Jessamy Selden stood before the cheap soft-wood dresser in her bedroom, in a wing of the old log house, and completed the braiding of the two long, thick strands1 of cold-black hair. Then in the cozy2 little sitting room, which adjoined the bedroom and was hers alone, she slipped on her morocco-top riding boots and buckled3 spur straps4 over her insteps.
The sun had not yet climbed the wooded ridges6 beyond Poison Oak Ranch7. The night before the girl had prepared a cold breakfast for herself; and with this wrapped in paper she left the sitting room by its outside door and ran to the corral. The family was at breakfast in the vast room. Hurlock's and Winthrop's families were likewise engaged in their respective houses. So no one was about to disturb or even see Jessamy as she hastily threw the saddle on White Ann, leaped into it, and rode away.
When she had left the clearing, and the noise of rapid hoofbeats would not be heard, she lifted the mare8 into a gallop9. At this reckless speed they swung into the trail and plunged10 hazardously11 down the mountainside along the serpentine12 trail. They forded the river, took the trail on the other side, and raced madly up it until compassion13 for her labouring mount forced the rider to rein14 in. Now she ate her breakfast of cold baked apple and cold fried mush in the saddle as the mare clambered upward.
At sunrise they topped the ridge5 and took up the lope again toward the headwaters of Clinker Creek15. Long before she reached it Jessamy saw a bay horse and its rider at rest, with the early sunlight playing on the flashing silver of the famous saddle and bridle16 of Oliver Drew.
"Let's go!" she cried merrily as White Ann, convinced that some devilment was afoot, cavorted17 and humped her back and shied from side to side while she bore down swiftly on the waiting pair.
For answer Oliver Drew pressed his calves18 against Poche's ribs19, and the bay leaped to White Ann's side with a snort that showed he had caught the spirit of the coming adventure, whatever it might prove to be. At a gallop they swung into the county road, Poche producing a challenging metallic20 rattle21 by rolling the wheel of his halfbreed bit with his tongue, straining at the reins22, and bidding the equally defiant23 white to do that of which "angels could do no more."
"Good morning!" cried Oliver. "What's the rush?"
"Old Man Selden is riding to Aunt Nancy's today," she shouted back. "Good morning!"
"Oh! In that case, if that white crowbait you're riding hadn't already come three miles, we'd find out whether she can run. She's telling the world she can."
Jessamy made a face at him and, leaning forward, caressed24 the mare's smooth neck. White Ann evidently considered this a sign of abetment25, for she plunged and reared and cast fiery26 looks of scorn at her pseudo rival.
"There, there, honey!" soothed27 the girl. "We could leave that old flea-bitten relic28 so far behind it would be cruelty to animals to do it. Just wait till we're coming back, after we've rested and have an even chance; for I really believe the man wants to be fair."
Oliver's eyes were filled with her as her strong, sinewy29 figure followed every unexpected movement of the plunging30 mare as if a magnet held her in the saddle. The dew of the morning was on her lips; the flush of it on her cheeks. Her long black braids whipped about in the wind like streamers from the gown of a classic dancer. The picture she made was the most engrossing31 one he had ever looked on.
They slowed to a walk after a mile of it.
"Well," said Jessamy, "I delivered your letter."
"Yes? Go on. That's a good start."
"It created quite a scene. Old Adam simply won't—can't—believe that you own the Old Ivison Place. So that's why he's fogging it up to Aunt Nancy's today. I think we'll be an hour ahead of him, though, and can be at the reservation by the time he reaches the house."
"Is he angry?"
"Ever try to convince a wasp32 that you have more right on earth than he has?" Her white teeth gleamed against the background of red lips and sunburned skin.
"Well?"
"He says that, whether you own the place or not, you'll have to leave."
"M'm-m! That's serious talk. In some places I've visited it would be called fighting talk."
"Number this place among them, Mr. Drew," she said soberly, turning her dark, serious eyes upon him.
"But I didn't come up here to fight!"
"Neither did the President of the United States take his seat in Washington to fight," she pointed33 out, keeping that level glance fixed34 on his face.
"Oh, as to that," mused35 Oliver after a thoughtful pause, "I guess I can fight. They didn't send me back from France as entirely36 useless. But it strikes me as a very stupid proceeding37. Look here, Miss Selden—how many acres of grass does your step—er—Old Man Selden run cows on for the summer grazing?—how many acres in the Clinker Creek Country, in short?"
"Uh-huh. And on my forty there's about fifteen acres, all told, that represents grass land. The rest is timber and chaparral. Now, fifteen acres added to four thousand makes four thousand fifteen acres. The addition would take care of perhaps five additional animals for the three months or more that his stock remains39 in that locality. Do you mean to tell me that Adam Selden would attempt to run a man out of the country for that?"
