the trail of the white mule-第28部分

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his　right；　occasional　cars　went　coasting　past　on　the　down　grade；
coming　in　off　the　desert；　or　climbed　more　slowly　with　motors
working；　on　their　way　up　from　the　valley　below。　　The　shifting
brilliance　from　their　headlights　flicked　the　grove　capriciously
as　they　went　by。　Now　and　then　a　car　stopped。　　One；　a　big；
high…powered　car　with　one　dazzling　spotlight　swung　into　the
narrow　driveway　and　entered　the　grove。

Casey　lifted　his　head　like　a　desert　turtle　and　blinked　curiously
at　the　car　as　it　eased　past　him　a　few　feet　and　stopped。　　A　gloved
hand　went　out　to　the　spotlight　and　turned　it　slowly；　lighting　the
grove　foot　by　foot　and　pausing　to　dwell　upon　each　silent；　parked
car。　Casey　sat　up　in　the　blankets　and　waited。

Luck；　he　told　himself；　was　grinning　at　him　from　ear　to　ear。　　For
this　was　Smiling　Lou　himself；　and　none　other。　　He　was　alone；a
big；　hungry；　official　fish　searching　the　grove　greedily。　　Casey
swallowed　a　grin　and　tried　to　look　scared。　　The　light　was　slowly
working　around　in　his　direction。

I　don't　suppose　Casey　Ryan　had　ever　looked　really　scared　in　his
life。　His　face　simply　refused　to　wear　so　foreign　an　expression。
Therefore；　when　the　spotlight　finally　revealed　him；　Casey　blinked
against　it　with　a　half…hearted　grin；　as　if　he　had　been　caught　at
something　foolish。　　The　light　remained　upon　him；　and　Smiling　Lou
got　out　of　the　car　and　came　back　to　him　slowly。

Not　even　Casey　thought　of　calling　Smiling　Lou　a　fool。　　He
couldn't　be　and　play　the　game　he　was　playing。　　Smiling　Lou　said
nothing　whatever　until　he　had　looked　the　car　over　carefully
（giving　the　license　number　a　second　sharp　glance）　and　had
regarded　Casey　fixedly　while　he　made　up　his　mind。

〃Hullo！　　Where's　your　pardner？〃　he　demanded　then。

〃I'm　in　pardnerships　with　myself　this　trip；〃　Casey　retorted。　He
waited　while　Smiling　Lou　looked　him　over　again；　more　carefully
this　time。

〃Where　did　you　get　that　car？〃

〃From　Kennerfor　sixteen…hundred　and　seventeen　dollars　and　five
cents。〃　　Casey　fumbled　in　the　blanketsSmiling　Lou　following　his
movements　suspiciouslyand　got　out　the　makings　of　a　cigarette。

〃Got　any　booze　in　that　car？〃　　Smiling　Lou　might　have　been　a
traffic　cop；　for　all　the　trace　of　humanity　there　was　in　his
voice。

Casey　cocked　an　eye　up　at　him；　sent　a　quick　glance　toward　the
Ford；　and　looked　back　into　Smiling　Lou's　face。　　He　hunched　his
shoulders　and　finished　the　making　of　his　cigarette。

〃I　wisht　you　wouldn't　look；〃　he　said　glumly。　　〃I　got　half　my
outfit　in　there　an'　I　hate　to　have　it　tore　up。〃

Smiling　Lou　continued　to　look　at　him；　seeming　slightly　puzzled。
But　indecision　was　not　one　of　his　characteristics；　evidently。　He
stepped　up　to　the　car；　pulled　a　flashlight　from　his　pocket　and
looked　in。

Casey　was　up　and　into　his　clothes　by　the　time　Smiling　Lou　had
uncovered　a　box　or　two。　　Smiling　Lou　turned　toward　him；　his　lips
twitching。

〃Lift　this　stuff　out　of　here　and　put　it　in　my　car；〃　he　commanded；
elation　creeping　into　his　voice　in　spite　of　himself。　　〃My　Lord！
The　chances　you　fellows　take！　　Think　a　dab　of　paint　is　going　to
cover　up　a　brand　burnt　into　the　wood？〃

Casey　looked　startled；　glancing　down　into　the　car　to　where
Smiling　Lou　pointed。

〃The　boards　is　turned　over　on　all　the　rest；〃　he　muttered
confidentially。　　〃I　dunno　how　that　darned　Canadian　Club　sign　got
right　side　up。〃

〃What　all　have　you　got？〃　　Smiling　Lou　lowered　his　voice　when　he
asked　the　question。　　Casey　tried　not　to　grin　when　he　replied。
Smiling　Lou　gasped；

