the trail of the white mule-第18部分

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curiously　and　grinned。

〃Say；　that's　a　good　one　you　pulled！　　You　had　all　the　county
officials　bluffed　into　thinking　you　were　the　victim　of　that　Black
Butte　bunch；　instead　of　being　in　cahoots。　　That　alibi　of　yours
was　a　bird。　Does　Kenner；　here；　know　you　hit　the　hootch　pretty
strong　at　times？　Bootlegging's　bad　business　for　a　man　that　laps
it　up　the　way　you　do。　Where's　that　piece　of　change；　Kenner？〃

〃Aw；　can't　yuh　find　some　way　to　leave　me　jack　enough　to　buy　gas
and　grub？〃　　Young　Kenner　asked　sullenly；　reaching　into　his
pocket。　The　big　man　shook　his　head。

〃I'm　doing　a　lot　for　you　boys；　when　I　let　yuh　get　past　me　with
the　Lizzie；　to　say　nothing　of　half　your　load。　　I'd　ought　to
trundle　yuh　back　to　San　Berdoo；　you　both　know　that　as　well　as　I
do。　　I'm　too　soft…hearted　for　this　job；　anyway。　　Hand　over　the
roll。〃

Young　Kenner　swore　and　extended　his　arm　behind　Casey。　　〃That
leaves　me　six　bits；〃　he　growled；　as　the　big　man　dropped　something
into　his　coat　pocket。　　〃You　might　give　me　back　ten；　anyway。〃

〃Couldn't　possibly。　　I　have　to　have　something　to　square　myself
with　if　this　leaks　out。　　Just　back　up；　till　you　can　get　around　my
car。　Turn　to　the　left　where　the　sand　ain't　so　deep　and　you　ain't
likely　to　run　over　the　booze。〃

With　the　big　man　still　standing　at　his　shoulder　on　the　running
board；　Casey　Ryan　did　what　he　had　rashly　declared　he　never　would
do；　he　backed　the　Ford；　turned　it　to　the　left　as　he　had　been
commanded　to　do；　and　drove　around　the　other　car。　　It　was　bitter
work　for　Casey；　but　even　he　recognized　the　fact　that　the
〃settin'〃　was　not　good　that　evening。　　Back　in　the　road　again；　he
stopped　when　he　was　told　to　stop；　and　waited；　with　a　surface　calm
altogether　strange　to　Casey；　while　the　officer　stepped　off　and
gave　a　bit　of　parting　advice。

〃Better　keep　right　on　going；　boys。　I'd　hate　to　see　yuh　get　in
trouble；　so　you'd　better　take　this　old　road　up　ahead　here。　
That'll　bring　yuh　out　at　Dagget　and　you'll　miss　Barstow
altogether。　　I　just　came　from　there；　there's　a　hard　gang　hanging
around　on　the　lookout　for　anything　they　can　pick　up。　　Don't　get
caught　again。　　On　your　way！〃

Casey　drove　for　half　a　mile　still　staring　straight　before　him。
Then　young　Kenner　laughed　shortly。

〃That's　Smilin'　Lou；〃　he　said。　　〃He's　a　mean　boy　to　monkey　with。
Talk　about　road　hawgshe's　one　yuh　can't　outset！〃



CHAPTER　ELEVEN

〃So　that's　the　kind　uh　game　yuh　asked　me　to　set　in　on！〃　　Casey
broke　another　long　silence。　　He　had　felt　in　his　bones　that　young
Kenner　was　watching　him　secretly；　waiting　for　him　to　take　his
stand　for　or　against　the　proposition。

〃I'd　like　to　know　who　passed　the　word　around　amongst　outlaws　that
Casey　Ryan　is　the　only　original　easy　mark　left　runnin'　wild；　an'
that　he　can　be　caught　an'　made　a　goat　of　any　time　it's　handy！
Look　at　the　crowd　of　folks　bunched　on　that　crossing　this
afternoon！　Why　didn't　yuh　pick　some　one　else　for　the　goat？　　Outa
all　them　hundreds　uh　people；　why'n　hell　did　yuh　have　to　go　an'
pick　on　Casey　Ryan？　　Ain't　he　had　trouble　enough　tryin'　to　keep
outa　trouble？

〃Naw！　　Casey　Ryan's　went　an'　blowed　hisself　to　show　tickets；　an'
he's　headed　home；　peaceful　an'　on　time；　so's　he　can　shave　an'　put
on　a　clean　collar　an'　slick　up　to　please　his　wife　an'　take　'er　to
the　show！　　Nothin'　agin　the　law　in　that！　　Not　a　damn'　thing　yuh
can　haul　'im　to　jail　fer！　　So　YOU　had　to　come　along；　loaded　to
the　guards　with　hootchstall　your　Ford　on　the　car　track　right
under　m'　nose；　an'　tell　Casey　Ryan　to　git　in！　　Couldn't　leave　'im
to　go　home　peaceful　to　'is　wifenaw！　　You　had　t'　haul　'im　away
out　here　an'　git　'im　in　wrong　with　a　cop　agin！　　That's　a　fine
game　you're　playin'！　　That's　a　DARNED　fine　game！〃

