cabin fever-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃Better〃

〃Yuma。　You　hit　the　shortest　trail　for　Yuma；　Bud。　I'm　running　this。〃

Foster　seemed　distinctly　out　of　humor。　He　told　Mert　again　to　shut　up；　and　Mert　did　so　grumblingly；　but　somewhat　diverted　and　consoled；　Bud　fancied；　by　the　sandwiches　and　coffeeand　the　whisky　too；　he　guessed。　For　presently　there　was　an　odor　from　the　uncorked　bottle　in　the　car。

Bud　started　and　drove　steadily　on　through　the　rain　that　never　ceased。　The　big　car　warmed　his　heart　with　its　perfect　performance；　its　smooth；　effortless　speed；　its　ease　of　handling。　He　had　driven　too　long　and　too　constantly　to　tire　easily；　and　he　was　almost　tempted　to　settle　down　to　sheer　enjoyment　in　driving　such　a　car。　Last　night　he　had　enjoyed　it；　but　last　night　was　not　to…day。

He　wished　he　had　not　overheard　so　much；　or　else　had　overheard　more。　He　was　inclined　to　regret　his　retreat　from　the　acrimonious　voices　as　being　premature。　Just　why　was　he　a　simp；　for　instance？　Was　it　because　he　thought　Foster　owned　the　car？　Bud　wondered　whether　father…in…law　had　not　bought　it；　after　all。　Now　that　he　began　thinking　from　a　different　angle；　he　remembered　that　father…　in…law　had　behaved　very　much　like　the　proud　possessor　of　a　new　car。　It　really　did　not　look　plausible　that　he　would　come　out　in　the　drizzle　to　see　if　Foster's　car　was　safely　locked　in　for　the　night。　There　had　been；　too；　a　fussy　fastidiousness　in　the　way　the　robe　had　been　folded　and　hung　over　the　rail。　No　man　would　do　that　for　some　other　man's　property；　unless　he　was　paid　for　it。

Wherefore；　Bud　finally　concluded　that　Foster　was　not　above　helping　himself　to　family　property。　On　the　whole；　Bud　did　not　greatly　disapprove　of　that；　he　was　too　actively　resentful　of　his　own　mother…in…law。　He　was　not　sure　but　he　might　have　done　something　of　the　sort　himself；　if　his　mother…in…law　had　possessed　a　six…thousand…dollar　car。　Still；　such　a　car　generally　means　a　good　deal　to　the　owner；　and　he　did　not　wonder　that　Foster　was　nervous　about　it。

But　in　the　back　of　his　mind　there　lurked　a　faint　dissatisfaction　with　this　easy　explanation。　It　occurred　to　him　that　if　there　was　going　to　be　any　trouble　about　the　car；　he　might　be　involved　beyond　the　point　of　comfort。　After　all；　he　did　not　know　Foster；　and　he　had　no　more　reason　for　believing　Foster's　story　than　he　had　for　doubting。　For　all　he　knew；　it　might　not　be　a　wife　that　Foster　was　so　afraid　of。

Bud　was　not　stupid。　He　was　merely　concerned　chiefly　with　his　own　affairsa　common　enough　failing；　surely。　But　now　that　he　had　thought　himself　into　a　mental　eddy　where　his　own　affairs　offered　no　new　impulse　toward　emotion；　he　turned　over　and　over　in　his　mind　the　mysterious　trip　he　was　taking。　It　had　come　to　seem　just　a　little　too　mysterious　to　suit　him；　and　when　Bud　Moore　was　not　suited　he　was　apt　to　do　something　about　it。

What　he　did　in　this　case　was　to　stop　in　Bakersfield　at　a　garage　that　had　a　combination　drugstore　and　news…stand　next　door。　He　explained　shortly　to　his　companions　that　he　had　to　stop　and　buy　a　road　map　and　that　he　wouldn't　be　long；　and　crawled　out　into　the　rain。　At　the　open　doorway　of　the　garage　he　turned　and　looked　at　the　car。　No；　it　certainly　did　not　look　in　the　least　like　the　machine　he　had　driven　down　to　the　Oakland　moleexcept；　of　course；　that　it　was　big　and　of　the　same　make。　It　might　have　been　empty；　too；　for　all　the　sign　it　gave　of　being　occupied。　Foster　and　Mert　evidently　had　no　intention　whatever　of　showing　themselves。

