desert gold-第14部分

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　years　agoI'm　twenty…five　nowI　went　to　work　for　my　father。　He'she　has　business　interests　there。　　I　tried　all　kinds　of　inside　jobs。　　I　couldn't　please　my　father。　　I　guess　I　put　no　real　heart　in　my　work。　　the　fact　was　I　didn't　know　how　to　work。　　The　governor　and　I　didn't　exactly　quarrel；　but　he　hurt　my　feelings；　and　I　quit。　Six　months　or　more　ago　I　came　West；　and　have　knocked　about　from　Wyoming　southwest　to　the　border。　　I　tried　to　find　congenial　work；　but　nothing　came　my　way。　　To　tell　you　frankly；　Mr。　Belding；　I　suppose　I　didn't　much　care。　　I　believe；　though；　that　all　the　time　I　didn't　know　what　I　wanted。　　I've　learnedwell；　just　lately〃

〃What　do　you　want　to　do？〃　interposed　Belding。

〃I　want　a　man's　job。　　I　want　to　do　things　with　my　hands。　　I　want　action。　　I　want　to　be　outdoors。〃

Belding　nodded　his　head　as　if　he　understood　that；　and　he　began　to　speak　again；　cut　something　short；　then　went　on；　hesitatingly：

〃Galeyou　could　go　home　againto　the　old　man　it'd　be　all　right？〃

〃Mr。　Belding；　there's　nothing　shady　in　my　past。　　The　governor　would　be　glad　to　have　me　home。　　That's　the　only　consolation　I've　got。　But　I'm　not　going。　　I'm　broke。　　I　won't　be　a　tramp。　　And　it's　up　to　me　to　do　something。〃

〃How'd　you　like　to　be　a　border　ranger？〃　asked　Belding；　laying　a　hand　on　Dick's　knee。　　〃Part　of　my　job　here　is　United　States　Inspector　of　Immigration。　　I've　got　that　boundary　line　to　patrolto　keep　out　Chinks　and　Japs。　　This　revolution　has　added　complications；　and　I'm　looking　for　smugglers　and　raiders　here　any　day。　　You'll　not　be　hired　by　the　U。　S。　　You'll　simply　be　my　ranger；　same　as　Laddy　and　Jim；　who　have　promised　to　work　for　me。　　I'll　pay　you　well；　give　you　a　room　here；　furnish　everything　down　to　guns；　and　the　finest　horse　you　ever　saw　in　your　life。　　Your　job　won't　be　safe　and　healthy；　sometimes；　but　it'll　be　a　man's　jobdon't　mistake　me！　You　can　gamble　on　having　things　to　do　outdoors。　　Now；　what　do　you　say？〃

〃I　accpet；　and　I　thank　youI　can't　say　how　much；〃　replied　Gale；　earnestly。

〃Good！　　That's　settled。　　Let's　go　out　and　tell　Laddy　and　Jim。〃

Both　boys　expressed　satisfaction　at　the　turn　of　affairs；　and　then　with　Belding　they　set　out　to　take　Gale　around　the　ranch。　　The　house　and　several　outbuildings　were　constructed　of　adobe；　which；　according　to　Belding；　retained　the　summer　heat　on　into　winter；　and　the　winter　cold　on　into　summer。　　These　gray…red　mud　habitations　were　hideous　to　look　at；　and　this　fact；　perhaps；　made　their　really　comfortable　interiors　more　vividly　a　contrast。　　The　wide　grounds　were　covered　with　luxuriant　grass　and　flowers　and　different　kinds　of　trees。　　Gale's　interest　led　him　to　ask　about　fig　trees　and　pomegranates；　and　especially　about　a　beautiful　specimen　that　Belding　called　palo　verde。

Belding　explained　that　the　luxuriance　of　this　desert　place　was　owing　to　a　few　springs　and　the　dammed…up　waters　of　the　Rio　Forlorn。　Before　he　had　come　to　the　oasis　it　had　been　inhabited　by　a　Papago　Indian　tribe　and　a　few　peon　families。　　The　oasis　lay　in　an　arroyo　a　mile　wide；　and　sloped　southwest　for　some　ten　miles　or　more。

The　river　went　dry　most　of　the　year；　but　enough　water　was　stored　in　flood　season　to　irrigate　the　gardens　and　alfalfa　fields。

