riders of the purple sage-第50部分

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；　en'　they　all　feel　rich。　Howsomever；　court　was　adjourned　before　the　judge　passed　sentence。　Yes；　ma'm；　court　was　adjourned　some　strange　an'　quick；　much　as　if　lightnin'　hed　struck　the　meetin'…house。

〃I　hed　trouble　attendin'　the　trial；　but　I　got　in。　There　was　a　good　many　people　there；　all　my　boys；　an'　Judge　Dyer　with　his　several　clerks。　Also　he　hed　with　him　the　five　riders　who've　been　guardin'　him　pretty　close　of　late。　They　was　Carter；　Wright；　Jengessen；　an'　two　new　riders　from　Stone　Bridge。　I　didn't　hear　their　names；　but　I　heard　they　was　handy　men　with　guns　an'　they　looked　more　like　rustlers　than　riders。　Anyway；　there　they　was；　the　five　all　in　a　row。

〃Judge　Dyer　was　tellin'　Willie　Kern；　one　of　my　best　an'　steadiest　boys　Dyer　was　tellin'　him　how　there　was　a　ditch　opened　near　Willie's　home　lettin'　water　through　his　lot；　where　it　hadn't　ought　to　go。　An'　Willie　was　tryin'　to　git　a　word　in　to　prove　he　wasn't　at　home　all　the　day　it　happenedwhich　was　true；　as　I　knowbut　Willie　couldn't　git　a　word　in；　an'　then　Judge　Dyer　went　on　layin'　down　the　law。　An'　all　to　onct　he　happened　to　look　down　the　long　room。　An'　if　ever　any　man　turned　to　stone　he　was　thet　man。

〃Nat'rully　I　looked　back　to　see　what　hed　acted　so　powerful　strange　on　the　judge。　An'　there；　half…way　up　the　room；　in　the　middle　of　the　wide　aisle；　stood　Lassiter！　All　white　an'　black　he　looked；　an'　I　can't　think　of　anythin'　he　resembled；　onless　it's　death。　Venters　made　thet　same　room　some　still　an'　chilly　when　he　called　Tull；　but　this　was　different。　I　give　my　word；　Miss　Withersteen；　thet　I　went　cold　to　my　very　marrow。　I　don't　know　why。　But　Lassiter　had　a　way　about　him　thet's　awful。　He　spoke　a　worda　nameI　couldn't　understand　it；　though　he　spoke　clear　as　a　bell。　I　was　too　excited；　mebbe。　Judge　Dyer　must　hev　understood　it；　an'　a　lot　more　thet　was　mystery　to　me；　for　he　pitched　forrard　out　of　his　chair　right　onto　the　platform。

〃Then　them　five　riders；　Dyer's　bodyguards；　they　jumped　up；　an'　two　of　them　thet　I　found　out　afterward　were　the　strangers　from　Stone　Bridge；　they　piled　right　out　of　a　winder；　so　quick　you　couldn't　catch　your　breath。　It　was　plain　they　wasn't　Mormons。

〃Jengessen；　Carter；　an'　Wright　eyed　Lassiter；　for　what　must　hev　been　a　second　an'　seemed　like　an　hour；　an'　they　went　white　en'　strung。　But　they　didn't　weaken　nor　lose　their　nerve。

〃I　hed　a　good　look　at　Lassiter。　He　stood　sort　of　stiff；　bendin'　a　little；　an'　both　his　arms　were　crooked　an'　his　hands　looked　like　a　hawk's　claws。　But　there　ain't　no　tellin'　how　his　eyes　looked。　I　know　this；　though；　an'　thet　is　his　eyes　could　read　the　mind　of　any　man　about　to　throw　a　gun。　An'　in　watchin'　him；　of　course；　I　couldn't　see　the　three　men　go　fer　their　guns。　An'　though　I　was　lookin'　right　at　Lassiterlookin'　hardI　couldn't　see　how　he　drawed。　He　was　quicker　'n　eyesightthet's　all。　But　I　seen　the　red　spurtin'　of　his　guns；　en'　heard　his　shots　jest　the　very　littlest　instant　before　I　heard　the　shots　of　the　riders。　An'　when　I　turned；　Wright　an'　Carter　was　down；　en'　Jengessen；　who's　tough　like　a　steer；　was　pullin'　the　trigger　of　a　wabblin'　gun。　But　it　was　plain　he　was　shot　through；　plumb　center。　An'　sudden　he　fell　with　a　crash；　an'　his　gun　clattered　on　the　floor。

〃Then　there　was　a　hell　of　a　silence。　Nobody　breathed。　Sartin　I　didn't；　anyway。　I　saw　Lassiter　slip　a　smokin'　gun　back　in　a　belt。　But　he　hadn't　throwed　either　of　the　big　black　guns；　an'　I　thought　thet　strange。　An'　all　this　was　happenin'　quickyou　can't　imagine　how　quick。

