the trail of the white mule-第17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！


needin'　a　nap　after　dinner〃

〃A　clown　GITS　that　way　once　he　pulls　out　of　the　game。　　I've　saw
it　happen　time　an'　again。〃　　The　young　man　laughed　rather
irritatingly。　〃Say；　when　I　tell　it　to　Bill　Masters　that　Casey
Ryan　has　plumb　played　out　his　string　an'　laid　down　an'　QUIT；　by
hock；　and　can　be　seen　hereafter　SETTIN'　WITH　A　SHAWL　OVER　HIS
SHOULDERS〃

Casey　nearly　turned　the　Ford　over　at　that　insult。　　He　jerked　it
back　into　the　road　and　sent　it　ahead　again　at　a　faster　pace。

〃Well；　now；　any　time　yuh　see　CASEY　RYAN　settin'　with　a　shawl　over
his　shoulders〃

〃Well；　maybe　not　YOU；　but　the　bird　sure　comes　to　it　that　thinks
he's　too　old　to　play　the　game。　　Why；　you'll　never　be　ready　to
settle　down！　Take　yuh　twenty　years　from　nowI'd　rather　bank　on　a
pardner　like　you'd　be　than　some　young　clown　that　ain't　had　the
experience。　From　the　yarns　I've　heard　about　yuh；　yuh　don't　back
down　from　nothing。　　And　you're　willing　to　give　a　pardner　a　chance
to　get　away　with　his　hide　on　him。　　I'd　rather　be　held　up　by　the
law　than　by　some　clown　that's　workin'　with　me。〃

He　paused；　and　when　he；　spoke　again　his　tone　had　changed　to　meet
a　prosaic　detail　of　the　drive。

〃Stop　here　in　Victorville；　will　yuh；　Casey？　　I'll　take　a　look　at
the　radiator　and　maybe　take　on　some　more　gas　and　oil。　　I've　been
stuck　on　the　desert　a　few　times　with　an　empty　tankand　that
learns　a　guy　to　keep　the　top　of　his　gas　tank　full　and　never　mind
the　bottom。〃

〃Good　idea；〃　said　Casey　shortly；　his　own　tone　relaxing　its
tension　of　a　few　minutes　before。　　〃I　run　a　garage　over　at　Patmos
once；　an'　the　boobs　I　seen　creepin'　in　on　their　last　spoonful　uh
gaswalkin'　sometimes　for　miles　to　carry　gas　back　to　where　they
was　stalled　learnt　Casey　Ryan　to　fill　'er　up　every　chancet　he
gits。〃

But　although　the　subject　of　age　had　been　dropped　half　a　mile　back
in　the　sand；　certain　phrases　flung　at　him　had　been　barbed　and　had
bitten　deep　into　Casey　Ryan's　self…esteem。　　They　stung　and
rankled　there。　　He　had　squirmed　at　the　picture　his　new　friend　had
so　ruthlessly　drawn　with　crude　words；　but　bold；　of　doddering　old
age。　Casey　resented　the　implication　that　he　might　one　day　fill
that　picture。

He　began　vaguely　to　resent　the　Little　Woman's　air　of　needing　to
protect　him　from　himself。　　Casey　Ryan；　he　told　himself
boastfully；　had　never　needed　protection　from　anybody。　　He　had
managed　for　a　good　many　years　to　get　along　on　his　own　hook。　　The
Little　Woman　was　all　right；　but　she　was　making　a　mistakea　big
mistakeif　she　thought　she　had　to　close…herd　him　to　keep　him　out
of　trouble。

He　rolled　a　smoke　and　wished　that　the　Little　Woman　would　settle
down　with　him　somewhere　in　the　desert；　where　he　could　keep　a
couple　of　burros　and　go　prospecting　in　the　hills。　　Where
sagebrush　could　grow　to　their　very　door　if　it　wanted　to；　and　the
moon　could　show　them　long　stretches　of　mesa　land　shadowed　with
mystery；　and　then　drop　out　of　sight　behind　high　peaks。

He　felt　that　he　might　indeed　grow　old　fast；　shut　up　in　a　city。　It
occurred　to　him　that　the　Little　Woman　was　unreasonable　to　expect
it　of　him。　　Her　idea　of　getting　him　out　of　town　for　a　time；　as
the　judge　had　advised；　was　to　send　him　up　to　San　Francisco　to　be
close…herded　there。　　Casey　had　promised　to　go；　but　now　the
prospect　jarred。　　He　wasn't　feeble…minded；　that　he　knew　of；　it
seemed　natural　to　want　to　do　his　own　deciding　now　and　then。　　When
he　got　back　home　in　the　morning；　　Casey　meant　to　have　a　serious
talk　with　the　Little　Woman；　and　get　right　down　to　cases；　and　tell
her　that　he　was　built　for　the　desert；　and　that　you　can't　teach　an
old　dog　new　tricks。

