desert gold-第58节

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arm　against　the　window　frame；　but　gradually　it　dropped；　and　she　was　leaning　with　her　face　against　the　wood。　A　low　sob　broke　from　her。　　Elsie　Gale　went　to　her；　embraced　her；　took　the　drooping　head　on　her　shoulder。

〃We've　come　to　be　such　friends；〃　she　said。　　〃I　believe　it'll　be　good　for　you　to　visit　me　in　the　city。　　Hereall　day　you　look　out　across　that　awful　lonely　desert。。。e；　Nell。〃

Heavy　steps　sounded　outside　on　the　flagstones；　then　the　door　rattled　under　a　strong　knock。　　Belding　opened　it。　　The　Chases；　father　and　son；　stood　beyond　the　threshold。

〃Good　morning；　Belding；〃　said　the　elder　Chase。　　〃We　were　routed　out　early　by　that　big　blast　and　came　up　to　see　what　was　wrong。　　All　a　blunder。　　The　Greaser　foreman　was　drunk　yesterday；　and　his　ignorant　men　made　a　mistake。　　Sorry　if　the　blast　bothered　you。〃

〃Chase；　I　reckon　that's　the　first　of　your　blasts　I　was　ever　glad　to　hear；〃　replied　Belding；　in　a　way　that　made　Chase　look　blank。

〃So？　　Well；　I'm　glad　you're　glad；〃　he　went　on；　evidently　puzzled。　〃I　was　a　little　worriedyou've　always　been　so　touchywe　never　could　get　together。　　I　hurried　over；　fearing　maybe　you　might　think　the　blastyou　see；　Belding〃

〃I　see　this；　Mr。　Ben　Chase；〃　interrupted　Belding；　in　curt　and　ringing　voice。　　〃That　blast　was　a　mistake；　the　biggest　you　ever　made　in　your　life。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Chase。

〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me　for　a　while；　unless　you're　dead　set　on　having　it　out　right　now。　　Mr。　Gale　and　his　family　are　leaving；　and　my　daughter　is　going　with　them。　　I'd　rather　you'd　wait　a　little。〃

〃Nell　going　away！〃　　exclaimed　Radford　Chase。　　He　reminded　Belding　of　an　overgrown　boy　in　disappointment。

〃Yes。　　ButMiss　Burton　to　you；　young　man〃

〃Mr。　Belding；　I　certainly　would　prefer　a　conference　with　you　right　now；〃　interposed　the　elder　Chase；　cutting　short　Belding's　strange　speech。　　〃There　are　other　mattersimportant　matters　to　discuss。　They've　got　to　be　settled。　　May　we　step　in；　sir？〃

〃No；　you　may　not；〃　replied　Belding；　bluntly。　　〃I'm　sure　particular　who　I　invite　into　my　house。　　But　I'll　go　with　you。〃

Belding　stepped　out　and　closed　the　door。　　〃Come　away　from　the　house　so　the　women　won't　hear　thethe　talk。〃

The　elder　Chase　was　purple　with　rage；　yet　seemed　to　be　controlling　it。　　The　younger　man　looked　black；　sullen；　impatient。　　He　appeared　not　to　have　a　thought　of　Belding。　　He　was　absolutely　blind　to　the　situation；　as　considered　from　Belding's　point　of　view。　　Ben　Chase　found　his　voice　about　the　time　Belding　halted　under　the　trees　out　of　earshot　from　the　house。

〃Sir；　you've　insulted　memy　son。　　How　dare　you？　　I　want　you　to　understand　that　you're〃

〃Chop　that　kind　of　talk　with　me；　you　…　…　…　…！〃　interrupted　Belding。　　He　had　always　been　profane；　and　now　he　certainly　did　not　choose　his　language。　　Chase　turned　livid；　gasped；　and　seemed　about　to　give　way　to　fury。　　But　something　about　Belding　evidently　exerted　a　powerful　quieting　influence。　　〃If　you　talk　sense　I'll　listen；〃　went　on　Belding。

