We can put the card deck by us,
We can give up whiskey straight;
We can fill the parson's plate;
We can close the gamblin' places,
We can save our hard-earned coin,
BUT we want a man for breakfast
In the mor-r-rnin'.
But of course such lines were written in early days, and for newspaper consumption in a rival town. White Lodge had grown distinctly away from its wildness. It had formed a Chamber3 of Commerce which entered bravely upon its mission as a lodestone for the attraction of Eastern capital. But the lure4 of adventurous5 days still remained in the atmosphere. Men who were assembled for the purpose of seeing what could be done about getting a horseshoe-nail factory for White Lodge wound up the session by talking about the days of the cattle and sheep war. All of which was natural, and would have taken place in any town with White Lodge's background of stirring tradition.
Until the murder on the Dollar Sign road there had been little but tradition for White Lodge to feed on. The sheriff's job had come to be looked upon as a sinecure6. But now all was changed. Not only White Lodge, but the whole countryside, had something live to discuss. Even old Ed Halsey, who had not been down from his cabin in the mountains for at least five years, ambled7 in on his ancient saddle horse to get the latest in mass theory.
So far as theorizing was concerned, opinion in White Lodge ran all one way. The men who had been arrested were guilty, so the local newspaper assumed, echoing side-walk conversation. The only questions were: Just how was the crime committed, and how deeply was each man implicated8? Also, were there any confederates? Some of the older cattlemen, who had been shut out of leases on the reservation, were even heard to hint that in their opinion the whole tribe might have had a hand in the killing9. Anyway, Fire Bear's cohorts should be rounded up and imprisoned10 without delay.
Lowell was not surprised to find that he had been drawn11 into the vortex of unfriendliness. More articles and editorials appeared in the "White Lodge Weekly Star," putting the general blame for the tragedy upon the policy of "coddling" the Indians.
"The whole thing," wound up one editorial, "is the best kind of an argument for throwing open the reservation to white settlement."
"That is the heart of the matter as it stands," said Lowell, pointing out the editorial to his chief clerk. "This murder is to be made the excuse for a big drive on Congress to have the reservation thrown open."
"Yes," observed Rogers, "the big cattlemen have been itching12 for another chance since their last bill was defeated in Congress. They remind me of the detective concern that never sleeps, only they might better get in a few honest, healthy snores than waste their time the way they have lately."
Lowell paid no attention to editorial criticism, but it was not easy to avoid hearing some of the personal comment that was passed when he visited White Lodge. In fact he found it necessary to come to blows with one cowpuncher, who had evidently been stationed near Lowell's automobile13 to "get the goat" of the young Indian agent. The encounter had been short and decisive. The cowboy, who was the hero of many fistic engagements, passed some comment which had been elaborately thought out at the camp-fire, and which, it was figured by his collaborators, "would make anything human fight or quit."
"That big cowpuncher from Sartwell's outfit14 sure got the agent's goat all right," said Sheriff Tom Redmond, in front of whose office the affair happened. "That is to say, he got the goat coming head-on, horns down and hoofs15 striking fire. That young feller was under the cowpuncher's arms in jest one twenty-eighth of a second, and there was only two sounds that fell on the naked ear—one being the smack16 when Lowell hit and the other the crash when the cowpuncher lit. If that rash feller'd taken the trouble to send me a little note of inquiry17 in advance, I could have told him to steer18 clear of a man who tied into a desperate man the way that young agent tied into Jim McFann out there on the reservation. But no public or private warnings are going to be necessary now. From this time on, young Lowell's going to have more berth-room than a wildcat."
Such matters as cold nods from former friends were disregarded by Lowell. He had been through lesser19 affairs which had brought him under criticism. In fact he knew that a certain measure of such injustice20 would be the portion of any man who accepted the post of agent. He went his way, doing what he could to insure a fair trial for both men, and at the same time not overlooking anything that might shed new light on a case which most of the residents of White Lodge seemed to consider as closed, all but the punishment to be meted21 out to the prisoners.
The hearing was to be held in the little court-room presided over by Judge Garford, who had been a figure at Vigilante trials in early days and who was a unique personification of kindliness22 and firmness. Both prisoners had refused counsel, nor had any confession23 materialized, as Tom Redmond had prophesied24. McFann had spent most of his time cursing all who had been concerned in his arrest. Talpers had called on him again, and had whispered mysteriously through the bars:
"Don't worry, Jim. If it comes to a showdown, I'll be there with evidence that'll clear you flyin'."
As a matter of fact, Talpers intended to play a double game. He would let matters drift, and see if McFann did not get off in the ordinary course of events. Meantime the trader would use his precious possession, the letter written by Helen Ervin, to terrify the girl. In case the girl proved defiant25, why, then it would be time to produce the letter as a law-abiding citizen should, and demand that the searchlight of justice be turned on the author of a missive apparently26 so directly concerned with the murder. If it so happened that the letter in his hands proved to be a successful weapon, and if Bill Talpers were accepted as a suitor, he would let the matter drop, so far as the authorities were concerned—and Jim McFann could drop with it. If the half-breed were to be sacrificed when a few words from Bill Talpers might save him, so much the worse for Jim McFann! The affairs of Bill Talpers were to be considered first of all, and there was no need of being too solicitous27 over the welfare of any mere28 cat's-paw like the half-breed.
