desert gold-第5部分

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o　see　some　stirring　life。　　He　did　not　care　very　much　what　happened。　　Months　of　futile　wandering　in　the　hope　of　finding　a　place　where　he　fitted　had　inclined　Richard　to　his　father's　opinion。

It　was　after　dark　one　evening　in　early　October　when　Richard　arrived　in　Casita。　　He　was　surprised　to　find　that　it　was　evidently　a　town　of　importance。　　There　was　a　jostling；　jabbering；　sombreroed　crowd　of　Mexicans　around　the　railroad　station。　　He　felt　as　if　he　were　in　a　foreign　country。　　After　a　while　he　saw　several　men　of　his　nationality；　one　of　whom　he　engaged　to　carry　his　luggage　to　a　hotel。　　They　walked　up　a　wide；　well…lighted　street　lined　with　buildings　in　which　were　bright　windows。　　Of　the　many　people　encountered　by　Gale　most　were　Mexicans。　　His　guide　explained　that　the　smaller　half　of　Casita　lay　in　Arizona；　the　other　half　in　Mexico；　and　of　several　thousand　inhabitants　the　majority　belonged　on　the　southern　side　of　the　street；　which　was　the　boundary　line。　　He　also　said　that　rebels　had　entered　the　town　that　day；　causing　a　good　deal　of　excitement。

Gale　was　almost　at　the　end　of　his　financial　resources；　which　fact　occasioned　him　to　turn　away　from　a　pretentious　hotel　and　to　ask　his　guide　for　a　cheaper　lodging…house。　　When　this　was　found；　a　sight　of　the　loungers　in　the　office；　and　also　a　desire　for　comfort；　persuaded　Gale　to　change　his　traveling…clothes　for　rough　outing　garb　and　boots。

〃Well；　I'm　almost　broke；〃　he　soliloquized；　thoughtfully。　　〃The　governor　said　I　wouldn't　make　any　money。　　He's　rightso　far。　And　he　said　I'd　be　coming　home　beaten。　　There　he's　wrong。　　I've　got　a　hunch　that　something　'll　happen　to　me　in　this　Greaser　town。〃

He　went　out　into　a　wide；　whitewashed；　high…ceiled　corridor；　and　from　that　into　an　immense　room　which；　but　for　pool　tables；　bar；　benches；　would　have　been　like　a　courtyard。　　The　floor　was　cobblestoned；　the　walls　were　of　adobe；　and　the　large　windows　opened　like　doors。　　A　blue　cloud　of　smoke　filled　the　place。　　Gale　heard　the　click　of　pool　balls　and　the　clink　of　glasses　along　the　crowded　bar。　　Bare…legged；　sandal…footed　Mexicans　in　white　rubbed　shoulders　with　Mexicans　mantled　in　black　and　red。　　There　were　others　in　tight…fitting　blue　uniforms　with　gold　fringe　or　tassels　at　the　shoulders。　　These　men　wore　belts　with　heavy；　bone…handled　guns；　and　evidently　were　the　rurales；　or　native　policemen。　　There　were　black…bearded；　coarse…visaged　Americans；　some　gambling　round　the　little　tables；　others　drinking。　　The　pool　tables　were　the　center　of　a　noisy　crowd　of　younger　men；　several　of　whom　were　unsteady　on　their　feet。　　There　were　khaki…clad　cavalrymen　strutting　in　and　out。

At　one　end　of　the　room；　somewhat　apart　from　the　general　meelee；　was　a　group　of　six　men　round　a　little　table；　four　of　whom　were　seated；　the　other　two　standing。　　These　last　two　drew　a　second　glance　from　Gale。　　The　sharp…featured；　bronzed　faces　and　piercing　eyes；　the　tall；　slender；　loosely　jointed　bodies；　the　quiet；　easy；　reckless　air　that　seemed　to　be　a　part　of　the　menthese　things　would　plainly　have　stamped　them　as　cowboys　without　the　buckled　sombreros；　the　colored　scarfs；　the　high…topped；　high…heeled　boots　with　great　silver…roweled　spurs。　　Gale　did　not　fail　to　note；　also；　that　these　cowboys　wore　guns；　and　this　fact　was　rather　a　shock　to　his　idea　of　the　modern　West。　　It　caused　him　to　give　some　credence　to　the　rumors　of　fighting　along　the　border；　and　he　felt　a　thrill。

He　satisfied　his　hunger　in　a　restaurant　adjoining；　and　as　he　stepped　back　into　the　saloon　a　man　wearing　a　military　cape　jostled　him。　　Apologies　from　both　were　instant。　　Gale　was　moving　on　when　the　other　stopped　short　as　if　startled；　and；　leaning　forward；　exclaimed：

