lla.thelonelymen-第15部分

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　Sackett　she　would　tell　you。　What　possible　reason　would　she　have　for　lying？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　But　why　is　she　staying　on　in　Tucson？　She　has　no　relatives　here；　no　friends；　and　this　is　no　time　of　year　to　be　here　if　you　can　be　anywhere　else。　I　mean；　I　like　the　place；　but　not　many　eastern　women　such　as　Laura　Sackett　are　inclined　to　want　to　stay　here。〃
　Davis　had　done　some　wondering　about　that　himself。　Tucson　was　a　hot；　dusty　little　desert　town；　and　not　a　likely　place　for　a　lady　of　aristocratic　background　such　as　Laura　had　implied　in　a　few　carefully　casual　references。　A　stopover　to　recover　from　the　rigors　of　a　stage　trip　from　California　would　be　natural；　but　the　days　had　stretched　on；　and　still　she　remained。　Had　she　been　known　in　the　area　or　had　friends　there；　her　presence　would　have　been　no　cause　for　ment；　but　she　kept　very　much　to　herself　and　indicated　no　desire　to　make　acquaintances。
　Laura　was　unconcerned　as　to　what　anyone　thought。　She　detested　Tucson　and　its　people；　and　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　go　on　to　El　Paso　and　thence　to　New　Orleans　and　the　East。　If　she　could　only　be　sure　Tell　Sackett　was　dead　she　would　leave。
　She　knew　what　she　must　do。　Tell　Sackett　had　now　been　gone　for　three　weeks；　and　while　it　seemed　likely　that　he　was　dead；　he　might　even　now　be　ing　north　over　the　trails　through　Sonora。　So　she　had　one　more　thing　to　do。　She　had　to　make　sure　that；　if　he　had　lived　through　the　journey　into　the　Apache　stronghold；　he　would　die　before　getting　back　to　Tucson。　Somehow　she　must　manage　to　talk　with　Arch　or　Wolf　Hadden。
　They　came　rarely　to　the　Shoo…Fly。　There　were　other　places　to　eat　among　their　own　land；　and　she　had　seen　them　on　the　streets　with　other　toughs　of　ugly　reputation。　By　listening　to　talk　she　heard　around　her；　she　learned　that　the　Haddens　were；　among　other　things；　bronc　riders　and　wild…horse　hunters。　They　had　e　into　town　with　several　horses　for　sale　or　trade。
　She　spoke　to　Mrs。　Wallen　quite　casually。　〃There　is　a　man　about　town；〃　she　said；　〃a　rough…looking　man　named　Hadden；　who　has　a　sorrel　gelding　for　sale。　I　would　like　to　talk　to　him。〃
　Mrs。　Wallen　hesitated；　putting　her　hands　on　her　hips。　〃Ma'am；　those　Haddens　are　not　fit　men　for　a　lady　to　know。　I　will　have　Mr。　Wallen　talk　to　them。〃
　〃If　you　please；〃　Laura　Sackett　answered　coolly；　〃I　would　prefer　to　talk　to　them　myself。　I　have　dealt　with　many　rough　men　whom　my　father　employed。　I　have　also　had　some　experience　in　buying　horses。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Mrs。　Wallen　replied　stiffly；　〃have　it　your　own　way。〃
　Laura　was　amused。　Mrs。　Wallen　did　not　like　her；　she　knew；　and　Laura　cared　not　at　all；　but　it　made　her　feel　good　to　put　her　in　her　place；　if　ever　so　gently。
　She　finished　her　tea　and；　getting　to　her　feet；　she　gathered　her　skirt　in　one　dainty　gloved　hand　and　went　out　on　the　boardwalk。　The　heat　struck　her　face　like　heat　from　the　open　door　of　a　furnace。　She　stood　an　instant；　looking　up　and　down　the　street；　and　then　she　went　on　to　her　rooming　house。
　Arch　Hadden　was　seated　on　the　steps。　He　got　to　his　feet　as　she　approached。　〃Wallen　said　you　wanted　to　see　me　about　a　horse。〃