〃Well；　get　it　into　my　car；　and　make　it　snappy。〃

Casey　made　it　as　snappy　as　he　could；　and　kept　his　face　straight
until　Smiling　Lou　spoke　to　him　sharply。

〃I　won't　take　you　in　to…night　with　me。　　I　want　that　car。　　You
drive　it　into　headquarters　first　thing　in　the　morning。　　And　don't
think　you　can　beat　it；　either。　　I'll　have　the　road　posted。　　You
can　knock　a　good　deal　off　your　sentence　if　you　crank　up　and　come
in　right　after　breakfast。　　And　make　it　an　early　breakfast；　too。〃

His　manner　was　stern；　his　voice　perfectly　official。　　But　Casey；
eyeing　him　grimly；　saw　distinctly　the　left　eyelid　lower　and　lift
again。

〃All　rightI'm　the　goat；〃　he　surrendered　and　sat　down　again　on
his　canvas…covered　bed。　　He　did　not　immediately　crawl　between　the
blankets；　however；　because　interesting　things　were　happening　over
at　Jim　Cassidy's　car。

Casey　watched　Jim　Cassidy　go　picking　his　way　amongst　the　tree
roots　and　camp　litter；　his　back　straightened　under　the　load　of
hootch　he　was　carrying　to　Smiling　Lou's　car。　　With　Jim　Cassidy
also；　Smiling　Lou　was　crisply　official。　　When　the　last　of　the
hootch　had　been　transferred；　Casey　heard　Smiling　Lou　tell　Jim
Cassidy　to　drive　in　to　headquarters　after　breakfast　next
morningbut　he　did　not　see　Smiling　Lou　wink　when　he　said　it。

After　that；　Smiling　Lou　started　his　motor　and　drove　slowly　up
through　the　grove；　halting　to　scan　each　car　as　he　passed。　　He
swung　out　through　the　upper　driveway；　turned　sharply　there　and
came　back　down　the　highway　speeding　up　on　the　downhill　grade　to
San　Bernardino。

Jim　Cassidy　came　furtively　over　and　settle　down　for　a　whispered
conference　on　Casey's　bed。

〃How　much　did　he　get　off'n　YOU？〃　he　asked　inquisitively。　　〃Did　he
clean　yuh　out？〃

〃Clean　as　a　last　year's　bone　in　a　kioty　den；〃　Casey　declared；
hiding　his　satisfaction　as　best　he　could。　　〃Never　got　my　roll
though。〃

〃He　wouldn'tnot　with　you　workin'　on　the　inside。　　Guess　it　must
be　kinda　touchy　around　here　right　now。　　New　officers；　mebby。　He
wouldn't　a'　cleaned　us　out　if　we'd　a'　been　safe。　　He　never　came
into　camp　beforenot　when　I've　been　here。　　Made　that　same　play
to　you；　didn't　heabout　givin'　yourself　up　in　the　morning？　　Uh
course　yuh　know　what　that　meansDON'T！〃

〃He　shore　is　foxy；　all　right；〃　Casey　commented　with　absolute
sincerity。　　〃You　can　ask　anybody　if　he　didn't　pull　it　off　like
the　pleasure　was　all　his'n。　　No　L。　A。　traffic　cop　ever　pinched　me
an　I　looked　like　he　enjoyed　it　more。〃

〃Oh；　Lou's　cute；　all　right。　　They　don't　any　of　'em　put　anything
over　on　Lou。　　You　must　be　new　at　the　business；　ain't　yuh？〃

〃Second　trip；〃　Casey　informed　him　with　an　air　of　importance
which　he　really　felt；　by　the　way。　　〃What　Casey's　studyin'　on　now；
is　the　next　move。　　No　use　hangin'　around　here　empty。　　What　do　YOU
figger　on　doin'？〃

〃Well；　Lou　didn't　give　no　tipnot　to　me；　anyway。　　So　I　guess
it'll　be　safe　to　drive　on　in　to　the　city　and　load　up　again。　　I
got　a　feller　with　mehe　caught　a　ride　in　to　San　Berdoo；　left
just　before　you　drove　in。　　Know　where　to　go　in　the　city？　　'Cause
I　can　ride　in　with　you；　an'　let　him　foller。〃

〃That'll　suit　me　fine；〃　Casey　declared。　　And　so　they　left　it　for
the　time　being；　and　Cassidy　went　back　to　bed。