〃Dick　Gale？〃

〃You've　got　me；〃　replied　Gale；　in　surprise。　　〃But　I　don't　know　you。〃

He　could　not　see　the　stranger's　face；　because　it　was　wholly　shaded　by　a　wide…brimmed　hat　pulled　well　down。

〃By　Jove！　　It's　Dick！　　If　this　isn't　great！　　Don't　you　know　me？〃

〃I've　heard　your　voice　somewhere；〃　replied　Gale。　　〃Maybe　I'll　recognize　you　if　you　come　out　from　under　that　bonnet。〃

For　answer　the　man；　suddenly　manifesting　thought　of　himself；　hurriedly　drew　Gale　into　the　restaurant；　where　he　thrust　back　his　hat　to　disclose　a　handsome；　sunburned　face。

〃George　@Thorne！　　So　help　me〃

〃'S…s…ssh。　　You　needn't　yell；〃　interrupted　the　other；　as　he　met　Gale's　outstretched　hand。　　There　was　a　close；　hard；　straining　grip。　〃I　must　not　be　recognized　here。

There　are　reasons。　　I'll　explain　in　a　minute。　　Say；　but　it's　fine　to　see　you！　　Five　years；　Dick；　five　years　since　I　saw　you　run　down　University　Field　and　spread…eagle　the　whole　Wisconsin　football　team。〃

〃Don't　recollect　that；〃　replied　Dick；　laughing。　　〃George；　I'll　bet　you　I'm　gladder　to　see　you　than　you　are　to　see　me。　　It　seems　to　long。　　You　went　into　the　army；　didn't　you？〃

〃I　did。　　I'm　here　now　with　the　Ninth　Cavalry。　　Butnever　mind　me。　What're　you　doing　way　down　here？　　Say；　I　just　noticed　your　togs。　Dick；　you　can't　be　going　in　for　mining　or　ranching；　not　in　this　God…forsaken　desert？〃

〃On　the　square；　George；　I　don't　know　any　more　why　I'm　here　thanthan　you　know。〃

〃Well；　that　beats　me！〃　ejaculated　Thorne；　sitting　back　in　his　chair；　amaze　and　concern　in　his　expression。　　〃What　the　devil's　wrong？　Your　old　man's　got　too　much　money　for　you　ever　to　be　up　against　it。　Dick；　you　couldn't　have　gone　to　the　bad？〃

A　tide　of　emotion　surged　over　Gale。　　How　good　it　was　to　meet　a　friendsome　one　to　whom　to　talk！　　He　had　never　appreciated　his　loneliness　until　that　moment。

〃George；　how　I　ever　drifted　down　here　I　don't　know。　　I　didn't　exactly　quarrel　with　the　governor。　　Butdamn　it；　Dad　hurt　meshamed　me；　and　I　dug　out　for　the　West。　　It　was　this　way。　After　leaving　college　I　tried　to　please　him　by　tackling　one　thing　after　another　that　he　set　me　to　do。　　On　the　square；　I　had　no　head　for　business。　　I　made　a　mess　of　everything。　　The　governor　got　sore。　He　kept　ramming　the　harpoon　into　me　till　I　just　couldn't　stand　it。　What　little　ability　I　possessed　deserted　me　when　I　got　my　back　up；　and　there　you　are。　　Dad　and　I　had　a　rather　uncomfortable　half　hour。　When　I　quitwhen　I　told　him　straight　out　that　I　was　going　West　to　fare　for　myself；　why；　it　wouldn't　have　been　so　tough　if　he　hadn't　laughed　at　me。　　He　called　me　a　rich　man's　sonan　idle；　easy…going　spineless　swell。　　He　said　I　didn't　even　have　character　enough　to　be　out　and　out　bad。　　He　said　I　didn't　have　sense　enough　to　marry　one　of　the　nice　girls　in　my　sister's　crowd。　　He　said　I　couldn't　get　back　home　unless　I　sent　to　him　for　money。　　He　said　he　didn't　believe　I　could　fightcould　really　make　a　fight　for　anything　under　the　sun。　　Ohhehe　shot　it　into　me；　all　right。〃

Dick　dropped　his　head　upon　his　hands；　somewhat　ashamed　of　the　smarting　dimness　in　his　eyes。　　He　had　not　meant　to　say　so　much。　Yet　what　a　relief　to　let　out　that　long…congested　burden！

