desert gold-第13节

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e　time。

A　warm；　dry；　fragrant　breeze　came　through　the　window。　　Dick　caught　again　the　sweet　smell　of　flowers　or　fruit。　　He　heard　the　fluttering　of　leaves；　the　murmur　of　running　water；　the　twittering　of　birds；　then　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps　and　voices。　　The　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　room　was　open。　　Through　it　he　saw　poles　of　peeled　wood　upholding　a　porch　roof；　a　bench；　rose　bushes　in　bloom；　grass；　and　beyond　these　bright…green　foliage　of　trees。

〃He　shore　was　sleepin'　when　I　looked　in　an　hour　ago；〃　said　a　voice　that　Kick　recognized　as　Ladd's。

〃Let　him　sleep；〃　came　the　reply　in　deep；　good…natured　tones。　　〃Mrs。　b。　says　the　girl's　never　moved。　　Must　have　been　a　tough　ride　for　them　both。　　Forty　miles　through　cactus！〃

〃Young　Gale　hoofed　darn　near　half　the　way；〃　replied　Ladd。　　〃We　tried　to　make　him　ride　one　of　our　hosses。　　If　we　had；　we'd　never　got　here。　　A　walk　like　that'd　killed　me　an'　Jim。〃

〃Well；　Laddy；　I'm　right　down　glad　to　see　you　boys；　and　I'll　do　all　I　can　for　the　young　couple；〃　said　the　other。　　〃But　I'm　doing　some　worry　here；　don't　mistake　me。〃

〃About　your　stock？〃

〃I've　got　only　a　few　head　of　cattle　at　the　oasis　now；　I'm　worrying　some；　mostly　about　my　horses。　　The　U。　S。　is　doing　some　worrying；　too；　don't　mistake　me。　　The　rebel　have　worked　west　and　north　as　far　as　Casita。　　There　are　no　cavalrymen　along　the　line　beyond　Casita；　and　there　can't　be。　　It's　practically　waterless　desert。　　But　these　rebels　are　desert　men。　　They　could　cross　the　line　beyond　the　Rio　Forlorn　and　smuggle　arms　into　Mexico。　　Of　course；　my　job　is　to　keep　tab　on　Chinese　and　Japs　trying　to　get　into　the　U。S。　from　Magdalena　Bay。　　But　I'm　supposed　to　patrol　the　border　line。　　I'm　going　to　hire　some　rangers。　　Now；　I'm　not　so　afraid　of　being　shot　up；　though　out　in　this　lonely　place　there's　danger　of　it；　what　I'm　afraid　of　most　is　losing　that　bunch　of　horses。　　If　any　rebels　come　this　far；　or　if　they　ever　hear　of　my　horses；　they're　going　to　raid　me。　　You　know　what　those　guerrilla　Mexicans　will　do　for　horses。　They're　crazy　on　horse　flesh。　　They　know　fine　horses。　　They　breed　the　finest　in　the　world。　　So　I　don't　sleep　nights　any　more。〃

〃Reckon　me　an'　Jim　might　as　well　tie　up　with　your　for　a　spell；　Beldin'。　　We've　been　ridin'　up　an'　down　Arizona　tryin'　to　keep　out　of　sight　of　wire　fences。〃

〃Laddy；　it's　open　enough　around　Forlorn　River　to　satisfy　even　an　old…time　cowpuncher　like　you；〃　laughed　Belding。　　〃I'd　take　your　staying　on　as　some　favor；　don't　mistake　me。　　Perhaps　I　can　persuade　the　young　man　Gale　to　take　a　job　with　me。〃

〃That's　shore　likely。　　He　said　he　had　no　money；　no　friends。　　An'　if　a　scrapper's　all　you're　lookin'　for　he'll　do；〃　replied　Ladd；　with　a　dry　chuckle。

〃Mrs。　B。　will　throw　some　broncho　capers　round　this　ranch　when　she　hears　I'm　going　to　hire　a　stranger。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Well；　there's　Nell　And　you　said　this　Gale　was　a　young　American。　My　wife　will　be　scared　to　death　for　fear　Nell　will　fall　in　love　with　him。〃

Laddy　choked　off　a　laugh；　then　evidently　slapped　his　knee　or　Belding's；　for　there　was　a　resounding　smack。

