the trail of the white mule-第26部分

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it's　all　the　same　to　you；　Mr。　Nolan。〃　　His　hand　went　up　to　the
back　of　his　head　and　moved　forward；　although　there　was　no　hat　to
push。　〃I've　lived　honest　all　these　yearsan'；　dammit；　it's　kinda
tough　to　break　out　with　stealin　I　what　yuh　don't　want！　　Couldn't
we　fill　them　bottles　with　somethin'　that　LOOKS　like　hootch？　　Cold
tea　should　get　by；　Mr。　Nolan。　　It'd　be　a　fine　joke　on　Smilin'
Lou。〃

〃A　good　joke；　maybebut　no　evidence。　　It　isn't　against　the　law；
Ryan；　to　have　cold　tea　in　your　possession。　　No；　it's　got　to　be
whisky；　and　there's　got　to　be　a　load　of　it。　　Enough　to　look　like
business　and　tempt　him　or　any　other　member　of　the　gang　you　happen
to　meet。　　If　they　caught　you　with　three　gallons；　Casey；　they'd
probably　run　you　in　and　feel　very　virtuous　about　it。　　Nothing　for
it；　I'm　afraid。　　We'll　have　to　become　real　moonshiners　ourselves
for　awhile。〃

Casey　ate　with　less　appetite　after　that。　　Making　moonshine　did
not　appeal　to　him　at　all。　　Given　his　choice；　I　think　he　would
even　prefer　drinking　it；　unhappy　as　the　effect　had　been　on　him。

〃We'll　need　a　still；　and　we'll　need　the　stuff。　　I'm　going　to
leave　you　in　charge　of　the　camp；　Ryan；　while　I　make　a　trip　to
Needles。　I'll　deputize　you　to　assist　me　in　cleaning　up　this
district。　And　this　district；　Ryan；　touches　salt　water。　　So　if
revenge　looks　good　to　you；　you'll　have　a　fine　chance　to　get　even
with　the　bootleggers。　　And　in　the　meantime；　just　kill　time　around
camp　here　while　I'm　gone。　　If　any　one　shows　up；　you're
prospecting。〃

That　day；　doubt…devils　took　hold　of　Casey　Ryan　and　plucked　at　his
belief。　　How　did　he　know　that　Mack　Nolan　wasn't　another
bootlegger；　wanting　to　rope　Casey　in　on　a　job　for　some　fell
purpose　of　his　own？　　He　had　Mack　Nolan's　word　and　nothing　more。
For　that　matter；　he　had　also　had　young　Kenner's　word。　　Kenner　had
fooled　him　completely。　　Mack　Nolan　could　also　fool　himperhaps。

〃Well；　anyhow；　he　never　claimed　to　know　Bill　Masters；　and　that's
a　point　in　'is　favor。　　And　if　it's　some　dirty　work　he's　up　to；　he
coulda　made　it　shorter　than　what　he's　doin'。　　An'　if　he's
double…crossin'　Casey　Ryanwell；　anyway；　Casey　Ryan　'll　be
present　at　the　time　an'　place　when　he　does　it！〃

Upon　that　comforting　thought；　Casey　decided　to　trust　Mack　Nolan
until　he　caught　him　playing　crooked；　and　proceeded　to　kill　time
as　best　he　could。



CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN

It　was　noon　the　next　day　when　Nolan　returned；　and　he　did　not
explain　why　he　was　eighteen　hours　overdue。　　Casey　eyed　him
expectantly；　but　Nolan's　manner　was　brisk　and　preoccupied。

〃Help　me　unload　this　stuff；　Ryan；〃　he　said；　〃and　put　it　out　of
sight　in　the　cellar。　　We　won't　have　to　go　through　the　process　of
making　moonshine；　after　all。〃

Casey　looked　into　the　car；　pulling　aside　the　tarp。　　Four　kegs　he
counted；　and　lifted　out　one。

〃An'　how　many　did　YOU　lick；　Mr。　Nolan？〃　he　grinned　over　his
shoulder　as　he　started　for　the　door。

Nolan　laughed　noncommittally。

〃Perhaps　I'm　luckier　at　picking　my　bootleggers；〃　he　retorted。　〃If
you　carry　the　right　brand　of　bluff；　you　can　keep　the　skin　on　your
knuckles；　Ryan。　　This　beats　making　it；　at　any　rate。〃

That　afternoon　and　the　next　day；　Casey　Ryan　did　what　he　never
dreamed　was　possible。　　With　Mack　Nolan　to　show　him　how；　Casey
performed　miracles。　　While　he　did　not；　literally　change　water
into　wine；　he　did　give　forty…three　gallons　of　White　Mule　a　most
imposing　pedigree。

