按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
me eat dinner。〃
But Lin had hot water and cold water and salt； and was an hour upon
his knees bathing the hot feet。 And then Billy could not eat dinner！
There was a doctor in Golden； but in spite of his light prescription and
most reasonable observations； Mr。 McLean passed a foolish night of vigil；
while Billy slept； quite well at first； and； as the hours passed； better and
better。 In the morning he was entirely brisk； though stiff。
〃I couldn't work quick to…day；〃 he said。 〃But I guess one day won't
lose me my trade。〃
〃How d' yu' mean？〃 asked Lin。
〃Why； I've got regulars； you know。 Sidney Ellis an' Pete Goode has
theirs； an' we don't cut each other。 I've got Mr。 Daniels an' Mr。 Fisher an'
lots； an' if you lived in Denver I'd shine your boots every day for nothing。 I
wished you lived in Denver。〃
〃Shine my boots？ Yu'll never！ And yu' don't black Daniels or Fisher； or
any of the outfit。〃
〃Why； I'm doing first…rate；〃 said Billy； surprised at the swearing into
which Mr。 McLean now burst。 〃An' I ain't big enough to get to make
money at any other job。〃
〃I want to see that engine…man；〃 muttered Lin。 〃I don't like your
smokin' friend。〃
〃Pete Goode？ Why； he's awful smart。 Don't you think he's smart？〃
〃Smart's nothin'；〃 observed Mr。 McLean。
〃Pete has learned me and Sidney a lot；〃 pursued Billy； engagingly。
〃I'll bet he has！〃 growled the cow…puncher； and again Billy was taken
aback at his language。
It was not so simple； this case。 To the perturbed mind of Mr。 McLean it
grew less simple during that day at Golden； while Billy recovered； and
talked； and ate his innocent meals。 The cow…puncher was far too wise to
think for a single moment of restoring the runaway to his debauched and
shiftless parents。 Possessed of some imagination； he went through a scene
103
… Page 104…
LIN McLEAN
in which he appeared at the Lusk threshold with Billy and forgiveness； and
intruded upon a conjugal assault and battery。 〃Shucks！〃 said he。 〃The kid
would be off again inside a week。 And I don't want him there； anyway。〃
Denver； upon the following day； saw the little bootblack again at his
corner； with his trade not lost； but near him stood a tall； singular man； with
hazel eyes and a sulky expression。 And citizens during that week noticed；
as a new sight in the streets； the tall man and the little boy walking
together。 Sometimes they would be in shops。 The boy seemed as happy as
possible； talking constantly； while the man seldom said a word； and his
face was serious。
Upon New…year's Eve Governor Barker was overtaken by Mr。 McLean
riding a horse up Hill Street； Cheyenne。
〃Hello！〃 said Barker； staring humorously through his glasses。 〃Have a
good drunk？〃
〃Changed my mind；〃 said Lin； grinning。 〃Proves I've got one。 Struck
Christmas all right； though。〃
〃Who's your friend？〃 inquired his Excellency。
〃This is Mister Billy Lusk。 Him and me have agreed that towns ain't
nice to live in。 If Judge Henry's foreman and his wife won't board him at
Sunk Creekwhy； I'll fix it somehow。〃
The cow…puncher and his Responsibility rode on together toward the
open plain。
〃Sufferin Moses！〃 remarked his Excellency。
104
… Page 105…
LIN McLEAN
SEPAR'S VIGILANTE
We had fallen half asleep； my pony and I； as we went jogging and
jogging through the long sunny afternoon。 Our hills of yesterday were a
pale…blue coast sunk almost away behind us； and ahead our goal lay
shining； a little island of houses in this quiet mid…ocean of sage…brush。 For
two hours it had looked as clear and near as now； rising into sight across
the huge dead calm and sinking while we travelled our undulating；
imperceptible miles。 The train had come and gone invisibly； except for its
slow pillar of smoke I had watched move westward against Wyoming's
stainless sky。 Though I was still far off； the water…tank and other buildings
stood out plain and complete to my eyes； like children's blocks arranged
and forgotten on the floor。 So I rode along； hypnotized by the sameness of
the lazy； splendid plain； and almost unaware of the distant rider； till；
suddenly； he was close and hailing me。
〃They've caved！〃 he shouted。
〃Who？〃 I cried； thus awakened。
〃Ah； the fool company；〃 said he； quieting his voice as he drew near。
〃They've shed their haughtiness；〃 he added； confidingly； as if I must know
all about it。
〃Where did they learn that wisdom？〃 I asked； not knowing in the least。
〃Experience；〃 he called over his shoulder （for already we had met and
passed）； 〃nothing like experience for sweating the fat off the brain。〃
He yelled me a brotherly good…bye； and I am sorry never to have
known more of him； for I incline to value any stranger so joyous。 But now
I waked the pony and trotted briskly； surmising as to the company and its
haughtiness。 I had been viewing my destination across the sagebrush for
so spun…out a time that （as constantly in Wyoming journeys） the emotion
of arrival had evaporated long before the event； and I welcomed
employment for my otherwise high…and…dry mind。 Probably he meant the
railroad company； certainly something large had happened。 Even as I
dismounted at the platform another hilarious cow…puncher came out of the
station； and； at once remarking； 〃They're going to leave us alone；〃 sprang
on his horse and galloped to the corrals down the line； where some cattle
105
… Page 106…
LIN McLEAN
were being loaded into a train。 I went inside for my mail； and here were
four more cow…punchers playing with the agent。 They had got a letter
away from him； and he wore his daily look of anxiety to appreciate the
jests of these rollicking people。 〃Read it！〃 they said to me； and I did read
the private document； and learned that the railroad was going to waive its
right to enforce law and order here； and would trust to Separ's good
feeling。 〃Nothing more；〃 the letter ran； 〃will be done about the initial
outrage or the subsequent vandalisms。 We shall pass over our wasted
outlay in the hope that a policy of friendship will prove our genuine desire
to benefit that section。
〃'Initial outrage；'〃 quoted one of the agent' large playmates。 〃Ain't they
furgivin'？〃
〃Well；〃 said I； 〃you would have some name for it yourself if you sent a
deputy sheriff to look after your rights； and he came back tied to the cow…
catcher！〃
The man smiled luxuriously over this memory。
〃We didn't hurt him none。 Just returned him to his home。 Hear about
the label Honey Wiggin pinned on to him？ 'Send us along one dozen as
per sample。' Honey's quaint！ Yes；〃 he drawled judicially； 〃I'd be mad at
that。 But if you're making peace with a man because it's convenient why；
your words must be pleasanter than if you really felt pleasant。〃 He took
the paper from me； and read； sardonically： 〃'Subsequent vandalisms 。。。
wasted outlay。' I suppose they run this station from charity to the cattle。
Saves the poor things walking so far to the other railroad 'Policy of
friendship 。。。 genuine desire'oh mouth…wash！〃 And； shaking his bold；
clever head； he daintily flattened the letter upon the head of the agent。
〃Tubercle；〃 said he （this was their name for the agent； who had told all of
us about his lungs）； 〃it ain't your fault we saw their fine letter。 They just
intended you should give it out how they wouldn't bother us any more； and
then we'd act square。 The boys'll sit up late over this joke。〃
Then they tramped to their horses and rode away。 The spokesman had
hit the vital point unerringly； for cow…punchers are shrewdly alive to
frankness； and it often draws out the best that is in them； but its opposite
affects them unfavorably； and I； needing sleep； sighed to think of their late
106
… Page 107…
LIN McLEAN
sitting up ove