down the mother lode-第3节

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And　think　that　your　duty　is　done　…　now；　don't　you？〃

…　Bret　Harte。



In　the　early　days　it　was　called　the　Mountaineer　House。　Now　it　is　colloquially　known　as　the　〃stone　house；〃　and　has　for　sixty　years　been　the　home　of　the　Owen　King　family。　It　is　surrounded　today　by　one　of　the　most　beautiful　orchards　in　the　foothills。　Wide　verandahs　of　the　native　gray　granite　to　match　the　old　house　itself　have　been　added。　It　is　electrically　lighted　and　furnace　heated；　modern　in　every　way；　yet　still　the　romance　of　former　times　seems　to　cling　to　its　sturdy　old　walls。

All　that　remain　unchanged　are　three　huge　trees　flanking　the　highway　in　front。　What　tales　they　could　tell；　if　they　would；　of　what　passed　by　the　junction　of　two　roads　beneath　them。　Of　the　long　and　weary　caravans　from　across　the　plains　crawling　up　from　the　bridge　at　Whiskey　Bar；　below　Rattlesnake；　glad　that　their　six　months'　struggle　was　nearly　over：　of　horsemen　on　beautiful　Spanish　horses　riding　furiously；　whither　no　one　knew　nor　dared　ask；　of　dark　deeds　in　the　old　stone　house　below；　that　was　so　inscrutably　quiet　by　day　and　so　mysteriously　alive　by　night；　of　ghastly　doings　by　the　Tom　Bell　gang　which　ranged　all　the　way　from　the　Oregon　border　to　the　southern　lakes。

They　will　never　tell　all　they　know　…　these　big　old　trees　…　of　those　who　went　in　by　the　door　and　〃came　out　by　the　cellar〃　of　Tom　Bell's　stronghold。　In　the　end　the　place　fell；　in　the　war　between　order　and　lawlessness　and；　as　the　pessimists　love　to　assert；　a　woman；　as　usual；　was　the　cause　of　it。　The　tale　is　told：

Rosa　Phillips　sat　in　the　Mountaineer　House　strumming　a　Spanish　guitar；　and　singing；

〃There's　a　turned　down　page；　as　some　writer　says；　in　every　human　life；　A　hidden　story　of　happier　days；　of　peace　amidst　the　strife。　A　folded　down　leaf　which　the　world　knows　not。　A　love　dream　rudely　crushed；　The　sight　of　a　face　that　is　not　forgot。　Although　the　voice　be　hushed。〃

She　rose　and　stood　at　a　window；　holding　the　dusty　curtain　aside　with　one　white　hand　and　peering　cautiously　forth　into　the　dusk。　A　horse　was　galloping　up　the　Folsom　road。　The　horseman　was　near　…　was　under　the　trees　in　front　…　was　past　…　and　gone　down　the　river　road　without　slackening　his　animal's　rapid　gait。

〃He　does　not　stop　at　the　Mountaineer　House　these　days；〃　said　Tom　Bell's　sneering　voice　at　her　elbow。　〃There　is　a　new　actress　at　the　opera　house　in　Rattlesnake。〃

The　woman's　dark　eyes　flashed；　but　she　answered　evenly　enough：

〃He　does　not　stop；　the　handsome　Dick；　so　you；　senor；　have　not　the　cause　to　be　jealous。　Is　it　not　so？〃

〃Cause？　Why；　you　Spanish　jade；　you've　never　been　the　same　to　me　since　Rattlesnake　Dick　came　prowling　back　from　Shasta　county　to　his　old　haunts　in　Placer。〃　Rosa's　thin；　red　lips　curled。

〃Senor；　I　am　what　it　pleases　me　to　be。〃

〃And　Jack　Phillips　permits　you　to　be！〃

She　shrugged　her　slender　shoulders。

〃He　wearies　me。　Life　…　this　place　…　wearies　me。〃

〃Yes；　and　I　weary　you；　too　…　now。　Plain　as　day；　it　is。〃

The　Phillips　woman　smiled　（she　seldom　laughed）　and　there　was　only　cruelty　in　her　smile　…　no　kindliness；　no　womanly　softness　of　any　sort。