She closed her eyes and nodded her head slowly up and down in a childlike fashion that always amused him. It meant "Just that!"
He gave a short laugh of unbelief.
"Listen," she cautioned: "Don't make the fatal mistake of taking this matter too lightly, Mr. Drew."
"But heavens!" he cried. "A man who would attempt to dispossess another for such a slight gain as that would rob a blind beggar of the pennies in his cup! I've had a short interview with Old Man Selden. Corrupt40 he may be, but he struck me as an old sinner who would be corrupt on a big scale. I couldn't think of the masterful old reprobate41 I talked with as a piker."
Jessamy locked a leg about her saddle horn. "You've got him about right," she informed her companion. "One simply is obliged to think of him as big in many ways."
Oliver's leg now crooked42 itself toward her, and he slouched down comfortably. "Say," he said, "I don't get you at all."
"Don't get me?" She was not looking at him now.
"No, I don't. One moment you said he would put the skids43 under me for the slight benefit from my fifteen acres of grass. Next moment you maintain that he is not a piker."
"Yes."
Oliver rolled a cigarette. Not until it was alight did he say:
"Well, you haven't explained yet."
She was silent, her eyes on the glittering snow of the far-off Sierras. For the first time since he had met her he found her strangely at a loss for words. And had her direct gaze faltered44? Were her eyes evading45 his? And was the rich colour of her skin a trifle heightened, or was it the glow from the sun, ever reddening as it climbed its ancient ladder in the sky?
She turned to him then—suddenly. There was in her eyes a look partly of amusement, partly of chagrin46, partly of shame.
"I can't answer you," she stated simply. "I blundered, that's all. Opened my mouth and put my foot in it."
"But can't you tell me how you did that even?"
"I talk too much," was her explanation. "Like poor old Henry Dodd, I went too far on dangerous ground."
"That reminds me," was her quick return, "I sat in at a dandy game of draw last night. There was—"
"Wh-what!"
"And now I have both feet in my mouth," she cried. "And you'll have to admit that comes under the heading, 'Some Stunt48.' I thought I saw a chance to brilliantly change the subject, but I see that I'm worse off than before. For now you're not only mystified but terribly shocked."
He gave this thirty seconds of study.
"I'll have to admit that you jolted49 me," he laughed, his face a little redder. "I'm not accustomed to hearing young ladies say, 'I sat in at a dandy little game of draw'—just like that. But I'm sure I went too far when I showed surprise."
"And what's your final opinion on the matter?" She was amused—Not worried, not defiant.
"Well, I—I don't just know. I've never given such a matter a great deal of thought."
"Do so now, please."
Obediently he tried as they rode along.
"One thing certain," he said at last, "it's your own business."
"Oh, you haven't thought at all! Keep on."
"Yes."
"For—er—money?"
"'For—er—money.' What d'ye suppose—crochet needles?"
Then he took up his studies once more.
Finally he roused himself, removed his leg from the horn, and straightened in the saddle.
"Settled at last!" she cried. "And the answer is...?"
"You approve, then?"
"Of everything you do."
"Well, I don't approve of that," she told him. "I don't, and I do. But listen here: One of the few quotations52 that I think I spout53 accurately54 is 'When in Rome do as the Romans do.' I'm 'way off there in the hills. I'm a pretty lonely person, as I once before informed you. Yet I'm a gregarious55 creature. We have no piano, few books—not even a phonograph. Bolar Selden squeezes a North-Sea piano—in other words an accordion56. Of late years accordion playing has been elevated to a place among the arts; but if you could hear Bolar you'd be convinced that he hasn't kept pace with progress. He plays 'The Cowboy's Lament57' and something about 'Says the wee-do to the law-yer, O spare my only che-ild!' Ugh! He gives me the jim-jams.
"So the one and only indoor pastime of Seldenvilla is draw poker. Now, if you were in my place, would you be a piker and a spoilsport and a pink little prude, or would you be human and take out a stack?"
"I understand," he told her. "I think I'd take out a stack."
"And besides," she added mischievously58, "I won nine dollars and thirty cents last night."
"That makes it right and proper," he chuckled59. "But we've wandered far afield. Why did you say that Selden would try to run me off my toy ranch in one breath, and that he is wicked only in a big way in the next?"
"I'd prefer to quarrel over poker playing," she said. "Please, I blundered—and I can't answer that question. But maybe you'll learn the answer to it today. We'll see. Be patient."
"But I'll not learn from you direct."
"I'm afraid not."
"I think I understand—partly," he said after another intermission. "It must be that there's another—a bigger—reason why he wants me out of Clinker Creek Cañon."
