wildfire-第41部分

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had　difficulty　in　kindling　blaze　enough　to　see　to　read。　The　letter　was　short；
written　in　lead…pencil　on　the　torn　leaf　of　a　ledger。　Slone　could　not　read
rapidlythose　years　on　the　desert　had　seen　to　thatand　his　haste　to　learn
what　Lucy　said　bewildered　him。　At　first　all　the　words　blurred：

　Come　at　once　to　the　bench　in　the　cottonwoods。　I'll　meet　you　　there。　My　heart
is　breaking。　It's　a　liea　liewhat　they　say。　　I'll　swear　you　were　with　me
the　night　the　boat　was　cut　adrift。　　I　KNOW　you　didn't　do　that。　I　know　who。　。　。
。　Oh；　come！　I　will　　stick　to　you。　I　will　run　off　with　you。　I　love　you！〃



CHAPTER　XV

Slone's　heart　leaped　to　his　throat；　and　its　beating　choked　his　utterances　of
rapture　and　amaze　and　dread。　But　rapture　dominated　the　other　emotions。　He
could　scarcely　control　the　impulse　to　run　to　meet　Lucy；　without　a　single
cautious　thought。

He　put　the　precious　letter　inside　his　blouse；　where　it　seemed　to　warm　his
breast。　He　buckled　on　his　gun…belt；　and；　extinguishing　the　light；　he　hurried
out。

A　crescent　moon　had　just　tipped　the　bluff。　The　village　lanes　and　cabins　and
trees　lay　silver　in　the　moon…light。　A　lonesome　coyote　barked　in　the　distance。
All　else　was　still。　The　air　was　cool；　sweet；　fragrant。　There　appeared　to　be　a
glamour　of　light；　of　silence；　of　beauty　over　the　desert。

Slone　kept　under　the　dark　lee　of　the　bluff　and　worked　around　so　that　he　could
be　above　the　village；　where　there　was　little　danger　of　meeting　any　one。　Yet
presently　he　had　to　go　out　of　the　shadow　into　the　moon…blanched　lane。　Swift
and　silent　as　an　Indian　he　went　along；　keeping　in　the　shade　of　what　trees
there　were；　until　he　came　to　the　grove　of　cottonwoods。　The　grove　was　a　black
mystery　lanced　by　silver　rays。　He　slipped　in　among　the　trees；　halting　every
few　steps　to　listen。　The　action；　the　realization　had　helped　to　make　him　cool；
to　steel　him；　though　never　before　in　his　life　had　he　been　so　exalted。　The
pursuit　and　capture　of　Wildfire；　at　one　time　the　desire　of　his　heart；　were　as
nothing　to　this。　Love　had　called　himand　lifeand　he　knew　death　hung　in　the
balance。　If　Bostil　found　him　seeking　Lucy　there　would　be　blood　spilled。　Slone
quaked　at　the　thought；　for　the　cold　and　ghastly　oppression　following　the　death
he　had　meted　out　to　Sears　came　to　him　at　times。　But　such　thoughts　were
fleeting；　only　one　thought　really　held　his　mindand　the　one　was　that　Lucy
loved　him；　had　sent　strange；　wild；　passionate　words　to　him。

He　found　the　narrow　path；　its　white　crossed　by　slowly　moving　black　bars　of
shadow；　and　stealthily　he　followed　this；　keen　of　eye　and　ear；　stopping　at
every　rustle。　He　well　knew　the　bench　Lucy　had　mentioned。　It　was　in　a　remote
corner　of　the　grove；　under　big　trees　near　the　spring。　Once　Slone　thought　he
had　a　glimpse　of　white。　Perhaps　it　was　only　moonlight。　He　slipped　on　and　on；
and　when　beyond　the　branching　paths　that　led　toward　the　house　he　breathed
freer。　The　grove　appeared　deserted。　At　last　he　crossed　the　runway　from　the
spring；　smelled　the　cool；　wet　moss　and　watercress；　and　saw　the　big　cottonwood；
looming　dark　above　the　other　trees。　A　patch　of　moonlight　brightened　a　little
glade　just　at　the　edge　of　dense　shade　cast　by　the　cottonwood。　Here　the　bench
stood。　It　was　empty！

Slone's　rapture　vanished。　He　was　suddenly　chilled。　She　was　not　there！　She
might　have　been　intercepted。　He　would　not　see　her。　The　disappointment；　the
sudden　relaxation；　was　horrible。　Then　a　white；　slender　shape　flashed　from
beside　the　black　tree…trunk　and　flew　toward　him。　It　was　noiseless；　like　a
specter；　and　swift　as　the　wind。　Was　he　dreaming？　He　felt　so　strange。　Thenthe
white　shape　reached　him　and　he　knew。

