desert gold-第31节

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　if　anything　serious　could　have　happened　to　him。　　Mercedes　showed　a　slow；　wearing　strain。

Thorne's　commission　expired　the　end　of　January；　and　if　he　could　not　get　his　discharge　immediately；　he　surely　could　obtain　leave　of　absence。　　Therefore；　Gale　waited；　not　without　growing　anxiety；　and　did　his　best　to　cheer　Mercedes。　　The　first　of　February　came　bringing　news　of　rebel　activities　and　bandit　operations　in　and　around　Casita；　but　not　a　word　from　the　cavalryman。

Mercedes　became　silent；　mournful。　　Her　eyes　were　great　black　windows　of　tragedy。　　Nell　devoted　herself　entirely　to　the　unfortunate　girl；　Dick　exerted　himself　to　persuade　her　that　all　would　yet　come　well；　in　fact；　the　whole　household　could　not　have　been　kinder　to　a　sister　or　a　daughter。　　But　their　united　efforts　were　unavailing。　　Mercedes　seemed　to　accept　with　fatalistic　hopelessness　a　last　and　crowning　misfortune。

A　dozen　times　Gale　declared　he　would　ride　in　to　Casita　and　find　out　why　they　did　not　hear　from　Thorne；　however；　older　and　wiser　heads　prevailed　over　his　impetuosity。　　Belding　was　not　sanguine　over　the　safety　of　the　Casita　trail。　　Refugees　from　there　arrived　every　day　in　Forlorn　River；　and　if　tales　they　told　were　true；　real　war　would　have　been　preferable　to　what　was　going　on　along　the　border。　　Belding　and　the　rangers　and　the　Yaqui　held　a　consultation。　　Not　only　had　the　Indian　become　a　faithful　servant　to　Gale；　but　he　was　also　of　value　to　Belding。　　Yaqui　had　all　the　craft　of　his　class；　and　superior　intelligence。　　His　knowledge　of　Mexicans　was　second　only　to　his　hate　of　them。　　And　Yaqui；　who　had　been　scouting　on　all　the　trails；　gave　information　that　made　Belding　decide　to　wait　some　days　before　sending　any　one　to　Casita。　　He　required　promises　from　his　rangers；　particularly　Gale；　not　to　leave　without　his　consent。

It　was　upon　Gale's　coming　from　this　conference　that　he　encountered　Nell。　　Since　the　interrupted　siesta　episode　she　had　been　more　than　ordinarily　elusive；　and　about　all　he　had　received　from　her　was　a　tantalizing　smile　from　a　distance。　　He　got　the　impression　now；　however；　that　she　had　awaited　him。　　When　he　drew　close　to　her　he　was　certain　of　it；　and　he　experienced　more　than　surprise。

〃Dick；〃　she　began；　hurriedly。　　〃Dad's　not　going　to　send　any　one　to　see　about　Thorne？〃

〃No；　not　yet。　　He　thinks　it　best　not　to。　　We　all　think　so。　　I'm　sorry。　　Poor　Mercedes！〃

〃I　knew　it。　　I　tried　to　coax　him　to　send　Laddy　or　even　Yaqui。　He　wouldn't　listen　to　me。　　Dick；　Mercedes　is　dying　by　inches。　Can't　you　see　what　ails　her？　　It's　more　than　love　or　fear。　　It's　uncertaintysuspense。　　Oh；　can't　we　find　out　for　her？〃

〃Nell；　I　feel　as　badly　as　you　about　her。　　I　wanted　to　ride　in　to　Casita。　　Belding　shut　me　up　quick；　the　last　time。〃

Nell　came　close　to　Gale；　clasped　his　arm。　　There　was　no　color　in　her　face。　　Her　eyes　held　a　dark；　eager　excitement。

〃Dick；　will　you　slip　off　without　Dad's　consent？　　Risk　it！　　Go　to　Casita　and　find　out　what's　happened　to　Thorneat　least　if　he　ever　started　for　Forlorn　River？〃

〃No；　Nell；　I　won't　do　that。〃

She　drew　away　from　him　with　passionate　suddenness。

〃Are　you　afraid？〃

This　certainly　was　not　the　Nell　Burton　that　Gale　knew。

〃No；　I'm　not　afraid；〃　Gale　replied；　a　little　nettled。

〃Will　you　gofor　my　sake？〃　　Like　lightning　her　mood　changed　and　she　was　close　to　him　again；　hands　on　his；　her　face　white；　her　whole　presence　sweetly　alluring。

