riders of the purple sage-第33章

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of　his　wrath。

〃Brother　Tull　has　talked　to　me；〃　he　began。　〃It　was　your　father's　wish　that　you　marry　Tull；　and　my　order。　You　refused　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　would　not　give　up　your　friendship　with　that　tramp　Venters？〃

〃No。〃

〃But　you'll　do　as　I　order！〃　he　thundered。　〃Why；　Jane　Withersteen；　you　are　in　danger　of　becoming　a　heretic！　You　can　thank　your　Gentile　friends　for　that。　You　face　the　damning　of　your　soul　to　perdition。〃

In　the　flux　and　reflux　of　the　whirling　torture　of　Jane's　mind；　that　new；　daring　spirit　of　hers　vanished　in　the　old　habitual　order　of　her　life。　She　was　a　Mormon；　and　the　Bishop　regained　ascendance。

〃It's　well　I　got　you　in　time；　Jane　Withersteen。　What　would　your　father　have　said　to　these　goings…on　of　yours？　He　would　have　put　you　in　a　stone　cage　on　bread　and　water。　He　would　have　taught　you　something　about　Mormonism。　Remember；　you're　a　born　Mormon。　There　have　been　Mormons　who　turned　hereticdamn　their　souls！but　no　born　Mormon　ever　left　us　yet。　Ah；　I　see　your　shame。　Your　faith　is　not　shaken。　You　are　only　a　wild　girl。〃　The　Bishop's　tone　softened。　〃Well；　it's　enough　that　I　got　to　you　in　time。。。。Now　tell　me　about　this　Lassiter。　I　hear　strange　things。〃

〃What　do　you　wish　to　know？〃　queried　Jane。

〃About　this　man。　You　hired　him？〃

〃Yes；　he's　riding　for　me。　When　my　riders　left　me　I　had　to　have　any　one　I　could　get。〃

〃Is　it　true　what　I　hearthat　he's　a　gun…man；　a　Mormon…hater；　steeped　in　blood？〃

〃Trueterribly　true；　I　fear。〃

〃But　what's　he　doing　here　in　Cottonwoods？　This　place　isn't　notorious　enough　for　such　a　man。　Sterling　and　the　villages　north；　where　there's　universal　gun…packing　and　fights　every　daywhere　there　are　more　men　like　him；　it　seems　to　me　they　would　attract　him　most。　We're　only　a　wild；　lonely　border　settlement。　It's　only　recently　that　the　rustlers　have　made　killings　here。　Nor　have　there　been　saloons　till　lately；　nor　the　drifting　in　of　outcasts。　Has　not　this　gun…man　some　special　mission　here？〃

Jane　maintained　silence。

〃Tell　me；〃　ordered　Bishop　Dyer；　sharply。

〃Yes；〃　she　replied。

〃Do　you　know　what　it　is？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Tell　me　that。〃

〃Bishop　Dyer；　I　don't　want　to　tell。〃

He　waved　his　hand　in　an　imperative　gesture　of　command。　The　red　once　more　leaped　to　his　face；　and　in　his　steel…blue　eyes　glinted　a　pin…point　of　curiosity。

〃That　first　day；〃　whispered　Jane；　〃Lassiter　said　he　came　here　to　find　Milly　Erne's　grave！〃

With　downcast　eyes　Jane　watched　the　swift　flow　of　the　amber　water。　She　saw　it　and　tried　to　think　of　it；　of　the　stones；　of　the　ferns；　but；　like　her　body；　her　mind　was　in　a　leaden　vise。　Only　the　Bishop's　voice　could　release　her。　Seemingly　there　was　silence　of　longer　duration　than　all　her　former　life。

〃Tor　whatelse？〃　When　Bishop　Dyer's　voice　did　cleave　the　silence　it　was　high；　curiously　shrill；　and　on　the　point　of　breaking。　It　released　Jane's　tongue；　but　she　could　not　lift　her　eyes。

〃To　kill　the　man　who　persuaded　Milly　Erne　to　abandon　her　home　and　her　husbandand　her　God！〃

With　wonderful　distinctness　Jane　Withersteen　heard　her　own　clear　voice。　She　heard　the　water　murmur　at　her　feet　and　flow　on　to　the　sea；　she　heard　the　rushing　of　all　the　waters　in　the　world。　They　filled　her　ears　with　low；　unreal　murmuringsthese　sounds　that　deadened　her　brain　and　yet　could　not　break　the　long　and　terrible　silence。　Then；　from　somewhere　from　an　immeasurable　distancecame　a　slow；　guarded；　clinking；　clanking　step。　Into　her　it　shot　electrifying　life。　It　released　the　weight　upon　her　numbed　eyelids。　Lifting　her　eyes　she　sawashen；　shaken；　stricken　not　the　Bishop　but　the　man！　And　beyond　him；　from　round　the　corner　came　that　soft；　silvery　step。　A　long　black　boot　with　a　gleaming　spur　swept　into　sightand　then　Lassiter！　Bishop　Dyer　did　not　see；　did　not　hear：　he　stared　at　Jane　in　the　throes　of　sudden　revelation。

〃Ah；　I　understand！〃　he　cried；　in　hoarse　accents。　〃That's　why　you　made　love　to　this　Lassiterto　bind　his　hands！〃

It　was　Jane's　gaze　riveted　upon　the　rider　that　made　Bishop　Dyer　turn。　Then　clear　sight　failed　her。　Dizzily；　in　a　blur；　she　saw　the　Bishop's　hand　jerk　to　his　hip。　She　saw　gleam　of　blue　and　spout　of　red。　In　her　ears　burst　a　thundering　report。　The　court　floated　in　darkening　circles　around　her；　and　she　fell　into　utter　blackness。

