riders of the purple sage-第2部分

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　her　continual　delight。　In　her　extremity　she　found　herself　murmuring；　〃Whence　cometh　my　help！〃　It　was　a　prayer；　as　if　forth　from　those　lonely　purple　reaches　and　walls　of　red　and　clefts　of　blue　might　ride　a　fearless　man；　neither　creed…bound　nor　creed…mad；　who　would　hold　up　a　restraining　hand　in　the　faces　of　her　ruthless　people。

The　restless　movements　of　Tull's　men　suddenly　quieted　down。　Then　followed　a　low　whisper；　a　rustle；　a　sharp　exclamation。

〃Look！〃　said　one；　pointing　to　the　west。

〃A　rider！〃

Jane　Withersteen　wheeled　and　saw　a　horseman；　silhouetted　against　the　western　sky；　coming　riding　out　of　the　sage。　He　had　ridden　down　from　the　left；　in　the　golden　glare　of　the　sun；　and　had　been　unobserved　till　close　at　hand。　An　answer　to　her　prayer！

〃Do　you　know　him？　Does　any　one　know　him？〃　questioned　Tull；　hurriedly。

His　men　looked　and　looked；　and　one　by　one　shook　their　heads。

〃He's　come　from　far；〃　said　one。

〃Thet's　a　fine　hoss；〃　said　another。

〃A　strange　rider。〃

〃Huh！　he　wears　black　leather；〃　added　a　fourth。

With　a　wave　of　his　hand；　enjoining　silence；　Tull　stepped　forward　in　such　a　way　that　he　concealed　Venters。

The　rider　reined　in　his　mount；　and　with　a　lithe　forward…slipping　action　appeared　to　reach　the　ground　in　one　long　step。　It　was　a　peculiar　movement　in　its　quickness　and　inasmuch　that　while　performing　it　the　rider　did　not　swerve　in　the　slightest　from　a　square　front　to　the　croup　before　him。

〃Look！〃　hoarsely　whispered　one　of　Tull's　companions。　〃He　packs　two　black…butted　gunslow　downthey're　hard　to　seeblack　akin　them　black　chaps。〃

〃A　gun…man！〃　whispered　another。　〃Fellers；　careful　now　about　movin'　your　hands。〃

The　stranger's　slow　approach　might　have　been　a　mere　leisurely　manner　of　gait　or　the　cramped　short　steps　of　a　rider　unused　to　walking；　yet；　as　well；　it　could　have　been　the　guarded　advance　of　one　who　took　no　chances　with　men。

〃Hello；　stranger！〃　called　Tull。　No　welcome　was　in　this　greeting　only　a　gruff　curiosity。

The　rider　responded　with　a　curt　nod。　The　wide　brim　of　a　black　sombrero　cast　a　dark　shade　over　his　face。　For　a　moment　he　closely　regarded　Tull　and　his　comrades；　and　then；　halting　in　his　slow　walk；　he　seemed　to　relax。

〃Evenin'；　ma'am；〃　he　said　to　Jane；　and　removed　his　sombrero　with　quaint　grace。

Jane；　greeting　him；　looked　up　into　a　face　that　she　trusted　instinctively　and　which　riveted　her　attention。　It　had　all　the　characteristics　of　the　range　rider'sthe　leanness；　the　red　burn　of　the　sun；　and　the　set　changelessness　that　came　from　years　of　silence　and　solitude。　But　it　was　not　these　which　held　her；　rather　the　intensity　of　his　gaze；　a　strained　weariness；　a　piercing　wistfulness　of　keen；　gray　sight；　as　if　the　man　was　forever　looking　for　that　which　he　never　found。　Jane's　subtle　woman's　intuition；　even　in　that　brief　instant；　felt　a　sadness；　a　hungering；　a　secret。

〃Jane　Withersteen；　ma'am？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yes；　she　replied。

〃The　water　here　is　yours？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃May　I　water　my　horse？〃

〃Certainly。　There's　the　trough。〃

〃But　mebbe　if　you　knew　who　I　was〃　He　hesitated；　with　his　glance　on　the　listening　men。　〃Mebbe　you　wouldn't　let　me　water　himthough　I　ain't　askin'　none　for　myself。〃

〃Stranger；　it　doesn't　matter　who　you　are。　Water　your　horse。　And　if　you　are　thirsty　and　hungry　come　into　my　house。〃

〃Thanks；　ma'am。　I　can't　accept　for　myselfbut　for　my　tired　horse〃

Trampling　of　hoofs　interrupted　the　rider。　More　restless　movements　on　the　part　of　Tull's　men　broke　up　the　little　circle；　exposing　the　prisoner　Venters。

