a first family of tasajara-第2章

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shook　again；　but　less　strongly。　　Billings　pressed　his　face　against

the　glass。　　〃Hol'　on；〃　he　said　in　a　quick　whisper；〃it's　'Lige！〃

But　it　was　too　late。　　Harkutt　had　already　drawn　the　lower　bolt；　and

a　man　stumbled　from　the　outer　obscurity　into　the　darker　room。



The　inmates　drew　away　as　he　leaned　back　for　a　moment　against　the

door　that　closed　behind　him。　　Then　dimly；　but　instinctively；

discerning　the　glass　of　liquor　which　Wingate　still　mechanically

held　in　his　hand；　he　reached　forward　eagerly；　took　it　from

Wingate's　surprised　and　unresisting　fingers；　and　drained　it　at　a

gulp。　　The　four　men　laughed　vaguely；　but　not　as　cheerfully　as　they

might。



〃I　was　just　shutting　up；〃　began　Harkutt；　dubiously。



〃I　won't　keep　you　a　minit；〃　said　the　intruder；　nervously　fumbling

in　the　breast　pocket　of　his　hickory　shirt。　　〃It's　a　matter　of

businessHarkuttI〃　　But　he　was　obliged　to　stop　here　to　wipe

his　face　and　forehead　with　the　ends　of　a　loose　handkerchief　tied

round　his　throat。　　From　the　action；　and　what　could　be　seen　of　his

pale；　exhausted　face；　it　was　evident　that　the　moisture　upon　it　was

beads　of　perspiration；　and　not　the　rain　which　some　abnormal　heat　of

his　body　was　converting　into　vapor　from　his　sodden　garments　as　he

stood　there。



〃I've　got　a　document　here；〃　he　began　again；　producing　a　roll　of

paper　tremblingly　from　his　pocket；　〃that　I'd　like　you　to　glance

over；　and　perhaps　you'd〃　　His　voice；　which　had　been　feverishly

exalted；　here　broke　and　rattled　with　a　cough。



Billings；　Wingate；　and　Peters　fell　apart　and　looked　out　of　the

window。　　〃It's　too　dark　to　read　anything　now；　'Lige；〃　said　Harkutt；

with　evasive　good　humor；　〃and　I　ain't　lightin'　up　to…night。〃



〃But　I　can　tell　you　the　substance　of　it；〃　said　the　man；　with　a

faintness　that　however　had　all　the　distinctness　of　a　whisper；　〃if

you'll　just　step　inside　a　minute。　　It's　a　matter　of　importance　and

a　bargain〃



〃I　reckon　we　must　be　goin'；〃　said　Billings　to　the　others；　with

marked　emphasis。　　〃We're　keepin'　Harkutt　from　shuttin'　up。〃　　〃Good…

night！〃　　〃Good…night！〃　added　Peters　and　Wingate；　ostentatiously

following　Billings　hurriedly　through　the　door。　　〃So　long！〃



The　door　closed　behind　them；　leaving　Harkutt　alone　with　his

importunate　intruder。　　Possibly　his　resentment　at　his　customers'

