the flying u ranch-第3章

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had　been　told　to　do。　〃But　we'd　rather　be　ashamed　than　good；　any

old　time。〃



The　Little　Doctor　giggled　behind　the　Kid's　tousled　curls；　and

reached　out　a　slim　hand　once　more　to　give　Pink's　tongs　the　expert

twist　he　was　trying　awkwardly　to　learn。　〃I'm　sorry　for　Miguel；

he's　got　lovely　eyes；　anyway。〃



〃Yes；　ain't　he？〃　Pink　looked　up　briefly　from　his　task。　〃How's

your　leg；　Irish？　Mine's　done。〃



〃Seems　to　me　I'd　make　a　deep　border　of　them　corkscrew　curls　all

around　the　bottoms；　if　I　was　doin'　it；〃　said　the　Countess

peevishly；　from　the　kitchen　sink。　〃If　I　was　that　dago　I'd　murder

the　hull　outfit；　I　never　did　see　a　body　so　hectored　in　my　life

and　him　not　ever　ketchin'　on。　He　must　be　plumb　simple…minded。〃



When　the　curling　was　done　to　the　hilarious　satisfaction　of　Irish

and　Pink；　and；　while　Pink　was　dancing　in　them　to　show　them　off；

another　entered　with　mail　from　town。　And；　because　the　mail…

bearer　was　Andy　Green　himself；　back　from　a　winter's　journeyings；

Cal；　Happy　Jack　and　Slim　followed　close　behind；　talking　all　at

once；　in　their　joy　at　beholding　the　man　they　loved　well　and　hated

occasionally　also。　Andy　delivered　the　mail　into　the　hands　of　the

Little　Doctor；　pinched　the　Kid's　cheek；　and　said　how　he　had　grown

good…looking　as　his　mother；　almost；　spoke　a　cheerful　howdy　to　the

Countess；　and　turned　to　shake　hands　with　Pink。　It　was　then　that

the　honest；　gray　eyes　of　him　widened　with　amazement。



〃Well；　by　golly！〃　gasped　Slim；　goggling　at　the　chaps　of　Miguel。



〃That　there　Natiff　Son'll　just　about　kill　yuh　for　that；〃　warned

Happy　Jack；　as　mournfully　as　he　might　with　laughing。　〃He'll　knife

yuh；　sure。〃



Andy；　demanding　the　meaning　of　it　all；　learned　all　about　Miguel

Rapponifrom　the　viewpoint　of　the　Happy　Family。　At　least；　he

learned　as　much　as　it　was　politic　to　tell　in　the　presence　of　the

Little　Doctor；　and　afterward；　while　Pink　was　putting　the　chaps

back　upon　the　willow；　where　Miguel　had　left　them；　he　was　told

that　they　looked　to　him；　Andy　Green；　for　assistance。



〃Oh；　gosh！　You　don't　want　to　depend　on　me；　Pink；〃　Andy

expostulated　modestly。　〃I　can't　think　of　anythingand；　besides；

I've　reformed。　I　don't　know　as　it's　any　compliment　to　me；　by

graciousbeing　told　soon　as　I　land　that　I'm　expected　to　lie　to　a

perfect　stranger。〃



〃You　come　on　down　to　the　stable　and　take　a　look　at　his　saddle　and

bridle；〃　urged　Cal。　〃And　wait　till　you　see　him　smoking　and

looking　past　you；　as　if　you　was　an　ornery　little　peak　that　didn't

do　nothing　but　obstruct　the　scenery。　I've　seen　mean　cusseslots

of　'em；　and　I've　seen　men　that　was　stuck　on　themselves。　But　I

never〃



〃Come　outa　that　'doby；〃　Pink　interrupted；　〃mud　to　his　eyebrows；

just　about。　And　he　knew　darned　well　we　headed　him　in　there

deliberate。　And　when　I　remarks　it's　soft　going；　he　says：　'It　is；

kinda；'just　like　that。〃　Pink　managed　to　imitate　the　languid

tone　of　Miguel　very　well。　〃Not　another　word　outa　him。　Didn't　even

make　him　mad！　He〃



〃Tell　him　about　the　parrots；　Slim；〃　Cal　suggested　soberly。　But

Slim　only　turned　purple　at　the　memory；　and　swore。



〃Old　Patsy　sure　has　got　it　in　for　him；〃　Happy　Jack　observed。　〃He

asked　Patsy　if　he　ever　had　enchiladas。　Patsy　won't　speak　to　him

no　more。　He　claims　Mig…u…ell　insulted　him。　He　told　Mig…u…ell〃



〃Enchiladas　are　sure　fine　eating；〃　said　Andy。　〃I　took　to　'em　like

a　she…bear　to　honey；　down　in　New　Mexico　this　winter。　Your　Native

Son　is　solid　there；　all　right。〃



〃Aw；　gwan！　He　ain't　solid　nowhere　but　in　the　head。　Maybe　you'll

love　him　to　death　when　yuh　see　himchances　is　you　will；　if

you've　took　to　eatin'　dago　grub。〃



Andy　patted　Happy　Jack　reassuringly　on　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　get