Lucy　leaped　into　his　arms。

〃Lin！　Lin！　Oh；　I'm　soso　glad　to　see　you！〃　she　whispered。　She　seemed
breathless；　keen；　new　to　him；　not　in　the　least　afraid　nor　shy。　Slone　could
only　hold　her。　He　could　not　have　spoken；　even　if　she　had　given　him　a　chance。
〃I　know　everythingwhat　they　accuse　you　ofhow　the　riders　treated　youhow
my　dad　struck　you。　Oh！　。　。　。　He's　a　brute！　I　hate　him　for　that。　Why　didn't　you
keep　out　of　his　way？　。　。　。　Van　saw　it　all。　Oh；　I　hate　him；　too！　He　said　you
lay　stillwhere　you　fell！　。　。　。　Dear　Lin；　that　blow　may　have　hurt　you
dreadfullyshamed　you　because　you　couldn't　strike　back　at　my　dadbut　it
reached　me；　too。　It　hurt　me。　It　woke　my　heart。　。　。　。　Wherewhere　did　he　hit
you？　Oh；　I've　seen　him　hit　men！　His　terrible　fists！〃

〃Lucy；　never　mind；〃　whispered　Slone。　〃I'd　stood　to　be　shot　just　for　this。〃

He　felt　her　hands　softly　on　his　face；　feeling　around　tenderly　till　they　found
the　swollen　bruise　on　mouth　and　chin。

〃Ah！　。　。　。　He　struck　you。　And　II'll　kiss　you；〃　she　whispered。　〃If　kisses
will　make　it　wellit'll　be　well！〃

She　seemed　strange；　wild；　passionate　in　her　tenderness。　She　lifted　her　face
and　kissed　him　softly　again　and　again　and　again；　till　the　touch　that　had　been
exquisitely　painful　to　his　bruised　lips　became　rapture。　Then　she　leaned　back
in　his　arms；　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　white…faced；　dark…eyed；　and　laughed
up　in　his　face；　lovingly；　daringly；　as　if　she　defied　the　world　to　change　what
she　had　done。

〃Lucy！　Lucy！　。　。　。　He　can　beat　meagain！〃　said　Slone；　low　and　hoarsely。

〃If　you　love　me　you'll　keep　out　of　his　way；〃　replied　the　girl。

〃If　I　love　you？　。　。　。　My　God！　。　。　。　I've　felt　my　heart　die　a　thousand　times
since　that　mornin'whenwhen　you〃

〃Lin；　I　didn't　know；〃　she　interrupted；　with　sweet；　grave　earnestness。　〃I　know
now！〃

And　Slone　could　not　but　know；　too；　looking　at　her；　and　the　sweetness；　the
eloquence；　the　noble　abandon　of　her　avowal　sounded　to　the　depths　of　him。　His
dread；　his　resignation；　his　shame；　all　sped　forever　in　the　deep；　full　breath
of　relief　with　which　he　cast　off　that　burden。　He　tasted　the　nectar　of
happiness；　the　first　time　in　his　life。　He　lifted　his　headnever；　he　knew；　to
lower　it　again。　He　would　be　true　to　what　she　had　made　him。

〃Come　in　the　shade；〃　he　whispered；　and　with　his　arm　round　her　he　led　her　to
the　great　tree…trunk。　〃Is　it　safe　for　you　here？　An'　how　long　can　you　stay？〃

〃I　had　it　out　with　Dadleft　him　licked　once　in　his　life；〃　she　replied。　〃Then
I　went　to　my　room；　fastened　the　door；　and　slipped　out　of　my　window。　I　can　stay
out　as　long　as　I　want。　No　one　will　know。〃

Slone's　heart　throbbed。　She　was　his。　The　clasp　of　her　hands　on　his；　the　gleam
of　her　eyes；　the　white；　daring　flash　of　her　face　in　the　shadow　of　the
moonthese　told　him　she　was　his。　How　it　had　come　about　was　beyond　him；　but　he
realized　the　truth。　What　a　girl！　This　was　the　same　nerve　which　she　showed　when
she　had　run　Wildfire　out　in　front　of　the　fleetest　horses　in　the　uplands。

〃Tell　me；　then；〃　he　began；　quietly；　with　keen　gaze　roving　under　the　trees　and
eyes　strained　tight；　〃tell　me　what's　come　off。〃

