rowdy of the cross l-第9节

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Jessie；　but　that's　what　I　mean；　andI　mean　all　the　things　I'd　like　to　say
and　can't。〃　He　stopped　and　smiled　at　her；　wistfully　whimsical。　〃I've　been
three　weeks　getting　my　feelings　into　proper　words；　little　girl；　and　coming
over　here　I　had　a　speech　thought　out　that　sure　done　justice　to　my　subject。
But　all　I　can　remember　of　it　is　just　thatthat　I　want　you　for　always。〃

Miss　Conroy　looked　away　from　him；　but　he　could　see　a　deeper　tint　of　red　in
her　cheek。　It　seemed　a　long　time　before　she　said　anything。　Then：　〃But　you've
forgotten　about　Harry。　He's　my　brother；　and　he'd　beeryou　wouldn't　want
him　related　to　you。〃

〃Harry！　Well；　I　pass　him　up。　I've　got　a　pretty　long　account　against　him；　but
I'll　cross　it　off。　It　won't　be　hard　to　dofor　you。　I've　thought　of　all
that；　and　a　man　can　forgive　a　whole　lot　in　the　brother　of　the　woman　he
loves。〃　He　leaned　toward　her　and　added　honestly：　〃I　can't　promise　you　I'll
ever　get　to　like　him；　Jessie；　but　I'll　keep　my　hands　off　him；　and　I'll　treat
him　civil；　and　when　you　consider　all　he's　done；　that's　quite　a　large…sized
contract。〃

Miss　Conroy　became　much　interested　in　the　ears　of　her　horse。

〃The　only　thing　to　decide　is　whether　you　like　me　enough。　If　you　do；　we'll
sure　be　happy。　Never　mind　Harry。〃

〃You're　very　generous；〃　she　flared；　〃telling　me　to　never　mind　Harry。　And
Harry's　my　own　brother；　and　the　only　near　relative　I've　got。　I　know
he'simpulsive；　and　quick…tempered；　perhaps。　But　he　needs　me　all　the　more。
Do　you　think　I'll　turn　against　him；　even　for　you？〃

That　〃even〃　may　have　been　a　slip；　but　it　heartened　Rowdy　immensely。　〃I　don't
ask　you　to；〃　he　told　her　gently。　〃I　only　want　you　to　not　turn　against　me。〃

〃I　do　wish　you　two　would　be　sensible；　and　stop　quarreling。〃　She　glanced　at
him　briefly。

〃I'm　willing　to　cut　it　outI　told　you　that。　I　can't　answer　for　him；
though。〃　Rowdy　sighed；　wishing　Harry　Conroy　in　Australia；　or　some　place
equally　remote。

Miss　Conroy　suddenly　resolved　to　be　strictly　just；　and　when　a　young　woman
sets　about　being　deliberately　just；　the　Lord　pity　him　whom　she　judges！

〃Before　I　answer　you；　I　must　know　just　what　all　this　is　about；〃　she　said
firmly。　〃I　want　to　hear　both　sides；　I'm　sure　Harry　wouldn't　do　anything
mean。　Do　you　think　he　would？〃

Rowdy　was　dissentingly　silent。

〃Do　you　really；　in　your　heart；　believe　that　Harry　wouldknowinglybe
guilty　of　anything　mean？〃　Her　eyes　plainly　told　the　answer　she　wanted　to
hear。

Rowdy　looked　into　them；　hesitated；　and　clung　tenaciously　to　his
convictions。　〃Yes；　I　do；　and　I　know　Harry　pretty　well；　Jessie。〃　His　face
showed　how　much　he　hated　to　say　it。

〃I'm　afraid　you　are　very　prejudiced；〃　she　sighed。　〃But　go　on；　tell　me　just
what　you　have　against　Harry。　I'm　sure　it　can　all　be　explained　away；　only　I
must　hear　what　it　is。〃

Rowdy　regarded　her；　puzzled。　How　he　was　to　comply　he　did　not　know。　It　would
be　simply　brutal　to　tell　her。　He　would　feel　like　a　hangman。　And　she　believed
so　in　Harry；　she　wouldn't　listen；　even　if　she　did；　he　thought　bitterly；　she
would　hate　him　for　destroying　her　faith。　A　woman's　justiceah；　me！