〃They　been　tryin'　to　make　Casey　Ryan　over　into　something　he
ain't；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath；　while　his　new　friend　was　in
the　garage　office　paying　for　the　gas。　　〃Jack　an'　the　Little
Woman's　all　right；　but　they　can't　drive　Casey　Ryan　in　no　town
herd。　　Cops　is　cops；　and　they　got　'em　in　San　Francisco　same　as
they　got　'em　in　L。　A。　If　they　got　'em；　I'll　run　agin'　'em。　I'll
tell　'em　so；　too。〃

The　young　man　came　out；　sliding　silver　coins　into　his　trousers
pocket。　He　glanced　up　and　down　the　narrow；　little　street　already
deserted；　cranked　the　Ford　and　climbed　in。

〃All　set；〃　he　observed　cheerfully；　〃Let's　go！〃

Casey　slipped　his　cigarette　to　the　upper；　left…hand　corner　of　his
whimsical；　Irish　mouth；　forced　a　roar　out　of　the　little　engine
and　whipped　around　the　corner　and　across　the　track　into　the
faintly　lighted　road　that　led　past　shady　groves　and　over　a　hill
or　two；　and　so　into　the　desert　again。

His　new　friend　had　fallen　into　a　meditative　mood；　staring　out
through　the　windshield　and　whistling　under　his　breath　a　pleasant
little　melody　of　which　he　was　probably　wholly　unaware。　　Perhaps
he　felt　that　he　had　said　enough　to　Casey　just　at　present
concerning　a　possible　partnership。　　Perhaps　he　even　regretted
having　said　anything　at　all。

Casey　himself　drove　mechanically；　his　rebellious　mood　slipping
gradually　into　optimism。　　You　can't　keep　Casey　Ryan　down　for
long；　in　spite　of　his　past　unpleasant　experiences　he　was
presently　weaving　optimistic　plans　of　his　own。　　The　young　fellow
beside　him　seemed　to　return　Casey's　impulsive　friendship。　　Casey
thought　pleasureably　of　the　possibility　of　their　driving　over　the
desert　together；　sharing　alike　the　fortunes　of　the　game　and　the
adventures　of　the　trail。　Casey　himself　had　learned　to　be　shy　of
partnershipswitness　Barney　Oakes！but　any　man　with　a　drop　of
Irish　in　his　blood　and　a　bit　of　Irish　twinkle　in　his　eye　would
turn　his　back　on　defeat　and　try　again　for　a　winning。

They　had　just　passed　over　a　hilly　stretch　with　many　turns　and
windings；　the　moon　blotted　out　completely　now　by　the　cloud　bank。　
For　half　an　hour　they　had　not　seen　any　evidence　that　other　human
beings　were　alive　in　the　world。　　But　when　they　went　rattling
across　a　small　mesa　where　the　sand　was　deep；　a　car　with　one
brilliant　spotlight　suddenly　showed　itself　around　a　turn　just
ahead　of　them。

Casey　slowed　down　automatically　and　gave　a　twist　to　the　steering
wheel。　But　the　sand　just　here　was　deep　and　loose；　and　the　front
wheels　of　the　Ford　gouged　unavailingly　at　the　sides　of　the　ruts。　
Casey　honked　the　horn　warningly　and　stopped　full；　swearing　a
good；　Caseyish　oath。　　The　other　car；　having　made　no　apparent
effort　to　turn　out；　also　stopped　within　a　few　feet　of　Casey；　the
spotlight　fairly　blinding　him。

The　young　man　beside　Casey　slid　up　straight　in　the　seat　and
stopped　whistling。　　He　leaned　out　of　the　car　and　stared　ahead
without　the　dusty　interference　of　the　windshield。

〃You　can　back　up　a　few　lengths　and　make　the　turn…out　all　right；〃
he　suggested。

〃If　I　can　back　up；　so　can　he。　　He's　got　as　much　road　behind　him
as　what　I'VE　got；〃　Casey　retorted　stubbornly。　　〃He　never　made　a
try　at　turnin'　out。　　I　was　watchin'。　　Any　time　I　can't　lick　a
road　hawg；　he's　got　a　license　to　lick　me。　　Make　yourself
comf'table；　young　fellerwe're　liable　to　set　here　a　spell。〃　
Casey　grinned。　　〃I　spent　four　hours　on　a　hill　once；　out…settin；　a
road　hawg　that　wanted　me　to　back　up。〃

