down the mother lode-第10节

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〃I　am　to　stay　with　Mrs。　…　Pete？〃　asked　Becky；　anxiously。

〃Child；　you're　a…going　to　be　as　safe　as　if　there　was　a　lady　in　this　law…evadin'　camp；　which　there　isn't；　exceptin'　your　own　sweet　and　lovely　self。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃You're　a…going　to　have　old　Bull…doze　watchin'　inside　the　cabin　and　ten　decent　and　sober　men　watchin'　outside　it　and　nothin'　short　of　a　messenger　from　up…skies　could　touch　one　pretty；　red…gold　curl　on　your　proud　little　head。〃

〃Bob；　I'll　take　her　home　to　her　mother；〃　spoke　up　Harry　who　had　never　once　taken　his　bold　gaze　from　the　girl。

〃No；　you　won't　take　her　home　to　her　mother；　neither！〃

Beckey　was　strangely　comforted　by　the　protective　drawl　of　the　big　man's　voice。　Accustomed　as　she　had　grown　to　the　rapid　transitions　of　the　West；　she　realized　the　fallacy　of　her　first　impression　from　his　appearance。　That　night　laid　the　foundation　of　her　regard　for　him；　which　was　deeper　than　a　mere　surface　appeal；　and　which　was　never　to　waver。

*　*　*　*　*

〃H'm；〃　snorted　Cornish　Jack；　shuffling　a　greasy　pack　of　cards　in　Sick　Jimmie's　place　and　watching　two　men　go　by；　〃that's　the　most　willin'　pair　on　the　gulch！　Bob；　he's　willin'　to　do　all　the　work；　an'　Handsome　Harry；　he's　willin'　to　let　'im。　Fine　house　Bob's　just　built。　Must　of　cost　a　heap。〃

〃They　say　that　Miss　Beckey　and　her　mother　are　going　to　live　in　it；〃　answered　Plug　Hat　Pete。　〃I'll　raise　you　ten。〃

〃Handsome　Harry's　bin　a…dancin'　round　that　gal　ever　since　they　moved　here；　six　months　ago。〃

〃Yes；　and　the　look　in　her　eyes　in　another　direction；　is　plainly　to　be　read。〃　The　implication　was　lost　on　Cornish　Jack。

〃Ol'　Bob；　he　does　all　he　can　to　throw　'em　together。　Air　ye　goin'　to　the　house　warmin'　tonight？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　The　Senator。　〃Particularly　if　we　manage　to　keep　old　Tommy　Norton　and　Black　Joe　from　getting　intoxicated；　so　there　will　be　a　pair　of　fiddlers　on　the　gulch。　Tommy；　on　such　occasions；　always　has　an　attack　of　religion　which　precludes　the　possibility　of　his　assisting　at　any　profane　scene　of　mirth；　and　Joe　falls　into　a　deep　sleep　from　which　nothing　can　rouse　him　for　twenty…four　hours。〃

〃There's　Antelope　back。　I　hear　his　roan。〃

〃Well；　who　do　you　think　I　met　down　around　the　curve　of　Blackjack　Hill？　That　gal　o'　Bob's　on　her　pinto　and　that　sneakin'　Handsome　Harry　on　his　black　mustang；　ridin'　full…bent…for…leather！〃

The　men　rushed　with　one　accord　to　Bob's　cabin；　where　he　sat　before　his　fireless　hearth。

〃We　al'ays　knew　he　was　a　sneakin'　thief；　but　you　wouldn't　hear　nothin'　agin　him。　Took　all　the　bags　of　gold　dust　from　your　claim；　too；　didn't　he？〃

〃Now；　boys；　that　isn't　fair　to　call　him　a　thief。　He　was　my　partner　and　what　was　mine　was　his；　and　a　man　has　a　right　to　take　his　own　wherever　he　finds　it。〃

〃But　the　gal？〃　asked　a　chorus　of　voices。

〃That　girl　wasn't　in　any　way　bound　to　me；　and　you　can't　expect　a　pretty　creature　like　her　to　care　for　such　a　beauty　as　I　am；　when　there's　a　fellow　like　Handsome　Harry　around。　It　don't　stand　to　reason。〃

〃Come；　fellows；〃　said　Poker　Bill；　〃if　Bob's　satisfied　I　reckon　we　ought　to　be。　Time　to　get　into　our　biled　shirts　for　the　house　warmin'；　anyway。〃

