lin mclean-第16部分
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platform until we had started again。 〃Yu' have good friends；〃 he pursued；
settling himself so his long legs were stretched and comfortable； 〃and
they tell yu' things； and you tell them things。 And when it don't make no
particular matter one way or the other； yu' give 'em your honest opinion
and talk straight to 'em； and they'll come to you the same way。 So that
when yu're ridin' the range alone sometimes； and thinkin' a lot o' things
over on top maybe of some dog…goned hill； you'll say to yourself about
some fellow yu' know mighty well； 'There's a man is a good friend of
mine。' And yu' mean it。 And it's so。 Yet when matters is serious； as
onced in a while they're bound to get； and yu're in a plumb hole； where
is the man thenyour good friend？ Why； he's where yu' want him to be。
Standin' off； keepin' his mouth shut； and lettin' yu' find your own trail
out。 If he tried to show it to yu'； yu'd likely hit him。 But shucks！
Circumstances have showed me the trail this time； you bet！〃 And the
puncher's face； which had been sombre； grew lively； and he laid a
friendly hand on my knee。
〃The trail's pretty simple；〃 said I。
〃You bet！ But it's sure a queer world。 Tell yu'；〃 said Lin； with the air
of having made a discovery； 〃when a man gets down to bed…rock affairs in
this life he's got to do his travellin' alone； same as he does his dyin'。
I expect even married men has thoughts and hopes they don't tell their
wives。〃
〃Never was married；〃 said I。
〃Wellno more was I。 Let's go to bed。〃 And Lin shook my hand； and gave
me a singular； rather melancholy smile。
At Salt Lake City； which Ogden was glad to include in his Western
holiday； we found both Mormon and Gentile ready to give us odds against
rainonly I noticed that those of the true faith were less free。 Indeed；
the Mormon； the Quaker； and most sects of an isolated doctrine have a
nice prudence in money。 During our brief stay we visited the sights：
floating in the lake； listening to pins drop in the gallery of the
Tabernacle； seeing frescos of saints in robes speaking from heaven to
Joseph Smith in the Sunday clothes of a modern farm…hand； and in the
street we heard at a distance a strenuous domestic talk between the new
or perhaps I should say the original husband and wife。
〃She's corralled Sidney's cash！〃 said the delighted Lin。 〃He can't bet
nothing on this shower 〃
And then； after all； this timeit didn't rain！
Stripped of money both ways； Cheyenne； having most fortunately purchased
a return ticket； sought its home。 The perplexed rain…maker went somewhere
else； without his assistant。 Lusk's exulting wife； having the money；
retained him with her。
〃Good luck to yu'； Sidney！〃 said Lin； speaking to him for the first time
since Cheyenne。 〃I feel a heap better since I've saw yu' married。〃 He
paid no attention to the biscuit…shooter； or the horrible language that
she threw after him。
Jode also felt 〃a heap better。〃 Legitimate science had triumphed。 To…day；
most of Cheyenne believes with Jode that it was all a coincidence。 South
Carolina had bet on her principles； and won from Lin the few dollars that
I had lent the puncher。
〃And what will you do now？〃 I said to Lin。
〃Join the beef round…up。 Balaam's payin' forty dollars。 I guess that'll
keep a single man。〃
A JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF CHRISTMAS
The Governor descended the steps of the Capitol slowly and with pauses；
lifting a list frequently to his eye。 He had intermittently pencilled it
between stages of the forenoon's public business； and his gait grew
absent as he recurred now to his jottings in their accumulation； with a
slight pain at their number； and the definite fear that they would be
more in seasons to come。 They were the names of his friends' children to
whom his excellent heart moved him to give Christmas presents。 He had put
off this regenerating evil until the latest day； as was his custom； and
now he was setting forth to do the whole thing at a blow； entirely
planless among the guns and rocking…horses that would presently surround
him。 As he reached the highway he heard himself familiarly addressed from
a distance； and； turning； saw four sons of the alkali jogging into town
from the plain。 One who had shouted to him galloped out from the others；
rounded the Capitol's enclosure； and； approaching with radiant
countenance leaned to reach the hand of the Governor； and once again
greeted him with a hilarious 〃Hello； Doc！〃
Governor Barker； M。D。； seeing Mr。 McLean unexpectedly after several
years； hailed the horseman with frank and lively pleasure； and； inquiring
who might be the other riders behind； was told that they were Shorty；
Chalkeye； and Dollar Bill； come for Christmas。 〃And dandies to hit town
with；〃 Mr。 McLean added。 〃Red…hot。〃
〃I am acquainted with them；〃 assented his Excellency。
