the trail of the white mule-第23部分

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quizzical　intentness。　　〃He　must　have　been　scared　stiff；　to　let　go
of　all　that　stuff　for　sixteen　hundred。　　Why；　man；　the　'junk'
that's　dopealone　must　be　worth　more　than　that。　　And　the
champagne　forty　pints；　you　say？　　He　ought　to　get　twenty　dollars
a　pint　for　that。　　Figure　it　yourself。　　I　hope；〃　he　added
seriously；　〃the　fellow　wasn't　too　scared　to　show　up　again。〃

〃Well；〃　Casey　said　grimly；　〃I　dunno　how　scart　he　isbut　he　knows
darn'　well　I'll　kill　'im。　I　told　im　I　would。〃

Again　Mack　Nolan　laughed。　　〃Catching's　much　better　than　killing；
Ryan。　　It　hurts　a　man　worse；　and　it　lasts　a　heap　longer。　　What　do
you　say　to　turning　in？　　To…morrow　we'll　have　a　full　day　at　my
private　bottling　works。〃

They　moved　their　cooking　outfit　down　near　the　Ford　for　safety's
sake。　While　it　was　wholly　improbable　that　the　car　would　be　robbed
in　the　night；　Mack　Nolan　was　a　man　who　took　as　few　chances　as
possible。　It　happened　that　the　excavation　Casey　had　so　hopefully
made　that　morning　formed　a　convenient　level　for　their　bed；
wherefore　they　spread　it　there；　talking　in　low　tones　of　their
plans　until　they　went　to　sleep。



CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

Dawn　was　just　thinning　the　curtain　of　darkness　when　Nolan　woke
Casey　with　a　shake　of　the　shoulder。

〃I　think　we'd　better　be　moving　from　here　before　the　world's
astir。　You　can　back　on　down　this　draw；　Ryan；　and　strike　an　old
trail　that　cuts　over　the　ridge　and　up　the　next　gulch　to　an　old；
deserted　mine　where　I've　made　headquarters。　　It　isn't　far；　and　we
can　have　breakfast　at　my　camp。〃

Casey　swallowed　his　astonishment；　and　for　once　in　his　life　he　did
as　he　was　told　without　argument。

Mack　Nolan's　camp　was　fairly　accessible　by　roundabout　trail　with
a　few　tire　tracks　to　point　the　way　for　Casey。　　Straight　across
the　ridges；　it　would　not　have　been　more　than　two　miles　to　Juniper
Wells。　Nevertheless　not　one　man　in　a　year　would　be　tempted　to
come　this　way；　unless　it　were　definitely　known　that　some　one
lived　here。

As　the　camp　of　a　man　who　was　prospecting　for　pastime　rather　than
for　a　grubstake；　the　place　was　perfect。　　Mack　Nolan　had　taken
possession　of　a　cabin　dug　into　the　hill　at　the　head　of　a　long
draw。　A　brush…covered　shed　of　makeshift　construction　sheltered　a
car　of　the　ubiquitous　Ford　make。　　Fifty　yards　away　and　in　full
sight　of　the　cabin；　the　mouth　of　a　tunnel　yawned　blackly　under　a
rhyolite　ledge。

Casey　swept　the　camp　with　an　observant　glance　and　nodded　approval
as　and　stopped　before　the　cabin。

〃As　a　prospector；　Mr。　Nolan；　I'll　say　'tis　a　fine　layout　you　got
here。　An'　tain't　the　first　time　an　honest…lookin'　mine　has　been
made　to　cover　things　far　off　from　minin'。　　Like　the　Black　Butte
bunch；　f'r　instance。　But　if　any　one　was　to　ride　up　on　yuh
unexpected　here；　I'll　say　yuh　could　meet　'em　with　a　grin　an'　feel
easy　about　your　secrets。〃

〃That's　praise　indeed；　coming　from　an　old　hand　like　you；〃　Nolan
declared。　　〃Now　I'll　tell　you　something　else。　　With　Casey　Ryan　in
the　camp　the　whole　thing's　twice　as　convincing。　　Come　in。　　I　want
to　show　you　what　I　call　an　artistic　interior。〃

Grinning；　Casey　followed　him　inside　and　exclaimed　profanely　in
admiration　of　Mack　Nolan's　genius。　　The　cabin　showed　every　mark
of　the　owner's　interest　in　the　geologic　formation　of　that
immediate　district。

