roads of destiny-第22节

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　〃Don't　disturb　yourself；〃　said　the　Kid；　easily。　〃I　just　dropped　in。　They　told　me　it　was　customary　to　light　at　your　camp　before　starting　in　to　round　up　the　town。　I　just　came　in　on　a　ship　from　Texas。〃

〃Glad　to　see　you；　Mr。〃　said　the　consul。

The　Kid　laughed。

〃Sprague　Dalton；〃　he　said。　〃It　sounds　funny　to　me　to　hear　it。　I'm　called　the　Llano　Kid　in　the　Rio　Grande　country。〃

〃I'm　Thacker；〃　said　the　consul。　〃Take　that　cane…bottom　chair。　Now　if　you've　come　to　invest；　you　want　somebody　to　advise　you。　These　dingies　will　cheat　you　out　of　the　gold　in　your　teeth　if　you　don't　understand　their　ways。　Try　a　cigar？〃

〃Much　obliged；〃　said　the　Kid；　〃but　if　it　wasn't　for　my　corn　shucks　and　the　little　bag　in　my　back　pocket　I　couldn't　live　a　minute。〃　He　took　out　his　〃makings；〃　and　rolled　a　cigarette。

〃They　speak　Spanish　here；〃　said　the　consul。　〃You'll　need　an　interpreter。　If　there's　anything　I　can　do；　why；　I'd　be　delighted。　If　you're　buying　fruit　lands　or　looking　for　a　concession　of　any　sort；　you'll　want　somebody　who　knows　the　ropes　to　look　out　for　you。〃

〃I　speak　Spanish；〃　said　the　Kid；　〃about　nine　times　better　than　I　do　English。　Everybody　speaks　it　on　the　range　where　I　come　from。　And　I'm　not　in　the　market　for　anything。〃

〃You　speak　Spanish？〃　said　Thacker　thoughtfully。　He　regarded　the　kid　absorbedly。

〃You　look　like　a　Spaniard；　too；〃　he　continued。　〃And　you're　from　Texas。　And　you　can't　be　more　than　twenty　or　twenty…one。　I　wonder　if　you've　got　any　nerve。〃

〃You　got　a　deal　of　some　kind　to　put　through？〃　asked　the　Texan；　with　unexpected　shrewdness。

〃Are　you　open　to　a　proposition？〃　said　Thacker。

〃What's　the　use　to　deny　it？〃　said　the　Kid。　〃I　got　into　a　little　gun　frolic　down　in　Laredo　and　plugged　a　white　man。　There　wasn't　any　Mexican　handy。　And　I　come　down　to　your　parrot…and…monkey　range　just　for　to　smell　the　morning…glories　and　marigolds。　Now；　do　you　/sabe/？〃

Thacker　got　up　and　closed　the　door。

〃Let　me　see　your　hand；〃　he　said。

He　took　the　Kid's　left　hand；　and　examined　the　back　of　it　closely。

〃I　can　do　it；〃　he　said　excitedly。　〃Your　flesh　is　as　hard　as　wood　and　as　healthy　as　a　baby's。　It　will　heal　in　a　week。〃

〃If　it's　a　fist　fight　you　want　to　back　me　for；〃　said　the　Kid；　〃don't　put　your　money　up　yet。　Make　it　gun　work；　and　I'll　keep　you　company。　But　no　barehanded　scrapping；　like　ladies　at　a　tea…party；　for　me。〃

〃It's　easier　than　that；〃　said　Thacker。　〃Just　step　here；　will　you？〃

Through　the　window　he　pointed　to　a　two…story　white…stuccoed　house　with　wide　galleries　rising　amid　the　deep…green　tropical　foliage　on　a　wooded　hill　that　sloped　gently　from　the　sea。

〃In　that　house；〃　said　Thacker；　〃a　fine　old　Castilian　gentleman　and　his　wife　are　yearning　to　gather　you　into　their　arms　and　fill　your　pockets　with　money。　Old　Santos　Urique　lives　there。　He　owns　half　the　gold…mines　in　the　country。〃

