desert gold-第15节

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o　round　the　corner　of　the　house　to　greet　the　cowboys　and　these　new…found　friends。

Dick　had　taken　but　one　step　when　he　was　halted　by　laugher　and　the　patter　of　light　feet。

From　close　around　the　corner　pealed　out　that　sweet　voice。　　〃Dad；　you'll　have　your　wish；　and　mama　will　be　wild！〃

Dick　was　a　little　foot　sweep　into　view；　a　white　dress；　then　the　swiftly　moving　form　of　a　girl。　　She　was　looking　backward。

〃Dad；　I　shall　fall　in　love　with　your　new　ranger。　　I　willI　have〃

Then　she　plumped　squarely　into　Dick's　arms。

She　started　back　violently。

Dick　saw　a　fair　face　and　dark…blue；　audaciously　flashing　eyes。　Swift　as　lightning　their　expression　changed　to　surprise；　fear；　wonder。　　for　an　instant　they　were　level　with　Dick's　grave　questioning。　Suddenly；　sweetly；　she　blushed。

〃Oh…h！〃　she　faltered。

Then　the　blush　turned　to　a　scarlet　fire。　　She　whirled　past　him；　and　like　a　white　gleam　was　gone。

Dick　became　conscious　of　the　quickened　beating　of　his　heart。　　He　experienced　a　singular　exhilaration。　　That　moment　had　been　the　one　for　which　he　had　been　ripe；　the　event　upon　which　strange　circumstances　had　been　rushing　him。

With　a　couple　of　strides　he　turned　the　corner。　　Laddy　and　Lash　were　there　talking　to　a　man　of　burly　form。　　Seen　by　day；　both　cowboys　were　gray…haired；　red…skinned；　and　weather…beaten；　with　lean；　sharp　features；　and　gray　eyes　so　much　alike　that　they　might　have　been　brothers。

〃Hello；　there's　the　young　fellow；〃　spoke　up　the　burly　man。　　〃Mr。　Gale；　I'm　glad　to　meet　you。　　My　name's　Belding。〃

His　greeting　was　as　warm　as　his　handclasp　was　long　and　hard。　Gale　saw　a　heavy　man　of　medium　height。　　His　head　was　large　and　covered　with　grizzled　locks。　　He　wore　a　short…cropped　mustache　and　chin　beard。　　His　skin　was　brown；　and　his　dark　eyes　beamed　with　a　genial　light。

The　cowboys　were　as　cordial　as　if　Dick　had　been　their　friend　for　years。

〃Young　man；　did　you　run　into　anything　as　you　cam　out？〃　asked　Belding；　with　twinkling　eyes。

〃Why；　yes'　I　met　something　white　and　swift　flying　by；〃　replied　Dick。

〃Did　she　see　you？〃　asked　Laddy。

〃I　think　so；　but　she　didn't　wait　for　me　to　introduce　myself。〃

〃That　was　Nell　Burton；　my　girlstep…daughter；　I　should　say；〃　said　Belding。　　〃She's　sure　some　whirlwind；　as　Laddy　calls　her。　　Come；　let's　go　in　and　meet　the　wife。〃

The　house　was　long；　like　a　barracks；　with　porch　extending　all　the　way；　and　doors　every　dozen　paces。　　When　Dick　was　ushered　into　a　sitting…room；　he　was　amazed　at　the　light　and　comfort。　　This　room　had　two　big　windows　and　a　door　opening　into　a　patio；　where　there　were　luxuriant　grass；　roses　in　bloom；　and　flowering　trees。　　He　heard　a　slow　splashing　of　water。

In　Mrs。　Belding；　Gale　found　a　woman　of　noble　proportions　and　striking　appearance。　　Her　hair　was　white。　　She　had　a　strong；　serious；　well…lined　face　that　bore　haunting　evidences　of　past　beauty。　　The　gaze　she　bent　upon　him　was　almost　piercing　in　its　intensity。　　Her　greeting；　which　seemed　to　Dick　rather　slow　in　coming；　was　kind　though　not　cordial。　　Gale's　first　thought；　after　he　had　thanked　these　good　people　for　their　hospitality；　was　to　inquire　about　Mercedes。　　He　was　informed　that　the　Spanish　girl　had　awakened　with　a　considerable　fever　and　nervousness。　　When；　however；　her　anxiety　had　been　allayed　and　her　thirst　relieved；　she　had　fallen　asleep　again。　　Mrs。　Belding　said　the　girl　had　suffered　no　great　hardship；　other　than　mental；　and　would　very　soon　be　rested　and　well。