〃Fight！〃　cried　Thorne；　hotly。　　〃What's　ailing　him？　　Didn't　they　call　you　Biff　Gale　in　college？　　Dick；　you　were　one　of　the　best　men　Stagg　ever　developed。　　I　heard　him　say　sothat　you　were　the　fastest；　one…hundred…and…seventy…five…pound　man　he'd　ever　trained；　the　hardest　to　stop。〃

〃The　governor　didn't　count　football；〃　said　Dick。　　〃He　didn't　mean　that　kind　of　fight。　　When　I　left　home　I　don't　think　I　had　an　idea　what　was　wrong　with　me。　　But；　George；　I　think　I　know　now。　　I　was　a　rich　man's　sonspoiled；　dependent；　absolutely　ignorant　of　the　value　of　money。　　I　haven't　yet　discovered　any　earning　capacity　in　me。　　I　seem　to　be　unable　to　do　anything　with　my　hands。　　That's　the　trouble。　　But　I'm　at　the　end　of　my　tether　now。　　And　I'm　going　to　punch　cattle　or　be　a　miner；　or　do　some　real　stuntlike　joining　the　rebels。〃

〃Aha！　　I　thought　you'd　spring　that　last　one　on　me；〃　declared　Thorne；　wagging　his　head。　　〃Well；　you　just　forget　it。　　Say；　old　boy；　there's　something　doing　in　Mexico。　　The　United　States　in　general　doesn't　realize　it。　　But　across　that　line　there　are　crazy　revolutionists；　ill…paid　soldiers；　guerrilla　leaders；　raiders；　robbers；　outlaws；　bandits　galore；　starving　peons　by　the　thousand；　girls　and　women　in　terror。　　Mexico　is　like　some　of　her　volcanoesready　to　erupt　fire　and　hell！　　Don't　make　the　awful　mistake　of　joining　rebel　forces。　　Americans　are　hated　by　Mexicans　of　the　lower　class　the　fighting　class；　both　rebel　and　federal。　　Half　the　time　these　crazy　Greasers　are　on　one　side；　then　on　the　other。　If　you　didn't　starve　or　get　shot　in　ambush；　or　die　of　thirst；　some　Greaser　would　knife　you　in　the　back　for　you　belt　buckle　or　boots。　　There　are　a　good　many　Americans　with　the　rebels　eastward　toward　Agua；　Prieta　and　Juarez。　　Orozco　is　operating　in　Chihuahua；　and　I　guess　he　has　some　idea　of　warfare。　　But　this　Sonora；　a　mountainous　desert；　the　home　of　the　slave　and　the　Yaqui。　　There's　unorganized　revolt　everywhere。　　The　American　miners　and　ranchers；　those　who　could　get　away；　have　fled　across　into　the　States；　leaving　property。　　Those　who　couldn't　or　wouldn't　come　must　fight　for　their　lives；　are　fighting　now。〃

〃That's　bad；〃　said　Gale。　　〃It's　news　to　me。　　Why　doesn't　the　government　take　action；　do　something？〃

〃Afraid　of　international　complications。　　Don't　want　to　offend　the　Maderists；　or　be　criticized　by　jealous　foreign　nations。　　It's　a　delicate　situation；　Dick。　　The　Washington　officials　know　the　gravity　of　it；　you　can　bet。　　But　the　United　States　in　general　is　in　the　dark；　and　the　armywell；　you　ought　to　hear　the　inside　talk　back　at　San　Antonio。　　We're　patrolling　the　boundary　line。　　We're　making　a　grand　bluff。　　I　could　tell　you　of　a　dozen　instances　where　cavalry　should　have　pursued　raiders　on　the　other　side　of　the　line。　　But　we　won't　do　it。　　The　officers　are　a　grouchy　lot　these　days。　　You　see；　of　course；　what　significance　would　attach　to　United　States　cavalry　going　into　Mexican　territory。　　There　would　simply　be　hell。　　My　own　colonel　is　the　sorest　man　on　the　job。　　We're　all　sore。　　It's　like　sitting　on　a　powder　magazine。　　We　can't　keep　the　rebels　and　raiders　from　crossing　the　line。　　Yet　we　don't　fight。　　My　commission　expires　soon。　　I'll　be　discharged　in　three　months。　　You　can　bet　I'm　glad　for　more　reasons　than　I've　mentioned。〃

Thorne　was　evidently　laboring　under　strong；　suppressed　excitement。　His　face　showed　pale　under　the　tan；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　with　a　dark　fire。　Occasionally　his　delight　at　meeting；　talking　with　Gale；　domi