the trail of the white mule-第13部分

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condition。　〃No　cor'ner　ever　set　on　Casey　Ryan；　an'　he　ain't　goin'
to！〃

The　men　glanced　questioningly　at　one　another。　　One　laughed。　He
was　a　large；　smooth…jowled　man　inclined　to　portliness；　and　his
laugh　vibrated　his　entire　front　contagiously　so　that　the　others
grinned　and　took　it　for　granted　that　Casey　Ryan　was　a　comedy
element　introduced　unexpectedly　where　they　had　thought　to　find
him　a　tragedy。

〃No；　you're　a　pretty　lively　man　for　me　to　sit　on；　I　admit　it；〃
the　portly　man　remarked。　　〃I'm　the　　coroner；　and　it　looks　as　if　I
wouldn't　sit；　this　trip。〃

Casey　eyed　him　blearily；　not　in　the　least　mollified　but　instead
swinging　to　a　certain　degree　of　lucidity　that　was　nevertheless
governed　largely　by　the　hoot　he　had　swallowed　in　the　hootch。

〃There's　part　of　a　burro　'round　here　some'er's　you　c'n　set　on；〃
Casey　informed　him　grimly；　and　fumbled　in　his　coat　pocket　for　his
pipe。　　He　drew　it　out　empty；　looked　at　it　and　returned　it　to　his
pocket。　　One　who　knew　Casey　intimately　would　have　detected　a
hidden　purpose　in　his　manner。　　The　warning　was　faint；　indefinable
at　best；　and　difficult　to　picture　in　words。　　One　might　say　that
an　intimate　acquaintance　would　have　detected　a　false　note　in
Casey's　defiance。　His　manner　was　restrained　just　when　violence
would　have　been　more　natural。

〃Damn　a　pipe；〃　Casey　grumbled　with　drunken　petulance。　　〃Anybody
got　a　cigarette？　　I'm　single…handed　an'　I　ain't　able　t'　roll
'em。〃

It　was　the　coroner　himself　who　handed　Casey　a　〃tailor…made。〃
Casey　nodded　glumly；　accepted　a　match　and　lighted　the　cigarette
almost　as　if　he　were　sober。　　He　looked　the　group　over
noncommittally；　eyed　again　the　handcuffs　on　Mart　and　Joe；　sent　a
veiled　glance　toward　Barney　Oakes　and　turned　away。　　He　still　held
the　center　of　the　stage。　　Fully　expecting　to　find　him　dead；　the
sheriff　and　his　men　were　slow　to　adjust　themselves　to　the　fact
that　he　was　very　much　alive　and　very　drunk　and　apparently　not
greatly　interested　in　his　rescue。

Casey　halted　in　his　unsteady　progress　toward　the　dugout。　　The
sheriff　was　already　questioning　his　two　prisoners　about　other
members　of　the　gang；　but　he　looked　up　when　Casey　lifted　up　his
voice　and　spoke　his　mind　of　the　moment。

〃Brung　a　cor'ner；　did　yuh；　lookin'　for　some　one　to　set　on！　
Barney　Oakes　is　the　man　that'll　need　a　cor'ner　in　a　minute。　
You're　all　goin'　to　need　'im。　　Casey　Ryan　never　stood　around　yit
whilst　his　friends　was　hobbled　up　by　a　shurfturn　'em　loose　an'
turn　'em　loose　quick！　　An'　git　back　away　from　Barney　Oakes　so　he
won't　drop　on　yuh　in　chunksI'll　fix　'im　for　yuh　to　set　on！〃

His　hand　had　gone　up　to　his　cigarette；　but　only　Joe　knew　what　was
likely　to　follow。　　Joe　gave　a　yell　of　warning；　ducked　and　ran
straight　away　from　the　group。　　The　sheriff　yelled　also　and　gave
chase。　　The　group　was　brokenluckilyjust　as　Casey　heaved
something　in　that　direction。

〃I　blowed　up　a　jackass　yesterday　when　they　thought　I　couldn't
I'll　blow　up　a　bunch　of　'em　to…day！　　Yuh　c'n　set　on　what's　left
uh　Barney　Oakes！〃

The　explosion　scattered　dirt　and　small　stonesand　the　sheriff's
posse。　Casey　sent　one　malevolent　glance　over　his　shoulder　as　he
stumbled　into　the　dugout。

