arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第39章
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Johnson rode ahead； looking at these things。 The separation from his
wife； brief as it would be； left room in his soul for the heart…hunger which
beauty arouses in men。 He loved the charm of the desert； yet it hurt him。
Behind him the punchers relieved the tedium of the march； each after his
own manner。 In an hour the bunch of loose horses lost its early…morning
good spirits and settled down to a steady plodding； that needed no
supervision。 Tom Rich led them； now； in silence； his time fully occupied
in rolling Mexican cigarettes with one hand。 The other three dropped
back together and exchanged desultory remarks。 Occasionally Jim Lester
sang。 It was always the same song of uncounted verses； but Jim had a
strange fashion of singing a single verse at a time。 After a long interval
he would sing another。
〃My Love is a rider And broncos he breaks； But he's given
up riding And all for my sake； For he found him a horse
And it suited him so That he vowed he'd ne'er ride Any other
bronco！〃
he warbled； and then in the same breath：
〃Say； boys； did you get onto the pisano…looking shorthorn at Willets
last week？ 〃Nope。〃 〃He sifted in wearin' one of these
hardboiled hats； and carryin' a brogue thick enough to skate on。 Says he
wants a job drivin' teamthat he drives a truck plenty back to St。 Louis；
where he comes from。 Goodrich sets him behind them little pinto
cavallos he has。 Say！ that son of a gun a driver！ He couldn't drive nails
in a snow bank。〃 An expressive free…hand gesture told all there was to
tell of the runaway。 〃Th' shorthorn landed headfirst in Goldfish Charlie's
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horse trough。 Charlie fishes him out。 'How the devil； stranger；' says
Charlie； 'did you come to fall in here？' 'You blamed fool；' says the
shorthorn； just cryin' mad； 'I didn't come to fall in here； I come to drive
horses。'〃 And then； without a transitory pause：
〃Oh； my love has a gun And that gun he can use； But he's quit
his gun fighting As well as his booze。 And he's sold him his saddle；
His spurs； and his rope； And there's no more cow…punching And
that's what I hope。〃
The alkali dust； swirled back by a little breeze； billowed up and
choked him。 Behind； the mules coughed； their coats whitening with the
powder。 Far ahead in the distance lay the westerly mountains。 They
looked an hour away； and yet every man and beast in the outfit knew that
hour after hour they were doomed； by the enchantment of the land； to plod
ahead without apparently getting an inch nearer。 The only salvation was
to forget the mountains and to fill the present moment full of little things。
But Senor Johnson； to…day； found himself unable to do this。 In spite of
his best efforts he caught himself straining toward the distant goal；
becoming impatient； trying to measure progress by landmarksin short
acting like a tenderfoot on the desert； who wears himself down and dies；
not from the hardship； but from the nervous strain which he does not know
how to avoid。 Senor Johnson knew this as well as you and I。 He cursed
himself vigorously； and began with great resolution to think of something
else。 He was aroused from this by Tom Rich； riding alongside。
〃Somebody coming； Senor；〃 said he。 Senor Johnson raised his eyes
to the approaching cloud of dust。 Silently the two watched it until it
resolved into a rider loping easily along。 In fifteen minutes he drew rein；
his pony dropped immediately from a gallop to immobility； he swung into
a graceful at…ease attitude across his saddle； grinned amiably； and began to
roll a cigarette。
〃Billy Ellis；〃 cried Rich。 〃That's me；〃 replied the newcomer。
〃Thought you were down to Tucson？〃 〃I was。〃 〃Thought you
wasn't comin' back for a week yet？〃 〃Tommy；〃 proffered Billy
Ellis dreamily； 〃when you go to Tucson next you watch out until you sees
a little； squint…eyed Britisher。 Take a look at him。 Then come away。 He
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says he don't know nothin' about poker。 Mebbe he don't； but he'll outhold
a warehouse。〃 But here Senor Johnson broke in： 〃Billy； you're just
in time。 Jed has hurt his foot and can't get on for a week yet。 I want
you to take charge。 I've got a lot to do at the ranch。〃 〃Ain't got my
