the trail of the white mule-第22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！



Mack　Nolan　laughed　to　himself　and　rubbed　the　ash　from　his
cigarette　against　the　sole　of　his　shoe。　　〃Why；〃　he　answered
genially；　〃my　game　is　holding　up　bootleggersand　crooked　cops。　
Speaking　off…hand　（which　I　don't　often　do）　I　should　say　you　have
a　fine　chance　to　sit　in　with　me。　　I'm　just　guessing；　now；〃　　he
added　dryly；　　〃but　I'm　tolerably　good　at　guessing；　a　man's　got　to
be；　these　days。〃

〃A　man's　got　to　do　better　than　guesswith　Casey　Ryan；〃　Casey
remarked　ominously。　　〃The　last　man　that　guessed　Casey　Ryan；
guessed　'im　plumb　wrong。〃

〃Meaning　that　you'd　refuse　to　help　me　round　up　bootleggers　and
the　officers　that　protect　them？〃　A　steel　edge　crept　into　Mack
Nolan's　voice。　　He　leaned　forward；　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　his
eyes　boring　into　Casey's　mind。

〃Man；　don't　stall　with　me！　　You've　got　brains　enough　to　know　that
if　I　were　a　crook　I'd　have　held　you　up　long　before　now。　　You　gave
me　three　splendid　opportunities　to　stick　a　gun　in　your　backand
I　could　have　made　others。　　And；〃　he　added　with　a　smile；　〃if　I　had
thought　that　you　were　a　bootlegger　or　a　crook　of　any　other　kind；
I'd　have　had　you　in　Las　Vegas　jail　by　this　time。　　You're　no　more
a　crook　than　I　am。　　You've　got　neither　the　looks　nor　the　actions
of　a　slicker。　　I　may　say　I　know　you　pretty　well〃

Casey　thrust　out　a　pugnacious　chin。　　〃Say！　　D'　you　know　Bill
Masters；　too？　　That's　all　I　wanta　know！〃

〃Bill　Masters？　　Why；　is　he　the　fellow　who　stepped　out　from　under
this　load　of　hootch？　　If　he　is；　he　must　have　picked　himself　a　new
name；　I　never　heard　it。〃

Casey　glared　suspiciously　for　twenty　seconds　before　he　settled
back　glumly　into　his　mental　corner。

〃Ryan；　I've　been　all　day　sizing　you　up。　　I'm　going　to　be
perfectly　honest　with　you　and　tell　you　why　I　think　you're
straightalthough　you　must　admit　the　evidence　is　rather　against
you。

〃I　happened　to　be　right　close　when　you　drove　down　in　here　and
stopped。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　was　behind　that　little　clump　of
junipers。　Had　you　driven　around　them　instead　of　stopping　this
side；　you　couldn't　have　failed　to　see　me。

〃You　came　down　here　mad　at　the　trick　that　had　been　played　you。
You　were　so　mad；　you　started　talking　to　yourself　as　a　safety
valve　blowing　off　mental　steam。　　You've　spent　a　lot　of　time　in
the　desert　alone。　　Men　like　that　frequently　talk　aloud　their
thoughts；　just　to　hear　a　human　voice。　　You　made　matters　pretty
plain　to　me　before　you　knew　there　was　any　one　within　miles　of
you。　　For　instance；　you're　not　at　all　sure　this　car　you've　got
wasn't　stolen。　　You're　inclined　to　think　it　was。　　You're
brokerobbed；　I　take　it；　by　the　men　who　somehow　managed　to　leave
you　with　the　car　and　a　load　of　booze　on　your　hands。　　The　trick
must　have　been　turned　this　morning；　down　at　the　railroad；　　I
imaginebecause　you　hadn't　taken　time　to　stop　and　size　up　the
predicament　you　were　in　until　you　got　here。

〃Your　main　idea　was　to　get　off　somewhere　out　of　sight。　　You　were
scared。　You　didn't　hear　me　behind　you　until　I　spokewhich　proves
you're　a　green　hand　at　dodging。　　And　that；　Ryan；　is　a　very　good
recommendation　to　a　man　in　my　line　of　work。　　But　you're　shrewd；
and　you're　game　dead　game。　　You're　a　peach　at　thinking　up
schemes　to　get　yourself　out　of　a　hole。　　Of　course；　being　new　at
it；　you　don't　think　quite　far　enough。　　For　instance；　because　you
found　me　afoot　it　never　occurred　to　you　that　I　might　know
something　about　a　car；　but　the　rest　of　your　plan　was　a　dandy。