〃We've been ridin' trail for twelve weeks；〃 the cow…puncher continued；
〃makin' our beds down anywheres； and eatin' the same old chuck every day。
So we've shook fried beef and heifer's delight； and we're goin' to feed
high。〃
Then Mr。 McLean overflowed with talk and pungent confidences； for the
holidays already rioted in his spirit； and his tongue was loosed over
their coming rites。
〃We've soured on scenery；〃 he finished； in his drastic idiom。 〃We're sick
of moonlight and cow…dung； and we're heeled for a big time。〃
〃Call on me；〃 remarked the Governor； cheerily； 〃when you're ready for
bromides and sulphates。〃
〃I ain't box…headed no more；〃 protested Mr。 McLean； 〃I've got maturity；
Doc； since I seen yu' at the rain…making； and I'm a heap older than them
hospital days when I bust my leg on yu'。 Three or four glasses and quit。
That's my rule。〃
〃That your rule； too？〃 inquired the Governor of Shorty； Chalkeye； and
Dollar Bill。 These gentlemen of the saddle were sitting quite
expressionless upon their horses。
〃We ain't talkin'； we're waitin'；〃 observed Chalkeye； and the three
cynics smiled amiably。
〃Well； Doc； see yu' again；〃 said Mr。 McLean。 He turned to accompany his
brother cow…punchers； but in that particular moment Fate descended or
came up from whatever place she dwells in and entered the body of the
unsuspecting Governor。
〃What's your hurry？〃 said Fate； speaking in the official's hearty manner。
〃Come along with me。〃
〃Can't do it。 Where are yu' goin'？〃
〃Christmasing；〃 replied Fate。
〃Well； I've got to feed my horse。 Christmasing； yu' say？〃
〃Yes； I'm buying toys。〃
〃Toys！ You？ What for？〃
〃Oh； some kids。〃
〃Yourn？〃 screeched Lin； precipitately。
His Excellency the jovial Governor opened his teeth in pleasure at this；
for he was a bachelor； and there were fifteen upon his list； which he
held up for the edification of the hasty McLean。 〃Not mine； I'm happy to
say。 My friends keep marrying and settling； and their kids call me uncle；
and climb around and bother； and I forget their names； and think it's a
girl； and the mother gets mad。 Why； if I didn't remember these little
folks at Christmas they'd be wonderingnot the kids； they just break
your toys and don't notice； but the mother would wonder'What's the
matter with Dr。 Barker？ Has Governor Barker gone back on us？'that's
where the strain comes！〃 he broke off； facing Mr。 McLean with another
spacious laugh。
But the cow…puncher had ceased to smile； and now； while Barker ran on
exuberantly； McLean's wide…open eyes rested upon him； singular and
intent； and in their hazel depths the last gleam of jocularity went out。
〃That's where the strain comes； you see。 Two sets of acquaintances。
Grateful patients and loyal voters； and I've got to keep solid with both
outfits； especially the wives and mothers。 They're the people。 So it's
drums； and dolls； and sheep on wheels； and games； and monkeys on a stick；
and the saleslady shows you a mechanical bear； and it costs too much； and
you forget whether the Judge's second girl is Nellie or Susie； andwell；
I'm just in for my annual circus this afternoon！ You're in luck。
Christmas don't trouble a chap fixed like you。〃
Lin McLean prolonged the sentence like a distant echo。
〃A chap fixed like you！〃 The cow…puncher said it slowly to himself。 〃No；
sure。〃 He seemed to be watching Shorty； and Chalkeye； and Dollar Bill
going down the road。 〃That's a new ideaChristmas；〃 he murmured； for it
was one of his oldest； and he was recalling the Christmas when he wore
his first long trousers。
〃Comes once a year pretty regular；〃 remarked the prosperous Governor。
〃Seems often when you pay the bill。〃
〃I haven't made a Christmas gift；〃 pursued the cow…puncher； dreamily；
〃not forforLord！ it's a hundred years； I guess。 I don't know anybody
that has any right to look for such a thing from me。〃 This was indeed a
new idea； and it did not stop the chill that was spreading in his heart。
〃Gee whiz！〃 said Barker； briskly； 〃there goes twelve o'clock。 I've got to
make a start。 Sorry you can't come and help me。 Good…bye！〃
His Excellency left the rider sitting motionless； and forgot him at once
in his own preoccupation。 He hastened upon his journey to the shops with
the list； not in his pocket； but held firmly； like a plank in the
imminence of shipwreck。 The Nellies and Susies pervaded his mind； and he
struggled with the presentiment that in a day or two he would recall some
omitted and wretchedly important child。 Quick hoof…beats made him look
up； and Mr。 McLean passed like a wind。 The Governor absently watched him
go； and saw the pony hunch and stiffen in the check of his speed when Lin
overtook his companions。 Down there in the distance they took a side
street； and Barker rejoicingly remembered one more name and wrote it as
he walked。 In a few minutes he had come to the shops； and met face to
face with Mr。 McLean。
〃The boys are seein' after my horse；〃 Lin rapidly began； 〃and I've got to
meet 'em sharp
