the trail of the white mule-第2部分

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awful　in　the　city。　　You　saw　him；〃　said　the　Little　Woman；
〃to…day。〃　　And　she　added　wistfully；　〃It's　the　first　time　since　we
were　married　that　he　has　ever　talked　backto　me。

〃And　you　know；〃　she　went　on；　shuffling　the　cards　and　stopping　to
regard　the　joker　attentively　（though　I　am　sure　she　didn't　know
what　card　she　was　looking　at）；　〃just　chasing　around　town　and
doing　nothing　but　square　yourself　for　not　playing　according　to
the　rules　costs　money　without　getting　you　anywhere。　　Fifty…five
thousand　dollars　isn't　so　much　just　to　play　with；　in　this　town。　
Casey's　highest　ambition　now　seems　to　be　nickel　disk　wheels　on　a
new　racing　car　that　can　make　the　speed　cops　go　some　to　catch　him。　
His　idea　of　economy　is　to　put　six　or　seven　thousand　dollars　into
a　car　that　will　enable　him　to　outrun　a　twenty…dollar　fine！

〃We　have　some　money　invested；〃　she　went　on。　　〃We　own　this
apartment　houseand　fortunately　it's　in　my　name。　　So　long　as　the
housing　problem　continues　critical；　I　think　I　can　keep　Casey
going　without　spending　our　last　cent。〃

〃He　did　one　good　stroke　of　business；〃　I　ventured；　〃when　he　bought
this　place。　　Apartment　houses　are　good　as　gold　mines　these　days。〃

The　Little　Woman　laughed。　〃Well…sir；　it　wasn't　so　much　a　stroke
as　it　was　a　wallop。　　Casey　bought　it　just　to　show　who　was　boss；
he　or　the　landlord。　　The　first　thing　he　did　when　we　moved　in　was
to　take　down　the　nicely　framed　rules　that　said　we　must　not　cook
cabbage　nor　onions　nor　fish；　nor　play　music　after　ten　o'clock　at
night；　nor　do　any　loud　talking　in　the　halls。

〃Every　day　for　a　week　Casey　cooked　cabbage；　onions　and　fish。　　He
sat　up　nights　to　play　the　graphophone。　　He　stayed　home　to　talk
loudly　and　play　bucking　bronk　with　Babe　all　up　and　down　the
stairs　and　in　the　halls。　　Our　rent　was　paid　for　a　month　in
advance；　and　the　landlord　was　too　little　and　old　to　fight。　　So　he
sold　out　cheapand　it　really　was　a　good　stroke　of　business　for
us；　though　not　deliberate

〃Well…sir；　at　first　we　lost　tenants　who　didn't　enjoy　the　freedom
of　their　neighbors'　homes。　　But　really；　Jack；　you'd　be　surprised
to　know　how　many　people　in　this　city　just　LOVE　cabbage　and　onions
and　fish；　and　to　have　children　they　needn't　disown　whenever　they
go　house…hunting。　I　had　ventilator　hoods　put　over　every　gas　range
in　the　house；　and　turned　the　back　yard　into　a　playground　with
plenty　of　sand　piles　and　swings。　　I　raised　the　price；　too；　and
made　the　place　look　very　select；　with　a　roof　garden　for　the
grown…ups。　　We　have　the　house　filled　now　with　really　nice
familiesavoiding　the　garlic　brandand　as　an　investment　I
wouldn't　ask　for　anything　better。

〃Casey　enjoyed　himself　hugely　while　he　was　whipping　things　into
shape；　but　the　last　month　he's　been　going　stale。　　The　tenants　are
all　so　thankful　to　do　as　they　please　that　they're　excruciatingly
polite　to　him；　no　matter　what　he　does　or　says。　　He's　tired　of　the
beaches　and　he　has　begun　to　cuss　the　long；　smooth　roads　that　are
signed　so　that　he　couldn't　get　lost　if　he　tried。　　It　does　seem　as
if　there's　no　interest　left　in　anything；　unless　he　can　get　a　kick
out　of　going　to　jail。　　And；　Jack；　I　do　believe　he's　gone　there。〃

The　telephone　rang　and　the　Little　Woman　excused　herself　and　went
into　the　hall；　closing　the　door　softly　behind　her。

I'm　not　greatly　given　to　reminiscence；　but　while　I　sat　and
watched　the　flames　of　civilization　licking　tamely　at　the
impregnable　iron　bark　of　the　gas　logs；　the　eyes　of　my　memory
looked　upon　a　picture：

