The loss of the heavy wager6 was not desirable and the defeat galled8. But it was not this that caused the baleful smouldering within the eyes. He tossed away the stake with the sang-froid of the gamester. He would get it back when the luck turned. The thing that incensed9 him was not the utter rout1 but the manner of it. His shoulders had been pinned to the mat by the swift address of an antagonist10 he had despised. The conviction sank in upon him that this young and resourceful foe11 had toyed with him. This levity12 was the barb13 that inflamed14 the wound.
The episode of Hallowe'en was a cup of gall7 to him. The kidnapping and ducking of himself and gang was a daring act deep and wily in its deliberate insolence15. He fancied he caught the mocking laugh on Pullar's face. Ned had used him for a public burlesque16. The caboose still lay in the lake. Pellawa was highly amused and—talking. Defeat was complete and bitter. Added to this was the condemnatory17 voice of an inner and subtle monitor that told him he had been wrong from the start and moreover had not scrupled18 to foul19 his man. His opponent on the other hand had played fair. These facts did not trouble the conscience of Rob McClure. They nettled20 him. He resented the alignment21 of public opinion with his adversary22. He would use the same tactics again. But he would see to it that the camouflage23 was perfect. The longer he brooded the deeper grew his dour24 morosity. Vengeance25 cried loudly within him. He vowed26 a tenfold reprisal27. Some day he would put on a burlesque himself and then——
Suddenly he was roused from his malignant28 reveries by a light step outside the door. In a moment it opened quietly, admitting Helen McClure. Her face so compellingly attractive had a tragic29 weariness in it. A close observer wondered at the acute pain that would glance at times from the clear eyes. Neither the beauty of her fragile person nor the remarkable30 dignity of her bearing could hide the reality of suffering. Rob McClure, man of steel though he was, secretly acknowledged the noble strength of his wife. In a soft voice she announced:
"Mr. Pullar wishes to see you, Rob." Turning to the newcomer she smiled brightly, inviting31 him in. Motioning him to a chair she withdrew.
Ned remained standing32.
"Sit down," said McClure coldly.
"No, thank you!" returned Ned courteously33. "My business will be brief. Man to man I want to know whether or not you are satisfied with Jack34 Butte's decision."
McClure darted35 a swift look into the other's eyes.
"It is a mere36 trifle," said he with a deprecatory gesture. "Butte is straight. You got the lucky breaks."
"Very good!" said Ned. "It gratifies me to hear you say it. You positively37 agree that the Valley Outfit38 win?"
"You got the lucky breaks," repeated McClure.
"That satisfies me," said Ned conclusively39 as he took a package from his breast pocket. Reaching forward he placed the bundle on the desk before McClure. His eyes flashed and his voice had a ring of steel as he said:
"That is your share of the wager just as it was handed to me by Butte. You will remember, I think, that I did not desire to take up your bet. There is your cash. I will not touch the winnings. Gaming is the expedient40 of a lazy thief willing to take a chance. You can keep the swag. It is yours. Or—you can burn it. This completes my business. I wish you good-day."
McClure was astounded41. His eyes dropped amazedly to the package before him. For a full minute he stared at the wad of ragged42 edged bills. Then into his face flooded a black tide. His hands clenched43, clutching in a horrible convulsion of rage.
"You insolent44 devil!" he cried fiercely, hurling45 the package to the floor. Turning he flashed angry eyes about, surprised to find that he was alone in the room. He leaped to his feet, nonplussed46, baffled. His eye caught a motion outside the window. It was Ned unhitching his horse from the post not thirty yards away. At sight of his enemy a fearful idea came to him. Reaching down swiftly he opened a drawer and snatching out a revolver broke open its blue chambers47. There was a gleam of brass48 rims49. It was loaded. With a menacing cry he stepped to the window and threw up the sash. He was dropping the sight on the tall figure when his ear caught the tripping of light feet along the hall. It was Mary coming to his room. He held the gun on his target for the briefest instant, then dropped the muzzle50 and thrust it covertly51 into his pocket. As he whirled about Mary burst through the door, a lithe52, little figure in riding boots, sombrero and habit. She looked at him, her face radiant, her eyes dancing with the joy of living. He seemed hesitant. Could it be that for once her father was inviting? With a happy cry she closed upon him. He smiled a strange, relieved smile.
"Daddy! Daddy!" she cried delightedly. "I have had such a glorious ride. Bobs pranced53 down the trail a thing of wildest life, making the trip from The Craggs in less than an hour."
Throwing her arms about his neck she drew his head gently to her. Swept off his feet by the swift dénouement of the last few minutes, he submitted to her will. For the first time in years she felt the absence of chilling repulse54. Holding him close in her ecstasy55 she kissed his forehead again and again. With a final caress56 she laid her cheek against his for one silent, happy moment, then broke away and ran off to her room thrilling with pleasant emotion.
Mary McClure did not know that her glad arrival had held her father's hand from an unspeakable crime. He was indeed grateful to her for the interposition, though his face showed no repentance57. There was, though, a regretful pang58 in the breast. It was caused not by any faint penitence59 for his evil design but by the memory of Mary's cheek against his. The "feel" of her soft, tender touch was there. For some strange reason the memory of it sank deep. The sound of her footsteps had scarcely died away, however, when the old ruthlessness returned. The relief he now felt was that of one who had been saved from committing a violent inexpediency. Glancing through the window he saw the horseman cantering leisurely60 down the trail. As he watched the hard lines drew about his mouth. He began casting about for the package of money, finding it at length near the door. Picking it up he looked at it a moment with bright eyes that acknowledged an enigma61. Walking to the window he looked out, smiling secretively and shaking the wad ominously62 at the Valley boss.
"It will help to break you, Pullar," was his threat.
Going to the desk he opened a large drawer and deposited the money carefully in a tin box.
Above in her room Mary watched Ned ride out of sight into the Valley. She was greatly mystified as to the purpose of his visit. She regretted missing a meeting with him, but reflected with deepest happiness on the friendliness63 of her father. The moment, she felt, was full of happy augury64.
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1
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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barb
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| n.（鱼钩等的）倒钩，倒刺 | |
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inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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burlesque
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| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
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condemnatory
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| adj. 非难的，处罚的 | |
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scrupled
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| v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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alignment
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| n.队列；结盟，联合 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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camouflage
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| n./v.掩饰，伪装 | |
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dour
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| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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reprisal
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| n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠 | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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conclusively
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| adv.令人信服地，确凿地 | |
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40
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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42
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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45
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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46
nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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48
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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49
rims
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| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
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50
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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51
covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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52
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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53
pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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56
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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57
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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58
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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59
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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60
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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augury
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| n.预言，征兆，占卦 | |
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