war…bag；〃 objected Billy。 〃Take my stuff。 I'll send yours on when
Parker goes。〃 〃All right。〃 〃Well； so long。〃 〃So long；
Senor。〃 They moved。 The erratic Arizona breezes twisted the dust of
their going。 Senor Johnson watched them dwindle。 With them seemed
to go the joy in the old life。 No longer did the long trail possess for him
its ancient fascination。 He had become a domestic man。 〃And I'm
glad of it；〃 commented Senor Johnson。 The dust eddied aside。
Plainly could be seen the swaying wagon； the loose…riding cowboys； the
gleaming； naked backs of the herd。 Then the veil closed over them again。
But down the wind； faintly； in snatches； came the words of Jim Lester's
song：
〃Oh； Sam has a gun That has gone to the bad； Which
makes poor old Sammy Feel pretty； damn sad； For that gain it
shoots high； And that gun it shoots low； And it wabbles about
Like a bucking bronco！〃
Senor Johnson turned and struck spurs to his willing pony。
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CHAPTER TEN THE DISCOVERY
Senor Buck Johnson loped quickly back toward the home ranch； his
heart glad at this fortunate solution of his annoyance。 The home ranch
lay in plain sight not ten miles away。 As Senor Johnson idly watched it
shimmering in the heat； a tiny figure detached itself from the mass and
launched itself in his direction。 〃Wonder what's eating HIM！〃
marvelled Senor Johnson； 〃and who is it？〃 The figure drew steadily
nearer。 In half an hour it had approached near enough to be recognised。
〃Why； it's Jed！〃 cried the Senor； and spurred his horse。 〃What do you
mean； riding out with that foot？〃 he demanded sternly； when within
hailing distance。 〃Foot； hell！〃 gasped Parker； whirling his horse
alongside。 〃Your wife's run away with Brent Palmer。〃
For fully ten seconds not the faintest indication proved that the
husband had heard； except that he lifted his bridle…hand； and the well…
trained pony stopped。 〃What did you say？〃 he asked finally。
〃Your wife's run away with Brent Palmer；〃 repeated Jed； almost with
impatience。 Again the long pause。 〃How do you know？〃
asked Senor Johnson； then。 〃Know； hell！ It's been going on for a
month。 Sang saw them drive off。 They took the buckboard。 He heard
'em planning it。 He was too scairt to tell till they'd gone。 I just found it
out。 They've been gone two hours。 Must be going to make the
Limited。〃 Parker fidgeted； impatient to be off。 〃You're wasting time；〃
he snapped at the motionless figure。 Suddenly Johnson's face flamed。
He reached from his saddle to clutch Jed's shoulder； nearly pulling the
foreman from his pony。 〃You lie！〃 he cried。 〃You're lying to me！ It
ain't SO！〃 Parker made no effort to extricate himself from the
painful grasp。 His cool eyes met the blazing eyes of his chief。
〃I wisht I did lie； Buck；〃 he said sadly。 〃I wisht it wasn't so。 But it
is。〃 Johnson's head snapped back to the front with a groan。 The
pony snorted as the steel bit his flanks； leaped forward； and with head
outstretched； nostrils wide； the wicked white of the bronco flickering in
the corner of his eye； struck the bee line for the home ranch。 Jed
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followed as fast as he was able。 On his arrival he found his chief
raging about the house like a wild beast。 Sang trembled from a quick and
stormy interrogatory in the kitchen。 Chairs had been upset and let lie。
Estrella's belongings had been tumbled over。 Senor Johnson there found
only too sure proof； in the various lacks； of a premeditated and permanent
flight。 Still he hoped； and as long as he hoped； he doubted； and the
demons of doubt tore him to a frenzy。 Jed stood near the door； his arms
folded； his weight shifted to his sound foot； waiting and wondering what
the next move was to be。 Finally； Senor Johnson； struck with a new
idea； ran to his desk to rummage in a pigeon…hole。 But he found no need
to do so； for lying on the desk was what he soughtthe check book from
which Estrella was to draw on Goodrich for the money she might need。
He fairly snatched it open。 Two of the checks had been torn out； stub and
all。 And then his eye caught a crumpled bit of blue paper under the edge
of the desk。 He smoothed it out。 The check was made out to
bearer and signed Estrella Johnson。 It called for fifteen thousand dollar