〃There　come　a　scrapin'　on　the　floor　an'　Dyer　got　up；　his　face　like　lead。　I　wanted　to　watch　Lassiter；　but　Dyer's　face；　onct　I　seen　it　like　thet；　glued　my　eyes。　I　seen　him　go　fer　his　gunwhy；　I　could　hev　done　better；　quickeran'　then　there　was　a　thunderin'　shot　from　Lassiter；　an'　it　hit　Dyer's　right　arm；　an'　his　gun　went　off　as　it　dropped。　He　looked　at　Lassiter　like　a　cornered　sage…wolf；　an'　sort　of　howled；　an'　reached　down　fer　his　gun。　He'd　jest　picked　it　off　the　floor　an'　was　raisin'　it　when　another　thunderin'　shot　almost　tore　thet　arm　offso　it　seemed　to　me。　The　gun　dropped　again　an'　he　went　down　on　his　knees；　kind　of　flounderin'　after　it。　It　was　some　strange　an'　terrible　to　see　his　awful　earnestness。　Why　would　such　a　man　cling　so　to　life？　Anyway；　he　got　the　gun　with　left　hand　an'　was　raisin'　it；　pullin'　trigger　in　his　madness；　when　the　third　thunderin'　shot　hit　his　left　arm；　an'　he　dropped　the　gun　again。　But　thet　left　arm　wasn't　useless　yet；　fer　he　grabbed　up　the　gun；　an'　with　a　shakin'　aim　thet　would　hev　been　pitiful　to　mein　any　other　manhe　began　to　shoot。　One　wild　bullet　struck　a　man　twenty　feet　from　Lassiter。　An'　it　killed　thet　man；　as　I　seen　afterward。　Then　come　a　bunch　of　thunderin'　shotsnine　I　calkilated　after；　fer　they　come　so　quick　I　couldn't　count　theman'　I　knew　Lassiter　hed　turned　the　black　guns　loose　on　Dyer。

〃I'm　tellin'　you　straight；　Miss　Withersteen；　fer　I　want　you　to　know。　Afterward　you'll　git　over　it。　I've　seen　some　soul…rackin'　scenes　on　this　Utah　border；　but　this　was　the　awfulest。　I　remember　I　closed　my　eyes；　an'　fer　a　minute　I　thought　of　the　strangest　things；　out　of　place　there；　such　as　you'd　never　dream　would　come　to　mind。　I　saw　the　sage；　an'　runnin'　hossesan'　thet's　the　beautfulest　sight　to　mean'　I　saw　dim　things　in　the　dark；　an'　there　was　a　kind　of　hummin'　in　my　ears。　An'　I　remember　distinctlyfer　it　was　what　made　all　these　things　whirl　out　of　my　mind　an'　opened　my　eyesI　remember　distinctly　it　was　the　smell　of　gunpowder。

〃The　court　had　about　adjourned　fer　thet　judge。　He　was　on　his　knees；　en'　he　wasn't　prayin'。　He　was　gaspin'　an'　tryin'　to　press　his　big；　floppin'；　crippled　hands　over　his　body。　Lassiter　had　sent　all　those　last　thunderin'　shots　through　his　body。　Thet　was　Lassiter's　way。

〃An'　Lassiter　spoke；　en'　if　I　ever　forgit　his　words　I'll　never　forgit　the　sound　of　his　voice。

〃'Proselyter；　I　reckon　you'd　better　call　quick　on　thet　God　who　reveals　Hisself　to　you　on　earth；　because　He　won't　be　visitin'　the　place　you're　goin'　to！〃

〃An'　then　I　seen　Dyer　look　at　his　big；　hangin'　hands　thet　wasn't　big　enough　fer　the　last　work　he　set　them　to。　An'　he　looked　up　at　Lassiter。　An'　then　he　stared　horrible　at　somethin'　thet　wasn't　Lassiter；　nor　anyone　there；　nor　the　room；　nor　the　branches　of　purple　sage　peepin'　into　the　winder。　Whatever　he　seen；　it　was　with　the　look　of　a　man　who　discovers　somethin'　too　late。　Thet's　a　terrible　look！。。。An'　with　a　horrible　understandin'　cry　he　slid　forrard　on　his　face。〃

Judkins　paused　in　his　narrative；　breathing　heavily　while　he　wiped　his　perspiring　brow。

〃Thet's　about　all；〃　he　concluded。　〃Lassiter　left　the　meetin'…house　an'　I　hurried　to　catch　up　with　him。　He　was　bleedin'　from　three　gunshots；　none　of　them　much　to　bother　him。　An'　we　come　right　up　here。　I　found　you　layin'　in　the　hall；　an'　I　hed　to　work　some　over　you。〃

