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首页 » 英文短篇小说 » The Sheriff of Pecos » CHAPTER V BUCK'S LUCKY DAY
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CHAPTER V BUCK'S LUCKY DAY
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 Murphy really looked as though about to have a stroke. His red face purpled deeply, and his plastered right hand gave a slight, spasmodic jerk.
 
"You want to watch that there hand real careful," said Robinson with a solicitous1 air. "Real careful! Don't let it jerk thataway; it's a right bad sign, Mr. Murphy! Step up and have a seat, won't you? Hello—you must ha' scratched that hand or hurt it somehow; all plastered up, ain't it?"
 
"I—I didn't expect to be findin' you here," said Murphy, glaring viciously.
 
"Don't doubt it," was the cheerful response, while Stella Shumway looked from one to the other with suspicious scrutiny2. "That's my specialty3, bein' where I ain't expected. But don't let me interrupt your business talk none whatever. I'll just set quiet and be a good feller. Mr. Murphy's an old friend of mine, Stella; known him since yesterday afternoon. Set and rest yourself, Murphy. No ceremony here."
 
Murphy compressed his thick lips, removed his hat, and finally shook his head.
 
"I ain't settin', thanks," he returned, then faced the girl. "You don't mind if I look over the place a bit, ma'am? Ain't aiming to make myself obnoxious4 none, if——"
 
"Why, certainly," faltered5 Estella, handing back the paper she had taken. "Since you bought the mortgage, you have a right to look over the property."
 
"Wait a minute," broke in Robinson. "It's awful to have a tongue like mine; just can't keep quiet two minutes. You started in a while ago, Murphy, to say something, then you switched off and started to look over the place. Let's finish and get cleaned up all fine. What was it you started to orate about the mortgage?"
 
Murphy gave him a savage6 glance.
 
"I was goin' to say," he said sullenly7, "that we could make arrangements about it's bein' paid off at the Pahrump bank."
 
"Oh!" Robinson stretched out comfortably. His hand caressed8 the gun at his belt, and Murphy watched that hand with attention. "Oh! But s'pose it can't be paid off? Was you about to offer to renew the note?"
 
"I'm right sorry," and Murphy ignored his questioner, addressing himself to Estella Shumway. "Right sorry, ma'am, but I can't very well renew. Ye see——"
 
"Never mind goin' into the matter, feller," said Robinson. His voice had a sting to it. "You turn around and address them remarks to me. It looks mighty9 funny about you bein' so anxious to look around the place, after you got a glimpse o' me settin' here. What's your rush to look at land, huh? What you tryin' to kill time for? Expectin' to meet somebody else here?"
 
Murphy regarded him with veiled hatred10.
 
"I dunno what you're talkin' about, Robinson," he said. "I rode over here square and open to transact11 business. That business ain't with you——"
 
"Oh, ain't it?" jeered12 Robinson. "Look here, you! I don't like your looks, and I don't like the name you're sailin' under, savvy13? If I'd known as much yesterday as I know now, I wouldn't ha' scratched that hand of yours, not a bit of it! I was a blamed fool. Now, if you expect me to turn my back on you any more, you got another guess coming. You're the one that's going to turn your back, and do it pronto!"
 
"Are you threatening me?" demanded Murphy belligerently14.
 
"Threaten you? My gosh, no!" Robinson chuckled15. "You ain't worth it, you red hawg! I want to see you ridin' away from here in a hurry. Oh, never you mind, Stella! This gent isn't going to act as mad as he looks. That isn't his style. Murphy, go grab for your gun if you want; I'll give you till you grab it. Hurry up! Grab for it!"
 
Murphy looked down into those deadly blue eyes and made no move for his gun. His fat red features were perspiring16 a trifle. Robinson mocked at him.
 
"Oh, you ain't reachin' for it, huh? S'pose ye'd like me to turn my back, would ye? Nope, not no more, feller. Besides, they's ladies present, and I sure hate to expose my back and start you to shootin'."
 
"Two men coming up the road," intervened Estella quickly.
 
At these words a flash crossed the face of Murphy—a flash of untold17 relief. Robinson did not miss the look. Then he glanced at the road, and saw the corduroy-clad figure of Buck18, followed by another rider.
 
"Don't mind if I smoke, Stella?" he drawled. "Thanks. Set down, Murphy. I'm real anxious to hear what Buck has to say to you."
 
