roads of destiny-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ile　Sam　Kinney　is　ridin'　the　line。　I　saves　'em　from　bein'　shot　or　sent　up　on　a　state　contract；　and　they　up　and　says　I'm　no　good。〃

〃It　ain't　so　much　that；〃　explained　Cactus；　〃as　it　is　they're　plum　locoed　about　Piggy。　They　want　them　whiskers　and　that　nose　of　his　to　split　the　wind　at　the　head　of　the　column。〃

〃There's　somethin'　mighty　seldom　about　Piggy；〃　declared　Bud；　musingly。　〃I　never　yet　see　anything　on　the　hoof　that　he　exactly　grades　up　with。　He　can　shore　holler　a　plenty　and　he　straddles　a　hoss　from　where　you　laid　the　chunk。　But　he　ain't　never　been　smoked　yet。　You　know；　Cactus；　we　ain't　had　a　row　since　he's　been　with　us。　Piggy's　all　right　for　skearin'　the　greaser　kids　and　layin'　waste　a　cross…roads　store。　I　reckon　he's　the　finest　canned　oyster　buccaneer　and　cheese　pirate　that　ever　was；　but　how's　his　appetite　for　fightin'？　I've　knowed　some　citizens　you'd　think　was　starvin'　for　trouble　get　a　bad　case　of　dyspepsy　the　first　dose　of　lead　they　had　to　take。〃

〃He　talks　all　spraddled　out；〃　said　Cactus；　〃'bout　the　rookuses　he's　been　in。　He　claims　to　have　saw　the　elephant　and　hearn　the　owl。〃

〃I　know；〃　replied　Bud；　using　the　cowpuncher's　expressive　phrase　of　skepticism；　〃but　it　sounds　to　me！〃

This　conversation　was　held　one　night　in　camp　while　the　other　members　of　the　bandeight　in　numberwere　sprawling　around　the　fire；　lingering　over　their　supper。　When　Bud　and　Cactus　ceased　talking　they　heard　Piggy's　formidable　voice　holding　forth　to　the　others　as　usual　while　he　was　engaged　in　checking；　though　never　satisfying；　his　ravening　appetite。

〃Wat's　de　use；〃　he　was　saying；　〃of　chasin'　little　red　cowses　and　hosses　'round　for　t'ousands　of　miles？　Dere　ain't　nuttin'　in　it。　Gallopin'　t'rough　dese　bushes　and　briers；　and　gettin'　a　t'irst　dat　a　brewery　couldn't　put　out；　and　missin'　meals！　Say！　You　know　what　I'd　do　if　I　was　main　finger　of　dis　bunch？　I'd　stick　up　a　train。　I'd　blow　de　express　car　and　make　hard　dollars　where　you　guys　get　wind。　Youse　makes　me　tired。　Dis　sook…cow　kind　of　cheap　sport　gives　me　a　pain。〃

Later　on；　a　deputation　waited　on　Bud。　They　stood　on　one　leg；　chewed　mesquit　twigs　and　circumlocuted；　for　they　hated　to　hurt　his　feelings。　Bud　foresaw　their　business；　and　made　it　easy　for　them。　Bigger　risks　and　larger　profits　was　what　they　wanted。

The　suggestion　of　Piggy's　about　holding　up　a　train　had　fired　their　imagination　and　increased　their　admiration　for　the　dash　and　boldness　of　the　instigator。　They　were　such　simple；　artless；　and　custom…bound　bush…rangers　that　they　had　never　before　thought　of　extending　their　habits　beyond　the　running　off　of　live…stock　and　the　shooting　of　such　of　their　acquaintances　as　ventured　to　interfere。

Bud　acted　〃on　the　level；〃　agreeing　to　take　a　subordinate　place　in　the　gang　until　Black　Eagle　should　have　been　given　a　trial　as　leader。

After　a　great　deal　of　consultation；　studying　of　time…tables；　and　discussion　of　the　country's　topography；　the　time　and　place　for　carrying　out　their　new　enterprise　was　decided　upon。　At　that　time　there　was　a　feedstuff　famine　in　Mexico　and　a　cattle　famine　in　certain　parts　of　the　United　States；　and　there　was　a　brisk　international　trade。　Much　money　was　being　shipped　along　the　railroads　that　connected　the　two　republics。　It　was　agreed　that　the　most　promising　place　for　the　contemplated　robbery　was　at　Espina；　a　little　station　on　the　I。　and　G。N。；　about　forty　miles　north　of　Laredo。　The　train　stopped　there　one　minute；　the　country　around　was　wild　and　unsettled；　the　station　consisted　of　but　one　house　in　which　the　agent　lived。

