the trail of the white mule-第15部分

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Casey　Ryan　（not　knowing　him）。

Shaking　Casey　will　never　be　safe　until　he　is　in　his　coffin　with　a
lily　in　his　hand。　　He　was　considerably　jolted；　but　he　managed　a
fourth　crime　in　the　next　five　minutes。　　He　licked　the　traffic　cop
rather　thoroughlyI　suppose　because　his　onslaught　was　wholly
unexpectedkicked　an　expostulating　minister　in　the　pit　of　the
stomach；　and　was　profanely　volunteering　to　lick　the　whole　darned
town　when　he　was　finally　overwhelmed　by　numbers　and　captured
alive；　which　speaks　well　for　the　L。　A。　P。

Wherefore　Casey　Ryan　continued　his　ride　down　town　in　a　dark　car
that　wears　a　clamoring　bell　the　size　of　a　breakfast　plate　under
the　driver's　foot；　and　a　dark　red　L。　A。　Police　Patrol　sign
painted　on　the　sides。　　Two　uniformed；　stern…lipped　cops　rode　with
him　and　didn't　seem　to　care　if　Casey's　nose　WAS　bleeding　all　over
his　vest。　A　uniformed　cop　stood　on　the　steps　behind；　and　another
rode　beside　the　driver　and　kept　his　eye　peeled　over　his　shoulder；
thinking　he　would　be　justified　in　shooting　if　anything　started
inside。　　Boys　on　bicycles　pedaled　furiously　to　keep　up；　and　many
an　automobile　barely　escaped　the　curb　because　the　driver　was
goggling　at　the　mussed…up　prisoner　in　the　〃Black　Maria。〃

The　Little　Woman　telegraphed　me　at　San　Francisco　that　night。　The
wire　was　brief　but　disquieting。　It　merely　said；　　〃CASEY　IN　JAIL
SERIOUS　NEED　HELP。〃　　But　I　caught　the　Lark　an　hour　later　and
thanked　God　it　was　running　on　time。

The　Little　Woman　and　I　spent　two　frantic　days　getting　Casey　out
of　jail。　　The　traffic　cop's　defeat　had　been　rather　public；　and
just　as　soon　as　he　could　stand　up　straight　in　the　pulpit；　the
minister　meant　to　preach　a　series　of　sermons　against　the　laxity
of　a　police　force　that　permits　such　outrages　to　occur　in　broad
daylight。　　More　than　that；　the　thing　was　in　the　papers；　and
people　were　reading　and　giggling　on　the　street　cars　and　in
restaurants。　Wherefore；　the　L。　A。　P。　was　on　its　tin　ear。

Even　so；　much　may　be　accomplished　for　a　man　so　wholesomely　human
as　Casey　Ryan。　　On　the　third　day　the　charge　against　him　was
changed　from　something　worse　to　　〃Reckless　driving　and　disturbing
the　peace。〃　Casey　was　persuaded　to　plead　guilty　to　that　charge；
which　was　harder　to　accomplish　than　mollifying　the　L。　A。　P。

He　paid　two　fifty…dollar　fines　and　was　forbidden　to　drive　a　car
〃in　the　County　of　Los　Angeles；　State　of　California；　during　the
next　succeeding　period　of　two　years。〃　　He　was　further　advised
（unofficially　but　nevertheless　with　complete　sincerity）　to　pay
all　damages　to　the　two　cars　he　had　wrecked　and　to　ask　the
minister's　doctor　what　was　his　fee；　a　new　uniform　for　the　traffic
cop　was　also　suggested；　since　Casey　had　thrust　his　foot　violently
into　the　cop's　pocket　which　was　not　tailored　to　resist　the
strain。　　The　judge　also　observed；　in　the　course　of　the
conversation；　that　desert　air　was　peculiarly　invigorating　and
that　Casey　should　not　jeopardize　his　health　and　well…being　by
filling　his　lungs　with　city　smoke。

I　couldn't　blame　Casey　much　for　the　mood　he　was　in　after　a
setback　like　that　to　his　good　resolutions。　　I　was　inclined　to
believe　with　Casey　that　Providence　had　lain　down　on　the　job。



CHAPTER　NINE

At　the　corner　of　the　Plaza　where　traffic　is　heaviest；　a　dingy
Ford　loaded　with　camp　outfit　stalled　on　the　street…car　track　just
as　the　traffic　officer　spread…eagled　his　arms　and　turned　with
majestic　deliberation　to　let　the　East…and…West　traffic　through。　
The　motorman　slid　open　his　window　and　shouted　insults　at　the
driver；　and　the　traffic　cop　left　his　little　platform　and　strode
heavily　toward　the　Ford；　pulling　his　book　out　of　his　pocket　with
the　mechanical　motion　born　of　the　grief　of　many　drivers。