〃Mebbe　I've　kind　of　hindered　somethin'for　a　few　moments；　perhaps？〃　inquired　the　rider。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Jane　Withersteen；　with　a　throb　in　her　voice。

She　felt　the　drawing　power　of　his　eyes；　and　then　she　saw　him　look　at　the　bound　Venters；　and　at　the　men　who　held　him；　and　their　leader。

〃In　this　here　country　all　the　rustlers　an'　thieves　an'　cut…throats　an'　gun…throwers　an'　all…round　no…good　men　jest　happen　to　be　Gentiles。　Ma'am；　which　of　the　no…good　class　does　that　young　feller　belong　to？〃

〃He　belongs　to　none　of　them。　He's　an　honest　boy。〃

〃You　know　that；　madame？〃

〃Yesyes。〃

〃Then　what　has　he　done　to　get　tied　up　that　way？〃

His　clear　and　distinct　question；　meant　for　Tull　as　well　as　for　Jane　Withersteen；　stilled　the　restlessness　and　brought　a　momentary　silence。

〃Ask　him；〃　replied　Jane；　her　voice　rising　high。

The　rider　stepped　away　from　her；　moving　out　with　the　same　slow；　measured　stride　in　which　he　had　approached；　and　the　fact　that　his　action　placed　her　wholly　to　one　side；　and　him　no　nearer　to　Tull　and　his　men；　had　a　penetrating　significance。

〃Young　feller；　speak　up；〃　he　said　to　Venters。

〃Here　stranger；　this's　none　of　your　mix；〃　began　Tull。　〃Don't　try　any　interference。　You've　been　asked　to　drink　and　eat。　That's　more　than　you'd　have　got　in　any　other　village　of　the　Utah　border。　Water　your　horse　and　be　on　your　way。〃

〃EasyeasyI　ain't　interferin'　yet；〃　replied　the　rider。　The　tone　of　his　voice　had　undergone　a　change。　A　different　man　had　spoken。　Where；　in　addressing　Jane；　he　had　been　mild　and　gentle；　now；　with　his　first　speech　to　Tull；　he　was　dry；　cool；　biting。　〃I've　lest　stumbled　onto　a　queer　deal。　Seven　Mormons　all　packin'　guns；　an'　a　Gentile　tied　with　a　rope；　an'　a　woman　who　swears　by　his　honesty！　Queer；　ain't　that？〃

〃Queer　or　not；　it's　none　of　your　business；〃　retorted　Tull。

〃Where　I　was　raised　a　woman's　word　was　law。　I　ain't　quite　outgrowed　that　yet。〃

Tull　fumed　between　amaze　and　anger。

〃Meddler；　we　have　a　law　here　something　different　from　woman's　whim　Mormon　law！。。。Take　care　you　don't　transgress　it。〃

〃To　hell　with　your　Mormon　law！〃

The　deliberate　speech　marked　the　rider's　further　change；　this　time　from　kindly　interest　to　an　awakening　menace。　It　produced　a　transformation　in　Tull　and　his　companions。　The　leader　gasped　and　staggered　backward　at　a　blasphemous　affront　to　an　institution　he　held　most　sacred。　The　man　Jerry；　holding　the　horses；　dropped　the　bridles　and　froze　in　his　tracks。　Like　posts　the　other　men　stood　watchful…eyed；　arms　hanging　rigid；　all　waiting。

〃Speak　up　now；　young　man。　What　have　you　done　to　be　roped　that　way？〃

〃It's　a　damned　outrage！〃　burst　out　Venters。　〃I've　done　no　wrong。　I've　offended　this　Mormon　Elder　by　being　a　friend　to　that　woman。〃

〃Ma'am；　is　it　truewhat　he　says？〃　asked　the　rider　of　Jane；　but　his　quiveringly　alert　eyes　never　left　the　little　knot　of　quiet　men。

〃True？　Yes；　perfectly　true；〃　she　answered。

〃Well；　young　man；　it　seems　to　me　that　bein'　a　friend　to　such　a　woman　would　be　what　you　wouldn't　want　to　help　an'　couldn't　help。。。。What's　to　be　done　to　you　for　it？〃

〃They　intend　to　whip　me。　You　know　what　that　meansin　Utah！〃

〃I　reckon；〃　replied　the　rider；　slowly。

With　his　gray　glance　cold　on　the　Mormons；　with　the　restive　bit…champing　of　the　horses；　with　Jane　failing　to　repress　her　mounting　agitations；　with　Venters　standing　pale　and　still；　the　tension　of　the　moment　tightened。　Tull　broke　the　spell　with　a　laugh；　a　laugh　without　mirth；　a　laugh　that　was　only　a　sound　betraying　fear。

