章节正文
poor lonesome kid."
"What kid?" inquired Duane, in surprise.
"Didn't I tell you about Jennie--the girl Bland's holdin'
here--the one Jackrabbit Benson had a hand in stealin'?"
"You mentioned a girl. That's all. Tell me now," replied Duane,
abruptly.
"Wal, I got it this way. Mebbe it's straight, an' mebbe it
ain't. Some years ago Benson made a trip over the river to buy
mescal an' other drinks. He'll sneak over there once in a
while. An' as I get it he run across a gang of greasers with
some gringo prisoners. I don't know, but I reckon there was
some barterin', perhaps murderin'. Anyway, Benson fetched the
girl back. She was more dead than alive. But it turned out she
was only starved an' scared half to death. She hadn't been
harmed. I reckon she was then about fourteen years old.
Benson's idee, he said, was to use her in his den sellin'
drinks an' the like. But I never went much on Jackrabbit's
word. Bland seen the kid right off and took her--bought her
from Benson. You can gamble Bland didn't do thet from notions
of chivalry. I ain't gainsayin, however, but thet Jennie was
better off with Kate Bland. She's been hard on Jennie, but
she's kept Bland an' the other men from treatin' the kid
shameful. Late Jennie has growed into an all-fired pretty girl,
an' Kate is powerful jealous of her. I can see hell brewin'
over there in Bland's cabin. Thet's why I wish you'd come over
with me. Bland's hardly ever home. His wife's invited you.
Shore, if she gets sweet on you, as she has on--Wal, thet 'd
complicate matters. But you'd get to see Jennie, an' mebbe you
could help her. Mind, I ain't hintin' nothin'. I'm just wantin'
to put her in your way. You're a man an' can think fer
yourself. I had a baby girl once, an' if she'd lived she be as
big as Jennie now, an', by Gawd, I wouldn't want her here in
Bland's camp."
"I'll go, Euchre. Take me over," replied Duane. He felt
Euchre's eyes upon him. The old outlaw, however, had no more to
say.
In the afternoon Euchre set off with Duane, and soon they
reached Bland's cabin. Duane remembered it as the one where he
had seen the pretty woman watching him ride by. He could not
recall what she looked like. The cabin was the same as the
other adobe structures in the valley, but it was larger and
pleasantly located rather high up in a grove of cottonwoods. In
the windows and upon the porch were evidences of a woman's
hand. Through the open door Duane caught a glimpse of bright
Mexican blankets and rugs.
Euchre knocked upon the side of the door.
"Is that you, Euchre?" asked a girl's voice, low, hesitatingly.
The tone of it, rather deep and with a note of fear, struck
Duane. He wondered what she would be like.
"Yes, it's me, Jennie. Where's Mrs. Bland?" answered Euchre.
"She went over to Deger's. There's somebody sick," replied the
girl.
Euchre turned and whispered something about luck. The snap of
the outlaw's eyes was added significance to Duane.
"Jennie, come out or let us come in. Here's the young man I was
tellin' you about," Euchre said.
"Oh, I can't! I look so--so--"
"Never mind how you look," interrupted the outlaw, in a
whisper. "It ain't no time to care fer thet. Here's young
Duane. Jennie, he's no rustler, no thief. He's different. Come
out, Jennie, an' mebbe he'll--"
Euchre did not complete his sentence. He had spoken low, with
his glance shifting from side to side.
But what he said was sufficient to bring the girl quickly. She
appeared in the doorway with downcast eyes and a stain of red
in her white cheek. She had a pretty, sad face and bright hair.
"Don't be bashful, Jennie," said Euchre. "You an' Duane have a
chance to talk a little. Now I'll go fetch Mrs. Bland, but I
won't be hurryin'."
With that Euchre went away through the cottonwoods.
