rowdy of the cross l-第3章

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Rowdy　stood　in　his　stirrups；　cupped　his　chilled　fingers　around　his　numbed
lips；　and　sent　a　longdrawn　〃Who…ee！〃　shrilling　weirdly　into　the　night。

It　seemed　to　him；　after　long　listening；　that　from　the　right　came　faint
reply；　and　he　turned　and　rode　recklessly；　swearing　at　Chub　for　his　slowness。
He　called　again；　and　the　answer；　though　faint；　was　unmistakable。　He　settled
heavily　into　the　saddletoo　weak；　from　sheer　relief；　to　call　again。　He　had
not　known　till　then　just　how　frightened　he　had　been；　and　he　was　somewhat
disconcerted　at　the　discovery。　In　a　minute　the　reaction　passed　and　he
shouted　a　loud　hello。

〃Hello？〃　came　the　voice　of　Miss　Conroy；　tantalizingly　calm；　and　as　superior
as　the　greeting　of　Central。　〃Were　you　looking　for　me；　Mr。　Vaughan？〃

She　was　close　to　himso　close　that　she　had　not　needed　to　raise　her　voice
perceptibly。　Rowdy　rode　up　alongside；　remembering　uncomfortably　his
prolonged　shouting。

〃I　sure　was；〃　he　admitted。　And　then：　〃You　rode　off　with　my　blanket　on。〃　He
was　very　proud　of　his　matter…of…fact　tone。

〃Oh！〃　Miss　Conroy　was　almost　deceived；　and　a　bit　disappointed。　〃I'll　give　it
to　you　now；　and　you　can　go　backif　you　know　the　way。〃

〃No　hurry；〃　said　Rowdy　politely。　〃I'll　go　on　and　see　if　you　can　find　a　place
that　looks　good　to　you。　You　seem　pretty　particular。〃

Miss　Conroy　may　have　blushed；　in　the　shelter　of　the　blanket。　〃I　suppose　it
did　look　strange　to　you；〃　she　confessed；　but　defiantly。　〃Bill　Brown　is　an
enemy　toHarry。　Hebecause　he　lost　a　horse　or　two　out　of　a　field；　one
time；　hehe　actually　accused　Harry　of　taking　them！　He　lied；　of　course；　and
nobody　believed　him；　nobody　could　believe　a　thing　like　that　about　Harry。　It
was　perfectly　absurd。　But　he　did　his　best　to　hurt　Harry's　name；　and　I　would
rather　freeze　than　ask　shelter　of　him。　Wouldn't　youin　my　place；　I　mean？〃

〃I　always　stand　up　for　my　friends；〃　evaded　Rowdy。　〃And　if　I　had　a　brother〃

〃Of　course　you'd　be　loyal；〃　approved　Miss　Conroy　warmly。　〃But　I　didn't　want
you　to　come　on；　it　isn't　your　quarrel。　And　I　know　the　way　now。　You　needn't
have　come　any　farther　〃

〃You　forgot　the　blanket；〃　Rowdy　reminded　wickedly。　〃I　think　a　lot　of　that
Navajo。〃

〃You　insisted　upon　my　taking　it；〃　she　retorted；　and　took　refuge　in　silence。

For　a　long　hour　they　plodded　blindly。　Rowdy　beat　his　hands　often　about　his
body　to　start　the　blood；　and　meditated　yearnigly　upon　hot　coffee　and　the
things　he　liked　best　to　eat。　Also；　a　good　long　pull　at　a　flask　wouldn't　be
had；　either；　he　thought。　And　he　hoped　this　little　schoolma'am　knew　where　she
was　goingtruth　to　tell；　he　doubted　it。

After　a　while；　it　seemed　that　Miss　Conroy　doubted　it　also。　She　took　to
leaning　forward　and　straining　her　eyes　to　see　through　the　gray　wall　before。

〃There　should　be　a　gate　here；〃　she　said　dubiously；　at　last。

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　Rowdy　ventured　mildly；　〃if　there　were　a　gate；　it　would
have　some　kind　of　a　fence　hitched　to　it；　wouldn't　it？〃

Miss　Conroy　was　in　no　mood　for　facetiousness；　and　refused　to　answer　his
question。　〃I　surely　can't　have　made　a　mistake；〃　she　observed　uneasily。

〃It　would　be　a　wonder　if　you　didn't；　such　a　night　as　this；〃　he　consoled。　〃I
wouldn't　bank　on　traveling　straight　myself；　even　if　I　knew　the
countrywhich　I　don't。　And　I've　been　in　more　blizzards　than　I'm　years　old。〃

〃Rodway's　place　can't　be　far　away；〃　she　said；　brightening。　〃It　may　be
farther　to　the　east；　shall　we　try　that　wayif　you　know　which　is　east？〃

〃Sure；　we'll　try。　It's　all　we　can　do。　My　packhorse　is　about　all　in；　from　the
way　he　hangs　back；　if　we　don't　strike　something　pretty　soon　I'll　have　to
turn　him　loose。〃

〃Oh；　don't　do　that；〃　she　begged。　〃It　would　be　too　cruel。　We're　sure　to　reach
Rodway's　very　soon。〃

More　plodding　through　drifts　high　and　drifts　low；　more　leaning　from　saddles
to　search　anxiously　for　trace　of　something　besides　snow　and　wind　and　biting
cold。　Then；　far　to　the　right；　a　yellow　eye　glowed　briefly　when　the　storm
paused　to　take　breath。　Miss　Conroy　gave　a　glad　little　cry　and　turned　Badger
sharply。

