Gary was up at the corral rubbing down the chunky little sorrel horse he called Jazz, when he heard the chug of a motor coming up-grade through the sand. James Blaine Hawkins, he knew without looking, had discounted his terror of last night and was returning to take possession.
“Well, Jazz, if I get the gate, there’s your new master.” Gary slapped the horsefly that was just settling on the sorrel’s neck. “But I won’t tell you good-by till I’m gone.”
He turned and went down to the cabin, reaching it just as James Blaine Hawkins stopped in the dooryard. Gary chose to take the return as a matter of course.
“Had your breakfast, Mr. Hawkins?” Gary asked him genially6. “The coffee may still be hot. I had a pretty good fire while I was washing the dishes. Thought I’d cook up a mess of beans. Takes a heck of a while to cook them in this altitude.”
James Blaine Hawkins gave him a look that might easily be called suspicious. But Gary met it innocently.
“I’ve et,” James Blaine Hawkins grunted7. “Camped out on the desert—better than walking distance away from whoever it was that tried to get funny last night. Feller don’t know what he’s going up against, in a strange place like that after dark. But there can’t nobody bamboozle8 me, once I’ve got my bearings!”
His whole manner was a challenge. He eyed Gary boldly, watching for some overt9 act of hostility10. He climbed out of the car and began to unpack11, with a great deal of fussing and mighty12 little accomplished13.
Gary did not say anything. He leaned against the cabin with his arms folded and watched James Blaine Hawkins indifferently. His silence affected14 the other unpleasantly.
“Well, why don’t you say something? What yuh standin’ there grinnin’ that way for? Why don’t yuh own up you know a damn sight more’n what yuh let on?” he demanded pugnaciously15.
James Blaine Hawkins came toward him, his fists opening and closing nervously16 at his side. “I ain’t to be bluffed17, you know! I ain’t to be bluffed nor scared!”
Gary’s lip curled. He rubbed the ash from his cigarette against a splinter on the log wall beside him.
“You’re brighter than I thought,” he drawled. “I do know a damn sight more than I’m saying. I’ll say as much of what I know as I happen to choose. No more—and bullying19 won’t get you anything at all. I might have told you a few things last night, if you hadn’t got scared and beat it.”
“Scared? Who was scared?” fleered James Blaine Hawkins. “Not me, anyway. I seen right away there was some kind of frame-up agin me here and I didn’t want no trouble. Any fool can go head down into trouble, but a man uh brains’ll side-step till he knows what he’s up against.”
“Well,” smiled Gary, “do you know what you’re up against?”
“Sure, I know! For some reason, somebody don’t want me here. They tried to scare me last night—but I seen through that right off.”
“Yes, you saw more than I did,” Gary told him quietly.
“Well, and what’s all this you know?” Hawkins’ voice was rising angrily. “I’m here to stay. I want to know what’s back of all this.”
Gary took an exasperating20 time to reply. “If you find out, you’ll do more than Waddell did,” he said at last. His face was sober, his tone convincing. “I’ve a little matter of my own to discuss with you, but that has nothing whatever to do with last night. Last night you claimed to see a man—and there wasn’t any man. You know darned well there wasn’t, or you wouldn’t have been so scared. That’s something I have nothing to do with. I didn’t see any one in the cabin—but you.” He smoked for another minute. “You also claimed you saw a cat.” He looked at James Blaine Hawkins steadily21.
“I claimed to and I did! There’s a frame-up of some kind. You said yourself——”
“I said Waddell thought he saw things here. That’s the plain truth, Hawkins. It worried Waddell so he nearly went crazy, from all accounts. You needn’t take my word for that. You can ask the Indians, or Monty Girard—any one who knows this place.”
