desert gold-第46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！


s　name　was　Chase；　that　he　owned　a　gold　mine　in　Mexico。　　He　said　a　lot　more　I　didn't　gather；　but　when　he　called　me　Dearie'　Iwell；　I　lost　my　temper。

〃I　jerked　on　the　bridle　and　told　him　to　let　go。　　He　held　on　and　rolled　his　eyes　at　me。　　I　dare　say　he　imagined　he　was　a　gentlemen　to　be　infatuated　with。　　He　seemed　sure　of　conquest。　　One　thing　certain；　he　didn't　know　the　least　bit　about　horses。　　It　scared　me　the　way　he　got　in　front　of　Jose。　　I　thanked　my　stars　I　wasn't　up　on　Blanco　Diablo。　　Well；　Dad；　I'm　a　little　ashamed　now；　but　I　was　mad。　　I　slashed　him　across　the　face　with　my　quirt。

Jose　jumped　and　knocked　Mr。　Chase　into　the　sand。　　I　didn't　get　the　horse　under　control　till　I　was　out　of　sight　of　those　surveyors；　and　then　I　let　him　run　home。〃

〃Nell；　I　guess　you　punished　the　fellow　enough。　　Maybe　he's　only　a　conceited　softy。　　But　I　don't　like　that　sort　of　thing。　　It　isn't　Western。　　I　guess　he　won't　be　so　smart　next　time。　　Any　fellow　would　remember　being　hit　by　Blanco　Jose。　　If　you'd　been　up　on　Diablo　we'd　have　to　bury　Mr。　Chase。〃

〃Thank　goodness　I　wasn't！　　I'm　sorry　now；　Dad。　　Perhaps　the　fellow　was　hurt。　　but　what　could　I　do？　　Let's　forget　all　about　it；　and　I'll　be　careful　where　I　ride　in　the　future。。。。Dad；　what　does　it　mean；　this　surveying　around　Forlorn　River？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Nell；〃　replied　Belding；　thoughtfully。　　〃It　worries　me。　　It　looks　good　for　Forlorn　River；　but　bad　for　Dick's　plan　to　irrigate　the　valley。　　Lord；　I'd　hate　to　have　some　one　forestall　Dick　on　that！〃

〃No；　no；　we　won't　let　anybody　have　Dick's　rights；〃　declared　Nell。

〃Where　have　I　been　keeping　myself　not　to　know　about　these　surveyors？〃　muttered　Belding。　　〃They　must　have　just　come。〃

〃Go　see　Mrs。　Cater。　　She　told　me　there　were　strangers　in　town；　Americans；　who　had　mining　interests　in　Sonora；　and　were　run　out　by　Orozco。　　Find　out　what　they're　doing；　Dad。〃

Belding　discovered　that　he　was；　indeed；　the　last　man　of　consequence　in　Forlorn　River　to　learn　of　the　arrival　of　Ben　Chase　and　son；　mineowners　and　operators　in　Sonora。　　They；　with　a　force　of　miners；　had　been　besieged　by　rebels　and　finally　driven　off　their　property。　This　property　was　not　destroyed；　but　held　for　ransom。　　And　the　Chases；　pending　developments；　had　packed　outfits　and　struck　for　the　border。　　Casita　had　been　their　objective　point；　but；　for　some　reason　which　Belding　did　not　learn；　they　had　arrived　instead　at　Forlorn　River。　　It　had　taken　Ben　Chase　just　one　day　to　see　the　possibilities　of　Altar　Valley；　and　in　three　days　he　had　men　at　work。

Belding　returned　home　without　going　to　see　the　Chases　and　their　operations。　　He　wanted　to　think　over　the　situation。　　Next　morning　he　went　out　to　the　valley　to　see　for　himself。　　Mexicans　were　hastily　erecting　adobe　houses　upon　Ladd's　one　hundred　and　sixty　acres；　upon　Dick　Gale's；　upon　Jim　Lash's　and　Thorne's。　　There　were　men　staking　the　valley　floor　and　the　river　bed。　　That　was　sufficient　for　Belding。　　He　turned　back　toward　town　and　headed　for　the　camp　of　these　intruders。