〃Your　idea　of　backing　down　there　around　the　turn　and　burying　the
booze　was　all　right。　　With　almost　any　other　man　it　would　have
worked。　Once　you　got　that　hootch　off　your　mind；　I　rather　think
you'd　have　been　glad　to　have　me　along　with　you；　instead　of　giving
me　broad　hints　to　leave。　　But　you　haven't　got　the　booze　buried
yet；　and　you've　been　figuring　all　the　evening。　　You　don't　see　how
the　devil　you're　going　to　manage　it　with　me　around。

〃I'll　do　a　little　more　guessing；　now：　I　guess　you've　doped　it　out
that　you'll　pack　the　bedroll　up　here；　tuck　me　in　and　pray　to　the
Lord　I'll　sleep　sound。　　You're　hoping　you　can　cache　the　booze　and
make　your　getaway　while　I've　gone　bye…low。　　Or　possibly；　if　you
got　the　booze　put　away　safe　from　my　prying　eyes；　you　might　come
back　to　bed　and　I'd　find　you　here　in　the　morning　just　as　if
nothing　had　happened。　　How　Is　that　for　guesswork？〃

〃You　go　tahell！〃　growled　Casey；　swallowing　a　sickly　grin。　　He
pressed　down　the　tobacco　in　his　pipe；　eyeing　Nolan　queerly。　　〃If
them　damn'　lizards　had　uh　let　yuh　alone；　I　wouldn't　have　nothin'
on　m'　mind　now　but　my　hat。〃　　He　looked　across　the　fire　and
grinned　again。

〃Keep　on；　you'll　be　tellin'　me　what　the　missus　an'　I　was　arguin'
about　last　night　over　long…distance。　　I've　heard　tell　uh　this
four…bit　mind　reading　an'　forecastin'　your　horrorscope　fer　a
dime；　but　I　never　met　up　with　it　before。　　If　you're　aimin'　to
take　up　a　collection　after　the　show；　you'll　fare　slim。　　I've　been
what　a　feller　called　'dusted　off'。〃　　He　added；　after　a　pause　that
was　eloquent；　〃They　done　it　thorough！〃

Mack　Nolan　laughed。　　〃They　usually　are　thorough；　when　they're
'dusting　off　a　chump'；　as　I　believe　they　call　it。〃

Casey　grunted。　　〃'Chump'　is　right；　mebby。　　But　anyways；　you're
too　late；　Mr。　Nolan。　I'm　cleaned。〃

Mack　Nolan　rolled　another　cigarette；　lighted　it　and　flipped　the
match　into　the　campfire。　　He　smoked　it　down　to　the　last　inch；
staring　into　the　fire　and　saying　nothing　the　while。　　When　the
cigarette　stub　followed　the　match；　he　leaned　back　upon　one　elbow
and　began　tracing　a　geometrical　figure　in　the　sand　with　a　stick。

〃Ryan；〃　he　said　abruptly；　〃you're　square　and　I　know　it。　　The　very
nature　of　my　business　makes　me　cautious　about　trusting　menbut
I'm　going　to　trust　you。〃　　He　stopped　again；　taking　great　pains
with　the　point　of　a　triangle　he　was　drawing。

Casey　knocked　the　ashes　out　of　his　pipe　against　a　rock。　　〃Puttin'
it　that　way；　Mr。　Nolan；　the　man's　yet　to　live　that　Casey　Ryan
ever　double…crossed。　　Cops　I　got　no　use　for；　nor　yet　bootleggers。
Whether　I　got　any　use　for　you；　Mr。　Nolan；　I　can　say　better　when
I've　heard　yuh　out。　　A　goat　I've　been　for　the　last　time。　　But　I'm
willin'　to　HEAR　yuh　outand　that　there's　more'n　what　I'd　uh　said
this　morning。〃

〃And　that's　fair　enough；　Ryan。　　If　you　jumped　into　things　with
your　eyes　shut；　I　don't　think　I'd　want　you　with　me。〃

Casey　squirmed；　remembering　certain　times　when　he　had　gone　too
headlong　into　things。

〃I'm　going　to　ask　you；　Ryan；　to　tell　me　the　whole　story　of　this
car　and　its　load　of　whisky。　　Before　you　do　that；　I'll　tell　you
this　much　to　show　good　faith　and　prove　to　you　how　much　I　trust
you：　I'm　an　officer；　and　my　special　work　right　now　is　to　clean　up
a　gang　of　bootleggers　and　the　crooked　officers　who　are　protecting
them。　What　I　know　about　your　case　leads　me　to　believe　that　you've
run　afoul　of　them　and　that　you're　the　man　I've　been　looking　for
that　can　help　me　set　a　trap　for　them。　　Would　you　like　to　do
that？〃