〃I've　got　one　never…failing　spring　on　my　place；〃　said　Belding。　　〃Fine；　sweet　water！　　You　know　what　that　means　in　the　desert。　　I　like　this　oasis。　　The　longer　I　live　here　the　better　I　like　it。　　There's　not　a　spot　in　southern　Arizona　that'll　compare　with　this　valley　for　water　or　grass　or　wood。　　It's　beautiful　and　healthy。　　Forlorn　and　lonely；　yes；　especially　for　women　like　my　wife　and　Nell；　but　I　like　it。。。。And　between　you　and　me；　boys；　I've　got　something　up　my　sleeve。　　There's　gold　dust　in　the　arroyos；　and　there's　mineral　up　in　the　mountains。　If　we　only　had　water！　　This　hamlet　has　steadily　grown　since　I　took　up　a　station　here。　　Why；　Casita　is　no　place　beside　Forlorn　River。　Pretty　soon　the　Southern　Pacific　will　shoot　a　railroad　branch　out　here。　　There　are　possibilities；　and　I　want　you　boys　to　stay　with　me　and　get　in　on　the　ground　floor。　　I　wish　this　rebel　war　was　over。。。。Well；　here　are　the　corrals　and　the　fields。　　Gale；　take　a　look　at　that　bunch　of　horses！〃

Belding's　last　remark　was　made　as　he　led　his　companions　out　of　shady　gardens　into　the　open。　　Gale　saw　an　adobe　shed　and　a　huge　pen　fenced　by　strangely　twisted　and　contorted　branches　or　trunks　of　mesquite；　and；　beyond　these；　wide；　flat　fields；　greena　dark；　rich　greenand　dotted　with　beautiful　horses。　　There　were　whites　and　blacks；　and　bays　and　grays。　　In　his　admiration　Gale　searched　his　memory　to　see　if　he　could　remember　the　like　of　these　magnificent　animals；　and　had　to　admit　that　the　only　ones　he　could　compare　with　them　were　the　Arabian　steeds。

〃Every　ranch　loves　his　horses；〃　said　Belding。　　〃When　I　was　in　the　Panhandle　I　had　some　fine　stock。　　But　these　are　Mexican。　　They　came　from　Durango；　where　they　were　bred。　　Mexican　horses　are　the　finest　in　the　world；　bar　none。〃

〃Shore　I　reckon　I　savvy　why　you　don't　sleep　nights；〃　drawled　Laddy。　〃I　see　a　Greaser　out　thereno；　it's　an　Indian。〃

〃That's　my　Papago　herdsman。　　I　keep　watch　over　the　horses　now　day　and　night。　　Lord；　how　I'd　hate　to　have　Rojas　or　Salazarany　of　those　bandit　rebelsfind　my　horses！。。。Gale；　can　you　ride？〃

Dick　modestly　replied　that　he　could；　according　to　the　Eastern　idea　of　horsemanship。

〃You　don't　need　to　be　half　horse　to　ride　one　of　that　bunch。　　But　over　there　in　the　other　field　I've　iron…jawed　broncos　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　tackleexcept　to　see　the　fun。　　I've　an　outlaw　I'll　gamble　even　Laddy　can't　ride。〃

〃So。　　How　much'll　you　gamble？〃　asked　Laddy；　instantly。

The　ringing　of　a　bell；　which　Belding　said　was　a　call　to　supper；　turned　the　men　back　toward　the　house。　　Facing　that　way；　Gale　saw　dark；　beetling　ridges　rising　from　the　oasis　and　leading　up　to　bare；　black　mountains。　　He　had　heard　Belding　call　them　No　Name　Mountains；　and　somehow　the　appellation　suited　those　lofty；　mysterious；　frowning　peaks。

It　was　not　until　they　reached　the　house　and　were　about　to　go　in　that　Belding　chanced　to　discover　Gale's　crippled　hand。

〃What　an　awful　hand！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Where　the　devil　did　you　get　that？〃

〃I　stove　in　my　knuckles　on　Rojas；〃　replied　Dick。

〃You　did　that　in　one　punch？　　Say；　I'm　glad　it　wasn't　me　you　hit！　Why　didn't　you　tell　me？　　That's　a　bad　hand。　　Those　cuts　are　full　of　dirt　and　sand。　　Inflammation's　setting　in。　　It's　got　to　be　dressed。　　Nell！〃　he　called。

There　was　no　answer。　　He　called　again；　louder。

〃Mother；　where's　the　girl？〃

〃She's　there　in　the　dining…room；〃　replied　Mrs。　Belding。

〃Did　she　hear　me？〃　he　inquired；　impatiently。

〃Of　course。〃

〃Nell！〃　roared　Belding。

This　brought　results。　　Dick　saw　a　glimpse　of　golden　hair　and　a　white　dress　in　the　door。　　But　they　were　not　visible　longer　than　a　second。