〃Don't　you　see　you're　putting　me　in　a　mighty　hard　position；　girlie？〃　he
protested。　〃You're　a　heap　better　off　not　to　know。　He's　your　brother。　I　wish
you'd　take　my　word　that　I'll　drop　the　whole　thing　right　where　it　is。　Harry's
had　all　the　best　of　it；　so　far；　let　it　stand　that　way。〃

Her　eyes　met　his　coldly。　〃Are　you　afraid　to　let　me　judge　between　you？　What
did　he　do？　Daren't　you　tell？〃

Rowdy's　lids　drooped　ominously。　〃If　you　call　that　a　dare；〃　he　said　grimly；
〃I'll　tell　you；　fast　enough。　I　was　a　friend　to　him　when　he　needed　one　mighty
bad。　I　helped　him　when　he　was　dead　broke　and　out　uh　work。　I　kept　him　going
all　winterand　to　show　his　gratitude；　he　gave　me　the　doublecross；　in　more
ways　than　one。　I　won't　go　into　details。〃　He　decided　that　he　simply　could　not
tell　her　bluntly　that　Harry　had　worked　off　stolen　horses　on　him；　and　worse。

〃Ohyou　won't　go　into　details！〃　Scorn　filled　eyes　and　voice。　〃Are　they　so
trivial；　then？　You　tell　me　what　you　did　for　Harryplaying　Good　Samaritan。
Harry；　let　me　tell　you；　has　property　of　his　own；　I　can't　see　why　he　should
ever　be　in　need　of　charity。　You're　like　all　the　rest；　you　hint　things
against　himbut　I　believe　it's　just　jealousy。　You　can't　come　out　honestly
and　tell　me　a　single　instance　where　he　has　harmed　you；　or　done　anything
worse　than　other　high…spirited　young　men。〃

〃It　wouldn't　do　any　good　to　tell　you；〃　he　retorted。　〃You　think　he's　just
lacking　wings　to　be　an　angel。　I　hope　to　God　you'll　always　be　able　to　think
so！　I'm　sure　I　don't　want　to　jar　your　faith。〃

〃I　must　say　your　actions　don't　bear　out　your　words。　You've　just　been　trying
to　turn　me　against　him。〃

〃I　haven't。　I've　been　trying　to　convince　you　that　I　want　you；　anyway；　and
Harry　needn't　come　between　us。〃

〃In　other　words；　you're　willing　to　overlook　my　being　Harry's　sister。　I
appreciate　your　generosity；　I'm　sure。〃　She　did　not　look；　however；　as　if　she
meant　that。

〃I　didn't　mean　that。〃

〃Then　you　won't　overlook　it？　How　very　unfortunate！　Because　I　can't　help　the
relationship。〃

〃Would　you；　if　you　could？〃　he　asked　rashly。

〃Certainly　not！〃

〃I'm　afraid　we're　getting　off　the　trail；〃　he　amended　tactfully。　〃I　asked
you；　a　while　back；　if　you'd　marry　me。〃

〃And　I　said　I　must　hear　both　sides　of　your　trouble　with　Harry；　before　I
could　answer。〃

〃What's　the　use？　You'd　take　his　part；　anyway。〃

〃Not　if　I　found　he　was　guilty　of　all　youinsinuate。　I　should　be　perfectly
just。〃　She　really　believed　that。

〃Can't　you　tell　me　yes　or　no；　anyway？　Don't　let　him　come　between　us。〃

〃I　can't　help　it。　We'd　never　agree；　or　be　happy。　He'd　keep　on　coming　between
us；　whether　we　meant　him　to　or　not；〃　she　said　dispiritedly。

〃That's　a　cinch；〃　Rowdy　muttered；　thinking　of　Harry's　trouble…breeding
talents。

〃Then　there's　no　more　to　be　said。　Until　you　and　Harry　settle　your
difficulties　amicably；　or　I　am　convinced　that　he's　in　the　wrong；　we'll　just
be　friends；　Mr。　Vaughan。　Good　afternoon。〃　She　rode　into　the　Rodway　yard；
feeling　very　just　and　virtuous；　no　doubt。　But　she　left　Rowdy　with　some
rather　unpleasant　thoughts；　and　with　a　sentiment　toward　her　precious　brother
which　was　not　far　from　manslaughter。


