the trail of the white mule-第10部分

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voice；　and　those　of　you　who　know　Casey　Ryan　will　appreciate　that。　
He　waited　until　she　had　finished　her　declaration。

〃No；　ma'am；　you're　wrong。　　I　come　up　here　to　see　if　I　could　help
yuh。〃

〃Hounds　of　hellblack　as　the　bottomless　pit　that　spewed　you
forth　to　prey　upon　mankind！　　The　world　will　have　to　burn。　　Tell
those　hounds　of　hell　that　bay　at　the　gibbous　moon　the　world　will
have　to　burn。　　Every　cat；　every　rat；　every　mouse；　every　louse　has
a　thousand　years　to　burn！〃

Casey　Ryan；　with　his　mouth　half　open　and　his　eyes　rather　wild；
furtively　opened　the　door　behind　him。　　Still　meeting　fixedly　the
dull　glare　of　the　old　woman's　eyes；　Casey　slid　out　through　the
door　and　fastened　it　hastily　behind　him。　　With　an　uneasy　glance
now　and　then　over　his　shoulder　as　if　he　feared　the　old　woman
might　be　in　pursuit　of　him；　he　hurried　back　down　the　ladder　to
the　closed　door　in　the　drift；　pulled　the　door　shut　behind　him　and
put　the　padlock　in　place　before　he　breathed　naturally。

He　stopped　then　to　put　on　his　shoes；　made　his　way　to　the　drift
opening　and　listened　again　for　voices　or　footsteps。　　When　he
found　the　way　clear　he　hurried　out　and　back　to　the　dugout。　　The
first　thing　he　did　was　to　fill　his　pipe　and　light　it。　　Even　then
the　sonorous　voice　of　the　old　woman　intoning　her　dreadful
proclamation　against　the　world　rang　in　his　ears　and　sent
occasional　ripples　of　horror　down　his　spine。　　Seen　through　the
window；　she　had　looked　a　sad；　lonely　old　lady　who　needed　sympathy
and　help。　　At　closer　range　she　was　terrible。　　Casey　was　trying　to
forget　her　by　busying　himself　about　the　stove　when　Joe　walked　in
unexpectedly。

Joe　stood　just　inside　the　door；　staring　at　Casey　with　a　glassy
look　in　his　eyes。　　Something　in　Joe's　face　warned　Casey　of
impending　events；　but　with　that　terrible　old　woman　still　fresh　in
his　mind；　Casey　was　in　the　mood　to　welcome　distraction　of　any
sort。　　He　shifted　his　hand　in　the　sling　so　that　his　concealed
weapons　lay　more　comfortably　therein；　secure　from　detection；　and
waited。

Joe　leaned　forward；　lifted　an　arm　slowly　and　aimed　a　finger　at
Casey　accusingly。

〃Pap　says　that　you're　a　Federal　officer！〃　he　began；　waggling　his
finger　at　Casey。　　〃Pap　thinks　you　come　here　spyin'　around　t'　see
what　we're　up　to　on　this　here　butte。　　Now；　you　can't　pull　nothin'
like　that！　　You　can't　get　away　with　it。

〃Hank；　he　wants　t'　bump　yuh　off　an'　say　nothin'　to　anybody。　　Now；
I　come　t'　have　it　out　with　yuh。　　If　you're　a　Federal　officer
we're　goin'　t'　settle　with　yuh　an'　take　no　chances。　　Mart；　he's
more　easy…goin'　in　some　ways；　on　account　of　havin'　his　crazy　ol'
mother　on　'is　hands　t'　take　care　of。　　Mart　don't　want　no
killin'on　account　of　his　mother　goin'　loony　when　'is　dad　got
killed。　　But　Mart　ain't　here。　Pap　an'　Hank；　they　been　at　me　all
mornin'　t'　let　'em　bump　yuh　off。

〃But　Pap　an'　Hank；　they're　drunk；　see？　　I'm　the　only　sober　man
left　on　the　job。　　So　I　come　up　here　t'　settle　with　yuh　myself。　
Takes　a　sober　man　with　a　level　head　t'　settle　these　things。　　Now；
if　you　come　up　here　spyin'　an'　snoopin'；　you　git　bumped　off　an'
no　argument　about　it。　　Mart's　got　his　mother　t'　take　care　ofan'
we　aim　t'　pertect　Mart。　　If　you're　a　Federal　officer；　I　want　t'
know　it　here　an'　now。　　If　yuh　ain't；　I　want　yuh　t'　sample　some　uh
the　out…kickin'est　'White　Mule'　yuh　ever　swallered。　　Now　which
are　yuh；　and　what　yuh　goin'　t'　do？　　I　want　my　answer　here　an'
now；　an'　no　argument　an'　no　foolin'！〃

