riders of the purple sage- 第35部分

On　the　morning　of　August　10th；　Jane；　while　waiting　in　the　court　for　Lassiter；　heard　a　clear；　ringing　report　of　a　rifle。　It　came　from　the　grove；　somewhere　toward　the　corrals。　Jane　glanced　out　in　alarm。　The　day　was　dull；　windless；　soundless。　The　leaves　of　the　cottonwoods　drooped；　as　if　they　had　foretold　the　doom　of　Withersteen　House　and　were　now　ready　to　die　and　drop　and　decay。　Never　had　Jane　seen　such　shade。　She　pondered　on　the　meaning　of　the　report。　Revolver　shots　had　of　late　cracked　from　different　parts　of　the　grovespies　taking　snap…shots　at　Lassiter　from　a　cowardly　distance！　But　a　rifle　report　meant　more。　Riders　seldom　used　rifles。　Judkins　and　Venters　were　the　exceptions　she　called　to　mind。　Had　the　men　who　hounded　her　hidden　in　her　grove；　taken　to　the　rifle　to　rid　her　of　Lassiter；　her　last　friend？　It　was　probableit　was　likely。　And　she　did　not　share　his　cool　assumption　that　his　death　would　never　come　at　the　hands　of　a　Mormon。　Long　had　she　expected　it。　His　constancy　to　her；　his　singular　reluctance　to　use　the　fatal　skill　for　which　he　was　famed　both　now　plain　to　all　Mormonslaid　him　open　to　inevitable　assassination。　Yet　what　charm　against　ambush　and　aim　and　enemy　he　seemed　to　bear　about　him！　No；　Jane　reflected；　it　was　not　charm；　only　a　wonderful　training　of　eye　and　ear；　and　sense　of　impending　peril。　Nevertheless　that　could　not　forever　avail　against　secret　attack。

That　moment　a　rustling　of　leaves　attracted　her　attention；　then　the　familiar　clinking　accompaniment　of　a　slow；　soft；　measured　step；　and　Lassiter　walked　into　the　court。

〃Jane；　there's　a　fellow　out　there　with　a　long　gun；〃　he　said；　and；　removing　his　sombrero；　showed　his　head　bound　in　a　bloody　scarf。

〃I　heard　the　shot；　I　knew　it　was　meant　for　you。　Let　me　seeyou　can't　be　badly　injured？〃

〃I　reckon　not。　But　mebbe　it　wasn't　a　close　call！。。。I'll　sit　here　in　this　corner　where　nobody　can　see　me　from　the　grove。〃　He　untied　the　scarf　and　removed　it　to　show　a　long；　bleeding　furrow　above　his　left　temple。

〃It's　only　a　cut；〃　said　Jane。　〃But　how　it　bleeds！　Hold　your　scarf　over　it　just　a　moment　till　I　come　back。〃

She　ran　into　the　house　and　returned　with　bandages；　and　while　she　bathed　and　dressed　the　wound　Lassiter　talked。

〃That　fellow　had　a　good　chance　to　get　me。　But　he　must　have　flinched　when　he　pulled　the　trigger。　As　I　dodged　down　I　saw　him　run　through　the　trees。　He　had　a　rifle。　I've　been　expectin'　that　kind　of　gun　play。　I　reckon　now　I'll　have　to　keep　a　little　closer　hid　myself。　These　fellers　all　seem　to　get　chilly　or　shaky　when　they　draw　a　bead　on　me；　but　one　of　them　might　jest　happen　to　hit　me。〃

〃Won't　you　go　awayleave　Cottonwoods　as　I've　begged　you　tobefore　some　one　does　happen　to　hit　you？〃　she　appealed　to　him。

〃I　reckon　I'll　stay。〃

〃But；　oh；　Lassiteryour　blood　will　be　on　my　hands！〃

〃See　here；　lady；　look　at　your　hands　now；　right　now。　Aren't　they　fine；　firm；　white　hands？　Aren't　they　bloody　now？　Lassiter's　blood！　That's　a　queer　thing　to　stain　your　beautiful　hands。　But　if　you　could　only　see　deeper　you'd　find　a　redder　color　of　blood。　Heart　color；　Jane！〃

〃Oh！。。。My　friend！〃

〃No；　Jane；　I'm　not　one　to　quit　when　the　game　grows　hot；　no　more　than　you。　This　game；　though；　is　new　to　me；　an'　I　don't　know　the　moves　yet；　else　I　wouldn't　have　stepped　in　front　of　that　bullet。〃

〃Have　you　no　desire　to　hunt　the　man　who　fired　at　youto　find　himand　and　kill　him？〃

