rowdy of the cross l-第7章

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'em　outside。　If　you　fellers　are　hell…bent　on　smokin'　each　other　up；　they's
all　kinds　uh　room　outdoors。　Git！　Vamose！　Hike！〃

Conroy　wheeled　and　walked；　straight…backed　and　venomous；　to　the　door。　〃Come
on　out；　if　yuh　ain't　scared；〃　he　sneered。　〃It's　two　agin'　one　and　then　some；
by　the　look　uh　things。　But　I'll　take　yuh　singly　or　in　bunches。　I'm　ready　for
the　whole　damn'　Cross　L　bunch　uh　coyotes。　Come　on；　you　white…livered！〃

Rowdy　rushed　for　him；　with　Pink　and　the　Silent　One　at　his　heels。　He　had
forgotten　that　Harry　Conroy　ever　had　a　sister　of　any　sort　whatsoever。　All　he
knew　was　that　Harry　had　done　him　much　wrong；　of　the　sort　which　comes　near　to
being　unforgivable；　and　that　he　had　sneered　insults　that　no　man　may
overlook。　All　he　thought　of　was　to　get　his　hands　on　him。

Outside；　the　dusky　stillness　made　all　sounds　seem　out　of　place；　the　faint
starlight　made　all　objects　black　and　unfamiliar。　Rowdy　stopped；　just　off　the
threshold；　blinking　at　the　darkness　which　held　his　enemy。　It　was　strange
that　he　did　not　find　him　at　his　elbow；　he　thoughtand　a　suspicion　came　to
him　that　Harry　was　lying　in　wait；　it　would　be　like　him。　He　stepped　out　of
the　yellow　glare　from　a　window　and　stood　in　more　friendly　shade。　Behind　him；
on　the　door…step；　stood　the　other　two；　blinking　as　he　had　done。

A　form　which　he　did　not　recognize　rushed　up　out　of　the　darkness　and
confronted　the　three　belligerently。　〃You're　a…disturbin'　the　peace；〃　he
yelled。　〃We　don't　stand　for　nothing　like　that　in　Camas。　You're　my
prisonersall　uh　yuh。〃　The　edict　seemed　to　include　even　the　bartender；
peering　over　the　shoulder　of　Bob　Nevin；　who　struggled　with　several　others
for　immediate　passage　through　the　doorway。

〃I　guess　not；　pardner；〃　retorted　Pink；　facing　him　as　defiantly　as　though　the
marshal　were　not　twice　his　size。

The　marshal　lunged　for　him；　but　the　Silent　One；　reaching　a　long　arm　from　the
door…step；　rapped　him　smartly　on　the　head　with　his　gun。　The　marshal　squawked
and　went　down　in　a　formless　heap。

〃Come　on；　boys；〃　said　the　Silent　One　coolly。　〃I　think　we'd　better　go。　Your
friend　seems　to　have　vanished　in　thin　air。〃

Rowdy；　grumbling　mightily　over　what　looked　unpleasantly　like　retreat；　was
pushed　toward　his　horse　and　mounted　under　protest。　Likewise　Pink；　who　was
for　staying　and　cleaning　up　the　whole　town。　But　the　Silent　One　was　firm；　and
there　was　that　in　his　manner　which　compelled　obedience。

Harry　Conroy　might　have　been　an　opticaland　auralillusion；　for　all　the
trace　there　was　of　him。　But　when　the　three　rode　out　into　the　little　street；
a　bullet　pinged　close　to　Rowdy's　left　ear；　and　the　red　bark　of　a　revolver
spat　viciously　from　a　black　shadow　beside　the　Come　Again。

Rowdy　and　the　two　turned　and　rode　back；　shooting　blindly　at　the　place；　but
the　shadow　yawned　silently　before　them　and　gave　no　sign。　Then　the　Silent
One；　observing　that　the　marshal　was　getting　upon　a　pair　of　very　unsteady
legs；　again　assumed　the　leadership；　and　fairly　forced　Rowdy　and　Pink　into
the　homeward　trail。



CHAPTER　7

Rowdy　in　a　Tough　Place。

Rowdy；　with　nice　calculation；　met　Miss　Conroy　just　as　she　had　left　the
school…house；　and　noted　with　much　satisfaction　that　she　was　riding　alone。
Miss　Conroy；　if　she　had　been　at　all　observant；　must　have　seen　the　light　of
some　fixed　purpose　shining　in　his　eyes；　for　Rowdy　was　resolved　to　make　her　a
partner　in　his　dreams　of　matters　domestic。　And；　of　a　truth；　his　easy
assurance　was　the　thinnest　of　cloaks　to　hide　his　inner　agitation。

〃The　round…up　just　got　in　yesterday　afternoon；〃　he　told　her；　as　he　swung
into　the　trail　beside　her。　〃We're　going　to　start　out　again　to…morrow；　so
this　is　about　the　only　chance　I'll　have　to　see　you　for　a　while。〃

〃I　knew　the　round…up　must　be　in；〃　said　Miss　Conroy　calmly。　〃I　heard　that　you
were　in　Camas　a　night　or　two　ago。〃

