Ware1 disappeared rapidly up the dusty road, Bob and Amy standing2 side by side in silence, watching him go. When the lean, long figure of the old mountaineer had quite disappeared, and the light, eddying3 dust, peculiar4 to the Sierra country, had died, Amy closed her eyes, raised her hand to her heart, and sank slowly to the bank of the little creek5. Her vivid colour, which had for a moment returned under the influence of her strong will and her indignation over her weakness, had again ebbed6 from her cheeks.
Bob, with an exclamation7 of alarm, dropped to her side and passed his arm back of her shoulders. As she felt the presence of his support, she let slip the last desperate holdings of physical command, and leaned back gratefully, breathing hard, her eyes still closed.
After a moment she opened them long enough to smile palely at the anxious face of the young man.
"It's all right," she said. "I'm all right. Don't be alarmed. Just let me rest a minute. I'll be all right."
She closed her eyes again. Bob, watching, saw the colour gradually flowing up under her skin, and was reassured9.
The girl lay against his arm limply. At first he was concerned merely with the supporting of the slight burden; careful to hold her as comfortably as possible. Then the warmth of her body penetrated11 to his arm. A new emotion invaded him, feeble in the beginning, but gaining strength from instant to instant. It mounted his breast as a tide would mount, until it had shortened his breath, set his heart to thumping12 dully, choked his throat. He looked down at her with troubled eyes, following the curve of her upturned face, the long line of her throat exposed by the backward thrown position of her head, the swell13 of her breast under the thin gown. The helplessness of the pose caught at Bob's heart. For the first time Amy--the vivid, self-reliant, capable, laughing Amy--appealed to him as a being demanding protection, as a woman with a woman's instinctive14 craving15 for cherishing, as a delicious, soft, feminine creature, calling forth16 the tendernesses of a man's heart. In the normal world of everyday association this side of her had never been revealed, never suspected; yet now, here, it rose up to throw into insignificance17 all the other qualities of the girl he had known. Bob spared a swift thought of gratitude18 to the chance that had revealed to him this unguessed, intimate phase of womanhood.
And then the insight with which the significant moment had endowed him leaped to the simple comprehension of another thought--that this revelation of intimacy19, of the woman-appeal lying unguessed beneath the comradeship of everyday life, was after all only a matter of chance. It had been revealed to him by the accident of a moment's faintness, by which the conscious will of the girl had been driven back from the defences. In a short time it would be over. She would resume her ordinary demeanour, her ordinary interest, her ordinary bright, cheerful, attractive, matter-of-fact, efficient self. Everything would be as before. But--and here Bob's breath came quickest--in the great goodness of the world lay another possibility; that sometime, at the call of some one person, for that one and no other, this inner beautiful soul of the feminine appeal would come forth freely, consciously, willingly.
Amy opened her eyes, sat up, shook herself slightly, and laughed.
"I'm all right now," she told Bob, "and certainly very much ashamed."
She shot a swift look at him, and immediately arose to her feet.
"We will have to testify at a coroner's inquest, I presume," said she, in the most matter-of-fact tones.
"I suppose so," agreed Bob morosely21. It is impossible to turn back all the strongly set currents of life without at least a temporary turmoil22.
Amy glanced at him sideways, and smiled a faint, wise smile to herself. For in these matters, while men are more analytical23 after the fact, women are by nature more informed. She said nothing, but stooped to the creek for a drink. When she had again straightened to her feet, Bob had come to himself. The purport24 of Amy's last speech had fully8 penetrated his understanding, and one word of it--the word _testify_--had struck him with an idea.
"By Jove!" he cried, "that lets out Pollock!"
"What?" said Amy.
"This man Oldham was the only witness who could have convicted George Pollock of killing25 Plant."
"What do you mean?" asked Amy, leaning forward interestedly. "Was he there? How do you know about it?"
A half-hour before Bob would have hesitated long before confiding26 his secret to a fourth party; but now, for him, the world of relations had shifted.
"I'll tell you about it," said he, without hesitation27; "but this is serious. You must never breathe even a word of it to any one!"
"Certainly not!" cried Amy.
"Oldham wasn't an actual witness of the killing; but I was, and he knew it. He could have made me testify by informing the prosecuting28 attorney."
Bob sketched29 rapidly his share in the tragedy: how he had held Pollock's horse, and been in a way an accessory to the deed. Amy listened attentively30 to the recital31 of the facts, but before Bob had begun to draw his conclusions, she broke in swiftly.
"So Oldham offered to let you off, if you would keep out of this Modoc Land case," said she.
Bob nodded.
"That was it."
"But it would have put you in the penitentiary," she pointed32 out.
"Well, the case wasn't quite decided33 yet."
She made her quaint34 gesture of the happily up-thrown hands.