〃Missed　'im！〃　he　grumbled　disgustedly　to　himself　when　he　saw　no
fragments　of　Barney　falling。　　His　ferociousness；　like　the
dynamite；　annihilated　itself　with　the　explosion。　　〃Missed　'im！　
Casey　Ryan's　gittin'　old；　old　an'　sick　an'　a　damn'　fool。　　Missed
'im　with　the　last　shotdrunkdrunk　an'　don't　give　a　darn！〃

He　slammed　the　door　shut　behind　him；　pushed　his　hat　forward　so
violently　that　it　rested　on　the　bridge　of　his　nose；　and　wabbled
over　to　his　bunk。　　This　time　his　foot　found　the　edge　of　the　lower
bunk；　and　he　scratched　and　clawed　his　way　up　and　rolled　in　upon
the　blankets。

He　was　asleep　and　snoring　when　the　sheriff；　edging　his　way　in　as
if　he　were　an　animal　trainer's　apprentice　entering　the　lion's
cage；　sneaked　on　his　toes　to　the　bunk　and　slipped　the　handcuffs
on　Casey。



CHAPTER　SEVEN

Casey　awoke　almost　sober　and　considerably　surprised　when　he
discovered　the　handcuffs。　　His　injured　hand　was　throbbing　from
the　poison　in　his　system　and　the　steel　band　on　his　swollen　wrist。　
His　head　still　ached　frightfully　and　his　tongue　felt　thick　and
dry　as　flannel　in　his　mouth。

He　rolled　over　and　sat　up；　staring　uncomprehendingly　at　the　cabin
full　of　men。　　The　sight　of　Barney　Oakes　recalled　in　a　measure　his
performance　with　the　dynamite；　at　least；　he　felt　a　keen
disappointment　that　Barney　was　alive　and　whole　and　grinning。　
Casey　could　not　see　what　there　was　to　grin　about；　and　he　took　it
as　a　direct　insult　to　himself。

Mart　and　Joe　sat　sullenly　on　a　bench　against　the　wall；　and　Paw
reclined　in　his　bunk　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room。　　A
blood…stained　bandage　wrapped　Paw's　head　turbanwise；　and　his
little；　deep…set　eyes　gleamed　wickedly　in　his　pallid　face。　　Casey
looked　for　Hank；　but　he　was　not　there。

A　strange　man　was　cooking　supper；　and　Casey　wanted　to　tell　him
that　he　was　slicing　the　bacon　twice　as　thick　as　it　should　be。　
The　corpulent　man；　whom　he　dimly　remembered　as　a　coroner；　was
talking　with　a　big；　burly　individual　whom　Casey　guessed　was　the
sheriff。　　A　man　came　in　and　announced　to　the　big　man　that　the　car
was　fixed　and　they　could　go　any　time。　　Mart；　who　had　been　staring
morosely　down　at　his　shackled　wrists；　lifted　his　head　and　spoke
to　the　sheriff。

〃You'll　have　to　do　something　about　my　mother；〃　he　said；　and　bit
his　lip　at　the　manner　in　which　every　head　swung　his　way。

〃What　about　your　mother？〃　the　sheriff　asked　moving　toward　him。
〃Is　she　here？〃　　His　eyes　sent　a　quick　glance　around　the　room
which　obviously　had　four　outside　walls。

Mart　swallowed。　　〃She　has　a　cabin　to　herself；〃　he　explained
constrainedly。　　〃Sheshe　isn't　quite　right。　　Strangers　excite
her。　Shehasn't　been　well　since　my　father　was　killed　in　the
mine；　she's　quiet　enough　with　usshe　knows　us。　　I　don't　know　how
she'll　be　now。　I'm　afraidbut　she　can't　be　left　here　alone；　all
I　ask　is；　be　as　gentle　as　you　can。〃

The　sheriff　looked　from　him　to　Joe。　　Joe　nodded　confirmation。　
〃Plumb　harmless；〃　he　said　gruffly。　　〃It　IS　kindapitiful。　
Thinks　everybody　in　the　world　is　damned　and　going　to　hell　on　a
long　lope。〃　　He　gave　a　snort　that　resembled　neither　mirth　nor
disgust。　　〃Mebbe　she's　right　at　that；〃　he　added　grimly。

The　sheriff　asked　more　questions；　and　Mart　stood　up。　　〃I'll　show
you　where　she　is；　sure。　　But　can't　you　leave　her　be　till　we're
ready　to　start？　　Sheit　ain't　right　to　bring　her　here。〃

〃She'll　want　her　supper；〃　the　sheriff　reminded　Mart。　〃We'll　be
driving　all　night。　Is　she　sick　abed？〃