"I'm glad to meet you, Miss--Miss Jennie," said Duane. "Euchre
didn't mention your last name. He asked me to come over to--"
Duane's attempt at pleasantry halted short when Jennie lifted
her lashes to look at him. Some kind of a shock went through
Duane. Her gray eyes were beautiful, but it had not been beauty
that cut short his speech. He seemed to see a tragic struggle
between hope and doubt that shone in her piercing gaze. She
kept looking, and Duane could not break the silence. It was no
ordinary moment.
"What did you come here for?" she asked, at last.
"To see you," replied Duane, glad to speak.
"Why?"
"Well--Euchre thought--he wanted me to talk to you, cheer you
up a bit," replied Duane, somewhat lamely. The earnest eyes
embarrassed him.
"Euchre's good. He's the only person in this awful place who's
been good to me. But he's afraid of Bland. He said you were
different. Who are you?"
Duane told her.
"You're not a robber or rustler or murderer or some bad man
come here to hide?"
"No, I'm not," replied Duane, trying to smile.
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm on the dodge. You know what that means. I got in a
shooting-scrape at home and had to run off. When it blows over
I hope to go back."
"But you can't be honest here?"
"Yes, I can."
"Oh, I know what these outlaws are. Yes, you're different." She
kept the strained gaze upon him, but hope was kindling, and the
hard lines of her youthful face were softening.
Something sweet and warm stirred deep in Duane as he realized
the unfortunate girl was experiencing a birth of trust in him.
"O God! Maybe you're the man to save me--to take me away before
it's too later"
Duane's spirit leaped.
"Maybe I am," he replied, instantly.
She seemed to check a blind impulse to run into his arms. Her
cheek flamed, her lips quivered, her bosom swelled under her
ragged dress. Then the glow began to fade; doubt once more
assailed her.
"It can't be. You're only--after me, too, like Bland--like all
of them."
Duane's long arms went out and his hands clasped her shoulders.
He shook her.
"Look at me--straight in the eye. There are decent men. Haven't
you a father--a brother?"
"They're dead--killed by raiders. We lived in Dimmit County. I
was carried away," Jennie replied, hurriedly. She put up an
appealing hand to him. "Forgive me. I believe--I know you're
good. It was only--I live so much in fear--I'm half crazy--I've
almost forgotten what good men are like, Mister Duane, you'll
help me?"
"Yes, Jennie, I will. Tell me how. What must I do? Have you any
plan?"
"Oh no. But take me away."
"I'll try," said Duane, simply. "That won't be easy, though. I
must have time to think. You must help me. There are many
things to consider. Horses, food, trails, and then the best
time to make the attempt. Are you watched--kept prisoner?"
"No. I could have run off lots of times. But I was afraid. I'd
only have fallen into worse hands. Euchre has told me that.
Mrs. Bland beats me, half starves me, but she has kept me from
her husband and these other dogs. She's been as good as that,
and I'm grateful. She hasn't done it for love of me, though.
She always hated me. And lately she's growing jealous. There
was' a man came here by the name of Spence--so he called
himself. He tried to be kind to me. But she wouldn't let him.
She was in love with him. She's a bad woman. Bland finally shot
Spence, and that ended that. She's been jealous ever since. I
hear her fighting with Bland about me. She swears she'll kill
me before he gets me. And Bland laughs in her face. Then I've
heard Chess Alloway try to persuade Bland to give me to him.
But Bland doesn't laugh then. Just lately before Bland went
away things almost came to a head. I couldn't sleep. I wished
Mrs. Bland would kill me. I'll certainly kill myself if they
ruin me. Duane, you must be quick if you'd save me."
"I realize that," replied he, thoughtfully. "I think my
difficulty will be to fool Mrs. Bland. If she suspected me
she'd have the whole gang of outlaws on me at once."
"She would that. You've got to be careful--and quick."
"What kind of woman is she?" inquired Duane.
"She's--she's brazen. I've heard her with her lovers. They get
drunk sometimes when Bland's away. She's got a terrible temper.
She's vain. She likes flattery. Oh, you could fool her easy
enough if you'd lower yourself to--to--"
"To make love to her?" interrupted Duane.
Jennie bravely turned shamed eyes to meet his.
