desert gold-第53部分

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was　in　Oklahoma；　Burton　was　in　Denver。　There's　chance；　of　course；　that　Burton　followed　Nell　and　married　her。　That　would　account　for　Nell　Warren　taking　the　name　of　Burton。　　But　it　isn't　likely。　　None　of　us　ever　heard　of　such　a　thing　and　wouldn't　have　believed　it　if　we　had。　　The　affair　seemed　destined　to　end　unfortunately。　But　Belding；　while　I'm　at　it；　I　want　to　say　that　Nell　Warren　was　one　of　the　sweetest；　finest；　truest　girls　in　the　world。　　If　she　drifted　to　the　Southwest　and　kept　her　past　a　secret　that　was　only　natural。　Certainly　it　should　not　be　held　against　her。　　Why；　she　was　only　a　childa　girlseventeeneighteen　years　old。。。。In　a　moment　of　amazementwhen　I　recognized　your　wife　as　an　old　schoolmateI　blurted　the　thing　out　to　Radford。　　You　see　now　how　little　it　matters　to　me　when　I　ask　your　stepdaughter's　hand　in　marriage　for　my　son。〃

Belding　stood　listening。　　The　genuine　emotion　in　Chase's　voice　was　as　strong　as　the　ring　of　truth。　　Belding　knew　truth　when　he　heard　it。　　The　revelation　did　not　surprise　him。　　Belding　did　not　soften；　for　he　devined　that　Chase's　emotion　was　due　to　the　probing　of　an　old　wound；　the　recalling　of　a　past　both　happy　and　painful。　　Still；　human　nature　was　so　strange　that　perhaps　kindness　and　sympathy　might　yet　have　a　place　in　this　Chase's　heart。　　Belding　did　not　believe　so；　but　he　was　willing　to　give　Chase　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。

〃So　you　told　my　wife　you'd　respect　her　secretkeep　her　dishonor　from　husband　and　daughter？〃　demanded　Belding；　his　dark　gaze　sweeping　back　from　the　lane。

〃What！　　II〃　stammered　Chase。

〃You　made　your　son　swear　to　be　a　man　and　die　before　he'd　hint　the　thing　to　Nell？〃　went　on　Belding；　and　his　voice　rang　louder。

Ben　Chase　had　no　answer。　　The　red　left　his　face。　　His　son　slunk　back　against　the　fence。

〃I　say　you　never　held　this　secret　over　the　heads　of　my　wife　and　her　daughter？〃　thundered　Belding。

He　had　his　answer　in　the　gray　faces；　in　the　lips　that　fear　made　mute。　　Like　a　flash　Belding　saw　the　whole　truth　of　Mrs。　Belding's　agony；　the　reason　for　her　departure；　he　saw　what　had　been　driving　Nell；　and　it　seemed　that　all　the　dogs　of　hell　were　loosed　within　his　heart。　　He　struck　out　blindly；　instinctively　in　his　pain；　and　the　blow　sent　Ben　Chase　staggering　into　the　fence　corner。　　Then　he　stretched　forth　a　long　arm　and　whirled　Radford　Chase　back　beside　his　father。

〃I　see　it　all　now；〃　went　on　Belding；　hoarsely。　　〃You　found　the　woman's　weaknessher　love　for　the　girl。　　You　found　the　girl's　weaknessher　pride　and　fear　of　shame。　　So　you　drove　the　one　and　hounded　the　other。　　God；　what　a　base　thing　to　do！　　To　tell　the　girl　was　bad　enough；　but　to　threaten　her　with　betrayal；　there's　no　name　for　that！〃

Belding's　voice　thickened；　and　he　paused；　breathing　heavily。　　He　stepped　back　a　few　paces；　and　this；　an　ominous　action　for　an　armed　man　of　his　kind；　instead　of　adding　to　the　fear　of　the　Chases；　seemed　to　relieve　them。　　If　there　had　been　any　pity　in　Belding's　heart　he　would　have　felt　it　then。

〃And　now；　gentlemen；〃　continued　Belding；　speaking　low　and　with　difficulty；　〃seeing　I've　turned　down　your　proposition；　I　suppose　you　think　you've　no　more　call　to　keep　your　mouths　shut？〃

The　elder　Chase　appeared　fascinated　by　something　he　either　saw　or　felt　in　Belding；　and　his　gray　face　grew　grayer。　　He　put　up　a　shaking　hand。　　Then　Radford　Chase；　livid　and　snarling；　burst　out：　〃I'll　talk　till　I'm　black　in　the　face。　　You　can't　stop　me！〃

