desert gold-第52部分

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his　trickery。〃

〃You　seethere　was　mother　and　Nell；〃　began　Belding；　as　if　apologizing。　He　dropped　his　head　a　little　and　made　marks　in　the　sand　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。　　〃Mr。　Gale；　I've　been　sort　of　half　hitched；　as　Laddy　used　to　say。　　I'm　planning　to　have　a　little　more　elbow　room　round　this　ranch。　　I'm　going　to　send　Nell　East　to　her　mother。　　Then　I'll　　See　here；　Mr。　Gale；　would　you　mind　having　Nell　with　you　part　way　when　you　go　home？〃

〃We'd　all　be　delighted　to　have　her　go　all　the　way　and　make　us　a　visit；〃　replied　Mr。　Gale。

〃That's　fine。　　And　you'll　be　going　soon？　　Don't　take　that　as　if　I　wanted　to〃　Belding　paused；　for　the　truth　was　that　he　did　want　to　hurry　them　off。

〃We　would　have　been　gone　before　this；　but　for　you；〃　said　Mr。　Gale。　〃Long　ago　we　gave　up　hope　ofof　Richard　ever　returning。　　And　I　believe；　now　we're　sure　he　was　lost；　that　we'd　do　well　to　go　home　at　once。　　You　wished　us　to　remain　until　the　heat　was　brokentill　the　rains　came　to　make　traveling　easier　for　us。　　Now　I　see　no　need　for　further　delay。　　My　stay　here　has　greatly　benefited　my　health。　　I　shall　never　forget　your　hospitality。　　This　Western　trip　would　have　made　me　a　new　man　ifonlyRichard〃

〃Sure。　　I　understand；〃　said　Belding；　gruffly。　　〃Let's　go　in　and　tell　the　women　to　pack　up。〃

Nell　was　busy　with　the　servants　preparing　breakfast。　　Belding　took　her　into　the　sitting…room　while　Mr。　Gale　called　his　wife　and　daughter。

〃My　girl；　I've　some　news　for　you；〃　began　Belding。　　〃Mr。　Gale　is　leaving　to…day　with　his　family。　　I'm　going　to　send　you　with　thempart　way；　anyhow。　　You're　invited　to　visit　them。　　I　think　that　'd　be　great　for　youhelp　you　to　forget。　　But　the　main　thing　isyou're　going　East　to　join　mother。〃

Nell　gazed　at　him；　white…faced；　without　uttering　a　word。

〃You　see；　Nell；　I'm　about　done　in　Forlorn　River；〃　went　on　Belding。　〃That　blast　this　morning　sank　my　spring。　　There's　no　water　now。　It　was　the　last　straw。　　So　we'll　shake　the　dust　of　Forlorn　River。　I'll　come　on　a　little　laterthat's　all。〃

〃Dad；　you're　packing　your　gun！〃　exclaimed　Nell；　suddenly　pointing　with　a　trembling　finger。　　She　ran　to　him；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　Belding　put　her　away　from　him。　　His　movements　had　lost　the　old　slow　gentleness。

〃Why；　so　I　am；〃　replied　Belding；　coolly；　as　his　hand　moved　down　to　the　sheath　swinging　at　his　hip。　　〃Nell；　I'm　that　absent…minded　these　days！〃

〃Dad！〃　she　cried。

〃That'll　do　from　you；〃　he　replied；　in　a　voice　he　had　never　used　to　her。　　〃Get　breakfast　now；　then　pack　to　leave　Forlorn　River。〃

〃Leave　Forlorn　River！〃　whispered　Nell；　with　a　thin　white　hand　stealing　up　to　her　breast。　　How　changed　the　girl　was！　　Belding　reproached　himself　for　his　hardness；　but　did　not　speak　his　thought　aloud。　　Nell　was　fading　here；　just　as　Mercedes　had　faded　before　the　coming　of　Thorne。

Nell　turned　away　to　the　west　window　and　looked　out　across　the　desert　toward　the　dim　blue　peaks　in　the　distance。　Belding　watched　her；　likewise　the　Gales；　and　no　one　spoke。　There　ensued　a　long　silence。　　Belding　felt　a　lump　rise　in　his　throat。　　Nell　laid　her　arm　against　the　window　frame；　but　gradually　it　dropped；　and　she　was　leaning　with　her　face　against　the　wood。　A　low　sob　broke　from　her。　　Elsie　Gale　went　to　her；　embraced　her；　took　the　drooping　head　on　her　shoulder。