Casey　Ryan；　clinging　to　the　front　step　of　the　street　car　on　his
way　to　the　apartment　house　he　once　more　called　home；　swung　off
and　beat　the　traffic　officer　to　the　Ford。　　He　stooped　and　gave　a
heave　on　the　crank；　obeyed　a　motion　of　the　driver's　head　when　the
car　started；　and　stepped　upon　the　running　board。　　The　traffic
officer　paused；　waved　his　book　warningly　and　said　something。　　The
motorman　drew　in　his　head；　clanged　the　bell；　and　the　afternoon
traffic　proceeded　to　untangle。

〃Get　in；　old…timer；〃　invited　the　driver　whom　Casey　had　assisted。
Casey　did　not　ask　whether　the　driver　was　going　in　his　direction；
but　got　in　chuckling　at　the　small　triumph　over　his　enemies；　the
police。

〃Fords　are　mean　cusses；〃　he　observed　sympathetically。　　〃They　like
nothing　better　than　to　get　a　feller　in　bad。　　But　they　can't　pull
nothin'　on　me。　　I　know　'em　to　a　fare…you…well。　　Notice　how　this
one　changed　'er　mind　about　gettin'　you　tagged；　soon　as　Casey　Ryan
took　'er　by　the　nose？〃

〃Are　you　Casey　Ryan？〃　　The　driver　took　his　eyes　off　the　traffic
long　enough　to　give　Casey　an　appraising　look　that　measured　him
mentally　and　physically。　　〃Say；　I've　heard　quite　a　lot　about　you。
Bill　Masters；　up　at　Lund；　has　spoke　of　you　often。　　He　knows　you；
don't　he？〃

〃Bill　Masters　sure　had　ought　t'　know　me；〃　Casey　grinned。　In　a
big；　roaring；　unfriendly　city；　here　sounded　a　friendly；　familiar
tone；　a　voice　straight　from　the　desert；　as　it　were。　　Casey　forgot
what　had　happened　when　Barney　Oakes　crossed　his　path　claiming
acquaintance　with　Bill　Masters；　of　Lund。　　He　bit　off　a　chew　of
tobacco；　hunched　down　lower　in　the　seat；　and　prepared　himself　for
a　real　conflab　with　the　man　who　spoke　the　language　of　his　tribe。

He　forgot　that　he　had　just　bought　tickets　to　that　evening's
performance　at　the　Orpheum；　as　a　sort　of　farewell　offering　to　his
domestic　goddess　before　once　more　going　into　voluntary　exile　as
advised　by　the　judge。　　Pasadena　Avenue　heard　conversational
fragments　such　as；　〃Say！　　Do　you　know？　　〃Was　you　in　Lund
when？〃

Casey's　new　friend　drove　as　fast　as　the　law　permitted。　　He　talked
of　many　places　and　men　familiar　to　Casey；　who　was　in　a　mood　that
hungered　for　those　places　and　men　in　a　spiritual　revulsion
against　the　city　and　all　its　ways。

Pasadena；　Lamanda　Park；　Monroviait　was　not　until　the　car　slowed
for　the　Glendora　speed…limit　sign　that　Casey　lifted　himself　off
his　shoulder　blades；　and　awoke　to　the　fact　that　he　was　some
distance　from　home　and　that　the　shadows　were　growing　rather　long。

〃Say！　　I　better　get　out　here　and　'phone　to　the　missus；〃　he
exclaimed　suddenly。　　〃Pull　up　at　a　drug　store　or　some　place；　will
yuh？　　I　got　to　talkin'　an'　forgot　I　was　on　my　way　home　when　I
throwed　in　with　yuh。〃

〃Aw；　you　can　'phone　any　time。　　There　is　street　cars　running　back
to　town　all　the　time　I　or　you　can　catch　a　bus　anywhere's　along
here。　I　got　pinched　once　for　drivin'　through　here　without　a
tail…light；　and　twice　I've　had　blowouts　right　along　here。　　This
town's　a　jinx　for　me　and　I　want　to　slip　it　behind　me。〃

Casey　nodded　appreciatively。　　〃Every　darn'　town's　a　jinx　for　me；〃
he　confided　resentfully。　　〃Towns　an'　Casey　Ryan　don't　agree。
Towns　is　harder　on　me　than　sour　beans。〃

