wyoming(怀俄明)-第3章
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genial smile； somewhat ironic。 〃I shouldn't wonder but what they'll give
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me a giltedged testimonial as an unhanged horse thief。〃
〃Isn't there such a thing as law in Wyoming？〃 the girl demanded。
〃Lots of it。 Y'u can buy just as good law right here as in Kalamazoo。〃
〃I wish I knew where to find it。〃
〃Like to put me in the calaboose？〃
〃In the penitentiary。 Yes； sir！〃 A moment later the question that was in
her thoughts leaped hotly from her lips。 〃Who are you； sir； that dare to
commit murder and boast of it？〃
She had flicked him on the raw at last。 Something that was near to pain
rested for a second in his eyes。 〃Murder is a hard name； ma'am。 And I
didn't say he was daid； or any of the three；〃 came his gentle answer。
〃You MEANT to kill them； anyhow。〃
〃Did I？〃 There was the ghost of a sad smile about his eyes。
〃The way you act； a person might think you one of Ned Bannister's
men；〃 she told him； scornfully。
〃I expect you're right。〃
She repented her a little at a charge so unjust。 〃If you are not ashamed
of your name why are you so loath to part with it？〃
〃Y'u didn't ask me my name；〃 he said； a dark flush sweeping his face。
〃I ask it now。〃
Like the light from a snuffed candle the boyish recklessness had gone
out of his face。 His jaws were set like a vise and he looked hard as
hammered steel。
〃My name is Bannister；〃 he said； coldly。
〃Ned Bannister； the outlaw；〃 she let slip； and was aware of a strange
sinking of the heart。
It seemed to her that something sinister came to the surface in his
handsome face。 〃I reckon we might as well let it go at that；〃 he returned；
with bitter briefness。
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CHAPTER 2。 THE KING OF THE
BIG HORN COUNTRY
Two months before this time Helen Messiter had been serenely
teaching a second grade at Kalamazoo； Michigan； notwithstanding the
earnest efforts of several youths of that city to induce her to retire to
domesticity 〃What's the use of being a schoolmarm？〃 had been the burden
of their plaint。 〃Any spinster can teach kids C…A…T； Cat； but only one in
several thousand can be the prettiest bride in Kalamazoo。〃 None of them；
however； had been able to drive the point sufficiently home； and it is
probable that she would have continued to devote herself to Young
America if an uncle she had never seen had not died without a will and left
her a ranch in Wyoming yclept the Lazy D。
When her lawyer proposed to put the ranch on the market Miss Helen
had a word to say。
〃I think not。 I'll go out and see it first； anyhow；〃 she said。
〃But really； my dear young lady； it isn't at all necessary。 Fact is； I've
already had an offer of a hundred thousand dollars for it。 Now； I should
judge that a fair price 〃
〃Very likely；〃 his client interrupted； quietly。 〃But； you see； I don't care
to sell。〃
〃Then what in the world are you going to do with it？〃
〃Run it。〃
〃But； my dear Miss Messiter； it isn't an automobile or any other kind
of toy。 You must remember that it takes a business head and a great deal of
experience to make such an investment pay。 I really think〃
〃My school ends on the fourteenth of June。 I'll get a substitute for the
last two months。 I shall start for Wyoming on the eighteenth of April。〃
The man of law gasped； explained the difficulties again carefully as to
a child； found that he was wasting his breath； and wisely gave it up。
Miss Messiter had started on the eighteenth of April； as she had
announced。 When she reached Gimlet Butte； the nearest railroad point to
the Lazy D； she found a group of curious； weatherbeaten individuals
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gathered round a machine foreign to their experience。 It was on a flat car；
and the general opinion ran the gamut from a newfangled sewing machine
to a thresher。 Into this guessing contest came its owner with so brisk and
businesslike an energy that inside of two hours she was testing it up and
down the wide street of Gimlet Butte； to the wonder and delight of an
audience to which each one of the eleven saloons of the city had
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
