the trail of the white mule-第16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！


with　a　sense　of　the　unusual；　her　voice　betrayed　trepidation　and
she　asked　questions　which　Casey　found　it　difficult　to　answer。　
That　he　was　merely　riding　as　far　as　Barstow　with　a　desert
acquaintance　and　would　catch　the　first　train　back；　she　apparently
failed　to　find　convincing。

〃Casey　Ryan；　tell　me　the　truth。　　If　you're　in　a　scrape　again；　you
know　perfectly　well　that　Jack　and　I　will　have　to　come　and　get　you
out　of　it。　　San　Bernardino　sounds　bad　to　me；　Casey；　and　you're
pretty　close　to　the　place。　　Do　you　really　want　me　to　believe　that
you're　coming　back　on　the　next　train？〃

〃Sure　as　I'm　standin'　here！　　What　makes　yuh　think　I'm　in　a
scrape？　Didn't　I　tell　yuh　I'm　goin'　to　walk　around　trouble　from
now　on？　When　Casey　tells　you　a　thing　like　that；　yuh　got　a　right
to　put　it　down　for　the　truth。　I'm　going　to　Barstow　for　a　breath
uh　fresh　air。　This　is　a　feller　that　knows　Bill　Masters。　　I'll　be
home　to　breakfast。　I　ain't　in　no　trouble　an；　I　ain't　goin'　to　be。　
You　can　believe　that　or　you　can　set　there　callin'　Casey　Ryan　a
liar　till　I　git　back。　G'by。〃

Whatever　the　Little　Woman　thought　of　it；　Casey　really　meant　to　do
exactly　what　he　said　he　would　do。　　And　he　really　did　not　believe
that　trouble　was　within　a　hundred　miles　of　him。



CHAPTER　TEN

〃Wanta　drive？〃　　Casey's　friend　was　rolling　a　smoke　before　he
cranked　up。　　〃They　tell　me　up　in　Lund　that　no　man　livin'　ever　got
the　chance　to　look　back　and　see　Casey　Ryan　swallowing　dust。　　I've
heard　of　some　that's　tried。　　But　I　reckon；〃　he　added　pensively；
while　he　rubbed　the　damp　edge　of　the　paper　down　carefully　with　a
yellowed　thumb；　〃Fords　is　out　of　your　line；　now。　　Maybe　you　don't
toy　with　nothin'　cheaper　than　a　twin…six。〃

〃Well；　you　can　ask　anybody　if　Casey　Ryan's　the　man　to　git
big…headed！　Money　don't　spoil　ME　none。　　There　ain't　anybody　c'n
say　it　does。　Casey　Ryan　is　Casey　Ryan　wherever　an'　whenever　yuh
meet　up　with　him。　Yuh　might　mebby　see　me　next；　hazin'　a　burro
over　a　ridge。　　Or　yuh　might　see　me　with　ten　pounds　uh　flour；　a
quart　uh　beans　an'　a　sour…dough　bucket　on　my　back。　　Whichever　way
the　game　breaksyou'll　be　seein'　Casey　Ryan；　an'　you'll　see　'im
settin'　in　the　game　an'　ready　t'　push　his　last　white　chip　to　the
center。〃

〃I　believe　it；　Casey。　　Darned　if　I　don't。　　Well；　you　drive　'er
awhile；　till　yuh　get　tired；　anyway。〃　　He　bent　to　the　crank；　gave
a　heave　and　climbed　in；　with　Casey　behind　the　wheel；　looking
pleased　to　be　there　and　quite　ready　to　show　the　world　he　could
drive。

〃Say；　if　I　drive　till　I'm　TIRED；〃　he　retorted；　〃I'm　liable　to
soak　'er　hubs　in　the　Atlantic　Ocean　before　I　quit。　　And　then；
mebby　I'll　back　'er　out　an'　drive　'er　to　the　end　of　Venice　Pier
just　for　pastime。〃

〃Up　in　Lund　they're　talkin'　yet　about　your　drivin'；〃　his　new
friend　flattered　him。　　〃They　say　there's　no　stops　when　you　get
the　wheel　cuddled　up　to　your　chest。　　No　quittin'　an'　no　passin'
yuh　by　with　a　merry　laugh　an'　a　cloud　of　alkali　dust。　　I　guess
it's　right。　I've　been　wantin'　to　meet　yuh。〃

〃That　there　last　remark　sounds　like　a　traffic　cop　I　had　a　run…in
with　once！〃　　Casey　snortedmerely　to　hide　his　gratification。
〃You　sound　good；　just　to　listen　to；　but　you　ain't　altogether
believable。　　There's　men　in　Lund　that'd　give　an　ear　to　meet　me　in
a　narrow　trail　with　a　hairpin　turn　an'　me　on　the　outside　an'
drunk。