〃You　haven't　been　eating　loco　weed；　have　you？〃　asked　the　Kid。

〃Sit　down　again；〃　said　Thacker；　〃and　I'll　tell　you。　Twelve　years　ago　they　lost　a　kid。　No；　he　didn't　diealthough　most　of　'em　here　do　from　drinking　the　surface　water。　He　was　a　wild　little　devil；　even　if　he　wasn't　but　eight　years　old。　Everybody　knows　about　it。　Some　Americans　who　were　through　here　prospecting　for　gold　had　letters　to　Senor　Urique；　and　the　boy　was　a　favorite　with　them。　They　filled　his　head　with　big　stories　about　the　States；　and　about　a　month　after　they　left；　the　kid　disappeared；　too。　He　was　supposed　to　have　stowed　himself　away　among　the　banana　bunches　on　a　fruit　steamer；　and　gone　to　New　Orleans。　He　was　seen　once　afterward　in　Texas；　it　was　thought；　but　they　never　heard　anything　more　of　him。　Old　Urique　has　spent　thousands　of　dollars　having　him　looked　for。　The　madam　was　broken　up　worst　of　all。　The　kid　was　her　life。　She　wears　mourning　yet。　But　they　say　she　believes　he'll　come　back　to　her　some　day；　and　never　gives　up　hope。　On　the　back　of　the　boy's　left　hand　was　tattooed　a　flying　eagle　carrying　a　spear　in　his　claws。　That's　old　Urique's　coat　of　arms　or　something　that　he　inherited　in　Spain。〃

The　Kid　raised　his　left　hand　slowly　and　gazed　at　it　curiously。

〃That's　it；〃　said　Thacker；　reaching　behind　the　official　desk　for　his　bottle　of　smuggled　brandy。　〃You're　not　so　slow。　I　can　do　it。　What　was　I　consul　at　Sandakan　for？　I　never　knew　till　now。　In　a　week　I'll　have　the　eagle　bird　with　the　frog…sticker　blended　in　so　you'd　think　you　were　born　with　it。　I　brought　a　set　of　the　needles　and　ink　just　because　I　was　sure　you'd　drop　in　some　day；　Mr。　Dalton。〃

〃Oh；　hell；〃　said　the　Kid。　〃I　thought　I　told　you　my　name！〃

〃All　right；　'Kid；'　then。　It　won't　be　that　long。　How　does　Senorito　Urique　sound；　for　a　change？〃

〃I　never　played　son　any　that　I　remember　of；〃　said　the　Kid。　〃If　I　had　any　parents　to　mention　they　went　over　the　divide　about　the　time　I　gave　my　first　bleat。　What　is　the　plan　of　your　round…up？〃

Thacker　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　held　his　glass　up　to　the　light。

〃We've　come　now；〃　said　he；　〃to　the　question　of　how　far　you're　willing　to　go　in　a　little　matter　of　the　sort。〃

〃I　told　you　why　I　came　down　here；〃　said　the　Kid　simply。

〃A　good　answer；〃　said　the　consul。　〃But　you　won't　have　to　go　that　far。　Here's　the　scheme。　After　I　get　the　trademark　tattooed　on　your　hand　I'll　notify　old　Urique。　In　the　meantime　I'll　furnish　you　with　all　of　the　family　history　I　can　find　out；　so　you　can　be　studying　up　points　to　talk　about。　You've　got　the　looks；　you　speak　the　Spanish；　you　know　the　facts；　you　can　tell　about　Texas；　you've　got　the　tattoo　mark。　When　I　notify　them　that　the　rightful　heir　has　returned　and　is　waiting　to　know　whether　he　will　be　received　and　pardoned；　what　will　happen？　They'll　simply　rush　down　here　and　fall　on　your　neck；　and　the　curtain　goes　down　for　refreshments　and　a　stroll　in　the　lobby。〃

