　and　approached　Jane　with　the　manner　of　a　man　determined　to　execute　difficult　mission；　yet　fearful　of　its　reception。　In　the　gaunt；　wiry　figure　and　the　lean；　brown　face　Jane　recognized　one　of　her　Mormon　riders；　Blake。　It　was　he　of　whom　Judkins　had　long　since　spoken。　Of　all　the　riders　ever　in　her　employ　Blake　owed　her　the　most；　and　as　he　stepped　before　her；　removing　his　hat　and　making　manly　efforts　to　subdue　his　emotion；　he　showed　that　he　remembered。

〃Miss　Withersteen；　mother's　dead；〃　he　said。

〃OhBlake！〃　exclaimed　Jane；　and　she　could　say　no　more。

〃She　died　free　from　pain　in　the　end；　and　she's　buriedresting　at　last；　thank　God！。。。I've　come　to　ride　for　you　again；　if　you'll　have　me。　Don't　think　I　mentioned　mother　to　get　your　sympathy。　When　she　was　living　and　your　riders　quit；　I　had　to　also。　I　was　afraid　of　what　might　be　done…　…said　to　her。。。。Miss　Withersteen；　we　can't　talk　ofof　what's　going　on　now〃

〃Blake；　do　you　know？〃

〃I　know　a　great　deal。　You　understand；　my　lips　are　shut。　But　without　explanation　or　excuse　I　offer　my　services。　I'm　a　MormonI　hope　a　good　one。　Butthere　are　some　things！。。。It's　no　use；　Miss　Withersteen；　I　can't　say　any　morewhat　I'd　like　to。　But　will　you　take　me　back？〃

〃Blake！。。。You　know　what　it　means？〃

〃I　don't　care。　I'm　sick　ofofI'll　show　you　a　Mormon　who'll　be　true　to　you！〃

〃But；　Blakehow　terribly　you　might　suffer　for　that！〃

〃Maybe。　Aren't　you　suffering　now？〃

〃God　knows　indeed　I　am！〃

〃Miss　Withersteen；　it's　a　liberty　on　my　part　to　speak　so；　but　I　know　you　pretty　wellknow　you'll　never　give　in。　I　wouldn't　if　I　were　you。　And　II　mustSomething　makes　me　tell　you　the　worst　is　yet　to　come。　That's　all。　I　absolutely　can't　say　more。　Will　you　take　me　backlet　me　ride　for　youshow　everybody　what　I　mean？〃

〃Blake；　it　makes　me　happy　to　hear　you。　How　my　riders　hurt　me　when　they　quit！〃　Jane　felt　the　hot　tears　well　to　her　eyes　and　splash　down　upon　her　hands。　〃I　thought　so　much　of　themtried　so　hard　to　be　good　to　them。　And　not　one　was　true。　You've　made　it　easy　to　forgive。　Perhaps　many　of　them　really　feel　as　you　do；　but　dare　not　return　to　me。　Still；　Blake；　I　hesitate　to　take　you　back。　Yet　I　want　you　so　much。〃

〃Do　it；　then。　If　you're　going　to　make　your　life　a　lesson　to　Mormon　women；　let　me　make　mine　a　lesson　to　the　men。　Right　is　right。　I　believe　in　you；　and　here's　my　life　to　prove　it。〃

〃You　hint　it　may　mean　your　life！〃　said　Jane；　breathless　and　low。

〃We　won't　speak　of　that。　I　want　to　come　back。　I　want　to　do　what　every　rider　aches　in　his　secret　heart　to　do　for　you。。。。Miss　Withersteen；　I　hoped　it'd　not　be　necessary　to　tell　you　that　my　mother　on　her　deathbed　told　me　to　have　courage。　She　knew　how　the　thing　galled　meshe　told　me　to　come　back。。。。Will　you　take　me？〃

〃God　bless　you；　Blake！　Yes；　I'll　take　you　back。　And　will　youwill　you　accept　gold　from　me？〃

〃Miss　Withersteen！〃

〃I　just　gave　Judkins　a　bag　of　gold。　I'll　give　you　one。　If　you　will　not　take　it　you　must　not　come　back。　You　might　ride　for　me　a　few　months　weeksdays　till　the　storm　breaks。　Then　you'd　have　nothing；　and　be　in　disgrace　with　your　people。　We'll　forearm　you　against　poverty；　and　me　against　endless　regret。　I'll　give　you　gold　which　you　can　hidetill　some　future　time。〃

〃Well；　if　it　pleases　you；〃　replied　Blake。　〃But　you　know　I　never　thought　of　pay。　Now；　Miss　Withersteen；　one　thing　more。　I　want　to　see　this　man　Lassiter。　Is　he　here？〃

〃Yes；　but；　BlakewhatNeed　you　see　him？　Why？〃　asked　Jane；　instantly　worried。　〃I　can　speak　to　himtell　him　about　you。〃

〃That　won't　do。　I　want　toI've　got　to　tell　him　myself。　Where　is　he？〃

〃Lassiter　is　with　Mrs。　Larkin。　She　is　ill。　I'll　call　him；〃　answered　Jane；　and　going　to　the　door　she　softly　called　for　the　rider。　A　faint；　musical　jingle　preceded　his　stepthen　his　tall　form　crossed　the　threshold。

〃Lassiter；　here's　Blake；　an　old　rider　of　mine。　He　has　come　back　to　me　and　he　wishes　to　speak　to　you。〃

Blake's　brown　face　turned　exceedingly　pale。

〃Yes；　I　had　to　speak　to　you；〃　he　said；　swiftly。　〃My　name's　Blake。　I'm　a　Mormon　and　a　rider。　Lately　I　quit　Miss　Withersteen。　I've　come　to　beg　her　to　take　me　back。　Now　I　don't　know　you；　but　I　knowwhat　you　are。　So　I've　this　to　say　to　your　face。　It　would　never　occur　to　this　woman　to　imaginelet　alone　suspect　me　to　be　a　spy。　She　couldn't　think　it　might　just　be　a　low　plot　to　come　here　and　shoot　you　in　the　back。　Jane　Withersteen　hasn't　that　kind　of　a　mind。。。。Well；　I've　not　come　for　that。　I　want　to　help　herto　pull　a　bridle　along　with　Judkins　andand　you。　The　thing　isdo　you　believe　me？〃

〃I　reckon　I　do；〃　replied　Lassiter。　How　this　slow；　cool　speech　contrasted　with　Blake's　hot；　impulsive　words！　〃You　might　have　saved　some　of　your　breath。　See　here；　Blake；　cinch　this　in　your　mind。　Lassiter　has　met　some　square　Mormons！　An'　mebbe〃

〃Blake；〃　interrupted　Jane；　nervously　anxious　to　terminate　a　colloquy　that　she　perceived　was　an　ordeal　for　him。　〃Go　at　once　and　fetch　me　a　report　of　my　horses。〃

〃Miss　Withersteen！。。。You　mean　the　big　drovedown　in　the　sage…cleared　fields？〃

〃Of　course；〃　replied　Jane。　〃My　horses　are　all　there；　except　the　blooded　stock　I　keep　here。〃

〃Haven't　you　heardthen？〃

〃Heard？　No！　What's　happe