〃You'll　go　black　in　the　face；　but　it　won't　be　from　talking；〃　hissed　Belding。

His　big　arm　swept　down；　and　when　he　threw　it　up　the　gun　glittered　in　his　hand。　　Simultaneously　with　the　latter　action　pealed　out　a　shrill；　penetrating　whistle。

The　whistle　of　a　horse！　　It　froze　Belding's　arm　aloft。　For　an　instant　he　could　not　move　even　his　eyes。　　The　familiarity　of　that　whistle　was　terrible　in　its　power　to　rob　him　of　strength。　Then　he　heard　the　rapid；　heavy　pound　of　hoofs；　and　again　the　piercing　whistle。

〃Blanco　Diablo！〃　he　cried；　huskily。

He　turned　to　see　a　huge　white　horse　come　thundering　into　the　yard。　A　wild；　gaunt；　terrible　horse；　indeed；　the　loved　Blanco　Diablo。　A　bronzed；　long…haired　Indian　bestrode　him。　　More　white　horses　galloped　into　the　yard；　pounded　to　a　halt；　whistling　home。　　Belding　saw　a　slim　shadow　of　a　girl　who　seemed　all　great　black　eyes。

Under　the　trees　flashed　Blanco　Sol；　as　dazzling　white；　as　beautiful　as　if　he　had　never　been　lost　in　the　desert。　　He　slid　to　a　halt；　then　plunged　and　stamped。　　His　rider　leaped；　throwing　the　bridle。　　Belding　saw　a　powerful；　spare；　ragged　man；　with　dark；　gaunt　face　and　eyes　of　flame。

Then　Nell　came　running　from　the　house；　her　golden　hair　flying；　her　hands　outstretched；　her　face　wonderful。

〃Dick！　　Dick！　　Oh…h…h；　Dick！〃　she　cried。　　Her　voice　seemed　to　quiver　in　Belding's　heart。

Belding's　eyes　began　to　blur。　　He　was　not　sure　he　saw　clearly。　Whose　face　was　this　now　close　before　hima　long　thin；　shrunken　face；　haggard；　tragic　in　its　semblance　of　torture；　almost　of　death？　　But　the　eyes　were　keen　and　kind。　　Belding　thought　wildly　that　they　proved　he　was　not　dreaming。

〃I　shore　am　glad　to　see　you　all；〃　said　a　well…remembered　voice　in　a　slow；　cool　drawl。



XVIII



Reality　Against　Dreams

Ladd；　Lash；　Thorne；　Mercedes；　they　were　all　held　tight　in　Belding's　arms。　　Then　he　ran　to　Blanco　Diablo。　　For　once　the　great　horse　was　gentle；　quiet；　glad。　　He　remembered　this　kindest　of　masters　and　reached　for　him　with　warm；　wet　muzzle。

Dick　Gale　was　standing　bowed　over　Nell's　slight　form；　almost　hidden　in　his　arms。　　Belding　hugged　them　both。　　He　was　like　a　boy。　He　saw　Ben　Chase　and　his　son　slip　away　under　the　trees；　but　the　circumstances　meant　nothing　to　him　then。

〃Dick！　　Dick！〃　he　roared。　　〃Is　it　you？。。。Say；　who　do　you　think's　herehere；　in　Forlorn　River？〃

Gale　gripped　Belding　with　a　hand　as　rough　and　hard　as　a　file　and　as　strong　as　a　vise。　　But　he　did　not　speak　a　word。　　Belding　thought　Gale's　eyes　would　haunt　him　forever。

It　was　then　three　more　persons　came　upon　the　sceneElsie　Gale；　running　swiftly；　her　father　assisting　Mrs。　Gale；　who　appeared　about　to　faint。

〃Belding！　　Who　on　earth's　that？〃　cried　Dick　Hoarsely。

〃Quien　sabe；　my　son；〃　replied　Belding；　and　now　his　voice　seemed　a　little　shaky。　　〃Nell；　come　here。　　Give　him　a　chance。〃

Belding　slipped　his　arm　round　Nell；　and　whispered　in　her　ear。　〃This　'll　be　great！〃

Elsie　Gale's　face　was　white　and　agitated；　a　face　expressing　extreme　joy。

〃Oh；　brother！　　Mama　saw　youPapa　saw　you；　and

never　knew　you！　　But　I　knew　you　when　you　jumped　quickthat　wayoff　your　horse。　　And　now　I　don't　know　you。　　You　wild　man！　　You　giant！　You　splendid　barbarian！。。。Mama；　Papa；　hurry！　　It　is　Dick！　　Look　at　him。　　Just　look　at　him！　　Oh…h；　thank　God！〃