〃Now；　Gale；〃　said　Belding；　when　his　wife　had　excused　herself　to　get　supper；　〃the　boys；　Jim　and　Laddy；　told　me　about　you　and　the　mix…up　at　Casita。　　I'll　be　glad　to　take　care　of　the　girl　till　it's　safe　for　your　soldier　friend　to　get　her　out　of　the　country。　　That　won't　be　very　soon；　don't　mistake　me。。。。I　don't　want　to　seem　over…curious　about　youLaddy　has　interested　me　in　youand　straight　out　I'd　like　to　know　what　you　propose　to　do　now。〃

〃I　haven't　any　plans；〃　replied　Dick；　and；　taking　the　moment　as　propitious；　he　decided　to　speak　frankly　concerning　himself。　　〃I　just　drifted　down　here。　　My　home　is　in　Chicago。　　When　I　left　school　some　years　agoI'm　twenty…five　nowI　went　to　work　for　my　father。　He'she　has　business　interests　there。　　I　tried　all　kinds　of　inside　jobs。　　I　couldn't　please　my　father。　　I　guess　I　put　no　real　heart　in　my　work。　　the　fact　was　I　didn't　know　how　to　work。　　The　governor　and　I　didn't　exactly　quarrel；　but　he　hurt　my　feelings；　and　I　quit。　Six　months　or　more　ago　I　came　West；　and　have　knocked　about　from　Wyoming　southwest　to　the　border。　　I　tried　to　find　congenial　work；　but　nothing　came　my　way。　　To　tell　you　frankly；　Mr。　Belding；　I　suppose　I　didn't　much　care。　　I　believe；　though；　that　all　the　time　I　didn't　know　what　I　wanted。　　I've　learnedwell；　just　lately〃

〃What　do　you　want　to　do？〃　interposed　Belding。

〃I　want　a　man's　job。　　I　want　to　do　things　with　my　hands。　　I　want　action。　　I　want　to　be　outdoors。〃

Belding　nodded　his　head　as　if　he　understood　that；　and　he　began　to　speak　again；　cut　something　short；　then　went　on；　hesitatingly：

〃Galeyou　could　go　home　againto　the　old　man　it'd　be　all　right？〃

〃Mr。　Belding；　there's　nothing　shady　in　my　past。　　The　governor　would　be　glad　to　have　me　home。　　That's　the　only　consolation　I've　got。　But　I'm　not　going。　　I'm　broke。　　I　won't　be　a　tramp。　　And　it's　up　to　me　to　do　something。〃

〃How'd　you　like　to　be　a　border　ranger？〃　asked　Belding；　laying　a　hand　on　Dick's　knee。　　〃Part　of　my　job　here　is　United　States　Inspector　of　Immigration。　　I've　got　that　boundary　line　to　patrolto　keep　out　Chinks　and　Japs。　　This　revolution　has　added　complications；　and　I'm　looking　for　smugglers　and　raiders　here　any　day。　　You'll　not　be　hired　by　the　U。　S。　　You'll　simply　be　my　ranger；　same　as　Laddy　and　Jim；　who　have　promised　to　work　for　me。　　I'll　pay　you　well；　give　you　a　room　here；　furnish　everything　down　to　guns；　and　the　finest　horse　you　ever　saw　in　your　life。　　Your　job　won't　be　safe　and　healthy；　sometimes；　but　it'll　be　a　man's　jobdon't　mistake　me！　You　can　gamble　on　having　things　to　do　outdoors。　　Now；　what　do　you　say？〃