Bud　went　into　the　drugstore；　remained　there　for　five　minutes　perhaps；　and　emerged　with　a　morning　paper　which　he　rolled　up　and　put　into　his　pocket。　He　had　glanced　through　its　feature　news；　and　had　read　hastily　one　front…page　article　that　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　the　war；　but　told　about　the　daring　robbery　of　a　jewelry　store　in　San　Francisco　the　night　before。

The　safe；　it　seemed；　had　been　opened　almost　in　plain　sight　of　the　street　crowds；　with　the　lights　full　on　in　the　store。　A　clever　arrangement　of　two　movable　mirrors　had　served　to　shield　the　thief　or　thieves。　For　no　longer　than　two　or　three　minutes；　it　seemed；　the　lights　had　been　off；　and　it　was　thought　that　the　raiders　had　used　the　interval　of　darkness　to　move　the　mirrors　into　position。　Which　went　far　toward　proving　that　the　crime　had　been　carefully　planned　in　advance。　Furthermore；　the　article　stated　with　some　assurance　that　trusted　employees　were　involved。

Bud　also　had　glanced　at　the　news　items　of　less　importance；　and　had　been　startled　enoughyet　not　so　much　surprised　as　he　would　have　been　a　few　hours　earlierto　read；　under　the　caption：　DARING　THIEF　STEALS　COSTLY　CAR；　to　learn　that　a　certain　rich　man　of　Oakland　had　lost　his　new　automobile。　The　address　of　the　bereaved　man　had　been　given；　and　Bud's　heart　had　given　a　flop　when　he　read　it。　The　details　of　the　theft　had　not　been　told；　but　Bud　never　noticed　their　absence。　His　memory　supplied　all　that　for　him　with　sufficient　vividness。

He　rolled　a　cigarette；　lighted　it；　and　with　the　paper　stuffed　carelessly　into　his　pocket　he　went　to　the　car；　climbed　in；　and　drove　on　to　the　south；　just　as　matter…of…factly　as　though　he　had　not　just　then　discovered　that　he；　Bud　Moore；　had　stolen　a　six…　thousand…dollar　automobile　the　night　before。



CHAPTER　FIVE。　BUD　CANNOT　PERFORM　MIRACLES

They　went　on　and　on；　through　the　rain　and　the　wind；　sometimes　through　the　mud　as　well；　where　the　roads　were　not　paved。　Foster　had　almost　pounced　upon　the　newspaper　when　he　discovered　it　in　Bud's　pocket　as　he　climbed　in；　and　Bud　knew　that　the　two　read　that　feature　article　avidly。　But　if　they　had　any　comments　to　make；　they　saved　them　for　future　privacy。　Beyond　a　few　muttered　sentences　they　were　silent。

Bud　did　not　care　whether　they　talked　or　not。　They　might　have　talked　themselves　hoarse；　when　it　came　to　that；　without　changing　his　opinions　or　his　attitude　toward　them。　He　had　started　out　the　most　unsuspecting　of　men；　and　now　he　was　making　up　for　it　by　suspecting　Foster　and　Mert　of　being　robbers　and　hypocrites　and　potential　murderers。　He　could　readily　imagine　them　shooting　him　in　the　back　of　the　head　while　he　drove；　if　that　would　suit　their　purpose；　or　if　they　thought　that　he　suspected　them。

He　kept　reviewing　his　performance　in　that　garage。　Had　he　really　intended　to　steal　the　car；　he　would　not　have　had　the　nerve　to　take　the　chances　he　had　taken。　He　shivered　when　he　recalled　how　he　had　slid　under　the　car　when　the　owner　came　in。　What　if　the　man　had　seen　him　or　heard　him？　He　would　be　in　jail　now；　instead　of　splashing　along　the　highway　many　miles　to　the　south。　For　that　matter；　he　was　likely　to　land　in　jail；　anyway；　before　he　was　done　with　Foster；　unless　he　did　some　pretty　close　figuring。　Wherefore　he　drove　with　one　part　of　his　brain；　and　with　the　other　he　figured　upon　how　he　was　going　to　get　out　of　the　mess　himself　and　land　Foster　and　Mert　deep　in　the　middle　of　it。　For　such　was　his　vengeful　desire。

After　an　hour　or　so；　when　his　stomach　began　to　hint　that　it　was　eating　time　for　healthy　men；　he　slowed　down　and　turned　his　head　toward　the　tonneau。　There　they　were；　hunched　down　under　the　robe；　their　heeds　drawn　into　their　collars　like　two　turtles　half　asleep　on　a　mud　bank。

