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！
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。
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 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 sitting up over that joke。 I walked to the board box
painted 〃Hotel Brunswick〃 〃hotel〃 in small italics and 〃Brunswick〃in
enormous capitals； the N and the S wrong side up。
Here sat a girl outside the door； alone。 Her face was broad； wholesome；
and strong； and her eyes alert and sweet。 As I came she met me with a
challenging glance of good…will。 Those women who journeyed along the line
in the wake of payday to traffic with the men employed a stare well
known； but this straight look seemed like the greeting of some pleasant
young cowboy。 In surprise I forgot to be civil； and stepped foolishly by
her to see about supper and lodging。
At the threshold I perceived all lodging bespoken。 On each of the four
beds lay a coat or pistol or other article of dress； and I must lodge
myself。 There were my saddle…blanketsrather wet； or Lin McLean might
ride in to…night on his way to Riverside； or perhaps down at the corrals
I could find some other acquaintance whose habit of washing I trusted and
whose bed I might share。 Failing these expedients； several empties stood
idle upon a siding； and the box…like darkness of these freight…cars was
timely。 Nights were short now。 Camping out； the dawn by three o'clock
would flow like silver through the universe； and； sinking through my
b