He　turned　kegs　of　crude；　moonshine　whisky　into　Canadian　Club；
Garnkirk；　Tom　Pepper；　Three　Star　Hennessey　and　Cognacif　you
were　to　believe　the　bottles；　labels　and　government　seals。　　Under
Mack　Nolan's　instruction　and　with　his　expert　assistance；　the
forgery　was　perfect。　　While　the　cellar　reeked　with　the　odor　of
White　Mule　when　they　had　finished；　the　bottled　array　on　the　table
whispered　of　sybaritic　revelings　to　glisten　the　eyes　of　the　most
dissipated　man　about　town。

〃When　it's　as　easy　done　as　that；　Mr。　Nolan；　the　feller's　a　fool
that　drinks　it。　　You've　learnt　Casey　Ryan　somethin'　that　mighta
done　'im　some　good　a　few　years　back。〃　　He　picked　up　a　flat；　pint
bottle　and　caressed　its　label　with　reminiscent　finger　tips。

〃Many's　the　time　me　an'　old　Tommy　Pepper　drove　stage　together；〃
he　mused。　　〃Throwed　'im　at　a　bear　once　that　I　met　in　the　trail
over　in　Colorado　when　I　hadn't　no　gun　on　me。　　Busted　a　pint　on
his　noseman！　　Then　I　never　waited　to　see　what　happened。　I　was　a
wild　divil　them　days　when　me　an'　Tommy　Pepper　was　side　pardners。
But　a　yaller　snake　with　a　green　head　crawled　out　of　a　bottle　of
'im　onceand　that　there　was　where　Casey　Ryan　says　good…by　to
booze。　If　I　hadn't　quit　'im　then；　I'd　sure　as　hell　quit　'im　now。　
After　this　performance；　Mr。　Nolan；　Casey　Ryan's　goin'　to　look
twice　into　his　coffee　pot。　　I　wouldn't　believe　in　cow's　milk；　if
I　done　the　milkin'　myself！〃

〃Most　of　the　stuff　that's　peddled　nowadays　is　doctored；〃　　Nolan
replied；　with　the　air　of　one　who　knows。　　〃When　it　isn't　White
Mule；　it's　likely　to　be　something　worse。　　That's　one　of　the　chief
reasons　why　I'm　fighting　it。　　If　they　only　peddled　decent　whisky
it　wouldn't　be　so　bad；　Ryan。　　But　it's　rank　poison。　　I've　seen　so
many　go　stone　blindor　diethat　it　makes　me　pretty　savage
sometimes。　　So　now　I'll　coach　you　in　the　part　you're　to　play　as
hootch　runner；　and　to…morrow　you　can　start　for　Los　Angeles。〃

Casey　did　not　answer。　　He　felt　absently　for　his　pipe；　filled　and
lighted　it　and　went　out　to　sit　on　the　doorstep　in　gloomy
meditation　while　he　smoked。

Returning　to　Los　Angeles；　even　without　a　bootlegger's　load；　was
not　a　matter　which　Casey　liked　to　contemplate。　　He　would　have　to
face　the　Little　Woman　if　he　went　back；　either　as　a　deliberate
liar；　who　lied　to　his　wife　to　gain　the　freedom　he　might　have　had
without　resorting　to　deceit；　or　as　the　victim　once　more　of
crooks。　　Casey　thought　he　would　prefer　the　accusation　of　lying
deliberately　to　the　Little　Woman；　though　it　made　him　squirm　to
think　of　it。　　He　wished　she　had　not　openly　taunted　him　with
getting　into　trouble　and　needing　her　always　to　get　him　out。

He　would　like　to　tell　her　that　he　was　now　working　for　the
government。　The　secrecy　of　his　mission；　the　danger　it　involved；
would　impress　even　her　amused　cynicism。　　But　the　very　secrecy　of
his　mission　in　itself　made　it　impossible　for　him　to　tell　her
anything　about　it。　Casey　would　not　admit　it；　but　it　was　a　real
disappointment　to　him　that　he　could　not　wear　a　star　on　his　coat。

All　that　day　and　evening　he　was　glum；　a　strange　mood　for　Casey
Ryan。　But　if　Mack　Nolan　noticed　his　silence；　he　gave　no　sign。　
Nolan　himself　was　wholly　absorbed　by　the　business　in　hand。　　The
success　of　this　plan　meant　a　good　deal　to　him；　and　he　told　Casey
so　very　frankly；　which　lightened　Casey's　gloom　perceptibly。