selfish　abandonment　of　him　at　this　moment　developed　a　vague　spirit

of　opposition　to　them　and　mitigated　his　feeling　towards　'Lige。　　He

groped　his　way　to　the　counter；　struck　a　match；　and　lit　a　candle。

Its　feeble　rays　faintly　illuminated　the　pale；　drawn　face　of　the

applicant；　set　in　a　tangle　of　wet；　unkempt；　party…colored　hair。　　It

was　not　the　face　of　an　ordinary　drunkard；　although　tremulous　and

sensitive　from　some　artificial　excitement；　there　was　no　ENGORGEMENT

or　congestion　in　the　features　or　complexion；　albeit　they　were

morbid　and　unhealthy。　　The　expression　was　of　a　suffering　that　was

as　much　mental　as　physical；　and　yet　in　some　vague　way　appeared

unmeaningand　unheroic。



〃I　want　to　see　you　about　selling　my　place　on　the　creek。　　I　want　you

to　take　it　off　my　hands　for　a　bargain。　　I　want　to　get　quit　of　it；

at　once；　for　just　enough　to　take　me　out　o'　this。　　I　don't　want　any

profit；　only　money　enough　to　get　away。〃　　His　utterance；　which　had　a

certain　kind　of　cultivation；　here　grew　thick　and　harsh　again；　and

he　looked　eagerly　at　the　bottle　which　stood　on　the　counter。



〃Look　here；　'Lige；〃　said　Harkutt；　not　unkindly。　　〃It's　too　late　to

do　anythin'　tonight。　　You　come　in　to…morrow。〃　　He　would　have　added

〃when　you're　sober；〃　but　for　a　trader's　sense　of　politeness　to　a

possible　customer；　and　probably　some　doubt　of　the　man's　actual

condition。



〃God　knows　where　or　what　I　may　be　tomorrow！　　It　would　kill　me　to　go

back　and　spend　another　night　as　the　last；　if　I　don't　kill　myself　on

the　way　to　do　it。〃



Harkutt's　face　darkened　grimly。　　It　was　indeed　as　Billings　had

said。　　The　pitiable　weakness　of　the　man's　manner　not　only　made　his

desperation　inadequate　and　ineffective；　but　even　lent　it　all　the

cheapness　of　acting。　　And；　as　if　to　accent　his　simulation　of　a

part；　his　fingers；　feebly　groping　in　his　shirt　bosom；　slipped

aimlessly　and　helplessly　from　the　shining　handle　of　a　pistol　in　his

pocket　to　wander　hesitatingly　towards　the　bottle　on　the　counter。



Harkutt　took　the　bottle；　poured　out　a　glass　of　the　liquor；　and

pushed　it　before　his　companion；　who　drank　it　eagerly。　　Whether　it

gave　him　more　confidence；　or　his　attention　was　no　longer　diverted；

he　went　on　more　collectedly　and　cheerfully；　and　with　no　trace　of

his　previous　desperation　in　his　manner。　　〃Come；　Harkutt；　buy　my

place。　　It's　a　bargain；　I　tell　you。　　I'll　sell　it　cheap。　　I　only

want　enough　to　get　away　with。　　Give　me　twenty…five　dollars　and　it's

yours。　　See；　there's　the　papersthe　quitclaimall　drawn　up　and

signed。〃　　He　drew　the　roll　of　paper　from　his　pocket　again；

apparently　forgetful　of　the　adjacent　weapon。



〃Look　here；　'Lige；〃　said　Harkutt；　with　a　business…like　straightening

of　his　lips；　〃I　ain't　buyin'　any　land　in　Tasajara；least　of　all

yours　on　the　creek。　　I've　got　more　invested　here　already　than　I'll

ever　get　back　again。　　But　I　tell　you　what　I'll　do。　　You　say　you

can't　go　back　to　your　shanty。　　Well；　seein'　how　rough　it　is　outside；

and　that　the　waters　of　the　creek　are　probably　all　over　the　trail　by

this　time；　I　reckon　you're　about　right。　　Now；　there's　five　dollars！〃

He　laid　down　a　coin　sharply　on　the　counter。　　〃Take　that　and　go　over

to　Rawlett's　and　get　a　bed　and　some　supper。　　In　the　mornin'　you　may

be　able　to　strike　up　a　trade　with　somebody　elseor　change　your

mind。　　How　did　you　get　here？　　On　your　hoss？〃



〃Yes。〃



〃He　ain't　starved　yet？〃



〃No；　he　can　eat　grass。　　I　can't。〃



Either　the　liquor　or　Harkutt's　practical　unsentimental　treatment　of

the　situation　seemed　to　give　him　confidence。　　He　met　Harkutt's　eye

more　steadily　as　the　latter　went　on。　　〃You　kin　turn　your　hoss　for

the　night　into　my　stock　corral　next　to　Rawlett's。　　It'll　save　you

payin'　for　fodder　and　stablin'。〃



The　man　took　up　the　coin　with　a　certain　slow　gravity　which　was

almost　like　dignity。　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　laying　the　paper　on　the

