desert gold- 第43部分

〃Mr。　Radford　Chase！〃

〃Now　Nell；　what　the〃　roared　Belding。

〃Hush；　Dad！　　Don't　swear；〃　interrupted　Nell。　　〃I　only　meant　to　tease　you。〃

〃Humph！　　Say；　my　girl；　that　name　Chase　makes　me　see　red。　　If　you　must　tease　me　hit　on　some　other　way。　　Sabe；　senorita？〃

〃Si；　si；　Dad。〃

〃Nell；　you　may　as　well　tell　him　and　have　it　over；〃　said　Mrs。　Belding；　quietly。

〃You　promised　me　once；　Dad；　that　you'd　not　go　packing　a　gun　off　down　there；　didn't　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　remember；〃　replied　Belding；　but　he　did　not　answer　her　smile。

〃Will　you　promise　again？〃　she　asked；　lightly。　　Here　was　Nell　with　arch　eyes；　yet　not　the　old　arch　eyes；　so　full　of　fun　and　mischief。　Her　lips　were　tremulous；　her　cheeks　seemed　less　round。

〃Yes；〃　rejoined　Belding；　and　he　knew　why　his　voice　was　a　little　thick。

〃Well；　if　you　weren't　such　a　good　old　blind　Dad　you'd　have　seen　long　ago　the　way　Mr。　Radford　Chase　ran　round　after　me。　　At　first　it　was　only　annoying；　and　I　did　not　want　to　add　to　your　worries。　But　these　two　weeks　you've　been　gone　I've　been　more　than　annoyed。　After　that　time　I　struck　Mr。　Chase　with　my　quirt　he　made　all　possible　efforts　to　meet　me。　　He　did　meet　me　wherever　I　went。　　He　sent　me　letters　till　I　got　tired　of　sending　them　back。

〃When　you　left　home　on　your　trips　I　don't　know　that　he　grew　bolder；　but　he　had　more　opportunity。　　I　couldn't　stay　in　the　house　all　the　time。　　There　were　mama's　errands　and　sick　people　and　my　Sunday　school；　and　what　not。　　Mr。　Chase　waylaid　me　every　time　I　went　out。　If　he　works　any　more　I　don't　know　when；　unless　it's　when　I'm　asleep。　He　followed　me　until　it　was　less　embarassing　for　me　to　let　him　walk　with　me　and　talk　his　head　off。　　He　made　love　to　me。　　He　begged　me　to　marry　him。　　I　told　him　I　was　already　in　love　and　engaged　to　be　married。　　He　said　that　didn't　make　any　difference。　　Then　I　called　him　a　fool。

Next　time　he　saw　me　he　said　he　must　explain。　　He　meant　I　was　being　true　to　a　man　who；　everybody　on　the　border　knew；　had　been　lost　in　the　desert。　　Thatthat　hurt。　　Maybemaybe　it's　true。　　Sometimes　it　seems　terribly　true。　　Since　then；　of　course；　I　have　stayed　in　the　house　to　avoid　being　hurt　again。

〃But；　Dad；　a　little　thing　like　a　girl　sticking　close　to　her　mother　and　room　doesn't　stop　Mr。　Chase。　　I　think　he's　crazy。　　Anyway；　he's　a　most　persistent　fool。　　I　want　to　be　charitable；　because　the　man　swears　he　loves　me；　and　maybe　he　does；　but　he　is　making　me　nervous。　　I　don't　sleep。　　I'm　afraid　to　be　in　my　room　at　night。　I've　gone　to　mother's　room。　　He's　always　hanging　round。　　Bold！　Why；　that　isn't　the　thing　to　call　Mr。　Chase。　　He's　absolutely　without　a　sense　of　decency。　　He　bribes　our　servants。　　He　comes　into　our　patio。　　Think　of　that！　　He　makes　the　most　ridiculous　excuses。　　He　bothers　mother　to　death。　　I　feel　like　a　poor　little　rabbit　holed　by　a　hound。　　And　I　daren't　peep　out。〃

Somehow　the　thing　struck　Belding　as　funny；　and　he　laughed。　　He　had　not　had　a　laugh　for　so　long　that　it　made　him　feel　good。　　He　stopped　only　at　sight　of　Nell's　surprise　and　pain。　　Then　he　put　his　arms　round　her。

〃Never　mind；　dear。　　I'm　an　old　bear。　　But　it　tickled　me；　I　guess。　I　sure　hope　Mr。　Radford　Chase　has　got　it　bad。。。Nell；　it's　only　the　old　story。　　The　fellows　fall　in　love　with　you。　　It's　your　good　looks；　Nell。　　What　a　price　women　like　you　and　Mercedes　have　to　pay　for　beauty！　　I'd　a　d　a　good　deal　rather　be　ugly　as　a　mud　fence。〃