〃We've　come　to　be　such　friends；〃　she　said。　　〃I　believe　it'll　be　good　for　you　to　visit　me　in　the　city。　　Hereall　day　you　look　out　across　that　awful　lonely　desert。。。e；　Nell。〃

Heavy　steps　sounded　outside　on　the　flagstones；　then　the　door　rattled　under　a　strong　knock。　　Belding　opened　it。　　The　Chases；　father　and　son；　stood　beyond　the　threshold。

〃Good　morning；　Belding；〃　said　the　elder　Chase。　　〃We　were　routed　out　early　by　that　big　blast　and　came　up　to　see　what　was　wrong。　　All　a　blunder。　　The　Greaser　foreman　was　drunk　yesterday；　and　his　ignorant　men　made　a　mistake。　　Sorry　if　the　blast　bothered　you。〃

〃Chase；　I　reckon　that's　the　first　of　your　blasts　I　was　ever　glad　to　hear；〃　replied　Belding；　in　a　way　that　made　Chase　look　blank。

〃So？　　Well；　I'm　glad　you're　glad；〃　he　went　on；　evidently　puzzled。　〃I　was　a　little　worriedyou've　always　been　so　touchywe　never　could　get　together。　　I　hurried　over；　fearing　maybe　you　might　think　the　blastyou　see；　Belding〃

〃I　see　this；　Mr。　Ben　Chase；〃　interrupted　Belding；　in　curt　and　ringing　voice。　　〃That　blast　was　a　mistake；　the　biggest　you　ever　made　in　your　life。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Chase。

〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me　for　a　while；　unless　you're　dead　set　on　having　it　out　right　now。　　Mr。　Gale　and　his　family　are　leaving；　and　my　daughter　is　going　with　them。　　I'd　rather　you'd　wait　a　little。〃

〃Nell　going　away！〃　　exclaimed　Radford　Chase。　　He　reminded　Belding　of　an　overgrown　boy　in　disappointment。

〃Yes。　　ButMiss　Burton　to　you；　young　man〃

〃Mr。　Belding；　I　certainly　would　prefer　a　conference　with　you　right　now；〃　interposed　the　elder　Chase；　cutting　short　Belding's　strange　speech。　　〃There　are　other　mattersimportant　matters　to　discuss。　They've　got　to　be　settled。　　May　we　step　in；　sir？〃

〃No；　you　may　not；〃　replied　Belding；　bluntly。　　〃I'm　sure　particular　who　I　invite　into　my　house。　　But　I'll　go　with　you。〃

Belding　stepped　out　and　closed　the　door。　　〃Come　away　from　the　house　so　the　women　won't　hear　thethe　talk。〃

The　elder　Chase　was　purple　with　rage；　yet　seemed　to　be　controlling　it。　　The　younger　man　looked　black；　sullen；　impatient。　　He　appeared　not　to　have　a　thought　of　Belding。　　He　was　absolutely　blind　to　the　situation；　as　considered　from　Belding's　point　of　view。　　Ben　Chase　found　his　voice　about　the　time　Belding　halted　under　the　trees　out　of　earshot　from　the　house。

〃Sir；　you've　insulted　memy　son。　　How　dare　you？　　I　want　you　to　understand　that　you're〃

〃Chop　that　kind　of　talk　with　me；　you　…　…　…　…！〃　interrupted　Belding。　　He　had　always　been　profane；　and　now　he　certainly　did　not　choose　his　language。　　Chase　turned　livid；　gasped；　and　seemed　about　to　give　way　to　fury。　　But　something　about　Belding　evidently　exerted　a　powerful　quieting　influence。　　〃If　you　talk　sense　I'll　listen；〃　went　on　Belding。

Belding　was　frankly　curious。　　He　did　not　think　any　argument　or　inducement　offerd　by　Chase　could　change　his　mind　on　past　dealings　or　his　purpose　of　the　present。　　But　he　believed　by　listening　he　might　get　some　light　on　what　had　long　puzzled　him。　　The　masterly　effort　Chase　put　forth　to　conquer　his　aroused　passions　gave　Belding　another　idea　of　the　character　of　this　promoter。