Inwardly；　Rowdy　dodged。　〃We　camped　close　to　Camas；〃　he　conceded　guardedly。
〃A　lot　of　us　fellows　rode　into　town。〃

〃Yes；　so　Harry　told　me；〃　she　said。　〃He　came　over　to　see　me　yesterday。　He　is
going　to　leavehas　already；　in　fact。　He　has　had　a　fine　position　offered　him
by　the　Indian　agent　at　Belknap。　The　agent　used　to　be　a　friend　of　father's。〃
She　looked　at　Rowdy　sidelong；　and　then　went　straight　at　what　was　in　the
minds　of　both。

〃I'm　sorry　to　hear；　Mr。　Vaughan；　that　you　are　on　bad　terms　with　Harry。　What
was　the　trouble？〃　She　turned　her　head　and　smiled　at　himbut　the　smile　did
not　bring　his　lips　to　answer；　it　was　unpleasantly　like　the　way　Harry　smiled
when　he　had　some　deviltry　in　mind。

Rowdy　scented　trouble　and　parried。　〃Men　can't　always　get　along　agreeably
together。〃

〃And　you　disagree　with　a　man　rather　emphatically；　I　should　judge。　Harry　said
you　knocked　him　down。〃　Politeness　ruled　her　voice；　but　cheeks　and　eyes　were
aflame。

〃I　did。　And　of　course　he　told　you　how　he　took　a　shot　at　me　from　a　dark
corner；　outside。〃　Rowdy's　eyes；　it　would　seem；　had　kindled　from　the　fire　in
hers。

〃No；　he　didn'tbut　Iyou　struck　him　first。〃

〃Hitting　a　man　with　your　fist　is　one　thing；〃　said　Rowdy　with　decision。
〃Shooting　at　him　from　ambush　is　another。〃

〃Harry　shouldn't　have　done　that；〃　she　admitted　with　dignity。　〃But　why
wouldn't　you　take　a　drink　with　him？　Not　that　I　approve　of　drinkingI　wish
Harry　wouldn't　do　such　thingsbut　he　said　it　was　an　insult　the　way　you
refused。〃

〃Jessie〃

〃Miss　Conroy；　please。〃

〃Jessie〃he　repeated　the　name　stubbornly〃I　think　we'd　better　drop　that
subject。　You　don't　understand　the　case；　and；　anyway；　I　didn't　come　here　to
discuss　Harry。　Our　trouble　is　long　standing；　and　if　I　insulted　him　you　ought
to　know　I　had　a　reason。　I　never　came　whining　to　you　about　him；　and　it　don't
speak　well　for　him　that　he　hot…footed　over　to　you　with　his　version。　I
suppose　he'd　heard　about　meergoing　to　see　you；　and　wanted　to　queer　me。
I　hope　you'll　take　my　word　for　it；　Jessie；　that　I've　never　harmed　him；　all
the　trouble　he's　made　for　himself；　one　way　and　another。

〃But　what　I　came　over　for　to…day　concerns　just　you　and　me。　I　wanted　to　tell
you　thatto　ask　you　if　you'll　marry　me。　I　might　put　it　more　artistic；
Jessie；　but　that's　what　I　mean；　andI　mean　all　the　things　I'd　like　to　say
and　can't。〃　He　stopped　and　smiled　at　her；　wistfully　whimsical。　〃I've　been
three　weeks　getting　my　feelings　into　proper　words；　little　girl；　and　coming
over　here　I　had　a　speech　thought　out　that　sure　done　justice　to　my　subject。
But　all　I　can　remember　of　it　is　just　thatthat　I　want　you　for　always。〃

Miss　Conroy　looked　away　from　him；　but　he　could　see　a　deeper　tint　of　red　in
her　cheek。　It　seemed　a　long　time　before　she　said　anything。　Then：　〃But　you've
forgotten　about　Harry。　He's　my　brother；　and　he'd　beeryou　wouldn't　want
him　related　to　you。〃

〃Harry！　Well；　I　pass　him　up。　I've　got　a　pretty　long　account　against　him；　but
I'll　cross　it　off。　It　won't　be　hard　to　dofor　you。　I've　thought　of　all
that；　and　a　man　can　forgive　a　whole　lot　in　the　brother　of　the　woman　he
loves。〃　He　leaned　toward　her　and　added　honestly：　〃I　can't　promise　you　I'll
ever　get　to　like　him；　Jessie；　but　I'll　keep　my　hands　off　him；　and　I'll　treat
him　civil；　and　when　you　consider　all　he's　done；　that's　quite　a　large…sized
contract。〃

Miss　Conroy　became　much　interested　in　the　ears　of　her　horse。

〃The　only　thing　to　decide　is　whether　you　like　me　enough。　If　you　do；　we'll
sure　be　happy。　Never　mind　Harry。〃

〃You're　very　generous；〃　she　flared；　〃telling　me　to　never　mind　Harry。　And
Harry's　my　own　brother；　and　the　only　near　relative　I've　got。　I　know
he'simpulsive；　and　quick…tempered；　perhaps。　But　he　needs　me　all　the　more。
Do　you　think　I'll　turn　against　him；　even　for　you？〃