〃I'm　waiting；〃　said　the　Kid。　〃I　haven't　had　my　saddle　off　in　your　camp　long；　pardner；　and　I　never　met　you　before；　but　if　you　intend　to　let　it　go　at　a　parental　blessing；　why；　I'm　mistaken　in　my　man；　that's　all。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　the　consul。　〃I　haven't　met　anybody　in　a　long　time　that　keeps　up　with　an　argument　as　well　as　you　do。　The　rest　of　it　is　simple。　If　they　take　you　in　only　for　a　while　it's　long　enough。　Don't　give　'em　time　to　hunt　up　the　strawberry　mark　on　your　left　shoulder。　Old　Urique　keeps　anywhere　from　50；000　to　100；000　in　his　house　all　the　time　in　a　little　safe　that　you　could　open　with　a　shoe　buttoner。　Get　it。　My　skill　as　a　tattooer　is　worth　half　the　boddle。　We　go　halves　and　catch　a　tramp　steamer　for　Rio　Janeiro。　Let　the　United　States　go　to　pieces　if　it　can't　get　along　without　my　services。　/Que　dice；　senor/？〃

〃It　sounds　to　me！〃　said　the　Kid；　nodding　his　head。　〃I'm　out　for　the　dust。〃

〃All　right；　then；〃　said　Thacker。　〃You'll　have　to　keep　close　until　we　get　the　bird　on　you。　You　can　live　in　the　back　room　here。　I　do　my　own　cooking；　and　I'll　make　you　as　comfortable　as　a　parsimonious　Government　will　allow　me。〃

Thacker　had　set　the　time　at　a　week；　but　it　was　two　weeks　before　the　design　that　he　patiently　tattooed　upon　the　Kid's　hand　was　to　his　notion。　And　then　Thacker　called　a　/muchacho/；　and　dispatched　this　note　to　the　intended　victim：

　　El　Senor　Don　Santos　Urique；　　　La　Casa　Blanca；

　　My　Dear　Sir：

　　I　beg　permission　to　inform　you　that　there　is　in　my　house　as　a　　　temporary　guest　a　young　man　who　arrived　in　Buenas　Tierras　from　the　　　United　States　some　days　ago。　Without　wishing　to　excite　any　hopes　　　that　may　not　be　realized；　I　think　there　is　a　possibility　of　his　　　being　your　long…absent　son。　It　might　be　well　for　you　to　call　and　　　see　him。　If　he　is；　it　is　my　opinion　that　his　intention　was　to　　　return　to　his　home；　but　upon　arriving　here；　his　courage　failed　him　　　from　doubts　as　to　how　he　would　be　received。　Your　true　servant；

Thompson　Thacker。


Half　an　hour　afterwardquick　time　for　Buenas　TierrasSenor　Urique's　ancient　landau　drove　to　the　consul's　door；　with　the　barefooted　coachman　beating　and　shouting　at　the　team　of　fat；　awkward　horses。

A　tall　man　with　a　white　moustache　alighted；　and　assisted　to　the　ground　a　lady　who　was　dressed　and　veiled　in　unrelieved　black。

The　two　hastened　inside；　and　were　met　by　Thacker　with　his　best　diplomatic　bow。　By　his　desk　stood　a　slender　young　man　with　clear…cut；　sun…browned　features　and　smoothly　brushed　black　hair。

Senora　Urique　threw　back　her　black　veil　with　a　quick　gesture。　She　was　past　middle　age；　and　her　hair　was　beginning　to　silver；　but　her　full；　proud　figure　and　clear　olive　skin　retained　traces　of　the　beauty　peculiar　to　the　Basque　province。　But；　once　you　had　seen　her　eyes；　and　comprehended　the　great　sadness　that　was　revealed　in　their　deep　shadows　and　hopeless　expression；　you　saw　that　the　woman　lived　only　in　some　memory。

She　bent　upon　the　young　man　a　long　look　of　the　most　agonized　questioning。　Then　her　great　black　eyes　turned；　and　her　gaze　rested　upon　his　left　hand。　And　then　with　a　sob；　not　loud；　but　seeming　to　shake　the　room；　she　cried　〃/Hijo　mio/！〃　and　caught　the　Llano　Kid　to　her　heart。

A　month　afterward　the　Kid　came　to　the　consulate　in　response　to　a　message　sent　by　Thacker。

He　looked　the　young　Spanish　/caballero/。　His　clothes　were　imported；　and　the　wiles　of　the　jewellers　had　not　been　spent　upon　him　in　vain。　A　more　than　respectable　diamond　shone　on　his　finger　as　he　rolled　a　shuck　cigarette。

〃What's　doing？〃　a