〃Well；　I　reckon　I　haven't　any　great　hankerin'　for　that。〃

〃Oh；　the　wonder　of　it！。。。I　knewI　prayedI　trusted。　Lassiter；　I　almost　gaveall　myself　to　soften　you　to　Mormons。　Thank　God；　and　thank　you；　my　friend。。。。But；　selfish　woman　that　＇　am；　this　is　no　great　test。　What's　the　life　of　one　of　those　sneaking　cowards　to　such　a　man　as　you？　I　think　of　your　great　hate　toward　him　whoI　think　of　your　life's　implacable　purpose。　Can　it　be〃

〃Wait！。。。Listen！〃　he　whispered。　〃I　hear　a　hoss。〃

He　rose　noiselessly；　with　his　ear　to　the　breeze。　Suddenly　he　pulled　his　sombrero　down　over　his　bandaged　head　and；　swinging　his　gun…sheaths　round　in　front；　he　stepped　into　the　alcove。

〃It　s　a　hosscomin'　fast；〃　he　added。

Jane's　listening　ear　soon　caught　a　faint；　rapid；　rhythmic　beat　of　hoofs。　It　came　from　the　sage。　It　gave　her　a　thrill　that　she　was　at　a　loss　to　understand。　The　sound　rose　stronger；　louder。　Then　came　a　clear；　sharp　difference　when　the　horse　passed　from　the　sage　trail　to　the　hard…packed　ground　of　the　grove。　It　became　a　ringing　runswift　in　its　bell…like　clatterings；　yet　singular　in　longer　pause　than　usual　between　the　hoofbeats　of　a　horse。

〃It's　Wrangle！。。。It's　Wrangle！〃　cried　Jane　Withersteen。　〃I'd　know　him　from　a　million　horses！〃

Excitement　and　thrilling　expectancy　flooded　out　all　Jane　Withersteen　s　calm。　A　tight　band　closed　round　her　breast　as　she　saw　the　giant　sorrel　flit　in　reddish…brown　flashes　across　the　openings　in　the　green。　Then　he　was　pounding　down　the　lanethundering　into　the　courtcrashing　his　great　iron…shod　hoofs　on　the　stone　flags。　Wrangle　it　was　surely；　but　shaggy　and　wild…eyed；　and　sage…streaked；　with　dust…caked　lather　staining　his　flanks。　He　reared　and　crashed　down　and　plunged。　The　rider　leaped　off；　threw　the　bridle；　and　held　hard　on　a　lasso　looped　round　Wrangle's　head　and　neck。　Janet's　heart　sank　as　she　tried　to　recognize　Venters　in　the　rider。　Something　familiar　struck　her　in　the　lofty　stature　in　the　sweep　of　powerful　shoulders。　But　this　bearded；　longhaired；　unkempt　man；　who　wore　ragged　clothes　patched　with　pieces　of　skin；　and　boots　that　showed　bare　legs　and　feetthis　dusty；　dark；　and　wild　rider　could　not　possibly　be　Venters。

〃Whoa；　Wrangle；　old　boy！　Come　down。　Easy　now。　Sososo。　You　re　home；　old　boy；　and　presently　you　can　have　a　drink　of　water　you'll　remember。〃

In　the　voice　Jane　knew　the　rider　to　be　Venters。　He　tied　Wrangle　to　the　hitching…rack　and　turned　to　the　court。

〃Oh；　Bern！。。。You　wild　man！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃JaneJane；　it's　good　to　see　you！　Hello；　Lassiter！　Yes；　it's　Venters。〃

Like　rough　iron　his　hard　hand　crushed　Jane's。　In　it　she　felt　the　difference　she　saw　in　him。　Wild；　rugged；　unshornyet　how　splendid！　He　had　gone　away　a　boyhe　had　returned　a　man。　He　appeared　taller；　wider　of　shoulder；　deeper…chested；　more　powerfully　built。　But　was　that　only　her　fancyhe　had　always　been　a　young　giantwas　the　change　one　of　spirit？　He　might　have　been　absent　for　years；　proven　by　fire　and　steel；　grown　like　Lassiter；　strong　and　cool　and　sure。　His　eyeswere　they　keener；　more　flashing　than　before？met　hers　with　clear；　frank；　warm　regard；　in　which　perplexity　was　not；　nor　discontent；　nor　pain。

〃Look　at　me　long　as　you　like；〃　he　said；　with　a　laugh。　〃I'm　not　much　to　look　at。　And；　Jane；　neither　you　nor　Lassiter；　can　brag。　You're　paler　than　I　ever　saw　you。　Lassiter；　here；　he　wears　a　bloody　bandage　under　his　hat。　That　reminds　me。　Some　one　took　a　flying　shot　at　me　down　in　the　sage。　It　made　Wrangle　run　some。。。。Well；　perhaps　you've　more　to　tell　me　than　I've　got　to　tell　you。〃

