down the mother lode-第6部分

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〃He　was　a　wild　desperado。　Why；　even　after　he　was　dead　and　lying　on　the　sidewalk　in　Auburn；　a　man　came　up　and　kicked　his　face。〃

〃Yes；　and　they　say　that　everybody　in　the　county　was　mad　about　it；　and　when　the　man　ran　for　supervisor　more　than　a　year　later；　no　decent　person　would　vote　for　him　and　he　lost　his　election。〃　Now；　the　true　story　of　Rattlesnake　Dick　is　this；　and　I　never　tire　of　hearing　it：

〃Would　you　present　me　to　your　sister's　friend；　then；　George？〃

〃Why　not。〃

〃I　am　an　Ishmailite！　I；　the　son　of　an　honorable　English　gentleman；　have　done　a　term　in　prison。〃

〃But　these　ideas　are　extreme；　Dick。　There　is　no　such　general　opinion　of　you。　Were　you　not　exonerated　from　having　stolen　the　wretched　little　Jew's　goods？　It　is　all　forgotten；〃　and　George　Taylor　paused　in　his　restless　pacing；　before　the　long；　graceful　figure　on　the　bunk　against　the　wall。　Dick　raised　handsome　eyes　whose　flashing　light　was　made　of　pain。

〃George；　I　wish　…　how　I　wish　that　it　were　forgotten。　But　it　is　not。　They　whisper　it　in　doorways；　and　over　the　card　tables　and　down　in　the　drift　tunnels。　Wherever　I　go　it　follows　me　like　an　evil　spirit；　rearing　its　unclean　head　between　me　and　all　fair　things。〃　His　deep　voice　reflected　the　hurt　in　his　dark　eyes；　and　his　broad　shoulders　drooped　in　despondency。

〃Dick　…　Dick；　the　gay　the　debonair　…　this　is　not　like　you。　Brace　up；　man；　and　come　with　me　to　this　opening　of　the　new　opera　house；　if　only　to　add　to　my　pleasure。　All　the　town　will　be　there　to　hear　the　singer　who　has　just　landed　in　San　Francisco　from　Boston。〃

〃She　it　was　who　brought　you　the　letter　from　your　sister？〃

〃Yes；　yes。　They　were　school…mates。　She　is　beautiful；　and　you　shall　meet　her　after　the　concert。〃

The　〃Opera　House〃　was　crowded；　the　front　rows　seating　the　leading　men　of　the　community　and　their　richly　clad　wives　and　daughters。　In　the　back　rows；　seated　on　benches　and　around　the　side　walls　were；　the　roughly　dressed　miners　and　the　usual　flotsam　of　a　mining　town。　The　singer　was　not　of　the　hurdy…gurdy　type　so　common　in　those　days；　but　a　〃lady；〃　young；　lovely　and　accomplished。　Her　ballads　were　greeted　with　the　greatest　enthusiasm；　and　soon　the　stage　began　to　be　showered　with　gold。　The　miners　brought　her　back　again　and　again；　calling　the　names　of　songs　they　wished　to　hear。　Hundreds　of　dollars　of　gold　were　tossed　up　to　her；　whilst　she　smilingly　complied　with　all　their　requests。

〃One　more；〃　they　shouted；　〃only　one　more；　and　her　slippers　shall　be　filled　with　gold　dust。〃　She　slipped　out　of　her　little　sandals　and　stood；　blushing　modestly；　hiding　her　silken　feet　under　her　long；　wide　skirts。

〃You　are　very　kind　to　a　lonely　stranger；〃　she　called；　to　an　instantly　silenced　audience；　〃and　I　will　sing　for　you　a　song　which　has　but　lately　come　from　London。　'Tis　from　a　new　opera　called　the　Bohemian　Girl；　composed　by　Master　Balfe；〃　and　folding　her　little　hands　before　her；　she　sang　sweetly；　〃Then　You'll　Remember　Me。〃

〃When　other　lips　and　other　hearts　their　tales　of　love　shall　tell　Of　days　that　have　as　happy　been；　and　you'll　remember　…　you'll　remember　me。〃

〃Dick；　why　do　you　cover　your　eyes？　You　are　surely　not　asleep？〃

〃By　all　the　Gods；　man；　the　accusation　is　an　insult；〃　with　a　haughty　flash　of　his　great　eyes。

〃You　are　to　be　presented；　have　you　forgotten？〃

〃Forgotten！　While　life　lasts；　I　shall　remember　this　night。〃

〃Hush；　this　is　the　last。　She　is　singing；　〃Home；　Sweet　Home'。〃

〃Yes；　'Home；'　for　these　wanderers　from　all　over　the　earth。　See　how　silently　they　file　out。〃

