the seventh man-第21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！


d　the　door　and　seen　him；　I　tell　you　the　shivers　went　up　my　back。〃

〃Is　he　thin？　Is　he　pale？〃　cried　Betty　Neal。　〃How　did　he　get　away？　Did　he　escape？　Did　they　parole　him？　Did　they　pardon　him？　Did　he〃

〃Let　me　get　down！〃　she　cried。

Mrs。　Sommers　flung　away　from　the　door。

〃Then　go　and　marry　your　man…killer！〃

But　Betty　Neal　was　already　clattering　down　the　stairs。　Half　way　to　the　bottom　her　strength　and　courage　ebbed　suddenly　from　her；　she　went　on　with　short　steps；　and　when　at　last　she　closed　the　parlor　door　behind　her；　she　was　staring　as　if　she　looked　at　a　ghost。

Yet　Vic　Gregg　was　not　greatly　changeda　little　thinner　perhaps；　and　just　now　he　certainly　did　not　have　his　usual　color。　The　moment　she　appeared　he　jumped　to　his　feet　as　if　he　had　heard　a　shot；　and　now　he　stood　with　his　feet　braced　a　little　to　meet　a　shock；　one　hand　twitching　and　playing　nervously　with　the　embroidered　cloth　on　the　table。　She　did　not　speak；　merely　stood　with　her　fingers　still　gripping　the　handle　of　the　door　as　if　she　were　ready　to　dart　away　at　the　first　alarm。　A　wave　of　pain　went　over　the　face　of　Vic　Gregg　and　remained　looking　at　her　out　of　his　eyes；　for　all　that　his　single…track；　concentrated　mind　could　perceive　in　her　was　the　thing　he　took　for　fear。

〃Miss　Neal；〃　he　said。　His　voice　shook；　straightened　out　again。　He　made　her　think　of　one　of　her　big　school　boys　who　had　forgotten　his　lesson　and　now　stood　cudgeling　his　memory　and　dreading　that　terrible　nightmare　of　〃staying　after　school。〃　She　had　a　wild　desire　to　laugh。

〃Miss　Neal；　I　ain't　here　to　try　to　take　up　things　that　can't　be　took　up　ag'in。〃　Apparently　he　had　prepared　the　speech　carefully；　and　now　he　went　on　with　more　ease：　〃I'm　leavin'　these　here　parts　for　some　place　unknown。　Before　I　go　I　jest　want　to　say　I　know　I　was　wrong　from　the　beginnin'。　All　I　want　to　say　is　that　I　was　jest　all　sort　of　tied　up　in　a　knot　inside　and　when　I　seen　you　with　him〃　He　stopped。　〃I　hope　you　marry　some　gent　that's　worth　you；　only　they　ain！t　any　such。　An'I　want　to　wish　you　good…luck；　an'　say　good…by〃

He　swept　the　perspiration　from　his　forehead；　and　caught　up　his　hat；　he　had　been　through　the　seventh　circle　of　torture。

〃Oh；　Vic；　dear！〃　cried　a　voice　he　had　never　heard　before。　Then　a　flurry　of　skirts；　then　arms　about　him；　then　tears　and　laughter；　and　eyes　which　went　hungrily　over　his　face。

〃I　been　a　houn'…dog。　My　God；　Betty；　you　don't　mean〃

〃That　I　love　you；　Vic。　I　never　knew　what　it　was　to　love　you　before。〃

〃After　I　been　a　man…killin'；　lyin'；　sneakin'〃

〃Don't　you　say　another　word。　Vic；　it　was　all　my　fault。〃

〃It　wasn't。　It　was　mine。　But　if　you'd　only　kind　of　held　off　a　little　and　gone　easy　with　me〃

〃You　didn't　give　me　a　chance。〃

〃When　I　looked　back　from　the　road　you　wasn't　standin'　in　the　door。〃

〃I　was。　And　you　didn't　look　back。〃

〃I　did。〃

〃Vic　Gregg；　are　you　trying　to〃

But　the　anger　fled　from　her　as　suddenly　as　it　had　come。

〃I　don't　care。　I'll　take　all　the　blame。〃

〃I　don't　want　you　to。　I　won't　let　you。〃

She　laughed　hysterically。

〃Vic；　tell　me　that　you're　free？〃

〃I'm　paroled。〃

〃Thank　God！　Oh；　I've　prayed　and　prayedVic；　don't　talk。　Sit　down　there　so！　I　just　want　to　look　and　look　at　you。　There's　a　hollow；　hungry　place　in　me　that's　filling　up　again。〃

〃It　was　Pete　Glass；〃　said　Gregg　brokenly。　〃Hehe　trusted　me　clean　through　when　the　rest　was　lookin'　at　me　like　I　was　a　snake。　Pete　got　word　to　the　governor；　an'〃