Belding　turned　away　and　drew　Nell　with　him。　　In　another　second　she　and　Mercedes　were　clasped　in　each　other's　arms。　　Then　followed　a　time　of　joyful　greetings　all　round。

The　Yaqui　stood　leaning　against　a　tree　watching　the　welcoming　home　of　the　lost。　　No　one　seemed　to　think　of　him；　until　Belding；　ever　mindful　of　the　needs　of　horses；　put　a　hand　on　Blanco　Diablo　and　called　to　Yaqui　to　bring　the　others。　　They　led　the　string　of　whites　down　to　the　barn；　freed　them　of　wet　and　dusty　saddles　and　packs；　and　turned　them　loose　in　the　alfalfa；　now　breast…high。　　Diablo　found　his　old　spirit；　Blanco　Sol　tossed　his　head　and　whistled　his　satisfaction；　White　Woman　pranced　to　and　fro；　and　presently　they　all　settled　down　to　quiet　grazing。　　How　good　it　was　for　Belding　to　see　those　white　shapes　against　the　rich　background　of　green！　　His　eyes　glistened。　　It　was　a　sight　he　had　never　expected　to　see　again。　　He　lingered　there　many　moments　when　he　wanted　to　hurry　back　to　his　rangers。

At　last　he　tore　himself　away　from　watching　Blanco　Diablo　and　returned　to　the　house。　　It　was　only　to　find　that　he　might　have　spared　himself　the　hurry。　　Jim　and　Ladd　were　lying　on　the　beds　that　had　not　held　them　for　so　many　months。　　Their　slumber　seemed　as　deep　and　quiet　as　death。　　Curiously　Belding　gazed　down　upon　them。　They　had　removed　only　boots　and　chaps。　　Their　clothes　were　in　tatters。　　Jim　appeared　little　more　than　skin　and　bones；　a　long　shape；　dark　and　hard　as　iron。　　Ladd's　appearance　shocked　Belding。　The　ranger　looked　an　old　man；　blasted；　shriveled；　starved。　　Yet　his　gaunt　face；　though　terrible　in　its　records　of　tortures；　had　something　fine　and　noble；　even　beautiful　to　Belding；　in　its　strength；　its　victory。

Thorne　and　Mercedes　had　disappeared。　　The　low　murmur　of　voices　came　from　Mrs。　Gale's　room；　and　Belding　concluded　that　Dick　was　still　with　his　family。　　No　doubt　he；　also；　would　soon　seek　rest　and　sleep。　　Belding　went　through　the　patio　and　called　in　at　Nell's　door。　　She　was　there　sitting　by　her　window。　　The　flush　of　happiness　had　not　left　her　face；　but　she　looked　stunned；　and　a　shadow　of　fear　lay　dark　in　her　eyes。　　Belding　had　intended　to　talk。　　He　wanted　some　one　to　listen　to　him。　　The　expression　in　Nell's　eyes　；　however；　silenced　him。　　He　had　forgotten。　　Nell　read　his　thought　in　his　face；　and　then　she　lost　all　her　color　and　dropped　her　head。　　Belding　entered；　stood　beside　her　with　a　hand　on　hers。　　He　tried　desperately　hard　to　think　of　the　right　thing　to　say；　and　realized　so　long　as　he　tried　that　he　could　not　speak　at　all。

〃NellDick's　back　safe　and　sound；〃　he　said；　slowly。　　〃That's　the　main　thing。　　I　wish　you　could　have　seen　his　eyes　when　he　held　you　in　his　arms　out　there。。。。Of　course；　Dick's　coming　knocks　out　your　trip　East　and　changes　plans　generally。　　We　haven't　had　the　happiest　time　lately。　　But　now　it　'll　be　different。　　Dick's　as　true　as　a　Yaqui。　　He'll　chase　that　Chase　fellow；　don't　mistake　me。。。。Then　mother　will　be　home　soon。　　She'll　straighten　out　thisthis　mystery。　And　Nellhowever　it　turns　outI　know　Dick　Gale　will　feel　just　the　same　as　I　feel。　　Brace　up　now；　girl。〃

Belding　left　the　patio　and　traced　thoughtful　steps　back　toward　the　corrals。　　He　realized　the　need　of　his　wife。　　If　she　had　been　at　home　he　would　not　have　come　so　close　to　killing　two　men。　　Nell　would　never　have　fallen　so　low　in　spirit。　　Whatever　the　real　truth　of　the　tragedy　of　his　wife's　life；　it　would　not　make　the　slightest

difference　to　him。　　What　hurt　him　was　the　pain　mother　and　daughter　had　suffered；　were　suffering　still。　　Somehow　he　must　put　an　end　to　that　pain。

He　found