"My girl, I'd do worse than that to get you away from here," he
said, bluntly.
"But--Duane," she faltered, and again she put out the appealing
hand. "Bland will kill you."
Duane made no reply to this. He was trying to still a rising
strange tumult in his breast. The old emotion--the rush of an
instinct to kill! He turned cold all over.
"Chess Alloway will kill you if Bland doesn't," went on Jennie,
with her tragic eyes on Duane's.
"Maybe he will," replied Duane. It was difficult for him to
force a smile. But he achieved one.
"Oh, better take me off at once," she said. "Save me without
risking so much--without making love to Mrs. Bland!"
"Surely, if I can. There! I see Euchre coming with a woman."
"That's her. Oh, she mustn't see me with you."
"Wait--a moment," whispered Duane, as Jennie slipped indoors.
"We've settled it. Don't forget. I'll find some way to get word
to you, perhaps through Euchre. Meanwhile keep up your courage.
Remember I'll save you somehow. We'll try strategy first.
Whatever you see or hear me do, don't think less of me--"
Jennie checked him with a gesture and a wonderful gray flash of
eyes.
"I'll bless you with every drop of blood in my heart," she
whispered, passionately.
It was only as she turned away into the room that Duane saw she
was lame and that she wore Mexican sandals over bare feet.
He sat down upon a bench on the porch and directed his
attention to the approaching couple. The trees of the grove
were thick enough for him to make reasonably sure that Mrs.
Bland had not seen him talking to Jennie. When the outlaw's
wife drew near Duane saw that she was a tall, strong, full-
bodied woman, rather good-looking with a fullblown, bold
attractiveness. Duane was more concerned with her expression
than with her good looks; and as she appeared unsuspicious he
felt relieved. The situation then took on a singular zest.
Euchre came up on the porch and awkwardly introduced Duane to
Mrs. Bland. She was young, probably not over twenty-five, and
not quite so prepossessing at close range. Her eyes were large,
rather prominent, and brown in color. Her mouth, too, was
large, with the lips full, and she had white teeth.
Duane took her proffered hand and remarked frankly that he was
glad to meet her.
Mrs. Bland appeared pleased; and her laugh, which followed, was
"What kid?" inquired Duane, in surprise.
"Didn't I tell you about Jennie--the girl Bland's holdin'
here--the one Jackrabbit Benson had a hand in stealin'?"
"You mentioned a girl. That's all. Tell me now," replied Duane,
abruptly.
"Wal, I got it this way. Mebbe it's straight, an' mebbe it
ain't. Some years ago Benson made a trip over the river to buy
mescal an' other drinks. He'll sneak over there once in a
while. An' as I get it he run across a gang of greasers with
some gringo prisoners. I don't know, but I reckon there was
some barterin', perhaps murderin'. Anyway, Benson fetched the
girl back. She was more dead than alive. But it turned out she
was only starved an' scared half to death. She hadn't been
harmed. I reckon she was then about fourteen years old.
Benson's idee, he said, was to use her in his den sellin'
drinks an' the like. But I never went much on Jackrabbit's
word. Bland seen the kid right off and took her--bought her
from Benson. You can gamble Bland didn't do thet from notions
of chivalry. I ain't gainsayin, however, but thet Jennie was
better off with Kate Bland. She's been hard on Jennie, but
she's kept Bland an' the other men from treatin' the kid
shameful. Late Jennie has growed into an all-fired pretty girl,
an' Kate is powerful jealous of her. I can see hell brewin'
over there in Bland's cabin. Thet's why I wish you'd come over
with me. Bland's hardly ever home. His wife's invited you.
Shore, if she gets sweet on you, as she has on--Wal, thet 'd
complicate matters. But you'd get to see Jennie, an' mebbe you
could help her. Mind, I ain't hintin' nothin'. I'm just wantin'
to put her in your way. You're a man an' can think fer
yourself. I had a baby girl once, an' if she'd lived she be as
big as Jennie now, an', by Gawd, I wouldn't want her here in
Bland's camp."
