down the mother lode-第12节

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e　outcome。

In　the　'49　days；　racing　was　one　of　the　most　popular　forms　of　chance；　and　it　often　reverted　in　bizarre　tangents。　This；　then；　is　what　happened　at　a　golden　fiesta　during　the　week　of　races：

〃Sweet　Lady；　are　all　my　importunities　to　be　in　vain？〃

〃I　must　confess　that　I　can　not　bring　my　mind　to　a　decision；　Mr。　Saul；〃　answered　Mistress　Patty　Laughton；　blushing　and　curtsying　prettily。

〃It　is　surely　not　for　your　lack　of　worldly　goods　that　you　hesitate；〃　persisted　Slick…heels　Saul。　〃As　for　what　your　father　is　owing　me；　it　shall；　at　the　moment　of　your　acceptance；　be　wiped　entirely　from　the　books。〃

Patty　was　incensed　at　the　hint　of　insolence　in　the　gambler's　allusion　to　her　improvident　father's　financial　condition。

〃Believe　me；　Mr。　Saul；〃　she　said；　with　spirit；　〃no　ulterior　motive　for　worldly　advancement　has　the　power　to　coerce　my　afflections。〃

〃But　you　will　consider　my　proposition　of　marriage？〃

Patty's　honest　gaze　encountered　the　appraising　glint　in　the　coot　grey　eyes　of　the　foppish　scape…grace　before　her。　She　lowered　her　own　eys　quickly　to　hid　a　hunted　look　in　their　dark　depths　as　she　answered：

〃Sir；　after　the　week　of　races；　you　shall　have　your　answer。〃

〃And　then　I　shall　give　up　my　present　means　of　gaining　a　livelihood；　and；　repairing　to　San　Francisco；　shall　enter　into　a　profession　more　fitting　the　social　station　of　the　lady　who　is　to　become　my　wife。〃　He　bowed　deeply　and　withdrew；　leaving　Patty　with　a　sad　face　and　tearfilled　eyes。

At　last　she　straightened　her　tall　figure　resolutely。　〃I　must　not　give　way　to　tears。　I　can　not！　I　will　not！　There　must　be　some　way　to　pay　my　father's　debts　beside　this　extremity；　to　which　death　is　almost　preferable。　There　is　still　a　week's　time。　A　week　…　only　a　week。〃　Panic　overwhelmed　her；　and　when　someone　gently　took　her　hand；　she　cried　aloud　in　terror。

〃Why；　Sweetheart；　do　I　frighten　you　so？　I　waited　long　upon　the　mesa　near　the　speed…track　at　the　spot　we　had　agreed　upon；　and　when　you　did　not　come　I　fared　forth　to　meet　you。〃

〃Eric；　it　is　Saul　again。　What　can　I　do？〃

〃Dear；　I　have　about　2000　which　I　am　resolved　to　play　on　the　races。　I　will　win。　I　must。　Old　Irish　Mike　has　brought　over　his　whole　stableful　of　saddle　horses　and　I　was　raised　in　Kentucky。　Do　not　despair；　we　shall　beat　the　gambler　at　his　own　game。　Here　is　Mike；　now。　Perhaps　…　Mike；　it's　a　fine　string　of　horses　you've　picked　up。

〃It　is　so。　Many　a　thoroughbred　I've　bought　that　came　all　the　way　from　Kentucky　or　Missouri。　All　that　had　the　stamina　to　get　to　Californy；　the　one　thing　left　that　many　of　the　poor　devils　could　sell　when　they　reached　the　coast。〃

〃Mike；　some　of　them　are　faster　than　others；　I　suppose。〃

〃'Tis　what　half　the　shoe…string　gamblers　in　the　camp　have　tried　to　find　out。　I　may　have　me　own　opinion；　but　it's　to　meself　I'll　kape　it　till　afther　the　races　are　run。　I　will　not　spile　sport。　Have　ye　seen　the　last　cayuse　that's　bein'　put　in？

〃You　mean　the　cow　pony　that　came　in　with　the　bunch　of　cattle　from　the　Napa　Valley　yesterday？〃

〃The　same。　The　auld　boy；　whilst　in　his　cups；　is　bettin'　she　can　beat　anythin'　on　four　legs；　even　jack　rabbits　an'　antelope。　The　precious　gamblin'　riff…raff　are　fillin'　him　up　with　tanglefoot；　proper。〃

