the outlet-第17部分

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　skirmishing　about　to　locate　him；　I　met　my　brother　Bob。　Tolleston　had　arrived；　but　his　presence　had　not　been　discovered　until　after　Seay　reached　town。　Archie　was　fairly　well　〃organized〃　and　had　visited　the　hotel　where　the　buyers　were　stopping；　leaving　word　for　them　of　his　arrival。　My　brother　and　Seay　had　told　him　that　they　had　met；　down　the　trail　that　morning；　two　cattle　buyers　by　the　name　of　Field　and　Radcliff；　that　they　were　inquiring　for　a　herd　belonging　to　Tom　Coleman；　which　was　believed　to　be　somewhere　between　Dodge　and　the　Cimarron　River。　The　two　had　assured　Tolleston　that　the　buyers　might　not　be　back　for　a　week；　and　suggested　a　few　drinks　in　memory　of　old　times。　As　Archie　was　then　three　sheets　in　the　wind；　his　effacement；　in　the　hands　of　two　rounders　like　Dorg　Seay　and　Bob　Quirk；　was　an　easy　matter。

Once　the　wagon　was　loaded　and　started　for　camp；　I　returned　to　the　restaurant。　The　dinner　was　in　progress；　and　taking　the　vacant　scat；　I　lifted　my　glass　with　great　regularity　as　toast　after　toast　was　drunk。　Cigars　were　ordered；　and　with　our　feet　on　the　table；　the　fiscal　agent　said：　〃Gentlemen；　this　is　a　mere　luncheon　and　don't　count。　But　if　I'm　able　to　sell　you　my　other　two　beef　herds；　why；　I'll　give　you　a　blow…out　right。　We'll　make　it　six…handed　…the　three　trail　foremen　and　ourselvesand　damn　the　expense　so　long　as　the　cattle　are　sold。　Champagne　will　flow　like　water；　and　when　our　teeth　float；　we'll　wash　our　feet　in　what's　left。〃

At　a　late　hour　the　dinner　ended。　We　were　all　rather　unsteady　on　our　feet；　but　the　pock…marked　detective　and　myself　formed　a　guard　of　honor　in　escorting　the　buyers　to　their　hotel；　when　an　officious　clerk　attempted　to　deliver　Tolleston's　message。　But　anticipating　it；　I　interrupted　his　highness　and　informed　him　that　we　had　met　the　party；　I　was　a　thousand　times　obliged　to　him　for　his　kindness；　and　forced　on　him　a　fine　cigar；　which　had　been　given　me　by　Bob　Wright　of　the　outfitting　store。　While　Siringo　and　the　buyers　passed　upstairs；　I　entertained　the　office　force　below　with　an　account　of　the　sale　of　my　herd；　constantly　referring　to　my　new　employers。　The　fiscal　agent　returned　shortly；　bought　some　cigars　at　the　counter；　asked　if　he　could　get　a　room　for　the　night；　in　case　he　was　detained　in　town；　and　then　we　passed　out　of　the　hotel。　This　afforded　me　the　first　opportunity　to　notify　Siringo　of　the　presence　of　Tolleston；　and　I　withheld　nothing　which　was　to　his　interest　to　know。　But　he　was　impatient　to　learn　if　the　draft　had　been　accepted；　and　asking　me　to　bring　my　brother　to　his　room　within　half　an　hour；　he　left　me。

It　was　growing　late　in　the　day。　The　sun　had　already　set　when　I　found　my　brother；　who　was　anxious　to　return　to　his　camp　for　the　night。　But　I　urged　his　seeing　Siringo　first；　and　after　waiting　in　the　latter's　room　some　time；　he　burst　in　upon　us　with　a　merry　chuckle。　〃Well；　the　draft　was　paid　all　right；〃　said　he　；　〃and　this　is　Bob　Quirk。　Boys；　things　are　coming　nicely。　This　fellow　Tolleston　is　the　only　cloud　in　the　sky。　If　we　can　keep　him　down　for　a　week；　and　the　other　herds　come　in　shortly；　I　see　nothing　to　thwart　our　plans。　Where　have　you　picketed　Tolleston？〃　〃Around　in　Dutch　Jake's　crib；〃　replied　Bob。

〃That's　good；〃　continued　the　fiscal　agent；　〃and　I'll　just　drop　in　to…night　and　see　the　madam。　A　little　money　will　go　a　long　way　with　her；　and　in　a　case　like　this；　the　devil　himself　would　be　a　welcome　ally。　You　boys　stay　in　town　as　much　as　you　can　and　keep　Tolleston　snowed　deep；　and　I'll　take　the　buyers　down　the　trail　in　the　morning　and　meet　the　herds　coming　up。〃