excited；〃　he　soothed。　〃I'll　put　it　all　over　the　gentleman；　just

to　show　my　heart's　in　the　right　place。　Just　this　once；　though；

I've　reformed。　And　I've　got　to　have　time　to　size　him　up。　Where　do

you　keep　him　when　he　ain't　in　the　show　window？〃　He　swung　into

step　with　Pink。　〃I'll　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　confided

engagingly。　〃Any　man　that'll　wear　chaps　like　he's　goteven

leaving　out　the　extra　finish　you　fellows　have　given　'emhad

ought　to　be　taught　a　lesson　he'll　remember。　He　sure　must　be　a

tough　proposition；　if　the　whole　bunch　of　yuh　have　had　to　give　him

up。　By　gracious〃



〃We　haven't　tried；〃　Pink　defended。　〃It　kinda　looked　to　us　as　if

he　was　aiming　to　make　us　guy　him；　so　we　didn't。　We've　left　him

strictly　alone。　To…day〃he　glanced　over　his　shoulder　to　where

the　becurled　chaps　swung　comically　from　the　willow

branch〃to…day's　the　first　time　anybody's　made　a　move。　Unless；〃

he　added；　as　an　afterthought；　〃you　count　yesterday　in　the　'doby

patchand　even　then　we　didn't　tell　him　to　ride　into　it；　we　just

let　him　do　it。〃



〃And　kinda　herded　him　over　towards　it；〃　Cal　amended　slyly。



〃Can　he　ride？〃　asked　Andy；　going　straight　to　the　main　point；　in

the　mind　of　a　cowpuncher。



〃W…e…ell…he　hasn't　been　piled；　so　far。　But　then；〃　Pink　qualified

hastily；　〃he　hasn't　topped　anything　worse　than　Crow…　hop。　He

ain't　hard　to　ride。　Happy　Jack　could〃



〃Aw；　I'm　gittin'　good　and　sick　of'　hearin'　that　there　tune；〃

Happy　growled　indignantly。　〃Why　don't　you　point　out　Slim　as　the

limit；　once　in　a　while？〃



〃Come　on　down　to　the　stable；　and　let's　talk　it　over；〃　Andy

suggested；　and　led　the　way。　〃What's　his　style；　anyway？　Mouthy；　or

what？〃



With　four　willing　tongues　to　enlighten　him；　it　would　be　strange；

indeed；　if　one　so　acute　as　Andy　Green　failed　at　last　to　have　a

very　fair　mental　picture　of　Miguel。　He　gazed　thoughtfully　at　his

boots；　laughed　suddenly；　and　slapped　Irish　quite　painfully　upon

the　back。



〃Come　on　up　and　introduce　me；　boys；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　make　this