〃Nell；　I　won't　disobey　Belding；〃　protested　Gale。　　〃I　won't　break　my　word。〃

〃Dick；　it'll　not　be　so　bad　as　that。　　Butwhat　if　it　is？。。。Go；　Dick；　if　not　for　poor　Mercedes's　sake；　then　for　mineto　please　me。　　I'llI'll。。。you　won't　lose　anything　by　going。　　I　think　I　know　how　Mercedes　feels。　　Just　a　word　from　Thorne　or　about　him　would　save　her。　　Take　Blanco　Sol　and　go；　Dick。　　What　rebel　outfit　could　ever　ride　you　down　on　that　horse？　　Why；　Dick；　if　I　was　up　on　Sol　I　wouldn't　be　afraid　of　the　whole　rebel　army。〃

〃My　dear　girl；　it's　not　a　question　of　being　afraid。　　It's　my　wordmy　duty　to　Belding。〃

〃You　said　you　loved　me。　　If　you　love　me　you　will　go。。。You　don't　love　me！〃

Gale　could　only　stare　at　this　transformed　girl。

〃Dick；　listen！。。。If　you　goif　you　fetch　some　word　of　Thorne　to　comfort　Mercedes；　youwell；　you　will　have　your　reward。〃

〃Nell！〃

Her　dangerous　sweetness　was　as　amazing　as　this　newly　revealed　character。

〃Dick；　will　you　go？〃

〃No…no！〃　cried　Gale；　in　violence；　struggling　with　himself。　　〃Nell　Burton；　I'll　tell　you　this。　　To　have　the　reward　I　want　would　mean　pretty　hear　heaven　for　me。　　But　not　even　for　that　will　I　break　my　word　to　your　father。〃

She　seemed　the　incarnation　of　girlish　scorn　and　wilful　passion。

〃Gracias；　senor；〃　she　replied；　mockingly。　　〃Adios。〃　　Then　she　flashed　out　of　his　sight。

Gale　went　to　his　room　at　once；　disturbed　and　thrilling；　and　did　not　soon　recover　from　that　encounter。

The　following　morning　at　the　breakfast　table　Nell　was　not　present。　Mrs。　Belding　evidently　considered　the　fact　somewhat　unusual；　for　she　called　out　into　the　patio　and　then　into　the　yard。　　Then　she　went　to　Mercedes's　room。　　But　Nell　was　not　there；　either。

〃She's　in　one　of　her　tantrums　lately；〃　said　Belding。　　〃Wouldn't　speak　to　me　this　morning。　　Let　her　alone；　mother。　　She's　spoiled　enough；　without　running　after　her。　　She's　always　hungry。　　She'll　be　on　hand　presently；　don't　mistake　me。〃

Notwithstanding　Belding's　conviction；　which　Gale　shared；　Nell　did　not　appear　at　all　during　the　hour。　　When　Belding　and　the　rangers　went　outside；　Yaqui　was　eating　his　meal　on　the　bench　where　he　always　sat。

〃YaquiLluvia　d'　oro；　si？〃　asked　Belding；　waving　his　hand　toward　the　corrals。　　The　Indian's　beautiful　name　for　Nell　meant　〃shower　of　gold；〃　and　Belding　used　it　in　asking　Yaqui　if　he　had　seen　her。　He　received　a　negative　reply。

Perhaps　half　an　hour　afterward；　as　Gale　was　leaving　his　room；　he　saw　the　Yaqui　running　up　the　path　from　the　fields。　　It　was　markedly　out　of　the　ordinary　to　see　the　Indian　run。　　Gale　wondered　what　was　the　matter。　　Yaqui　ran　straight　to　Belding；　who　was　at　work　at　his　bench　under　the　wagon　shed。　　In　less　than　a　moment　Belding　was　bellowing　for　his　rangers。　　Gale　got　to　him　first；　but　Ladd　and　Lash　were　not　far　behind。

〃Blanco　Sol　gone！〃　yelled　Belding；　in　a　rage。

〃Gone？　　In　broad　daylight；　with　the　Indian　a…watch…in？〃　queried　Ladd。

〃It　happened　while　Yaqui　was　at　breakfast。　　That's　sure。　　He'd　just　watered　Sol。〃