　She　studied　him　for　a　moment。　〃About　a　horse；〃　she　said；　〃and　some　other　matters。　If　you　will　saddle　that　sorrel　you　have　and　bring　him　around　in　the　morning　I　shall　ride　out　with　you。　If　the　horse　is　satisfactory；　I　will　buy　him。〃　The　next　morning　in　the　early　coolness　they　rode　out　beyond　the　mission。　The　little　sorrel　moved　well；　but　Laura　was　not　interested　in　the　horse。　In　a　thick　grove　of　cactus　and　brush；　she　drew　up　and　Arch　Hadden　rode　up　close　beside　her。
　He　looked　at　her　with　a　knowing　leer。　〃Ma'am；　I　reckon　you　e　to　the　right　man。　Now　I'll　just　get　down　an'　help　you　off　that　horse　。。。〃
　In　her　hand　she　held　a　two…barreled　derringer。　〃Stay　right　where　you　are；　Hadden；〃　she　said。　〃I　brought　you　out　here　to　talk　to　you。　Do　you　know　what　my　name　is？〃
　He　stared　at　her；　puzzled　but　wary。　〃Can't　say　as　I　do。　At　the　livery　stable　Wallen　just　told　me　to　e　and　see　the　blonde　lady　at　that　roomin'　house。　I　reckon　evertrody　in　town　has　seen　you；　ma'am。〃
　〃I　am　Laura　Pritts　Sackett。〃
　His　face　sharpened　suddenly　as　if　the　skin　had　drawn　tight。　He　was　very　still；　and　with　amusement　she　could　see　what　was　happening　in　his　mind。　She　was　a　woman；　and　she　had　a　gun　on　him。　She　could　kill　him　and　say　he　had　attacked　her；　and　she　would　not　be　blamed；　but　if　he　drew　on　her　and　killed　her；　he　would　be　hung　for　murder。
　〃Don't　be　frightened；　Hadden。　I　am　not　going　to　kill　you。　In　fact；　I　want　you　to　kill　somebody　for　me　…　for　both　of　us。〃
　〃What's　that　mean？〃
　〃There　is　a　man　who　has　gone　down　into　Mexico　and　I　think　the　Apaches　may　have　killed　him；　but　if　he　should　be　ing　back　I　want　him　killed　before　he　reaches　Tucson。〃
　Hadden　shook　his　head。　〃I've　killed　a　few　men；〃　he　said；　〃but　only　in　fights。　I　ain't　no　paid　killer；　ma'am。〃
　〃Not　even　if　the　man　is　Tell　Sackett？〃
　He　was　still　wary；　but　interested。　〃You　askin'　me　that？　And　you　a　Sackett？〃
　〃I　am　not　a　Sackett；　Hadden。　I　had　the　misfortune　to　marry　one。　I　married　him　to　help　my　father；　but　they　turned　on　him　anyway。　Tell　Sackett　is　my　brother…in…law；　and　I　want　him　killed；　Hadden。
　〃There　are　men　in　this　town；　Hadden；　who　would　kill　a　man　for　fifty　dollars；　and　there　are　others　all　along　the　border。　I　will　give　you　two　hundred　dollars　if　you　will　bring　me　evidence　that　Tell　Sackett　is　dead。　I　don't　care　whether　you　kill　him　or　somebody　else　does。　All　I　want　is　proof。〃
　Hadden　rested　his　palms　on　the　saddle　horn　and　chewed　on　his　mustache。　He　had　heard　that　Sackett　had　ridden　south；　but　he　also　knew　that　Spanish　Murphy；　who　had　ridden　with　him；　had　told　some　friends　in　Mex　town　that　he　would　be　back　in　a　few　weeks。
　Arch　Hadden　was　a　hard；　tough　man；　and　a　bitter　one。　He　had　ridden　into　Tucson　hunting　John　J。　Battles；　an　old　enemy。　He　had　decided　to　kill　Tampico　Rocca；　knowing　nothing　about　him；　because　Rocca　was　Battles'　friend　and　it　would　bring　Battles　out　of　hiding。　Tell　Sackett　had　simply　been　a　stranger　of　whom　he　had　known　nothing。　Since　the　gun　battle　in　which　Arch　Hadden　had　been　so　roughly　treated　and　one　of　his　men　had　been　killed；　another　seriously　wounded；　he　had　heard　a　lot　about　the　Sacketts。　He　wanted　to　kill　Tell　Sackett；　but　he　was　no　longer　at　all　sure　he　could　kill　him　in　a　stand…up　gun　fight。　On　the　other　hand；　here　was　an　offer　of　two　hundred　dollars；　representing　six　months'　hard　work　on　the　cattle　ranges；　for　killing　him；　money　it　would　be　a　pleasure　to　earn。
　Slowly；　he　dug　out　the　makings　and　rolled　a　smoke。　Laura　Sackett　seemed　in　no　hurry；　and　Arch　wanted　to　think　this　thing　through。
　〃There　would　be　no　trouble　for　you；　Hadden；〃　she　persisted。　〃You　have　already　had　a　fight　with　him。　If　there　is　another　fight　and　you　kill　him；　nobody　would　be　surprised。〃
