lla.thelonelymen-第13章

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　Nobody　said　anything　for　a　while；　and　then　Battles；　who　had　e　out　of　the　brush；　said；　〃I　figure　you've　been　lied　to；　Sackett。〃
　〃It　don't　make　sense。〃
　〃Any　reason　she'd　want　you　dead？　You　got　to　realize　。。。　not　many　e　back　from　here。　We　ain't　even　sure　we're　gettin'　back。〃
　〃The　children　never　heard　of　any　other　boy；〃　Rocca　repeated；　〃and　they'd　know。　And；　Harry　Brook　would。　He　speaks　the　language　pretty　good；　and　there's　talk　around　the　Indian　villages。〃
　Well；　there　was　no　use　studying　on　it　now。　We　had　miles　to　travel。　I　said　as　much　and　we　saddled　up　and　moved　down　the　creek。
　Rocca　rode　with　his　head　over　his　shoulder。　I　mean　he　was　a　worried　man。　When　you　see　Apaches　you're　worried；　but　when　you　don't　see　them　you're　maybe　really　in　trouble。　They　could　be　all　around　you。
　When　the　shadows　were　beginning　to　reach　out　from　the　hills　we　came　up　to　a　ranch；　four　tired　men　with　some　tired　children。　As　we　neared　it　we　spread　out　and　I　rode　with　my　Winchester　up　in　my　hands；　my　eyes　moving　under　the　low　brim　of　my　hat；　searching　each　shadow；　each　doubtful　place。
　No　smoke　。。。　no　movement。　Somewhere　a　blue　jay　fussed；　somewhere　a　quail　called　into　the　stillness　and　another　made　reply。　Otherwise　it　was　still。
　Nobody　spoke；　and　we　rode　into　the　yard。　Battles　rode　through　the　gate；　and　I　went　through　a　gap　in　the　ruined　wall。　Spanish　circled　to　the　right；　Rocca　to　the　left。
　The　ranch　was　deserted　。。。　a　ruin。　Fire　had　gutted　it；　and　some　of　the　stone　walls　had　toppled。　The　windows　gapped　like　great；　hollow　eyes　that　stared　upon　nothing。　The　barns　were　a　tumbled　mass　of　burned　timbers　and　the　fallen　stones　of　foundation　walls。　Mesquite　trees　choked　up　the　corrals。
　But　trees　still　shaded　the　ranch　yard。　Water　ran　from　an　iron　pipe　into　a　tank。　An　oak　limb　had　grown　through　an　open　window。　In　the　patio　the　blocks　of　stone　that　paved　it　had　been　thrust　up　by　a　growing　sycamore；　which　was　now　several　niches　through。
　Once　this　ranch　had　been　a　splendid　place；　once　the　fields　had　been　green　and　men　had　worked　here；　lived　here；　and　loved　here。
　We　rode　into　the　thick　grass　where　the　ranch　yard　had　been　and　we　drew　up。　We　heard　only　the　wind　。。。　only　the　trickle　of　water　into　the　tank。　John　J。　Battles　looked　slowly　around　and　said　nothing；　and　Spanish　Murphy　sat　silent　for　a　long　moment。　Then　he　said；　〃This　is　the　sort　of　place　you　dream　about；　when　you're　on　a　long；　dusty　trail；　or　you're　in　the　desert　and　short　of　water。〃
　〃We'd　better　have　a　look　around；〃　I　said。　〃Tamp；　you　scout　to　the　wall　yonder。　Spanish　can　stay　with　the　children。〃
　We　moved　out。　A　rabbit　sprang　from　under　my　feet　and　went　bounding　away。　We　searched　the　place；　but　we　found　nothing；　nothing　at　all。
　There　was　a　watch　tower　on　one　corner　of　the　place；　shrewdly　built　to　observe　the　country　around；　but　now　partly　masked　by　the　tops　of　trees。　While　I　took　the　first　watch；　Battles　put　some　grub　together　for　a　meal。
　The　sun　was　warm　and　pleasant；　but　it　bothered　me　for　I　could　see　too　little　in　the　open　country　to　the　west。　Our　enemies　should　e　from　the　east；　but　trust　an　Apache　to　use　the　sun's　glare　if　he　figured　on　an　attack。　But　the　sun　sank　behind　the　mountains　to　to　westward　and　I　studied　the　country　all　around　with　great　care；　and　saw　nothing。
　Where　were　Dorset　Binny　and　the　boy？　If　they　had　ridden　the　way　we　planned　they　should　be　not　too　far　away；　for　our　course　had　veered　around　and　we；　too；　had　e　west。
　From　the　watch　tower　I　could　study　the　terrain　and　my　eyes　searched　out　all　possible　hiding　places。　The　position　of　the　ranch　had　been　well　chosen。　The　place　had　a　good　field　of　fire　in　every　direction　and　must　have　been　easy　to　defend　back　in　the　old　days；　yet　the　Indians　had　taken　it；　burned　it　out；　and　more　than　likely　killed　everybody　on　the　ranch。
