rowdy of the cross l-第2章

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all　right；　he　was　glad　she　belonged　close　around　the　Cross　L。　He　also　wished
he　knew　her　nameand　so　he　set　about　finding　it　out；　with　much　guile。

〃How's　that？〃　he　wanted　to　know；　when　he　had　made　sure　that　her　feetsuch
tiny　feetwere　well　covered。　He　thought　it　lucky　that　she　did　not　ride
astride；　after　the　manner　of　the　latter…day　young　woman；　because　then　he
could　not　have　covered　her　so　completely。　〃Hold　on！　That　windy　side's　going
to　make　trouble。〃　He　unbuckled　the　strap　he　wore　to　hold　his　own　coat　snug
about　him；　and　put　it　around　the　girl's　slim　waist；　feeling　idiotically
happy　and　guilty　the　while。　〃It　don't　come　within　a　mile　of　you；〃　he
complained；　〃but　it'll　help　some。〃

Sheltered　in　the　thick　folds　of　the　Navajo；　she　laughed；　and　the　sound　of　it
sent　the　blood　galloping　through　Rowdy　Vaughan's　body　so　that　he　was　almost
warm。　He　went　and　scraped　the　snow　out　of　his　saddle；　and　swung　up；　feeling
that；　after　all；　there　are　worse　things　in　the　world　than　being　lost　and
hungry　in　a　blizzard；　with　a　sweet…voiced；　bright…eyed　little　schoolma'am
who　can　laugh　like　that。

〃I　don't　want　to　have　you　think　I　may　be　a　bold；　bad　robber…man；〃　he　said；
when　they　got　going　again。　〃My　name's　Rowdy　Vaughanfor　which　I　beg　your
pardon。　Mother　named　me　Rowland；　never　knowing　I'd　get　out　here　and　have　her
nice；　pretty　name　mutilated　that　way。　I　won't　say　that　my　behavior　never
suggested　the　change；　though。　I'm　from　the　Horseshoe　Bar；　over　the　line；　and
if　I　have　my　way；　I'll　be　a　Cross　L　man　before　another　day。〃　Then　he　waited
expectantly。

〃For　fear　you　may　think　I'm　aa　robber…woman；〃　she　answered　him
solemnlyhe　felt　sure　her　eyes　twinkled；　if　only　he　could　have　seen　them
〃I'm　Jessie　Conroy。　And　if　you're　from　over　the　line；　maybe　you　know　my
brother　Harry。　He　was　over　there　a　year　or　two。〃

Rowdy　hunched　his　shoulderspresumably　at　the　wind。　Harry　Conroy's　sister；
was　she？　And　he　swore。　〃I　may　have　met　him；〃　he　parried；　in　a　tone　you'd
never　notice　as　being　painstakingly　careless。　〃I　think　I　did；　come　to　think
of　it。〃

Miss　Conroy　seemed　displeased；　and　presently　the　cause　was　forthcoming。　〃If
you'd　ever　met　him；〃　she　said；　〃you'd　hardly　forget　him。〃　（Rowdy　mentally
agreed　profanely。）　〃He's　the　best　rider　in　the　whole　countryand　the
handsomest。　Hehe's　splendid！　And　he's　the　only　brother　I've　got。　It's　a
pity　you　never　got　acquainted　with　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　lied　Rowdy；　and　thought　a　good　deal　in　a　very　short　time。　Harry
Conroy's　sister！　Well；　she　wasn't　to　blame　for　that；　of　course；　nor　for
thinking　her　brother　a　white　man。　〃I　remember　I　did　see　him　ride　once；〃　he
observed。　〃He　was　a　whirlwind；　all　rightand　he　sure　was　handsome；　too。〃

Miss　Conroy　turned　her　face　toward　him　and　smiled　her　pleasure；　and　Rowdy
hovered　between　heaven　andanother　place。　He　was　glad　she　smiled；　and　he
was　afraid　of　what　that　subject　might　discover　for　his　straightforward
tongue　in　the　way　of　pitfalls。　It　would　not　be　nice　to　let　her　know　what　he
really　thought　of　her　brother。

〃This　looks　to　me　like　a　lane；〃　he　said　diplomatically。　〃We　must　be　getting
somewhere；　don't　you　recognize　any　landmarks？〃

Miss　Conroy　leaned　forward　and　peered　through　the　clouds　of　snow　dust。
Already　the　night　was　creeping　down　upon　the　land；　stealthily　turning　the
blank　white　of　the　blizzard　into　as　blank　a　graywhich　was　as　near　darkness
as　it　could　get；　because　of　the　snow　which　fell　and　fell；　and　yet　seemed
never　to　find　an　abiding…place；　but　danced　and　swirled　giddily　in　the　wind
as　the　cold　froze　it　dry。　There　would　be　no　more　damp；　clinging　masses　that
night；　it　was　sifting　down　like　flour　from　a　giant　sieve；　and
of　the　supply　there　seemed　no　end。

〃I　don't　know　of　any　lanes　around　here；〃　she　began　dubiously；　〃unless
it's〃

Vaughan　looked　sharply　at　her　muffled　figure　and　wondered　why　she　broke　off
so　suddenly。　She　was　staring　hard　at　the　few；　faint　traces　of　landmarks；
and；　bundled　in　the　red…and…yellow　Navajo　blanket；　with　her　bright；　dark
eyes；　she　might　easily　have　passed　for　a　slim　young　squaw。

Out　ahead；　a　dog　began　barking　vaguely；　and　Rowdy　turned　eagerly　to　the
sound。　Dixie；　scenting　human　habitation；　stepped　out　more　briskly　through
the　snow；　and　even　Chub　lifted　an　ear　briefly　to　show　he　heard。

