“Young man,” he began, with another effort at geniality2. “I don't know who you are, but you're wide awake; you've got your nerve with you, and I admire you. So I'm willing to call the thing off, and let you go back and finish that course at college.”
Hal had been studying the other's careful smile. “Cotton,” he said, at last, “let me get the proposition clear. I don't have to say I took that money?”
“No, we'll let you off from that.”
“And you won't send me to the pen?”
“No. I never meant to do that, of course. I was only trying to bluff3 you. All I ask is that you clear out, and give our people a chance to forget.”
“But what's there in that for me, Cotton? If I had wanted to run away, I could have done it any time during the last eight or ten weeks.”
“Yes, of course, but now it's different. Now it's a matter of my consideration.”
“Cut out the consideration!” exclaimed Hal. “You want to get rid of me, and you'd like to do it without trouble. But you can't—so forget it.”
The other was staring, puzzled. “You mean you expect to stay here?”
“I mean just that.”
“Young man, I've had enough of this! I've got no more time to play. I don't care who you are, I don't care about your threats. I'm the marshal of this camp, and I have the job of keeping order in it. I say you're going to get out!”
“But, Cotton,” said Hal, “this is an incorporated town! I have a right to walk on the streets—exactly as much right as you.”
“I'm not going to waste time arguing. I'm going to put you into an automobile4 and take you down to Pedro!”
“He'll laugh at you.”
“And suppose I go to the Governor of the state?”
“He'll laugh still louder.”
“All right, Cotton; maybe you know what you're doing; but I wonder—I wonder just how sure you feel. Has it never occurred to you that your superiors might not care to have you take these high-handed steps?”
“My superiors? Who do you mean?”
“There's one man in the state you must respect—even though you despise the District Attorney and the Governor. That is Peter Harrigan.”
“Peter Harrigan?” echoed the other; and then he burst into a laugh. “Well, you are a merry lad!”
Hal continued to study him, unmoved. “I wonder if you're sure! He'll stand for everything you've done.”
“He will!” said the other.
“For the way you treat the workers? He knows you are giving short weights.”
“Oh hell!” said the other. “Where do you suppose he got the money for your college?”
“Yes,” replied Hal. “Of course, I thought it all along, but it's hard to convince other people. Old Peter's not like most of these Western wolves, you know; he's a pious7 high-church man.”
The marshal smiled grimly. “So long as there are sheep,” said he, “there'll be wolves in sheep's clothing.”
“I see,” said Hal. “And you leave them to feed on the lambs!”
“If any lamb is silly enough to be fooled by that old worn-out skin,” remarked the marshal, “it deserves to be eaten.”
Hal was studying the cynical8 face in front of him. “Cotton,” he said, “the shepherds are asleep; but the watch-dogs are barking. Haven't you heard them?”
“I hadn't noticed.”
“They are barking, barking! They are going to wake the shepherds! They are going to save the sheep!”
“Religion don't interest me,” said the other, looking bored; “your kind any more than Old Peter's.”
And suddenly Hal rose to his feet. “Cotton,” said he, “my place is with the flock! I'm going back to my job at the tipple9!” And he started towards the door.
点击收听单词发音
1 jaunty | |
adj.愉快的,满足的;adv.心满意足地,洋洋得意地;n.心满意足;洋洋得意 | |
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2 geniality | |
n.和蔼,诚恳;愉快 | |
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3 bluff | |
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗 | |
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4 automobile | |
n.汽车,机动车 | |
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5 prosecute | |
vt.告发;进行;vi.告发,起诉,作检察官 | |
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6 defiantly | |
adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地 | |
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7 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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8 cynical | |
adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的 | |
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9 tipple | |
n.常喝的酒;v.不断喝,饮烈酒 | |
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