Briefly；　in　few　words；　Jane　outlined　the　circumstances　of　her　undoing　in　the　weeks　of　his　absence。

Under　his　beard　and　bronze　she　saw　his　face　whiten　in　terrible　wrath。

〃Lassiterwhat　held　you　back？〃

No　time　in　the　long　period　of　fiery　moments　and　sudden　shocks　had　Jane　Withersteen　ever　beheld　Lassiter　as　calm　and　serene　and　cool　as　then。

〃Jane　had　gloom　enough　without　my　addin'　to　it　by　shootin'　up　the　village；〃　he　said。

As　strange　as　Lassiter's　coolness　was　Venters's　curious；　intent　scrutiny　of　them　both；　and　under　it　Jane　felt　a　flaming　tide　wave　from　bosom　to　temples。

〃Wellyou're　right；〃　he　said；　with　slow　pause。　〃It　surprises　me　a　little；　that's　all。〃

Jane　sensed　then　a　slight　alteration　in　Venters；　and　what　it　was；　in　her　own　confusion；　she　could　not　tell。　It　had　always　been　her　intention　to　acquaint　him　with　the　deceit　she　had　fallen　to　in　her　zeal　to　move　Lassiter。　She　did　not　mean　to　spare　herself。　Yet　now；　at　the　moment；　before　these　riders；　it　was　an　impossibility　to　explain。

Venters　was　speaking　somewhat　haltingly；　without　his　former　frankness。　〃I　found　Oldring's　hiding…place　and　your　red　herd。　I　learnedI　know　I'm　sure　there　was　a　deal　between　Tull　and　Oldring。〃　He　paused　and　shifted　his　position　and　his　gaze。　He　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　say　something　that　he　found　beyond　him。　Sorrow　and　pity　and　shame　seemed　to　contend　for　mastery　over　him。　Then　he　raised　himself　and　spoke　with　effort。　〃Jane　I've　cost　you　too　much。　You've　almost　ruined　yourself　for　me。　It　was　wrong；　for　I'm　not　worth　it。　I　never　deserved　such　friendship。　Well；　maybe　it's　not　too　late。　You　must　give　me　up。　Mind；　I　haven't　changed。　I　am　just　the　same　as　ever。　I'll　see　Tull　while　I'm　here；　and　tell　him　to　his　face。〃

〃Bern；　it's　too　late；〃　said　Jane。

〃I'll　make　him　believe！〃　cried　Venters；　violently。

〃You　ask　me　to　break　our　friendship？〃

〃Yes。　If　you　don't；　I　shall。〃

〃Forever？〃

〃Forever！〃

Jane　sighed。　Another　shadow　had　lengthened　down　the　sage　slope　to　cast　further　darkness　upon　her。　A　melancholy　sweetness　pervaded　her　resignation。　The　boy　who　had　left　her　had　returned　a　man；　nobler；　stronger；　one　in　whom　she　divined　something　unbending　as　steel。　There　might　come　a　moment　later　when　she　would　wonder　why　she　had　not　fought　against　his　will；　but　just　now　she　yielded　to　it。　She　liked　him　as　wellnay；　more；　she　thought；　only　her　emotions　were　deadened　by　the　long；　menacing　wait　for　the　bursting　storm。

Once　before　she　had　held　out　her　hand　to　himwhen　she　gave　it；　now　she　stretched　it　tremblingly　forth　in　acceptance　of　the　decree　circumstance　had　laid　upon　them。　Venters　bowed　over　it　kissed　it；　pressed　it　hard；　and　half　stifled　a　sound　very　like　a　sob。　Certain　it　was　that　when　he　raised　his　head　tears　glistened　in　his　eyes。

〃Somewomenhave　a　hard　lot；〃　he　said；　huskily。　Then　he　shook　his　powerful　form；　and　his　rags　lashed　about　him。　〃I'll　say　a　few　things　to　Tullwhen　I　meet　him。〃

〃Bernyou'll　not　draw　on　Tull？　Oh；　that　must　not　be！　Promise　me〃

〃I　promise　you　this；〃　he　interrupted；　in　stern　passion　that　thrilled　while　it　terrorized　her。　〃If　you　say　one　more　word　for　that　plotter　I'll　kill　him　as　I　would　a　mad　coyote！〃

Jane　clasped　her　hands。　Was　this　fire…eyed　man　the　one　whom　she　had　once　made　as　wax　to　her　touch？　Had　Venters　become　Lassiter　and　Lassiter　Venters？

〃I'llsay　no　more；〃　she　faltered。

〃Jane；　Lassiter　once　cal