sally dows-第33章
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trifling。 The passions are apt to be serious and solitary； and
Jovita evaded them with a jest；which； if not always delicate or
witty； was effective in securing the laughter of the majority and
the jealousy of none。
At the end of the week another peculiarity was noticed。 There was
a perceptible increase of the Mexican population； who had always
hitherto avoided Buckeye。 On Sunday an Irish priest from El Pasto
said mass in a patched…up corner of the old Mission ruin opposite
Rollinson's Ford。 A few lounging 〃Excelsior〃 boys were equally
astonished to see Jovita's red rose crest and black mantilla glide
by； and followed her unvarying smile and jesting salutation up to
the shadow of the crumbling portal。 At vespers nearly all Buckeye；
hitherto virtuously skeptical and good…humoredly secure in Works
without Faith； made a point of attending； it was alleged by some to
see if Jovita's glossy Indian…inky eyes would suffer aberration in
her devotions。 But the rose…crested head was never lifted from the
well…worn prayer…book or the brown hands which held a certain poor
little cheap rosary like a child's string of battered copper coins。
Buckeye lounged by the wall through the service with respectful
tolerance and uneasy shifting legs； and came away。 But the
apparently simple event did not end there。 It was unconsciously
charged with a tremendous import to the settlement。 For it was
discovered the next day by Mrs。 〃Bob〃 Carpenter and Nan
Shuttleworth that the Methodist Church at Fiddletown was too far
away； and Buckeye ought to have a preacher of its own。 Seats were
fitted up in the loft of Carpenter's store…house； where the
Reverend Henry McCorkle held divine service； and instituted a Bible
class。 At the end of two weeks it appeared that Jovita's invasion
which was to bring dissipation and ruin to Buckeyehad indirectly
brought two churches！ A chilling doubt like a cold mist settled
along the river。 As the two rival processions passed on the third
Sunday； Jo Bateman； who had been in the habit of reclining on that
day in his shirtsleeves under a tree； with a novel in his hand；
looked gloomily after them。 Then knocking the ashes from his pipe；
he rose； shook hands with his partners； said apologetically that he
had lately got into the habit of RESPECTING THE SABBATH； and was
too old to change again； and so shook the red dust of Buckeye from
his feet and departed。
As yet there had not been the slightest evidence of disorderly
conduct on the part of the fair proprietress of the tienda； nor her
customers； nor any drunkenness or riotous disturbance that could
be at all attributed to her presence。 There was； it is true；
considerable hilarity； smoking； and some gambling there until a
late hour； but this could not be said to interfere with the rest
and comfort of other people。 A clue to the mystery of so
extraordinary a propriety was given by Jovita herself。 One day she
walked into Parks' Emporium and demanded an interview with the
proprietor。
〃You have made the rules for thees Booki？〃
〃Yesthat isI and my friends have。〃
〃And when one shall not have mind the rulewhen one have say； 'No！
damn the rule；' what shall you make to him？ Shall you aprison
him？〃
Mr。 Parks hastened to say with a superior； yet engaging smile that
it never had been necessary； as the rules were obligatory upon the
honor and consent of alland were never broken。 〃Except；〃 he
added； still more engagingly； 〃she would remember； in her case
with their consent。〃
〃And your caballeros break not the rules？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then they shall not break the rules of meat MY TIENDA！ Look！ I
have made the rule that I shall not have a caballero drunk at my
house； I have made the rule that I shall not sell him the
aguardiente when he have too mooch。 I have made the rule that when
he gamble too mooch； when he put up too mooch money； I say 'No！' I
will not that he shall！ I make one more rule： that he shall not
quarrel nor fight in my house。 When he quarrel and fight； I say
'Go！ Vamos！ Get out！'〃