"I'll go, Euchre. Take me over," replied Duane. He felt
Euchre's eyes upon him. The old outlaw, however, had no more to
say.
In the afternoon Euchre set off with Duane, and soon they
reached Bland's cabin. Duane remembered it as the one where he
had seen the pretty woman watching him ride by. He could not
recall what she looked like. The cabin was the same as the
other adobe structures in the valley, but it was larger and
pleasantly located rather high up in a grove of cottonwoods. In
the windows and upon the porch were evidences of a woman's
hand. Through the open door Duane caught a glimpse of bright
Mexican blankets and rugs.
Euchre knocked upon the side of the door.
"Is that you, Euchre?" asked a girl's voice, low, hesitatingly.
The tone of it, rather deep and with a note of fear, struck
Duane. He wondered what she would be like.
"Yes, it's me, Jennie. Where's Mrs. Bland?" answered Euchre.
"She went over to Deger's. There's somebody sick," replied the
girl.
Euchre turned and whispered something about luck. The snap of
the outlaw's eyes was added significance to Duane.
"Jennie, come out or let us come in. Here's the young man I was
tellin' you about," Euchre said.
"Oh, I can't! I look so--so--"
"Never mind how you look," interrupted the outlaw, in a
whisper. "It ain't no time to care fer thet. Here's young
Duane. Jennie, he's no rustler, no thief. He's different. Come
out, Jennie, an' mebbe he'll--"
Euchre did not complete his sentence. He had spoken low, with
his glance shifting from side to side.
But what he said was sufficient to bring the girl quickly. She
appeared in the doorway with downcast eyes and a stain of red
in her white cheek. She had a pretty, sad face and bright hair.
"Don't be bashful, Jennie," said Euchre. "You an' Duane have a
chance to talk a little. Now I'll go fetch Mrs. Bland, but I
won't be hurryin'."
With that Euchre went away through the cottonwoods.
"I'm glad to meet you, Miss--Miss Jennie," said Duane. "Euchre
didn't mention your last name. He asked me to come over to--"
Duane's attempt at pleasantry halted short when Jennie lifted
her lashes to look at him. Some kind of a shock went through
Duane. Her gray eyes were beautiful, but it had not been beauty
that cut short his speech. He seemed to see a tragic struggle
between hope and doubt that shone in her piercing gaze. She
kept looking, and Duane could not break the silence. It was no
ordinary moment.
"What did you come here for?" she asked, at last.
"To see you," replied Duane, glad to speak.
"Why?"
"Well--Euchre thought--he wanted me to talk to you, cheer you
up a bit," replied Duane, somewhat lamely. The earnest eyes
embarrassed him.
"Euchre's good. He's the only person in this awful place who's
been good to me. But he's afraid of Bland. He said you were
different. Who are you?"
Duane told her.
"You're not a robber or rustler or murderer or some bad man
come here to hide?"
"No, I'm not," replied Duane, trying to smile.
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm on the dodge. You know what that means. I got in a
shooting-scrape at home and had to run off. When it blows over
I hope to go back."
"But you can't be honest here?"
"Yes, I can."
"Oh, I know what these outlaws are. Yes, you're different." She
kept the strained gaze upon him, but hope was kindling, and the
hard lines of her youthful face were softening.
Something sweet and warm stirred deep in Duane as he realized
the unfortunate girl was experiencing a birth of trust in him.
"O God! Maybe you're the man to save me--to take me away before
it's too later"
Duane's spirit leaped.
"Maybe I am," he replied, instantly.
She seemed to check a blind impulse to run into his arms. Her
cheek flamed, her lips quivered, her bosom swelled under her
ragged dress. Then the glow began to fade; doubt once more
assailed her.
"It can't be. You're only--after me, too, like Bland--like all
of them."
Duane's long arms went out and his hands clasped her shoulders.
He shook her.
"Look at me--straight in the eye. There are decent men. Haven't
you a father--a brother?"