Native　Son　so　hungry　for　homeyou　watch　me　put　it　on　the

gentleman。　Only　it　does　seem　a　shame　to　do　it。〃



〃No；　it　ain't。　If　you'd　been　around　him　for　two　weeks；　you'd　want

to　kill　him　just　to　make　him　take　notice；〃　Irish　assured　him。



〃What　gets　me；〃　Andy　mused；　〃is　why　you　fellows　come　crying　to　me

for　help。　I　should　think　the　bunch　of　you　ought　to　be　able　to

handle　one　lone　Native　Son。〃



〃Aw；　you're　the　biggest　liar　and　faker　in　the　bunch；　is　why；〃

Happy　Jack　blurted。



〃Oh；　I　see。〃　Andy　hummed　a　little　tune　and　pushed　his　hands　deep

into　his　pockets；　and　at　the　corners　of　his　lips　there　flickered

a　smile。



The　Native　Son　sat　with　his　hat　tilted　slightly　back　upon　his

head　and　a　cigarette　between　his　lips；　and　was　reaching　lazily

for　the　trick　which　made　the　fourth　game　his；　when　the　group

invaded　the　bunk…house。　He　looked　up　indifferently；　swept　Andy's

face　and　figure　with　a　glance　too　impersonal　to　hold　even　a　shade

of　curiosity；　and　began　rapidly　shuffling　his　cards　to　count　the

points　he　had　made。



Andy　stopped　short；　just　inside　the　door；　and　stared　hard　at

Miguel；　who　gave　no　sign。　He　turned　his　honest；　gray　eyes　upon

Pink　and　Irish　accusinglywhereat　they　wondered　greatly。



〃Your　dealif　you　want　to　play；〃　drawled　Miguel；　and　shoved　his

cards　toward　Big　Medicine。　But　the　boys　were　already　uptilting

chairs　to　grasp　the　quicker　the　outstretched　hand　of　the

prodigal；　so　that　Miguel　gathered　up　the　cards；　evened　their

edges　mechanically；　and　deigned　another　glance　at　this　stranger

who　was　being　welcomed　so　vociferously。　Also　he　sighed　a　bit

for　even　a　languid…eyed　stoic　of　a　Native　Son　may　feel　the　twinge

of　loneliness。　Andy　shook　hands　all　round；　swore　amiably　at

Weary；　and　advanced　finally　upon　Miguel。



〃You　don't　know　me　from　Adam's　off　ox；〃　he　began　genially；　〃but　I

know　you；　all　right；　all　right。　I　hollered　my　head　off　with　the

rest　of　'em　when　you　played　merry　hell　in　that　bull…ring；　last

Christmas。　Also；　I　was　part　of　your　bodyguard　when　them　greasers

were　trying　to　tickle　you　in　the　ribs　with　their　knives　in　that

dark　alley。　Shake；　old…timer！　You　done　yourself　proud；　and　I'm

glad　to　know　yuh！〃



Miguel；　for　the　first　time　in　two　weeks；　permitted　himself　the

luxury　of　an　expressive　countenance。　He　gave　Andy　Green　one

quick；　grateful　lookand　a　smile；　the　like　of　which　made　the

Happy　Family　quiver　inwardly　with　instinctive　sympathy。



〃So　you　were　there；　too；　eh？〃　Miguel　exclaimed　softly；　and　rose

to　greet　him。　〃And　that　scrap　in　the　alleywe　sure　had　a　hell　of

a　time　there　for　a　few　minutes；　didn't　we？　Are　you　that　tall

fellow　who　kicked　that　squint…eyed　greaser　in　the　stomach？　Muchos

gracios；　senor！　They　were　piling　on　me　three　deep；　right　then；

and　I　always　believed　they'd　have　got　me；　only　for　a　tall　vaquero

I　couldn't　locate　afterward。〃　He　smiled　again　that　wonderful

smile；　which　lighted　the　darkness　of　his　eyes　as　with　a　flame；

and　murmured　a　sentence　or　two　in　Spanish。



〃Did　you　get　the　spurs　me　and　my　friends　sent　you　afterward？〃

asked　Andy　eagerly。　〃We　heard　about　the　Arizona　boys　giving　you

the　saddleand　we　raked　high　and　low　for　them　spurs。　And；　by

gracious；　they　were　beauts；　toodid　yuh　get　'em？〃



〃I　wear　them　every　day　I　ride；〃　answered　Miguel；　a　peculiar；

caressing　note　in　his　voice。



〃I　didn't　knowwe　heard　you　had　disappeared　off　the　earth。

Why〃



Miguel　laughed　outright。　〃To　fight　a　bull　with　bare　hands　is　one

thing；　amigo；〃　he　said。　〃To　take　a　chance　on　getting　a　knife

stuck　in　your　back　is　another。　Those　Mexicansthey　don't　love

the　man　who　crosses　the　river　and　makes　of　their　bull…fights　a

plaything。〃



〃That's　right；　only　I　thought；　you　being　a〃



〃Not　a　Mexican。〃　Miguel's　voice　sharpened　a　trifle。　〃My　father

was　Spanish；　yes。　My　mother〃his　eyes　flashed　briefly　at　the

faces　of　the　gaping　Happy　Family〃my　mother　was　born　in

Ireland。〃



〃And　that　sure　makes　a　hard　combination　to　beat；〃　cried　Andy

heartily。　He　looked　at　the　othersat　all；　that　is；　save　Pink　and

Irish；　who　had　disappeared。　〃Well；　boys；　I　never　thought　I'd　come

home　and　find〃



〃Miguel　Rapponi；〃　supplied　the　Native　Son　quickly。　〃As　well

forget　that　other　name。　And；〃　he　added　with　the　shrug　which　the

Happy　Family　had　come　to　hate；　〃as　well　forget　the　story；　also。　I

am　not　hungry　for　the　feel　of　a　knife　in　my　back。〃　He　smiled

again　engagingly　at　Andy　Green。　It　was　astonishing　how　readily

that　smile　had　sprung　to　life　with　the　warmth　of　a　little

friendship；　and　how　pleasant　it　was；　withal。



〃Just　as　you　say；〃　Andy　agreed；　not　trying　to　hide　his

admiration。　〃I　guess　nobody's　got　a　better　right　to　holler　for

silence。　Butsay；　you　sure　delivered　the　goods；　old　boy！　You

musta　read　about　it；　you　fellows；　about　the　American　puncher　that

went　over　the　line　and　rode　one　of　their　crack　bulls　all　round

the　ring；　and　then〃　He　stopped　and　looked　apologetically　at

Miguel；　in　whose　dark　eyes　there　flashed　a　warning　light。　〃I

clean　forgot；〃　he　confessed　impulsively。　〃This　meeting　you　here

unexpectedly；　like　this；　has　kinda　got　me　rattled；　I　guess。

ButI　never　saw　yuh　before　in　my　life；〃　he　declared

emphatically。　〃I　don't　know　a　darn　thing　aboutanything　that

ever　happened　i