〃So　would　I；　Dad；　ifif　Dick　would　still　love　me。〃

〃He　wouldn't；　you　can　gamble　on　that；　as　Laddy　says。　。。。Well；　the　first　time　I　catch　this　locoed　Romeo　sneaking　round　here　I'llI'll〃

〃Dad；　you　promised。〃

〃Confound　it；　Nell；　I　promised　not　to　pack　a　gun。　　That's　all。　I'll　only　shoo　this　fellow　off　the　place；　gently；　mind　you；　gently。　I'll　leave　the　rest　for　Dick　Gale！〃

〃Oh；　Dad！〃　cried　Nell；　and　she　clung　to　him　wistful；　frightened；　yet　something　more。

〃Don't　mistake　me；　Nell。　　You　have　your　own　way；　generally。　　You　pull　the　wool　over　mother's　eyes；　and　you　wind　me　round　your　little　finger。　　But　you　can't　do　either　with　Dick　Gale。　　You're　tender…hearted；　you　overlook　the　doings　of　this　hound；　Chase。　But　when　Dick　comes　back；　you　just　make　up　your　mind　to　a　little　hell　in　the　Chase　camp。　　Oh；　he'll　find　it　out。　　And　I　sure　want　to　be　round　when　Dick　hands　Mr。　Radford　the　same　as　he　handed　Rojas！〃

Belding　kept　a　sharp　lookout　for　young　Chase；　and　then；　a　few　days　later；　learned　that　both　son　and　father　had　gone　off　upon　one　of　their　frequent　trips　to　Casa　Grandes；　near　where　their　mines　were　situated。

April　grew　apace；　and　soon　gave　way　to　May。　　One　morning　Belding　was　called　from　some　garden　work　by　the　whirring　of　an　automobile　and　a　〃Holla！〃　　He　went　forward　to　the　front　yard　and　there　saw　a　car　he　thought　resembled　one　he　had　seen　in　Casita。　It　contained　a　familiar…looking　driver；　but　the　three　figures　in　gray　coats　and　veils　were　strange　to　him。　　By　the　time　he　had　gotten　to　the　road　he　decided　two　were　women　and　the　other　a　man。　　At　the　moment　their　faces　were　emerging　from　dusty　veils。　　Belding　saw　an　elderly；　sallow…faced；　rather　frail…appearing　man　who　was　an　entire　stranger　to　him；　a　handsome　dark…eyed　woman　whose　hair　showed　white　through　her　veil；　and　a　superbly　built　girl；　whose　face　made　Belding　at　once　think　of　Dick　Gale。

〃Is　this　Mr。　Tom　Belding；　inspector　of　immigration？〃　inquired　the　gentleman；　courteously。

〃I'm　Belding；　and　I　know　who　you　are；〃　replied　Belding　in　hearty　amaze；　as　he　stretched　forth　his　big　hand。　　〃You're　Dick　Gale's　Dadthe　Governor；　Dick　used　to　say。　　I'm　sure　glad　to　meet　you。〃

〃Thank　you。　　Yes；　I'm　Dick's　governor；　and　here；　Mr。　BeldingDick's　mother　and　his　sister　Elsie。〃

Beaming　his　pleasure；　Belding　shook　hands　with　the　ladies；　who　showed　their　agitation　clearly。

〃Mr。　Belding；　I've　come　west　to　look　up　my　lost　son；〃　said　Mr。　Gale。　〃His　sister's　letters　were　unanswered。　　We　haven't　heard　from　him　in　months。　　Is　he　still　here　with　you？〃

〃Well；　now；　sure　I'm　awful　sorry；〃　began　Belding；　his　slow　mind　at　work。　　〃Dick's　away　just　nowbeen　away　for　a　considerable　spell。　　I'm　expecting　him　back　any　day。。。。Won't　you　come　in？　　You're　all　dusty　and　hot　and　tired。　　Come　in；　and　let　mother　and　Nell　make　you　comfortable。　　Of　course　you'll　stay。　　We've　a　big　house。　　You　must　stay　till　Dick　comes　back。　　Maybe　that　'll　be　Aw；　I　guess　it　won't　be　long。。。。Let　me　handle　the　baggage；　Mr。　Gale。。。e　in。　I　sure　am　glad　to　meet　you　all。〃