〃YeahI　guess　L。　A。's　a　jinx　for　you　all　right。　　I　heard　about
your　latest　run…in　with　the　cops。　　I　wish　t'　heck　you'd　of
cleaned　up　a　few　for　me。　　I　love　them　saps　the　way　I　like　rat
poison。　　I've　got　no　use　for　the　clowns　nor　for　towns　that
actually　hands　'em　good　jack　for　dealin'　misery　to　us　guys。　　The
bird　never　lived　that　got　a　square　deal　from　'em。　　They　grab　yuh
and　dust　yuh　off〃

〃They　won't　grab　Casey　Ryan　no　more。　　Why；　lemme　tell　yuh　what
they　done！〃

Glendora　slipped　behind　and　was　forgotten　while　Casey　told　the
story　of　his　wrongs。　　In　no　particular；　according　to　his　version；
had　he　been　other　than　law…abiding。　　Nobody；　he　declaimed
heatedly；　had　ever　taken　HIM　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck　and　shaken
him　like　a　pup；　and　got　away　with　it；　and　nobody　ever　would。　
Casey　was　Irish　and　his　father　had　been　Irish；　and　the　Ryan　never
lived　that　took　sass　and　said　thank…yuh。

His　new　friend　listened　with　just　that　degree　of　sympathy　which
encourages　the　unburdening　of　the　soul。　　When　Casey　next　awoke　to
the　fact　that　he　was　getting　farther　and　farther　away　from　home；
they　were　away　past　Claremont　and　still　going　to　the　full　extent
of　the　speed　limit。　　His　friend　had　switched　on　the　lights。

〃I　GOT　to　telephone　my　wife！〃　Casey　exclaimed　uneasily。　　〃I'll
gamble　she's　down　to　the　police　station　right　now；　lookin'　for
me。　An'　I　want　the　cops　t'　kinda　forgit　about　me。　　I　got　to
talkin'　along　an'　plumb　forgot　I　wasn't　headed　home。〃

〃Aw；　you　can　'phone　from　Fontana。　　I'll　have　to　stop　there　anyway
for　gas。　　Say；　why　don't　yuh　stall　'er　off　till　morning？　　You
couldn't　get　home　for　supper　now　if　yuh　went　by　wireless。　I　guess
yuh　wouldn't　hate　a　mouthful　of　desert　air　after　swallowing　smoke
and　insults；　like　yuh　done　in　L。　A。　　Tell　her　you're　takin'　a
ride　to　Barstow。　　You　can　catch　a　train　out　of　there　and　be　home
to　breakfast；　easy。　　If　you　ain't　got　the　change　in　your　clothes
for　carfare；〃　he　added　generously；　〃Why；　I'll　stake　yuh　just　for
your　company　on　the　trip。　　Whadda　yuh　say？〃

Casey　looked　at　the　orange　and　the　grapefruit　and　lemon　orchards
that　walled　the　Foothill　Boulevard。　　All　trees　looked　alike　to
Casey；　and　these　reminded　him　disagreeably　of　the　fruit　stalls　in
Los　Angeles。

〃Well；　mebby　I　might　go　on　to　Barstow。　　Too　late　now　to　take　the
missus　to　the　show；　anyway。　　I　guess　I　can　dig　up　the　price　uh
carfare　from　Barstow　back。〃　　He　chuckled　with　a　sinful　pride　in
his　prosperity；　which　was　still　new　enough　to　be　novel。　　〃Yuh
don't　catch　Casey　Ryan　goin'　around　no　more　without　a　dime　in　his
hind　pocket。　I've　felt　the　lack　of　'em　too　many　times　when　they
was　needed。　Casey　Ryan's　going　to　carry　a　jingle　louder'n　a　lead
burro　from　now　on。　　You　can　ask　anybody。〃

〃You　bet　it's　wise　for　a　feller　to　go　heeled；〃　the　friend　of　Bill
Masters　responded　easily。　　〃You　never　know　when　yuh　might　need
it。　Well；　there's　a　Bell　sign　over　there。　　You　can　be　askin'　your
wife's　consent　while　I　gas　up。〃

Innocent　pleasure；　the　blameless　joy　of　riding　in　a　Ford　toward
the　desert；　with　a　prince　of　a　fellow　for　company；　was　not　so
easily　made　to　sound　logical　and　a　perfectly　commonplace　incident
over　a　long…distance　telephone。　　The　Little　Woman　seemed　struck
with　a　sense　of　the　unusual；　her　voice　betrayed　trepidation　and
she　asked　questions　which　Casey　foun