〃Don't　you　know？〃　she　queried；　in　amaze。

〃Only　that　for　some　reason　I'm　done　in　Bostil's　Ford。　It　can't　be　because　I
punched　Joel　Creech。　I　felt　it　before　I　met　Bostil　at　the　store。　He　taunted
me。　We　had　bitter　words。　He　told　before　all　of　them　how　the　outfit　I　wore　you
gave　me。　An'　then　I　dared　him　to　race　the　King。　My　horse　an'　my　life　against
YOU！〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　she　whispered；　softly。　〃It's　all　over　town。　。　。　。　Oh；　Lin！　it
was　a　grand　bet！　And　Bostil　four…flushed；　as　the　riders　say。　For　days　a　race
between　Wildfire　and　the　King　had　been　in　the　air。　There'll　never　be　peace　in
Bostil's　Ford　again　till　that　race　is　run。〃

〃But；　Lucy；　could　Bostil's　wantin'　Wildfire　an'　hatin'　me　because　I　won't
sellcould　that　ruin　me　here　at　the　Ford？〃

〃It　could。　But；　Lin；　there's　more。　Oh；　I　hate　to　tell　you！〃　she　whispered；
passionately。　〃I　thought　you'd　know。　。　。　。　Joel　Creech　swore　you　cut　the　ropes
on　the　ferry…boat　and　sent　it　adrift。〃

〃The　loon！〃　ejaculated　Slone；　and　he　laughed　low　in　both　anger　and　ridicule。
〃Lucy；　that's　only　a　fool's　talk。〃

〃He's　crazy。　Oh；　if　I　ever　get　him　in　front　of　me　again　when　I'm　on
SarchI'llI'll。　。　。　。〃　She　ended　with　a　little　gasp　and　leaned　a　moment
against　Slone。　He　felt　her　heart　beatfelt　the　strong　clasp　of　her　hands。　She
was　indeed　Bostil's　flesh　and　blood；　and　there　was　that　in　her　dangerous　to
arouse。

〃Lin；　the　folks　here　are　queer；〃　she　resumed；　more　calmly。　〃For　long　years　Dad
has　ruled　them。　They　see　with　his　eyes　and　talk　with　his　voice。　Joel　Creech
swore　you　cut　those　cables。　Swore　he　trailed　you。　Brackton　believed　him。　Van
believed　him。　They　told　my　father。　And　hemy　dadGod　forgive　him！　he　jumped
at　that。　The　village　as　one　person　now　believes　you　sent　the　boat　adrift　so
Creech's　horses　could　not　cross　and　you　could　win　the　race。〃

〃Lucy；　if　it　wasn't　soso　funny　I'd　be　mad　asas〃　burst　out　Slone。

〃It　isn't　funny。　It's　terrible。　。　。　。　I　know　who　cut　those　cables。　　。　。　Holley
knows。　。　。　。　DAD　knowsan'；　oh；　LinIhateI　hate　my　own　father！〃

〃My　God！〃　gasped　Slone；　as　the　full　signification　burst　upon　him。　Then　his
next　thought　was　for　Lucy。　〃Listen；　dearyou　mustn't　say　that；〃　he　entreated。
〃He's　your　father。　He's　a　good　man　every　way　except　when　he's　after　horses。
Then　he's　half　horse。　I　understand　him。　I　feel　sorry　for　him。　。　。　。　An'　if
he's　throwed　the　blame　on　me；　all　right。　I'll　stand　it。　What　do　I　care？　I　was
queered；　anyhow；　because　I　wouldn't　part　with　my　horse。　It　can't　matter　so
much　if　people　think　I　did　that　just　to　help　win　a　race。　But　if　they　knew
youryour　father　did　it；　an'　if　Creech's　horses　starve；　why　it'd　be　a
disgrace　for　himan'　you。〃

〃Lin　Sloneyou'll　accept　the　blame！〃　she　whispered；　with　wide；　dark　eyes　on
him；　hands　at　his　shoulders。

〃Sure　I　will；〃　replied　Slone。　〃I　can't　be　any　worse　off。〃

〃You're　better　than　all　of　themmy　rider！〃　she　cried；　full…voiced　and
tremulous。　〃Lin；　you　make　me　love　you　soitit　hurts！〃　And　she　seemed　about
to　fling　herself　into　his　arms　again。　There　was　a　strangeness　about　hera
glory。　〃But　you'll　not　take　the　shame　of　that　act。　For　I　won't　let　you。　I'll
tell　my　father　I　was　with　you　when　the　boat　was　cut　loose。　He'll　believe　me。〃

〃Yes；　an'　he'll　KILL　me！〃　groaned　Slone。　〃Good　Lord！　Lucy；　don't　do　that！〃

〃I　will！　An'　he'll　not　kill　you。　Lin；　Dad　took　a　great　fancy　to　you。　I　know
that。　He　thinks　he　hates　you。　But　in　his　heart　he　doesn't。　If　he　got　hold　of
Wildfirewhy；　he'd　never　be　able　to　do　enough　for　you。　He　never　could　make　i