Jane　Withersteen　offered　up　no　prayer　for　Dyer's　soul。

Lassiter's　step　sounded　in　the　hallthe　familiar　soft；　silver…clinking　stepand　she　heard　it　with　thrilling　new　emotions　in　which　was　a　vague　joy　in　her　very　fear　of　him。　The　door　opened；　and　she　saw　him；　the　old　Lassiter；　slow；　easy；　gentle；　cool；　yet　not　exactly　the　same　Lassiter。　She　rose；　and　for　a　moment　her　eyes　blurred　and　swam　in　tears。

〃Are　youallall　right？〃　she　asked；　tremulously。

〃I　reckon。〃

〃Lassiter；　I'll　ride　away　with　you。　Hide　me　till　danger　is　pasttill　we　are　forgottenthen　take　me　where　you　will。　Your　people　shall　be　my　people；　and　your　God　my　God！〃

He　kissed　her　hand　with　the　quaint　grace　and　courtesy　that　came　to　him　in　rare　moments。

〃Black　Star　an'　Night　are　ready；〃　he　said；　simply。

His　quiet　mention　of　the　black　racers　spurred　Jane　to　action。　Hurrying　to　her　room；　she　changed　to　her　rider's　suit；　packed　her　jewelry；　and　the　gold　that　was　left；　and　all　the　woman's　apparel　for　which　there　was　space　in　the　saddle…bags；　and　then　returned　to　the　hall。　Black　Star　stamped　his　iron…shod　hoofs　and　tossed　his　beautiful　head；　and　eyed　her　with　knowing　eyes。

〃Judkins；　I　give　Bells　to　you；〃　said　Jane。　〃I　hope　you　will　always　keep　him　and　be　good　to　him。〃

Judkins　mumbled　thanks　that　he　could　not　speak　fluently；　and　his　eyes　flashed。

Lassiter　strapped　Jane's　saddle…bags　upon　Black　Star；　and　led　the　racers　out　into　the　court。

〃Judkins；　you　ride　with　Jane　out　into　the　sage。　If　you　see　any　riders　comin'　shout　quick　twice。　An'；　Jane；　don't　look　back！　I'll　catch　up　soon。　We'll　get　to　the　break　into　the　Pass　before　midnight；　an'　then　wait　until　mornin'　to　go　down。〃

Black　Star　bent　his　graceful　neck　and　bowed　his　noble　head；　and　his　broad　shoulders　yielded　as　he　knelt　for　Jane　to　mount。

She　rode　out　of　the　court　beside　Judkins；　through　the　grove；　across　the　wide　lane　into　the　sage；　and　she　realized　that　she　was　leaving　Withersteen　House　forever；　and　she　did　not　look　back。　A　strange；　dreamy；　calm　peace　pervaded　her　soul。　Her　doom　had　fallen　upon　her；　but；　instead　of　finding　life　no　longer　worth　living　she　found　it　doubly　significant；　full　of　sweetness　as　the　western　breeze；　beautiful　and　unknown　as　the　sage…slope　stretching　its　purple　sunset　shadows　before　her。　She　became　aware　of　Judkins's　hand　touching　hers；　she　heard　him　speak　a　husky　good…by；　then　into　the　place　of　Bells　shot　the　dead…black；　keen；　racy　nose　of　Night；　and　she　knew　Lassiter　rode　beside　her。

〃Don'tlookback！〃　he　said；　and　his　voice；　too；　was　not　clear。

Facing　straight　ahead；　seeing　only　the　waving；　shadowy　sage；　Jane　held　out　her　gauntleted　hand；　to　feel　it　enclosed　in　strong　clasp。　So　she　rode　on　without　a　backward　glance　at　the　beautiful　grove　of　Cottonwoods。　She　did　not　seem　to　think　of　the　past　of　what　she　left　forever；　but　of　the　color　and　mystery　and　wildness　of　the　sage…slope　leading　down　to　Deception　Pass；　and　of　the　future。　She　watched　the　shadows　lengthen　down　the　slope；　she　felt　the　cool　west　wind　sweeping　by　from　the　rear；　and　she　wondered　at　low；　yellow　clouds　sailing　swiftly　over　her　and　beyond。

〃Don't　lookback！〃　said　Lassiter。

Thick…driving　belts　of　smoke　traveled　by　on　the　wind；　and　with　it　came　a　strong；　pungent　odor　of　burning　wood。

Lassiter　had　fired　Withersteen　House！　But　Jane　did　not　look　back。

A　misty　veil　obscured　the　clear；　searching　gaze　she　had　kept　steadfastly　upon　the　purple　slope　and　the　dim　lines　of　canyons。　It　passed；　as　passed　the　rolling　cl