CHAPTER　8

Pink　in　a　Threatening　Mood。

Eagle　Creek　Smith　had　at　last　reached　the　point　where　he　must　face　new
conditions　and　change　established　customs。　He　could　no　longer　ignore　the
barrenness　of　the　range；　or　close　his　eyes　to　the　grim　fact　that　his　cattle
were　facing　starvationand　that　in　June；　when　they　should　be　taking　on
flesh。

When　he　finally　did　confess　to　himself　that　things　couldn't　go　on　like　that；
others　had　been　before　him　in　leasing　and　buying　land；　until　only　the　dry
benches　were　left　to　him　and　his　hungry　herds。

But　Eagle　Creek　was　a　man　of　resource。　When　the　round…up　pulled　in　and
Wooden　Shoes　reported　to　him　the　general　state　of　the　cattle；　and　told　of
the　water…holes　newly　fenced　and　of　creek　bottoms　gobbled　by　men　more
farseeing　than　he；　Eagle　Creek　took　twenty…four　hours　to　adjust　himself　to
the　situation　and　to　meet　the　crisis　before　him。　His　own　land；　as　compared
to　his　twenty　thousand　cattle；　was　too　pitifully　inadequate　for　a　second
thought。

He　must　look　elsewhere　for　the　correct　answer　to　his　problem。

When　Rowdy　rode　apathetically　up　to　the　stable；　Pink　came　out　of　the
bunk…house　to　meet　him；　big　with　news。　〃Oh；　doctor！　We're　up　against　it
a…plenty　now；〃　he　greeted；　with　his　dimples　at　their　deepest。

〃Huh！〃　grunted　Rowdy　crossly。　〃What's　hurting　you；　Pink？〃

〃Forecasting　the　future；〃　Pink　retorted。　〃Eagle　Creek　has　come　alive；　and
has　wised　up　sudden　to　the　fact　that　this　ain't　going　t'　be　any　Noah's　flood
brand　uh　summer；　and　that　his　cattle　look　like　the　tailings　of　a　wash…board
factory。　He's　got　busyand　we're　sure　going　to。　We're　due　t'　hit　the　grit
out　uh　here　in　the　first　beams　uh　rosy　morn；　and　do　a　record　stunt　at
gathering　cattle。〃

〃Well；　we　were　going　to；　anyhow；〃　Rowdy　cut　in。

〃But　that's　only　the　prelude；　old…timer。　We've　got　t'　take　'em　across
country　to　the　Belknap　reservation。　Eagle　Creek　went　t'　town　and
telegraphed；　and　got　the　refusal　of　it　for　pasturage；　he　ain't　so　slow；
oncet　he　gets　started。　But　if　you've　ever　rode　over　them　dried…up　benches；
you　savvy　the　merry　party　we'll　be　when　we　git　there。　I've　saw　jack…rabbits
packing　their　lunch　along　over　there。〃

〃Belknap〃Rowdy　dropped　his　saddle　spitefully　to　the　ground〃is　where　our
friend　Conroy　has　just　gone　to　fill　a　splendid　position。〃

Pink　thoughtfully　blew　the　ashes　from　his　cigarette。　〃Harry　Conroy　would
fill　one　position　fine。　So　one　uh　these　days　I'll　offer　it　to　him。　I　don't
know　anybody　that'd　look　nicer　in　a　coffin　than　that　jasperand　if　he's
gone　t'　Belknap；　that's　likely　the　position　he'll　fill；　all　right。〃

Rowdy　said　nothing；　but　his　very　silence　told　Pink　much。

〃How'd　yuh　make　out　with　Jessie？〃　Pink　asked　frankly；　though　he　was　not
supposed　to　know　where　Rowdy　had　been。

Rowdy　knew　from　experience　that　it　was　useless　trying　to　keep　anything　from
Pink　that　Pink　wanted　to　know；　besides；　there　was　a　certain　comfort　in
telling　his　troubles　to　so　stanch　a　friend。　〃Harry　got　his　work　in　the