Black　Eagle's　band　set　out；　riding　by　night。　Arriving　in　the　vicinity　of　Espina　they　rested　their　horses　all　day　in　a　thicket　a　few　miles　distant。

The　train　was　due　at　Espina　at　10。30　P。M。　They　could　rob　the　train　and　be　well　over　the　Mexican　border　with　their　booty　by　daylight　the　next　morning。

To　do　Black　Eagle　justice；　he　exhibited　no　signs　of　flinching　from　the　responsible　honours　that　had　been　conferred　upon　him。

He　assigned　his　men　to　their　respective　posts　with　discretion；　and　coached　them　carefully　as　to　their　duties。　On　each　side　of　the　track　four　of　the　band　were　to　lie　concealed　in　the　chaparral。　Gotch…Ear　Rodgers　was　to　stick　up　the　station　agent。　Bronco　Charlie　was　to　remain　with　the　horses；　holding　them　in　readiness。　At　a　spot　where　it　was　calculated　the　engine　would　be　when　the　train　stopped；　Bud　King　was　to　lie　hidden　on　one　side；　and　Black　Eagle　himself　on　the　other。　The　two　would　get　the　drop　on　the　engineer　and　fireman；　force　them　to　descend　and　proceed　to　the　rear。　Then　the　express　car　would　be　looted；　and　the　escape　made。　No　one　was　to　move　until　Black　Eagle　gave　the　signal　by　firing　his　revolver。　The　plan　was　perfect。

At　ten　minutes　to　train　time　every　man　was　at　his　post；　effectually　concealed　by　the　thick　chaparral　that　grew　almost　to　the　rails。　The　night　was　dark　and　lowering；　with　a　fine　drizzle　falling　from　the　flying　gulf　clouds。　Black　Eagle　crouched　behind　a　bush　within　five　yards　of　the　track。　Two　six…shooters　were　belted　around　him。　Occasionally　he　drew　a　large　black　bottle　from　his　pocket　and　raised　it　to　his　mouth。

A　star　appeared　far　down　the　track　which　soon　waxed　into　the　headlight　of　the　approaching　train。　It　came　on　with　an　increasing　roar；　the　engine　bore　down　upon　the　ambushing　desperadoes　with　a　glare　and　a　shriek　like　some　avenging　monster　come　to　deliver　them　to　justice。　Black　Eagle　flattened　himself　upon　the　ground。　The　engine；　contrary　to　their　calculations；　instead　of　stopping　between　him　and　Bud　King's　place　of　concealment；　passed　fully　forty　years　farther　before　it　came　to　a　stand。

The　bandit　leader　rose　to　his　feet　and　peered　through　the　bush。　His　men　all　lay　quiet；　awaiting　the　signal。　Immediately　opposite　Black　Eagle　was　a　thing　that　drew　his　attention。　Instead　of　being　a　regular　passenger　train　it　was　a　mixed　one。　Before　him　stood　a　box　car；　the　door　of　which；　by　some　means；　had　been　left　slightly　open。　Black　Eagle　went　up　to　it　and　pushed　the　door　farther　open。　An　odour　came　fortha　damp；　rancid；　familiar；　musty；　intoxicating；　beloved　odour　stirring　strongly　at　old　memories　of　happy　days　and　travels。　Black　Eagle　sniffed　at　the　witching　smell　as　the　returned　wanderer　smells　of　the　rose　that　twines　his　boyhood's　cottage　home。　Nostalgia　seized　him。　He　put　his　hand　inside。　Excelsiordry；　springy；　curly；　soft；　enticing；　covered　the　floor。　Outside　the　drizzle　had　turned　to　a　chilling　rain。

The　train　bell　clanged。　The　bandit　chief　unbuckled　his　belt　and　cast　it；　with　its　revolvers；　upon　the　ground。　His　spurs　followed　quickly；　and　his　broad　sombrero。　Black　Eagle　was　moulting。　The　train　started　with　a　rattling　jerk。　The　ex…Terror　of　the　Border　scrambled　into　the　box　car　and　closed　the　door。　Stretched　luxuriously　upon　the　excelsior；　with　the　black　bottle　clasped　closely　to　his　breast；　his　eyes　closed；　and　a　foolish；　happy　smile　upon　his　terrible　features　Chicken　Ruggles　started　upon　his　return　trip。