If Jim McFann had known what was passing in the mind of the trader, he would have torn his way out of jail with his bare hands and slain29 his partner in bootlegging. But the half-breed took Talpers's fair words at face value and faced his prospects30 with a trifle more of equanimity31.
Fire Bear continued to view matters with true Indian composure. He had made no protestations of innocence32, and had told Lowell there was nothing he wanted except to get the hearing over with as quickly as possible. The young Indian, to Lowell's shrewd eye, did not seem well. His actions were feverish33 and his eyes unnaturally34 bright. At Lowell's request, an agency doctor was brought and examined Fire Bear. His report to Lowell was the one sinister35 word: "Tuberculosis36!"
When the men were brought into the court-room a miscellaneous crowd had assembled. Cowpunchers from many miles away had ridden in to hear what the Indian and "breed" had to say for themselves. The crowd even extended through the open doors into the hallway. Late comers, who could not get so much as standing37 room, draped themselves upon the stairs and about the porch and made eager inquiry as to the progress of affairs.
Helen Ervin rode in to attend the hearing, in response to an inner appeal against which she had struggled vainly. She met Lowell as she dismounted from the old white horse in front of the court-house. Lowell had called two or three times at the ranch38, following their ride across the reservation. He had not gone into the house, but had merely stopped to get her assurance that everything was going well and that the sick man was steadily39 progressing toward convalescence41.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming over?" asked Lowell. "I would have brought you in my machine. As it is, I must insist on taking you back. I'll have Plenty Buffalo42 lead your pony43 back to the ranch when he returns to the agency."
"I couldn't help coming," said Helen. "I have a feeling that innocent men are going to suffer a great injustice. Tell me, do you think they have a chance of going free?"
"They may be held for trial," said Lowell. "No one knows what will be brought up either for or against them in the meantime."
"But they should not spend so much as a day in jail," insisted Helen. "They—"
Here she paused and looked over Lowell's shoulder, her expression changing to alarm. The agent turned and beheld44 Bill Talpers near them, his gaze fixed45 on the girl. Talpers turned away as Lowell escorted Helen upstairs to the court-room, where he secured a seat for her.
As the prisoners were brought in Helen recognized the unfriendliness of the general attitude of White Lodge toward them. Hostility46 was expressed in cold stares and whispered comment.
The men afforded a contrasting picture. Fire Bear's features were pure Indian. His nose was aquiline47, his cheek-bones high, and his eyes black and piercing, the intensity48 of their gaze being emphasized by the fever which was beginning to consume him. His expression was martial49. In his football days the "fighting face" of the Indian star had often appeared on sporting pages. He surveyed the crowd in the court-room with calm indifference50, and seldom glanced at the gray-bearded, benign-looking judge.
Jim McFann, on the contrary, seldom took his eyes from the judge's face. Jim was not so tall as Fire Bear, but was of wiry, athletic51 build. His cheek-bones were as high as those of the Indian, but his skin was lighter52 in color, and his hair had a tendency to curl. His sinewy53 hands were clenched54 on his knees, and his moccasined feet crossed and uncrossed themselves as the hearing progressed.
Each man testified briefly55 in his own behalf, and each, in Helen's opinion, told a convincing story. Both admitted having been on the scene of the crime. Jim McFann was there first. The half-breed testified that he had been looking for a rawhide56 lariat57 which he thought he had dropped from his saddle somewhere along the Dollar Sign road the day before. He had noticed an automobile standing in the road, and had discovered the body staked down on the prairie. In answer to a question, McFann admitted that the rope which had been cut in short lengths and used to tie the murdered man to the stakes had been the lariat for which he had been searching. He was alarmed at this discovery, and was about to remove the rope from the victim's ankles and wrists, when he had descried58 a body of horsemen approaching. He had thought the horsemen might be Indian police, and had jumped on his horse and ridden away, making his way through a near-by gulch59 and out on the prairie without being detected.
"Why were you so afraid of the Indian police?" was asked.
The half-breed hesitated a moment, and then said:
"Bootlegging."
There was a laugh in the court-room at this—a sharp, mirthless laugh which was checked by the insistent60 sound of the bailiff's gavel.
Jim McFann sank back in his chair, livid with rage. In his eyes was the look of the snarling62 wild animal—the same look that had flashed there when he sprang at Lowell in his camp. He motioned that he had nothing more to say.
