the trail of the white mule-第24部分

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arm　for　a　pillow；　and　stared　up　into　the　serene　blue　of　the　sky
with　cottony　flakes　of　cloud　swimming　steadily　to　the　northeast。
Three　feet　away；　Casey　Ryan　rested　on　left　hip　and　elbow　and
stared　glumly　down　upon　the　cabin　directly　beneath　them。　
Whenever　his　pale；　straight…lidded　eyes　focussed　upon　the　dusty
top　of　the　Ford　car　standing　in　front　of　the　cabin；　Casey　said
something　under　his　breath。　　　　　　　Miles　away　to　the　south；　pale
violet；　dreamlike　in　the　distance；　the　jagged　outline　of　a　small
mountain　range　stood　as　if　painted　upon　the　horizon。　　A　wavy
ribbon　of　smudgy　brown　was　drawn　uncertainly　across　the　base　of
the　mountains。　　This；　Casey　knew；　when　his　eyes　lifted　to　look
that　way；　marked　the　line　of　the　Sante　Fe　and　a　train　moving
heavily　upgrade　to　the　west。

Toward　it　dipped　the　smooth　stretch　of　barren　mesa　cut　straight
down　the　middle　with　a　yellow　line　that　was　the　highway　up　which
Casey　had　driven　the　morning　before。　　The　inimitable　magic　of
distance　and　high　desert　air　veiled　greasewood；　sage　and　sand
with　the　glamour　of　unreality。　　The　mountains　beyond；　unspeakably
desolate　and　forbidding　at　close　range；　and　the　little　black
buttes　standing　afar；　offsmall　spewings　of　age…old　volcanos
dead　before　man　was　bornseemed　fascinating；　unknown　islets
anchored　in　a　sea　of　enchantment。　　Across　the　valley　to　the　west
nearer　mountains；　all　amethyst　and　opal　tinted；　stood　bold　and
inscrutable；　with　jagged　peaks　thrust　into　the　blue　to　pierce　and
hold　the　little　clouds　that　came　floating　by。　　Even　the　gulch　at
hand　had　been　touched　by　the　enchanter's　wand　and　smiled
mysteriously　in　the　vivid　sunlight；　the　very　air　a…quiver　with
that　indescribable　beauty　of　the　high　mesa　land　which　holds
desert　dwellers　in　thrall。

When　first　Casey　saw　the　smoke　smudge　against　the　mountains　to
the　south；　he　remembered　his　misadventure　of　the　lower　desert　and
swore。　　When　he　looked　again；　the　majestic　sweep　of　distance　gave
him　a　satisfied　feeling　of　freedom　from　the　crowded　pettinesses
of　the　city。　　For　the　first　time　since　trouble　met　him　in　the
trail　between　Victorville　and　Barstow；　Casey　heaved　a　sigh　of
content　because　he　was　once　more　out　in　the　big　land　he　loved。　
Those　distant；　painted　mountains；　looking　as　impossible　as　the
back　drop　of　a　stage；　held　gulches　and　deep　canyons　he　knew。　　The
closer　hills　he　had　prospected。　　The　mesa；　spread　all　around　him；
seemed　more　familiar　than　the　white　apartment　house　in　Los
Angeles　which　Casey　had　lately　called　home。　　And　if　the　thought
of　the　Little　Woman　brought　with　it　the　vague　discomfort　of　a
schoolboy　playing　hookey；　Casey　could　not　have　regretted　being
here　with　Mack　Nolan　if　he　had　tried。

They　were　lying　up　here　in　the　shadefollowing　the　instinct　of
other　creatures　of　the　wild　to　guard　against　surpriseswhile
they　worked　out　a　nice　problem　in　moonshine。　　And　since　the
desert　had　never　meant　a　monotonously　placid　life　to　Caseywho
carried　his　problems　philosophically　as　a　dog　bears　patiently
with　fleashe　had　every　reason　now　for　feeling　very　much　at
home。　　When　he　reached　mechanically　into　his　pocket　for　his　Bull
Durham　and　papers；　any　man　who　knew　him　well　would　have
recognized　the　motion　as　a　sign　that　Casey　was　himself　again；
once　more　on　his　mental　feet　and　ready　to　go　boring
optimistically　into　his　next　bunch　of　trouble。

Mack　Nolan　raised　his　head　off　his　arm　and　glanced　at　Casey
quizzically。

〃Wellwe　can't　catch　fish　if　we　won't　cut　bait；〃　he　volunteered
sententiously。　　〃I've　a　nice　little　job　staked　out　for　you；
Casey。〃