On　the　floor　along　the　wall　lay　specimens　of　mineralized　rock；　a
couple　of　prospector's　picks；　a　single…jack　and　a　set　of　drills；
a　sample　sack；　grimed　and　with　a　hole　in　the　corner　mended　by　the
simple　process　of　gathering　the　cloth　together　around　it　and
tying　it　tightly　with　a　string；　hung　from　a　nail　above　the　tools。　
On　the　window　sill　were　specimens　of　ore；　two　or　three　of　the
pieces　showed　a　richness　that　lighted　Casey's　eyes　with　the
enthusiasm　of　an　old　prospector。　　Mining　journals　and　a
prospector's　manual　lay　upon　a　box　table　at　the　foot　of　the　bunk。　
For　the　rest；　the　cabin　looked　exactly　what　it　wasthe　orderly
home　of　a　man　quite　accustomed　to　primitive　living　far　off　from
his　fellows。

They　had　a　very　satisfactory　breakfast　cooked　by　Mack　Nolan　from
his　own　supplies　and　eaten　in　a　leisurely　manner　while　Nolan
talked　of　primary　formations　and　secondary；　and　of　mineral
intrusions　and　breaks。　　Casey　listened　and　learned　a　few　things
he　had　not　known；　for　all　his　years　of　prospecting。　　Mack　Nolan；
he　decided；　could　pass　anywhere　as　a　mining　expert。

〃And　now；　said　Nolan　briskly；　when　he　had　hung　up　the　dishpan　and
draped　the　dishcloth　over　it　to　dry；　〃I'll　show　you　the　bottling
works。　We'll　have　to　do　the　work　by　lantern…light。　　There's　not
one　chance　in　fifty　that　any　one　would　show　up　herebut　you
never　can　tell。　We　could　get　the　stuff　out　of　sight　easily　enough
while　the　car　was　coming　up　the　gulch。　　But　the　smell　is　a
different　matter。　We'll　take　no　chances。〃

At　the　head　of　the　bunk；　a　curtained　space　beneath　a　high　shelf
very　obviously　did　duty　as　a　wardrobe。　　A　leather　motor　coat　hung
there；　one　sleeve　protruding　beyond　the　curtain　of　flowered
calico。　Other　garments　bulged　the　cloth　here　and　there。　　Nolan；
smiling　over　his　shoulder　at　Casey；　nodded　and　pushed　the
clothing　aside。　　A　door　behind　opened　inward；　admitting　the　two
into　a　small　recess　from　which　another　door　opened　into　a　cellar
dug　deep　into　the　hill。

Undoubtedly　this　had　once　been　used　as　a　frost…proof　storeroom。　A
small　ventilator　pipe　openedso　Nolan　told　Caseyin　the　middle
of　a　greasewood　clump。　　Nolan　lighted　a　gasoline　lantern　that
shed　a　white　brilliance　upon　the　room。　　On　the　long　table　which
extended　down　one　side　of　the　room；　Casey　saw　boxes　of　bottles
and　other　supplies　which　he　did　not　at　the　moment　recognize。

〃We'll　have　to　rebottle　all　the　whisky；〃　said　Nolan。

〃You'll　see　a　certain　mark　blown　into　the；　bottom　of　each　one　of
these。　The　champagne；　I'm　afraid；　I　must　either　confiscate　and
destroy　or　run　the　risk　of　marking　the　labels。　　The　hop　we'll　lay
aside　for　further　consideration。〃

Casey　grinned；　thinking　of　the　speedy　downfall　of　his　enemies；
Smiling　Lou　and　Kennerand；　as　a　secondary　consideration　other
crooks　of　their　type。

〃So　now　we'll　unload　the　stuff；　Ryan；　and　get　to　work　here。〃
Nolan　adjusted　the　white　flame　in　the　mantle　of　the　gasoline
lantern　and　led　the　way　outside。　　〃Take　in　the　seat…cushion；
Casey。　　I　don't　fancy　opening　it　outside；　even　in　this　howling
wilderness。〃

〃I　think　I'll　just　pack　in　the　kegs　first；　Mr。　Nolan。〃　　For　the
first　time　since　the　shock　of　Mr。　Nolan's　〃mind…reading〃　the
night　before；　Casey　ventured　a　suggestion。　　〃Anybody　comes　along；
it's　the　kegs　they'd　look　at　cross…eyed。　　Cushions　is　expected　in
Fords　if　I　ain't　buttin'　in；〃　he　added　meekly。

〃Which　you're　not。　　You're　acting　as　my　agent　now；　Ryan；　and　it
will　take　two　heads　to　put　this　over　without　a　hitch。　　Sure；　put
the　kegs　out　of　sight　first。　　The　bottles　nextand　then　we'll
make　short　work　of　the　dope　in　the　cushion。〃