〃Did　you　see？　It　was　the　light　from　a　window。　We　were　going　the　wrong　way。
I'm　sure　that　is　Rodway's。〃

Rowdy　thanked　the　Lord　and　followed　her。　They　came　up　against　a　fence；　found
a　gate；　and　passed　through。　While　they　hurried　toward　it；　the　light　winked
welcome；　as　they　drew　near；　some　one　stirred　the　fire　and　sent　sparks　and
rose…hued　smoke　rushing　up　into　the　smother　of　snow。　Rowdy　watched　them
wistfully；　and　wondered　if　there　would　be　supper；　and　strong；　hot　coffee。　He
lifted　Miss　Conroy　out　of　the　saddle；　carried　her　two　long　strides；　and
deposited　her　upon　the　door…step；　rapped　imperatively；　and　when　a　voice
replied；　lifted　the　latch　and　pushed　her　in　before　him。

For　a　minute　they　stood　blinking；　just　within　the　door。　The　change　from
numbing　cold　and　darkness　to　the　light　of　the　overheated　room　was
stupefying。

Then　Miss　Conroy　went　over　and　held　her　little；　gloved　hands　to　the　heat　of
the　stove；　but　she　did　not　take　the　chair　which　some　one　pushed　toward　her。
She　stood；　the　blanket　shrouding　her　face　and　her　slim　young　figure；　and
looked　about　her　curiously。　It　was　not　Rodway's　house；　after　all。　She
thought　she　knew　what　place　it　wasthe　shack　where　Rodway's　hay…balers
bached。

From　the　first；　Rowdy　did　not　like　the　look　of　thingsthough　for　himself　it
did　not　matter；　he　was　used　to　such　scenes。　It　was　the　presence　of　the　girl
which　made　him　uncomfortable。　He　unbuttoned　his　coat　that　the　warmth　might
reach　his　chilled　body；　and　frowned。

Four　men　sat　around　a　small；　dirty　table；　evidently　the　arrivals　had
interrupted　an　exciting　game　of　seven…up。　A　glance　told　Rowdy；　even　if　his
nose　had　not；　that　the　four　round；　ribbed　bottles　had　not　been　nearly
emptied　without　effect。

〃Have　one　on　the　house；〃　the　man　nearest　him　cried；　and　shoved　a　bottle
toward　him。

Involuntarily　Rowdy　reached　for　it。　Now　that　he　was　inside；　he　realized　all
at　once　how　weary　he　was；　and　cold　and　hungry。　Each　abused　muscle　and　nerve
seemed　to　have　a　distinct　grievance　against　him。　His　fingers　closed　around
the　bottle　before　he　remembered　and　dropped　it。　He　looked　up；　hoping　Miss
Conroy　had　not　observed　the　action；　met　her　wide；　questioning　eyes；　and　the
blood　flew　guiltily　to　his　cheeks。

〃Thanks；　boysnot　any　for　me；〃　he　said；　and　apologized　to　Miss　Conroy　with
his　eyes。

The　man　rose　and　confronted　him　unsteadily。　〃Dat's　a　hell　off　a　way！　You　too
proud　for　drink　weeth　us？　You　drink；　now！　By　Gar；　I　make　you　drink！〃

Rowdy's　eyelids　drooped；　which　was　a　bad　sign　for　those　who　knew　him。
〃You're　forgetting　there's　a　lady　present；〃　he　reminded　warningly。

The　man　turned　a　brief；　contemptuous　glance　toward　the　stove。　〃You　got　the
damn'　queer　way　to　talk。　I　don't　call　no　squaw　no　lady。　You　drink　queeck；
now！〃

〃Aw；　shut　up；　Frenchy；〃　the　man　at　his　elbow　abjured　him。　〃He　don't　have　to
drink　if　he　don't　want　to。〃

〃You　keep　the　face　close；〃　the　other　retorted　majestically；　and　cursed　loud
and　long　and　incoherently。

Rowdy　drew　back　his　arm；　with　a　fist　that　meant　trouble　for　somebody；　but
there　were　others　before　him　who　pinned　the　importunate　host　to　the　table；
where　he　squirmed　unavailingly。

Rowdy　buttoned　up　his　coat　the　while　he　eyed　the　group　disgustedly。　〃I　guess
we'll　drift；〃　he　remarked。　〃You　don't　look　good　to　me；　and　that's　no　dream。〃

〃Aw；　stay　and　warm　up；〃　the　fourth　man　expostulated。　〃Yuh　don't　need　t'　mind
Le　Febre；　he's　drunk。'

But　Rowdy　opened　the　door　decisively；　and　Miss　Conroy；　her　cheeks　like　two
storm…buffeted　poppies；　followed　him　out　with　dignityalbeit　trailing　a
yard　of　red…and…yellow　Navajo　blanket　behind　her。　Rowdy　lifted　her　into　the
saddle；　tucked　her　feet　carefully　under　the　blanket；　and　said　never　a　word。

〃Mr。　Vaughan；〃　she　began　hesitatingly；　〃this　is　too　bad；　you　need　not　have
left。　II　wasn't　afraid。〃

〃I　know　you　weren't；〃　conceded　Rowdy。　〃But　it　was　a　hard　formationfor　a
woman。　Are　there　any　more　places　on　this　flat　marked　Unavailable？〃

Miss　Conroy　replied　misanthropically　that　if　there　were　they　would　be　sure
to　find　them。

They　took　up　their　weary　wanderings　again；　while　the　yellow　eye　of　the
window　winked　after　them。　They　missed　Rodway's　by　a　scant