　〃Why'd　you　pick　on　me？〃
　〃You're　the　obvious　one。　He　bested　you。　You　want　him　beaten　or　dead。　You　are　the　one　who　can　do　it　and　no　questions　asked。〃
　〃How　you　figure　to　pay　me？〃
　〃I　will　give　you　one　hundred　dollars　now；　and　the　other　hundred　will　be　left　at　the　Wells…Fargo　office　to　be　delivered　to　you　by　my　order。〃
　〃Won't　folks　wonder　why　you're　payin'　me　money？〃
　〃No。　You　will　be　rounding　up　and　breaking　four　horses　for　me；　to　be　delivered　in　El　Paso。　The　money　would　be　in　payment　for　that。〃
　Grimly；　he　stared　at　her。　The　derringer　was　still　in　her　hand；　and　now　he　knew　she　would　shoot　if　need　be。　Not　that　there　would　be　any　cause　for　it；　but　this　was　a　dangerous　woman。
　〃Supposin'　I　was　to　take　your　hundred　dollars　an'　ride　off？〃　he　suggested。
　She　smiled。　〃Hadden；　my　father　and　I　were　in　the　land　grant　wars　in　New　Mexico。　We　had　occasion　to　hire　men　who　could　use　their　guns。　I　have　told　you　there　are　plenty　of　men　along　the　border　who　would　kill　for　fifty　dollars。　If　you　took　my　money　without　trying　to　make　good　on　it；　I　would　hire　four　separate　killers　and　send　them　out　with　good　rifles　to　get　you　…　and　they　would；　Hadden。〃
　He　chuckled。　〃I　just　wondered。　All　right；　ma'am；　I'll　take　the　hundred。　I　been　figurin'　on　killin'　Sackett；　an'　this　here　will　pay　expenses　while　I　do　it。〃
　She　rode　back　to　town　with　Hadden　trailing　behind；　and　at　the　livery　stable；　before　witnesses；　she　said；　〃I　do　not　like　the　sorrel；　Hadden；　but　I　do　want　four　horses　delivered　to　me　in　El　Paso。　I　will　pay　you　one　hundred　dollars　now；　the　other　hundred　to　be　paid　by　Wells　Fargo　on　my　authorization　when　the　horses　are　delivered。〃
　Arch　Hadden　stabled　his　horses　and　went　outside。　He　rolled　another　smoke；　lit　the　cigarette；　and　drew　deeply。　This　was　money　he　was　going　to　enjoy　earning。　He　looked　around　and　saw　Wolf　approaching。　〃Wolf；　we　got　us　a　job；〃　he　said。　〃We　got　us　a　good　job。〃
　
　Chapter　11
　
　We　passed　a　quiet　night。　Until　the　last　of　the　twilight　was　gone　I　could　still　hear　the　quail。　These　were　the　Mexican　blue　quail　that　run　along　the　ground　more　than　they　fly；　oft　times　thirty　or　forty　of　them　in　a　covey。　Around　a　small　fire；　we　talked　it　over。　We　had　invaded　Apache　country　and　taken　prisoners　from　them；　so　they　would　be　on　our　trail；　they　would　never　let　up。　The　horses　needed　rest。　The　deserted　ranch　had　water　and　plenty　of　good　grass；　and　there　was　a　good　field　of　fire。　We　decided　to　stay　put；　and　that　was　all　right　with　me。　I'd　seen　no　such　beautiful　place　in　all　my　life；　and　I　said　as　much　to　Dorset。
　〃It　is　beautiful；〃　she　agreed；　〃and　peaceful。　I　wonder　they　ever　left　。。。　the　people　who　lived　here。〃
　〃Apaches。　They　devastated　this　whole　stretch　of　country。　Folks　tried　again　and　again　to　build　homes　here；　but　they　couldn't　make　it。
　〃When　we　leave　here；〃　I　went　on；　〃we're　going　to　have　to　run。　It　is　going　to　be　pure　hell　betwixt　here　and　the　border　towns。〃
　〃Why　did　she　do　it；　Tell？〃　Dorset　asked　suddenly。　〃Why　did　she　want　you　killed？〃
　〃I　don't　know　that　she　did。〃
　〃There　was　no　Orry　Sackett；　Tell。　Can't　you　see　that？　She　lied　to　you。　All　the　children　are　accounted　for。　There　were　the　Creed　youngsters　and　my　sister。　Harry　had　been　taken　long　before；　and　there　simply　were　no　others。〃
　This　idea　about　Orry　worried　me。　It　was　something　that　needed　contemplating；　but　there　was　another　worry　in　what　Dorset　said；　for　if　there　was　no　child；　why　send　me　skyhootin'　into　such　dangerous　country？　Unless　she　did　wan