〃Say；　how　about　some　lunch？〃　he　demanded。　〃Maybe　you　fellows　can　get　along　on　whisky　and　sandwiches；　but　I'm　doing　the　work；　and　if　you　notice；　I've　been　doing　it　for　about　twelve　hours　now　without　any　let…up。　There's　a　town　ahead　here　a　ways〃

〃Drive　around　it；　then；〃　growled　Foster；　lifting　his　chin　to　stare　ahead　through　the　fogged　windshield。　〃We've　got　hot　coffee　here；　and　there's　plenty　to　eat。　Enough　for　two　meals。　How　far　have　we　come　since　we　started？〃

〃Far　enough　to　be　called　crazy　if　we　go　much　farther　without　a　square　meal；〃　Bud　snapped。　Then　he　glanced　at　the　rumpled　newspaper　and　added　carelessly；　〃Anything　new　in　the　paper？〃

〃No！〃　Mert　spoke　up　sharply。　〃Go　on。　You're　doing　all　right　so　fardon't　spoil　it　by　laying　down　on　your　job！〃

〃Sure；　go　on！〃　Foster　urged。　〃We'll　stop　when　we　get　away　from　this　darn　burg；　and　you　can　rest　your　legs　a　little　while　we　eat。〃

Bud　went　on；　straight　through　the　middle　of　the　town　without　stopping。　They　scurried　down　a　long；　dismal　lane　toward　a　low…　lying　range　of　hills　pertly　wooded　with　bald　patches　of　barren　earth　and　rock。　Beyond　were　mountains　which　Bud　guessed　was　the　Tehachapi　range。　Beyond　them；　he　believed　he　would　find　desert　and　desertion。　He　had　never　been　over　this　road　before；　so　he　could　no　more　than　guess。　He　knew　that　the　ridge　road　led　to　Los　Angeles；　and　he　did　not　want　anything　of　that　road。　Too　many　travelers。　He　swung　into　a　decent…looking　road　that　branched　off　to　the　left；　wondering　where　it　led；　but　not　greatly　caring。　He　kept　that　road　until　they　had　climbed　over　a　ridge　or　two　and　were　in　the　mountains。　Soaked　wilderness　lay　all　about　them；　green　in　places　where　grass　would　grow；　brushy　in　places；　barren　and　scarred　with　outcropping　ledges；　pencilled　with　wire　fences　drawn　up　over　high　knolls。

In　a　sequestered　spot　where　the　road　hugged　close　the　concave　outline　of　a　bushy　bluff；　Bud　slowed　and　turned　out　behind　a　fringe　of　bushes；　and　stopped。

〃This　is　safe　enough；〃　he　announced；　〃and　my　muscles　are　kinda　crampy。　I'll　tell　the　world　that's　been　quite　some　spell　of　straight　driving。〃

Mert　grunted；　but　Foster　was　inclined　to　cheerfulness。　〃You're　some　driver；　Bud。　I've　got　to　hand　it　to　you。〃

Bud　grinned。　〃All　right；　I'll　take　ithalf　of　it；　anyway；　if　you　don't　mind。　You　must　remember　I　don't　know　you　fellows。　Most　generally　I　collect　half　in　advance；　on　a　long　trip　like　this。〃　Foster's　eyes　opened；　but　he　reached　obediently　inside　his　coat。　Mert　growled　inaudible　comments　upon　Bud's　nerve。

〃Oh；　we　can't　kick；　Mert；〃　Foster　smoothed　him　down　diplomatically。　〃He's　delivered　the　goods；　so　far。　And　he　certainly　does　know　how　to　put　a　car　over　the　road。　He　don't　know　us；　remember！〃

Mert　grunted　again　and　subsided。　Foster　extracted　a　bank　note　from　his　bill…folder；　which　Bud　observed　had　a　prosperous　plumpness；　and　held　it　out　to　Bud。

〃I　guess　fifty　dollars　won't　hurt　your　feelings；　will　it；　brother？　That's　more　than　you'd　charge　for　twice　the　trip；　but　we　appreciate　a　tight　mouth；　and　the　hurry…up　trip　you've　made　of　it；　and　all　that　It's　special　work；　and　we're　willing　to　pay　a　special　price。　See？〃

〃Sure。　But