〃I　accpet；　and　I　thank　youI　can't　say　how　much；〃　replied　Gale；　earnestly。

〃Good！　　That's　settled。　　Let's　go　out　and　tell　Laddy　and　Jim。〃

Both　boys　expressed　satisfaction　at　the　turn　of　affairs；　and　then　with　Belding　they　set　out　to　take　Gale　around　the　ranch。　　The　house　and　several　outbuildings　were　constructed　of　adobe；　which；　according　to　Belding；　retained　the　summer　heat　on　into　winter；　and　the　winter　cold　on　into　summer。　　These　gray…red　mud　habitations　were　hideous　to　look　at；　and　this　fact；　perhaps；　made　their　really　comfortable　interiors　more　vividly　a　contrast。　　The　wide　grounds　were　covered　with　luxuriant　grass　and　flowers　and　different　kinds　of　trees。　　Gale's　interest　led　him　to　ask　about　fig　trees　and　pomegranates；　and　especially　about　a　beautiful　specimen　that　Belding　called　palo　verde。

Belding　explained　that　the　luxuriance　of　this　desert　place　was　owing　to　a　few　springs　and　the　dammed…up　waters　of　the　Rio　Forlorn。　Before　he　had　come　to　the　oasis　it　had　been　inhabited　by　a　Papago　Indian　tribe　and　a　few　peon　families。　　The　oasis　lay　in　an　arroyo　a　mile　wide；　and　sloped　southwest　for　some　ten　miles　or　more。

The　river　went　dry　most　of　the　year；　but　enough　water　was　stored　in　flood　season　to　irrigate　the　gardens　and　alfalfa　fields。

〃I've　got　one　never…failing　spring　on　my　place；〃　said　Belding。　　〃Fine；　sweet　water！　　You　know　what　that　means　in　the　desert。　　I　like　this　oasis。　　The　longer　I　live　here　the　better　I　like　it。　　There's　not　a　spot　in　southern　Arizona　that'll　compare　with　this　valley　for　water　or　grass　or　wood。　　It's　beautiful　and　healthy。　　Forlorn　and　lonely；　yes；　especially　for　women　like　my　wife　and　Nell；　but　I　like　it。。。。And　between　you　and　me；　boys；　I've　got　something　up　my　sleeve。　　There's　gold　dust　in　the　arroyos；　and　there's　mineral　up　in　the　mountains。　If　we　only　had　water！　　This　hamlet　has　steadily　grown　since　I　took　up　a　station　here。　　Why；　Casita　is　no　place　beside　Forlorn　River。　Pretty　soon　the　Southern　Pacific　will　shoot　a　railroad　branch　out　here。　　There　are　possibilities；　and　I　want　you　boys　to　stay　with　me　and　get　in　on　the　ground　floor。　　I　wish　this　rebel　war　was　over。。。。Well；　here　are　the　corrals　and　the　fields。　　Gale；　take　a　look　at　that　bunch　of　horses！〃

Belding's　last　remark　was　made　as　he　led　his　companions　out　of　shady　gardens　into　the　open。　　Gale　saw　an　adobe　shed　and　a　huge　pen　fenced　by　strangely　twisted　and　contorted　branches　or　trunks　of　mesquite；　and；　beyond　these；　wide；　flat　fields；　greena　dark；　rich　greenand　dotted　with　beautiful　horses。　　There　were　whites　and　blacks；　and　bays　and　grays。　　In　his　admiration　Gale　searched　his　memory　to　see　if　he　could　remember　the　like　of　these　magnificent　animals；　and　had　to　admit　that　the　only　ones　he　could　compare　with　them　were　the　Arabian　steeds。

〃Every　ranch　loves　his　horses；〃　said　Belding。　　〃When　I　was　in　the　Panhandle　I　had　some　fine　stock。　　But　these　are　Mexican。　　They　came　from　Durango；　where　they　were　bred。　　Mexican　horses　are　the　finest　in　the　world；　bar　none。〃

〃Shore　I　reckon　I　savvy　why　you　don't　sleep　nights；〃　drawled　Laddy。　〃I　see　a　Greaser　out　thereno；　it's　an　Indian。〃

〃That's　my　Papago　herdsman。　　I　keep　watch　over　the　horses　now　day　and　night。　　Lord；　how　I'd　hate　to　have　Rojas　or　Salazarany　of　those