found at blazing star-第7部分

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gentleman；　sank　so　low　as　to　become　the　associate　of　thieves　and

ruffians；　sank　so　low；　that　when　he　died；　by　violencea　traitor

even　to　themhis　own　confederates　shrunk　from　him；　and　left　him　to

fill　a　nameless　grave。　　That　man's　body　you　found！〃



Cass　started。　　〃And　his　name　was？〃



〃Part　of　your　surname。　　CassHenry　Cass。〃



〃You　see　why　Providence　seems　to　have　brought　that　ring　to　you；〃

she　went　on。　　〃But　you　ask　me　why；　knowing　this；　I　am　so　eager　to

know　if　the　ring　was　found　by　you　in　the　road；　or　if　it　were　found

on　his　body。　　Listen！　　It　is　part　of　my　mortification　that　the

story　goes　that　this　man　once　showed　this　ring；　boasted　of　it；

staked；　and　lost　it　at　a　gambling　table　to　one　of　his　vile

comrades。〃



〃Kanaka　Joe；〃　said　Cass；　overcome　by　a　vivid　recollection　of　Joe's

merriment　at　the　trial。



〃The　same。　　Don't　you　see；〃　she　said；　hurriedly；　〃if　the　ring　had

been　found　on　him　I　could　believe　that　somewhere　in　his　heart　he

still　kept　respect　for　the　woman　he　had　wronged。　　I　am　a　womana

foolish　woman；　I　knowbut　you　have　crushed　that　hope　forever。〃



〃But　why　have　you　sent　for　me？〃　asked　Cass；　touched　by　her　emotion。



〃To　know　it　for　certain；〃　she　said；　almost　fiercely。　　〃Can　you　not

understand　that　a　woman　like　me　must　know　a　thing　once　and　forever？

But　you　CAN　help　me。　　I　did　not　send　for　you　only　to　pour　my　wrongs

in　your　ears。　　You　must　take　me　with　you　to　this　placeto　the　spot

where　you　found　the　ringto　the　spot　where　you　found　the　bodyto

the　spot　wherewhere　HE　lies。　　You　must　do　it　secretly；　that　none

shall　know　me。〃



Cass　hesitated。　　He　was　thinking　of　his　companions　and　the　collapse

of　their　painted　bubble。　　How　could　he　keep　the　secret　from　them？



〃If　it　is　money　you　need；　let　not　that　stop　you。　　I　have　no　right

to　your　time　without　recompense。　　Do　not　misunderstand　me。　　There

has　been　a　thousand　dollars　awaiting　my　order　at　Bookham's　when　the

ring　should　be　delivered。　　It　shall　be　doubled　if　you　help　me　in

this　last　moment。〃



It　was　possible。　　He　could　convey　her　secretly　there；　invent　some

story　of　a　reward　delayed　for　want　of　proofs；　and　afterward　share

that　reward　with　his　friends。　　He　answered　promptly；　〃I　will　take

you　there。〃



She　took　his　hands　in　both　of　hers；　raised　them　to　her　lips；　and

smiled。　　The　shadow　of　grief　and　restraint　seemed　to　have　fallen

from　her　face；　and　a　half…mischievous；　half…coquettish　gleam　in　her

dark　eyes　touched　the　susceptible　Cass　in　so　subtle　a　fashion　that

he　regained　the　street　in　some　confusion。　　He　wondered　what　Miss

Porter　would　have　thought。　　But　was　he　not　returning　to　her；　a

fortunate　man；　with　one　thousand　dollars　in　his　pocket！　　Why　should

he　remember　he　was　handicapped；　by　a　pretty　woman　and　a　pathetic

episode？　　It　did　not　make　the　proximity　less　pleasant　as　he　helped

her　into　the　coach　that　evening；　nor　did　the　recollection　of

another　ride　with　another　woman　obtrude　itself　upon　those

consolations　which　he　felt　it　his　duty；　from　time　to　time；　to

offer。　　It　was　arranged　that　he　should　leave　her　at　the　〃Red　Chief〃

Hotel；　while　he　continued　on　to　Blazing　Star；　returning　at　noon　to

bring　her　with　him　when　he　could　do　it　without　exposing　her　to

