riders of the purple sage-第44部分

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over　to　Jane。

〃Hello；　Venters！〃　a　familiar　voice　cried；　hoarsely；　and　he　saw　a　man　running　toward　him。　It　was　the　rider　Judkins　who　came　up　and　gripped　Venters's　hand。　〃Venters；　I　could　hev　dropped　when　I　seen　them　hosses。　But　thet　sight　ain't　a　marker　to　the　looks　of　you。　What's　wrong？　Hev　you　gone　crazy？　You　must　be　crazy　to　ride　in　here　this　waywith　them　hossestalkie'　thet　way　about　Tull　en'　Jerry　Card。〃

〃Jud；　I'm　not　crazyonly　mad　clean　through；〃　replied　Venters。

〃Mad；　now；　Bern；　I'm　glad　to　hear　some　of　your　old　self　in　your　voice。　Fer　when　you　come　up　you　looked　like　the　corpse　of　a　dead　rider　with　fire　fer　eyes。　You　hed　thet　crowd　too　stiff　fer　throwin'　guns。　Come；　we've　got　to　hev　a　talk。　Let's　go　up　the　lane。　We　ain't　much　safe　here。〃

Judkins　mounted　Bells　and　rode　with　Venters　up　to　the　cottonwood　grove。　Here　they　dismounted　and　went　among　the　trees。

〃Let's　hear　from　you　first；〃　said　Judkins。　〃You　fetched　back　them　hosses。　Thet　is　the　trick。　An'；　of　course；　you　got　Jerry　the　same　as　you　got　Horne。〃

〃Horne！〃

〃Sure。　He　was　found　dead　yesterday　all　chewed　by　coyotes；　en'　he'd　been　shot　plumb　center。〃

〃Where　was　he　found？〃

〃At　the　split　down　the　trailyou　know　where　Oldring's　cattle　trail　runs　off　north　from　the　trail　to　the　pass。〃

〃That's　where　I　met　Jerry　and　the　rustlers。　What　was　Horne　doing　with　them？　I　thought　Horne　was　an　honest　cattle…man。〃

〃LordBern；　don't　ask　me　thet！　I'm　all　muddled　now　tryin'　to　figure　things。〃

Venters　told　of　the　fight　and　the　race　with　Jerry　Card　and　its　tragic　conclusion。

〃I　knowed　it！　I　knowed　all　along　that　Wrangle　was　the　best　hoss！〃　exclaimed　Judkins；　with　his　lean　face　working　and　his　eyes　lighting。　〃Thet　was　a　race！　Lord；　I'd　like　to　hev　seen　Wrangle　jump　the　cliff　with　Jerry。　An'　thet　was　good…by　to　the　grandest　hoss　an'　rider　ever　on　the　sage！。。。But；　Bern；　after　you　got　the　hosses　why'd　you　want　to　bolt　right　in　Tull's　face？〃

〃I　want　him　to　know。　An'　if　I　can　get　to　him　I'll〃

〃You　can't　get　near　Tull；〃　interrupted　Judkins。　〃Thet　vigilante　bunch　hev　taken　to　bein'　bodyguard　for　Tull　an'　Dyer；　too。〃

〃Hasn't　Lassiter　made　a　break　yet？〃　inquired　Venters；　curiously。

〃Naw！〃　replied　Judkins；　scornfully。　〃Jane　turned　his　head。　He's　mad　in　love　over　herfollers　her　like　a　dog。　He　ain't　no　more　Lassiter！　He's　lost　his　nerve；　he　doesn't　look　like　the　same　feller。　It's　village　talk。　Everybody　knows　it。　He　hasn't　thrown　a　gun；　an'　he　won't！〃

〃Jud；　I'll　bet　he　does；〃　replied　Venters；　earnestly。　〃Remember　what　I　say。　This　Lassiter　is　something　more　than　a　gun…man。　Jud；　he's　bighe's　great！。。。I　feel　that　in　him。　God　help　Tull　and　Dyer　when　Lassiter　does　go　after　them。　For　horses　and　riders　and　stone　walls　won't　save　them。〃

〃Wal；　hev　it　your　way；　Bern。　I　hope　you're　right。　Nat'rully　I've　been　some　sore　on　Lassiter　fer　gittin'　soft。　But　I　ain't　denyin'　his　nerve；　or　whatever's　great　in　him　thet　sort　of　paralyzes　people。　No　later　'n　this　mornin'　I　seen　him　saunterin'　down　the　lane；　quiet　an'　slow。　An'　like　his　guns　he　comes　blackblack；　thet's　Lassiter。　Wal；　the　crowd　on　the　corner　never　batted　an　eye；　en'　I'll　gamble　my　hoss　thet　there　wasn't　one　who　hed　a　heartbeat　till　Lassiter　got　by。　He　went　in　Snell's　saloon；　an'　as　there　wasn't　no　gun　play　I　had　to　go　in；　too。　An'　there；　darn　my　pictures；　if　Lassiter　wasn't　standin'　to　the　bar；　drinking　en'　talkin'　with　Oldrin'。〃