My　brother　returned　to　his　camp；　and　Siringo　and　I　separated　for　the　time　being。　In　'84　Dodge；　the　Port　Said　of　the　plains；　was　in　the　full　flower　of　her　wickedness。　Literally　speaking；　night　was　turned　into　day　in　the　old　trail　town；　for　with　the　falling　of　darkness；　the　streets　filled　with　people。　Restaurants　were　crowded　with　women　of　the　half…world；　bar…rooms　thronged　with　the　wayfaring　man；　while　in　gambling　and　dance　halls　the　range　men　congregated　as　if　on　special　invitation。　The　familiar　bark　of　the　six…shooter　was　a　matter　of　almost　nightly　occurrence；　a　dispute　at　the　gaming　table；　a　discourteous　word　spoken；　or　the　rivalry　for　the　smile　of　a　wanton　was　provocation　for　the　sacrifice　of　human　life。　Here　the　man　of　the　plains　reverted　to　and　gave　utterance　to　the　savagery　of　his　nature；　or；　on　the　other　hand；　was　as　chivalrous　as　in　the　days　of　heraldry。

I　knew　the　town　well；　this　being　my　third　trip　over　the　trail；　and　mingled　with　the　gathering　throng。　Near　midnight；　and　when　in　the　Lady　Gay　dance…hall；　I　was　accosted　by　Dorg　Seay　and　the　detective。　They　had　just　left　Dutch　Jake's；　and　reported　all　quiet　on　the　Potomac。　Seay　had　not　only　proved　himself　artful；　but　a　good　fellow；　and　had　unearthed　the　fact　that　Tolleston　had　been　in　the　employ　of　Field　and　Radcliff　for　the　past　three　months。　〃You　see；〃　said　Dorg；　〃Archie　never　knew　me　except　the　few　days　that　I　was　about　headquarters　in　Medina　before　we　started。　He　fully　believes　that　I've　been　dischargedand　with　three　months'　pay　in　my　hip…pocket。　The　play　now　is　that　he's　to　first　help　me　spend　my　wages；　and　then　I'm　to　have　a　job　under　him　with　beeves　which　he　expects　to　drive　to　the　Yellowstone。　He　has　intimated　that　he　might　be　able　to　give　me　a　herd。　So；　Tom；　if　I　come　out　there　and　take　possession　of　your　cattle；　don't　be　surprised。　There's　only　one　thing　to　beat　our　gameI　can't　get　him　so　full　but　what　he's　over…anxious　to　see　his　employers。　But　if　you　fellows　furnish　the　money；　I'll　try　and　pickle　him　until　he　forgets　them。〃

The　next　morning　Siringo　and　the　buyers　started　south　on　the　trail；　and　I　rode　for　my　camp　on　the　Saw　Log。　Before　riding　many　miles　I　sighted　my　outfit　coming　in　a　long　lope　for　town。　They　reported　everything　serene　at　camp；　and　as　many　of　the　boys　were　moneyless；　I　turned　back　with　them。　An　enjoyable　day　was　before　us；　some　drank　to　their　hearts'　content；　while　all　gambled　with　more　or　less　success。　I　was　anxious　that　the　outfit　should　have　a　good　carouse；　and　showed　the　lights　and　shadows　of　the　town　with　a　pride　worthy　of　one　of　its　founders。　Acting　the　host；　I　paid　for　our　dinners；　and　as　we　sauntered　into　the　street；　puffing　vile　cigars；　we　nearly　ran　amuck　of　Dorg　Seay　and　Archie　Tolleston；　trundling　a　child's　wagon　between　them　up　the　street。　We　watched　them；　keeping　a　judicious　distance；　as　they　visited　saloon　after　saloon；　the　toy　wagon　always　in　possession　of　one　or　the　other。

