sally dows-第28节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　question　if　it　ought　not　to　be　issued　only　on　Duchesne's
prescription。　　When　I　made　that　point　to　him　squarely；　he　grinned
again；　and　wanted　to　know　if　I　calculated　to　put　the　same
restriction　on　the　sale　of　patent　medicines　and　drugs　generally。〃

〃'N　powder　'n　shot；〃　contributed　the　indifferent　man。

〃Perhaps　you'd　better　take　a　look　at　the　liquor；　Saunders；〃　said
Parks；　dismissing　the　ethical　question。　　〃YOU　know　more　about　it
than　we　do。　　It　ought　to　be　the　best。〃

Saunders　went　behind　the　counter；　drew　out　two　demijohns；　and；
possibly　from　the　force　of　habit；　selected　THREE　mugs　from　the
crockery　and　poured　some　whiskey　into　each；　before　he　could　check
himself。

〃Perhaps　we　had　better　compare　tastes；〃　said　Brace　blandly。　　They
all　sipped　their　liquor　slowly　and　in　silence。　　The　decision　was
favorable。　　〃Better　try　some　with　water　to　see　how　it　mixes；〃　said
Saunders；　lazily　filling　the　glasses　with　a　practiced　hand。　　This
required　more　deliberation；　and　they　drew　their　chairs　to　the　table
and　sat　down。　　A　slight　relaxation　stole　over　the　thoughtful　faces
of　Brace　and　Parks；　a　gentle　perspiration　came　over　the　latter's
brow；　but　the　features　and　expression　of　Saunders　never　changed。
The　conversation　took　a　broader　range；　politics　and　philosophy
entered　into　it；　literature　and　poetry　were　discussed　by　Parks　and
Brace；　Saunders　still　retaining　the　air　of　a　dispassionate
observer；　ready　to　be　convinced；　but　abstaining　from　argumentand
occasionally　replenishing　the　glasses。　　There　was　felt　to　be　no
inconsistency　between　their　present　attitude　and　their　previous
conversation；　rather　it　proved　to　them　that　gentlemen　could
occasionally　indulge　in　a　social　glass　together　without　frequenting
a　liquor　saloon。　　This　was　stated　with　some　degree　of　effusion　by
Parks　and　assented　to　with　singular　enthusiasm　by　Brace；　Saunders
nodding。　　It　was　also　observed　with　great　penetration　by　Brace　that
in　having　really　GOOD；　specially　selected　liquor　like　that；　the
great　danger　of　the　intoshikat'n　'fxhe　corrected　himself　with
great　deliberation；　〃the　intoxicating　effects〃of　adulterated
liquors　sold　in　drinking　saloons　was　obviated。　　Mr。　Brace　thought
also　that　the　vitiated　quality　of　the　close　air　of　a　crowded　saloon
had　a　great　deal　to　do　with　itthe　excess　of　carbonhiche
begged　their　pardoncarbonic　acid　gas　undoubtedly　rendered　people
〃slupid　and　steepy。〃　　〃But　here；　from　the　open　window；〃　he　walked
dreamily　to　it　and　leaned　out　admiringly　towards　the　dark　landscape
that　softly　slumbered　without；　〃one　could　drink　in　only　health　and
poetry。〃

〃Wot's　that？〃　said　Saunders；　looking　up。

〃I　said　health　and　poetry；〃　returned　Brace　with　some　dignity。　　〃I
repeat〃

〃No。　　I　mean　wot's　that　noise？　　Listen。〃

They　listened　so　breathlessly　that　the　soft　murmur　of　the　river
seemed　to　flow　in　upon　them。　　But　above　it　quite　distinctly　came
the　regular　muffled　beat　of　horse…hoofs　in　the　thick　dust　and　the
occasional　rattle　of　wheels　over　rocky　irregularities。　　But　still
very　far　and　faint；　and　fading　like　the　noises　in　a　dream。　　Brace
drew　a　long　breath；　Parks　smiled　and　softly　closed　his　eyes。　　But
Saunders　remained　listening。