〃Oldring！〃　whispered　Venters。　His　voice；　as　all　fire　and　pulse　within　him；　seemed　to　freeze。

〃Let　go　my　arm！〃　exclaimed　Judkins。　〃Thet's　my　bad　arm。　Sure　it　was　Oldrin'。　What　the　hell's　wrong　with　you；　anyway？　Venters；　I　tell　you　somethin's　wrong。　You're　whiter　'n　a　sheet。　You　can't　be　scared　of　the　rustler。　I　don't　believe　you've　got　a　scare　in　you。　Wal；　now；　jest　let　me　talk。　You　know　I　like　to　talk；　an'　if　I'm　slow　I　allus　git　there　sometime。　As　I　said；　Lassiter　was　talkie'　chummy　with　Oldrin'。　There　wasn't　no　hard　feelin's。　An'　the　gang　wasn't　payin'　no　pertic'lar　attention。　But　like　a　cat　watchin'　a　mouse　I　hed　my　eyes　on　them　two　fellers。　It　was　strange　to　me；　thet　confab。　I'm　gittin'　to　think　a　lot；　fer　a　feller　who　doesn't　know　much。　There's　been　some　queer　deals　lately　an'　this　seemed　to　me　the　queerest。　These　men　stood　to　the　bar　alone；　an'　so　close　their　big　gun…hilts　butted　together。　I　seen　Oldrin'　was　some　surprised　at　first；　an'　Lassiter　was　cool　as　ice。　They　talked；　an'　presently　at　somethin'　Lassiter　said　the　rustler　bawled　out　a　curse；　an'　then　he　jest　fell　up　against　the　bar；　an'　sagged　there。　The　gang　in　the　saloon　looked　around　an'　laughed；　an'　thet's　about　all。　Finally　Oldrin'　turned；　and　it　was　easy　to　see　somethin'　hed　shook　him。　Yes；　sir；　thet　big　rustleryou　know　he's　as　broad　as　he　is　long；　an'　the　powerfulest　build　of　a　manyes；　sir；　the　nerve　had　been　taken　out　of　him。　Then；　after　a　little；　he　began　to　talk　an'　said　a　lot　to　Lassiter；　an'　by　an'　by　it　didn't　take　much　of　an　eye　to　see　thet　Lassiter　was　gittin'　hit　hard。　I　never　seen　him　anyway　but　cooler　'n　icetill　then。　He　seemed　to　be　hit　harder　'n　Oldrin'；　only　he　didn't　roar　out　thet　way。　He　jest　kind　of　sunk　in；　an'　looked　an'　looked；　an'　he　didn't　see　a　livin'　soul　in　thet　saloon。　Then　he　sort　of　come　to；　an'　shakin'　handsmind　you；　shakin'　hands　with　Oldrin'he　went　out。　I　couldn't　help　thinkin'　how　easy　even　a　boy　could　hev　dropped　the　great　gun…man　then！。。。Wal；　the　rustler　stood　at　the　bar　fer　a　long　time；　en'　he　was　seein'　things　far　off；　too；　then　he　come　to　an'　roared　fer　whisky；　an'　gulped　a　drink　thet　was　big　enough　to　drown　me。〃

〃Is　Oldring　here　now？〃　whispered　Venters。　He　could　not　speak　above　a　whisper。　Judkins's　story　had　been　meaningless　to　him。

〃He's　at　Snell's　yet。　Bern；　I　hevn't　told　you　yet　thet　the　rustlers　hev　been　raisin'　hell。　They　shot　up　Stone　Bridge　an'　Glaze；　an'　fer　three　days　they've　been　here　drinkin'　an'　gamblin'　an'　throwin'　of　gold。　These　rustlers　hev　a　pile　of　gold。　If　it　was　gold　dust　or　nugget　gold　I'd　hev　reason　to　think；　but　it's　new　coin　gold；　as　if　it　had　jest　come　from　the　United　States　treasury。　An'　the　coin's　genuine。　Thet's　all　been　proved。　The　truth　is　Oldrin's　on　a　rampage。　A　while　back　he　lost　his　Masked　Rider；　an'　they　say　he's　wild　about　thet。　I'm　wonderin'　if　Lassiter　could　hev　told　the　rustler　anythin'　about　thet　little　masked；　hard…ridin'　devil。　Ride！　He　was　most　as　good　as　Jerry　Card。　An'；　Bern；　I've　been　wonderin'　if　you　know〃

〃Judkins；　you're　a　good　fellow；〃　interrupted　Venters。　〃Some　day　I'll　tell　you　a　story。　I've　no　time　now。　Take　the　horses　to　Jane。〃