He stopped and drew some legal papers from his pocket. “Here’s something I meant to show you last night—if you had stayed,” he said. “I’m not in the habit of babbling22 my business to every chance stranger. I didn’t tell you, because I wanted to make sure that it concerned you. But it happens that I have a prior right here. That’s what brought me over here in the first place. It’s true I wanted to see Waddell, and he was gone when I arrived. But I knew all about the sale, Mr. Hawkins. I know Miss Connolly very well. She begged me to undertake the complete management of Johnnywater ranch23, and to that end she signed this Power of Attorney. You will see, Mr. Hawkins, that it has been duly certified24 and that the date is much earlier than your first knowledge of the place. Miss Connolly also gave me the deed and this certificate of the water rights. Everything is perfectly25 legal and straight, and I’m sorry to say—No, by heck, I’m not sorry! It’s a relief to me to know that your contract isn’t worth a lead nickel. In order to get this place on shares, you would need to make an agreement with me. And you would not get the terms Miss Connolly was so generous as to give you. One half the increase in stock, any loss in the old stock during the term of contract to be made good when you turned the place back to its owner, are the usual terms. Your expenses would not be paid for you.
“However, that is beside the point. I am not in favor of letting the place go on shares—not at present, anyway. So this is what you did not wait last night to hear.”
“It’s a frame-up!” snorted James Blaine Hawkins indignantly. “It’s a rotten frame-up! I’ll bet them papers is forged. There’s a law made to handle just such cases as yours, young feller. And yuh needn’t think I’m going to stand and be held up like that.”
“Well, I’ve told you all you’re entitled to know. I’ve no objection to your camping here for a while, so long as you behave yourself.” Gary threw away his cigarette stub. His tone had been as casual as if he were gossiping with Monty, but was not so friendly. He really did not want to fight James Blaine Hawkins, in spite of the fact that he had discussed the possibility quite frankly26 with the cat.
But James Blaine Hawkins had spent an uncomfortable night and he wanted some one else to pay for it. He began to shake his fists and to call names, none of which were nice. Gary was up to something, and Hawkins was not going to stand for it, whatever it was. Gary was a faker, a thief—though what he had stolen James Blaine Hawkins failed to stipulate27. Gary was a forger28 (Hawkins hinted darkly that he had, in some mysterious manner, evolved those papers during the night for the express purpose of using them as a bluff this morning) and he was also a liar29.
Wherefore Gary reached out a long arm and slapped James Blaine Hawkins stingingly on the ear. When the head of James Blaine Hawkins snapped over to his right shoulder, Gary reached his other long arm and slapped the head upright. James Blaine Hawkins backed up and felt his ear; both ears, to be exact.
“I didn’t come here to have no trouble,” James Blaine Hawkins protested indignantly. “A man of brains can always settle things with his brains. I don’t want to fight, and I ain’t goin’ to fight. I’m goin’ to settle this thing——”
“With your brains. Well, go on and settle it then. Only be careful and don’t sprain30 your head! Thinking’s dangerous when you’re not used to it. And if you do any more talking—which I certainly don’t advise—be careful of the words you use, Mr. Hawkins. I’m not a liar or a thief. Don’t call me either one.”
James Blaine Hawkins spluttered and swore and argued one-sidedly. Gary leaned against the cabin with his arms folded negligently31 and listened with supreme32 indifference33 if one were to believe his manner.
“Rave on,” he said indulgently. “Get it all out of your system—and then crank your little Ford34 and iris35 out of this scene, will you? I did say you could stay for a day or so if you behaved yourself. But you better beat it. The going may not be so good after awhile.”
James Blaine Hawkins intimated that he would go when he got good and ready. So Gary went in and shut the door. He was sick of the fellow. The man was the weakest kind of a bully18. He wouldn’t fight. Heretofore Gary had believed that only a make-believe villain36 in a story would refuse to fight after he had been slapped twice.
When Gary came out of the cabin for a bucket of water, James Blaine Hawkins was fumbling38 in the car and talking to himself. He straightened up and renewed his aimless accusations39 when Gary passed him going to the creek.