Eager；　excited；　delighted；　Belding　went　on　talking　as　he　ushered　the　Gales　into　the　sitting…room；　presenting　them　in　his　hearty　way　to　the　astounded　Mrs。　Belding　and　Nell。　　For　the　space　of　a　few　moments　his　wife　and　daughter　were　bewildered。　　Belding　did　not　recollect　any　other　occasion　when　a　few　callers　had　thrown　them　off　their　balance。　　But　of　course　this　was　different。　　He　was　a　little　flustered　himselfa　circumstance　that　dawned　upon　him　with　surprise。　　When　the　Gales　had　been　shown　to　rooms；　Mrs。　Belding　gained　the　poise　momentarily　lost；　but　Nell　came　rushing　back；　wilder　than　a　deer；　in　a　state　of　excitement　strange　even　for　her。

〃Oh！　　Dick's　mother；　his　sister！〃　whispered　Nell。

Belding　observed　the　omission　of　the　father　in　Nell's　exclamation　of　mingled　delight　and　alarm。

〃His　mother！〃　went　on　Nell。　　〃Oh；　I　knew　it！　　I　always　guessed　it！　Dick's　people　are　proud；　rich；　they're　somebody。　　I　thought　I'd　faint　when　she　looked　at　me。　　She　was　just　curiouscurious；　but　so　cold　and　proud。　　She　was　wondering　about　me。　　I'm　wearing　his　ring。　　It　was　his　mother's；　he　said。　　I　won'tI　can't　take　it　off。　　And　I'm　scared。。。。But　the　sisteroh；　she's　lovely　and　sweet　proud；　too。　　I　felt　warm　all　over　when　she　looked　at　me。　　II　wanted　to　kiss　her。　　She　looks　like　Dick　when　he　first　came　to　us。　　But　he's　changed。　　They'll　hardly　recognize　him。。。。To　think　they've　come！　　And　I　had　to　be　looking　a　fright；　when　of　all　times　on　earth　I'd　want　to　look　my　best。〃

Nell；　out　of　breath；　ran　away　evidently　to　make　herself　presentable；　according　to　her　idea　of　the　exigency　of　the　case。　　Belding　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　wife's　face　as　she　went　out；　and　it　wore　a　sad；　strange；　anxious　expression。　　Then　Belding　sat　alone；　pondering　the　contracting　emotions　of　his　wife　and　daughter。　　It　was　beyond　his　understanding。　　Women　were　creatures　of　feeling。　　Belding　saw　reason　to　be　delighted　to　entertain　Dick's　family；　and　for　the　time　being　no　disturbing　thought　entered　his　mind。

Presently　the　Gales　came　back　into　the　sitting…room；　looking　very　different　without　the　long　gray　cloaks　and　veils。　　Belding　saw　distinction　and　elegance。　　Mr。　Gale　seemed　a　grave；　troubled；　kindly　person；　ill　in　body　and　mind。　　Belding　received　the　same　impression　of　power　that　Ben　Chase　had　given　him；　only　here　it　was　minus　any　harshness　or　hard　quality。　　He　gathered　that　Mr。　Gale　was　a　man　of　authority。　　Mrs。　Gale　rather　frightened　Belding；　but　he　could　not　have　told　why。　　The　girl　was　just　like　Dick　as　he　used　to　be。

Their　manner　of　speaking　also　reminded　Belding　of　Dick。　　They　talked　of　the　ride　from　Ash　Fork　down　to　the　border；　of　the　ugly　and　torn…up　Casita；　of　the　heat　and　dust　and　cactus　along　the　trail。　　Presently　Nell　came　in；　now　cool　and　sweet　in　white；　with　a　red　rose　at　her　breast。　　Belding　had　never　been　so　proud　of　her。　　He　saw　that　she　meant　to　appear　well　in　the　eyes　of　Dick's　people；　and　began　to　have　a　faint　perception　of　what　the　ordeal　was　for　her。　　Belding　imagined　the　sooner　the　Gales　were　told　that　Dick　was　to　marry　Nell　the　better　for　all　concerned；　and　especially　for　Nell。　　In　the　general　conversation　that　ensued　he　sought　for　an　opening　in　which　to　tell　this　important　news；　but　he　was　kept　so　busy　answering　questions　about　his　position　on　the　border；　the　kind　of　place　Forlorn　River　was；　the　reason　for　so　many　tents；　etc。；　that　he　was　unable　to　find　opportunity。

〃It's　very　interesting；　very　interesting；〃　said　Mr。　Gale。　　〃At　another　time　I　want　to　learn　all　you'll　tell　me　about　the　West。　It's　new　to　me。　　I'm　surprised；　amazed；　sir；　I　may　say。。。。But；　Mr。　Belding；　what　I　want　to　know　most　is　about　my　son。　　I'm　broken　in　health。　　I've　worried　myself　ill　over　him。　　I　don't　mind　telling　you；　sir；　that　we　quarreled。　　I　laughed　at　his　threats。　　He　went　away。　　And　I've　come　to　see　that　I　didn't　know　Richard。　　I　was　wrong　to　upbraid　him。　　For　a　year