〃That　was　over　OUR　road；　near　the　turnpike！〃　he　said　musingly。
〃That's　queer；　thar　ain't　any　of　the　boys　away　to…night；　and　that's
a　wagon。　　It's　some　one　comin'　here。　　Hark　to　that！　　There　it　is
again。〃

It　was　the　same　sound　but　more　distinct　and　nearer；　and　then　was
lost　again。

〃They're　dragging　through　the　river　sand　that's　just　abreast　o'
Mallory's。　　Stopped　there；　I　reckon。　　No！　pushin'　on　again。　　Hear
'em　grinding　along　the　gravel　over　Hamilton's　trailin's？　　Stopped
aginthat's　before　Somerville's　shanty。　　What's　gone　o'　them　now？
Maybe　they've　lost　the　trail　and　got　onto　Gray's　slide　through　the
woods。　　It's　no　use　lookin'；　ye　couldn't　see　anything　in　this
nigger　dark。　　Hol'　on！　　If　they're　comin'　through　the　woods；　ye'll
hear　'em　again　jest　off　here。　　Yes！　by　thunder！　here　they　are。〃

This　time　the　clatter　and　horse…hoofs　were　before　them；　at　the　very
door。　　A　man's　voice　cried；　〃Whoa！〃　and　there　was　a　sudden　bound　on
the　veranda。　　The　door　opened；　for　an　instant　the　entrance　appeared
to　be　filled　with　a　mass　of　dazzling　white　flounces；　and　a　figure
which　from　waist　to　crown　was　impenetrably　wrapped　and　swathed　in
black　lace。　　Somewhere　beneath　its　folds　a　soft　Spanish；　yet
somewhat　childish　voice　cried；　〃Tente。　　Hol'　on；〃　turned　and
vanished。　　This　was　succeeded　by　the　apparition　of　a　silent；
swarthy　Mexican；　who　dropped　a　small　trunk　at　their　feet　and
vanished　also。　　Then　the　white…flounced　and　black…laced　figure
reappeared　as　the　departing　wagon　rattled　away；　glided　to　the
centre　of　the　room；　placed　on　the　trunk　a　small　foot；　whose　low…
quartered　black　satin　slipper　seemed　to　be　held　only　by　the　toe；
threw　back　with　both　hands　the　black　lace　mantilla；　which　was
pinned　by　a　rose　over　her　little　right　ear；　and　with　her　hands
slightly　extended　and　waving　softly　said；　〃Mira　caballeros！　　'Ere
we　are　again；　boys！　　Viva！　　Aow　ees　your　mother？　　Aow　ees　that　for
high？　　Behold　me！　just　from　Pike！〃

Parks　and　Brace；　who　had　partly　risen；　fell　back　hopelessly　in
their　chairs　again　and　gazed　at　the　figure　with　a　feeble　smile　of
vacuous　pain　and　politeness。　　At　which　it　advanced；　lowered　its
black　eyes　mischievously　over　the　table　and　the　men　who　sat　there；
poured　out　a　glass　of　the　liquor；　and　said：　〃I　look　towards　you；
boys！　　Don't　errise。　　You　are　just　a　leetle　weary；　eh？　　A　leetle。
Oh　yes！　a　leetle　tired　of　crookin'　your　elboweh？　　Don't　care　if
the　school　keep！eh？　　Don't　want　any　pie！　　Want　to　go　'ome；　eh？〃

But　here　Mr。　Parks　rose　with　slight　difficulty；　but　unflinching
dignity；　and　leaned　impressively　over　the　table；　〃May　I　ashkmay　I
be　permitted　to　arsk；　madam；　to　what　we　may　owe　the　pleasure　of
thishof　thisvisit？〃