counter。　　〃I'll　leave　that　as　security。〃



〃Don't　want　it；　'Lige；〃　said　Harkutt；　pushing　it　back。



〃I'd　rather　leave　it。〃



〃But　suppose　you　have　a　chance　to　sell　it　to　somebody　at　Rawlett's？〃

continued　Harkutt；　with　a　precaution　that　seemed　ironical。



〃I　don't　think　there's　much　chance　of　that。〃



He　remained　quiet；　looking　at　Harkutt　with　an　odd　expression　as　he

rubbed　the　edge　of　the　coin　that　he　held　between　his　fingers

abstractedly　on　the　counter。　　Something　in　his　gazerather　perhaps

the　apparent　absence　of　anything　in　it　approximate　to　the　present

occasionwas　beginning　to　affect　Harkutt　with　a　vague　uneasiness。

Providentially　a　resumed　onslaught　of　wind　and　rain　against　the

panes　effected　a　diversion。　　〃Come；〃　he　said；　with　brisk

practicality；　〃you'd　better　hurry　on　to　Rawlett's　before　it　gets

worse。　　Have　your　clothes　dried　by　his　fire；　take　suthin'　to　eat；

and　you'll　be　all　right。〃　　He　rubbed　his　hands　cheerfully；　as　if

summarily　disposing　of　the　situation；　and　incidentally　of　all

'Lige's　troubles；　and　walked　with　him　to　the　door。　　Nevertheless；

as　the　man's　look　remained　unchanged；　he　hesitated　a　moment　with

his　hand　on　the　handle；　in　the　hope　that　he　would　say　something；

even　if　only　to　repeat　his　appeal；　but　he　did　not。　　Then　Harkutt

opened　the　door；　the　man　moved　mechanically　out；　and　at　the

distance　of　a　few　feet　seemed　to　melt　into　the　rain　and　darkness。

Harkutt　remained　for　a　moment　with　his　face　pressed　against　the

glass。　　After　an　interval　he　thought　he　heard　the　faint　splash　of

hoofs　in　the　shallows　of　the　road；　he　opened　the　door　softly　and

looked　out。



The　light　had　disappeared　from　the　nearest　house；　only　an　uncertain

bulk　of　shapeless　shadows　remained。　　Other　remoter　and　more　vague

outlines　near　the　horizon　seemed　to　have　a　funereal　suggestion　of

tombs　and　grave　mounds；　and　onea　low　shed　near　the　roadlooked

not　unlike　a　halted　bier。　　He　hurriedly　put　up　the　shutters　in　a

momentary　lulling　of　the　wind；　and　re…entering　the　store　began　to

fasten　them　from　within。



While　thus　engaged　an　inner　door　behind　the　counter　opened　softly

and　cautiously；　projecting　a　brighter　light　into　the　deserted

apartment　from　some　sacred　domestic　interior　with　the　warm　and

wholesome　incense　of　cooking。　　It　served　to　introduce　also　the

equally　agreeable　presence　of　a　young　girl；　who；　after　assuring

herself　of　the　absence　of　every　one　but　the　proprietor；　idly

slipped　into　the　store；　and　placing　her　rounded　elbows；　from　which

her　sleeves　were　uprolled；　upon　the　counter；　leaned　lazily　upon

them；　with　both　hands　supporting　her　dimpled　chin；　and　gazed

indolently　at　him；　so　indolently　that；　with　her　pretty　face　once

fixed　in　this　comfortable　attitude；　she　was　constrained　to　follow

his　movements　with　her　eyes　alone；　and　often　at　an　uncomfortable

angle。　　It　was　evident　that　she　offered　the　final　but　charming

illustration　of　the　enfeebling　listlessness　of　Sidon。



〃So　those　loafers　have　gone　at　last；〃　she　said；　meditatively。

〃They'll　take　root　here　some　day；　pop。　　The　idea　of　three　strong

men　like　that　lazing　round　for　two　mortal　hours　doin'　nothin'。

Well！〃　　As　if　to　emphasize　her　disgust　she　threw　her　whole　weight

upon　the　counter　by　swinging　her　feet　from　the　floor　to　touch　the

shelves　behind　her。



Mr。　Harkutt　only　replied　by　a　slight　grunt　as　he　continued　to　screw

on　the　shutters。



〃Want　me　to　help　you；　dad？〃　she　said；　without　moving。



Mr。　Harkutt　muttered　something　unintelligible；　which；　however；

seemed　to　imply　a　negative；　and　her　attention　here　feebly　wandered

to　the　roll　of　paper；　and　she　began　slowly　and　lazily　to　read　it

aloud。



〃'For　value　received；　I　hereby　sell；　assign；　and　transfer　to　Daniel

D。　Harkutt　all　my　right；　titles　and　interest　in；　and　to　the

undivided　half　of；　Quarter　Section　4；　Range　5；　Tasajara　Township'

humhum；〃　she　murmured；　running　her　eyes　to　the　bottom　of　the

page。　　〃Why；　Lord！　　It's　that　'Lige　Curtis！〃　she　laughed。　　〃The

idea　of　HIM　having　property！　　Why；　dad；　you　ain't　been　THAT　silly！〃



〃Put　down　that　paper；　miss；〃　he　said；　aggrievedly；　〃bring　the

candle　here；　and　help　me　to　find　one　of　these　infernal　screws

that's　dropped。〃



The　girl　indolently　disengaged　herself　from　the　counter　and　Elijah

Curtis's　transfer；　and　brought　the　candle　to　her　father。　　The　screw

was　presently　found　and　the　last　fastening　secured。　　〃Supper

gettin'　cold；　dad；〃　she　said；　with　a　slight　yawn。　　Her　father

sympathetically　responded　by　stretching　himself　from　his　stooping

position；　and　the　two　passed　through　the　private　door　into　inner

domesticity；　leaving　the　already　forgotten　paper　lying　with　other

articles　of　barter　on　the　counter。





CHAPTER　II。





With　the　closing　of　the　little　door