A　great　load　had　dropped　from　Casey's　shoulders；　and　he　was
asleep　before　Jim　Cassidy　had　ceased　to　turn　restlessly　in　his
blankets。　Getting　the　White　Mule　out　of　his　car　and　into　the　car
of　Smiling　Lou　had　been　the　task　which　Nolan　had　set　for　him。　
What　was　to　happen　thereafter　Casey　could　only　guess；　for　Nolan
had　not　told　him。　And　such　was　the　Casey　Ryan　nature　that　he　made
no　attempt　to　solve　the　problems　which　Mack　Nolan　had　calmly
reserved　for　himself。

He　did　not　dream；　for　instance；　that　Mack　Nolan　had　watched　him
load　the　stuff　into　Smiling　Lou's　car。　　He　did　know　that　an
unobtrusive　Cadillac　roadster　was　parked　at　the　next　campfire。　
It　had　come　in　half　an　hour　behind　him；　but　the　driver　had　not
made　any　move　toward　camping　until　after　dark。　　Casey　had　glanced
his　way　when　the　car　was　parked　and　the　driver　got　out　and　began
fussing　around　the　car；　but　he　had　not　been　struck　with　any　sense
of　familiarity　in　the　figure。

There　was　no　reason　why　he　should。　　Thousands　and　thousands　of
men　are　of　Mack　Nolan's　height　and　general　build。　　This　man
looked　like　a　doctor　or　a　dentist　perhaps。　　Beyond　the　matter　of
size；　similarity　to　Mack　Nolan　ceased。　　The　Cadillac　man　wore　a
vandyke　beard　and　colored　glasses；　and　a　panama　and　light　gray
business　suit。　　Casey　set　him　down　in　his　mental　catalog　as　〃some
town　feller〃　and　assumed　that　they　had　nothing　in　common。

Yet　Mack　Nolan　heard　nearly　every　word　spoken　by　Smiling　Lou；
Casey　and　Jim　Cassidy。　　（Readers　are　so　inquisitive　about　these
things　that　I　felt　I　ought　to　tell　youelse　you'll　be　worrying
as　hard　as　Casey　Ryan　did　later　on。　　I'm　soft…hearted；　myself；　I
never　like　to　worry　a　reader　more　than　is　absolutely　necessary。　
So　I'm　letting　you　in；　hoping　you'll　get　an　added　kick　out　of
Casey's　further　maneuvers）。

The　Cadillac　car；　I　should　explain；　was　only　one　of　Mack　Nolan's
little　secrets。　　There　is　a　very　good　garage　at　Goffs；　not　many
miles　from　Juniper　Wells。　　A　matter　of　an　hour's　driving　was
sufficient　at　any　time　for　Mack　Nolan　to　make　the　exchange。　And
no　man　at　Goffs　would　think　it　very　strange　that　the　owner　of　a
Cadillac　should　prefer　to　drive　a　Ford　over　rough；　desert　trails
to　his　prospect　in　the　mountains。　　Mack　Nolan；　as　I　have　told　you
before；　had　a　way　with　him。



CHAPTER　TWENTY

With　a　load　of　booze　in　the　car　and　Jim　Cassidy　by　his　side；
Casey　Ryan　drove　down　the　long；　eucalyptus…shaded　avenue　that
runs　past　the　balloon　school　at　Arcadia　and　turned　into　the
Foothill　Boulevard。　　Half　a　mile　farther　on　a　Cadillac　roadster
honked　and　slid　past　them；　speeding　away　toward　Monrovia。　　But
Casey　Ryan　was　busy　talking　chummily　with　Jim　Cassidy；　and　he
scarcely　knew　that　a　car　had　passed。

The　money　he　had　been　given　for　Smiling　Lou　had　been　used　to　pay
for　this　new　load　of　whisky；　and　Casey　found　himself　wishing　that
he　could　get　word　of　it　to　Mack　Nolan。　　Still；　Nolan's　oversight
in　the　matter　of　arranging　for　communication　between　them　did　not
bother　Casey　much。　　He　was　doing　his　part；　if　Mack　Nolan　failed
to　do　his；　that　was　no　fault　of　Casey　Ryan's。

At　Fontana；　where　young　Kenner　had　stopped　for　gas　on　that
eventful　first　trip　of　Casey's；　Casey　slowed　down　also；　for　the
same　purpose；　half　tempted　to　call　up　the　Little　Woman　on　long
distance　while　the　gas　tank　was　being　filled。　　But　presently　the
matter　went　clean　from　his　mindand　this　was　the　reason：

A　speed　cop　whose　motorcycle　stood　inconspicuously　around　the
corner　of　the　garage；　came　forward　and　eyed　the　Ford　sharply。　　He
d