In　fact；　the　surroundings　of　Forlorn　River；　except　on　the　river　side；　reminded　Belding　of　the　mushroom　growth　of　a　newly　discovered　mining　camp。　　Tents　were　everywhere；　adobe　shacks　were　in　all　stages　of　construction；　rough　clapboard　houses　were　going　up。　the　latest　of　this　work　was　new　and　surprising　to　Belding；　all　because　he　was　a　busy　man；　with　no　chance　to　hear　village　gossip。　When　he　was　directed　to　the　headquarters　of　the　Chase　Mining　Company　he　went　thither　in　slow…growing　wrath。

He　came　to　a　big　tent　with　a　huge　canvas　fly　stretched　in　front；　under　which　sat　several　men　in　their　shirt　sleeves。　　They　were　talking　and　smoking。

〃My　name's　Belding。　　I　want　to　see　this　Mr。　Chase；〃　said　Belding；　gruffly。

Slow…witted　as　Belding　was；　and　absorbed　in　his　own　feelings；　he　yet　saw　plainly　that　his　advent　was　disturbing　to　these　men。　　They　looked　alarmed；　exchanged　glances；　and　then　quickly　turned　to　him。　　One　of　them；　a　tall；　rugged　man　with　sharp　face　and　shrewd　eyes　and　white　hair；　got　up　and　offered　his　hand。

〃I'm　Chase；　senior；〃　he　said。　　〃My　son　Radford　Chase　is　here　somewhere。　　You're　Belding；　the　line　inspector；　I　take　it？　　I　meant　to　call　on　you。

He　seemed　a　rough…and…ready；　loud…spoken　man；　withal　cordial　enough。

〃Yes；　I'm　the　inspector；〃　replied　Belding；　ignoring　the　proffered　hand；　〃and　I'd　like　to　know　what　in　the　hell　you　mean　by　taking　up　land　claimsstaked　ground　that　belongs　to　my　rangers？〃

〃Land　claims？〃　slowly　echoed　Chase；　studying　his　man。　　〃We're　taking　up　only　unclaimed　land。〃

〃That's　a　lie。　　You　couldn't　miss　the　stakes。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Belding；　as　to　that；　I　think　my　men　did　run　across　some　staked　ground。　　But　we　recognize　only　squatters。　　If　your　rangers　think　they've　got　property　just　because　they　drove　a　few　stakes　in　the　ground　they're　much　mistaken。　　A　squatter　has　to　build　a　house　and　live　on　his　land　so　long；　according　to　law；　before　he　owns　it。

This　argument　was　unanswerable；　and　Belding　knew　it。

〃According　to　law！〃　exclaimed　Belding。　　〃Then　you　own　up；　you've　jumped　our　claims。〃

〃Mr。　Belding；　I'm　a　plain　business　man。　　I　come　along。　　I　see　a　good　opening。　　Nobody　seems　to　have　tenable　grants。　　I　stake　out　claims；　locate　squatters；　start　to　build。　　It　seems　to　me　your　rangers　have　overlooked　certain　precautions。　　That's　unfortunate　for　them。　　I'm　prepared　to　hold　my　claim　and　to　back　all　the　squatters　who　work　for　me。　　If　you　don't　like　it　you　can　carry　the　matter　to　Tucson。　The　law　will　uphold　me。〃

〃The　law？　　Say；　on　this　southwest　border　we　haven't　any　law　except　a　man's　word　and　a　gun。〃

〃Then　you'll　find　United　States　law　has　come　along　with　Ben　Chase；〃　replied　the　other；　snapping　his　fingers。　　He　was　still　smooth；　outspoken；　but　his　mask　had　fallen。

〃You're　not　a　Westerner？〃　queried　Belding。

〃No；　I'm　from　Illinois。〃

I　thought　the　West　hadn't　bred　you。　　I　know　your　kind。　　You'd　last　a　long　time　on　the　Texas　border；　now；　wouldn't　you？　　You're　one　of　the　land　and　water　hogs　that　has　come　to　root　in　the　West。　You're　like　the　timber　sharkstake　it　all　and　leave　none　for　those　who　follow。　　Mr。　Chase；　the　West　would　fare　better　and　last　longer　if　men　like　you　were　driven　out。〃