While　we　were　amusing　ourselves　at　the　antics　of　these　two；　my　attention　was　attracted　by　a　four…mule　wagon　pulling　across　the　bridge　from　the　south。　On　reaching　the　railroad　tracks；　I　recognized　the　team；　and　also　the　driver；　as　Quince　Forrest's。　Here　was　news；　and　accordingly　I　accosted　him。　Fortunately　he　was　looking　for　me　or　my　brother；　as　his　foreman　could　not　come　in　with　the　wagon；　and　some　one　was　wanted　to　vouch　for　him　in　getting　the　needed　supplies。　They　had　reached　the　Mulberry　the　evening　before；　but　several　herds　had　mixed　in　a　run　during　the　night；　though　their　cattle　had　escaped。　Forrest　was　determined　not　to　risk　a　second　night　on　that　stream；　and　had　started　his　herd　with　the　dawn；　expecting　to　camp　with　his　cattle　that　night　west　on　Duck　Creek。　The　herd　was　then　somewhere　between　the　latter　and　the　main　Arkansaw；　and　the　cook　was　anxious　to　secure　the　supplies　and　reach　the　outfit　before　darkness　overtook　him。　Sponsilier　was　reported　as　two　days　behind　Forrest　when　the　latter　crossed　the　Cimarron；　since　when　there　had　been　no　word　from　his　cattle。　They　had　met　the　buyers　near　the　middle　of　the　forenoon；　and　when　Forrest　admitted　having　the　widow　Timberlake's　beef　herd；　they　turned　back　and　were　spending　the　day　with　the　cattle。

The　situation　demanded　instant　action。　Taking　Forrest's　cook　around　to　our　outfitting　store；　I　introduced　and　vouched　for　him。　Hurrying　back；　I　sent　Wayne　Outeault；　as　he　was　a　stranger　to　Tolleston；　to　mix　with　the　two　rascals　and　send　Seay　to　me　at　once。　Some　little　time　was　consumed　in　engaging　Archie　in　a　game　of　pool；　but　when　Dorg　presented　himself　I　lost　no　time　in　explaining　the　situation。　He　declared　that　it　was　no　longer　possible　to　interest　Tolleston　at　Dutch　Jake's　crib　during　the　day；　and　that　other　means　of　amusement　must　be　resorted　to；　as　Archie　was　getting　clamorous　to　find　his　employers。　To　my　suggestion　to　get　a　livery　rig　and　take　him　for　a　ride；　Dorg　agreed。　〃Take　him　down　the　river　to　Spearville；〃　I　urged；　〃and　try　and　break　into　the　calaboose　if　you　can。　Paint　the　town　red　while　you're　about　it；　and　if　you　both　land　in　the　lock…up；　all　the　better。　If　the　rascal　insists　on　coming　back　to　Dodge；　start　after　night；　get　lost；　and　land　somewhere　farther　down　the　river。　Keep　him　away　from　this　town　for　a　week；　and　I'll　gamble　that　you　boss　a　herd　for　old　man　Don　next　year。〃

The　afternoon　was　waning。　The　buyers　might　return　at　any　moment；　as　Forrest's　herd　had　no　doubt　crossed　the　river　but　a　few　miles　above　town。

I　was　impatiently　watching　the　boys；　as　Dorg　and　Wayne　cautiously　herded　Tolleston　around　to　a　livery　stable；　when　my　brother　Bob　rode　up。　He　informed　me　that　he　had　moved　his　camp　that　day　across　to　the　Saw　Log；　that　he　had　done　so　to　accommodate　Jim　Flood　and　The　Rebel　with　a　camp；　their　herds　were　due　on　the　Mulberry　that　evening。　The　former　had　stayed　all　night　at　Bob's　wagon；　and　reported　his　cattle；　considering　the　dry　season；　in　good　condition。　As　my　brother　expected　to　remain　in　town　overnight；　I　proposed　starting　for　my　camp　as　soon　as　Seay　and　his　ward　drove　out　of　sight。　They　parleyed　enough　before　going　to　unnerve　a　saint；　but　finally；　with　the　little　toy　wagon　on　Tolleston's　knee　and　the　other　driving；　they　started。　Hurrahing　my　lads　to　saddle　up；　we　rode　past　the　stable　where　Seay　had　secured　the　conveyance；　and　while　I　was　posting　the　stable…keeper　not　to　be　uneasy　if　the　rig　was　gone　a　week；　Siringo　and　the　buyers　drove　past　the　barn　with　a　flourish。　Taking　a　back　street；　we　avoided　meeting　them；　and　just　as　darkness　was　falling；　rode　into　our　camp　some　twelve　miles　distant。

My　brother　Bob's　camp　was　just　above　us　on　the　creek；　and　a　few　miles　nearer　town。　As　his　wagon　expected　to　go　in　after　supplies　the　next　morning；　a　cavalcade　of　fifteen　men　from　the　two　outfits　prece