〃I　want　to　make　a　last　effort　to　propitiate　you；〃　began　Chase；　in　his　quick；　smooth　voice。　　That　was　a　singular　change　to　Beldingthe　dropping　instantly　into　an　easy　flow　of　speech。　〃You've　had　losses　here；　and　naturally　you're　sore。　　I　don't　blame　you。　　But　you　can't　see　this　thing　from　my　side　of　the　fence。　Business　is　business。　　In　business　the　best　man　wins。　　The　law　upheld　those　transactions　of　mine　the　honesty　of　which　you　questioned。　As　to　mining　and　water　claims；　you　lost　on　this　technical　pointthat　you　had　nothing　to　prove　you　had　held　them　for　five　years。　　Five　years　is　the　time　necessary　in　law。　　A　dozen　men　might　claim　the　source　of　Forlorn　River；　but　if　they　had　no　house　or　papers　to　prove　their　squatters'　rights　any　man　could　to　in　and　fight　them　for　the　water。　　。。。。Now　I　want　to　run　that　main　ditch　along　the　river；　through　your　farm。　　Can't　we　make　a　deal？　　I'm　ready　to　be　liberalto　meet　you　more　than　halfway。　　I'll　give　you　an　interest　in　the　company。　　I　think　I've　influence　enough　up　at　the　Capitol　to　have　you　reinstated　as　inspector。　　A　little　reasonableness　on　your　part　will　put　you　right　again　in　Forlorn　River；　with　a　chance　of　growing　rich。　　There's　a　big　future　here。。。。My　interest；　Belding；　has　become　personal。　　Radford　is　in　love　with　your　step…daughter。　He　wants　to　marry　her。　　I'll　admit　now　if　I　had　foreseen　this　situation　I　wouldn't　have　pushed　you　so　hard。　　But　we　can　square　the　thing。　　Now　let's　get　together　not　only　in　business；　but　in　a　family　way。　　If　my　son's　happiness　depends　upon　having　this　girl；　you　may　rest　assured　I'll　do　all　I　can　to　get　her　for　him。　　I'll　absolutely　make　good　all　your　losses。　　Now　what　do　you　say？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Belding。　　〃Your　money　can't　buy　a　right　of　way　across　my　ranch。　　And　Nell　doesn't　want　your　son。　　That　settles　that。〃

〃But　you　could　persuade　her。〃

〃I　won't；　that's　all。〃

〃May　I　ask　why？〃　　Chases's　voice　was　losing　its　suave　quality；　but　it　was　even　swifter　than　before。

〃Sure。　　I　don't　mind　your　asking；〃　replied　Belding　in　slow　deliberation。　　〃I　wouldn't　do　such　a　low…down　trick。　　Besides；　if　I　would；　I'd　want　it　to　be　a　man　I　was　persuading　for。　　I　know　GreasersI　know　a　Yaqui　I'd　rather　give　Nell　to　than　your　son。〃

Radford　Chase　began　to　roar　in　inarticulate　rage。　　Belding　paid　no　attention　to　him；　indeed；　he　never　glanced　at　the　young　man。　　The　elder　Chase　checked　a　violent　start。　　He　plucked　at　the　collar　of　his　gray　flannel　shirt；　opened　it　at　the　neck。

〃My　son's　offer　of　marriage　is　an　honormore　an　honor；　sir；　than　you　perhaps　are　aware　of。〃

Belding　made　no　reply。　　His　steady　gaze　did　not　turn　from　the　long　lane　that　led　down　to　the　river。　　He　waited　coldly；　sure　of　himself。

〃Mrs。　Belding's　daughter　has　no　right　to　the　name　of　Burton；〃　snapped　Chase。　　〃Did　you　know　that？〃

〃I　did　not；〃　replied　Belding；　quietly。

〃Well；　you　know　it　now；〃　added　Chase；　bitingly。

〃Sure　you　can　prove　what　you　say？〃　queried　Belding；　in　the　same　cool；　unemotional　tone。　　It　struck　him　strangely　at　the　moment　what　little　knowledge　this　man　had　of　the　West　and　of　Western　character。

〃Prove　it？　　Why；　yes；　I　think　so；　enough　to　make　the　truth　plain　to　any　reasonable　man。　　I　come　from　Peoriawas　born　and　raised　there。　　I　went　to　school　with　Nell　Warren。　　That　was　your　wife's　maiden　name。　　She　was　a　beautiful；　gay　girl。　　All　the　fellows　were　in　love　with　her。　　I　knew　Bob　Burton　well。　　He　was　a　splendid　fellow；　but　wild。　　Nobody　ever　knew　for　sure；　but　we　all　supposed　he　was　engaged　to　marry　Nell。　　He　left　Peoria；　however；　and　soon　after　that　the　truth　about　Nell　came　out。　　She　ran　away。　　It　was　at　least　a　couple　of　months　before　Burton　showed　up　in　Peoria。　He　did　not　stay　long。　　Then　for　years　nothing　was　heard　of　either　of　them。　　When　word　did　come　Nell　was　in　Oklahoma；　Burton　was　in　Denver。　There's　chance；　of　course；　that　Burton　followed　Nell　and　marr