wyoming(怀俄明)-第37节
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and〃 She broke off； sobbing； leaving the rest as a guess。
Helen filled it out aloud。 〃And you were going to say that you care
more for him than any of the others。 Well； you must stop coquetting and
tell him so when we have saved him。〃
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 agreed Nora； very repentant for the moment of the fact
that it was her nature to play with the hearts of those of the male
persuasion。 Immediately she added： 〃He was THAT kind； ma'am； tender…
hearted。〃
Helen； whose own heart was breaking； continued to soothe her。 〃Don't
say WAS； child。 You are to be brave； and not think of him that way。〃
〃Yes； ma'am。 He told me he was going to buy cows with the thousand
dollars he won yesterday。 I knew he meant〃
〃Yes； of course。 It's a cowboy's way of saying that he means to start
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housekeeping。 Have you the telegram； Missou？〃 For that young man was
standing in the doorway。
He handed her the yellow slip。 She ripped open the envelope and read：
Company B en route。 Railroad connections uncertain Postpone crisis long
as possible。 May reach Gimlet Butte by ten…thirty。
Her first thought was of unspeakable relief。 The militia was going to
take a hand。 The boys in khaki would come marching down the street； and
everything would be all right。 But hard on the heels of her instinctive
gladness trod the sober second thought。 Ten…thirty at best； and perhaps
later！ Would they wait that long； or would they do their cowardly work as
soon as night fell She must contrive to delay them till the train drew in。
She must play for those two lives with all her woman's wit； must match
the outlaw's sinister cunning and fool him into delay。 She knew he would
come if she sent for him。 But how long could she keep him？ As long as he
was amused at her agony； as long as his pleasure in tormenting her was
greater than his impatience to be at his ruffianly work。 Oh； if she ever
needed all her power it would be to…night。
Throughout the day she continued to receive hourly reports from
Denver； who always brought with him four or five honest cowpunchers
from up…country to listen to the strange tale she unfolded to them。 It was；
of course； in part； the spell of her sweet personality； of that shy appeal she
made to the manhood in them； but of those who came； nearly all believed；
for the time at least； and aligned themselves on her side in the struggle that
was impending。 Some of these were swayed from their allegiance in the
course of the day； but a few she knew would remain true。
Meanwhile； all through the day； the enemy was busily at work。 As
Denver had predicted； free liquor was served to all who would drink。 The
town and its guests were started on a grand debauch that was to end in
violence that might shock their sober intelligence。 Everywhere poisoned
whispers were being flung broadcast against the two men waiting in the
jail for what the night would bring forth。
Dusk fell on a town crazed by bad whiskey and evil report。 The deeds
of Bannister were hashed and rehashed at every bar； and nobody related
them with more ironic gusto than the man who called himself Jack
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Holloway。 There were people in town who knew his real name and
character； but of these the majority were either in alliance with him or
dared not voice their knowledge。 Only Miss Messiter and her punchers
told the truth； and their words were blown away like chaff。
From the first moment of darkness Helen had the outlaw leader
dogged by two of her men。 Since neither of these were her own riders this
was done without suspicion。 At intervals of every quarter of an hour they
reported to her in turn。 Bannister was beginning to drink heavily； and she
did not want to cut short his dissipation by a single minute。 Yet she had to
make sure of getting his attention before he went too far。
It was close to nine when she sent him a note； not daring to delay a
minute longer。 For the reports of her men were all to the same effect； that
the crisis would not now be long postponed。 Bannister； or Holloway； as he
chose to call himself； was at the bar with his lieutenants in evil when the
note reached him。 He read it with a satisfaction he could not conceal。 So！
He had brought her already to her knees。 Before he was through with her
she should grovel in the dust before him。
〃I'll be back in a few minutes。 Do nothing till I return；〃 he ordered； and
went jingling away to the Elk House。
The young woman's anxiety was pitiable； but she repressed it sternly
when she went to meet the man she feared； and never had it been more in
evidence than in this hour of her greatest torture。 Blithely she came
forward to meet him； eye challenging eye gayly。 No hint of her anguish
escaped into her manner。 He read there only coquetry； the eternal sex
conflict； the winsome defiance of a woman hitherto the virgin mistress of
all assaults upon her heart's citadel。 It was the last thing he had expected to
see； but it was infinitely more piquant； more intoxicating； than desperation。
She seemed to give the lie to his impression of her love for his cousin； and
that； too； delighted his pride。
〃You will sit down？〃
Carelessly； almost indolently； she put the question； her raised eyebrows
indicating a chair with perfunctory hospitality。 He had not meant to sit；
had expected only to gloat a few minutes over her despair； but this
situation called for more deliberation。 He had yet to establish the mastery
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his vanity demanded。 Therefore he took a chair。
〃This is ce'tainly an unexpected honor。 Did y'u send for me to explain
some more about that sufficient understanding between us？〃 he sneered。
It was a great relief to her to see that； though he had been drinking； as
she had heard； he was entirely master of himself。 Her efforts might still be
directed to Philip sober。
〃I sent for you to congratulate you；〃 she answered； with a smile。 〃You
are a bigger man than I thought。 You have done what you said you would
do； and I presume you can very shortly go out of mourning。〃
He radiated vanity； seemed to visibly expand 〃Do y'u go in when I go
out？〃 he asked brutally。
She laughed lightly。 〃Hardly。 But it does seem as if I'm unlucky in my
foremen。 They all seem to have engagements across the divide。〃
〃I'll get y u another。〃
〃Thank you。 I was going to ask as much of you。 Can you suggest one
now？〃
〃I'm a right good cattle man myself。〃
〃Andcan you stay with me a reasonable time？〃
He laughed。 〃I have no engagements across the Styx； ma'am。〃
〃My other foremen thought they were permanent fixtures here； too。〃
〃We're all liable to mistakes。〃
〃Even you； I suppose。〃
〃I'll sign a lease to give y'u possession of my skill for as long as y'u
like。〃
She settled herself comfortably back in an easy chair； as alluring a
picture of buoyant； radiant youth as he had seen in many a day。 〃But the
terms。 I am afraid I can't offer you as much as you make at your present
occupation。〃
〃I could keep that up as a side…line。〃
〃So you could。 But if you use my time for your own profit； you ought
to pay me a royalty on your intake。〃
His eyes lit with laughter。 〃I reckon that can be arranged。 Any
percentage you think fair It will all be in the family； anyway。〃
〃I think that is one of the things about which we don't agree；〃 she
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made answer softly； flashing him the proper look of inviting disdain from
under her silken lashes。
He leaned forward； elbow on the chair…arm and chin in hand。 〃We'll
agree about it one of these days。〃
〃Think so？〃 she returned airily。
〃I don't think。 I know。〃
Just an eyebeat her gaze met his； with that hint of shy questioning； of
puzzled doubt that showed a growing interest。 〃I wonder；〃 s