Casey　blinked　but　his　mouth　widened　in　a　grin。　　〃Me；　I　never　went
lookin'　fer　nothin；　I　wouldn't　put　under　my　vest；　Joe；〃　he
declared　convincingly。　　So　that　was　it！　　He　was　thinking　against
time。　Moonshiners　as　well　as　would…be　murderers　they　wereand
Joe　drunk　and　giving　them　away　like　a　fool。　　Casey　wished　that　he
knew　where　Hank　and　Paw　were　at　this　moment。　　He　hoped；　too；　that
Joe　was　right　that　Hank　and　Paw　were　drunk。　　He'd　have　the
three　of　them　tied　in　a　row　before　dark；　in　any　case。　　The　thing
to　do　now　was　to　humor　Joe　alongleave　it　to　Casey　Ryan！

Joe　was　uncorking　a　small；　flat　bottle　of　pale　liquor。　　Now　he
held　it　out　to　Casey。　　Casey　took　it；　thinking　he　would　pretend
to　drink；　would　urge　Joe　to　take　a　drink；　it　would　be　simple；
once　he　got　Joe　started。　　But　Joe　had　a　few　ideas　of　his　own
concerning　the　celebration。　　He　pulled　a　gun　unexpectedly；　leaned
against　the　closed　door　to　steady　himself　and　aimed　it　full　at
Casey。

〃In　just　two　minutes　I'm　goin'　t'　shoot　if　that　there　bottle
ain't　empty；〃　he　stated　gravely；　nodding　his　head　with　intense
pride　in　his　ability　to　handle　the　situation。　　〃If　you're　a
Federal　officer；　yuh　won't　dast　t'　drink。　　If　yuh　ain't；　you'll
be　almighty　glad　to。　Anyway；　it'll　be　settled　one　way　or　t'other。　
Drink　'er　down！〃

Casey　blinked　again；　but　this　time　he　did　not　grin。　　He　debated
swiftly　his　chance　of　scaring　Joe　with　the　dynamite　before　Joe
would　shoot。　　But　Joe　had　his　finger　crooked　with　drunken
solemnity　upon　the　trigger。　　The　time　for　dynamite　was　not　now。

〃Pap　an'　Hank；　they　lap　up　anything　an'　call　it　good。　　I　claim
that's　got　a　back…action　kick　to　it。　　Drink　'er　down！〃

Casey　drank　'er　down。　　It　was　like　swallowing　flames。　It　was　a
half…pint　flask；　and　it　was　full　when　Casey；　with　Joe's　eyes
fixed　upon　him；　tilted　it　and　began　to　drink。　　Under　Joe's
baleful　glare　Casey　emptied　the　flask　before　he　stopped。

Joe　settled　his　shoulders　comfortably　against　the　doorway　and
watched　Casey　make　for　the　water　bucket。

〃I　claim　that's　the　out…kickin'est　stuff　that　ever　was　made　on
Black　Butte。　　How'd　yuh　like　it？〃

〃All　right；〃　Casey　bore　witness；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on　Joe
and　the　gun　and　trying　his　best　to　maintain　a　nonchalant　manner。
〃I'd　call　it　purty　fair　hootch。〃

〃It's　GOOD　hootch！〃　Joe　declared　impressively；　apparently　quite
convinced　that　Casey　was　not　a　Federal　officer。　　〃Can　yuh　feel
the　kick'to　it？〃

Casey　backed　until　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　table　his　good　right
hand　supporting　his　left　elbow　outside　the　sling。　　He　grinned　at
Joe　and　while　he　still　keenly　realized　that　he　was　playing　a　part
for　the　sole　purpose　of　gaining　somehow　an　advantage　over　Joe；　he
was　conscious　of　a　slight　giddiness。　　An　unprejudiced　observer
would　have　noticed　that　his　grin　was　not　quite　the　old；　Casey
Ryan　grin。　　It　was　a　shade　foolish。

〃Bet　your　life　I　can　feel　the　kick！〃　he　agreed；　nodding　his　head。
〃You　can　ask　anybody。〃　　Then　Casey　discovered　something　strange
in　Joe's　appearance。　　He　lifted　his　head；　held　it　very　still　and
regarded　Joe　attentively。

〃Say；　Joe；　what　yuh　tryin'　to　do　with　that　six…gun？　　Tryin'　to
write　your　name　in　the　air　with　it？〃

Joe　looked　inquiringly　down　at　the　gun；　eyeing　it　as　if　it　were　a
new　and　absolutely　unknown　object。　　He　satisfied　himself
apparently　beyond　all　doubt　that　the　gun　was　doing　nothing　it
should　not　do；　and　finally　turned　his　attention　to　Casey　sitting
on　the　table　and　grinning　at　him　meaninglessly。