Her　face　and　attitude　instantly　changed。　　Her　arms　dropped　and
caught　up　the　mantilla　with　a　quick　but　not　ungraceful　sweep；　and
in　apparently　a　single　movement　she　was　draped；　wrapped；　and
muffled　from　waist　to　crown　as　before。　　With　a　slight　inclination
of　her　head；　she　said　in　quite　another　voice：　〃Si；　senor。　　I　have
arrive　here　because　in　your　whole　great　town　of　Booki　there　is　not
so　much　as　one〃she　held　up　a　small　brown　finger〃as　much　as　ONE
leetle　light　or　fire　like　thees；　be…cause　in　this　grand　pueblo
there　is　not　one　peoples　who　have　not　already　sleep　in　his　bed　but
thees！　　Bueno！　　I　have　arrive　all　the　same　like　a　leetle　bird；　like
the　small　fly　arrive　to　the　light！　not　to　YOUonly　to　THE　LIGHT！
I　go　not　to　my　casa　for　she　is　dark；　and　tonight　she　have　nothing
to　make　the　fire　or　bed。　　I　go　not　to　the　'otelthere　is　not　ONE〃
the　brown　finger　again　uplifted〃'otel　in　Booki！　　I　make　the
'otelthe　Fondain　my　hoose　mananato…morrow！　　Tonight　I　and
Sanchicha　make　the　bed　for　us　'ere。　　Sanchicha；　she　stands　herself
now　over　in　the　street。　　We　have　mooch　sorrow　we　have　to　make　the
caballeros　mooch　tr…rouble　to　make　disposition　of　his　house。　　But
what　will　you？〃

There　was　another　awkward　silence；　and　then　Saunders；　who　had　been
examining　the　intruder　with　languid　criticism；　removed　his　pipe
from　his　mouth　and　said　quietly：

〃That's　the　woman　you're　looking　forJovita　Mendez！〃


PART　II。


The　rest　of　that　interview　has　not　been　recorded。　　Suffice　it　that
a　few　minutes　later　Parks；　Brace；　and　Saunders　left　the　Emporium；
and　passed　the　night　in　the　latter's　cabin；　leaving　the　Emporium
in　possession　of　Miss　Mendez　and　her　peon　servant；　that　at　the
earliest　dawn　the　two　women　and　their　baggage　were　transferred　to
the　old　adobe　house；　where；　however；　a　Mexican　workman　had　already
arrived；　and　with　a　basketful　of　red　tiles　was　making　it　habitable。
Buckeye；　which　was　popularly　supposed　to　sleep　with　one　eye　on　the
river；　and　always　first　repaired　there　in　the　morning　to　wash　and
work；　was　only　awake　to　the　knowledge　of　the　invasion　at　noon。　　The
meeting　so　confidently　spoken　of　the　night　before　had　NOT　been
called。　　Messrs。　Parks　and　Brace　were　suffering　from　headaches
undoubtedly　a　touch　of　tule　chill。　　Saunders；　at　work　with　his
partner　in　Eagle　Bar；　was　as　usual　generous　with　apparently
irrelevant　facts　on　all　subjectsbut　that　of　the　strangers。　　It
would　seem　as　if　the　self…constituted　Committee　of　Safety　had　done
nothing。

And　nothing　whatever　seemed　to　happen！　　Thompson　of　Angels；　smoking
a　meditative　pipe　at　noon　on　the　trail　noticed　the　repairing　of　the
old　adobe　house；　casually　spoke　of　it　on　his　return　to　his　work；
without　apparent　concern　or　exciting　any　comment。　　The　two
Billinger　brothers　saw　Jovita　Mendez　at　the　door　of　her　house　an
hour　later；　were　themselves　seen　conversing　with　her　by　Jim　Barker；
but　on　returning　to　their　claim；　neither　they　nor　Barker　exhibited
any　insurrectionary　excitement。　　Later　on；　Shuttleworth　was　found
in　possession　of　two　bundles　of　freshly　rolled　corn…husk　cigarettes；
and　promised　to　get　his　partner　some　the　next　day；　but　that
gentleman　anticipated　him。　　By　nightfall　nearly　all　Buckeye　had
passed　in　procession　before　the　little　house　without　exhibiting　any
indignation　or　protest。　　That　night；　however；　it　seemed　as　if　the
events