Casey　carried　in　the　kegs　while　Nolan　kept　watch　for　inopportune
visitors。　　It　was　thought　inadvisable　to　unload　the　camp　outfit
from　the　car　until　the　whisky　was　all　removed。　　The　outfit
effectually　hid　what　was　belowand　they　were　taking　no　chances。　
They　both　breathed　freer　when　the　two　kegs　were　in　the　cellar。　
Nolan　was　pleased；　too；　when　Casey　came　out　with　the　sample　bag
and　announced　that　he　would　carry　the　bottles　in　the　bag。　　Then
Nolan　fancied　he　heard　a　car；　and　walked　away　to　where　he　would
have　a　longer　view　down　the　gulch。　　He　would　whistle；　he　said；
and　warn　Casey　if　someone　was　coming。

He　had　not　proceeded　fifty　yards　when　Casey　yelled　and　brought
him　back　at　a　run。　　Casey　was　rummaging　in　the　car；　throwing
things　about　with　a　recklessness　which　ill…became　an　agent　of　the
self…possessed　Mack　Nolan。

〃There　ain't　a　damn'　bottle　here！〃　he　bellowed　indignantly。　
〃Them　crooks　gypped　me　outa　ten　gallons　uh　good；　bottle　whisky！　
Now　what　do　you　know　about　that；　Mr。　Nolan？　　That　feller　said　it
was　high…grade　stuff　he　had　packed　away　at　the　bottom。　　He　lied。　
There　ain't　nothin'　here　but　a　set　uh　skid　chains　an'　a　jack。　
An'　the　champagne；　mebby；　under　the　front　seat！〃

Mack　Nolan's　eyes　narrowed。　　〃I　think　Ryan；　I'll　have　a　look
under　that　front　seat。〃

He　had　a　lookseveral　looks；　in　fact。　　There　was　the　false
bottom　under　the　seat；　but　there　was　nothing　in　it。　　He　took　his
pocket　knife；　opened　a　blade　and　split　the　edge　of　the
seat…cushion　at　the　bottom。　He　inserted　a　finger　and　thumb　and
drew　out　a　bit　of　hair　stuffing。　He　stood　up　and　eyed　Casey
sharply；　and　Casey　stared　back　defensively。

〃He　was　a　darned　liar　from　start　t'　finish。　　He　said　there　was
champagne　an'　he　said　there　was　hop；〃　Casey　stated　flatly。

〃I　wondered　at　his　letting　go　of　stuff　as　valuable　as　that；〃　said
Nolan。　〃I　think　we'd　better　take　a　look　at　those　kegs。〃

They　went　into　the　cellar　and　took　a　look　at　the　kegs。　　Both
kegs。　Afterward　they　stood　and　looked　at　each　other。　　Casey's
hands　went　to　his　hips；　and　the　muscles　along　his　jaw　hardened
into　lumps。　He　spat　into　the　dirt　of　the　cellar　floor。

〃Water！〃　　He　snorted　disgustedly。　　〃Casey　Ryan　with　the　devil　an'
all　scart　outa　him；　thinkin'　he　had　ownership　of　a　load　uh　booze
an'　hop　sufficient　t'　hang　'im！〃　　His　hand　slid　into　his　trousers
pocket；　reaching　for　the　comforting　plug　of　tobacco。　　〃Stuck　up
an'　robbed　is　what　happens　t'　Casey。　　You　can　ask　anybody　if　it
ain't　highway　robbery！〃

Nolan　stopped　whistling　under　his　breath。　〃There's　the　Ford；〃　he
reminded　Casey　comfortingly。

〃Which　I　wisht　it　wasn't！〃　snarled　Casey。　　〃You　know　yourself；
Mr。　Nolan；　it's　likely　stole；　an'　the　first　man　I　meet　in　the
trail'll　likely　take　it　off　me；　claimin'　it's　his'n！〃

Mack　Nolan　started　whistling　again；　but　checked　himself　abruptly。
〃Well；　our　trap's　wanting　bait；　I　see。　　This　leaves　me　still
hunting　the　White　Mule。〃

〃Aw；　tahell　with　your　White　Mule！　　Tahell　with　everything！〃　
Casey　kicked　the　nearest　keg　viciously　and　went　out　into　the
sunshine；　swearing　to　himself。



CHAPTER　SIXTEEN

In　the　shade　of　a　juniper　that　grew　on　the　highest　point　of　the
gulch's　rim；　Mack　Nolan　lay　sprawled　on　the　flat　of　his　back；　one
arm　for　a　pillow；　and　stared　up　into　the　serene　blue　of　the　sky
with　cottony　flakes　of　cloud　swimming　steadily　to