〃Ain't　writin'　nothin'；〃　Joe　stated　solemnly。　　〃It's　yore　eyes。
Gun's　all　rightyo'r　seein'　crooked。　　It's　the　hootch。　
Back…action　kick　to　it。　　Ain't　that　right？〃

〃That's　right；〃　nodded　Casey　and　he　added；　grinning　more
foolishly；　〃Darn　right；　that's　right！　　Back…action　kickbet　your
life。〃

Joe　pushed　the　gun　inside　his　waistband　and　crooked　his　finger　at
Casey；　beckoning　mysteriously。　　〃C'mon　an'　I'll　show　yuh　how　it's
made；〃　he　invited　with　heavy　enthusiasm。　　〃Yore　a　judge　uh　hootch
all　rightI　can　see　that。　　I'll　show　yuh　how　we　do　it。　　Best
White　Mule　in　Nevada。　　Ain't　that　right？　　Ain't　that　the　real
hootch？〃

〃'S　right；　all　right；〃　Casey　agreed　earnestly。　　〃Puttin'　the　hoot
in　hootchyou　fellers。　　You　can　ask　anybody　if　that　ain't
right。〃

Joe　laughed　hoarsely。　　〃Puttin'　the　hoot　in　hootchthat's　right。
I　knowed　you　was　all　right。　　Didn't　I　say　you　was？　　I　told　Hank
an'　Pap　you　wasn't　no　Federal　officer。　　They　know　it；　too。　I　was
foolin'　back　there。　　I　knowed　you　didn't　need　no　gun　pulled　on
yuh　t'　make　yuh　put　away　the　hootch。　　Lapped　it　up　like　a　thirsty
hound。　I　knowed　yuh　wouldI　was　kiddin'　yuh；　runnin'　that　razoo
with　the　gun。　　Ain't　that　right？〃

〃Darn　right；　that's　right！　I　knew　you　was　foolin'　all　along。　You
knew　Casey　Ryan's　all　rightsure；　you　knowed　it！〃　　Casey　laid
his　good　hand　investigatively　against　his　stomach。　　〃Pretty　hot
hootchyou　can　ask　anybody　if　it　ain't！　　Workin'　like　an　air
drill　a'ready。〃

He　blinked　inquisitively　at　Joe；　who　stared　back　inquiringly。
〃Who's　your　friend？〃　　Casey　demanded　pugnaciously。　　〃He　sneaked
in　on　yuh。　　I　never　seen　'im　come　in。〃

Joe　turned　slowly　and　looked　behind　him　at　the　blank　boards　of
the　unpainted　door。　　Just　as　slowly　he　turned　back　to　Casey。　　A
slow　grin　split　his　leathery　face。

〃Ain't　nobody。　　It's　the　hootch。　Told　yuh；　didn't　I？　　Gittin'　the
best　of　yuh；　ain't　it？　　C'monI'll　show　yuh　how　it's　made。〃

〃Take　a　barr'l　t'　git　the　bestaCasey　Ry'n；〃　Casey　boasted；　his
words　blurring　noticeably。　　〃Where's　y'r　White　Mule？　　Let　'er
kickCasey　Ry'n　can　lead　'er　an'　tame　'eran'　make'r　eat　outa
's　hand！〃　　Following　Joe；　Casey　stepped　high　over　a　rock　no
bigger　than　his　fist。

With　a　lurch　he　straightened　and　tried　to　pull　his　muddled　wits
out　of　the　fog　that　was　fast　enveloping　them。　　Dimly　he　sensed
the　importance　of　this　discovery　which　Joe　had　forced　upon　him。
In　flashes　of　normalcy　he　knew　that　he　must　see　all　he　could　of
their　moonshine　operations。　　He　must　let　them　think　he　was　drunk
until　he　knew　all　their　secrets。　　He　assured　himself　vaguely　that
he　must；　above　all　things；　keep　his　head。

But　it　was　all　pretty　hazy　and　rapidly　growing　hazier。　Casey
Ryan；　you　must　know；　was　not　what　is　informally　termed　a　drinking
man。　In　his　youth　he　might　have　been　able　to　handle　a　sudden
half…pint　of　moonshine　whisky　and　keep　as　level　a　head　as　he　now
strove　valiantly　to　retain。　　But　Casey's　later　years　had　been
more　temperate　than　most　desert　men　would　believe。　　Unfortunately
virtue　is　not　always　it　own　reward；　at　least　Casey　now　found
himself　the　worse　for　past　abstinences。

Joe　led　him　into　the　tunnel；　laughing　sardonically　because　Casey
found　it　scarcely　wide　enough　for　his　oscillating　progress。　They
turned　into　a　drift。　　Casey　did　not　know　which　drift　it　was；
t