riders of the purple sage-第43节

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derfuldid　you　ever　get　here？〃

〃I　trailed　you。　WeI　wanted　to　know　where　you　was；　if　you　had　a　safe　place。　So　I　trailed　you。〃

〃Trailed　me；〃　cried　Venters；　bluntly。

〃I　reckon。　It　was　some　of　a　job　after　I　got　to　them　smooth　rocks。　I　was　all　day　trackin'　you　up　to　them　little　cut　steps　in　the　rock。　The　rest　was　easy。〃

〃Where's　your　hoss？　I　hope　you　hid　him。〃

〃I　tied　him　in　them　queer　cedars　down　on　the　slope。　He　can't　be　seen　from　the　valley。〃

〃That's　good。　Well；　well！　I'm　completely　dumfounded。　It　was　my　idea　that　no　man　could　track　me　in　here。〃

〃I　reckon。　But　if　there's　a　tracker　in　these　uplands　as　good　as　me　he　can　find　you。〃

〃That's　bad。　That'll　worry　me。　But；　Lassiter；　now　you're　here　I'm　glad　to　see　you。　Andand　my　companion　here　is　not　a　young　fellow！。。。Bess；　this　is　a　friend　of　mine。　He　saved　my　life　once。〃

The　embarrassment　of　the　moment　did　not　extend　to　Lassiter。　Almost　at　once　his　manner；　as　he　shook　hands　with　Bess；　relieved　Venters　and　put　the　girl　at　ease。　After　Venters's　words　and　one　quick　look　at　Lassiter；　her　agitation　stilled；　and；　though　she　was　shy；　if　she　were　conscious　of　anything　out　of　the　ordinary　in　the　situation；　certainly　she　did　not　show　it。

〃I　reckon　I'll　only　stay　a　little　while；〃　Lassiter　was　saying。　〃An'　if　you　don't　mind　troublin'；　I'm　hungry。　I　fetched　some　biscuits　along；　but　they're　gone。　Venters；　this　place　is　sure　the　wonderfullest　ever　seen。　Them　cut　steps　on　the　slope！　That　outlet　into　the　gorge！　An'　it's　like　climbin'　up　through　hell　into　heaven　to　climb　through　that　gorge　into　this　valley！　There's　a　queer…lookin'　rock　at　the　top　of　the　passage。　I　didn't　have　time　to　stop。　I'm　wonderin'　how　you　ever　found　this　place。　It's　sure　interestin'。〃

During　the　preparation　and　eating　of　dinner　Lassiter　listened　mostly；　as　was　his　wont；　and　occasionally　he　spoke　in　his　quaint　and　dry　way。　Venters　noted；　however；　that　the　rider　showed　an　increasing　interest　in　Bess。　He　asked　her　no　questions；　and　only　directed　his　attention　to　her　while　she　was　occupied　and　had　no　opportunity　to　observe　his　scrutiny。　It　seemed　to　Venters　that　Lassiter　grew　more　and　more　absorbed　in　his　study　of　Bess；　and　that　he　lost　his　coolness　in　some　strange；　softening　sympathy。　Then；　quite　abruptly；　he　arose　and　announced　the　necessity　for　his　early　departure。　He　said　good…by　to　Bess　in　a　voice　gentle　and　somewhat　broken；　and　turned　hurriedly　away。　Venters　accompanied　him；　and　they　had　traversed　the　terrace；　climbed　the　weathered　slope；　and　passed　under　the　stone　bridge　before　either　spoke　again。

Then　Lassiter　put　a　great　hand　on　Venters's　shoulder　and　wheeled　him　to　meet　a　smoldering　fire　of　gray　eyes。

〃Lassiter；　I　couldn't　tell　Jane！　I　couldn't；〃　burst　out　Venters；　reading　his　friend's　mind。　〃I　tried。　But　I　couldn't。　She　wouldn't　understand；　and　she　has　troubles　enough。　And　I　love　the　girl！〃

〃Venters；　I　reckon　this　beats　me。　I've　seen　some　queer　things　in　my　time；　too。　This　girlwho　is　she？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Don't　know！　What　is　she；　then？〃