〃And very good rules they are too； Miss Mendez。〃
Jovita fixed her shining black eyes on the smiling Parks。 〃And
when he say； 'No； nevarre； damn the rules！' When he come drunk；
remain drunk； play high and fight； YOU will not poonish him？ YOU
will not take him out？〃
〃Well； you see； the fact is； I have not the power。〃
〃Are you not the Alcalde？〃
〃No。 There is a Justice of the Peace at Fiddletown； but even he
could do nothing to enforce your rules。 But if anything should
happen； you can make a complaint to him。〃
〃Bueno。 You have not the power； I have。 I make not the complaint
to Fiddletown。 I make the complaint to Jose Perez； to Manuel； to
Antonio； to Sanchichashe is a strong one！ I say 'Chook him out。'
They chook him out！ they remove him！ He does not r…r…remain。
Enough。 Bueno。 Gracias； senor； good…a…by！〃
She was gone。 For the next four days Parks was in a state of some
anxietybut it appeared unnecessarily so。 Whether the interview
had become known along the river did not transpire； but there
seemed to be no reason for Miss Mendez to enforce her rules。 It
was said that once； when Thompson of Angels was a little too noisy；
he had been quietly conducted by his friends from the tienda
without the intervention of Jose。 The frequenters of the saloon
became its police。
Yet the eventlong protractedcame at last！ It was a dry；
feverish； breezeless afternoon； when the short； echoless explosion
of a revolver puffed out on the river； followed by another；
delivered so rapidly that they seemed rolled into one。 There was
no mistaking that significant repetition。 ONE shot might have been
an accident； TWO meant intention。 The men dropped their picks and
shovels and ranran as they never before ran in Buckeyeran
mechanically； blindly groping at their belts and pockets for the
weapons that hung there no longer； ran aimlessly； as to purpose；
but following instinctively with hurried breath and quivering
nostrils the cruel scent of powder and blood。 Ran until； reaching
the tienda； the foremost stumbled over the body of Shuttleworth；
came upon the half…sitting； half…leaning figure of Saunders against
its adobe wall！ The doors were barred and closed； and even as the
crowd charged furiously forward； a window was sharply shut above；
in their very face。
〃Stand back； gentlemen！ Lift him up。 What's the row？ What is it；
Saunders？ Who did it？ Speak； man！〃
But Saunders； who was still supporting himself against the wall；
only looked at them with a singular and half…apologetic smile； and
then leaned forward as if to catch the eye of Shuttleworth； who was
recovering consciousness in the uplifted arms of his companions。
But neither spoke。
〃It's some dd Greaser inside！〃 said Thompson； with sudden
ferocity。 〃Some of her cursed crew！ Break down the doors； boys！〃
〃Stop！〃
It was the voice of Shuttleworth； speaking with an effort。 He was
hard hit； somewhere in the groin； pain and blood were coming with
consciousness and movement； and his face was ghastly。 Yet there
was the same singular smile of embarrassment which Saunders had
worn； and a touch of invincible disgust in his voice as he
stammered quickly； 〃Don't be dd fools！ It's no one in THERE。
It's only me and HIM！ He'll tell you that。 Won't you； Saunders？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Saunders； leaning anxiously forward； with a brightening
face。 〃Dn it allcan't you see？ It's onlyonly us。〃
〃You and me； that's all；〃 repeated Shuttleworth； with a feverish
laugh。 〃Only our dd foolishness！ Think of it； boys！ He gave
me the lie； and I drew！〃
〃Both of us full； you knowreg'lar beasts；〃 said Saunders； sinking
back against the wall。 〃Kick me； somebody； and finish me off。〃
〃I don't see any weapons here；〃 said Brace gravely； examining the
ground。
〃They're inside；〃 said Shuttleworth with tremulous haste。 〃We
began it in therejust like hogs； you know！ Didn't we； Saunders？〃
bitterly。
〃You bet；〃 said Saunders faintly。 〃Reg'lar swine。〃
Parks looked graver still； and as he passed a handkerchief around
the wounded man's thigh； said： 〃But I don't see where you got your
pistols； and how you got out
