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！
impulse to tell her about her brother； and I had been found wanting！
So now she listened over again to the hours of stage jolting that 〃we〃
had before us； and that lay between her and Nate。 〃We would be four
herself； Lin； myself； and the boy Billy。 Was Billy the one at supper？ Oh no；
just Billy Lusk； of Laramie。 〃He's a kid I'm taking up the country；〃 Lin
explained。 〃Ain't you most tuckered out？〃
119
… Page 120…
LIN McLEAN
〃Oh； me！〃 she confessed； with a laugh and a sigh。
There again！ She had put aside my solicitude lightly； but was willing
Lin should know her fatigue。 Yet； fatigue and all； she would not sleep in
the agent's room。 At sight of it and the close quarters she drew back into
the outer office； so prompted by that inner； unsuspected strictness she had
shown me before。
〃Come out！〃 she cried； laughing。 〃Indeed； I thank you。 But I can't have
you sleep on this hard floor out here。 No politeness； now！ Thank you ever
so much。 I'm used to roughing it pretty near as well as if I wasa
cowboy！〃 And she glanced at Lin。 〃They're calling forty…seven；〃 she added
to the agent。
〃That's me；〃 he said； coming out to the telegraph instrument。 〃So
you're one of us？〃
〃I didn't know forty…seven meant Separ；〃 said I。 〃How in the world do
you know that？〃
〃I didn't。 I heard forty…seven； forty…seven； forty…seven； start and go
right along； so I guessed they wanted him； and he couldn't hear them from
his room。〃
〃Can yu' do astronomy and Spanish too？〃 inquired the proud and
smiling McLean。
〃Why； it's nothing！ I've been day operator back home。 Why is a deputy
coming through on a special engine？〃
〃Please don't say it out loud！〃 quavered the agent； as the machine
clicked its news。
〃Yu' needn't be scared of a girl；〃 said Lin。 〃Another sheriff！ So they're
not quit bothering us yet。〃
However； this meddling was not the company's； but the county's； a
sheriff sent to arrest； on a charge of murder； a man named Trampas； said to
be at the Sand Hill Ranch。 That was near Rawhide； two stations beyond；
and the engine might not stop at Separ； even to water。 So here was no
molesting of Separ's liberties。
〃All the same；〃 Lin said； for pistols now and then still sounded at the
corrals； 〃the boys'll not understand that till it's explained； and they may act
wayward first。 I'd feel easier if you slept here；〃 he urged to the girl。 But
120
… Page 121…
LIN McLEAN
she would not。 〃Well； then； we must rustle some other private place for
you。 How's the section…house？〃
〃Rank；〃 said the agent； 〃since those Italians used it。 The pump
engineer has been scouring； but he's scared to bunk there yet himself。〃
〃Too bad you couldn't try my plan of a freight…car！〃 said I。
〃An empty？〃 she cried。 〃Is there a clean one？〃
〃You've sure never done that？〃 Lin burst out。
〃So you're scandalized；〃 said she； punishing him instantly。 〃I reckon it
does take a decent girl to shock you。〃 And while she stood laughing at him
with robust irony； poor Lin began to stammer that he meant no offence。
〃Why； to be sure you didn't！〃 said she。 〃But I do enjoy you real
thoroughly。〃
〃Well； m'm；〃 protested the wincing cow…puncher； driven back to
addressing her as 〃ma'am；〃 〃we ain't used〃
〃Don't tangle yourself up worse； Mr。 McLean。 No more am I 'used。' I
have never slept in an empty in my life。 And why is that？ Just because I've
never had to。 And there's the difference between you boys and us。 You do
lots of things you don't like； and tell us。 And we put up with lots of things
we don't like； but we never let you find out。 I know you meant no
offense；〃 she continued； heartily； softening towards her crushed protector；
〃because you're a gentleman。 And lands！ I'm not complaining about an
empty。 That will be richif I can have the door shut。〃
Upon this she went out to view the cars； Mr。 McLean hovering behind
her with a devoted； uneasy countenance； and frequently muttering
〃Shucks！〃 while the agent and I followed with a lamp； for the dark was
come。 With our help she mounted into the first car； and then into the next；
taking the lamp。 And while she scanned the floor and corners； and slid the
door back and forth； Lin whispered in my ear： 〃Her name's Jessamine。 She
told me。 Don't yu' like that name？〃 So I answered him； 〃Yes； very much；〃
thinking that some larger flowerbut still a flowermight have been more
apt。
〃Nobody seems to have slept in these；〃 said she； stepping down； and
on learning that even the tramp avoided Separ when he could； she
exclaimed； 〃What lodging could be handier than this！ Only it would be so
121
… Page 122…
LIN McLEAN
cute if you had a Louavull an' Nashvull car；〃 said she。 〃Twould seem like
my old Kentucky home！〃 And laughing rather sweetly at her joke； she held
the lamp up to read the car's lettering。 〃'D。 and R。 G。' Oh； that's a way…off
stranger！ I reckon they're all strange。〃 She went along the train with her
lamp。 〃Yes； 'B。 and M。' and 'S。 C。 and P。' Oh； this is rich！ Nate will laugh
when he hears。 I'll choose 'C。； B。 and Q。' That's a little nearer my country。
What time does the stage start？ Porter； please wake 'C。； B。 and Q。' at six；
sharp；〃 said she to Lin。
From this point of the evening on； I think of our doingstheir doings
with a sort of unchanging homesickness。 Nothing like them can ever
happen again； I know； for it's all gonesettled； sobered； and gone。 And
whatever wholesomer prose of good fortune waits in our cup； how I thank
my luck for this swallow of frontier poetry which I came in time for！
To arrange some sort of bed for her was the next thing； and we made a
good shake…downclean straw and blankets and a pillow； and the agent
would have brought sheets； but though she would not have these； she did
not resistwhat do you suppose？a looking…glass for next morning！ And
we got a bucket of water and her valise。 It was all one to her； she said； in
what car Lin and I put up； and let it be next door； by all means； if it
pleased him to think he could watch over her safety better so； and she shut