〃Sorry　to　disappoint　you；　boys；　but　there　won't　be　a　house　warming。　I　built　it　for　them　and　they're　gone。　It'll　stay　locked　till　they　come　again。　This　old　cabin　is　good　enough　for　me。〃

So　they　left　him。　Bob　relit　his　pipe　and　settled　back　on　his　bench。　Once　he　roused　a　moment　to　mutter。　〃But　they'd　ought　to　know　me　better。　They　needn't　have　run　away　from　their　best　friend。〃

Soon　after　dark　a　pinto　paced　home　through　the　quiet；　mourning　camp　with　a　very　weary　bulldog　at　her　heels。　Beckey　slid　from　her　side　saddle　and　crept　to　Bob's　open　door。　By　the　light　of　a　full　moon　she　could　see　the　big　lax　figure　in　an　attitude　of　utter　despair。

〃Bob！〃

〃You！　Girl；　I　thought　you'd　gone。〃

〃I　went　because　…　because　I　thought　you'd　come　after　me。　I'd　tried　everything　else　that　a　woman　can　do　to　make　you　understand　*　*　*　He's　begged　me　so　many　times　to　run　off。　When　he　understood；　he　was　beastly。　He　put　me　off　the　horse　and　told　me　to　walk；　then。　It　was　the　dog　who　fought　him；　and　then　I　ran　for　Pinto　and　came　back。〃　Her　low　voice　failed　her；　but　she　controlled　herself；　and　went　on；　〃I　thought　if　I　pretended　to　go　you'd　see　…　〃

〃See！　Girl；　you've　known　ever　since　you　came　creeping　into　Snake　Gulch　that　night　that　you　were　the　very　heart　and　soul　of　me。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　sobbed；　〃that　is　not　what　I　would　have　you　know。〃

〃You　mean　…　no；　I　am　a　great　fool。　No　woman　could　bring　herself　to　…　A　face　like　mine！　Even　if　you　did；　it　would　be　from　gratitude。　I　could　not　permit　such　a　sacrifice；〃　he　finished；　with　a　touch　of　pride。

The　girl　waited；　then　when　he　was　silent　she　turned　with　a　sob　to　go　to　her　mother's　cabin。　The　soft　footfalls　died　away。　Bob　stood　motionless。　Suddenly　a　scream　rang　out　on　the　still　night　air。　Bulldoze　scrambled　off　the　door…stone　with　a　snarl　of　battle…rage　and　charged　for　the　sound；　but　he　was　easily　outdistanced　by　the　huge　miner；　who　ran　with　the　lithe　grace　of　an　Indian。　In　an　incredibly　short　time　the　little　form　was　safe　in　his　arms。

〃Oh；　there's　a　terrible　animal　in　the　mining　ditch。　I　heard　it！　It's　coming　this　way！　A　grizzley；　I　know！〃　Bob　peered　into　the　ditch。

〃Why；　girl；　it's　only　drunken　old　Solly　Jake　going　home　holding　his　jug　out　of　the　water。　He　gets　into　the　ditch　so　he　won't　lose　the　way。〃

〃But　how　does　he　know　when　to　get　out？〃

〃Well；　when　he　bangs　his　head　on　the　overbrace　of　the　first　flume；　he　knows　he's　home　and　crawls　out。〃　Bob　began　gently　to　withdraw　his　arms。

If　you　let　me　go　now；〃　she　whispered；　〃I'll　wish　that　it　had　been　a　grizzley。〃

〃I　must　take　you　home。〃

'Oh；　you　have！　I　am　home；〃　clinging　to　him　desperately；　〃I　want　no　other　in　the　world　than　this　one。〃

〃But　my　scarred　…　〃

The　girl　reached　up；　drawing　down　his　tall；　dark　head　in　her　arms。　She　kissed　his　mutilated　cheek；　then　pressed　it　tenderly　against　her　soft；　bare　throat。　It　did　not　stay　long；　as　Bob　felt　that　such　kisess　should　be　returned　without　delay。

〃Hu…ray；〃　cheered　Solly　Jake；　waving　his　whisky　jug；　〃tale　ended　right！　Time　f'r　'nother　drink；　boys！〃　and　standing　up　to　his　middle　in　water　he　proceeded　to　demonstrate　his　idea。