Casey　gave　a　grunt　that　might　mean　one　of　several　things；　and
which　probably　meant　them　all。　　He　waited　until　he　had　his
cigarette　going。　〃If　it　ain't　a　goat's　job　I'm　fer　it；〃　he　said。
〃Casey　Ryan　ain't　the　man　t'　set　in　the　shade　whilst　there's　men
runnin'　loose　he's　darned　anxious　t'　meet。〃

〃I've　been　thinking　over　the　deal　those　fellows　pulled　on　you。　If
the　man　Kenner　had　left　you　the　booze　and　dope　he　told　you　was　in
the　car；　I'd　say　it　was　a　straight　case　of　a　sticky…fingered
officer　letting　a　bootlegger　by　with　part　of　his　load；　and　a
later　attack　of　cold　feet　on　the　part　of　the　bootlegger。　　But
they　didn't　leave　you　any　booze。　　So　I　have　doped　it　this　way；
Ryan。

〃The　thing's　deeper　than　it　looked；　yesterday。　　Those　two　were
working　together；　part　of　a　gang；　I　should　say；　with　a　fairly
well…organized　system。　　By　accidentand　probably　for　a　greater
degree　of　safety　in　getting　out　of　the　city；　Kenner　invited　you
to　ride　with　him。　　He　wanted　no　argument　with　that　traffic　cop
no　record　made　of　his　name　and　license　number。　　So　he　took　you
in。　When　he　found　out　who　you　were；　he　knew　you　were　at　outs　with
the　law。　He　knew　you　as　an　experienced　desert　man。　　He　had　you
placed　as　a　valuable　member　of　their　gang；　if　you　could　be　won
over　and　persuaded　to　join　them。

〃As　soon　as　possible　he　got　you　behind　the　wheelfurther
protection　to　himself　if　he　should　meet　an　officer　who　was
straight。　　He　felt　you　out　on　the　subject　of　a　partnership。　　And
when　you　met　Smiling　Louwell；　this　Kenner　had　decided　to　take
no　chance　with　you。　He　still　had　hopes　of　pulling　you　in　with
them；　but　he　was　far　from　feeling　sure　of　you。　　He　undoubtedly
gave　Smiling　Lou　the　cue　to　make　the　thing　appear　an　ordinary
case　of　highjacking　while　he　ditched　his　whole　load　so　that　there
would　be　no　evidence　against　him　if　he　lost　out　and　you　turned
nasty。

〃I'm　absolutely　certain；　Casey；　that　if　you　had　not　been　along；
Smiling　Lou　would　not　have　touched　that　load。　　They'd　probably
have　stopped　there　for　a　talk；　exchanged　news　and　perhaps
perfected　future　plans；　and　parted　like　two　old　cronies。　　It's
possible；　of　course；　that　Smiling　Lou　might　have　taken　some
whisky　back　with　himif　he　had　needed　it。　　Otherwise；　I　think
they　split　more　cash　than　booze；　as　a　rule。〃

Casey　sat　up。　　〃Well；　they　coulda　played　me　for　a　sucker　easy
enough；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly。　　〃An'　if　it'll　be　any　help　to
yuh；　Mr。　Nolan；　I'll　say　that　I　never　seen　the　money　passed　from
Kenner　to　Smilin'　Lou；　an'　I　never　seen　a　bottle　unloaded　from
the　car。　　I　heard　'em　yes。　An'　I'll　say　there　was　a　bunch　of　'em
all　right。　　But　what　I　SEEN　was　the　road　ahead　of　me　and　that　car
of　Smilin'　Lou's　standin'　in　the　middle　of　it。　　He　had　a　gun
pulled　on　me；　mind　yuhand　you　can　ask　anybody　if　a　feller　feels
like　rubberin'　much　when　there's　only　the　click　of　a　trigger
between　him　an'　a　six…foot　hole　in　the　ground。〃

〃All　the　more　reason；〃　said　Nolan；　also　sitting　up　with　his　hands
clasped　around　his　knees；　〃why　it's　important　to　catch　them　with
the　goods。　　You'll　have　to　peddle　hootch；　Casey；　until　we　get
Smiling　Lou　and　his　outfit。〃

〃And　where；　Mr。　Nolan；　do　I　git　the　booze　to　peddle？〃　asked　Casey
practically。

Nolan　laughed　to　himself。　　〃It　can　be　bought；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'd
rather　not。　　Since　you've　never　monkeyed　with　the　stuff；　it　might
make　you　conspicuous　if　you　went　around　buying　up　a　load　of
hootch。　And　of　course　I　can't　appear　in　this　thing　at　all。　　But　I
have　what　I　think　is　a　very　good　plan。〃