The　darkness　lightened；　turned　to　slow…drifting　haze；　and　lifted。　Through　a　thin　film　of　blue　smoke　she　saw　the　rough…hewn　timbers　of　the　court　roof。　A　cool；　damp　touch　moved　across　her　brow。　She　smelled　powder；　and　it　was　that　which　galvanized　her　suspended　thought。　She　moved；　to　see　that　she　lay　prone　upon　the　stone　flags　with　her　head　on　Lassiter's　knee；　and　he　was　bathing　her　brow　with　water　from　the　stream。　The　same　swift　glance；　shifting　low；　brought　into　range　of　her　sight　a　smoking　gun　and　splashes　of　blood。

〃Ah…h！〃　she　moaned；　and　was　drifting；　sinking　again　into　darkness；　when　Lassiter's　voice　arrested　her。

〃It's　all　right；　Jane。　It's　all　right。〃

〃Didyoukillhim？〃　she　whispered。

〃Who？　That　fat　party　who　was　here？　No。　I　didn't　kill　him。〃

〃Oh！。。。Lassiter！〃

〃Say！　It　was　queer　for　you　to　faint。　I　thought　you　were　such　a　strong　woman；　not　faintish　like　that。　You're　all　right　nowonly　some　pale。　I　thought　you'd　never　come　to。　But　I'm　awkward　round　women　folks。　I　couldn't　think　of　anythin'。〃

〃Lassiter！。。。the　gun　there！。。。the　blood！〃

〃So　that's　troublin'　you。　I　reckon　it　needn't。　You　see　it　was　this　way。　I　come　round　the　house　an'　seen　that　fat　party　an'　heard　him　talkin'　loud。　Then　he　seen　me；　an'　very　impolite　goes　straight　for　his　gun。　He　oughtn't　have　tried　to　throw　a　gun　on　mewhatever　his　reason　was。　For　that's　meetin'　me　on　my　own　grounds。　I've　seen　runnin'　molasses　that　was　quicker　'n　him。　Now　I　didn't　know　who　he　was；　visitor　or　friend　or　relation　of　yours；　though　I　seen　he　was　a　Mormon　all　over；　an'　I　couldn't　get　serious　about　shootin'。　So　I　winged　himput　a　bullet　through　his　arm　as　he　was　pullin'　at　his　gun。　An'　he　dropped　the　gun　there；　an'　a　little　blood。　I　told　him　he'd　introduced　himself　sufficient；　an'　to　please　move　out　of　my　vicinity。　An'　he　went。〃

Lassiter　spoke　with　slow；　cool；　soothing　voice；　in　which　there　was　a　hint　of　levity；　and　his　touch；　as　he　continued　to　bathe　her　brow；　was　gentle　and　steady。　His　impassive　face；　and　the　kind　gray　eyes；　further　stilled　her　agitation。

〃He　drew　on　you　first；　and　you　deliberately　shot　to　cripple　himyou　wouldn't　kill　himyouLassiter？〃'

〃That's　about　the　size　of　it。〃

Jane　kissed　his　hand。

All　that　was　calm　and　cool　about　Lassiter　instantly　vanished。

〃Don't　do　that！　I　won't　stand　it！　An'　I　don't　care　a　damn　who　that　fat　party　was。〃

He　helped　Jane　to　her　feet　and　to　a　chair。　Then　with　the　wet　scarf　he　had　used　to　bathe　her　face　he　wiped　the　blood　from　the　stone　flags　and；　picking　up　the　gun；　he　threw　it　upon　a　couch。　With　that　he　began　to　pace　the　court；　and　his　silver　spurs　jangled　musically；　and　the　great　gun…sheaths　softly　brushed　against　his　leather　chaps。

〃Soit's　truewhat　I　heard　him　say？〃　Lassiter　asked；　presently　halting　before　her。　〃You　made　love　to　meto　bind　my　hands？〃

〃Yes；〃　confessed　Jane。　It　took　all　her　woman's　courage　to　meet　the　gray　storm　of　his　glance。

〃All　these　days　that　you've　been　so　friendly　an'　like　a　pardnerall　these　evenin's　that　have　been　so　bewilderin'　to　meyour　beautyan'an'　the　way　you　looked　an'　came　close　to　methey　were　woman's　tricks　to　bind　my　hands？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃An'　your　sweetness　that　seemed　so　natural；　an'　your　throwin'　little　Fay　an'　me　so　much　togetherto　make　me　love　the　childall　that　was　for　the　same　reason？〃

〃Yes。〃

Lassiter　flung　his　armsa　strange　gesture　for　him。

〃Mebbe　it　wasn't　much　in　your　Mormon　thinkin'；　for　you　to　play　that　game。　But　to　ring　the　child　inthat　was　hellish！〃

Jane's　passionate；　unheeding　zeal　began　to　loom　darkly。

〃Lassiter；　whatever　my　intention　in　the　beginning；　Fay　loves　you　dearly　and　II've　grown　toto　like　you。〃

〃That's　powerful　kind　of　you；　now；〃　he　said。　Sarcasm　and　scorn　made　his　voice　that　of　a　stranger。　〃An'　you　sit　there　an'　look　me　straight　in　the　eyes！　You're　a　wonderful　strange　woman；　Jane　Withersteen。〃

〃I'm　not　ashamed；　Lassiter。　I　told　you　I'd　try　to　change　you。〃

〃Would　you　mind　tellin'　me　just　what　you　tried？〃

〃I　tried　to　make　you　see　beauty　in