Casey　lay　down　again　and　turned　his　face　to　the　wall。　　He
remembered　the　old　woman　now；　and　he　hoped　sincerely　they　would
not　bring　her　into　the　cabin。　　But　whatever　they　did；　Casey
wanted　no　part　in　it　whatever。　　He　wanted　to　be　left　alone；　and
he　wanted　to　think。　More　than　all　else　he　wanted　not　to　see　again
the　old　woman　who　chanted　horrible　things　while　she　rocked　and
rocked。

He　was　roused　from　uneasy　slumber　by　two　officious　souls；　one　of
whom　was　Barney　Oakes。　　Their　intentions　were　kindly　enough；　they
only　wanted　to　give　him　his　supper。　　But　Casey　wanted　neither
supper　nor　kindly　intentions；　and　he　was　still　unregenerately
regretful　that　Barney　Oakes　was　not　lying　out　on　the　garbage　heap
in　a　more　or　less　fragmentary　condition。　　They　raised　him　to　a
sitting　posture；　and　Casey　swung　his　legs　over　the　edge　of　the
bunk　and　delivered　a　ferocious　kick　at　Barney　Oakes。

He　caught　Barney　under　the　chin；　and　Barney　went　down　for　several
counts。　　After　that　Casey　wore　hobbles　on　his　feet；　and　was
secretly　rather　proud　of　the　fact　that　they　considered　him　so
dangerous　as　all　that。　　Had　his　mood　not　been　a　sulky　one　which
refused　to　have　speech　with　any　one　there；　they　would　probably
have　found　it　wise　to　gag　him　as　well。

That　is　one　night　in　Casey's　turbulent　life　which　he　never
recalled　if　he　could　help　it。　　Two　cars　had　brought　the　sheriff's
party；　and　one　was　a　seven…passenger。　　In　the　roomy　rear　seat　of
this　car；　Casey；　shackled　and　savage；　was　made　to　ride　with　Mart
and　his　mother。　Two　deputies　occupied　the　folding　seats　and　never
relaxed　their　watchfulness。

Casey's　head　still　ached　splittingly；　and　the　jolting　of　the　car
did　not　serve　to　ease　the；　pain。　　The　old　woman　sat　in　the
middle；　with　a　blanket　wound　round　and　round　her　to　hold　her
quiet；　which　it　failed　to　do。　　Into　Casey's　ear　rolled　the　full
volume　of　her　rich　contralto　voice　as　she　monotonously　intoned
the　doom　of　all　mankindtogether　with　every　cat；　every　rat；　etc。　
Mart's　fear　had　proved　well…founded。　Strangers　had　excited　the
woman　and　it　was　not　until　sheer　exhaustion　silenced　her　that　she
ceased　for　one　moment　her　horrible　chant。

I　read　the　story　in　the　morning　paper；　and　made　a　flying　trip　to
San　Bernardino。　　Casey　was　in　jail；　naturally；　but　he　didn't　care
much　about　that　so　long　as　he　owned　a　head　with　an　air…drill
going　inside。　　At　least；　that　is　what　he　told　me　when　I　was　let
in　to　see　him。　　I　was　working　to　get　him　out　of　there　on　bail　if
possible　before　I　sent　word　to　the　Little　Woman；　hoping　she　had
not　read　the　papers。　　I　had　some　trouble　piecing　the　facts
together　and　trying　to　get　the　straight　of　things　before　I　sent
word　to　the　Little　Woman。　I　went　out　and　got　him　some　medicine
guaranteed；　by　the　doctor　who　wrote　the　prescription；　to　take　the
hoot　out　of　the　hootch　Casey　had　swallowed。　　That　afternoon　Casey
left　off　glaring　at　me；　sat　up；　accepted　a　cigarette　and
consented　to　talk。

〃an'　all　I　got　to　say　is；　Barney　Oakes　is　a　liar　an'　the　father
uh　liars。　　I　never　was　in　cahoots　with　him　at　no　time。　　When　he
says　I　got　'im　to　foller　a　Joshuay　palm　jest　to　git　'im　out　in
the　hills　an'　kill　'im　off；　he　lies。　　Let　'im　come　an'　tell　me
that　there　story！〃

Casey　was　still　slightly　abnormal；　I　noticed；　so　I　calmed　him　as
best　I　could　and　left　him　alone　for　a　time。　　There　was　some
hesitancy　about　the　bail；　too；　which　I　wished　to　overcome。　
Throwing　that　half…stick　of　dynamite　might　be　construed　as　an
attempt　at　wholesale　murder。　　I　did　not　want　the　county　officials
to　think　too　long　and　harshly　about　the　matter。

I　explained　later　to　Casey　that　Barney