〃They'd　like　it　to　be　about　a　four…thousand…foot　drop；　straight
down。　Lund　as　a　town　ain't　so　crazy　about　me　that　they'd　close　up
whilst　I　was　bein'　planted；　an'　stop　all　traffic　for　five
minutes。　　A　show　benefit　was　sprung　on　Lund　once；　to　help　Casey
Ryan　that　was　supposed　to　be　crippled。　　An'　I　had　to　give　a　good
Forda　DARN'　good　Ford！　to　the　benefitters；　so　is　they　could
git　outa　town　ahead　uh　the　howlin'　mob。　　That's　how　I　know　the
way　Lund　loves　Casey　Ryan。　Yuh　can't　kid　ME；　young　feller。〃

Meanwhile；　Casey　swung　north　into　Cajon　Pass；　up　that　long；
straight；　cement…paved　highway　to　the　hills　he　showed　his　new
friend　how　a　Ford　could　travel　when　Casey　Ryan　juggled　the　wheel。　
The　full　moon　was　pushing　up　into　a　cloud　bank　over　a　high　peak
beyond　the　Pass。　The　few　cars　they　met　were　gone　with　a　whistle
of　wind　as　Casey　shot　by。

He　raced　a　passenger　train　from　the　mile　whistling…post　to　the
crossing；　made　the　turn　and　crossed　the　track　with　the　white
finger　of　the　headlight　bathing　the　Ford　blindingly。　　He
completed　that　S　turn　and　beat　the　train　to　the　next　crossing
half　a　mile　farther　on；　where　he　〃spiked　'er　tail〃；　as　he　called
it；　stopping　dead　still　and　waiting　jeeringly　for　the　train　to
pass。　　The　engineer　leaned　far　out　of　the　cab　window　to　bellow
his　opinion　of　such　driving；　which　was　unfavorable　to　the　full
extent　of　his　vocabulary。

〃Nothin'　the　matter　with　a　Ford；　as　I　can　see；〃　Casey　observed
carelessly；　when　he　was　under　way　again。

〃You　sure　are　some　driver；〃　his　new　friend　praised　him；　letting
go　the　edge　of　the　car　and　easing　down　again　into　the　seat。　
〃Give　yuh　a　Ford　and　all　the　gas　yuh　can　burn　and　I　can't　see
that　you'd　need　to　worry　none　about　any　of　them　saps　that　makes
it　their　business　to　interfere　with　travelin'。　　I'm　glad　that
moon's　quit　the　job。　Gives　the　headlights　a　show。　　Hit　'er　up
now；　fast　as　yuh　like。　After　that　crossin'　back　there　I　ain't
expectin'　to　tremble　on　no　curves。　　I　see　you're　qualified　to
spin　'er　on　a　plate　if　need　be。　　And　for　a　Ford；　she　sure　can
travel。〃

Casey　therefore　〃let　'er　out〃；　and　the　Ford　went　like　a　scared
lizard　up　the　winding　highway　through　the　Pass。　　At　Cajon　Camp　he
slowed；　thinking　they　would　need　to　fill　the　radiator　before
attempting　to　climb　the　steep　grade　to　the　summit。　　But　the　young
man　shook　his　head　and　gave　the　〃highball。〃　　（Which；　if　you　don't
already　know　it；　is　the　signal　for　full　speed　ahead。）

Full　speed　ahead　Casey　gave　him；　and　they　roared　on　up　the　steep；
twisting　grade　to　the　summit　of　the　Pass。　　Casey　began　to　feel　a
distinct　admiration　for　this　particular　Ford。　　The　car　was
heavily　loadedhe　could　gauge　the　weight　by　the　〃feel〃　of　the
car　as　he　drove　yet　it　made　the　grade　at　twenty…five　miles　an
hour　and　reached　the　top　without　boiling　the　radiator；　which　is
better　than　many　a　more　pretentious　car　could　do。

〃Too　bad　you've　made　your　pile　already；〃　the　young　man　broke　a
long　silence。　　〃I'd　like　to　have　a　guy　like　you　for　my　pardner。
The　desert　ain't　talkative　none　when　you're　out　in　the　middle　of
it；　and　you　know　there　ain't　another　human　in　a　day's　drive。　
I've　been　going　it　alone。　　Nine…tenths　of　these　birds　that　are
eager　to　throw　in　with　yuh　thinks　that　fifty…fifty　means　you　do
the　work　and　they　take　the　jack。　　I'm　plumb　fed　upon　them
pardnerships。　　But　if　you　didn't　have　your　jack　stored　awaya
hull　mountain　of　it；　I　reckon　I'd　invite　yuh　to　set　into　the
game　with　me；　I　sure　would。〃