〃You　can't　drive　me　out。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that。　　Wait　till　my　rangers　come　back。　　I　wouldn't　be　in　your　boots。　　Don't　mistake　me。　　I　don't　suppose　you　could　be　accused　of　stealing　another　man's　ideas　or　plan；　but　sure　you've　stolen　these　four　claims。　　Maybe　the　law　might　uphold　you。　　But　the　spirit；　not　the　letter；　counts　with　us　bordermen。〃

〃See　here；　Belding；　I　think　you're　taking　the　wrong　view　of　the　matter。　　I'm　going　to　develop　this　valley。　　You'd　do　better　to　get　in　with　me。　　I've　a　proposition　to　make　you　about　that　strip　of　land　of　yours　facing　the　river。〃

〃You　can't　make　any　deals　with　me。　　I　won't　have　anything　to　do　with　you。〃

Belding　abruptly　left　the　camp　and　went　home。　　Nell　met　him；　probably　intended　to　question　him；　but　one　look　into　his　face　confirmed　her　fears。　　She　silently　turned　away。　　Belding　realized　he　was　powerless　to　stop　Chase；　and　he　was　sick　with　disappointment　for　the　ruin　of　Dick's　hopes　and　his　own。




XIV



A　Lost　Son

Time　passed。　　The　population　of　Forlorn　River　grew　apace。　　Belding；　who　had　once　bee　the　head　of　the　community；　found　himself　a　person　of　little　consequence。　　Even　had　he　desired　it　he　would　not　have　had　any　voice　in　the　selection　of　postmaster；　sheriff；　and　a　few　other　officials。　　The　Chases　divided　their　labors　between　Forlorn　River　and　their　Mexican　gold　mine；　which　had　been　restored　to　them。　　The　desert　trips　between　these　two　places　were　taken　in　automobiles。　　A　month's　time　made　the　motor　cars　almost　as　familiar　a　sight　in　Forlorn　River　as　they　had　been　in　Casita　before　the　revolution。

Belding　was　not　so　busy　as　he　had　been　formerly。　　As　he　lost　ambition　he　began　to　find　less　work　to　do。　　His　wrath　at　the　usurping　Chases　increased　as　he　slowly　realized　his　powerlessness　to　cope　with　such　men。　　They　were　promoters；　men　of　big　interests　and　wide　influence　in　the　Southwest。　　The　more　they　did　for　Forlorn　River　the　less　reason　there　seemed　to　be　for　his　own　grievance。　He　had　to　admit　that　it　was　personal；　that　he　and　Gale　and　the　rangers　would　never　have　been　able　to　develop　the　resources　of　the　valley　as　these　men　were　doing　it。

All　day　long　he　heard　the　heavy　booming　blasts　and　the　rumble　of　avalanches　up　in　the　gorge。　　Chase's　men　were　dynamiting　the　cliffs　in　the　narrow　box　canyon。　　They　were　making　the　dam　just　as　Gale　had　planned　to　make　it。　　When　this　work　of　blasting　was　over　Belding　experienced　a　relief。　　He　would　not　now　be　continually　reminded　of　his　and　Gale's　loss。

Resignation　finally　came　to　him。　　But　he　could　not　reconcile　himself　to　misfortune　for　Gale。

Moreover；　Belding　had　other　worry　and　strain。　　April　arrived　with　no　news　of　the　rangers。　　From　Casita　came　vague　reports　of　raiders　in　the　Sonoyta　countryreports　impossible　to　verify　until　his　Mexican　rangers　returned。　　When　these　men　rode　in；　one　of　them；　Gonzales；　an　intelligent　and　reliable　halfbreed；　said　he　had　met　prospectors　at　the　oasis。　　They　had　just　come　in　on　the　Camino　del　Diablo；　reported　a　terrible　trip　of　heat　and　drought；　and　not　a　trace　of　the　Yaqui's　party。

〃That