〃It　may　not　be　any　one　you　know；〃　Vaughan　remarked；　and　his　voice　showed　his
longing；　〃but　it'll　be　shelter　and　a　warm　fireand　supper。　Can　you
appreciate　such　blessings；　Miss　Conroy？　I　can。　I've　been　in　the　saddle　since
sunrise；　and　I　was　so　sure　I'd　strike　the　Cross　L　by　dinner…time　that　I
didn't　bring　a　bite　to　eat。　It　was　a　sheep…camp　where　I　stopped；　and　the
grub　didn't　look　good　to　me；　anywayI've　called　myself　bad　names　all　the
afternoon　for　being　more　dainty　than　sensible。　But　it's　all　right　now；　I
guess。〃

CHAPTER　2

Miss　Conroy　Refuses　Shelter。

The　storm　lifted　suddenly；　as　storms　have　a　way　of　doing；　and　a　low；　squat
ranch…house　stood　dimly　revealed　against　the　bleak　expanse　of　wind…tortured
prairie。　Rowdy　gave　an　exultant　little　whoop　and　made　for　the　gate；　leaned
and　swung　it　open　and　rode　through；　dragging　Chub　after　him　by　main
strength；　as　usual。　When　he　turned　to　close　the　gate　after　Miss　Conroy　he
found　her　standing　still　in　the　lane。

〃Come　on　in；〃　he　called；　with　a　trace　of　impatience　born　of　his　weariness
and　hunger。

〃Thank　you；　no。〃　Miss　Conroy's　voice　was　as　crisply　cold　as　the　wind　which
fluttered　the　Navajo　blanket　around　her　face。　〃I　much　prefer　the　blizzard。〃


For　a　moment　Rowdy　found　nothing　to　say；　he　just　stared。　Miss　Conroy　shifted
uneasily　in　the　saddle。

〃This　is　old　Bill　Brown's　place；〃　she　explained　reluctantly。　〃HeI'd　rather
freeze　than　go　in！〃

〃Well；　I　guess　that　won't　be　hard　to　do；〃　he　retorted　curtly；　〃if　you　stay
out　much　longer。〃

The　dog　was　growing　hysterical　over　their　presence；　and　Bill　Brown　himself
came　out　to　see　what　it　was　all　about。　He　could　see　two　dim　figures　at　the
gate。

〃Hello！〃　he　shouted。　〃Why　don't　yuh　come　on　in？　What　yuh　standing　there
chewing　the　rag　for？〃

Vaughan　hesitated；　his　eyes　upon　Miss　Conroy。

〃Go　in；〃　she　commanded　imperiously；　quite　as　if　he　were　a　refractory　pupil。
〃You're　tired　out；　and　hungry。　I'm　neither。　Besides；　I　know　where　I　am　now。
I　can　find　my　way　without　any　trouble。　Go　in；　I　tell　you！〃

But　Rowdy　stayed　where　he　was；　with　the　gate　creaking　to　and　fro　between
them。　Dixie　circled　till　his　back　was　to　the　wind。　〃I　hope　you　don't　think
you're　going　to　mill　around　out　here　alone；〃　Rowdy　said　tartly。

〃I　can　manage　very　well。　I'm　not　lost　now；　I　tell　you。　Rodway's　is　only
three　miles　from　here；　and　I　know　the　direction。〃

Bill　Brown　waded　out　to　them；　wondering　what　weighty　discussion　was　keeping
them　there　in　the　cold。　Vaughan　he　passed　by　with　the　cursory　glance　of　a
disinterested　stranger；　and　went　on　to　where　Miss　Conroy　waited　stubbornly
in　the　lane。

〃Oh；　it's　you！〃　he　said　grimly。　〃Well；　come　in　and　thaw　out；　I　hope　yuh
didn't　think　yuh　wouldn't　be　welcome　yuh　knew　better。　You　got　lost；　I
reckon。　Come　on〃

Miss　Conroy　struck　Badger　sharply　across　the　flank　and　disappeared　into　the
night。　〃When　I　ask　shelter　of　you；〃　she　flung　back；　〃you'll　know　it。〃

Rowdy　started　after；　and　met　Bill　Brown　squarely　in　the　gate。　Bill　eyed　him
sharply。　〃Say；　young　fellow；　how'd　you　come　by　that　packhorse？〃　he　demanded；
as　Chub　brushed　past　him。

〃None　of　your　damn'　business；〃　snapped　Rowdy；　and　drove　the　spurs　into
Dixie's　ribs。　But　Chub　was　a　handicap　at　any　time；　now；　when　he　was　tired；
there　was　no　getting　anything　like　speed　out　of　him；　he　clung　to　his
shuffling　trot；　which　was　really　no　better　than　a　walk。　After　five　minutes
spent　alternately　in　spurring　Dixie　and　yanking　at　Chub's　lead…rope；　Rowdy
grew　frightened　and　took　to　shouting。　While　they　were　in　the　lane　Miss
Conroy　must　perforce　ride　straight　ahead；　but　the　lane　would　not　last
always。　As　though　with　malicious　intent；　the　snow　swooped　down　again　and　the
world　became　an　unreal；　nightmare　world；　wherein　was　nothing　save
shifting；　blinding　snowfloury　and　wind　and　bitter；　numbing　cold。

Rowdy　stood　in　his　stirrups；　cupped　his　chilled　fingers　around　his　numbed
lips；　and　sent　a　longdrawn　〃Who…ee！〃　sh