recognition。　　The　gray　dawn　came　soon　enough；　and　the　coach　drew　up

at　〃Red　Chief〃　while　the　lights　in　the　bar…room　and　dining…room　of

the　hotel　were　still　struggling　with　the　far　flushing　east。　　Cass

alighted；　placed　Miss　Mortimer　in　the　hands　of　the　landlady；　and

returned　to　the　vehicle。　　It　was　still　musty；　close；　and　frowzy；

with　half…awakened　passengers。　　There　was　a　vacated　seat　on　the

top；　which　Cass　climbed　up　to；　and　abstractedly　threw　himself

beside　a　figure　muffled　in　shawls　and　rugs。　　There　was　a　slight

movement　among　the　multitudinous　enwrappings；　and　then　the　figure

turned　to　him　and　said；　dryly；　〃Good　morning！〃　　It　was　Miss　Porter！



〃Have　you　been　long　here？〃　he　stammered。



〃All　night。〃



He　would　have　given　worlds　to　leave　her　at　that　moment。　　He　would

have　jumped　from　the　starting　coach　to　save　himself　any　explanation

of　the　embarrassment　he　was　furiously　conscious　of　showing；

without；　as　he　believed；　any　adequate　cause。　　And　yet；　like　all

inexperienced；　sensitive　men；　he　dashed　blindly　into　that

explanation；　worse；　he　even　told　his　secret　at　once；　then　and

there；　and　then　sat　abashed　and　conscience　stricken；　with　an　added

sense　of　its　utter　futility。



〃And　this；〃　summed　up　the　young　girl；　with　a　slight　shrug　of　her

pretty　shoulders；　〃is　YOUR　MAY？〃



Cass　would　have　recommenced　his　story。



〃No；　don't；　pray！　　It　isn't　interesting；　nor　original。　　Do　YOU

believe　it？〃



〃I　do；〃　said　Cass；　indignantly。



〃How　lucky！　　Then　let　me　go　to　sleep。〃



Cass；　still　furious；　but　uneasy；　did　not　again　address　her。　　When

the　coach　stopped　at　Blazing　Star　she　asked　him；　indifferently：

〃When　does　this　sentimental　pilgrimage　begin？〃



〃I　return　for　her　at　one　o'clock；〃　replied　Cass；　stiffly。



He　kept　his　word。　　He　appeased　his　eager　companions　with　a　promise

of　future　fortune；　and　exhibited　the　present　and　tangible　reward。

By　a　circuitous　route　known　only　to　himself；　he　led　Miss　Mortimer

to　the　road　before　the　cabin。　　There　was　a　pink　flush　of　excitement

on　her　somewhat　faded　cheek。



〃And　it　was　here？〃　she　asked；　eagerly。



〃I　found　it　here。〃



〃And　the　body？〃



〃That　was　afterward。　　Over　in　that　direction；　beyond　the　clump　of

buckeyes；　on　the　Red　Chief　turnpike。〃



〃And　any　one　coming　from　the　road　we　left　just　now　and　going　to

tothat　place；　would　have　to　cross　just　here？　　Tell　me；〃　she　said；

with　a　strange　laugh；　laying　her　cold　nervous　hand　on　his；

〃wouldn't　they？〃



〃They　would。〃



〃Let　us　go　to　that　place。〃



Cass　stepped　out　briskly　to　avoid　observation　and　gain　the　woods

beyond　the　highway。　　〃You　have　crossed　here　before；〃　she　said。

〃There　seems　to　be　a　trail。〃



〃I　may　have　made　it：　it's　a　short　cut　to　the　buckeyes。〃



〃You　never　found　anything　else　on　the　trail？〃



〃You　remember；　I　told　you　before；　the　ring　was　all　I　found。〃



〃Ah；　true！〃　she　smiled　sweetly；　〃it　was　THAT　which　made　it　seem　so

odd　to　you。　　I　forgot。〃



In　half　an　hour　they　reached　the　buckeyes。　　During　the　walk　she　had

taken　rapid　recognizance　of　everything　in　her　path。　　When　they

crossed　the　road　and　Cass　had　pointed　out　the　scene　of　the　murder；

she　looked　anxiously　around。　　〃You　are　sure　we　are　not　seen？〃



〃Quite。〃



〃You　will　not　think　me　foolish　if　I　ask　you　to　wait　here　while　I　go

in　there〃she　pointed　to　the　ominous　thicket　near　them〃alone？〃