〃Sure；　it　is！　　It's　better　than　the　game　you've　been　playing；〃
young　Kenner　stated　calmly。　　〃Take　your　own　story；　for　instance。
You've　been　dubbin'　along；　tryin'　t'　play　the　way　the　law　tells
you　to。　　An'　the　saps　has　been　flockin'　to　yuh　like　a　bunch　uh
hornetsevery　bird　tryin'　t'　sink　his　stinger　in　first。　Ain't
that　right？

〃Keepin'　the　law　has　laid　yuh　in　jail　twice　in　the　last　month；　by
your　own　tell。　　Why；　a　clown　like　you；　that's　aimin'　t'　keep　the
law　an'　live　honest；　is　the　easiest　mark　in　the　world。　　Them's
the　guys　that　do　the　most　harmthey　make　graftin'　so　darned
easy！　Them's　the　guys　the　saps　lay　for　and　dust　off　regular　in
the　shape　of　fines　an'　taxes　an'　the　like　uh　that。　　Oncet　in
awhile　they'll　snatch　yuh　fer　somethin'　yuh　never　done　at　all　an'
lay　yuh　away　fer　a　day　or　two；　just　t'　keep　yuh　scared　and　easy
t'　handle　next　time。

〃Now；　yuh　take　me；　fer　instance。　　I　play　agin'　the　lawan'　I'm
cleanin'　up　right　along；　and　have　yet　to　take　my　morning　sunlight
in　streaks。　　I　know　as　much　about　the　inside　of　a　jail　as　I　know
about　the　White　Housean'　no　more。　　I've　hauled　hootch　all　over
the　country；　an'　I　never　yet　was　dusted　off　so　hard　by　the　law
that　I　didn't　come　through　with　a　roll　uh　jack　they'd　overlooked。

〃Take　this　highjackin'　to…night；　for　instance。　　Look　what　Smilin'
Lou　took　off'n　me！　　And　yet；〃　Kenner　turned　and　grinned
impudently　at　Casey；　〃don't　never　think　I　didn't　come　out　a　long
jump　ahead！　I　carry　nothin'　cheap；　nothin'　but　good　whisky　an'
brandy　that　the　liquor　houses　failed　to　declare　when　the　world
went　dry。　Then　there's　real；　honest…to…gosh　European　stuff　run　in
from　Mexico；　now　you're　in；　Casey；　I'll　tell　yuh　the　snap。　　When
I　said　easy　money；　I　was　in　my　right　mind。

〃You　can　count　on　highjackers　leavin'　yuh　half　your　load；　mebby　a
little　more；　if　yuh　set　purty。　　They　don't　aim　t'　force　yuh　out
uh　the　business。　　They　grab　what　the　traffic'll　bear；　an'　let　yuh
go　on　an　make　a　profit　so　you'll　stay。

〃Now　there's　a　card　you　can　slip　up　your　sleeve　for　this　game。
Yuh　load　in　the　best　stuff　firstsee？　　Anything　real　special　you
wanta　put　in　kegs　with　double　sides　an'　ends　which　you　fill　with
moonshine。　　Yuh　never　can　tellthey　might　wanta　sample　it。　
Smilin'　Lou　did　oncean'　you　notice　to…night　he　left　the　kegs
be。　So　they　get　a　good　grade　of　whisky　from　the　liquor　houses。　
And　they　pass　up　the　best；　imported　stuff　that　can　be　got　to…day。　
We'll　have　regular　customers　for　that；　and　you　can　gamble　they'll
pay　the　price！〃　He　laughed　at　some　secret　joke　which　he
straightway　shared　with　Casey。

〃You　noticed　I　got　my　gas…tank　behinda　twenty…gallon　tank　at
that。　Well；　what　if　I　tell　yuh　that　right　under　this　front　seat
there's　a　false　bottom　to　the　tool…box　and　under　thatwell；
suppose　you're　settin'　on　forty　pints　uh　French　champagne？　
More'n　all　that；　this　cushion　we're　settin'　on　has　got　a
concealed　pocket　down　both　sides　for　hop。　　So　yuh　see；　Casey；　a
man　can　make　an　honest　livin'　at　this　game；　even　if　he's
highjacked　every　trip。　　Now　you're　in；　I　can　show　yuh　all　kinds
uh　tricks。〃

The　muscles；　along　Casey's　jaw　had　hardened　until　they　looked
bunched。　His　eyes；　fixed　upon　the　winding　trail　in　front　of　him；
were　a　pale；　unwinking　glitter。

