to the last man-第24章

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chimney。　　As　Ellen　halted　at　the　door　and　began　unpacking　her　burro
she　heard　the　loud；　lazy　laughter　of　men。　　An　adjoining　log　cabin　had
been　built　in　two　sections；　with　a　wide　roofed　hall　or　space　between
them。　　The　door　in　each　cabin　faced　the　other；　and　there　was　a　tall
man　standing　in　one。　　Ellen　recognized　Daggs；　a　neighbor　sheepman；　
who　evidently　spent　more　time　with　her　father　than　at　his　own　home；
wherever　that　was。　　Ellen　had　never　seen　it。　　She　heard　this　man　drawl；
〃Jorth；　heah's　your　kid　come　home。〃

Ellen　carried　her　bed　inside　the　cabin；　and　unrolled　it　upon　a　couch
built　of　boughs　in　the　far　corner。　　She　had　forgotten　Jean　Isbel's
package；　and　now　it　fell　out　under　her　sight。　　Quickly　she　covered　it。
A　Mexican　woman；　relative　of　Antonio；　and　the　only　servant　about　the
place；　was　squatting　Indian　fashion　before　the　fireplace；　stirring　a
pot　of　beans。　　She　and　Ellen　did　not　get　along　well　together；　and　few
words　ever　passed　between　them。　　Ellen　had　a　canvas　curtain　stretched
upon　a　wire　across　a　small　triangular　comer；　and　this　afforded　her　a
little　privacy。　　Her　possessions　were　limited　in　number。　　The　crude
square　table　she　had　constructed　herself。　　Upon　it　was　a　little
old…fashioned　walnut…framed　mirror；　a　brush　and　comb；　and　a　dilapidated
ebony　cabinet　which　contained　odds　and　ends　the　sight　of　which　always
brought　a　smile　of　derisive　self…pity　to　her　lips。　　Under　the　table
stood　an　old　leather　trunk。　　It　had　come　with　her　from　Texas；　and
contained　clothing　and　belongings　of　her　mother's。　　Above　the　couch
on　pegs　hung　her　scant　wardrobe。　　A　tiny　shelf　held　several　worn…out
books。

When　her　father　slept　indoors；　which　was　seldom　except　in　winter；
he　occupied　a　couch　in　the　opposite　corner。　　A　rude　cupboard　had
been　built　against　the　logs　next　to　the　fireplace。　　It　contained
supplies　and　utensils。　　Toward　the　center；　somewhat　closer　to　the　door；
stood　a　crude　table　and　two　benches。　　The　cabin　was　dark　and　smelled
of　smoke；　of　the　stale　odors　of　past　cooked　meals；　of　the　mustiness
of　dry；　rotting　timber。　　Streaks　of　light　showed　through　the　roof
where　the　rough…hewn　shingles　had　split　or　weathered。　　A　strip　of
bacon　hung　upon　one　side　of　the　cupboard；　and　upon　the　other　a　haunch
of　venison。　　Ellen　detested　the　Mexican　woman　because　she　was　dirty。
The　inside　of　the　cabin　presented　the　same　unkempt　appearance　usual
to　it　after　Ellen　had　been　away　for　a　few　days。　　Whatever　Ellen　had
lost　during　the　retrogression　of　the　Jorths；　she　had　kept　her　habits
of　cleanliness；　and　straightway　upon　her　return　she　set　to　work。

The　Mexican　woman　sullenly　slouched　away　to　her　own　quarters　outside
and　Ellen　was　left　to　the　satisfaction　of　labor。　　Her　mind　was　as　busy
as　her　hands。　　As　she　cleaned　and　swept　and　dusted　she　heard　from　time
to　time　the　voices　of　men；　the　clip…clop　of　shod　horses；　the　bellow　of　
cattle。　　And　a　considerable　time　elapsed　before　she　was　disturbed；

A　tall　shadow　darkened　the　doorway。

〃Howdy；　little　one！〃　said　a　lazy；　drawling　voice。　　〃So　y'u…all　got　home？〃

Ellen　looked　up。　　A　superbly　built　man　leaned　against　the　doorpost。
Like　most　Texans；　he　was　light　haired　and　light　eyed。　　His　face　was
lined　and　hard。　　His　long；　sandy　mustache　hid　his　mouth　and　drooped
with　a　curl。　　Spurred；　booted；　belted；　packing　a　heavy　gun　low　down
on　his　hip；　he　gave　Ellen　an　entirely　new　impression。　　Indeed。　she　was
seeing　everything　strangely。

〃Hello；　Daggs！〃　replied　Ellen。　〃Where's　my　dad？〃

〃He's　playin'　cairds　with　Jackson　an'　Colter。　　Shore's　playin'　bad；
too；　an'　it's　gone　to　his　haid。〃

〃Gamblin'？〃　queried　Ellen。

〃Mah　child；　when'd　Kurnel　Jorth　ever　play　for　fun？〃　said　Daggs；　with
a　lazy　laugh。　　〃There's　a　stack　of　gold　on　the　table。　　Reckon　yo'　uncle
Jackson　will　win　it。　　Colter's　shore　out　of　luck。〃

Daggs　stepped　inside。　　He　was　graceful　and　slow。　　His　long'　spurs
clinked。　　He　laid　a　rather　compelling　hand　on　Ellen's　shoulder。

〃Heah；　mah　gal；　give　us　a　kiss；〃　he　said。

〃Daggs；　I'm　not　your　girl；〃　replied　Ellen　as　she　slipped　out　from
under　his　hand。

Then　Daggs　put　his　arm　round　her；　not　with　violence　or　rudeness；
but　with　an　indolent；　affectionate　assurance；　at　once　bold　and
self…contained。　　Ellen；　however；　had　to　exert　herself　to　get　free
of　him；　and　when　she　had　placed　the　table　between　them　she　looked
him　square　in　the　eyes。

