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！
pleased him to think he could watch over her safety better so； and she shut
herself in； bidding us good…night。 We began spreading straw and blankets
for ourselves； when a whistle sounded far and long； and its tone rose in
pitch as it came。
〃I'll get him to run right to the corrals；〃 said the agent； 〃so the sheriff
can tell the boys he's not after them。〃
〃That'll convince 'em he is；〃 said Lin。 〃Stop him here； or let him go
through。〃
But we were not to steer the course that events took now。 The rails of
the main line beside us brightened in wavering parallels as the headlight
grew down upon us； and in this same moment the shootings at the corrals
chorused in a wild； hilarious threat。 The burden of the coming engine
heavily throbbed in the air and along the steel； and met and mixed with the
hard； light beating of hoofs。 The sounds approached together like a sort of
charge； and I stepped between the freight…cars； where I heard Lin ordering
122
… Page 123…
LIN McLEAN
the girl inside to lie down flat； and could see the agent running about in the
dust； flapping his arms to signal with as much coherence as a chicken with
its head off。 I had very short space for wonder or alarm。 The edge of one
of my freight…cars glowed suddenly with the imminent headlight； and
galloping shots invaded the place。 The horsemen flew by； overreaching；
and leaning back and lugging against their impetus。 They passed in a
tangled swirl； and their dust coiled up thick from the dark ground and
luminously unfolded across the glare of the sharp…halted locomotive。 Then
they wheeled； and clustered around it where it stood by our cars； its air…
brake pumping deep breaths； and the internal steam humming through its
bowels； and I came out in time to see Billy Lusk climb its front with
callow； enterprising shouts。 That was child's play； and the universal yell
now raised by the horsemen was their child's play too； but the whole thing
could so precipitately reel into the fatal that my thoughts stopped。 I could
only look when I saw that they had somehow recognized the man on the
engine for a sheriff。 Two had sprung from their horses and were making
boisterously toward the cab； while Lin McLean； neither boisterous nor
joking； was going to the cab from my side； with his pistol drawn； to keep
the peace。 The engineer sat with a neutral hand on the lever； the fireman
had run along the top of the coal in the tender and descended and crouched
somewhere； and the sheriff； cool； and with a good…natured eye upon all
parties； was just beginning to explain his errand； when some rider from the
crowd cut him short with an invitation to get down and have a drink。 At
the word of ribald endearment by which he named the sheriff； a passing
fierceness hardened the officer's face； and the new yell they gave was less
playful。 Waiting no more explanations； they swarmed against the
locomotive； and McLean pulled himself up on the step。 The loud talking
fell at a stroke to let business go on； and in this silence came the noise of a
sliding…door。 At that I looked； and they all looked； and stood harmless； like
children surprised。 For there on the threshold of the freight…car； with the
interior darkness behind her； and touched by the headlight's diverging rays；
stood Jessamine Buckner。
〃Will you gentlemen do me a favor？〃 said she。 〃Strangers； maybe；
have no right to ask favors； but I reckon you'll let that pass this time。 For
123
… Page 124…
LIN McLEAN
I'm real sleepy！〃 She smiled as she brought this out。 〃I've been four days
and nights on the cars； and to…morrow I've got to stage to Buffalo。 You see
I'll not be here to spoil your fun to…morrow night； and I want boys to be
boys just as much as ever they can。 Won't you put it off till to…morrow
night？〃
In their amazement they found no spokesman； but I saw Lin busy
among them； and that some word was passing through their groups。 After
the brief interval of stand…still they began silently to get on their horses；
while the looming engine glowed and pumped its breath； and the sheriff
and engineer remained as they were。
〃Good…night； lady；〃 said a voice among the moving horsemen； but the
others kept their abashed native silence； and thus they slowly filed away to
the corrals。 The figures； in their loose shirts and leathern chaps； passed
from the dimness for a moment through the cone of light in front of the
locomotive； so that the metal about them made here and there a faint；
vanishing glint； and here and there in the departing column a bold； half…
laughing face turned for a look at the girl in the doorway； and then was
gone again into the dimness。
The sheriff in the cab took off his hat to Miss Buckner； remarking that
she should belong to the force； and as the bell rang and the engine moved；
off popped young Billy Lusk from his cow…catcher。 With an exclamation
of horror she sprang down； and Mr。 McLean appeared； and； with all a
parent's fright and rage； held the boy by the arm grotesquely as the sheriff
steamed by。
〃I ain't a…going to chase it；〃 said young Billy； struggling。
〃I've a mind to cowhide you；〃 said Lin。
But Miss Buckner interposed。 〃Oh； well；〃 said she； 〃next time； if he
does it next time。 It's so late to…night！ You'll not frighten us that way again
if he lets you off？〃 she asked Billy。
〃No；〃 said Billy； looking at her with interest。 〃Father 'd have cowhided
me anyway； I guess；〃 he added； meditatively。
〃Do you call him father？〃
〃Ah； father's at Laramie；〃 said Billy； with disgust。 〃He'd not stop for
your asking。 Lin don't bother me much。〃
124
… Page 125…
LIN McLEAN
〃You quit talking and step up there！〃 ordered his guardian。 〃Well； m'm；
I guess yu' can sleep good now in there。〃
〃If it was only an 'L。 and N。' I'd not have a thing against it！ Good…night；
Mr。 McLean； good…night； young Mr。〃
〃I'm Billy Lusk。 I can ride Chalkeye's pinto that bucked Honey
Wiggin。〃
〃I am sure you can ride finely； Mr。 Lusk。 Maybe you and I can take a
ride together。 Pleasant dreams！〃
She nodded and smiled to him； and slid her door to； and Billy
considered it； remarking： 〃I like her。 What makes her