That　〃even〃　may　have　been　a　slip；　but　it　heartened　Rowdy　immensely。　〃I　don't
ask　you　to；〃　he　told　her　gently。　〃I　only　want　you　to　not　turn　against　me。〃

〃I　do　wish　you　two　would　be　sensible；　and　stop　quarreling。〃　She　glanced　at
him　briefly。

〃I'm　willing　to　cut　it　outI　told　you　that。　I　can't　answer　for　him；
though。〃　Rowdy　sighed；　wishing　Harry　Conroy　in　Australia；　or　some　place
equally　remote。

Miss　Conroy　suddenly　resolved　to　be　strictly　just；　and　when　a　young　woman
sets　about　being　deliberately　just；　the　Lord　pity　him　whom　she　judges！

〃Before　I　answer　you；　I　must　know　just　what　all　this　is　about；〃　she　said
firmly。　〃I　want　to　hear　both　sides；　I'm　sure　Harry　wouldn't　do　anything
mean。　Do　you　think　he　would？〃

Rowdy　was　dissentingly　silent。

〃Do　you　really；　in　your　heart；　believe　that　Harry　wouldknowinglybe
guilty　of　anything　mean？〃　Her　eyes　plainly　told　the　answer　she　wanted　to
hear。

Rowdy　looked　into　them；　hesitated；　and　clung　tenaciously　to　his
convictions。　〃Yes；　I　do；　and　I　know　Harry　pretty　well；　Jessie。〃　His　face
showed　how　much　he　hated　to　say　it。

〃I'm　afraid　you　are　very　prejudiced；〃　she　sighed。　〃But　go　on；　tell　me　just
what　you　have　against　Harry。　I'm　sure　it　can　all　be　explained　away；　only　I
must　hear　what　it　is。〃

Rowdy　regarded　her；　puzzled。　How　he　was　to　comply　he　did　not　know。　It　would
be　simply　brutal　to　tell　her。　He　would　feel　like　a　hangman。　And　she　believed
so　in　Harry；　she　wouldn't　listen；　even　if　she　did；　he　thought　bitterly；　she
would　hate　him　for　destroying　her　faith。　A　woman's　justiceah；　me！

〃Don't　you　see　you're　putting　me　in　a　mighty　hard　position；　girlie？〃　he
protested。　〃You're　a　heap　better　off　not　to　know。　He's　your　brother。　I　wish
you'd　take　my　word　that　I'll　drop　the　whole　thing　right　where　it　is。　Harry's
had　all　the　best　of　it；　so　far；　let　it　stand　that　way。〃

Her　eyes　met　his　coldly。　〃Are　you　afraid　to　let　me　judge　between　you？　What
did　he　do？　Daren't　you　tell？〃

Rowdy's　lids　drooped　ominously。　〃If　you　call　that　a　dare；〃　he　said　grimly；
〃I'll　tell　you；　fast　enough。　I　was　a　friend　to　him　when　he　needed　one　mighty
bad。　I　helped　him　when　he　was　dead　broke　and　out　uh　work。　I　kept　him　going
all　winterand　to　show　his　gratitude；　he　gave　me　the　doublecross；　in　more
ways　than　one。　I　won't　go　into　details。〃　He　decided　that　he　simply　could　not
tell　her　bluntly　that　Harry　had　worked　off　stolen　horses　on　him；　and　worse。

〃Ohyou　won't　go　into　details！〃　Scorn　filled　eyes　and　voice。　〃Are　they　so
trivial；　then？　You　tell　me　what　you　did　for　Harryplaying　Good　Samaritan。
Harry；　let　me　tell　you；　has　property　of　his　own；　I　can't　see　why　he　should
ever　be　in　need　of　charity。　You're　like　all　the　rest；　you　hint　things
against　himbut　I　believe　it's　just　jealousy。　You　can't　come　out　honestly
and　tell　me　a　single　instance　where　he　has　harmed　you；　or　done　anything
worse　than　other　high…spirited　young　men。〃

〃It　wouldn't　do　any　good　to　tell　you；〃　he　retorted。　〃You　think　he's　just
lacking　wings　to　be　an　angel。　I　hope　to　God　you'll　always　be　able　to　think
so！　I'm　sure　I　don't　want　to　jar　your　faith。〃

〃I　must　say　your　actions　don't　bear　out　your　words。　You've　just　been　trying
to　turn　me　against　him。〃

〃I　haven't。　I've　been　trying　to　convince　you　that　I　want　you；　anyway；　and
Harry　needn't　come　between　us。〃

〃In　other　words；　you're　willing　to　overlook　my　being　Harry's　sister。　I
appreciate　your　generosity；　I'm　sure。〃　She　did　not　look；　however；　as　if　she
meant　that。

〃I　didn't　mean　that。〃

〃Then　you　won't　overlook　it？　How　very　unfortunate！　Because　I　can't　help　the
relationship。〃

〃Would　you；　if　you　could？〃　he　asked　rashly。

〃Certainly　not！〃

〃I'm　afraid　w