Desert；　empty　and　with　the　mountains　standing　back　against　the
sky；　the　great　dipper　uptilted　over　a　peak　and　the　stars　bending
close　for　very　friendliness。　　The　licking　flames　of　dry
greasewood　burning；　with　a　pungent　odor　in　my　nostrils　when　the
wind　blew　the　smoke　my　way。　The　far…off　hooting　of　an　owl；
perched　somewhere　on　a　juniper　branch　watching　for　mice；　and
Casey　Ryan　sitting　cross…legged　in　the　sand；　squinting　humorously
at　me　across　the　fire　while　he　talked。

I　saw　him；　too；　bolting　a　hurried　breakfast　under　a　mesquite　tree
in　the　chill　before　sunrise；　his　mind　intent　upon　the　trail；
facing　the　desert　and　its　hardships　as　a　matter　of　course；　with
never　a　thought　that　other　men　would　shrink　from　the　ordeal。

I　saw　him　kneeling　before　a　solid　face　of　rock　in　a　shallow　cut
in　the　hillside；　swinging　his　〃single…jack〃　with　tireless　rhythm；
a　tap　and　a　turn　of　the　steel；　a　tap　and　a　turnchewing　tobacco
industriously　and　stopping　now　and　then　to　pry　off　a　fresh　bit
from　the　plug　in　his　hip　pocket　before　he　reached　for　the　〃spoon〃
to　muck　out　the　hole　he　was　drilling。

I　saw　him　larruping　in　his　Ford　along　a　sandy；　winding　trail　it
would　break　a　snake's　back　to　follow；　hot　on　the　heels　of　his
next　adventure；　dreaming　of　the　fortune　that　finally　came。　。　。　。

The　Little　Woman　came　in　looking　as　if　she　had　been　talking　with
Destiny　and　was　still　dazed　and　unsteady　from　the　meeting。

〃Well…sir；　he's　gone！〃　she　announced；　and　stopped　and　tried　to
smile。　But　her　eyes　looked　hurt　and　sorry。　　〃He　has　bought　a　Ford
and　a　tent　and　outfit　since　he　left　us　down　on　Seventh　and
Broadway；　and　he　just　called　me　up　on　long…distance　from　San
Bernardino。　　He's　going　out　on　a　prospecting　trip；　he　says。　　I'll
say　he's　been　going　some！　　A　speed　cop　overhauled　him　just　the
other　side　of　Claremont；　he　told　me；　and　he　was　delayed　for　a　few
minutes　while　he　licked　the　cop　and　kicked　him　and　his　motorcycle
into　a　ditch。　　He　says　he's　sorry　he　sassed　me；　and　if　I　can
drive　a　car　in　this　darned　town　and　not　spend　all　my　loose　change
paying　fines；　I'm　a　better　man　than　he　is。　　He　doesn't　know　when
he'll　be　backand　there　you　are。〃

She　sat　down　wearily　on　the　arm　of　an　over…stuffed　armchair　and
looked　up　at　the　gilt…and…onyx　clock　which　I　suspected　Casey　of
having　bought。　　〃If　he　isn't　lynched　before　morning；〃　she　sighed
whimsically；　〃he'll　probably　make　it　to　the　Nevada　line　all
right。〃

I　rose；　also　glancing　at　the　clock。　　But　the　Little　Woman　put　up
a　hand　to　forbid　the　plan　she　read　in　my　mind。

〃Let　him　alone；　Jack；〃　she　advised。　　〃Let　him　go　and　be　just　as
wild　and　devilish　as　he　wants　to　be。　　I'm　only　thankful　he　can
take　it　out　on　a　Ford　and　a　pick　and　shovel。　　There　really　isn't
any　trouble　between　us　two。　　Casey　knows　I　can　look　out　for
myself　for　awhile。　　He's　got　to　have　a　vacation　from　loafing　and
matrimony。　I'm　so　thankful　he　isn't　taking　it　in　jail！〃

I　told　her　somewhat　bluntly　that　she　was　a　brick；　and　that　if　I
could　get　in　touch　with　Casey　I'd　try　to　keep　an　eye　on　him。　It
would　probably　be　a　good　thing；　I　told　her；　if　he　did　stay　away
long　enough　to　let　this　collection　of　complaints　against　him　be
forgotten　at　the　police　station。