　It　seemed　to　me　at　least　fifteen　to　twenty　men　would　have　been　needed　to　defend　the　ranch。　Maybe　they　were　shorthanded　when　the　attack　came。
　In　the　last　minutes　of　daylight；　I　saw　them　ing　…　two　riders；　not　over　half　a　mile　off。
　I　called　softly　to　Murphy；　who　was　closest　and　knelt　by　one　of　the　openings　left　in　the　wall　for　a　firing　position。　But　I　was　sure　right　from　the　start。　As　they　drew　nearer　I　could　see　them　clear　enough。
　Standing　up　on　the　tower　I　called　out；　〃Dorset！　Dorset　Binny！　e　on　in！〃
　
　Chapter　10
　
　Laura　Pritts　Sackett　was　immaculate。　She　was　cool；　aloof；　yet　she　managed　to　convey　the　idea　that　beneath　that　still　surface　there　was　turmoil；　waiting　to　be　exploited。　A　cold；　emotionless　young　woman；　she　had　learned　very　early　that　the　appearance　of　deep　emotion　and　passion　beneath　the　quiet　exterior　was　a　tool　and　a　weapon　to　be　used；　and　so　she　had　used　it
　Her　adoration　for　her　father　had　resulted　in　hatred　for　all　who　in　any　way　thwarted　or　opposed　him。
　As　the　days　passed　into　weeks　and　she　heard　nothing　from　Mexico；　she　grew　worried。　Suppose；　after　all；　Tell　Sackett　was　not　killed　by　the　Apaches？　Suppose　he　did　return；　and　her　falsehood　was　exposed？　She　was　less　worried；　however；　about　being　exposed　…　she　had　no　intention　of　remaining　in　Tucson　anyway　…　than　about　Sackett　not　being　killed。
　She　knew　enough　about　the　Sacketts　to　know　they　had　a　way　of　getting　out　of　corners。　Suddenly；　she　made　up　her　mind。
　She　would　leave　Tucson。　She　would　go　back　east　without　waiting　any　longer。　She　might　never　hear　what　happened　in　Sonora；　and　there　was　no　sense　in　staying　on　here；　in　this　heat；　and　merely　waiting。　Her　father　had　a　little　property　in　the　East；　and　it　was　time　she　returned　to　settle　the　estate。　But　first　she　would　make　one　final　effort
　She　was　seated　in　the　Shoo…Fly　when　she　reached　that　decision。　She　knew；　as　did　everyone；　about　the　gun　battle　in　the　Quartz　Rock　Saloon；　and　she　had　seen　the　Hadden　boys　around　town。　She　knew　also　that　the　Maddens　had　been　doing　some　talking　about　what　would　happen　when　they　met　Tell　Sackett　and　Tampico　Rocca　again。
　Suddenly　the　door　opened　and　Captain　Lewiston　came　in；　acpanied　by　Lieutenant　Jack　Davis；　whom　she　remembered　from　the　stage　ride　to　Tucson。
　They　came　to　her　table。　〃Mrs。　Sackett；〃　Davis　said；　〃I　want　to　present　Captain　Lewiston。〃
　She　turned　her　wide　blue　eyes　on　the　Captain　and　sensed　a　coolness；　a　reserve。　This　one　would　not　be　so　easy　as　Davis　to　wind　around　her　finger。　〃How　do　you　do；　Captain；〃　she　said。　〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃
　The　men　seated　themselves　and　ordered　coffee。　〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　the　intrusion；　Mrs。　Sackett；〃　Captain　Lewiston　said；　〃but　we　were　wondering　if　you　could　tell　us　anything　about　the　present　location　of　Tell　Sackett。　I　believe　he　is　a　relative　of　yours。〃
　〃He　is　my　brother…in…law；〃　she　said；　〃although　I　had　never　met　him　until　a　few　weeks　ago。　Right　here　in　this　room；　in　fact。　He　was　with　some　other　men。　I　don't　know　where　they　went。　Is　he　in　trouble？〃
　Lewiston　hesitated。　〃Yes　and　no；〃　he　said　finally。　〃If　he　rode　into　Apache　country；　as　we　have　heard　that　he　did；　he　may　be　in　very　serious　trouble　indeed。〃
　She　allowed　her　lip　to　tremble。　〃He　。。。　he　hasn't　been　killed；　has　he？　The　Sacketts　are　reckless；　daring　men；　and　。。。〃　She　let　her　words　trail　away。
　〃We　have　heard　nothing；〃　Lewiston　said。　〃We　are　planning　a　strike　against　the　Apaches　that　will　take　us　deep　into　Mexico。　We　would　not　want　them　stirred　up　by　some　unauthorized　foray　into　their　country。〃
　〃I　。。。　I　did　not　know。　If　anything　should　happen　to　Mr。　Sackett　my　husband　would　be　very　upset。　They　are　very　close。〃
　〃Mrs。　Sackett；　I　understand　you　provided　Mr。　Sackett　with　a　horse？　Is　that　true？〃