"Just what you said about Mr. Welton!" she cried. "Oh, I'm _glad_ you told me this! I was trying so hard to think you were doing a high and noble duty in ignoring the consequences to that poor old man. But I could not. Now I see!"
"What do you mean?" asked Bob curiously35, as she paused.
"You could do it because your act placed you in worse danger," she told him.
"Too many for me," Bob disclaimed36. "I simply wasn't going to be bluffed37 out by that gang!"
"That was it," said Amy wisely. "I know you better than you do yourself. You don't suppose," she cried, as a new thought alarmed her, "that Oldham has told the prosecuting attorney that your evidence would be valuable."
Bob shook his head.
"The trial is next week," he pointed out. "In case the prosecution38 had intended calling me, I should have been summoned long since. There's dust; they are coming. You'd better stay here."
She agreed readily to this. After a moment a light wagon39 drove up. On the seat perched Welton and Ware. Bob climbed in behind.
They drove rapidly down to the forks, stopped and hitched40 the team.
"Ware's been telling me the whole situation, Bobby," said Welton. "That gang's getting pretty desperate! I've heard of this man Oldham around this country for a long while, but I always understood he was interested against the Power Company."
"Bluff," said Bob briefly41. "He's been in their employ from the first, but I never thought he'd go in for quite this kind of strong-arm work. He doesn't look it, do you think?"
"I never laid eyes on him," replied Welton. "He's never been near the mill, and I never happened to run across him anywhere else."
By this time they had secured the team. Ware led the way to the tree under which lay the body of the land agent. Welton surveyed the prostrate42 figure for some time in silence. Then turned to Bob, a curious expression on his face.
"It wasn't an accident that I never met him," said he. "He saw to it. Don't you remember this man, Bobby?"
"I saw him in Los Angeles some years ago."
"Before that--in Michigan--many years ago."
"His face has always seemed familiar to me," said Bob slowly. "I can't place it--yes--hold on!"
A picture defined itself from the mists of his boyhood memories. It was of an open field, with a fringe of beech43 woods in the distance. A single hickory stood near its centre, and under this a group lounged, smoking pipes. A man, perched on a cracker44 box, held a blank book and pencil. Another stood by a board, a gun in his hand. The smell of black powder hung in the atmosphere. Little glass balls popped into the air, and were snuffed out. He saw Oldham distinctly, looking younger and browner, but with the same cynical45 mouth, the same cold eyes, the same slanted46 eyeglasses. Even before his recollections reproduced the scorer's drawling voice calling the next contestant47, his memory supplied the name.
"It's Newmark!" he cried aloud.
"Joe Newmark, your father's old partner! He hasn't changed much. He disappeared from Michigan when you were about eight years old; didn't he! Nobody ever knew how or why, but everybody had suspicions.... Well; let's get him in."
They disposed the body in the wagon, and drove back up the road. At the little brook48 they stopped to let off Ware. It was agreed that all danger to Bob was now past, and that the gun-man would do better to accompany Amy back to headquarters. Of course, it would be necessary to work the whole matter out at the coroner's inquest, but in view of the circumstances, Ware's safety was assured.
At the mill the necessary telephoning was done, the officials summoned, and everything put in order.
"What I really started over to see you about," then said Bob to Welton, "is this matter of the Modoc Company." He went on to explain fully Amy's plan for checkmating Baker49. "You see, if I get in my word first, Baker is as much implicated50 as you are, and it won't do him any good to turn state's evidence."
"I don't see as that helps me," remarked Welton gloomily.
"Baker might be willing to put himself in any position," said Bob; "but I doubt if he'll care to take the risk of criminal punishment. I think this will head him off completely; but if it doesn't, every move he makes to save his own skin saves yours too."
"It may do some good," agreed Welton. "Try it."
"I've already written Baker. But I didn't want you to think I was starting up the bloodhounds against you without some blame good reason."
"I'd know that anyway, Bobby," said Welton kindly51. He stared moodily52 at the stovepipe. "This is getting too thick for an old-timer," he broke out at last. "I'm just a plain, old-fashioned lumberman, and all I know is to cut lumber53. I pass this mess up. I wired your father he'd better come along out."
"Is he coming?" asked Bob eagerly.
"I just got a message over the 'phone from the telegraph office. He'll be in White Oaks as fast as he can get there. Didn't I tell you?"
"Wire him aboard train to go through to Fremont, and that we'll meet him there," said Bob instantly. "It's getting about time to beard the lion in his den10."
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ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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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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eddying
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| 涡流，涡流的形成 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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ebbed
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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morosely
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| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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analytical
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| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
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purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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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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confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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cracker
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| n.（无甜味的）薄脆饼干 | |
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45
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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contestant
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| n.竞争者，参加竞赛者 | |
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48
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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50
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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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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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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53
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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