〃If　it's　that　bunch　you're　after；　Mr。　Nolan；　I'd　ruther　land　'em
in　jail　than　to　find　a　ledge　of　solid　gold　ten　feet　thick　an'　a
mile　long。　　One　thing　I'd　like　to　know　first。　　Are　yuh　or　ain't
yuh　huntin'　mules？〃

Mack　Nolan　laughed。　　〃I　am；　yes。　　But　the　mule　I'm　hunting　is
white！〃

Casey　studied　that　until　he　had　the　fresh　pipeful　of　tobacco
going　well。　　Then　he　looked　up　and　grinned　understandingly。

〃So　it's　White　Mule　you're　trailin'。〃　　He　kicked　a　stub　of
greasewood　branch　back　into　the　flames　and　laughed。　　〃Well；　the
tracks　is　deep　an'　plenty；　and　if　that's　the　trail　you're　takin'；
I'm　with　yuh。　You　ain't　a　copleastways　you　don't　spread　your
arms　every　time　you　turn　around。　　Gosh；　I　hate　them　wing…floppin'
kind！　　They's　one　thing　an'　one　only　that　I　hate　worsean'
that's　bootleggers　an'　moonshiners。　　If　you　got　a　scheme　to　give
them　cusses　their　needin's；　you　can　ask　anybody　if　Casey　Ryan
ain't　the　feller　you　can　bank　on。〃

〃Yes。　　That's　what　I've　been　thinking。　　Now；　I　wish　you'd　tell　me
exactly　what　you've　been　up　against。　　Don't　leave　out　anything；
however　trivial　it　might　seem　to　you。〃

Wherefore；　Casey　sat　with　the　firelight　flickering　across　his
seamed；　Irish　face　and　told　the　story　of　his　wrongs。　　Trivial
details　Nolan　had　asked　forand　he　got　them　with　the　full　Casey
Ryan　flavor。　Even　the　old　woman　who　rocked；　Casey　picturedfrom
his　particular　angle。　　Mack　Nolan　sat　up　and　listened；　his　eyes
steady　and　his　mouth；　that　had　curved　to　laughter　many　times
during　the　recital；　once　more　firm　and　somewhat　pitiless　when
Casey　finished。

〃This　Smiling　Lou；　you'd　know　him　again；　of　course？〃

〃Know　him！　　Say；　I'd　know　him　after　he'd　fried　a　week　in　hell！〃
Casey's　tone　left　no　doubt　of　his　meaning。

〃And　I　suppose　you　could　tell　this　man　Kenner　a　mile　off　and
around　a　corner。　　Now；　I'll　tell　you　what　I　want　you　to　do；
Casey。　　This　may　jar　you　a　littleuntil　I　explain。　　I　want
you〃Mack　Nolan　paused；　his　lips　twitching　in　a　faint　smile〃to
do　a　little　bootlegging　yourself。〃

〃YuhWHAT？〃　In　the　firelight　Casey's　eyes　were　seen　to　bulge。

〃I　want　you　to　bootleg　this　whisky　you've　got　in　the　car。〃　
Nolan's　eyes　twinkled。　　〃I　want　you　to　go　back　and　peddle　this
booze；　and　I　want　you　to　do　it　so　that　Smiling　Lou　or　one　of　his
bunch　will　hold　you　up　and　highjack　you。　　Do　you　see　what　I　mean？　
You　don'tso　I'll　tell　you。　　We'll　put　it　in　marked　bottles。　　I
have　the　bottles　and　the　seals　and　labels　for　every　brand　of
liquor　to　be　had　in　the　country　to…day。　　With　marked　money　and
marked　bottles；　we　ought　to　be　able　to　get　the　goods　on　that
gang。〃

Casey　thought　of　something　quite　suddenly　and　held　out　an
imperative；　pointing　finger。

〃There's　something　else　that　feller　told　me　was　in　the　car！〃　he
cried　agitatedly。　　〃He　said　he　had　forty　pints　of　French
champagne　cached　in　a　false　bottom　under　the　front　seat。　　And　he
said　the　front　cushion　had　a　blind　pocket　around　the　edges　that
was　full　uh　dope。　　Hop；　he　called　it。〃

Mack　Nolan　whistled　under　his　breath。

〃And　he　turned　the　whole　outfit　over　to　you　for　sixteen　hundred
dollars　or　so？〃　　He　stared　thoughtfully　into　the　fire。　　Abruptly
he　looked　at　Casey。

〃What　the　deuce　had　you　done　to　him；　Ryan？〃　he　asked；　with　a
quizzical　intentness。　　〃He　must　have　been　scared　stiff；　to　let