The　man　in　the　other　car　climbed　out　and　came　toward　them；
walking　outside　the　beams　cast　by　his　own　glaring　spotlight。　　He
bulked。　rather　large　in　the　shadows；　but　Casey　Ryan；　blinking　at
him　through　the　windshield；　was　still　ready　and　willing　to　fight
if　necessary。　　Or；　if　stubbornness　were　to　be　the　test；　Casey
could　grin　and　feel　secure。　　A　little　man；　he　reflected；　can　sit
just　as　long　as　a　big　man。

The　big　man　walked　leisurely　up　to　the　car　and　smiled　as　he
lifted　a　foot　to　the　running　board。　　He　leaned　forward；　his　eyes
going　past　Casey　to　the　other　man。

〃I　kinda　thought　it　was　you；　Kenner；〃　he　drawled。　　〃How　much
liquor　you　got　aboard　to…night？〃

Casey；　slanting　a　glance　downward；　glimpsed　the　barrel　of　a　big
automatic　looking　toward　them。

〃What　if　I　ain't　got　any？〃　the　young　man　parried　glumly。　　〃You're
taking　a　lot　for　granted。〃

The　big　man　chuckled。　　〃If　you　ain't　loaded　with　hootch；　it's
because　one　of　the　boys　met　up　with　yuh　before　I　did。　　Open　'er
up。　　Lemme　see　what　you　got。〃

The　young　fellow　scowled；　swore　under　his　breath　and　climbed　out；
turning　toward　the　loaded　tonneau　with　reluctant　obedience。

〃I　can't　argue　with　the　law；〃　he　said；　as　he　began　to　pull　out　a
roll　of　bedding　wedged　in　tightly。　　〃But；　for　cripes　sake；　go　as
easy　as　you　can。　　I'm　plumb　lame　from　my　last　fall！〃

The　big　man　chuckled　again。　　〃The　law's　merciful　as；　it　can
afford　to　be；　and　I've　got　a　heart　like　an　ox。　　Got　any　jack　on
yuh？〃

〃I'm　just　about　cleaned；　and　that's　the　Gawd's　truth。　　Have　a
heart；　can't　yuh？　　A　man's　got　t'　live。〃

〃Slip　me　five　hundred；　anyway。　　How　much　is　your　load？〃

〃Sixty　gallonsbottled；　most　of　it。　　Two　kegs　in　bulk。〃　　Young
Kenner　was　proceeding　stoically　with　the　unloading。　　Casey；　his
mouth　clamped　tight　shut；　was　glaring　stupifiedly　straight　out
through　the　windshield。

〃Pile　out　thirty　gallons　of　the　bottled　goods　by　that　bush。　You
can　keep　the　kegs。〃　　The　big　man's　eyes　shifted　to　Casey　Ryan's
expressionless　profile　and　dwelt　there　curiously。

〃Seems　like　I　know　you；〃　he　said　abruptly。　　〃Ain't　you　the　guy
that　was　brought　in　with　that　Black　Butte　bunch　of　moonshiners
and　got　off　on　account　of　a　nice　wife　and　an　L。　A。　alibi？　　Sure
you　are！　Casey　Ryan。　　I　got　yuh　placed　now。〃　　He　threw　back　his
head　and　laughed。

Casey　might　have　been　an　Indian　making　a　society　call　for　all　the
sign　of　life　he　gave。　　Young　Kenner；　having　deposited　his　camp
outfit　in　a　heap　on　the　ground；　began　lifting　out　tall；　round
bottles；　four　at　a　time　and　ricking　them　neatly　beside　the　large
sagebush　indicated　by　the　officer。

Standing　upon　the　running　board　at　Casey's　shoulder　where　he　had
a　clear　view；　the　big　man　watched　the　unloading　and　at　the　same
time　kept　an　eye　on　Casey。　　It　was　perfectly　evident　that　for　all
his　easy　good　nature；　he　was　not　a　man　who　could　be　talked　out　of
his　purpose。

〃All　right；　pile　in　your　blankets；〃　the　big　man　ordered　at　last；
and　young　Kenner　unemotionally　began　to　reload　the　camp　outfit。
The　big　man's　attention　shifted　to　Casey　again。　　He　looked　at　him
curiously　and　grinned。

〃Say；　that's　a　good　one　you　pulled！　　You　had　all　the　county
officials　bluffed　into　thinking　you　we