"They're dead--killed by raiders. We lived in Dimmit County. I
was carried away," Jennie replied, hurriedly. She put up an
appealing hand to him. "Forgive me. I believe--I know you're
good. It was only--I live so much in fear--I'm half crazy--I've
almost forgotten what good men are like, Mister Duane, you'll
help me?"
"Yes, Jennie, I will. Tell me how. What must I do? Have you any
plan?"
"Oh no. But take me away."
"I'll try," said Duane, simply. "That won't be easy, though. I
must have time to think. You must help me. There are many
things to consider. Horses, food, trails, and then the best
time to make the attempt. Are you watched--kept prisoner?"
"No. I could have run off lots of times. But I was afraid. I'd
only have fallen into worse hands. Euchre has told me that.
Mrs. Bland beats me, half starves me, but she has kept me from
her husband and these other dogs. She's been as good as that,
and I'm grateful. She hasn't done it for love of me, though.
She always hated me. And lately she's growing jealous. There
was' a man came here by the name of Spence--so he called
himself. He tried to be kind to me. But she wouldn't let him.
She was in love with him. She's a bad woman. Bland finally shot
Spence, and that ended that. She's been jealous ever since. I
hear her fighting with Bland about me. She swears she'll kill
me before he gets me. And Bland laughs in her face. Then I've
heard Chess Alloway try to persuade Bland to give me to him.
But Bland doesn't laugh then. Just lately before Bland went
away things almost came to a head. I couldn't sleep. I wished
Mrs. Bland would kill me. I'll certainly kill myself if they
ruin me. Duane, you must be quick if you'd save me."
"I realize that," replied he, thoughtfully. "I think my
difficulty will be to fool Mrs. Bland. If she suspected me
she'd have the whole gang of outlaws on me at once."
"She would that. You've got to be careful--and quick."
"What kind of woman is she?" inquired Duane.
"She's--she's brazen. I've heard her with her lovers. They get
drunk sometimes when Bland's away. She's got a terrible temper.
She's vain. She likes flattery. Oh, you could fool her easy
enough if you'd lower yourself to--to--"
"To make love to her?" interrupted Duane.
Jennie bravely turned shamed eyes to meet his.
"My girl, I'd do worse than that to get you away from here," he
said, bluntly.
"But--Duane," she faltered, and again she put out the appealing
hand. "Bland will kill you."
Duane made no reply to this. He was trying to still a rising
strange tumult in his breast. The old emotion--the rush of an
instinct to kill! He turned cold all over.
"Chess Alloway will kill you if Bland doesn't," went on Jennie,
with her tragic eyes on Duane's.
"Maybe he will," replied Duane. It was difficult for him to
force a smile. But he achieved one.
"Oh, better take me off at once," she said. "Save me without
risking so much--without making love to Mrs. Bland!"
"Surely, if I can. There! I see Euchre coming with a woman."
"That's her. Oh, she mustn't see me with you."
"Wait--a moment," whispered Duane, as Jennie slipped indoors.
"We've settled it. Don't forget. I'll find some way to get word
to you, perhaps through Euchre. Meanwhile keep up your courage.
Remember I'll save you somehow. We'll try strategy first.
Whatever you see or hear me do, don't think less of me--"
Jennie checked him with a gesture and a wonderful gray flash of
eyes.
"I'll bless you with every drop of blood in my heart," she
whispered, passionately.
It was only as she turned away into the room that Duane saw she
was lame and that she wore Mexican sandals over bare feet.
He sat down upon a bench on the porch and directed his
attention to the approaching couple. The trees of the grove
were thick enough for him to make reasonably sure that Mrs.
Bland had not seen him talking to Jennie. When the outlaw's
wife drew near Duane saw that she was a tall, strong, full-
bodied woman, rather good-looking with a fullblown, bold
attractiveness. Duane was more concerned with her expression
than with her good looks; and as she appeared unsuspicious he
felt relieved. The situation then took on a singular zest.