〃Who　says　I'm　in？　　Yuh　ain't　heard　Casey　Ryan　say　it　yet；　have
yuh？　Yuh　better　wait　till　Casey　says　he's　in　b'fore　yuh　bank　on
'im　too　strong。　　Casey　may　be　an　easy　markhe　may　be　the
officious　goat　pro　tem　of　every　darn'　bootlegger　an'　moonshiner
an'　every　darn'　cop　that　crosses　his　trail；　but　you　can　ask
anybody　if　Casey　Ryan　don't　do　'is　own　decidin'！

〃Before　you　go　any　further；　young　feller；　I'll　tell　yuh　just　how
fur　Casey's　in　your　gamean'　that's　as　fur　as　Barstow。　　When
Casey　says　he'll　do　a　thing　he　comes　purty　near　doin'　it。　　I
ain't　playin'　no　bootleg　game；　young　feller；　White　Mule　an'　me
ain't　an'　never　was　trail　pardners。　　Make　me　choose　between
bootleggers　an'　cops；　an'　I'd　have　to　flip　a　dollar　on　it。　　Only
fer　Bill　Masters　bein'　your　friend；　I　dunno　but　what　I'd　take　yuh
right　back　with　me　t'　L。　A。　an'　let　yuh　sleep　in　a　jail
oncetseein'　you've　never　had　the　pleasure！〃

The　young　man　laughed　imperturbably。　〃Flip　that　dollar　for　me；
Casey；　to　see　whether　I　shoot　yuh　now　an'　dump　yuh　out　in　the
brush　somewheres；　or　make　yuh　play　the　hootch　game　an'　like　it。
Why；　you　didn't　think　for　one　minute；　did　yuh；　that　I　was　takin'
any　chance　with　you？　　Not　a　chance　in　the　world！　　Go　squeal　to
the　lawan'　what　would　it　get　yuh？

〃You　was　drivin'　this　car　yourself　when　Smilin'　Lou　stopped　us；
recollect。　　He　had　yuh　placed　as　one　of　that　Black　Butte　gang
quick　as　he　lamped　yuh。　　Yuh　think　Smilin'　Lou　is　goin'　to　take　a
chance？　You　was　caught　with　the　goods　t'night；　old…timer；　an'
it's　the　second　time　inside　a　month。　　It'd　be　the　third　time　you
an'　the　law　has　tangled。　　Why；　you　set　there　yourself　an'　told　me
how　you　was　practically　run　outa　L。　A。；　right　this　week。　　You　set
still　a　minute　and　figure　out　about　how　many　years　they'd　give
yuh！

〃How　come　Smilin'　Lou　overlooked　cleanin'　yuh　of　your　roll　when
he　took　mine；　do　yuh　think？　　He　was　treatin'　yuh　white；　an'
givin'　yuh　a　chance　to　come　back　strong　next　timethat's　why。　
They　got　so　much　on　yuh　now　after　to…night；　that　he　knows　you　got
just　one　chance　to　sidestep　a　stretch　in　the　pen。　　That's　to　play
the　game　with　pertection。　　Smilin'　Lou　never　to　my　knowledge
throwed　down　a　guy　that　come　through　on　demand。

〃Smilin'　Lou　stood　there　an'　sized　yuh　up　about　the　same　as　I
did；　somethin'　like　this：　'Here　Is　Casey　Ryana　clown　that's
safe　anywhere　in　the　desert　States。　　He　got　honest　prospector
wrote　all　over　'im。　　Why；　if　you　boarded　a　street　car　the
conductor　would　be　guessin'；　wild…eyed；　how　much　gold　dust　it
takes　to　make　a　nickel；　expectin'　you　to　haul　out　your　poke　an'
look　around　fer　the　gold　scales。　　Why；　you　could　git　by　where　a
town　guy　couldn't。　You've　got　a　rep　a　mile　long　as　a　fightin'；
squareshootin'　Irishman　that's　a　drivin'　fool　an'　knows　the
desert　like　he　knows　ham…an'…eggs。　Tie　on　some　picks　an'　shovels
an'　put　you　behind　the　wheel；　and　only　the　guys　that　are　in　the
know　would　ever　get　wise　in　a　thousand　years。

〃Why；　look　what　he　said　about　you　havin'　'em　all　bluffed　in　San
Berdoo！　Grabbed　you　with　a　bunch　uh　moonshiners；　and　you　fightin'
the　saps　harder'n　any　of　'emand　then；　by　heck；　you　slips　the
noose　an'　leaves　'em　thinkin'　you're　honest　but　unlucky。

〃So　you　'n'　me　is　pardners　till　I　say　when。　　We'll　clean　up　some
real　jack　together。