wyoming(怀俄明)-第4节
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contributed its admiring quota。
Meanwhile the young woman attended strictly to business。 She had
disappeared for half an hour with a suit case into the Elk House； and when
she returned in a short…skirted corduroy suit； leggings and wide…brimmed
gray Stetson hat； all Gimlet Butte took an absorbing interest in the details
of this delightful adventure that had happened to the town。 The population
was out _en masse_ to watch her slip down the road on a trial trip。
Presently 〃Soapy〃 Sothern； drifting in on his buckskin from the
Hoodoo Peak country； where for private reasons of his own he had been
for the past month a sojourner； reported that he had seen the prettiest sight
in the State climbing under a gasoline bronc with a monkey…wrench in her
hand。 Where？ Right over the hill on the edge of town。 The immediate
stampede for the cow ponies was averted by a warning chug…chug that
sounded down the road； followed by the appearance of a flashing whir that
made the ponies dance on their hind legs。
〃The gasoline bronc lady sure makes a hit with me；〃 announced
〃Texas；〃 gravely。 〃I allow I'll rustle a job with the Lazy D outfit。〃
〃She ce'tainly rides herd on that machine like a champeen；〃 admitted
Soapy。 〃I reckon I'll drift over to the Lazy D with you to look after yore
remains； Tex； when the lightning hits you。〃
Miss Messiter swung the automobile round in a swift circle； came to
an abrupt halt in front of the hotel； and alighted without delay。 As she
passed in through the half score of admirers she had won； her dark eyes
swept smilingly over assembled Cattleland。 She had already met most of
them at the launching of the machine from the flat car； and had directed
their perspiring energies as they labored to follow her orders。 Now she
nodded a recognition with a little ripple of gay laughter。
〃I'm delighted to be able to contribute to the entertainment of Gimlet
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Butte；〃 she said； as she swept in。 For this young woman was possessed of
Western adaptation。 It gave her no conscientious qualms to exchange
conversation fraternal with these genial savages。
The Elk House did not rejoice in a private dining room； and
competition strenuous ensued as to who should have the pleasure of sitting
beside the guest of honor。 To avoid ill feeling； the matter was determined
by a game of freeze…out； in which Texas and a mature gentleman named；
from his complexion； 〃Beet〃 Collins； were the lucky victors。 Texas
immediately repaired to the general store； where he purchased a new
scarlet bandanna for the occasion； also a cake of soap with which to rout
the alkali dust that had filtered into every pore of his hands and face from
a long ride across the desert。
Came supper and Texas simultaneously； the cow…puncher's face
scrubbed to an apple shine。 At the last moment Collins defaulted； his nerve
completely gone。 Since； however； he was a thrifty soul； he sold his place
to Soapy for ten dollars； and proceeded to invest the proceeds in an
immediate drunk。
During the first ten minutes of supper Miss Messiter did not appear；
and the two guardians who flanked her chair solicitously were the object
of much badinage。
〃She got one glimpse of that red haid of Tex and the pore lady's took to
the sage；〃 explained Yorky。
〃And him scrubbed so shiny fust time since Christmas before the big
blizzard；〃 sighed Doc Rogers。
〃Shucks！ She ain't scared of no sawed…off； hammered…down runt like
Texas； No； siree！ Miss Messiter's on the absent list 'cause she's afraid she
cayn't resist the blandishments of Soapy。 Did yo' ever hear about Soapy
and that Caspar hash slinger？〃
〃Forget it； Slim；〃 advised Soapy； promptly。 He had been engaged in
lofty and oblivious conversation with Texas； but he did not intend to allow
reminiscences to get under way just now。
At this opportune juncture arrived the mistress of the 〃gasoline bronc；〃
neatly clad in a simple white lawn with blue trimmings。 She looked like a
gleam of sunshine in her fresh； sweet youth； and not even in her own
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school room had she ever found herself the focus of a cleaner； more
unstinted admiration。 For the outdoors West takes off its hat reverently to
women worthy of respect； especially when they are young and friendly。
Helen Messiter had come to Wyoming because the call of adventure；
the desire for experience outside of rutted convention； were stirring her
warm…blooded youth。 She had seen enough of life lived in a parlor； and
when there came knocking at her door a chance to know the big； untamed
outdoors at first hand she had at once embraced it like a lover。 She was
eager for her new life； and she set out skillfully to make these men tell her
what she wanted to know。 To them； of course； it was an old story； and
whatever of romance it held was unconscious。 But since she wanted to talk
of the West they were more than ready to please her。
So she listened； and drew them out with adroit questions when it was
necessary。 She made them talk of life on the open range； of rustlers and
those who lived outside the law in the upper Shoshone country； of the
deadly war waging between the cattle and sheep industries。
〃Are there any sheep near the Lazy D ranch？〃 she asked； intensely
interested in Soapy's tale of how cattle and sheep could no more be got to
mix than oil and water。
For an instant nobody answered her question； then Soapy replied； with
what seemed elaborate carelessness：
〃Ned Bannister runs a bunch of about twelve thousand not more'n
fifteen or twenty miles from your place。〃
〃And you say they are spoiling the range？〃
〃They're ce'tainly spoiling it for cows。〃
〃But can't something be done？ If my cows were there first I don't see
what right he has to bring his sheep there；〃 the girl frowned。
The assembled company attended strictly to supper。 The girl； surprised
at the stillness； looked round。 〃Well？〃
〃Now you're shouting； ma'am！ That's what we say；〃 enthused Texas；
spurring to the rescue。
〃It doesn't much matter what you say。 What do you do？〃 asked Helen；
impatiently。 〃Do you lie down and let Mr。 Bannister and his kind drive
their sheep over you？〃
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〃Do we； Soapy？〃 grinned Texas。 Yet it seemed to her his smile was not
quite carefree。
〃I'm not a cowman myself；〃 explained Soapy to the girl。 〃Nor do I run
sheep。 I〃
〃Tell Miss Messiter what yore business is； Soapy；〃 advised Yorky from
the end of the table； with a mouthful of biscuit swelling his cheeks。
Soapy crushed the irrepressible Yorky with a look； but that young man
hit back smilingly。
〃Soapy； he sells soap； ma'am。 He's a sorter city salesman； I reckon。〃
〃I should never have guessed it。 Mr。 Sothern does not LOOK like a
salesman；〃 said the girl； with a glance at his shrewd； hard； expressionless
face。
〃Yes； ma'am； he's a first…class seller of soap； is Mr。 Sothern；〃 chuckled
the cow…puncher； kicking his friends gayly under the table。
〃You can see I never sold HIM any； Miss Messiter；〃 came back Soapy；
sorrowfully。
All this was Greek to the young lady from Kalamazoo。 How was she
to know that Mr。 Sothern had vended his soap in small cubes on street
corners； and that he wrapped bank notes of various denominations in the
bars； which same were retailed to eager customers for the small sum of
fifty cents； after a guarantee that the soap was good？ His customers rarely
patronized him twice； and frequently they used bad language because the
soap wrapping was not as valuable as they had expected。 This was
manifestly unfair； for Mr。 Sothern； who made no claims to philanthropy；
often warned them that the soap should be bought on its merits； and not
with an eye single to the premium that might or might not accompany