Casey　was　to　drive　to　Los　Angeleseven　to　San　Diego　if
necessary　and　return　within　a　week；　unless　Nolan's　hopes　were
fulfilled　and　Casey　was　held　up　and　highjacked。　　If　he　were
apprehended　by　officers　who　were　honestly　discharging　their　duty；
Casey　was　to　do　thus…and…so；　and　presently　be　free　to　drive　on
with　his　load。　　If　he　were　highjacked　（Casey　gritted　his　teeth
and　said　he　hoped　the　highjacker　would　be　Smiling　Lou）；　he　was　to
permit　himself　to　be　robbed；　worm　himself　as　far　as　possible　into
their　confidence　and　return　for　further　orders。

If　Mack　Nolan　should　chance　to　be　absent　from　the　cabin；　then
Casey　was　to　wait　until　he　returned。　　And　Nolan　intimated　that
hereafter　the　making　of　moonshine　might　be　a　part　of　Casey's
duties。　Then；　without　warning；　Mack　Nolan　struck　at　the　heart　of
Casey's　worry。

〃I　don't　want　to　dictate　to　any　man　in　family　affairs；　Ryan。　But
I've　got　to　speak　of　one　other　matter；〃　he　said　diffidently。　〃I
suppose　naturally　you'll　want　to　go　home　and　let　your　wife　know
you're　still　alive；　anyway。　　But　if　you　can　manage　to　keep　your
present　business　a　secret　for　the　time　being；　I　think　you'd
better　do　it。　　You　said　you　were　planning　to　be　away　on　a　trip
for　some　time；　I　remember。　　If　you　can　just　let　it　go　that　way；
or　say　that　you　are　prospecting　over　here；　I　wish　you　would。　
Think　you　can　manage　that　all　right？〃

〃I'd　rather　manage　a　six…horse　team　of　bronk　mules；〃　Casey
admitted。　〃But　after　the　way　the　missus　thinks　I　lied　to　'er
about　takin'　the　next　train　home　from　Barstow；　anything　I　say　'll
be　used　agin'　me。　My　wife's　got　brains。　　She　ain't　put　it　down
that　the　trains　have　quit　runnin'。　　Accordin'　to　her　figures；
Casey's　lied　and　he's　in　a　hole　again；　an'　it'll　be　up　to　her　an'
Jack　to　run　windlass　an'　pull　'im　out。　　Don't　matter　what　I　say
she　won't　believe　me　anyhow　so　Casey　won't　say　nothin'。　　Can't
lie　with　your　mouth　shut；　can　yuh？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it's　been　done；〃　Mack　Nolan　chuckled。　　〃Now　we'll　set
down　the　serial　numbers　and　the　bank　name　of　this　'jack'；and
here's　your　expense　money　separate。　　And　if　there's　anything　that
isn't　clear　to　you；　Ryan；　speak　up。　　You　won't　hear　from　me
again；　probably；　until　you're　back　from　this　fishing　trip。〃

Casey　thought　that　everything　was　perfectly　clear；　and　rashly　he
said　so；　as　he　started　off。

From　Barstow　to　Victorville；　from　Victorville　to　Camp　Cajon　Casey
drove　expectantly；　hoping　to　meet　Smiling　Lou。　　He　scanned　each
car　that　approached　and　slowed　for　every　meeting　like　a　searching
party　or　a　man　who　is　lost　and　wishes　to　inquire　the　way。　　His
pace　would　have　been　law…abiding　in　Los　Angeles　at　five　o'clock
on　Broadway　between　Fourth　and　Eighth　streets。　　Goggled　women
tourists　eyed　him　curiously；　and　one　car　stopped　full　to　see　what
he　wanted。　But　his　〃Tom　Pepper〃　rode　safe　under　the　tarp　behind
him；　and　the　〃Three　Star　Hennessey〃　beaded　daintily　with　the
joggling　it　got；　and　Casey　was　neither　halted　nor　questioned　as
he　passed。

At　Camp　Cajon　Casey　stopped　and　cooked　an　early　supper；　because
the　summer　crowd　was　there　and　a　real　bootlegger　would　have
considered　stopping　rather　unsafe。　　Casey　boiled　coffee　over　one
of　the　camp　fireplaces　and　watched　furtively　the　sunburned
holiday　group　nearest。　　He　placed　his　supper　on　one　of　the　round；
cement　tables　near　the　car；　and　every　man　who　passed　that　way
Casey　watched　unblinkingly　while　he　ate。

He　succeeded　in　making　three　different　parties　swallow　their
supper　in　a　hurry　and　pack　up　and　leave；　glan