Murphy did not sit down, but eyed the approaching riders uneasily. Buck slid from his horse, looking visibly excited, and strode toward the veranda19. He glanced at Robinson without surprise, then his gaze fell on Murphy. He doffed20 his hat to Estella.
 
"Morning, ma'am! You sure look fresh as ever. Got visitors, I see."
 
A smile on her lips, Estella stepped forward and shook hands.
 
"Just in time for lunch, Mr. Buck. Yes, we have visitors. My friend, Mr. Robinson, from the south, and this is Mr. Murphy——"
 
Buck glanced at Robinson, then turned to Murphy suddenly. A look of recognition came into his eyes. He was acting21 his part well.
 
"Murphy!" he said slowly. "That ain't the name you went under when I seen you before. What you doin' here?"
 
At this challenge, the girl started in astonishment22. Robinson smiled thinly.
 
"Me?" Murphy faced the rancher aggressively. "None of your business, is it? But if you want to know, I done bought a mortgage on this place, and I aim to foreclose if she ain't cleared off first of the month."
 
"Oh, you do!" Buck's hand flashed down and his gun looked at Mr. Murphy. "All I got to say to you is—git, and git quick! The mortgage'll be paid. I'll lend Miss Shumway the money my ownself. Git, you varmint!"
 
Murphy turned and strode down the steps, passed to his horse, and rode away.
 
Buck gazed after him with narrowed eyes until he was well away. Then, without a bit of warning, he whirled and threw down his gun at Robinson.
 
"Hands up, you! Quick!"
 
There was deadly intent in his voice. Robinson, absolutely surprised, put up his hands. Buck leaned forward and jerked away his gun.
 
"Here! How dare you, Mr. Buck!" exclaimed Stella, darting24 forward. "What do you mean by this——"
 
"Miss Stella," said Buck gravely, "I got mighty bad news for you. Me and two of my riders was comin' here this morning by way of the spring. We were up on that knoll25 behind it when we crossed the track of a horseman, and a moment later we seen this gent," he motioned toward Robinson with his ready gun, "ridin' up to the spring. Cervantes was standin' there smokin' a cigarette. What passed we dunno. All we heard was two shots, and then this gent rode away quick. When we got up, Cervantes was dead. We come on here quick."
 
Horror filled the eyes of the girl, and a terrible grief.
 
"Dead—Miguel dead?"
 
"Shot twice, Miss Stella," answered the latter, regret in his tone. "We seen the whole thing. I left 'Chuck' Hansom to bring Miguel in, then I come on. Ye see, ma'am, we'd been lookin' for this gent since yesterday. Seems like he met my foreman, Matt Brady, and shot him down, out o' pure cussedness."
 
"Don't forget Knute," intervened Robinson, smiling a thin smile. "Don't forget him, Buck."
 
"Oh!" Estella turned to the speaker swiftly. "Tell me—tell him, you must! This isn't true!"
 
"Sho, of course it ain't true," said Robinson calmly. "Sure's my name's Jack26 Robinson, it ain't got a word of truth—except maybe that poor Miguel's dead. That's liable to be true."
 
The girl shrank away from him; then, with a burst of tears, ran from the veranda.
 
Instantly the manner of Robinson changed. He looked at Buck from narrowed steely eyes that burned.
 
"Buck," he said softly, "I'm tellin' you here and now—you'd better shoot while you got me, for you ain't goin' to have me long. You'd better shoot, Buck. I'm warnin' you, it's your best chance. After this, you and me——"
 
"None of your big talk, Robinson," sneered27 the rancher. "We have you dead to rights, and we'll see that the law attends to you. Hey, there! Come up and rope this gent! We'll take him in to the sheriff right off."
 
Buck's companion swung from the saddle, took his lariat28, and came to the veranda. From inside the house came a shrill29 high scream of grief; the se?ora had learned the news. Then Estella appeared again, and saw the puncher with the rope.
 
"Oh, you mustn't!" she cried out, running forward. "He didn't do it; he couldn't have done it, Mr. Buck! Why——"
 
"Ma'am, we seen the whole thing," said Buck regretfully. "And this gent is mighty slick, but we'll turn him in to the law to be dealt with. That's all we aim to do."
 
"Oh, tell them, tell them!" Estella turned her tear-stained eyes to Robinson. "You can make them believe when——"
 
"I'm afraid Mr. Buck is right stubborn and set in his ways," sighed Robinson. "Nope, they ain't a bit o' use in me spillin' any talk to him, Stella! Sure's my name's Jack Robinson, there ain't. I met Miguel on the way here, as I said, but——"
 
Buck nodded to his rider, who approached Robinson and deftly30 knotted his wrists behind his back.
 