Casey　looked　at　him　inquiringly；　and　again　Nolan　laughed。

〃Nothing　for　it；　Casey；we'll　have　to　locate　a　still　and　rob　it。
That；　or　make　some　of　our　own；　which　takes　time。　　And　it's　an
unpleasant；　messy　job　anyway。〃

Casey　stared　dubiously　down　into　the　gulch。　　〃That'd　be　fine；　Mr。
Nolan；　if　we　knew　where　was　the　still。　　Or　mebby　yuh　do　know。〃

Mack　Nolan　shook　his　head。　　〃No；　I　don't；　worse　luck。　I　haven't
been　long　enough　in　the　district　to　know　as　much　about　it　as　I
hope　to　know　later　on。　　Prospecting　for　this　headquarters　took　a
little　time；　and　getting　my　stuff　moved　in　here　secretly　took
more　time。　　A　week　ago；　Casey；　I　shouldn't　have　been　quite　ready
to　use　you。　　But　you　came　when　you　were　needed；　and　soI　feel
sure　the　White　Mule　will　presently　show　up。〃

Casey　lifted　his　head　and　stared　meditatively　out　across　the
immensity　of　the　empty　land　around　them。

〃She's　a　damn'　big　country；　Mr。　Nolan。　I　dunno；〃　he　remarked
doubtfully。　　〃But　Casey　Ryan　has　yet　t'　go　after　a　thing　an'　fail
t'　git　it。　　I　guess　if　it's　hootch　we　want；　it　ought　t'　be　easy
enough　t'　find；　it　shore　has　been　hard　t'　dodge　it　lately！　If　yuh
want　White　Mule；　Mr。　Nolan；　you　send　Casey　out　travelin'　peaceful
an'　meanin'　harm　t'　nobody。　　Foller　Casey　and　you'll　find　'im
tangled　up　with　a　mess　uh　hootch　b'fore　he　gits　ten　miles　from
camp。〃

〃You　could　go　out　and　highjack　some　one。〃　Nolan　agreed；　taking
him　seriouslywhich　Casey　had　not　intended。　　〃I　think　we'll　go
down　and　load　the　camp　outfit　into　my　car；　Ryan；　and　I'll　start
you　out。　　Go　up　into　your　old　stamping　ground　where　people　know
you。　If　you're　careful　in　picking　your　men；　you　could　locate　some
hootch；　couldn't　you；　without　attracting　attention？〃

Casey　studied　the　matter。　　〃Bill　Masters　could　mebby　help　me
out；〃　he　said　finally。　　〃Only　I　don't　like　the　friends　Bill's
been　wishin'　onto　me　lately。　　This　man　Kenner；　that　held　me　up；
knowed　Bill　Masters　intimate。　　I'm　kinda　losin'　my　taste　fer　Bill
lately。〃

Mack　Nolan　seized　upon　the　clue　avidly。　　Before　Casey　quite
realized　what　he　had　done；　he　found　himself　hustled　away　from
camp　in　Mack　Nolan's　car；　headed　for　Lund　in　the　service　of　his
government。　Since　young　Kenner　had　been　able　to　talk　so
intimately　of　Bill　Masters；　Mack　Nolan　argued　that　Bill　Masters
should　likewise　be　able　to　give　some　useful　information
concerning　young　Kenner。　Moreover；　a　man　in　Bill　Masters'
position　would　probably　know　at　least　a　few　of　the　hidden　trails
of　the　White　Mule　near　Lund。

〃If　you　can　bring　back　a　load　of　moonshine　Ryan；　by　all　means　do
so；〃　Nolan　instructed　Casey　at　the　last　moment。　　〃Here's　money　to
buy　it　with。　　We　should　have　enough　to　make　a　good　haul　for
Smiling　Lou。　Twenty　gallons　at　leastforty；　if　you　can　get　them。　
Keep　your　weather　eye　open；　and　whatever　happens；　don't　mention
my　name　or　say　that　you　are　working　with　the　law。　　In　five　days；
if　you　are　not　here；　I　shall　drive　to　Las　Vegas。　　Get　word　to　me
there　if　anything　goes　wrong。　　Just　write　or　wire　to　General
Delivery。　But　I　look　for　you　back；　Ryan；　not　later　than　Friday
midnight。　Take　no　unnecessary　risk；　this　is　more　important　than
you