wyoming(怀俄明)-第33章
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by his very wariness defeated his purpose of eluding observation。 For a
pair of keen eyes from the hotel office glimpsed the figure stealing past so
noiselessly； and promptly followed up the stairway。
〃Hope I don't intrude at this happy family gathering。〃
Helen； who had been pouring a glass of cordial for the spent and
wounded sheepman； put the glass down on the table and turned at sound of
the silken； sinister voice。 After one glance at the vindictive face； from the
cold eyes of which hate seemed to smolder； she took an instinctive step
toward her lover。 The cold wave that drenched her heart accompanied an
assurance that the man in the doorway meant trouble。
His sleek smile arrested her。 He was standing with his feet apart； his
hands clasped lightly behind his back； as natty and as well groomed as was
his wont。
〃Ah； make the most of what ye yet may spend； Before ye； too； into the
Dust descend； Dust into Dust； and under Dust to lie； Sans Wine； sans Song；
sans Singer； andsans End！〃
he misquoted； with a sneer； and immediately interrupted his irony to
give way to one of his sudden blind rages。
With incredible swiftness his right hand moved forward and up；
catching revolver from scabbard as it rose。 But by a fraction of a second
his purpose had been anticipated。 A closed fist shot forward to the salient
jaw in time to fling the bullets into the ceiling。 An arm encircled the
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outlaw's neck； and flung him backward down the stairs。 The railing broke
his fall； and on it his body slid downward； the weapon falling from his
hand。 He pulled himself together at the foot of the stairs； crouched for an
upward rush； but changed his mind instantly。 The young officer who had
flung him down had him covered with his own six…shooter。 He could hear
footsteps running toward him； and he knew that in a few seconds he would
be in the hands of the soldiers。 Plunging out of the doorway； the desperado
vaulted to the saddle and drove his spurs home。 For a minute hoofs
pounded on the hard； white road。 Then the night swallowed him and the
echo of his disappearance。
〃That was Bannister of the Shoshones and the Tetons；〃 the girl's white
lips pronounced to Lieutenant Beecher。
〃And I let him get away from me；〃 the disappointed lad groaned。
〃Why； I had him right in my hands。 I could have throttled him as easy。 But
how was I to know he would have nerve enough to come rushing into a
hotel full of soldiers hunting him？〃
〃Y'u have a very persistent cousin； Mr。 Bannister；〃 said McWilliams；
coming forward from the alcove with shining eyes。 〃And I must say he's
game。 Did y'u ever hear the like？ Come butting in here as cool as if he
hadn't a thing to do but sing out orders like he was in his own home。 He
was that easy。〃
〃It seems to me that a little of the praise is due Lieutenant Beecher。 If
he hadn't dealt so competently with the situation murder would have been
done。 Did you learn your boxing at the Academy； Lieutenant？〃 Helen
asked； trying to treat the situation lightly in spite of her hammering heart。
〃I was the champion middleweight of our class；〃 Beecher could not
help saying boyishly； with another of his blushes。
〃I can easily believe it；〃 returned Helen。
〃I wish y'u would teach me how to double up a man so prompt and
immediate；〃 said the admiring foreman。
〃I expect I'm under particular obligations to that straight right to the
chin； Lieutenant；〃 chimed in the sheepman。 〃The fact is that I don't seem
to be able to get out anything except thanks these days。 I ought to send my
cousin a letter thanking him for giving me a chance to owe so much
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kindness to so many people。〃
〃Your cousin？〃 repeated the uncomprehending officer。
〃This desperado； Bannister； is my cousin；〃 answered the sheepman
gravely。
〃But if he was your cousin； why should he wantto kill you？〃
〃That's a long story； Lieutenant。 Will y'u hear it now？〃
〃If you feel strong enough to tell it。〃
〃Oh； I'm strong enough。〃 He glanced at Helen。 〃Perhaps we had better
not tire Miss Messiter with it。 If y'u'll come to my room〃
〃I should like； above all things； to hear it again；〃 interrupted that
young woman promptly。
For the man she loved had just come back to her from the brink of the
grave and she was still reluctant to let him out of her sight。
So Ned Bannister told his story once more； and out of the alcove came
the happy foreman and Nora to listen to the tale。 While he told it his
sweetheart's contented eyes were on him。 The excitement of the night
burnt pleasantly in her veins； for out of the nettle danger she had plucked