〃He's　a　fine…spoken；　good…looking　chap；　you　said？〃　went　on　Belding。

〃Shore　he　is；〃　said　Laddy；　warmly。　　〃What　do　you　say；　Jim？〃

By　this　time　Dick　Gale's　ears　began　to　burn　and　he　was　trying　to　make　himself　deaf　when　he　wanted　to　hear　every　little　word。

〃Husky　young　fellow；　nice　voice；　steady；　clear　eyes；　kinda　proud；　I　thought；　an'　some　handsome；　he　was；〃　replied　Jim　Lash。

〃Maybe　I　ought　to　think　twice　before　taking　a　stranger　into　my　family；〃　said　Belding；　seriously。　　〃Well；　I　guess　he's　all　right；　Laddy；　being　the　cavalryman's　friend。　　No　bum　or　lunger？　　He　must　be　all　right？〃

〃Bum？　　Lunger？　　Say；　didn't　I　tell　you　I　shook　hands　with　this　boy　an'　was　plumb　glad　to　meet　him？〃　demanded　Laddy；　with　considerable　heat。　　Manifestly　he　had　been　affronted。　〃Tom　Beldin'；　he's　a　gentleman；　an'　he　could　lick　you　in　in　half　a　second。　　How　about　that；　Jim？〃

〃Less　time；〃　replied　Lash。　　〃Tom；　here's　my　stand。　　Young　Gale　can　have　my　hoss；　my　gun；　anythin'　of　mine。〃

〃Aw；　I　didn't　mean　to　insult　you；　boys；　don't　mistake　me；〃　said　Belding。　〃Course　he's　all　right。〃

The　object　of　this　conversation　lay　quiet　upon　his　bed；　thrilling　and　amazed　at　being　so　championed　by　the　cowboys；　delighted　with　Belding's　idea　of　employing　him；　and　much　amused　with　the　quaint　seriousness　of　the　three。

〃How's　the　young　man？〃　called　a　woman's　voice。　　It　was　kind　and　mellow　and　earnest。

Gale　heard　footsteps　on　flagstones。

〃He's　asleep　yet；　wife；〃　replied　Belding。　　〃Guess　he　was　pretty　much　knocked　out。。。。I'll　close　the　door　there　so　we　won't　wake　him。〃

There　were　slow；　soft　steps；　then　the　door　softly　closed。　　But　the　fact　scarcely　made　a　perceptible　difference　in　the　sound　of　the　voices　outside。

〃Laddy　and　Jim　are　going　to　stay；〃　went　on　Belding。　　〃It'll　be　like　the　old　Panhandle　days　a　little。　　I'm　powerful　glad　to　have　the　boys；　Nellie。　　You　know　I　meant　to　sent　to　Casita　to　ask　them。　We'll　see　some　trouble　before　the　revolution　is　ended。　　I　think　I'll　make　this　young　man　Gale　an　offer。〃

〃He　isn't　a　cowboy？〃　asked　Mrs。　Belding；　quickly。

〃No。〃

〃Shore　he'd　make　a　darn　good　one；〃　put　in　Laddy。

〃What　is　he？　　Who　is　he？　　Where　did　he　come　from？　　Surely　you　must　be〃

〃Laddy　swears　he's　all　right；〃　interrupted　the　husband。　　〃That's　enough　reference　for　me。　　Isn't　it　enough　for　you？〃

〃Humph！　　Laddy　knows　a　lot　about　young　men；　now　doesn't　he；　especially　strangers　from　the　East？。。。Tom；　you　must　be　careful！〃

〃Wife；　I'm　only　too　glad　to　have　a　nervy　young　chap　come　along。　What　sense　is　there　in　your　objection；　if　Jim　and　Laddy　stick　up　for　him？〃

〃But；　Tomhe'll　fall　in　love　with　Nell！〃　protested　Mrs。　Belding。

〃Well；　wouldn't　that　be　regular？　　Doesn't　every　man　who　comes　along　fall　in　love　with　Nell？　　Hasn't　it　always　happened？　　When　she　was　a　schoolgirl　in　Kansas　didn't　it　happen？　　Didn't　she　have　a　hundred　moon…eyed　ninnies　after　her　in　Texas？　　I've　had　some　peace　out　here　in　the　desert；　except　when　a　Greaser　or　a　prospector　or　a　Yaqui　would　come　along。　　Then　same　old　story　in　love　with　Nell！〃

〃But；　Tom；　Nell　might　fall　in　love　with　this　young　man！〃　exclaimed　the　wife；　in　distress。