"Put him on my horse," said Buck quietly, "and take him into town. Hand him over to Sheriff Tracy—and see that nothing happens to him. Don't tell any one but the sheriff what's happened, savvy? We don't want to rouse up any necktie party in town. This is a matter for the law—open-and-shut case."
 
"Quite so," observed Robinson ironically. "Quite so! We'll get to town all right, Buck—won't we, cowboy? Lead on, and don't pull too hard on that cord. My wrists is real tender lately. See you later, Stella; don't you worry none whatever about this deal. Trust Jake Harper to see that the cards are dealt honest."
 
The girl stared after him, stricken in her grief.
 
Without attempt at protest, Robinson mounted into the saddle of Buck, and allowed the puncher to tie his ankles beneath the horse. Then the puncher mounted, and started for town. The two figures rode away from the ranch23, and lessened31 in the distance.
 
Buck, meantime, was speaking to Estella Shumway.
 
"This is a terrible thing, Stella," he said, his voice soft and pleading. "Poor Miguel and my boys has had some trouble, but it wa'n't nothing to mention. Gosh, this is pretty bad! And then this feller Murphy comin' along.
 
"Now look-a-here, Stella! You got to let me handle things for you a spell. I'll get rid o' this cuss Murphy in a hurry. Don't let the money part of it bother you a mite32. I'll send in to town to-day and git the preacher, and we'll attend to a real funeral for poor Miguel, savvy? There ain't nothin' I wouldn't do for you, li'l girl, and you know it."
 
"Oh!" The girl turned to him desperately33. "Are you sure—are you sure about what you saw? It isn't possible, I tell you!"
 
Her vehemence34 shook Buck despite himself.
 
"Why, Stella! You ain't friends with this gunman Robinson? He's a stranger up here—sure, you don't know him?"
 
The girl shivered slightly and turned away. She was silent for a moment; then:
 
"No," she said. "I never saw Robinson before to-day, Mr. Buck—only he seemed such a nice man! And he knew some friends of ours——"
 
A flash of relief crossed the features of Buck.
 
"Well, looks is deceivin'," he averred35 stoutly36. "Now, Stella, you leave things to me. Chuck will be in pretty quick with the body, and I'll take care of it. Poor Miguel! This here news will be a mighty big shock to everybody who knowed him. Want me to send for Jake Harper? Him and me ain't overly friendly, but he's mighty true to you, I guess. We'll overlook our differences and 'tend to your affairs."
 
"It's—it's good of you, Mr. Buck," and the girl glanced at him quickly, then turned to the doorway37. "Yes, send for him, please. You—you must excuse me now; I'll have to be with poor Tia Maria——"
 
She vanished into the house.
 
For a moment Buck stood motionless. His gaze followed the tiny dots that were the figures of his puncher and Robinson, and a smile curved his wide lips. Then he glanced down and picked up one of the doughnuts that Robinson had dropped. He regarded it, then bit strongly into it.
 