〃Dad；　what's　the　matter？〃　asked　a　voice　that　was　still　as　sweet　as　formerly；　but　now　rather　small　and　constrained。

〃Bring　the　antiseptics；　cotton；　bandagesand　things　out　here。　Hurry　now。〃

Belding　fetched　a　pail　of　water　and　a　basin　from　the　kitchen。　　His　wife　followed　him　out；　and；　upon　seeing　Dick's　hand；　was　all　solicitude。　　Then　Dick　heard　light；　quick　footsteps；　but　he　did　not　look　up。

〃Nell；　this　is　Mr。　GallDick　Gale；　who　came　with　the　boys　last　last　night；〃　said　Belding。　　〃He's　got　an　awful　hand。　　Got　it　punching　that　greaser　Rojas。　　I　want　you　to　dress　it。。。。Gale；　this　is　my　step…daughter；　Nell　Burton；　of　whom　I　spoke。　　She's　some　good　when　there's　somebody　sick　or　hurt。　　Shove　out　your　fist；　my　boy；　and　let　her　get　at　it。　　Supper's　nearly　ready。〃

Dick　felt　that　same　strange；　quickening　heart　throb；　yet　he　had　never　been　cooler　in　his　life。　　More　than　anything　else　in　the　world　he　wanted　to　look　at　Nell　Burton；　however；　divining　that　the　situation　might　be　embarrassing　to　her；　he　refrained　from　looking　up。　　She　began　to　bathe　his　injured　knuckles。　　He　noted　the　softness；　the　deftness　of　her　touch；　and　then　it　seemed　her　fingers　were　not　quite　as　steady　as　they　might　have　been。　　Still；　in　a　moment　they　appeared　to　become　surer　in　their　work。　　She　had　beautiful　hands；　not　too　large；　though　certainly　not　small；　and　they　were　strong；　brown；　supple。　　He　observed　next；　with　stealthy；　upward…stealing　glance；　that　she　had　rolled　up　her　sleeves；　exposing　fine；　round　arms　graceful　in　line。　　Her　skin　was　brownno；　it　was　more　gold　than　brown。　　It　had　a　wonderful　clear　tint。　　Dick　stoically　lowered　his　eyes　then；　putting　off　as　long　as　possible　the　alluring　moment　when　he　was　to　look　into　her　face。　　That　would　be　a　fateful　moment。　　He　played　with　a　certain　strange　joy　of　anticipation。　　When；　however；　she　sat　down　beside　him　and　rested　his　injured　hand　in　her　lap　as　she　cut　bandages；　she　was　so　thrillingly　near　that　he　yielded　to　an　irrepressible　desire　to　look　up。　　She　had　a　sweet；　fair　face　warmly　tinted　with　that　same　healthy　golden…brown　sunburn。　　Her　hair　was　light　gold　and　abundant；　a　waving　mass。　　Her　eyes　were　shaded　by　long；　downcast　lashes；　yet　through　them　he　caught　a　gleam　of　blue。

Despite　the　stir　within　him；　Gale；　seeing　she　was　now　absorbed　in　her　task；　critically　studied　her　with　a　second　closer　gaze。　She　was　a　sweet；　wholesome；　joyous；　pretty　girl。

〃Shore　it　musta　hurt？〃　replied　Laddy；　who　sat　an　interested　spectator。

〃Yes；　I　confess　it　did；〃　replied　Dick；　slowly；　with　his　eyes　on　Nell's　face。　　〃But　I　didn't　mind。〃

The　girl's　lashes　swept　up　swiftly　in　surprise。　　She　had　taken　his　words　literally。　　But　the　dark…blue　eyes　met　his　for　only　a　fleeting　second。　　Then　the　warm　tint　in　her　cheeks　turned　as　red　as　her　lips。　　Hurriedly　she　finished　tying　the　bandage　and　rose　to　her　feet。

〃I　thank　you；〃　said　Gale；　also　rising。

With　that　Belding　appeared　in　the　doorway；　and　finding　the　operation　concluded；　called　them　in　to　supper。　　Dick　had　the　use　of　only　one　arm；　and　he　certainly　was　keenly　aware　of　the　shy；　silent　girl　across　the　table；　but　in　spite　of　these　considerable　handicaps　he　eclipsed　both　hungry　cowboys　in　the　assault　upon　Mrs。　Belding's　bounteous　supper。　　Belding　talked；　the　cowboys　talked　more　or　less。　　Mrs。　Belding　put　in　a　word　now　and　then；　and　Dick　managed　to　find　brief　intervals　when　it　was　possible　for　him　to　say　yes　or　no。　　He　observed　gratefully　that　no　one　round　the　table　seemed　to　be　aware