There　followed　a　long　interval　of　talk　that　meant　nothing；　and　then；　as　the　afternoon　waned　towards　evening；　and　the　evening　toward　dark；　he　told　her　the　whole　story　of　the　long　adventure。　He　left　out　nothing；　not　a　detail　that　might　tell　against　him。　When　he　came　to　the　moment　when　Glass　persuaded　him　to　go　back　and　betray　Barry　he　winced；　but　set　his　jaw　and　plunged　ahead。　She；　too；　paled　when　she　heard　that；　and　for　a　moment　she　had　to　cover　her　eyes；　but　she　was　older　by　half　a　life…time　than　she　had　been　when　he　was　last　with　her；　and　now　she　read　below　the　surface。　Besides；　Vic　had　offered　to　undo　what　he　had　done；　had　offered　to　stay　and　fight　for　Barry；　and　surely　that　evened　the　score！

There　was　a　light　rap　on　the　door；　and　then　Mrs。　Sommers　came　in　with　a　tray。

〃Maybe　you　young　folks　forgot　about　supper；〃　she　said。　〃I　just　thought　I'd　bring　in　a　bite　for　you。〃

She　placed　it　on　the　table；　and　then　lingered；　delighted；　while　her　eyes　went　over　them　together　and　one　by　one。　Perhaps　Betty　Neal　was　a　fool　for　throwing　herself　away　on　a　gun…fighter；　but　at　least　Mrs。　Sommers　was　furnished　with　a　story　which　half　Alder　would　know　by　tomorrow。　The　walls　of　her　house　were　not　sound　proof。　Besides；　Mrs。　Sommers　had　remarkably　keen　cars。

〃They's　been　a　gentleman　here　ask　for　you；　Vic；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　thought　maybe　you　wouldn't　like　it　much　to　be　disturbed。　So　I　told　him　you　wasn't　here。〃

Her　smile　fairly　glowed　with　triumph。

〃Thanks；〃　said　Gregg；　〃but　who　was　he？〃

〃I　never　seen　him　before。　Anyway；　it　didn't　much　matter。　He　wanted　to　see　some　of　the　rest　of　the　boys　quite　bad：　Pete　Glass　and　Ronicky　Joe；　and　Sliver　Waldron；　and　Gus　Reeve。　He　seemed　to　want　to　see　'em　all　particular　bad。〃

〃Pete　Glass　and　Ronicky　andthe　posse！〃　murmured　Vic。　He　grew　thoughtful。　〃He　wanted　to　see　me；　too？〃

〃Very　particular；　and　he　seemed　kind　of　down…hearted　when　he　found　that　Pete　was　out　of　town。　Wanted　to　know　when　he　might　be　back。〃

〃What　sort　of　a　lookin'　gent　was　he？〃　asked　Vic；　and　his　voice　was　sharp。

〃Him？　Oh；　he　looked　like　a　tenderfoot　to　me。　Terrible　polite；　though；　and　he　had　a　voice　that　wasn't　hardly　rougher'n　a　girl's。　Seemed　like　he　was　sort　of　embarrassed　jest　talkin'　to　me。〃　She　smiled　at　the　thought；　but　Gregg　was　on　his　feet　now；　his　hands　on　the　shoulders　of　Mrs。　Sommers　as　though　he　would　try　to　shake　information　from　her　loose　bulk。

〃Look　quick；　now；〃　he　said。　〃Where　did　you　send　him？〃

〃How　you　talk！　Why；　where　should　I　send　him？　I　told　him　like　as　not　Ronicky　and　Sliver　and　Gus　would　be　down　to　Lorrimer's〃

The　groan　of　Vic　made　her　stop　with　a　gasp。

〃What　did　be　look　like？〃

Mrs。　Sommers　was　very　sober。　Her　smile　congealed。

〃Black　hair；　and　young；　and　good…lookin'；　and　b…b…brown　eyes；　and〃

〃God！〃

〃Vic；〃　cried　Betty　Neal；　〃what　is　it！〃　She　looked　around　her　in　terror。

〃It's　Barry。〃

He　turned　towards　the　door；　and　then　stopped；　in　an　agony　of　indecision。　Betty　Neal　was　before　him；　blocking　the　way　with　her　arms　outstretched。

〃Vic；　you　shan't　go。　You　shan't　go。　You've　told　me　yourself　that　he's　sure　death。〃

〃God　knows　he　is。〃

〃You　won't　go；　Vic？〃

〃But　the　others！　RonickyGus〃

She　stammered　in　her　fear。

〃That's　their　lookout！　They're　three　to　one。　Let　them　kill〃

〃But　they　don't　know　him。　They've　never　been　close　enough　to　see　his　face。　Besides；　no　three　men　Ihefor　God's　sake　tell　me　what　to　do！〃