〃Daggs；　y'u　keep　your　paws　off　me；〃　she　said。

〃Aw；　now；　Ellen；　I　ain't　no　bear；〃　he　remonstrated。　　〃What's　the
matter；　kid？〃

〃I'm　not　a　kid。　　And　there's　nothin'　the　matter。　　Y'u're　to　keep　your
hands　to　yourself；　that's　all。〃

He　tried　to　reach　her　across　the　table；　and　his　movements　were　lazy
and　slow；　like　his　smile。　　His　tone　was　coaxing。

〃Mah　dear；　shore　you　set　on　my　knee　just　the　other　day；　now；　didn't　you？〃

Ellen　felt　the　blood　sting　her　cheeks。

〃I　was　a　child；〃　she　returned。

〃Wal；　listen　to　this　heah　grown…up　young　woman。　　All　in　a　few　days！
。　。　。　Doon't　be　in　a　temper；　Ellen。　。　。　。　Come；　give　us　a　kiss。〃

She　deliberately　gazed　into　his　eyes。　　Like　the　eyes　of　an　eagle；
they　were　clear　and　hard；　just　now　warmed　by　the　dalliance　of　the
moment；　but　there　was　no　light；　no　intelligence　in　them　to　prove　he
understood　her。　　The　instant　separated　Ellen　immeasurably　from　him
and　from　all　of　his　ilk。

〃Daggs；　I　was　a　child；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　lonelyhungry　for　affection
I　was　innocent。　　Then　I　was　careless；　too；　and　thoughtless　when　I
should　have　known　better。　　But　I　hardly　understood　y'u　men。　　I　put
such　thoughts　out　of　my　mind。　　I　know　nowknow　what　y'u　meanwhat
y'u　have　made　people　believe　I　am。〃

〃Ahuh！　　Shore　I　get　your　hunch；〃　he　returned；　with　a　change　of　tone。
〃But　I　asked　you　to　marry　me？〃

〃Yes　y'u　did。　　The　first　day　y'u　got　heah　to　my　dad's　house。　　And　y'u
asked　me　to　marry　y'u　after　y'u　found　y'u　couldn't　have　your　way　with　me。
To　y'u　the　one　didn't　mean　any　more　than　the　other。〃

〃Shore　I　did　more　than　Simm　Bruce　an'　Colter；〃　he　retorted。
〃They　never　asked　you　to　marry。〃

〃No；　they　didn't。　　And　if　I　could　respect　them　at　all　I'd　do　it
because　they　didn't　ask　me。〃

〃Wal；　I'll　be　dog…goned！〃　ejaculated　Daggs；　thoughtfully；　as　he
stroked　his　long　mustache。

〃I'll　say　to　them　what　I've　said　to　y'u；〃　went　on　Ellen。　　〃I'll　tell
dad　to　make　y'u　let　me　alone。　　I　wouldn't　marry　one　of　y'uy'u　loafers
to　save　my　life。　　I've　my　suspicions　about　y'u。　　Y'u're　a　bad　lot。〃

Daggs　changed　subtly。　　The　whole　indolent　nonchalance　of　the　man
vanished　in　an　instant。

〃Wal；　Miss　Jorth；　I　reckon　you　mean　we're　a　bad　lot　of　sheepmen？〃　he
queried；　in　the　cool；　easy　speech　of　a　Texan。

〃No；〃　flashed　Ellen。　　〃Shore　I　don't　say　sheepmen。　　I　say　y'u're　a　BAD　LOT。〃

〃Oh；　the　hell　you　say！〃　　Daggs　spoke　as　he　might　have　spoken　to　a　man；
then　turning　swiftly　on　his　heel　he　left　her。　　Outside　he　encountered
Ellen's　father。　　She　heard　Daggs　speak：　〃Lee；　your　little　wildcat　is
shore　heah。　　An'　take　mah　hunch。　　Somebody　has　been　talkin'　to　her。〃

〃Who　has？〃　asked　her　father；　in　his　husky　voice。　　Ellen　knew　at　once
that　he　had　been　drinking。

〃Lord　only　knows；〃　replied　Daggs。　　〃But　shore　it　wasn't　any　friends
of　ours。〃

〃We　cain't　stop　people's　tongues；〃　said　Jorth；　resignedly

〃Wal；　I　ain't　so　shore；〃　continued　Daggs；　with　his　slow；　cool　laugh。
〃Reckon　I　never　yet　heard　any　daid　men's　tongues　wag。〃

Then　the　musical　tinkle　of　his　spurs　sounded　fainter。　　A　moment　later
Ellen's　father　entered　the　cabin。　　His　dark；　moody　face　brightened　at
sight　of　her。　　Ellen　knew　she　was　the　only　person　in　the　world　left　for
him　to　love。　　And　she　was　sure　of　his　love。　　Her　very　presence　always
made　him　different。　　And　through　the　years；　the　darker　their　misfortunes；
the　farther　he　slipped　away　from　better　days；　the　more　she　loved　him。

〃Hello；　my　Ellen！〃　he　said；　and　he　embraced　her。　　When　he　had　been
drinking　he　never　kissed　her。　　〃Shore　I'm　glad　you're　home。　　This　heah
hole　is　bad　enough　any　time；　but　when　you're　gone　it's　black。　。　。　。
I'm　hungry。〃

Ellen　laid　food　and　drink　on　the　table；　and　for　a　little　while　she
did　not　look　directly　at　him。　　She　was　concerned　about　this　new
searching　power　of　her　eyes。　　In　relation　to　him　she　vaguely　dreaded　it。

Lee