Judkins　stared；　and　then；　muttering　to　himself；　he　mounted　Bells；　and　stared　again　at　Venters；　and　then；　leading　the　other　horses；　he　rode　into　the　grove　and　disappeared。

Once；　long　before；　on　the　night　Venters　had　carried　Bess　through　the　canyon　and　up　into　Surprise　Valley；　he　had　experienced　the　strangeness　of　faculties　singularly；　tinglingly　acute。　And　now　the　same　sensation　recurred。　But　it　was　different　in　that　he　felt　cold；　frozen；　mechanical　incapable　of　free　thought；　and　all　about　him　seemed　unreal；　aloof；　remote。　He　hid　his　rifle　in　the　sage；　marking　its　exact　location　with　extreme　care。　Then　he　faced　down　the　lane　and　strode　toward　the　center　of　the　village。　Perceptions　flashed　upon　him；　the　faint；　cold　touch　of　the　breeze；　a　cold；　silvery　tinkle　of　flowing　water；　a　cold　sun　shining　out　of　a　cold　sky；　song　of　birds　and　laugh　of　children；　coldly　distant。　Cold　and　intangible　were　all　things　in　earth　and　heaven。　Colder　and　tighter　stretched　the　skin　over　his　face；　colder　and　harder　grew　the　polished　butts　of　his　guns；　colder　and　steadier　became　his　hands　as　he　wiped　the　clammy　sweat　from　his　face　or　reached　low　to　his　gun…sheaths。　Men　meeting　him　in　the　walk　gave　him　wide　berth。　In　front　of　Bevin's　store　a　crowd　melted　apart　for　his　passage；　and　their　faces　and　whispers　were　faces　and　whispers　of　a　dream。　He　turned　a　corner　to　meet　Tull　face　to　face；　eye　to　eye。　As　once　before　he　had　seen　this　man　pale　to　a　ghastly；　livid　white　so　again　he　saw　the　change。　Tull　stopped　in　his　tracks；　with　right　hand　raised　and　shaking。　Suddenly　it　dropped；　and　he　seemed　to　glide　aside；　to　pass　out　of　Venters's　sight。　Next　he　saw　many　horses　with　bridles　downall　clean…limbed；　dark　bays　or　blacksrustlers'　horses！　Loud　voices　and　boisterous　laughter；　rattle　of　dice　and　scrape　of　chair　and　clink　of　gold；　burst　in　mingled　din　from　an　open　doorway。　He　stepped　inside。

With　the　sight　of　smoke…hazed　room　and　drinking；　cursing；　gambling；　dark…visaged　men；　reality　once　more　dawned　upon　Venters。

His　entrance　had　been　unnoticed；　and　he　bent　his　gaze　upon　the　drinkers　at　the　bar。　Dark…clothed；　dark…faced　men　they　all　were；　burned　by　the　sun；　bow…legged　as　were　most　riders　of　the　sage；　but　neither　lean　nor　gaunt。　Then　Venters's　gaze　passed　to　the　tables；　and　swiftly　it　swept　over　the　hard…featured　gamesters；　to　alight　upon　the　huge；　shaggy；　black　head　of　the　rustler　chief。

〃Oldring！〃　he　cried；　and　to　him　his　voice　seemed　to　split　a　bell　in　his　ears。

It　stilled　the　din。

That　silence　suddenly　broke　to　the　scrape　and　crash　of　Oldring's　chair　as　he　rose；　and　then；　while　he　passed；　a　great　gloomy　figure；　again　the　thronged　room　stilled　in　silence　yet　deeper。

〃Oldring；　a　word　with　you！〃　continued　Venters。

〃Ho！　What's　this？〃　boomed　Oldring；　in　frowning　scrutiny。

〃Come　outside；　alone。　A　word　for　youfrom　your　Masked　Rider！〃

Oldring　kicked　a　chair　out　of　his　way　and　lunged　forward　with　a　stamp　of　heavy　boot　that　jarred　the　floor。　He　waved　down　his　muttering；　rising　men。

Venters　backed　out　of　the　door　and　waited；　hearing；　as　no　sound　had　ever　before　struck　into　his　soul；　the　rapid；　heavy　steps　of　the　rustler。

Oldring　appeared；　and　Venters　had　one　glimpse　of　his　great　breadth　and　bulk；　his　gold…buckled　belt　with　hanging　guns；　his　high…top　boots　with　gold　spurs。　In　that　moment　Venters　had　a　strange；　unintelligible　curiosity　to　see　Oldring　alive。　The　rustler's　broad　brow；　his　large　black　eyes；　his　sweeping　beard；　as　dark　as　the　wing　of　a　raven；　his　enormous　width　of　shoulder　and　depth　of　chest；　his　whole　splendid　presence　so　wonderfully　charged　with　vitality　and　force　and　strength；　seemed　to　afford　Venters　an　unutterable　fiendish　joy　because　for　that　magnificent　manhood　and　life　he　meant　cold　and　sudden