Undisturbed；　with　the　band　of　desperate　bandits　lying　motionless；　awaiting　the　signal　to　attack；　the　train　pulled　out　from　Espina。　As　its　speed　increased；　and　the　black　masses　of　chaparral　went　whizzing　past　on　either　side；　the　express　messenger；　lighting　his　pipe；　looked　through　his　window　and　remarked；　feelingly：

〃What　a　jim…dandy　place　for　a　hold…up！〃



X

A　RETRIEVED　REFORMATION

A　guard　came　to　the　prison　shoe…shop；　where　Jimmy　Valentine　was　assiduously　stitching　uppers；　and　escorted　him　to　the　front　office。　There　the　warden　handed　Jimmy　his　pardon；　which　had　been　signed　that　morning　by　the　governor。　Jimmy　took　it　in　a　tired　kind　of　way。　He　had　served　nearly　ten　months　of　a　four　year　sentence。　He　had　expected　to　stay　only　about　three　months；　at　the　longest。　When　a　man　with　as　many　friends　on　the　outside　as　Jimmy　Valentine　had　is　received　in　the　〃stir〃　it　is　hardly　worth　while　to　cut　his　hair。

〃Now；　Valentine；〃　said　the　warden；　〃you'll　go　out　in　the　morning。　Brace　up；　and　make　a　man　of　yourself。　You're　not　a　bad　fellow　at　heart。　Stop　cracking　safes；　and　live　straight。〃

〃Me？〃　said　Jimmy；　in　surprise。　〃Why；　I　never　cracked　a　safe　in　my　life。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　laughed　the　warden。　〃Of　course　not。　Let's　see；　now。　How　was　it　you　happened　to　get　sent　up　on　that　Springfield　job？　Was　it　because　you　wouldn't　prove　an　alibi　for　fear　of　compromising　somebody　in　extremely　high…toned　society？　Or　was　it　simply　a　case　of　a　mean　old　jury　that　had　it　in　for　you？　It's　always　one　or　the　other　with　you　innocent　victims。〃

〃Me？〃　said　Jimmy；　still　blankly　virtuous。　〃Why；　warden；　I　never　was　in　Springfield　in　my　life！〃

〃Take　him　back；　Cronin！〃　said　the　warden；　〃and　fix　him　up　with　outgoing　clothes。　Unlock　him　at　seven　in　the　morning；　and　let　him　come　to　the　bull…pen。　Better　think　over　my　advice；　Valentine。〃

At　a　quarter　past　seven　on　the　next　morning　Jimmy　stood　in　the　warden's　outer　office。　He　had　on　a　suit　of　the　villainously　fitting；　ready…made　clothes　and　a　pair　of　the　stiff；　squeaky　shoes　that　the　state　furnishes　to　its　discharged　compulsory　guests。

The　clerk　handed　him　a　railroad　ticket　and　the　five…dollar　bill　with　which　the　law　expected　him　to　rehabilitate　himself　into　good　citizenship　and　prosperity。　The　warden　gave　him　a　cigar；　and　shook　hands。　Valentine；　9762；　was　chronicled　on　the　books；　〃Pardoned　by　Governor；〃　and　Mr。　James　Valentine　walked　out　into　the　sunshine。

Disregarding　the　song　of　the　birds；　the　waving　green　trees；　and　the　smell　of　the　flowers；　Jimmy　headed　straight　for　a　restaurant。　There　he　tasted　the　first　sweet　joys　of　liberty　in　the　shape　of　a　broiled　chicken　and　a　bottle　of　white　winefollowed　by　a　cigar　a　grade　better　than　the　one　the　warden　had　given　him。　From　there　he　proceeded　leisurely　to　the　depot。　He　tossed　a　quarter　into　the　hat　of　a　blind　man　sitting　by　the　door；　and　boarded　his　train。　Three　hours　set　him　down　in　a　little　town　near　the　state　line。　He　went　to　the　cafe　of　one　Mike　Dolan　and　shook　hands　with　Mike；　who　was　alone　behind　the　bar。

〃Sorry　we　couldn't　make　it　sooner；　Jimmy；　me　boy；〃　said　Mike。　〃But　we　had　that　protest　from　Springfield　to　buck　against；　and　the　governor　nearly　balked。　Feeling　all　right？〃

〃Fine；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Got　my　key？〃

He　got　his　key　and　went　upstairs；　unlocking　the　door　of　a　room　at　the　rear。　Everything　was　just　as　he　had　left　it。　Ther