〃There　is　many　a　tear　among　them。　They　will　lie；　tonight　on　memory's　couch　of　sad　dreams。〃

〃You　are　wrong；　my　friend；〃　said　Dick　bitterly；　〃they　are　more　like　to　hasten　down　to　the　gambling　hells　to　kill　the　visions　memory　would　recall。〃

*　*　*　*　*

〃Sweet　Bird；　you　cannot　believe　this　thing　of　me！〃　The　Singer…Lady　raised　her　bright　head　from　Dick's　shoulder；　and　met；　steadfastly；　his　passionately　adoring　eyes。

〃Richard；　how　can　you　for　one　moment　doubt　me？　I　know　you　to　be　good　and　true。　Were　you　not　exonerated　from　the　last　accusation　of　which　you　informed　me　before　you　asked　for　my　hand　in　marriage。　And　do　we　not　know　that　this　man　is　actuated　by　the　motive　of　jealousy　？〃

〃The　Mormon　beast！　He　knows　well　that　I　did　not　steal　his　mule。〃

〃No'　naughty　boy；〃　tapping　him　playfully　with　her　fan；　〃'Twas　something　else　you　stole　from　Master　Crow　the　woman　he　wanted。　Often　have　I　noticed　on　the　streets　how　all　women；　every　one；　turn　to　look　after　you。〃

〃I　cared　not　for　her。〃　He　shook　his　tall　and　beautiful　head；　impatient　of　the　silky　black　lock　which　fell　across　his　forehead。

〃Perhaps　then　'tis　your　magnificent　carriage　they　would　admire；〃　laughed　the　girl；　teasingly。

Dick　swept　her　close　to　his　heart。　〃My　golden…throated　dove；　I　cannot　join　in　your　sweet　laughter；　for　I　have　a　boding　heart；　this　day。　I　have　enemies。　They　will　use　my　past　record。　The　courts　are　new；　and　judgments　swift　and　cold。　If　they　should　send　me　again　to　the　penitentiary　I　…　〃

〃Dearest　I　should　know　you　to　be　innocent；　and　I　should　wait　for　you。〃

He　kissed　her　tenderly　on　cheeks；　and　eyes；　and　mouth。　He　took　her　hands　from　his　shoulders；　slipping　off　the　little　silken　mitts　and　putting　them　in　an　inner　pocket；　and　kissed　the　soft；　pink　palms。

〃Ah；　Lady…Bird；　if　I　should　not　return　you'll　remember　me？〃

〃Always。〃

〃My　own　pure　love！　No　breath　of　shame　shall　ever　sully　your　fair　name　through　me。〃

〃Right　well　I　know　that；　Richard。　God　bless　you。　I　will　pray　for　you　every　hour。〃

At　evening　George　Taylor　brought　her　a　note　from　Dick。

〃Oh；　George；〃　she　wailed；　〃they　have　sentenced　him？〃

〃Two　years　in　prison。〃

〃But　he　was　innocent！〃

〃Yes；　and　some　day　it　will　be　proven。〃　He　looked　at　her　strangely；　〃I　must　tell　you　…　Dick　has　broken　jail　and　fled　north　to　Shasta　county；　where　he　will　begin　life　anew。　Then；　if　you　still　wish　it；　he　will　come　to　you。〃

*　*　*　*　*

After　four　years　the　Singer…Lady　returned　for　a　concert　at　the　little　Opera　House　in　Rattlesnake。　She　went　to　her　old　quarters　at　the　Widow　Miller's；　on　the　edge　of　town。

〃Eh；　Dearie；〃　cried　the　good　woman；　〃what　have　they　been　doing　to　ye；　so　to　dim　your　bright　youth；　and　to　bring　the　sad　lines　to　your　mouth？〃

〃Mrs。　Miller；　where　is　he？〃

〃Ah　…　so　that's　the　answer。〃　The　girl's　eyes　filled　with　tears。

〃Four　years　…　and　for　the　last　two；　no　word。　I　must　find　George　Taylor。　Perhaps　he　…　〃

〃Dearie；　George　Taylor　is　with　Dick；　and　the　Skinners　and　Cherokee　Bob　and　Lame　Jim　Driscoll。　They　say；　too；　that　at　times　Dick　rides　with　Tom　Bell's　gang。〃

〃Ah；　he　tried　with　all　a　strong　man's　power　to　win　a　new　name　for　himself　…　and　for　you　…　but　Fate　was　too　strong。　His　false　record　followed　him　up　and　down　the　state　from　every　idle　throat；　casting　a　blight　over　all　he　sought　to；　do。　Every　sheriff　hounded　him　on。　Each　unproven　crime　was　laid　at　his　door。〃