〃Why；　Mike？〃　Mike　glanced　at　the　silent　girl　and　then　down　into　the　gulch　below。

〃Miss　Patty；　have　ye　visited　the　claims？〃

〃No；　but　I　should　like　to。〃

〃Come；　then；　if　ye　will　so　pleasure　an　old　man。　The　men　will　not　be　workin'　tomorrow。　They　will　be　that　pleased　to　show　a　lady　how　to　wash　a　pan　o'　dirt；　they　will　be　saltin'　ivery　pan　wit'　nuggets　for　ye！　Eric；　lad；〃　he　called　back　to　the　tall　young　man；　〃ye　might　look　the　cow　horse　over。　She　has　not　been　curried　for　long；　yet；　whisper；　beauty　is　but　skin　deep　an'　the　finest　rapier　is　often　encased　in　a　rusty　scabbard。〃

〃There　is　something　going　forward　that　Mike　wishes　me　to　see；〃　though　Eric；　as　he　hurried　off　to　the　livery　stable。　〃That　is　why　he　took　Patty　away。〃

A　crowd　of　gamblers　were　just　putting　up　a　pair　of　riders　on　two　horses。

〃Hey；　Eric　Tallman；　you　used　to　own　this　horse。　Can　he　beat　this　rat…tailed　kyoodle　that　runs　after　steers？〃

Eric　laid　a　hand　fondly　on　the　magnificent　black　〃half　breed；〃　who　had　just　enough　mustang　to　give　him　the　stamina　and　spirit　and　wildness　characteristic　of　the　Spanish…bred　horse。

〃Keep　him　on　a　steady　rein　and　he'll　beat　anything　in　the　mountains。　I'd　never　have　sold　him　except　…　。〃　He　sighed；　turning　to　the　cattle　horse。　She　was　long　necked；　long　legged；　long　haired；　wall…eyed；　lean；　and　badly　in　need　of　currying；　and　yet　Irish　Mike　was　no　fool；　and　Mike　knew　Eric's　extremity　…　his　and　the　girl's　whom　he　loved。

He　noted　the　deep；　broad　chest；　the　tapering　barrel　and　the　tremendous　driving　power　in　the　steel　muscles　of　the　hind　quarters；　but　she　drooped；　spiritless。　He　turned　again　to　the　satin…coated　half…breed。

〃Any　dust　up　yet？〃

〃Ye…aw；　about　ten　thousand。　Old　fool　seems　to　be　well　heeled。　We've　got　'im　full　to　the　eyes；　down　at　String…halt　Eddie's　place；　an'　the　boys　are　goin'　to　try　the　plugs　out　before　they　put　up　any　more。〃　Two　trial　races　were　ridden　and　the　sad　cow　horse　was　outrun　with　apparent　ease。

The　next　morning　as　Patty　went　on　her　daily　stroll　to　〃take　the　air；〃　her　way　was　blocked　by　a　clamoring　crowd　of　undesirables　who　were　baiting　a　miserable　old　cattle　man。

〃I　tell　ye；　gentlemen；　I　was　indisposed。　'Twas　the　liquor　talking。　Surely　you　would　not　take　advantage　of　a　poor　old　man　and　his　honest；　hard…working　little　mount。　Every　day　of　her　life　she　works。　Gentlemen；　I　beg　you　…　〃

〃Begging　will　get　you　nothing　better　than　a　good　drubbing；　you　filthy　cattle　lout！　If　you　don't　pay　up　your　bets；　we'll　take　it　out　of　your　hide。　I；　for　one；　have　a　special　use　for　my　money　at　the　week's　end。〃

It　was　Slick…heels　Saul。　Patty　turned　aside；　sick　at　heart。　This　was　the　creature　in　whose　power　she　was　〃like　to　fall。〃

Upon　her　return　she　found　the　old　cowboy　sitting　dejectedly　under　a　liveoak　bush。　〃Sir；〃　she　began　timidly；　〃you　are　in　trouble。　I　should　like　to　express　my　sympathy。〃

He　rose　with　suspicious　nimbleness。　〃Now；　bless　your　kind　heart；　Miss；　to　stop　to　console　a　sad　old　man。〃