Euchre came up on the porch and awkwardly introduced Duane to
Mrs. Bland. She was young, probably not over twenty-five, and
not quite so prepossessing at close range. Her eyes were large,
rather prominent, and brown in color. Her mouth, too, was
large, with the lips full, and she had white teeth.
Duane took her proffered hand and remarked frankly that he was
glad to meet her.
Mrs. Bland appeared pleased; and her laugh, which followed, was
- reckon [´rekən]
v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词) - jealous [´dʒeləs] a.妒忌的 (初中英语单词)
- valley [´væli] n.谷；河谷；流域 (初中英语单词)
- glimpse [glimps] n.&v.瞥见 (初中英语单词)
- sentence [´sentəns] n.判决 vt.宣判；处刑 (初中英语单词)
- spoken [´spəukən] speak的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- doorway [´dɔ:wei] n.门口 (初中英语单词)
- earnest [´ə:nist] a.认真的 n.认真；诚恳 (初中英语单词)
- robber [´rɔbə] n.强盗；盗贼 (初中英语单词)
- youthful [´ju:θfəl] a.年轻的；青年的 (初中英语单词)
- unfortunate [ʌn´fɔ:tʃunit] a.不幸的，运气差的 (初中英语单词)
- impulse [´impʌls] n.推动(力)；冲动；刺激 (初中英语单词)
- grateful [´greitful] a.感谢的；令人愉快的 (初中英语单词)
- lately [´leitli] ad.近来，不久前 (初中英语单词)
- persuade [pə´sweid] v.(被)说服；使相信 (初中英语单词)
- meanwhile [´mi:n´wail] n.&ad.其间；同时 (初中英语单词)
- gesture [´dʒestʃə] n.手势 v.打手势 (初中英语单词)
- mexican [´meksikən] n.&a.墨西哥人(语)的 (初中英语单词)
- prominent [´prɔminənt] a.突起的；凸出的 (初中英语单词)
- frankly [´fræŋkli] ad.直率地；慷慨地 (初中英语单词)
- lonesome [´ləunsəm] a.孤独的；冷清清的 (高中英语单词)
- gamble [´gæmbəl] v.&n.赌博；投机；冒险 (高中英语单词)
- chivalry [´ʃivəlri] n.侠义；骑士团 (高中英语单词)
- significance [sig´nifikəns] n.意义；重要性 (高中英语单词)
- tragic [´trædʒik] a.悲剧的；悲惨的 (高中英语单词)
- murderer [´mə:dərə] n.杀人犯，凶手 (高中英语单词)
- decent [´di:sənt] a.体面的，正派的 (高中英语单词)
- thoughtfully [´θɔ:tfuli] ad.深思地；体贴地 (高中英语单词)
- bravely [´breivli] ad.勇敢地；毅然 (高中英语单词)
- tumult [´tju:mʌlt, ´tu:-] n.喧哗；激昂；烦乱 (高中英语单词)
- concerned [kən´sə:nd] a.有关的；担心的 (高中英语单词)
- singular [´siŋgjulə] a.单一的；非凡的 (高中英语单词)
- outlaw [´autlɔ:] n.歹徒 vt.将...放逐 (英语四级单词)
- bashful [´bæʃful] a.害羞的，忸怩的 (英语四级单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- hurriedly [´hʌridli] ad.仓促地，忙乱地 (英语四级单词)
- mister [´mistə] n.先生 vt.称...先生 (英语四级单词)
- brazen [´breizən] a.黄铜制的；无耻的 (英语四级单词)
- flattery [´flætəri] n.奉承；谄媚的举动 (英语四级单词)
- reasonably [´ri:zənəbli] ad.有理地；合理地 (英语四级单词)
- awkwardly [´ɔ:kwədli] a.笨拙地；棘手地 (英语四级单词)
- downcast [´daunkɑ:st] a.沮丧的；向下看的 (英语六级单词)
- piercing [´piəsiŋ] a.刺(贯)穿的；尖刻的 (英语六级单词)
- strategy [´strætidʒi] n.兵法；战略 (英语六级单词)
- good-looking [] a.漂亮的，美貌的 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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