〃My　friend；　soon　there　will　be　no　'you。'　The　night　is　coming　and　there　will　be　no　sunrise。〃

A　man　dismounted　at　the　gate　and　led　his　horse　past　the　window　to　the　stables　in　the　cellar。　He　walked　with　a　curious；　halting　pace。

〃There's　Jim　Driscoll　back　already。　Must　bring　news；〃　said　Bell；　leaving　her　hurriedly；　and　so　neglecting　to　ask　the　meaning　of　her　cryptic　remark。

Rosa　slipped　in　behind　the　bar；　late　that　evening；　beautifully　gowned；　and　with　her　dark　hair　dressed　high。　Her　vivid　face　glowed　like　a　scarlet　poppy　and　was　bright　with　smiles。　Three　or　four　men　in　the　crowded　bar…room　rose　to　their　feet　and　drank　to　her　bright　eyes　and　strolled　across　to　the　bar。

〃Soon　now'　〃she　whispered；　〃I　shall　sweep　out　the　lights。　Those　two　who　have　just　entered　…　who　are　they？〃　She　went　across　the　room　to　the　newcomers。　〃The　senors　may　pay　me　for　the　drinks；　if　they　desire；〃　she　said　to　them；　meaningly。

〃La　Rosita　shall　take　what　pleases　her；〃　one　of　them　laughed。　Among　the　handful　of　coins　and　small　nuggets　he　brought　from　his　pocket　was　a　bullet　strung　on　a　bit　of　dirty　twine。

〃Ah！　a　love　token；　senor？〃

〃Yes；　from　the　throat　of　Betsy　Jane〃　（a　term　often　used　for　a　rifle）。

〃In　twenty　minutes；　my　friends；　there　will　be　opened　a　chute　into　purgatory　for　all　who　are　in　this　bar　room。　Your　'love　token'　names　you　Senor　Bell's　men。　Before　then　you　will　seek　the　rear　of　the　room　…　eh？〃

She　drifted　away　from　them　to　pause　at　a　small　table　where　sat　a　young　man　alone。

〃And　you；　pretty　fellow；　you　are　new　in　California？〃

〃Yes；　I　landed　in　San　Francisco　only　ten　days　ago。〃　He　was　new　indeed；　or　he　would　have　realized　the　danger　of　telling　his　business　to　the　first　person　who　asked。

〃You　go　far；　senor？〃

〃Not　now。　I　have　come　far；　but　my　journey　is　near　to　a　very　happy　ending。〃

〃So？〃

〃Yes。　I　have　come　to　marry　Miss　Elena　Ashley；　at　Auburn；　to　whom　I　have　been　long　betrothed。〃

She　tapped　her　white　teeth　with　her　fan。

〃And　yet　you　linger　at　Mountaineer　House？〃

〃Horses　are　expensive；　and　I　am　not　rich。　I　walked。　I　was　tired。　I　saw　you　in　your　garden；　and　you　are　very　beautiful。〃

Rosa's　capricious　vanity　was　touched。　The　whim　seized　her　to　save　this　exuberant　young　bridegroom　from　the　fate　before　him。

〃Do　you　see　that　peddler　…　old　Rosenthal　…　close　to　the　bar？　He　brought　in　a　large　and　rich　pack　tonight。　It　lies　in　the　next　room。　Do　you　go　there　at　once。　I　will　come　soon；　and　together　we　will　select　a　gift　for　your　bride。　Go　quickly！〃

She　passed　again　behind　the　bar。　Jack　Phillips　was　at　one　end；　lame　Jim　Driscoll　at　the　other；　Tom　Bell　in　the　middle。　Rosa　paused　near　a　branching　candelabra　which　had　once　graced　the　altar　of　a　Spanish　church。

〃Is　Jose　below？〃　whispered　Bell。　She　nodded。　〃Why　did　you　save　that　boy；　just　now？　A　new　lover？〃　She　directed　upon　him　a　level　glance　of　hate。

〃I　do　what　pleases　me；　senor。〃　She　raised　her　arm　high；　beginning　the　first　stamping　measure　of　a　Spanish　dance。　Instantly　there　was　a　curious　rumbling　noise　in　the　stable　underneath。　Rosa　swept　over　the　candelabra。　All　the　lights　in　the　place　were　struck　out。　Phillips　and　Driscoll　slipped　two　great　bolts；　and　the　entire　bar…room　floor　swung　downward　on　hinges。