〃But　why　did　he　not　come　to　me？　Oh；　he　had　my　whole　heart；　and　he　knew　it。〃

〃He　did　come　to　you　two　years　ago；　to　ask　if　you　would　return　to　Canada　with　him；　hoping　that　it　was　too　far　for　tales　from　California　to　travel。　As　soon　as　he　reached　San　Francisco　he　was　recognized　by　one　of　the　authorities　and　'shown　up'　by　the　Vigilante　Committee　in　the　Plaza；　as　they　put　up　all　dangerous　characters　for　the　police　and　the　people　to　see。

〃And　whilst　he　was　there　you　passed；　walking　with　another　man；　and　looked　him　in　the　eyes　and　knew　him　not。　'Twas　that　which　broke　his　heart　and　made　him　the　reckless　and　brilliant　devil　that　he　is　today。〃

〃But　…　but；〃　cried　the　Singer…Lady；　recovering　from　the　daze　these　words　had　placed　upon　her；　〃I　did　not　pass。　Oh；　I　should　have　fallen　at　his　feet　…　lost　to　all　maidenly　reserve　…　there　before　the　people。　It　must　have　been　my　sister；　who　had　but　lately　come　from　Boston　and　so　would　not　know　him；〃　and　she　broke　into　uncontrollable　weeping。

〃There；　child；　dry　your　tears。　Try　to　be　brave。　You　care　for　him　still？〃

〃Always。　I　have　never　ceased　to　pray　for　him。　If　I　cannot　become　his；　I　shall　go　lonely　to　my　grave。　Tell　me　everything；　kind　Mrs。　Miller。〃

〃He　robs　the　stages　of　the　Wells…Fargo　box；　but　lets　the　passengers　go　free；　and　he　has　never　been　known　to　take　anything　from　a　woman。　He　says　that　since　all　the　world　is　against　him；　his　hand　is　against　the　world。

〃His　den　is　now　at　Folsom；　they　say；　but　he　ranges　far　afield。　He　robs　the　sluices；　and　the　bullion　trains；　but　he　does　not　take　horses　or　mules　except　to　get　away　with　his　booty。　No　cell　can　hold　him。　He　has　escaped　from　every　jail　in　the　northern　mines。　He　has　been　known　to　say；　'I　shall　never　rot　in　a　prison　as　long　as　a　revolver　can　keep　me　out。〃'

〃Oh；　would　he　…　〃

〃He　would；　indeed；　Dearie；　for　the　sake　of　his　family　name　and　the　love　he　bears　you。　His　last　big　raid　was　upon　George　Barstow's　Wells…Fargo　train　from　Yreka。　They　held　them　up　on　Trinity　Mountain。　Eighty　thousand　dollars　in　bullion；　they　got；　even　with　twenty　men　guarding　it。〃

Mrs。　Miller　tiptoed　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　Coming　back　to　the　girl　she　whispered；　〃The　guards　are　tied　to　trees；　and　the　gang　is　waiting　for　Dick　and　Cy　Skinner　to　get　back　with　new　mules；　as　the　Wells…Fargo　mules　all　are　branded　and　would　give　them　away；　but　if　he　finds　out　that　you　are　here　he　may　…　〃

The　Singer…Lady　sprang　to　her　feet！　From　the　trees　behind　the　house　floated　a　snatch　of　song　in　a　clear　baritone。

〃When　coldness　or　deceit　shall　slight　the　beauty　now　they　prize；　When　hollow　hearts　shall　wear　a　mask；　'twill　break　your　own　to　see。　At　such　a　moment　I　but　ask　that　you'll　remember　me；　you'll　…　〃

By　this　time　the　girl　was　sobbing　in　Dick's　arms；　and　the　misunderstandings　of　four　years　were　soon　explained。

The　Singer…Lady　lifted　her　head　at　last　to　the　sound　of　galloping　horses。　Dick　was　looking　calmly　in　their　direction。　Terror　seized　her。

〃What　is　that？〃

〃You　must　return　to　the　house。　They　must　not　see　you　here。〃

She　clung　to　him　with　the　wail　of　a　breaking　heart。

〃It　is　the　sheriff　and　his　deputies。　This　morning　George　and　I　were　on　the　Folsom　stage。　We　were　stopped　by　a　deputy　sheriff　and　sternly　requested　to　alight。　We　entered　into　conversation　with　the　gentleman　of　the　law　…　whom　I　had　met　several　times　before〃　（with　a　grim　smile）；　〃and　finally　Geo