Belding　was　frankly　curious。　　He　did　not　think　any　argument　or　inducement　offerd　by　Chase　could　change　his　mind　on　past　dealings　or　his　purpose　of　the　present。　　But　he　believed　by　listening　he　might　get　some　light　on　what　had　long　puzzled　him。　　The　masterly　effort　Chase　put　forth　to　conquer　his　aroused　passions　gave　Belding　another　idea　of　the　character　of　this　promoter。

〃I　want　to　make　a　last　effort　to　propitiate　you；〃　began　Chase；　in　his　quick；　smooth　voice。　　That　was　a　singular　change　to　Beldingthe　dropping　instantly　into　an　easy　flow　of　speech。　〃You've　had　losses　here；　and　naturally　you're　sore。　　I　don't　blame　you。　　But　you　can't　see　this　thing　from　my　side　of　the　fence。　Business　is　business。　　In　business　the　best　man　wins。　　The　law　upheld　those　transactions　of　mine　the　honesty　of　which　you　questioned。　As　to　mining　and　water　claims；　you　lost　on　this　technical　pointthat　you　had　nothing　to　prove　you　had　held　them　for　five　years。　　Five　years　is　the　time　necessary　in　law。　　A　dozen　men　might　claim　the　source　of　Forlorn　River；　but　if　they　had　no　house　or　papers　to　prove　their　squatters'　rights　any　man　could　to　in　and　fight　them　for　the　water。　　。。。。Now　I　want　to　run　that　main　ditch　along　the　river；　through　your　farm。　　Can't　we　make　a　deal？　　I'm　ready　to　be　liberalto　meet　you　more　than　halfway。　　I'll　give　you　an　interest　in　the　company。　　I　think　I've　influence　enough　up　at　the　Capitol　to　have　you　reinstated　as　inspector。　　A　little　reasonableness　on　your　part　will　put　you　right　again　in　Forlorn　River；　with　a　chance　of　growing　rich。　　There's　a　big　future　here。。。。My　interest；　Belding；　has　become　personal。　　Radford　is　in　love　with　your　step…daughter。　He　wants　to　marry　her。　　I'll　admit　now　if　I　had　foreseen　this　situation　I　wouldn't　have　pushed　you　so　hard。　　But　we　can　square　the　thing。　　Now　let's　get　together　not　only　in　business；　but　in　a　family　way。　　If　my　son's　happiness　depends　upon　having　this　girl；　you　may　rest　assured　I'll　do　all　I　can　to　get　her　for　him。　　I'll　absolutely　make　good　all　your　losses。　　Now　what　do　you　say？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Belding。　　〃Your　money　can't　buy　a　right　of　way　across　my　ranch。　　And　Nell　doesn't　want　your　son。　　That　settles　that。〃

〃But　you　could　persuade　her。〃

〃I　won't；　that's　all。〃

〃May　I　ask　why？〃　　Chases's　voice　was　losing　its　suave　quality；　but　it　was　even　swifter　than　before。

〃Sure。　　I　don't　mind　your　asking；〃　replied　Belding　in　slow　deliberation。　　〃I　wouldn't　do　such　a　low…down　trick。　　Besides；　if　I　would；　I'd　want　it　to　be　a　man　I　was　persuading　for。　　I　know　GreasersI　know　a　Yaqui　I'd　rather　give　Nell　to　than　your　son。〃

Radford　Chase　began　to　roar　in　inarticulate　rage。　　Belding　paid　no　attention　to　him；　indeed；　he　never　glanced　at　the　young　man。　　The　elder　Chase　checked　a　violent　start。　　He　plucked　at　the　collar　of　his　gray　flannel　shirt；　opened　it　at　the　neck。

〃My　son's　offer　of　marriage　is　an　honormore　an　honor；　sir；　than　you　perhaps　are　aware　of。〃

Belding　made　no　reply。　　His　steady　gaze　did　not　turn　from　the　long　lane　that　led　down　to　the　river。　　He　waited　coldly；　sure　of　himself。

〃Mrs。　Belding's　daughter　has　no　right　to　the　name　of　Burton；〃　snapped　Chase。　　〃Did　you　know　that？〃