Casey　spat　into　the　dark　beside　the　car。　　〃They's　never　a　pile　so
big　a　feller　ain't　willin'　to　make　it　bigger；〃　he　replied
sententiously。　　〃Fer；　as　I'm　concerned；　Casey's　never　backed　up
from　a　dollar　yet。　　But　I　ain't　no　wild　colt　no　more；　runnin'
loose　an'　never　a　halter　mark　on　me。　　I'm　bein'　broke　to　harness；
and　it's　stable　an'　corral　from　now　on；　an'　no　more　open　range
fer　Casey。　　The　missus　hopes　to　high…school　me　in　time。　　She's　a
good　handgentle　but　firm；　as　the　preacher　says。　　And　I　guess
it's　time　fer　Casey　Ryan　to　quit　hellin'　around　the　country　an'
settle　down　an'　behave　himself。〃

〃I　could　put　you　in　the　way　of　adding　some　easy　money　to　your
bank　roll；〃　the　other　suggested　tentatively。

But　Casey　shook　his　head。　　〃Twenty　years　ago　yuh　needn't　have
asked　me　twice；　young　feller。　I'd　'a'　drawed　my　chair　right　up
and　stacked　my　chips　a　mile　high。　　Any　game　that　come　along；　I
played　'er　down　to　the　last　chip。　　Twenty　years　agoyes；　er
ten！Casey　Ryan　woulda　tore　that　L。　A。　jail　down　rock　by　rock
an'　give　the　roof　t'　the　kids　to　make　a　playhouse。　　Them　L。　A。
cops　never　woulda　hauled　me　t'　jail　in　no　wagon。　　I　mighta　loaded
'em　in　behind；　and　dropped　'em　off　at　the　first　morgue　an'　drove
on　a…whistlin'。　　That　there　woulda　been　Casey　Ryan's　gait　a　few
years　back。　　Take　me　now；　married　to　a　good　woman　an'　gettin'
gray〃　Casey　sighed；　gazing　wishfully　back　at　the　Casey　Ryan　he
had　been　and　might　never　be　again。

〃No；　sir；　I　ain't　so　darned　rich　I　ain't　willin'　to　add　a　few
more　iron　men　to　the　bunch。　　But　on　account　of　the　missus　I've
got　to　kinda　pick　my　chances。　　I　ain't　had　money　so　long　but　what
it　feels　good　to　remind　myself　I　got　it。　　I　carry　a　thousand
dollars　or　so　in　my　inside　pocket；　just　to　count　over　now　an'
then　to　convince　myself　I　needn't　worry　about　a　grubstake。　　I've
got　to　soak　it　into　my　bones　gradual　that　I　can　afford　to　settle
down　and　live　tame；　like　the　missus　wants。　　Stand…up　collars
every　day；　an'　step　into　a　chiny　bathtub　every　night　an'
scrubwhen　you　ain't　doin'　nothin'　to　git　dirt　under　your　finger
nails　even！　　Funny；　the　way　city　folks　act。　　The　less　they　do　to
git　dirty；　the　more　soap　they　wear　out。　You　can　ask　anybody　if
that　ain't　right。

〃Can't　chew　tobacco　in　the　house；　even；　'cause　there's　no　place
yuh　dast　to　spit。　　I　stuck　m'　head　out　of　the　bedroom　window
oncet；　an　I　let　fly　an'　it　landed　on　a　lady；　an'　the　missus　went
an'　bought　her　a　new　hat　an　took　my　plug　away　from　me。　　I　had　to
keep　my　chewin'　tobacco　in　the　tool…box　of　my　car；　after　that；
an'　sneak　out　to　the　beach　now　an'　then　an'　chew　where　I　could
spit　in　the　ocean。　　That's　city　life　for　yuh！〃

〃When　I　git　to　thinkin'　about　hittin'　out　into　the　hills
prospectin；　or　somethin'；　that　roll　uh　dough　I　pack　stands　right
on　its　hind　legs　an'　says　I　got　no　excuse。　　I've　got　enough　to
keep　me　in　bacon　an'　beans；　anyway。　　An'　the　missus　gits　down　in
the　mouth　when　I　so　much　as　mention　minin'。〃

〃A　guy　grows　old　fast　when　he　quits　the　game　and　sets　down　to　do
the　grandpa…by…the…fire。　　First　you　know；　a　clown　that　thinks
it's　time　he　took　it　easy　is　gummin'　'is　grub；　and　shiverin'　when
yuh　open　the　door；　an'　takin'　naps　in　the　daytime　same　as　babies。
Let　a　guy　once　preach　he's　gettin'　old〃

Casey　jerked　the　gas　lever　and　jumped　the　car　ahead　viciously。
〃Well；　now；　any　time　yuh　see　CASEY　RYAN　gummin'　'is　grub　an'
needin'　a　nap　after　dinner〃

〃A　clown　GITS　that　way　on