"Gosh, these is sure fine doughnuts!" he observed. "I'll sure be playin' in luck when Stella comes to cook for me. Lucky catchin' Robinson thataway, too, y' understand. And darned lucky Stella didn't think to look if his gun'd been fired twice. Plumb38 lucky!"
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 solicitous CF8zb     
adj.热切的,挂念的
参考例句:
  • He was so solicitous of his guests.他对他的客人们非常关切。
  • I am solicitous of his help.我渴得到他的帮助。
2 scrutiny ZDgz6     
n.详细检查,仔细观察
参考例句:
  • His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好,但是经不起仔细检查。
  • Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
3 specialty SrGy7     
n.(speciality)特性,特质;专业,专长
参考例句:
  • Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
  • His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。
4 obnoxious t5dzG     
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的
参考例句:
  • These fires produce really obnoxious fumes and smoke.这些火炉冒出来的烟气确实很难闻。
  • He is the most obnoxious man I know.他是我认识的最可憎的人。
5 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃
参考例句:
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
6 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人
参考例句:
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
7 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
8 caressed de08c4fb4b79b775b2f897e6e8db9aad     
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • His fingers caressed the back of her neck. 他的手指抚摩着她的后颈。
  • He caressed his wife lovingly. 他怜爱万分地抚摸着妻子。
9 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
10 hatred T5Gyg     
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨
参考例句:
  • He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
  • The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
11 transact hn8wE     
v.处理;做交易;谈判
参考例句:
  • I will transact my business by letter.我会写信去洽谈业务。
  • I have been obliged to see him;there was business to transact.我不得不见他,有些事物要处理。
12 jeered c6b854b3d0a6d00c4c5a3e1372813b7d     
v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The police were jeered at by the waiting crowd. 警察受到在等待的人群的嘲弄。
  • The crowd jeered when the boxer was knocked down. 当那个拳击手被打倒时,人们开始嘲笑他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 savvy 3CkzV     
v.知道,了解;n.理解能力,机智,悟性;adj.有见识的,懂实际知识的,通情达理的
参考例句:
  • She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
  • Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了?
14 belligerently 217a53853325c5cc2e667748673ad9b7     
参考例句:
  • Cars zoomed helter-skelter, honking belligerently. 大街上来往车辆穿梭不停,喇叭声刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Harass, threaten, insult, or behave belligerently towards others. 向其它交战地折磨,威胁,侮辱,或表现。 来自互联网
15 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
16 perspiring 0818633761fb971685d884c4c363dad6     
v.出汗,流汗( perspire的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活,身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了,结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
17 untold ljhw1     
adj.数不清的,无数的
参考例句:
  • She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
  • They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖,因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。
18 buck ESky8     
n.雄鹿,雄兔;v.马离地跳跃
参考例句:
  • The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
  • The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。
19 veranda XfczWG     
n.走廊;阳台
参考例句:
  • She sat in the shade on the veranda.她坐在阳台上的遮荫处。
  • They were strolling up and down the veranda.他们在走廊上来回徜徉。
20 doffed ffa13647926d286847d70509f86d0f85     
v.脱去,(尤指)脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He doffed his hat. 他脱掉帽子。 来自互联网
  • The teacher is forced to help her pull next pulling again mouth, unlock button, doffed jacket. 老师只好再帮她拉下拉口,解开扣子,将外套脱了下来。 来自互联网
21 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
22 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
23 ranch dAUzk     
n.大牧场,大农场
参考例句:
  • He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
  • The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。
24 darting darting     
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • Swallows were darting through the clouds. 燕子穿云急飞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Swallows were darting through the air. 燕子在空中掠过。 来自辞典例句
25 knoll X3nyd     
n.小山,小丘
参考例句:
  • Silver had terrible hard work getting up the knoll.对于希尔弗来说,爬上那小山丘真不是件容易事。
  • He crawled up a small knoll and surveyed the prospect.他慢腾腾地登上一个小丘,看了看周围的地形。
26 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
27 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
  • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
28 lariat A2QxO     
n.系绳,套索;v.用套索套捕
参考例句:
  • The lariat hitched on one of his ears.套索套住了他的一只耳朵。
  • Will Rogers,often referred to as the nation's Poet Lariat about only rope tricks.经常被国人称为“套索诗人”的威尔·罗杰斯可不只会玩绳子。
29 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
参考例句:
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
30 deftly deftly     
adv.灵巧地,熟练地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He deftly folded the typed sheets and replaced them in the envelope. 他灵巧地将打有字的纸折好重新放回信封。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • At last he had a clew to her interest, and followed it deftly. 这一下终于让他发现了她的兴趣所在,于是他熟练地继续谈这个话题。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
31 lessened 6351a909991322c8a53dc9baa69dda6f     
减少的,减弱的
参考例句:
  • Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来,多少削弱了演讲的力量。
  • The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行,住在城内的中产家庭减少了。
32 mite 4Epxw     
n.极小的东西;小铜币
参考例句:
  • The poor mite was so ill.可怜的孩子病得这么重。
  • He is a mite taller than I.他比我高一点点。
33 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
34 vehemence 2ihw1     
n.热切;激烈;愤怒
参考例句:
  • The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
  • She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。
35 averred 4a3546c562d3f5b618f0024b711ffe27     
v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 );证实;证明…属实;作为事实提出
参考例句:
  • She averred that she had never seen the man before. 她斩钉截铁地说以前从未见过这个男人。
  • The prosecutor averred that the prisoner killed Lois. 检察官称被拘犯杀害洛伊丝属实。 来自互联网
36 stoutly Xhpz3l     
adv.牢固地,粗壮的
参考例句:
  • He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
  • Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难,但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。
37 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
38 plumb Y2szL     
adv.精确地,完全地;v.了解意义,测水深
参考例句:
  • No one could plumb the mystery.没人能看破这秘密。
  • It was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thing.这种事弄个水落石出没有什么好处。


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