safety for her sheepman。
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CHAPTER 20。 TWO CASES OF
DISCIPLINE
The Fourth of July celebration at Gimlet Butte had been a thing of the
past for four days and the Lazy D had fallen back into the routine of ranch
life。 The riders were discussing supper and the continued absence of
Reddy when that young man drew back the flap and joined them。
He stood near the doorway and grinned with embarrassed guilt at the
assembled company。
〃I reckon I got too much Fourth of July at Gimlet Butte； boys。 That's
how come I to be onpunctual getting back。〃
There was a long silence； during which those at the table looked at him
with an expressionless gravity that did not seem to veil an unduly warm
welcome。
〃Hello； Mac！ Hello； boys！ I just got back；〃 he further contributed。
Without comment the Lazy D resumed supper。 Apparently it had not
missed Reddy or noticed his return。 Casual conversation was picked up
cheerfully。 The return of the prodigal was quite ignored。
〃Then that blamed cow gits its back up and makes a bee…line for
Rogers。 The old man hikes for his pony and〃
〃Seems good to git my legs under the old table again；〃 interrupted
Reddy with cheerful unease。
〃loses by about half a second；〃 continued Missou。 〃If Doc hadn't
roped its hind laig〃
〃Have some cigars； boys。 I brought a box back with me。〃 Reddy tossed
a handful on the table； where they continued to lie unnoticed。
〃there's no telling what would have happened。 As 'twas the old man
got off with a〃
〃Y'u bet； they're good cigars all right；〃 broke in the propitiatory Reddy。
The interrupted anecdote went on to a finish and the men trooped out
and left the prodigal alone with his hash。 When that young man reached
the bunkhouse Frisco was indulging in a reminiscence。 Reddy got only the
last of it； but that did not contribute to his serenity。
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〃Yep！ When I was working on the Silver Dollar。 Must a…been three
years ago； I reckon； when Jerry Miller got that chapping。〃
〃Threw down the outfit in a row they had with the Lafferty crowd；
didn't he？〃 asked Denver。
Frisco nodded。
Mac got up； glanced round； and reached for his hat。 〃I reckon I'll have
to be going；〃 he said； and forthright departed。
Reddy reached for HIS hat and rose。 〃I got to go and have a talk with
Mac；〃 he explained。
Denver got to the door first and his big frame filled it。
〃Don't hurry； Reddy。 It ain't polite to rush away right after dinner。
Besides； Mac will be here all day。 He ain't starting for New York。〃
〃Y'u're gittin' blamed particular。 Mac he went right out。〃
〃But Mac didn't have a most particular engagement with the boys。
There's a difference。〃
〃Why； I ain't got〃 Reddy paused and looked around helplessly。
〃Gents； I move y'u that it be the horse sense of the Lazy D that our
friend Mr。 Reddy Reeves be given gratis one chapping immediately if not
sooner。 The reason for which same being that he played a lowdown trick
on the outfit whose bread he was eating。〃
〃Oh； quit your foolin'； boys；〃 besought the victim anxiously。
〃And that Denver； being some able…bodied and having a good reach；
be requested to deliver same to the gent needing it；〃 concluded Missou。
Reddy backed in alarm to the wall。 〃Y'u boys don't want to get gay
with me。 Y'u can't monkey with〃
Motion carried unanimously。
Just as Reddy whipped out his revolver Denver's long leg shot out and
his foot caught the wrist behind the weapon。 When Reddy next took
cognizance of his surroundings he was serving as a mattress for the
anatomy of three stalwart riders。 He was gently deposited face down on
his bunk with a one…hundred…eighty…pound live peg at the end of each arm
and leg。
〃All ready； Denver；〃 announced Frisco from the end of the left foot。
Denver selected a pair of plain leather chaps with care and proceeded
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to business。 What he had to do he did with energy。 It is safe to say that at
least one of those present can still vividly remember this and testify to his
thoroughness。
Mac drifted in after the disciplining。 As foreman it was fitting that he
should be discreetly ignorant of what had occurred； but he could not help
saying：
〃That y'u I heard singing； Reddy？ Seems to me y'u had ought to take
that voice into grand opera。 The way y'u straddle them high notes is a
caution for fair。 What was it y'u was singing？ Sounded like 'Would I were
far from here； love。'〃
〃Y'u go to hell；〃 choked Reddy； rushing past him from the bunkhouse。
McWilliams looked round innocently。 〃I judge some of y'u boys must
a…been teasing Reddy from his manner。 Seemed like he didn't want to sit
down and talk。〃
〃I shouldn't wonder but he'll hold his con