〃I　overheard　what　Mr。　Saul　said　to　you；　sir。　He　is　…　〃

〃Without　doubt；　without　doubt；　he　is　everything　you　mention。　Could　you；　now；　be　Mistress　Patty　Laughton；　of　Kentucky？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　knew　your　Grandfather　Laughton；　my　child；　and　since　I　came　here　I　have　heard…of　you；〃　he　finished；　with　innate　delicacy。　Indeed；　who　had　not　heard　her　story？

She　opened　her　silken　reticule　and　drew　forth　a　small；　buckskin　bag。　〃Will　you　not　accept　it？〃　Yesterday；　at　the　claims；　I　panned　it　out　myself。　I　am　sorry　for　your　plight。　I　am　sorry　for　anyone　in　the　clutches　of　Slick…heels　Saul。〃

〃But　…　。　Can　you　…　？〃

〃It　does　not　matter。　Your　extremity　is　greater　than　mine。〃

He　stood　looking　after　the　slim　girl　who　carried　her　head　so　high。　〃How　like　a　Kentucky　Laughton。　Thoroughbred　stock；　all！〃　He　tossed　the　bag　in　his　hand。　〃'Tis　why　they　are　where　they　are　today。〃　Then　his　keen　old　eyes　softened。　〃And　why　they　are　what　they　are；　today。　Bless　her　tender　heart　to　stoop　to　an　old　cattle　man　in　the　mire。　As　for　this　…　I　must　see　Irish　Mike；〃　and　he　hurried　off　with　surprising　speed。

Bets　rose。　Every　gambler　had　been　apprised　of　the　sure　thing　and　flocked　to　the　betting　like　bears　to　a　honey　tree。

〃Have　ye　put　up　ye'r　money；　Eric？〃　asked　Irish　Mike；　late　the　next　night。

〃Yes；〃　said　Eric；　briefly。

〃Ah。　So。〃　Mike's　shrewd　gave　slid　from　the　young　man's　face。

〃They　do　say　that　Slick…heels　Saul　is　beginnin'　to　worry　over　the　20；000　he's　staked。　The　shoestring　gang　have　gathered　in　the　information　fr'm　th'　express　agent　that　the　auld　cattle　man　owns　a　big　Spanish　grant　down　in　the　valley；　and　has　50；00　to　his　credit　in　certificates　of　deposit　from　the　express　company。　'Tis　as　good　as　gold。〃

〃Mike；　have　you　ever　seen　him　before？〃

〃I　never　spile　sport；　me　boy。〃

It　was　the　last　day　of　the　fiesta　and　the　famous　race　was　at　hand。

〃There　is　the　old　cattle　man　with　his　vaqueros。〃

〃Faith；　they're　a　tough　lookin'　lot；　all　armed　with　a　brace　o'　Colts　apiece。　'Tis　fun　they'd　have；　cleanin'　out　a　Fandango　House。〃

〃Patty；　girl；　you　are　pale　today。〃

〃Oh；　Eric；　'tis　the　last　day　of　grace。　Heaven　help　us　if　…　〃

〃See；　Patty；　gir…r…rl；　they're　fixin'　for　the　foot　race　between　Cherokee　Bob　an'　that　Australian　squirt　fr'm　Sacramento。〃

〃Why　are　they　placing　men　with　guns　every　ten　feet　along　the　track？〃

〃The　Indian　can　beat　the　Australian；　but　he　thried　to　sell　the　boys　out；　an'　if　he　slackens　his　gait　by　ever　so　little；　the　b'ys　will　begin　shootin'　sthraight　before　them。　An'　maybe　afther　the　race；　he'd　better　be　runnin'　right　on　into　the　next　county。〃

〃What　next？〃

〃Next　is　a　jackass　fight；　an'　then；　the　race！〃

After　the　billigerent　jacks　had　been　led　away；　Red　Pete　suddenly　took　to　the　brush；　accelerated　by　a　fusillade　of　bullets。

〃Welchin'　his　bets；　he　is；　an'　ivery　man　he　owes　is　lettin'　him　have　it。〃

〃Nary　a　hit！〃　wailed　old　Jack　Horner。　〃The　shootin'　in　this　camp　is　a…gittin'　vile！　Time　we　was　quittin　so　d　…　　much　pick　handlin；　an'　a…practicin'　up。　It's　a　reflection　on　the　community。　Why；　there　ain't