〃Laddy；　Jim；　didn't　I　tell　you？〃　cried　Belding。　　〃I　knew　she'd　say　that。。。。My　dear　wife；　I　would　be　simply　overcome　with　joy　if　Nell　did　fall　in　love　once。　　Real　good　and　hard！　　She's　wilder　than　any　antelope　out　there　on　the　desert。　　Nell's　nearly　twenty　now；　and　so　far　as　we　know　she's　never　cared　a　rap　for　any　fellow。　　And　she's　just　as　gay　and　full　of　the　devil　as　she　was　at　fourteen。　Nell's　as　good　and　lovable　as　she　is　pretty；　but　I'm　afraid　she'll　never　grow　into　a　woman　while　we　live　out　in　this　lonely　land。　And　you've　always　hated　towns　where　there　was　a　chance　for　the　girljust　because　you　were　afraid　she'd　fall　in　love。　　You've　always　been　strange；　even　silly；　about　that。　　I've　done　my　best　for　Nellloved　her　as　if　she　were　my　own　daughter。　　I've　changed　many　business　plans　to　suit　your　whims。　　There　are　rough　times　ahead；　maybe。　　I　need　men。　　I'll　hire　this　chap　Gale　if　he'll　stay。　Let　Nell　take　her　chance　with　him；　just　as　she'll　have　to　take　chances　with　men　when　we　get　out　of　the　desert。　　She'll　be　all　the　better　for　it。〃

〃I　hope　Laddy's　not　mistaken　in　his　opinion　of　this　newcomer；〃　replied　Mrs。　Belding；　with　a　sigh　of　resignation。

〃Shore　I　never　made　a　mistake　in　my　life　figger'n'　people；〃　said　Laddy；　stoutly。

〃Yes；　you　have；　Laddy；〃　replied　Mrs。　Belding。　　〃You're　wrong　about　Tom。。。。Well；　supper　is　to　be　got。　　That　young　man　and　the　girl　will　be　starved。　　I'll　go　in　now。　　If　Nell　happens　around　don'tdon't　flatter　her；　Laddy；　like　you　did　at　dinner。　　Don't　make　her　think　of　her　looks。〃

Dick　heard　Mrs。　Belding　walk　away。

〃Shore　she's　powerful　particular　about　that　girl；〃　observed　Laddy。　〃Say；　Tom；　Nell　knows　she's　pretty；　doesn't　she？〃

〃She's　liable　to　find　it　out　unless　you　shut　up；　Laddy。　　When　you　visited　us　out　here　some　weeks　ago；　you　kept　paying　cowboy　compliments　to　her。〃

〃An'　it's　your　idea　that　cowboy　compliments　are　plumb　bad　for　girls？〃

〃Downright　bad；　Laddy；　so　my　wife　says。〃

〃I'll　be　darned　if　I　believe　any　girl　can　be　hurt　by　a　little　sweet　talk。　　It　pleases　'em。。。。But　say；　Beldin'；　speaking　of　looks；　have　you　got　a　peek　yet　at　the　Spanish　girl？〃

〃Not　in　the　light。〃

〃Well；　neither　have　I　in　daytime。　　I　had　enough　by　moonlight。　Nell　is　some　on　looks；　but　I'm　regretful　passin'　the　ribbon　to　the　lady　from　Mex。　　Jim；　where　are　you？〃

〃My　money's　on　Nell；〃　replied　Lash。　　〃Gimme　a　girl　with　flesh　an'　color；　an'　blue　eyes　a…laughin'。　　Miss　Castaneda　is　some　peach；　I'll　not　gainsay。　　But　her　face　seemed　too　white。　　An'　when　she　flashed　those　eyes　on　me；　I　thought　I　was　shot！　　When　she　stood　up　there　at　first；　thankin'　us；　I　felt　as　if　aa　princess　was　round　somewhere。　　Now；　Nell　is　kiddish　an'　sweet　an'〃

〃Chop　it；〃　interrupted　Belding。　　〃Here　comes　Nell　now。〃

Dick's　tingling　hears　took　in　the　pattering　of　light　footsteps；　the　rush　of　some　one　running。

〃Here　you　are；〃　cried　a　sweet；　happy　voice。　　〃Dad；　the　Senorita　is　perfectly　lovely。　　I've　been　peeping　at　her。　　She　sleeps　likelike　death。　　She's　so　white。　　Oh；　I　hope　she　won't　be　ill。〃

〃Shore　she's　o