　〃Of　course。　His　own　had　been　killed　and　he　was　unable　to　purchase　one。　I　merely　helped。〃　She　smiled。　〃What　else　could　I　do？〃
　Lewiston　was　not　satisfied；　yet　there　was　certainly　nothing　wrong　with　her　story；　nor　had　he　any　reason　to　suspect　she　knew　Tell　Sackett's　whereabouts；　except　the　fact　that　they　were　relatives；　and　had　talked　together。　He　could　not　have　given　any　reason　for　his　dissatisfaction；　but　he　felt　it。　Moreover；　he　had　liked　Tell；　and　he　was　worried　about　him。
　Later　he　said　as　much　to　Davis。　〃Oh；　e　now；　Captain！〃　Davis　said。　〃If　Laura　Sackett　knew　anything　about　Sackett　she　would　tell　you。　What　possible　reason　would　she　have　for　lying？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　But　why　is　she　staying　on　in　Tucson？　She　has　no　relatives　here；　no　friends；　and　this　is　no　time　of　year　to　be　here　if　you　can　be　anywhere　else。　I　mean；　I　like　the　place；　but　not　many　eastern　women　such　as　Laura　Sackett　are　inclined　to　want　to　stay　here。〃
　Davis　had　done　some　wondering　about　that　himself。　Tucson　was　a　hot；　dusty　little　desert　town；　and　not　a　likely　place　for　a　lady　of　aristocratic　background　such　as　Laura　had　implied　in　a　few　carefully　casual　references。　A　stopover　to　recover　from　the　rigors　of　a　stage　trip　from　California　would　be　natural；　but　the　days　had　stretched　on；　and　still　she　remained。　Had　she　been　known　in　the　area　or　had　friends　there；　her　presence　would　have　been　no　cause　for　ment；　but　she　kept　very　much　to　herself　and　indicated　no　desire　to　make　acquaintances。
　Laura　was　unconcerned　as　to　what　anyone　thought。　She　detested　Tucson　and　its　people；　and　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　go　on　to　El　Paso　and　thence　to　New　Orleans　and　the　East。　If　she　could　only　be　sure　Tell　Sackett　was　dead　she　would　leave。
　She　knew　what　she　must　do。　Tell　Sackett　had　now　been　gone　for　three　weeks；　and　while　it　seemed　likely　that　he　was　dead；　he　might　even　now　be　ing　north　over　the　trails　through　Sonora。　So　she　had　one　more　thing　to　do。　She　had　to　make　sure　that；　if　he　had　lived　through　the　journey　into　the　Apache　stronghold；　he　would　die　before　getting　back　to　Tucson。　Somehow　she　must　manage　to　talk　with　Arch　or　Wolf　Hadden。
　They　came　rarely　to　the　Shoo…Fly。　There　were　other　places　to　eat　among　their　own　land；　and　she　had　seen　them　on　the　streets　with　other　toughs　of　ugly　reputation。　By　listening　to　talk　she　heard　around　her；　she　learned　that　the　Haddens　were；　among　other　things；　bronc　riders　and　wild…horse　hunters。　They　had　e　into　town　with　several　horses　for　sale　or　trade。
　She　spoke　to　Mrs。　Wallen　quite　casually。　〃There　is　a　man　about　town；〃　she　said；　〃a　rough…looking　man　named　Hadden；　who　has　a　sorrel　gelding　for　sale。　I　would　like　to　talk　to　him。〃
　Mrs。　Wallen　hesitated；　putting　her　hands　on　her　hips。　〃Ma'am；　those　Haddens　are　not　fit　men　for　a　lady　to　know。　I　will　have　Mr。　Wallen　talk　to　them。〃
　〃If　you　please；〃　Laura　Sackett　answered　coolly；　〃I　would　prefer　to　talk　to　them　myself。　I　have　dealt　with　many　rough　men　whom　my　father　employed。　I　have　also　had　some　experience　in　buying　horses。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Mrs。　Wallen　replied　stiffly；　〃have　it　your　own　way。〃
　Laura　was　amused。　Mrs。　Wallen　did　not　like　her；　she　knew；　and　Laura　cared　not　at　all；　but　it　made　her　feel　good　to　put　her　in　her　place；　if　ever　so　gently。
　She　finished　her　tea　and；　getting　to　her　feet；　she　gathered　her　skirt　in　one　dainty　gloved　hand　and　went　out　on　the　boardwalk。　The　heat　struck　her　face　like　heat　from　the　open　door　of　a　furnace。　She　stood　an　instant；　looking　up　and　down　the　street；　and　then　she　went　on　to　her　rooming　house。
　Arch　Hadden　was　seated　on　the　steps。　He　got　to　his　feet　as　she　approached。　〃Wallen　said　you　wanted　to　see　me　about　a　horse。〃
　She　studied　him　for　a　moment。　〃About　a　horse；〃　she　said；　〃and　some　oth