〃I　don't　know　that；　either。　Oh；　it's　the　strangest　story　you　ever　heard。　I　must　tell　you。　But　you'll　never　believe。〃

〃Venters；　women　were　always　puzzles　to　me。　But　for　all　that；　if　this　girl　ain't　a　child；　an'　as　innocent；　I'm　no　fit　person　to　think　of　virtue　an'　goodness　in　anybody。　Are　you　goin'　to　be　square　with　her？〃

〃I　amso　help　me　God！〃

〃I　reckoned　so。　Mebbe　my　temper　oughtn't　led　me　to　make　sure。　But；　man；　she's　a　woman　in　all　but　years。　She's　sweeter　'n　the　sage。〃

〃Lassiter；　I　know；　I　know。　And　the　hell　of　it　is　that　in　spite　of　her　innocence　and　charm　she'sshe's　not　what　she　seems！〃

〃I　wouldn't　want　toof　course；　I　couldn't　call　you　a　liar；　Venters；〃　said　the　older　man。

〃What's　more；　she　was　Oldring's　Masked　Rider！〃

Venters　expected　to　floor　his　friend　with　that　statement；　but　he　was　not　in　any　way　prepared　for　the　shock　his　words　gave。　For　an　instant　he　was　astounded　to　see　Lassiter　stunned；　then　his　own　passionate　eagerness　to　unbosom　himself；　to　tell　the　wonderful　story；　precluded　any　other　thought。

〃Son；　tell　me　all　about　this；〃　presently　said　Lassiter　as　he　seated　himself　on　a　stone　and　wiped　his　moist　brow。

Thereupon　Venters　began　his　narrative　at　the　point　where　he　had　shot　the　rustler　and　Oldring's　Masked　Rider；　and　he　rushed　through　it；　telling　all；　not　holding　back　even　Bess's　unreserved　avowal　of　her　love　or　his　deepest　emotions。

〃That's　the　story；〃　he　said；　concluding。　〃I　love　her；　though　I've　never　told　her。　If　I　did　tell　her　I'd　be　ready　to　marry　her；　and　that　seems　impossible　in　this　country。　I'd　be　afraid　to　risk　taking　her　anywhere。　So　I　intend　to　do　the　best　I　can　for　her　here。〃

〃The　longer　I　live　the　stranger　life　is；〃　mused　Lassiter；　with　downcast　eyes。　〃I'm　reminded　of　somethin'　you　once　said　to　Jane　about　hands　in　her　game　of　life。　There's　that　unseen　hand　of　power；　an'　Tull's　black　hand；　an'　my　red　one；　an'　your　indifferent　one；　an'　the　girl's　little　brown；　helpless　one。　An'；　Venters　there's　another　one　that's　all…wise　an'　all…wonderful。　That's　the　hand　guidin'　Jane　Withersteen's　game　of　life！。。。Your　story's　one　to　daze　a　far　clearer　head　than　mine。　I　can't　offer　no　advice；　even　if　you　asked　for　it。　Mebbe　I　can　help　you。　Anyway；　I'll　hold　Oldrin'　up　when　he　comes　to　the　village　an'　find　out　about　this　girl。　I　knew　the　rustler　years　ago。　He'll　remember　me。〃

〃Lassiter；　if　I　ever　meet　Oldring　I'll　kill　him！〃　cried　Venters；　with　sudden　intensity。

〃I　reckon　that'd　be　perfectly　natural；〃　replied　the　rider。

〃Make　him　think　Bess　is　deadas　she　is　to　him　and　that　old　life。〃

〃Sure；　sure；　son。　Cool　down　now。　If　you're　goin'　to　begin　pullin'　guns　on　Tull　an'　Oldin'　you　want　to　be　cool。　I　reckon；　though；　you'd　better　keep　hid　here。　Well；　I　must　be　leavin'。〃

〃One　thing；　Lassiter。　You'll　not　tell　Jane　about　Bess？　Please　don't！〃

〃I　reckon　not。　But　I　wouldn't　be　afraid　to　bet　that　after　she'd　got　over　anger　at　your　secrecyVenters；　she'd　be　furious　once　in　her　life！she'd　think　more　of　you。　I　don't　mind　sayin'　for　myself　that　I　think　you're　a　good　deal　of　a　man。〃