〃Stay　hereif　you　love　me。　I　won't　let　you　go。　I　won't！〃

〃I　got　to　warn　them。〃

〃You'll　be　killed！〃

He　tore　away　her　hands。

〃I　got　to　warn　thembut　who'll　I　help？　Them　three　against　Dan？　He　saved　metwice！　ButI　got。　I　got　to　go。〃

〃If　you　fight　for　him　first　he'll　only　turn　on　you　afterwards。　Vic；　stay　here。〃

〃What　good's　my　life？　What　good's　it　if　I'm　a　yaller　dog　ag'in？　I'm　goin'　outand　be　a　man！〃



Chapter　XXII。　The　Fifth　Man

The　moment　Vic　Gregg　stood　in　the　open　air；　with　the　last　appeal　of　Betty　ringing　still　at　his　ear；　he　felt　a　profound　conviction　that　he　was　about　to　die　and　he　stood　a　moment　breathing　deeply；　taking　the　faint　alkali　scent　of　the　dust　and　looking　up　to　the　stars。　It　was　that　moment　when　night　blends　with　day　and　there　is　no　sign　of　light　in　the　sky　except　that　the　stars　burn　more　and　more　bright　as　the　darkness　thickens；　and　Vic　Gregg　watched　the　stars　draw　down　more　closely　and　believed　that　he　was　seeing　this　for　the　last　time。　Alder　seemed　inexpressibly　dear　to　him　as　he　stood　there　through　a　little　space；　and　the　vaguely　discernible　outlines　of　the　shacks　along　the　street　were　like　the　faces　of　friends。　In　that　house　behind　him　was　Betty　Neal；　waiting；　praying　for　him；　and　indeed；　had　it　not　been　for　shame；　he　would　have　weakened　now　and　turned　back。　For　he　hardly　knew　which　way　to　turn。　He　wanted　to　save　Ronicky　and　the　other　two　from　the　attack　of　Barry；　yet　he　would　not　lay　a　trap　for　Dan。　To　Barry　he　owed　a　vast　debt；　his　debt　to　the　three　was　that　which　any　human　being　owes　to　another。　He　had　to　save　them　from　the　wolf　which　ran　through　the　night　in　the　body　of　a　man。

That　thought　sent　him　at　a　run　for　Captain　Lorrimer's　saloon。　It　was　lighted　brilliantly　by　the　gasoline　lamp　within；　but　a　short　distance　away　from　it　he　heard　no　sound　and　his　imagination　drew　a　terrible　picture　of　the　big；　empty　room；　with　three　dead　men　lying　in　the　center　of　it　where　the　destroyer　had　reached　them　one　by　one。　That　was　what　took　the　blood　from　his　face　and　made　him　a　white　mask　of　tragedy　when　he　stepped　into　the　door　of　the　saloon。　It　was　quiet；　but　half　a　dozen　men　sat　at　the　tables　in　the　corner；　and　among　them　were　Ronicky　and　the　other　two。　Sliver　Waldron　was　in　the　very　act　of　pulling　back　his　chair；　and　perhaps　all　three　had　just　come　in。　Perhaps　Barry　had　come　here　to　took　for　his　quarry　and　found　them　not　yet　arrived；　perhaps　he　was　now　hunting　in　other　places　through　the　town；　perhaps　he　was　even　now　crouched　in　the　shadow　near　at　hand　and　ready　to　attack。

It　made　the　hand　of　Vic　Gregg　contract　with　a　cruel　pressure　when　it　fell　on　the　shoulder　of　Sliver　Waldron。

〃Now；　what　in　hell！〃　grunted　that　hardened　warrior。

He　had　no　love　for　Vic　Gregg　since　that　day　when　the　posse　rode　through　the　hills　after　him；　neither　had　Ronicky　or　Gus　Reeve；　who　rose　from　their　chairs　as　if　at　a　signal。　〃Come　with　me；　gents；〃　said　Vic。　〃An'　come　quick！〃

They　asked　no　questions　and　did　not　stay　to　argue　the　point　for　he　had　that　in　his　face　which　meant　action。　He　led　them　outside；　and　behind　the　horse　shed　of　the　saloon。

〃We're　alone？〃　he　asked。

〃Nothin'　in　sight。〃

〃Look　sharp。〃

They　peered　about　them　through　the　night；　and　a　wan　moon　only　helped　to　make　the　darkness　visible。

〃Gents；　we　may　be　alone　now；　but　we　ain't　goin'　to　be　alone　long。　Get　your　bosses　and　ride　like　hell。　Barry　is　in　town！〃

〃Vic；　you're　drunk。〃

〃I　tell