She　was　quite　white。



Cass's　heart；　which　had　grown　somewhat　cold　since　his　interview

with　Miss　Porter；　melted　at　once。



〃Go；　I　will　stay　here。〃



He　waited　five　minutes。　　She　did　not　return。



What　if　the　poor　creature　had　determined　upon　suicide　on　the　spot

where　her　faithless　lover　had　fallen？　　He　was　reassured　in　another

moment　by　the　rustle　of　skirts　in　the　undergrowth。



〃I　was　becoming　quite　alarmed；〃　he　said；　aloud。



〃You　have　reason　to　be；〃　returned　a　hurried　voice。　　He　started。　　It

was　Miss　Porter；　who　stepped　swiftly　out　of　the　cover。　　〃Look；〃　she

said；　〃look　at　that　man　down　the　road。　　He　has　been　tracking　you

two　ever　since　you　left　the　cabin。　　Do　you　know　who　he　is？〃



〃No！〃



〃Then　listen。　　It　is　three…fingered　Dick；　one　of　the　escaped　road

agents。　　I　know　him！〃



〃Let　us　go　and　warn　her；〃　said　Cass；　eagerly。



Miss　Porter　laid　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder。



〃I　don't　think　she'll　thank　you；〃　she　said；　dryly。　　〃Perhaps　you'd

better　see　what　she's　doing；　first。〃



Utterly　bewildered；　yet　with　a　strong　sense　of　the　masterfulness　of

his　companion；　he　followed　her。　　She　crept　like　a　cat　through　the

thicket。　　Suddenly　she　paused。　　〃Look！〃　she　whispered；　viciously；

〃look　at　the　tender　vigils　of　your　heart…broken　May！〃



Cass　saw　the　woman　who　had　left　him　a　moment　before　on　her　knees　on

the　grass；　with　long　thin　fingers　digging　like　a　ghoul　in　the

earth。　　He　had　scarce　time　to　notice　her　eager　face　and　eyes；　cast

now　and　then　back　toward　the　spot　where　she　had　left　him；　before

there　was　a　crash　in　the　bushes；　and　a　man；the　stranger　of　the

road；leaped　to　her　side。　　〃Run；〃　he　said；　〃run　for　it　now。

You're　watched！〃



〃Oh！　that　man；　Beard！〃　she　said；　contemptuously。



〃No；　another　in　a　wagon。　　Quick。　　Fool；　you　know　the　place　now；

you　can　come　later；　run！〃　　And　half…dragging；　half…lifting　her；　he

bore　her　through　the　bushes。　　Scarcely　had　they　closed　behind　the

pair　than　Miss　Porter　ran　to　the　spot　vacated　by　the　woman。

〃Look！〃　she　cried；　triumphantly；　〃look！〃



Cass　looked；　and　sank　on　his　knees　beside　her。



〃It　WAS　worth　a　thousand　dollars；　wasn't　it？〃　she　repeated；

maliciously；　〃wasn't　it？　　But　you　ought　to　return　it！　　REALLY　you

ought。〃



Cass　could　scarcely　articulate。　　〃But　how　did　YOU　know　it？〃　he

finally　gasped。



〃Oh；　I　suspected　something；　there　was　a　woman；　and　you　know　you're

SUCH　a　fool！〃



Cass　rose；　stiffly。



〃Don't　be　a　greater　fool　now；　but　go　and　bring　my　horse　and　wagon

from　the　hill；　and　don't　say　anything　to　the　driver。〃



〃Then　you　did　not　come　alone？〃



〃No；　it　would　have　been　bold　and　improper。〃



〃Please！〃



〃And　to　think　it　WAS　the　ring；　after　all；　that　pointed　to　this；〃

she　said。



〃The　ring　that　YOU　returned　to　me。〃



〃What　did　you　say？〃



〃Nothing。〃



〃Don't；　please；　the　wagon　is　coming。〃



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



In　the　next　morning's　edition　of　the　〃Red　Chief　Chronicle〃　appeared

the　following　startling　intelligence：





EXTRAORDINARY　DISCOVERY



FINDING　OF　THE　STOLEN　TREASURE　OF　WELLS；　FARGO　&　CO。　　OVER　800；000

RECOVERED



Our　readers　will　remember　the　notorious　robbery　of　Wells；　Fargo　&

Co。's　treasure　from　the　Sacramento　and　Red　Chief　Pioneer　Coach　on

the　night　of　Sept