In　the　further　ascent　Venters　halted　several　times　with　the　intention　of　saying　good…by；　yet　he　changed　his　mind　and　kept　on　climbing　till　they　reached　Balancing　Rock。　Lassiter　examined　the　huge　rock；　listened　to　Venters's　idea　of　its　position　and　suggestion；　and　curiously　placed　a　strong　hand　upon　it。

〃Hold　on！〃　cried　Venters。　〃I　heaved　at　it　once　and　have　never　gotten　over　my　scare。〃

〃Well；　you　do　seem　uncommon　nervous；〃　replied　Lassiter；　much　amused。　〃Now；　as　for　me；　why　I　always　had　the　funniest　notion　to　roll　stones！　When　I　was　a　kid　I　did　it；　an'　the　bigger　I　got　the　bigger　stones　I'd　roll。　Ain't　that　funny？　Honesteven　now　I　often　get　off　my　hoss　just　to　tumble　a　big　stone　over　a　precipice；　en'　watch　it　drop；　en'　listen　to　it　bang　an'　boom。　I've　started　some　slides　in　my　time；　an'　don't　you　forget　it。　I　never　seen　a　rock　I　wanted　to　roll　as　bad　as　this　one！　Wouldn't　there　jest　be　roarin'；　crashin'　hell　down　that　trail？〃

〃You'd　close　the　outlet　forever！〃　exclaimed　Venters。　〃Well；　good…by；　Lassiter。　Keep　my　secret　and　don't　forget　me。　And　be　mighty　careful　how　you　get　out　of　the　valley　below。　The　rustlers'　canyon　isn't　more　than　three　miles　up　the　Pass。　Now　you've　tracked　me　here；　I'll　never　feel　safe　again。〃

In　his　descent　to　the　valley；　Venters's　emotion；　roused　to　stirring　pitch　by　the　recital　of　his　love　story；　quieted　gradually；　and　in　its　place　came　a　sober；　thoughtful　mood。　All　at　once　he　saw　that　he　was　serious；　because　he　would　never　more　regain　his　sense　of　security　while　in　the　valley。　What　Lassiter　could　do　another　skilful　tracker　might　duplicate。　Among　the　many　riders　with　whom　Venters　had　ridden　he　recalled　no　one　who　could　have　taken　his　trail　at　Cottonwoods　and　have　followed　it　to　the　edge　of　the　bare　slope　in　the　pass；　let　alone　up　that　glistening　smooth　stone。　Lassiter；　however；　was　not　an　ordinary　rider。　Instead　of　hunting　cattle　tracks　he　had　likely　spent　a　goodly　portion　of　his　life　tracking　men。　It　was　not　improbable　that　among　Oldring's　rustlers　there　was　one　who　shared　Lassiter's　gift　for　trailing。　And　the　more　Venters　dwelt　on　this　possibility　the　more　perturbed　he　grew。

Lassiter's　visit；　moreover；　had　a　disquieting　effect　upon　Bess；　and　Venters　fancied　that　she　entertained　the　same　thought　as　to　future　seclusion。　The　breaking　of　their　solitude；　though　by　a　well…meaning　friend；　had　not　only　dispelled　all　its　dream　and　much　of　its　charm；　but　had　instilled　a　canker　of　fear。　Both　had　seen　the　footprint　in　the　sand。

Venters　did　no　more　work　that　day。　Sunset　and　twilight　gave　way　to　night；　and　the　canyon　bird　whistled　its　melancholy　notes；　and　the　wind　sang　softly　in　the　cliffs；　and　the　camp…fire　blazed　and　burned　down　to　red　embers。　To　Venters　a　subtle　difference　was　apparent　in　all　of　these；　or　else　the　shadowy　change　had　been　in　him。　He　hoped　that　on　the　morrow　this　slight　depression　would　have　passed　away。

In　that　measure；　however；　he　was　doomed　to　disappointment。　Furthermore；　Bess　reverted　to　a　wistful　sadness　that　he　had　not　observed　in　her　since　her　recovery。　His　attempt　to　cheer　her　out　of　it　resulted　in　dismal　failure；　and　consequently　in　a　darkening　of　his　own　mood。　Hard　work