The Voice suddenly shouted from the bluff, but Gary continued on his way, seemingly oblivious40 to the sound.
“Who’s that hollerin’ up there? Thought you said you was alone here. What does that feller want?” James Blaine Hawkins left the Ford and started after Gary.
“Beg pardon?” While the Voice continued to shout, Gary looked inquiringly at Hawkins.
“I asked yuh who was hollerin’ up there! What does he want?”
Gary continued to look at James Blaine Hawkins. “Hollering?” His eyes narrowed a bit. “On the bluff, did you say?”
“Not over on that bluff,” James Blaine Hawkins bellowed41. “Up there, across the creek! Good Lord, are yuh deef? Can’t yuh hear that hollering?”
Gary half turned his head and listened carefully. “Can you still hear it?” he asked in the midst of a loud halloo.
“You must be deef if you don’t,” James Blaine Hawkins spluttered.
Gary shook his head. “My hearing is splendid,” he stated calmly. “I was a wireless42 operator on a sub-chaser during the war. Do you still hear it?”
James Blaine Hawkins testified profanely43 that he did. He was looking somewhat paler than was normal. He stared at Gary anxiously.
“Oh, about the Indian that heard some one hollering on the bluff after Steve Carson disappeared? By Jove! I wonder if it can be the Voice you hear!” He looked at Hawkins blankly. “Say, I’m sorry I slapped you, Mr. Hawkins. I’d like to feel—afterwards—that you didn’t hold any grudge45 against me for that.” He held out his hand with the pitying smile of one who wishes to make amends46 before it is too late.
James Blaine Hawkins swallowed twice. Gary set down the bucket and laid a hand kindly47 on the man’s shoulder.
“Aw, buck37 up, Mr. Hawkins. I—I guess they lied about that Injun dying right after—don’t you believe it, anyway.” And then, anxiously, “Do you still hear it, old fellow?”
Gary felt absolutely certain that James Blaine Hawkins did hear. Above the sound of the wind in the tree tops, the Voice was calling imperiously from the bluff.
“You can keep the damn place for all of me,” James Blaine Hawkins exploded viciously. “I wouldn’t have it as a gift. There’s that damned cat I seen last night! A man’s crazy that’d think of staying in a hole like this.”
He was cranking furiously when Gary tapped him on the shoulder.
“Since you aren’t going to stay and fulfill48 the contract,” Gary said evenly, “you better hand over that two hundred dollars which Miss Connolly advanced you under the ‘found’ clause of your agreement. I’ll give you a receipt for it, of course.”
James Blaine Hawkins meant to refuse, but Gary’s fingers slid up to his ear and pulled him upright.
“We’ll just go in the cabin where I can write that receipt,” he explained cheerfully, and led James Blaine Hawkins inside. “You’re in a hurry to go, and I’m in a hurry to have you. So we’ll make this snappy.”
It must have been snappy indeed, for within five minutes James Blaine Hawkins was driving down the trail toward the mouth of the cañon, quite as fast as he had driven the night before. Only this time he went in broad daylight and he had no intention of ever coming back.
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收听单词发音
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1
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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6
genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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7
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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8
bamboozle
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| v.欺骗，隐瞒 | |
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9
overt
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| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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11
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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12
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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14
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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15
pugnaciously
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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17
bluffed
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| 以假象欺骗，吹牛( bluff的过去式和过去分词 )； 以虚张声势找出或达成 | |
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18
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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19
bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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20
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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21
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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22
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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23
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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24
certified
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| a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的 | |
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25
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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stipulate
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| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
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28
forger
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| v.伪造；n.（钱、文件等的）伪造者 | |
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29
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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30
sprain
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| n.扭伤,扭筋 | |
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31
negligently
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32
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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34
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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36
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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39
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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40
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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41
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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42
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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43
profanely
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| adv.渎神地，凡俗地 | |
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44
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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45
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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46
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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47
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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48
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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