The　chute　to　purgatory　was　open！

There　was　bedlam　in　that　dank　pass　to　the　region　of　shades；　and　no　quarter　was　shown　to　any　man；　only　cries　of　〃The　String！　The　String！〃　from　members　of　the　gang　in　order　to　distinguish　the　robbers　from　the　robbed；　in　the　darkness。　There　were　curses；　the　kicking　and　squealing　of　horses　in　their　stalls；　a　verse　from　the　Talmud　recited　in　Yiddish　（which　suddenly　stopped）；　and　above　it　all　the　high　and　hysterical　laugh　of　a　woman。

The　boy　turned　from　the　peddler's　pack　as　Rosa　entered　the　room。　〃What　is　that　horrible　noise？〃

〃A　fight。　Come；　you　had　better　go。〃　She　led　him　down　a　dark　stair　to　another　section　of　the　cellar。　〃Jose；〃　she　called。　An　evil　looking　Mexican　pushed　open　a　rough　door。　〃You　shall　take　this　man　out　through　the　second　tunnel。〃

〃Si；　senora。〃

〃And；　Jose；　he　shall　reach　the　outer　opening　alive；　and　with　all　his　belongings。　He　has　no　money。　Do　you　hear？〃　Jose　grunted。　〃Go；　now；　under；　cover　of　the　noise。〃

〃But　the　gift　for　Elena！〃

Rosa　laughed　mockingly。　〃What　a　child　it　is！　My　gift　to　Elena　tonight；　is　you　…　her　lover。　Ask　her　to　thank　me　with　a　prayer　from　her　pure　heart　for　my　sins。〃

Jose　led　the　young　man　through　a　long；　damp；　evil…odored　passage　underground；　and　out　through　a　trapdoor　at　the　extreme　end　of　the　garden。　A　shrub　grew　on　top　of　the　door；　surrounded　by　a　bed　of　fragrant　wild　pansies。　Jose　kicked　the　staring　youth　away　from　the　entrance　and　vanished　into　the　earth　looking；　in　the　lantern…light　like　a　malevolent　fiend　returning　to　the　realm　of　everlasting　fire。

*　*　*　*　*

The　balls　which　were　given　at　the　Franklin　House　on　the　old　Pioneer　road　were　the　most　pretentious　of　the　year。　Feminine　loveliness　in　silks　and　cameos　gathered　from　every　section。　General　Sutter　and　his　officers　sometimes　were　there；　and　the　Spanish　grandees　brought　to　them　the　lovely；　star…eyed　beauties　of　their　households。

On　this　night　a　brilliant　assemblage　stood　about　in　the　ballroom　floor　ready　for　a　quadrille。　Elena　Ashley　and　her　betrothed　were　near　the　wide　entrance　doors。

〃There　is　〃Sheriff　Paul　of　Calaveras　County；〃　she　told　him。　〃He　does　not　dance。　I　wonder　what　brings　him　here？〃

The　doors　opened　and　Rosa　Phillips　entered；　magnificently　jewelled　and　dressed　in　a　rich　silk　of　pearl　grey。　Elena　stared；　clutching　at　her　partner's　arm。

〃Oh；　look！〃　she　shrieked　；　〃she　is　wearing　my　wedding　dress。　My　wedding　dress　which　was　stitched　at　the　shop　of　Rosenthal　the　peddler；　in　Sacramento；　and　which　he　was　to　bring　me　two　weeks　ago。　I　know　it　is　mine！　There　is　the　pearl　passe…mentre　on　it　that　was　my　mother's。　There　is　none　other　like　it　in　California！〃

〃So？〃　answered　Rosa　cooly；　glancing　down　at　the　voluminous　silken　folds　of　her　robe。　Then　she　stood　waving　her　big　fan；　her　large；　dark　eyes　roving　across　the　throng。

〃Mine　Host〃　came　quickly　forward。　〃It　is　not　permitted；　senora；　that　you　…　〃

Rosa　smiled　cynic