〃Raiders！〃　exclaimed　Jim　Lash。

〃Lord　only　knows。　　Yaqui　says　it　wasn't　raiders。〃

〃Mebbe　Sol's　just　walked　off　somewheres。〃

〃He　was　haltered　in　the　corral。〃

〃Send　Yaqui　to　find　the　hoss's　trail；　an'　let's　figger；〃　said　Ladd。　　〃Shore　this　's　no　raider　job。〃

In　the　swift　search　that　ensued　Gale　did　not　have　anything　to　say；　but　his　mind　was　forming　a　conclusion。　　When　he　found　his　old　saddle　and　bridle　missing　from　the　peg　in　the　barn　his　conclusion　became　a　positive　conviction；　and　it　made　him；　for　the　moment；　cold　and　sick　and　speechless。

〃Hey；　Dick；　don't　take　it　so　much　to　heart；〃　said　Belding。　　〃We'll　likely　find　Sol；　and　if　we　don't；　there's　other　good　horses。〃

〃I'm　not　thinking　of　Sol；〃　replied　Gale。

Ladd　cast　a　sharp　glance　at　Gale；　snapped　his　fingers；　and　said：

〃Damn　me　if　I　ain't　guessed　it；　too！〃

〃What's　wrong　with　you　locoed　gents？〃　bluntly　demanded　Belding。

〃Nell　has　slipped　away　on　Sol；〃　answered　Dick。

There　was　a　blank　pause；　which　presently　Belding　broke。

〃Well；　that's　all　right；　if　Nell's　on　him。　　I　was　afraid　we'd　lost　the　horse。〃

〃Belding；　you're　trackin'　bad；〃　said　Ladd；　wagging　his　head。

〃Nell　has　started　for　Casita；〃　burst　out　Gale。　　〃She　has　gone　to　fetch　Mercedes　some　word　about　Thorne。　　Oh；　Belding；　you　needn't　shake　your　head。　　I　know　she's　gone。　　She　tried　to　persuade　me　to　go；　and　was　furious　when　I　wouldn't。〃

〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　replied　Belding；　hoarsely。　　〃Nell　may　have　her　temper。　　She's　a　little　devil　at　times；　but　she　always　had　good　sense。〃

〃Tom；　you　can　gamble　she's　gone；〃　said　Ladd。

〃Aw；　hell；　no！　　Jim；　what　do　you　think？〃　implored　Belding。

〃I　reckon　Sol's　white　head　is　pointed　level　an'　straight　down　the　Casita　trail。　　An'　Nell　can　ride。　　We're　losing'　time。〃

That　roused　Belding　to　action。

〃I　say　you're　all　wrong；〃　he　yelled；　starting　for　the　corrals。　〃She's　only　taking　a　little　ride；　same　as　she's　done　often。　　But　rustle　now。　　Find　out。　　Dick；　you　ride　cross　the　valley。　　Jim；　you　hunt　up　and　down　the　river。　　I'll　head　up　San　Felipe　way。　　And　you；　Laddy；　take　Diablo　and　hit　the　Casita　trail。　　If　she　really　has　gone　after　Thorne　you　can　catch　her　in　an　hour　or　so。〃

〃Shore　I'll　go；〃　replied　Ladd。　　〃but；　Beldin'；　if　you're　not　plumb　crazy　you're　close　to　it。　　That　big　white　devil　can't　catch　Sol。　Not　in　an　hour　or　a　day　or　a　week！　　What's　more；　at　the　end　of　any　runnin'　time；　with　an　even　start；　Sol　will　be　farther　in　the　lead。　An'　now　Sol's　got　an　hour's　start。〃

〃Laddy；　you　mean　to　say　Sol　is　a　faster　horse　than　Diablo？〃　thundered　Belding；　his　face　purple。

〃Shore。　　I　mean　to　tell　you　just　that　there；〃　replied　the　ranger。

〃I'llI'll　bet　a〃

〃We're　wastin'　time；〃　curtly　interrupted　Ladd。　　〃You　can　gamble　on　this　if　you　want　to。　　I'll　ride　your　Blanco　Devil　as　he　never　was　rid　before；　'cept　once　when　a　damn　sight　better　hossman　than　I　am　cou