Fire Bear's testimony63 was as brief. He said that he and a company of his young men—perhaps thirty or forty—all mounted on ponies64, had taken a long ride from the camp where they had been making medicine. The trip was in connection with the medicine that was being made. Fire Bear and his young men had ridden by a circuitous65 route, and had left the reservation at the Greek Letter Ranch on the same morning that McFann had found the slain man's body. They had intended riding along the Dollar Sign road, past Talpers's and the agency, and back to their camp. But on the big hill between Talpers's and the Greek Letter Ranch they had found the automobile standing in the road, and a few minutes later had found the body, just as McFann had described it. They had not seen any trace of McFann, but had noticed the tracks of a man and pony about the automobile and the body. The Indians had held a quick consultation66, and, on the advice of Fire Bear, had quit the scene suddenly. It was the murder of a white man, off the reservation. It was a case for white men to settle. If the Indians were found there, they might get in trouble. They had galloped67 across the prairie to their camp, by the most direct way, and had not gone on to Talpers's nor to the agency.
Helen expected both men to be freed at once. To her dismay, the judge announced that both would be held for trial, without bail61, following perfunctory statements from Plenty Buffalo, Walter Lowell, and Sheriff Tom Redmond, relating to later events in the tragedy. As in a dream Helen saw some of the spectators starting to leave and Redmond's deputy beckon68 to his prisoners, when Walter Lowell rose and asked permission to address the court in behalf of the Government's ward40, Fire Bear.
Lowell, in a few words, explained that further imprisonment69 probably would be fatal to Fire Bear. He produced the certificate of the agency physician, showing that the prisoner had contracted tuberculosis.
"If Fire Bear will give me his word of honor that he will not try to escape," said the agent, "I will guarantee his appearance on the day set for his trial."
Lowell had been reasonably sure of his ground before he spoke71. The venerable judge had always been interested in the work at the agency, and was a close student of Indian tradition and history. The request had come as a surprise, but the court hesitated only a moment, and then announced that, if the Government's agent on the reservation would be responsible for the delivery of the prisoner for trial, the defendant72, Fire Bear, would be delivered to said agent's care. The other defendant, being in good health and not being a ward of the Government, would have to stand committed to jail for trial.
Fire Bear accepted the news with outward indifference. Jim McFann, with his hands tightly clenched and the big veins73 on his forehead testifying to the rage that burned within him, was led away between Redmond and his deputy. There was a shuffling74 of feet and clinking of spurs as men rose from their seats. A buzz came from the crowd, as distinctly hostile as a rattler's whirr. Words were not distinguishable, but the sentiment could not have been any more distinctly indicated if the crowd had shouted in unison75.
Judge Garford rose and looked in a fatherly way upon the crowd. At a motion from him the bailiff rapped for attention. The judge stroked his white beard and said softly:
"Friends, there is some danger that excitement may run away with this community. The arm of the law is long, and I want to say that it will be reached out, without fear or favor, to gather in any who may attempt in any way to interfere76 with the administration of justice."
To Helen it seemed as if the old, heroic West had spoken through this fearless giant of other days. There was no mistaking the meaning that ran through that quietly worded message. It brought the crowd up with a thrill of apprehension77, followed by honest shame. There was even a ripple78 of applause. The crowd started once more to file out, but in different mood. Some of the more impetuous, who had rushed downstairs before the judge had spoken, were hustled79 away from the agent's automobile, around which they had grouped themselves threateningly.
"The judge means business," one old-timer said in an awe-stricken voice. "That's the way he looked and talked when he headed the Vigilantes' court. He'll do what he says if he has to hang a dozen men."
When Lowell and Helen came out to the automobile, followed by Fire Bear, the court-house square was almost deserted80. Fire Bear climbed into the back seat, at Lowell's direction. He was without manacles. Helen occupied the seat beside the driver. As they drove away, she caught a glimpse of Judge Garford coming down the court-house steps. He was engaged in telling some bit of pioneer reminiscence—something broadly pleasant. His face was smiling and his blue eyes were twinkling. He looked almost as any grandparent might have looked going to join a favorite grandchild at a park bench. Yet here was a man who had torn aside the veil and permitted one glimpse at the old, inspiring West.
Helen turned and looked at him again, as, in an earlier era, she would have looked at Lincoln.
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1
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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4
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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sinecure
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| n.闲差事，挂名职务 | |
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7
ambled
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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8
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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10
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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12
itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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13
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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14
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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15
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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16
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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17
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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19
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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21
meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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23
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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24
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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26
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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29
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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30
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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31
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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32
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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33
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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35
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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36
tuberculosis
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| n.结核病，肺结核 | |
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37
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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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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39
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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40
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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41
convalescence
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| n.病后康复期 | |
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42
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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43
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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44
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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45
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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46
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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47
aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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48
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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49
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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50
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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51
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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52
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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53
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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54
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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55
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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56
rawhide
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| n.生牛皮 | |
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57
lariat
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| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
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58
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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59
gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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61
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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62
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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63
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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64
ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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65
circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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66
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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67
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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68
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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69
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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70
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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71
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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72
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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73
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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74
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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75
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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76
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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77
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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78
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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79
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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80
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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