I　went　away；　hoping　fervently　that　Casey　would　break　even　his　own
records　that　night。　　I　really　intended　to　find　him　and　keep　an
eye　on　him。　　But　keeping　an　eye　on　Casey　Ryan　is　a　more
complicated　affair　than　it　sounds。

Wherefore；　much　of　this　story　must　be　built　upon　my　knowledge　of
Casey　and　a　more　or　less　complete　report　of　events　in　which　I
took　no　part；　welded　together　with　a　bit　of　healthy　imagination。



CHAPTER　TWO

Casey　Ryan　knew　his　desert。　　Also；　from　long　and　not　so　happy
experience；　he　knew　Fords；　or　thought　he　did。　　He　made　the
mistake；　however；　of　buying　a　nearly　new　one　and　asking　it　to
accomplish　the　work　of　a　twin　six　from　the　moment　he　got　behind
the　wheel。

He　was　fortunate　in　buying　a　demonstrator's　car　with　a　hundred
miles　or　so　to　its　credit。　　He　arrived　in　Barstow　before　the
proprietor　of　a　supply　store　had　gone　to　bedfor　which　he　was
grateful　to　the　Ford。　He　loaded　up　there　with　such　necessities
for　desert　prospecting　as　he　had　not　waited　to　buy　in　Los
Angeles；　turned　short　off　the　main　highway　where　traffic　officers
might　be　summoned　by　telephone　to　lie　in　wait　for　him；　and　took
the　steeper　and　less　used　trail　north。　He　was　still　mad　and
talking　bitterly　to　himself　in　an　undertone　while　he
drovetelling　the　new　Ford　what　he　thought　of　city　rules　and
city　ways；　and　driving　it　as　no　Ford　was　ever　meant　by　its　maker
to　be　driven。

The　country　north　of　Barstow　is　not　to　be　taken　casually　in　the
middle　of　a　dark　night；　even　by　Casey　Ryan　and　a　Ford。　　The
roads；　once　you　are　well　away　from　help；　are　all　pretty　much
alike；　and　all　bad。　　And　although　the　white；　diamond…shaped　signs
of　a　beneficent　automobile　club　are　posted　here　and　there；　where
wrong　turnings　are　most　likely　to　prove　disastrous　to　travelers；
Casey　Ryan　was　in　the　mood　to　lick　any　man　who　pointed　out　a　sign
to　him。　　He　did　see　one　or　two　in　spite　of　himself　and　gave　a
grunt　of　contempt。　　So；　where　he　should　have　turned　to　the　east
（his　intention　being　to　reach　Nevada　by　way　of　Silver　Lake）　he
continued　traveling　north　and　didn't　know　it。

Driving　across　the　desert　on　a　dark　night　is　confusing　to　the
most　observant　wayfarer。　　On　either　side；　beyond　the　light　of　the
car；　illusory　forest　stands　for　mile　upon　mile。　　Up　hill　or　down
or　across　the　level　it　is　the　samea　narrow；　winding　trail
through　dimly　seen　woods。　　The　most　familiar　road　grows　strange；
the　miles　are　longer；　you　drive　through　mystery　and　silence　and
the　world　around　you　is　a　formless　void。

Dawn　and　a　gorgeous　sunrise　painted　out　the　woods　and　revealed
barren　hilltops　which　Casey　did　not　know。　　Because　he　did　not
know　them；　he　guessed　shrewdly　that　he　was　on　his　way　to　the
wilderness　of　mountains　and　sand　which　lies　west　of　Death　Valley。　
Small　chance　he　had　of　hearing　the　shop　whistles　blow　in　Las
Vegas　at　noon；　as　he　had　expected。

He　was　telling　himself　that　he　didn't　care　where　he　went；　when
the　car；　laboring　more　and　more　reluctantly　up　a　long；　sandy
hill；　suddenly　stopped。　　In　Casey's　heart　was　a　thrill　at　the
sheer　luxury　of　stopping　in　the　middle　of　the　road　without　having
some　thick…necked　cop　stride　toward　him　bawling　insults。　　That　he
was　obliged　to　stop；　and　that　a　hill　uptilted　before　him；　and　the
sand　was　a　foot　deep　outside　the　ruts　failed　to　impress　him　with
foreboding。　　He　gloried　in　his　freedom　and　thought　not　at　all　of
the　Ford。

He　climbed　stiffly　out；　squinted　at　the　sky　line；　which　was
jagged；　and　at　his　immediate　surroundings；　which　were　barren　and
lonely　and　soothing　to　his　soul　that　h