sally dows-第31章

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and　became　fixed；　〃SHE　says　she　tired　o'　drunken　rowdies；there's　a
sameness　about　'em；　and　it　don't　sell　her　pipes　and　cigars；　and
that's　WHY　she's　coming　here。　　Thompson　over　at　Dry　Creek　sez　that
THAT'S　where　our　reputation　is　playin'　us！　　'We've　got　her　as　a
reward　o'　virtoo；　and　be　dd　to　us。'　　But；〃　cautiously；　〃Thompson
ain't　drawed　a　sober　breath　since　Christmas。〃

The　three　men　looked　in　each　other's　faces　in　silence。　　The　same
thought　occurred　to　each；　the　profane　Thompson　was　right；　and　the
woman's　advent　was　the　logical　sequence　of　their　own　ethics。　　Two
years　previously；　the　Buckeye　Company　had　found　gold　on　the　South
Fork；　and　had　taken　up　claims。　　Composed　mainly　of　careful；
provident；　and　thoughtful　men；some　of　cultivation　and
refinement；they　had　adopted　a　certain　orderly　discipline　for
their　own　guidance　solely；　which；　however；　commended　itself　to
later　settlers；　already　weary　of　the　lawlessness　and　reckless
freedom　which　usually　attended　the　inception　of　mining　settlements。
Consequently　the　birth　of　Buckeye　was　accompanied　with　no　dangerous
travail；　its　infancy　was　free　from　the　diseases　of　adolescent
communities。　　The　settlers；　without　any　express　prohibition；　had
tacitly　dispensed　with　gambling　and　drinking　saloons；　following　the
unwritten　law　of　example；　had　laid　aside　their　revolvers；　and
mingled　together　peacefully　when　their　labors　were　ended；　without
a　single　peremptory　regulation　against　drinking　and　playing；　or
carrying　lethal　weapons。　　Nor　had　there　been　any　test　of　fitness　or
qualification　for　citizenship　through　previous　virtue。　　There　were
one　or　two　gamblers；　a　skillful　duelist；　and　men　who　still　drank
whiskey　who　had　voluntarily　sought　the　camp。　　Of　some　such
antecedents　was　the　last　speaker。　　Probably　with　two　wives
elsewhere；　and　a　possible　homicidal　record；　he　had　modestly　held
aloof　from　obtrusive　argument。

〃Well；　we　must　have　a　meeting　and　put　the　question　squarely　to　the
boys　to…morrow；〃　said　Parks；　gazing　thoughtfully　from　the　window。
The　remark　was　followed　by　another　long　silence。　　Beyond；　in　the
darkness；　Buckeye；　unconscious　of　the　momentous　question　awaiting
its　decision；　slept　on　peacefully。

〃I　brought　the　keg　of　whiskey　and　brandy　from　Red　Gulch　to…day　that
Doctor　Duchesne　spoke　of；〃　he　resumed　presently。　　〃You　know　he　said
we　ought　to　have　some　in　common　stock　that　he　could　always　rely
upon　in　emergencies；　and　for　use　after　the　tule　fever。　　I　didn't
agree　with　him；　and　told　him　how　I　had　brought　Sam　Denver　through
an　attack　with　quinine　and　arrowroot；　but　he　laughed　and　wanted　to
know　if　we'd　'resolved'　that　everybody　should　hereafter　have　the
Denver　constitution。　　That's　the　trouble　with　those　old　army
surgeons；they　never　can　get　over　the　'heroics'　of　their　past。
Why　he　told　Parson　Jennings　that　he'd　rather　treat　a　man　for　jim…
jams　than　one　that　was　dying　for　want　of　stimulants。　　However；　the
liquor　is　here；　and　one　of　the　things　we　must　settle　tomorrow　is
the　question　if　it　ought　not　to　be　issued　only　on　Duchesne's
prescription。　　When　I　made　that　point　to　him　squarely；　he　grinned
again；　and　wanted　to　know　if　I　calculated　to　put　the　same
restriction　on　the　sale　of　patent　medicines　and　drugs　generally。〃

〃'N　powder　'n　shot；〃　contributed　the　indifferent　man。

〃Perhaps　you'd　better　take　a　look　at　the　liquor；　Saunders；〃　said
Parks；　dismissing　the　ethical　question。　　〃YOU　know　more　about　it
than　we　do。　　It　ought　to　be　the　best。〃

Saunders　went　behind　the　counter；　drew　out　two　demijohns；　and；
possibly　from　the　force　of　habit；　selected　THREE　mugs　from　the
crockery　and　poured　some　whiskey　into　each；　before　he　could　check
himself。