〃Come　on；　men！〃　he　called。

Jane　Withersteen　turned　again　to　the　rider。

〃Stranger；　can　you　do　nothing　to　save　Venters？〃

〃Ma'am；　you　ask　me　to　save　himfrom　your　own　people？〃

〃Ask　you？　I　beg　of　you！〃

〃But　you　don't　dream　who　you're　askin'。〃

〃Oh；　sir；　I　pray　yousave　him！〃

These　are　Mormons；　en'　I。。。〃

〃Atat　any　costsave　him。　For　II　care　for　him！〃

Tull　snarled。　〃You　love…sick　fool！　Tell　your　secrets。　There'll　be　a　way　to　teach　you　what　you've　never　learned。。。e　men　out　of　here！〃

〃Mormon；　the　young　man　stays；〃　said　the　rider。

Like　a　shot　his　voice　halted　Tull。

〃What！〃

〃Who'll　keep　him？　He's　my　prisoner！〃　cried　Tull；　hotly。　〃Stranger；　again　I　tell　youdon't　mix　here。　You've　meddled　enough。　Go　your　way　now　or〃

〃Listen！。。。He　stays。〃

Absolute　certainty；　beyond　any　shadow　of　doubt；　breathed　in　the　rider's　low　voice。

〃Who　are　you？　We　are　seven　here。〃

The　rider　dropped　his　sombrero　and　made　a　rapid　movement；　singular　in　that　it　left　him　somewhat　crouched；　arms　bent　and　stiff；　with　the　big　black　gun…sheaths　swung　round　to　the　fore。

It　was　Venters's　wondering；　thrilling　cry　that　bridged　the　fateful　connection　between　the　rider's　singular　position　and　the　dreaded　name。

Tull　put　out　a　groping　hand。　The　life　of　his　eyes　dulled　to　the　gloom　with　which　men　of　his　fear　saw　the　approach　of　death。　But　death；　while　it　hovered　over　him；　did　not　descend；　for　the　rider　waited　for　the　twitching　fingers；　the　downward　flash　of　hand　that　did　not　come。　Tull；　gathering　himself　together；　turned　to　the　horses；　attended　by　his　pale　comrades。



CHAPTER　II。　COTTONWOODS

Venters　appeared　too　deeply　moved　to　speak　the　gratitude　his　face　expressed。　And　Jane　turned　upon　the　rescuer　and　gripped　his　hands。　Her　smiles　and　tears　seemingly　dazed　him。　Presently　as　something　like　calmness　returned；　she　went　to　Lassiter's　weary　horse。

〃I　will　water　him　myself；〃　she　said；　and　she　led　the　horse　to　a　trough　under　a　huge　old　cottonwood。　With　nimble　fingers　she　loosened　the　bridle　and　removed　the　bit。　The　horse　snorted　and　bent　his　head。　The　trough　was　of　solid　stone；　hollowed　out；　moss…covered　and　green　and　wet　and　cool；　and　the　clear　brown　water　that　fed　it　spouted　and　splashed　from　a　wooden　pipe。

〃He　has　brought　you　far　to…day？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；　a　matter　of　over　sixty　miles；　mebbe　seventy。〃

〃A　long　ridea　ride　thatAh；　he　is　blind！〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　replied　Lassiter。

〃What　blinded　him？〃

〃Some　men　once　roped　an'　tied　him；　an'　then　held　white…iron　close　to　his　eyes。〃

〃Oh！　Men？　You　mean　devils。。。。Were　they　your　enemiesMormons？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am。〃

〃To　take　revenge　on　a　horse！　Lassiter；　the　men　of　my　creed　are　unnaturally　cruel。　To　my　everlasting　sorrow　I　confess　it。　They　have　been　driven；　hated；　scourged　till　their　hearts　have　hardened。　But　we　women　hope　and　pray　for　the　time　when　our　men　will　soften。〃

〃Beggin'　your　pardon；　ma'amthat　time　will　never　come。〃

〃Oh；　it　will！。。。Lassiter；　do　you　think　Mormon　women　wicked？　Has　your　hand　been　against　them；　too？〃

〃No。　I　believe　Mormon　women　are　the　best　and　noblest；　the　most　long…sufferin'；　and　the　blindest；　unhappiest　women　on　earth。〃

〃Ah！〃　She　gave　him　a　grave；　thoughtful　look。　〃Then　you　will　break　bread　with　me？〃

Lassiter　had　no　ready　r