Curley　Coppers　the　Jack

VII

〃On　Selby　Flat　we　live　in　style；　We'll　stay　right　here　till　we　make　our　pile。　We're　sure　to　do　it　after　a　while；　Then　good…bye　to　Californy！〃

…Canfield's　〃Diary　of　a　Forty…Niner。〃



The　beautiful　Casino　at　Monte　Carlo　stands　in　one　of　the　loveliest　settings　on　earth。　Facing　the　blue　Mediterranean　and　enhanced　by　the　exquisitely　kept　marble　villas　of　Monaco；　it　may　justly　be　called　the　acme　of　gambling　institutions。　It　has　become　an　institution　through　the　years。　Time　has　brought　it　stability。

Its　absolute　antithesis　were　the　gambling　dens　of　'49。　Built　over…night；　destined　to　remain　if　the　mines　were　rich；　and　to　melt　away　if　they　pinched　out；　the　gambling　hells　were　sometimes　the　veriest　makeshifts。　Canvas　covered；　dirt　floored；　except　for　the　dancing　platform；　rough　red…wood　bar　and　tables；　surrounded　by　all　the　sordidness　of　Hurdy　Gurdy　town　in　which　fortunes；　and　reputations；　and　lives　were　bid；　and　shuffled；　and　lost；　as　indiscriminately　as　grains　of　dust　blown　into　the　ever…changing　sea。

The　thirst　for　gold　is　universal。　In　those　half…mad　days　of　delirious　seeking；　the　princeling　rubbed　sleeves　with　the　scoundrel　and　the　clod；　and　each　man's　ability　was　his　only　protection。　Fortune　played　no　favorites。　The　tale　is　told　of　the　judge　who　drove　home　in　his　coach　through　a　shallow　creek。　Ruin　faced　him　for　the　lack　of　a　few　thousand　dollars。　He　took　out　his　derringer　and　shot　himself。

Not　half　an　hour　later　a　Chinaman　crossed　the　creek　under　his　pole　between　two　swinging　baskets。　He　found　a　nugget　there　which　brought　him　over　30；000。

This；　then；　is　the　tale　of　what　Fortune　did　to　Curly　Gillmore。

*　*　*　*　*

〃Whoop…ee！　Ki…yi…ee　hick…ee！　Yi…ee…ee！〃

〃There　comes　Curly；〃　said　Teddy　Karns；〃　never　altering　the　steady　flow　of　the　whiskey　he　was　pouring　into　a　tin　cup　for　Sailor　Jack　to　drink。

〃Made　a　big　strike；　I　hear。〃

〃Yea…ah。　About　25；000；　they　say。　Might　be　a　million；　the　way　the　female　critters　run；〃　Ted　laughed；　as　the　hurdy…gurdy　girls　with　shrieks　of　laughter　pounced　upon　the　noisy　newcomer。

〃Well；　hel…lo；　Nance；　and　Liz；　and　Babe；　and　Bouncin'　Bet；　old　gal！　All　ready　to　help　me　sling　it；　ain't　you？　But　where's　little　pale　Alice？〃

〃Oh；　Allie？　She's　back　in　the　tents。　Sick　tonight。　Awful　bad；　she's　took。　She'll　be　shufflin'　off　'fore　long；　an'　rid　o'　mortal　misery。〃

〃Poor　little　soldier！〃

〃Sweet；　she　was；　an'　born　to　be　good。　Why；　I　remember　（we　came　'round　the　Horn　on　the　same　sailin'　vessel）　that　they　wasn't　a　ailin'　baby　on　board　but　what　Allie　could　get　a　smile　out　of　it；　nor　a　sick　soul　that　didn't　bless　'er　for　'er　kindness　an'　care。　Sick　o'　body；　sick　o'　heart；　Allie　did　for　'em　all；　bless　'er。〃

〃She　was　happy；　then；〃　put　in　Babe。

〃Yes。　Comin'　out　to　Californy　to　'er　lover；　she　were；　all　her　folks　back　in　the　States　bein'　dead。　She'd　took　care　of　'er　mother；　last。　'Twas　why　'er　man　came　on　ahead。　An'　when　she　got　here　…　〃

〃Aw…w；　Bet；　don't　you　cry；〃　said　Babe。　〃Y'　see；　when　we　go