〃Perhaps　we　had　better　compare　tastes；〃　said　Brace　blandly。　　They
all　sipped　their　liquor　slowly　and　in　silence。　　The　decision　was
favorable。　　〃Better　try　some　with　water　to　see　how　it　mixes；〃　said
Saunders；　lazily　filling　the　glasses　with　a　practiced　hand。　　This
required　more　deliberation；　and　they　drew　their　chairs　to　the　table
and　sat　down。　　A　slight　relaxation　stole　over　the　thoughtful　faces
of　Brace　and　Parks；　a　gentle　perspiration　came　over　the　latter's
brow；　but　the　features　and　expression　of　Saunders　never　changed。
The　conversation　took　a　broader　range；　politics　and　philosophy
entered　into　it；　literature　and　poetry　were　discussed　by　Parks　and
Brace；　Saunders　still　retaining　the　air　of　a　dispassionate
observer；　ready　to　be　convinced；　but　abstaining　from　argumentand
occasionally　replenishing　the　glasses。　　There　was　felt　to　be　no
inconsistency　between　their　present　attitude　and　their　previous
conversation；　rather　it　proved　to　them　that　gentlemen　could
occasionally　indulge　in　a　social　glass　together　without　frequenting
a　liquor　saloon。　　This　was　stated　with　some　degree　of　effusion　by
Parks　and　assented　to　with　singular　enthusiasm　by　Brace；　Saunders
nodding。　　It　was　also　observed　with　great　penetration　by　Brace　that
in　having　really　GOOD；　specially　selected　liquor　like　that；　the
great　danger　of　the　intoshikat'n　'fxhe　corrected　himself　with
great　deliberation；　〃the　intoxicating　effects〃of　adulterated
liquors　sold　in　drinking　saloons　was　obviated。　　Mr。　Brace　thought
also　that　the　vitiated　quality　of　the　close　air　of　a　crowded　saloon
had　a　great　deal　to　do　with　itthe　excess　of　carbonhiche
begged　their　pardoncarbonic　acid　gas　undoubtedly　rendered　people
〃slupid　and　steepy。〃　　〃But　here；　from　the　open　window；〃　he　walked
dreamily　to　it　and　leaned　out　admiringly　towards　the　dark　landscape
that　softly　slumbered　without；　〃one　could　drink　in　only　health　and
poetry。〃

〃Wot's　that？〃　said　Saunders；　looking　up。

〃I　said　health　and　poetry；〃　returned　Brace　with　some　dignity。　　〃I
repeat〃

〃No。　　I　mean　wot's　that　noise？　　Listen。〃

They　listened　so　breathlessly　that　the　soft　murmur　of　the　river
seemed　to　flow　in　upon　them。　　But　above　it　quite　distinctly　came
the　regular　muffled　beat　of　horse…hoofs　in　the　thick　dust　and　the
occasional　rattle　of　wheels　over　rocky　irregularities。　　But　still
very　far　and　faint；　and　fading　like　the　noises　in　a　dream。　　Brace
drew　a　long　breath；　Parks　smiled　and　softly　closed　his　eyes。　　But
Saunders　remained　listening。

〃That　was　over　OUR　road；　near　the　turnpike！〃　he　said　musingly。
〃That's　queer；　thar　ain't　any　of　the　boys　away　to…night；　and　that's
a　wagon。　　It's　some　one　comin'　here。　　Hark　to　that！　　There　it　is
again。〃

It　was　the　same　sound　but　more　distinct　and　nearer；　and　then　was
lost　again。

〃They're　dragging　through　the　river　sand　that's　just　abreast　o'
Mallory's。　　Stopped　there；　I　reckon。　　No！　pushin'　on　again。　　Hear
'em　grinding　along　the　gravel　over　Hamilton's　trailin's？　　Stopped
aginthat's　before　Somerville's　shanty。　　What's　gone　o'　them　now？
Maybe　they've　lost　the　trail　and　got　onto　Gray's　slide　through　the
woods。　　It's　no　use　lookin'；　ye　couldn't　see　anything　in　this
nigger　dark。　　Hol'　on！　　If　they're　comin'　through　the　woods；　ye'll
hear　'em　again　jest　off　here。　　Yes！　by　thunder！　here　they　are。〃

This　time　the　clatter　and　horse…hoofs　were　before　them；　at　the　very
door。　　A　man's　voice　cried；　〃Whoa！〃　and　there　was　a　sudden　bound　on
the　veranda。　　The　door　opened；　for　an　instant　the　entrance　appeared
to　be　filled　with　a　mass　of　dazzling　white　flounces；　and　a　figure
which　from　waist　to　crown　was　impenetrably　wrapped　and　swathed　in
black　lace。　　Somewhere　beneath　its　folds　a　soft　Spanish；　yet
somewhat　childish　voice　cried；　〃Tente。　　Hol'　on；〃　turned　and
vanished。　　This　was　succeeded　by　the　apparition　of　a　silent；
swarthy　Mexican；　who　dropped　a　small　trunk　at　their　feet　and
vanished　also。　　Then　the　white…flounced　and　black…laced　figure
reappeared　as　the　departing　wagon　rattled　away；　glided　to　the
centre　of　the　room；　placed　on　the　trunk　a　small　foot；　whose　low…
quartered　black　satin　slipper　seemed　to　be　held　only　by　the　toe；
threw　back　with　both　hands　the　black　lace　mantilla；　which　was
pinned　by　a　rose　over　her　little　right　ear；　and　with　her　hands
slightly　extended　and　waving　softly　said；　〃Mira　caballeros！　　'Ere
we　are　again；　boys！　　Viva！　　Aow　ees　your　mother？　　Aow　ees　that　for
high？　　Behold　me！　just　from　Pike！〃

Parks　and　Brace；　who　had　partly　risen；　fell　back　hopelessly　in
their　chairs　again　and　gazed　at　th