"You've guessed it. I may as well own up to that much. But I can't tell you more—now. Don't ask me to."
After this there was nothing for the man to do but to keep silent on the subject. So they talked of other things till their horses jogged into Calamity60 Gap.
Here was a town as picturesque61 as Halfmoon Flat, and wrapped in the same traditions. Jessamy's Aunt Nancy Fleet lived in a little shake-covered cottage on the hillside, overlooking the drowsy62 hamlet and the railroad tracks.
It appeared that all of the Ivison girls had been unfortunate in marrying short-lived men. Nancy Fleet was a widow, and two other sisters besides Jessamy's mother had likewise lost husbands.
Nancy Fleet was a still comely63 woman of sixty, with snow-white hair and Jessamy's black eyes. She greeted her niece joyously64, and soon the three were seated in her stuffy65 little parlour.
Oliver opened up the topic that had brought him there. Mrs. Fleet, after stating that she did so because he was Oliver Drew, readily made answer to his questions.
Yes, she had sold the Old Ivison Place to a Mr. Peter Drew something like fifteen years before. She had never met him till he called on her, and no one else at Calamity Gap had known anything about him.
He told that he had made inquiry66 concerning her, and that this had resulted in his becoming satisfied that she was a woman who would keep her word and might be trusted implicitly67. This being so, he told her that he would relieve her of the Old Ivison Place, if she would agree to keep silent regarding the transfer until he or his son had assured her that secrecy68 was no longer necessary. For her consideration of his wishes in this connection he told her that he was willing to pay a good price for the land.
As there seemed to be no rascality69 coupled with the request, she gave consent. For years she had been trying to dispose of the property for five hundred dollars. Now Peter Drew fairly took her breath away by offering twenty-five hundred. He could well afford to pay this amount, he claimed, and was willing to do so to gain her co-operation in the matter of secrecy. She had accepted. The transfer of the property was made under the seal of a notary70 public at the county seat, and the money was promptly71 paid.
Then Peter Drew had gone away with his deed, and for fifteen years she had made the inhabitants of the country think that she still owned the Old Ivison Place simply by saying nothing to the contrary. She had been told to accept any rentals72 that she might be able to derive73 from it—to use it as her own. For several years Peter Drew had regularly forwarded her a bank draft to cover the taxes. Then Adam Selden had offered to pay the taxes for the use of the land, and she had written Peter Drew to that effect and told him to send no more tax money until further notice. Since that date she had heard no more from the mysterious purchaser of the land.
She was surprised to learn that the transfer had at last been recorded, but could throw no light whatever on the proceedings74.
She took a motherly interest in Oliver because of his father, whose generosity75 had greatly benefited her. In fact, she said, she couldn't for the life of her tell how she'd got along without that money.
"And whatever shall I say, dearie, when Adam Selden comes to me today?" she asked her niece. "I'm afraid of the man—just afraid of him."
"Pooh!" Jessamy deprecated. "He's only a man. Oliver Drew's coming, and the fact that the transfer has at last been placed on record leaves you free to tell all you know. So just tell Old Adam what you've told Mr. Drew, and say you know nothing more about it. But whatever else you say, don't cheep that we've been here, Auntie."
"Well, I hope and trust he'll believe me," she sighed as she showed her callers out.
"Now," said Jessamy, as they remounted, "we'll ride away and be at the reservation by the time Old Adam arrives here. What do you think of your mystery by now, Mr. Drew?"
"It grows deeper and deeper," Oliver mused.
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1
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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3
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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10
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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11
hazardously
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| adv.冒险地，有危险地 | |
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12
serpentine
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| adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的 | |
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13
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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14
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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cavorted
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| v.跳跃( cavort的过去式 ) | |
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calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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19
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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20
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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21
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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22
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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23
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abetment
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| n.教唆；煽动；支持；帮助 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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27
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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30
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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wasp
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| n.黄蜂，蚂蜂 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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35
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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36
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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37
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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39
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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40
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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41
reprobate
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| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
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42
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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43
skids
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| n.滑向一侧( skid的名词复数 )；滑道；滚道；制轮器v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的第三人称单数 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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44
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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45
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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46
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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47
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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48
stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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49
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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51
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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52
quotations
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| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
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53
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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54
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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55
gregarious
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| adj.群居的，喜好群居的 | |
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56
accordion
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| n.手风琴；adj.可折叠的 | |
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57
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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58
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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59
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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61
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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62
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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63
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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64
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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66
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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67
implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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68
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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69
rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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70
notary
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| n.公证人，公证员 | |
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71
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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72
rentals
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| n.租费，租金额( rental的名词复数 ) | |
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73
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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74
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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75
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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