〃I　did　not；〃　replied　Belding；　quietly。

〃Well；　you　know　it　now；〃　added　Chase；　bitingly。

〃Sure　you　can　prove　what　you　say？〃　queried　Belding；　in　the　same　cool；　unemotional　tone。　　It　struck　him　strangely　at　the　moment　what　little　knowledge　this　man　had　of　the　West　and　of　Western　character。

〃Prove　it？　　Why；　yes；　I　think　so；　enough　to　make　the　truth　plain　to　any　reasonable　man。　　I　come　from　Peoriawas　born　and　raised　there。　　I　went　to　school　with　Nell　Warren。　　That　was　your　wife's　maiden　name。　　She　was　a　beautiful；　gay　girl。　　All　the　fellows　were　in　love　with　her。　　I　knew　Bob　Burton　well。　　He　was　a　splendid　fellow；　but　wild。　　Nobody　ever　knew　for　sure；　but　we　all　supposed　he　was　engaged　to　marry　Nell。　　He　left　Peoria；　however；　and　soon　after　that　the　truth　about　Nell　came　out。　　She　ran　away。　　It　was　at　least　a　couple　of　months　before　Burton　showed　up　in　Peoria。　He　did　not　stay　long。　　Then　for　years　nothing　was　heard　of　either　of　them。　　When　word　did　come　Nell　was　in　Oklahoma；　Burton　was　in　Denver。　There's　chance；　of　course；　that　Burton　followed　Nell　and　married　her。　That　would　account　for　Nell　Warren　taking　the　name　of　Burton。　　But　it　isn't　likely。　　None　of　us　ever　heard　of　such　a　thing　and　wouldn't　have　believed　it　if　we　had。　　The　affair　seemed　destined　to　end　unfortunately。　But　Belding；　while　I'm　at　it；　I　want　to　say　that　Nell　Warren　was　one　of　the　sweetest；　finest；　truest　girls　in　the　world。　　If　she　drifted　to　the　Southwest　and　kept　her　past　a　secret　that　was　only　natural。　Certainly　it　should　not　be　held　against　her。　　Why；　she　was　only　a　childa　girlseventeeneighteen　years　old。。。。In　a　moment　of　amazementwhen　I　recognized　your　wife　as　an　old　schoolmateI　blurted　the　thing　out　to　Radford。　　You　see　now　how　little　it　matters　to　me　when　I　ask　your　stepdaughter's　hand　in　marriage　for　my　son。〃

Belding　stood　listening。　　The　genuine　emotion　in　Chase's　voice　was　as　strong　as　the　ring　of　truth。　　Belding　knew　truth　when　he　heard　it。　　The　revelation　did　not　surprise　him。　　Belding　did　not　soften；　for　he　devined　that　Chase's　emotion　was　due　to　the　probing　of　an　old　wound；　the　recalling　of　a　past　both　happy　and　painful。　　Still；　human　nature　was　so　strange　that　perhaps　kindness　and　sympathy　might　yet　have　a　place　in　this　Chase's　heart。　　Belding　did　not　believe　so；　but　he　was　willing　to　give　Chase　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。

〃So　you　told　my　wife　you'd　respect　her　secretkeep　her　dishonor　from　husband　and　daughter？〃　demanded　Belding；　his　dark　gaze　sweeping　back　from　the　lane。

〃What！　　II〃　stammered　Chase。

〃You　made　your　son　swear　to　be　a　man　and　die　before　he'd　hint　the　thing　to　Nell？〃　went　on　Belding；　and　his　voice　rang　louder。

Ben　Chase　had　no　answer。　　The　red　left　his　face。　　His　son　slunk　back　against　the　fence。

〃I　say　you　never　held　this　secret　over　the　heads　of　my　wife　and　her　daughter？〃　thundered　Belding。

He　had　his　answer　in　the　gray　faces；　in　the　lips　that　fear　made　mute。　　Like　a　flash　Belding　saw　the　whole　truth　of　Mrs。　Belding's　agony；　the　reason　for　her　departure；　he　saw　what　had　been　driving　Nell；　and　it　seemed　that　all　the　dogs　of　hell　were　loosed　within