riders of the purple sage-第49章

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In　the　further　ascent　Venters　halted　several　times　with　the　intention　of　saying　good…by；　yet　he　changed　his　mind　and　kept　on　climbing　till　they　reached　Balancing　Rock。　Lassiter　examined　the　huge　rock；　listened　to　Venters's　idea　of　its　position　and　suggestion；　and　curiously　placed　a　strong　hand　upon　it。

〃Hold　on！〃　cried　Venters。　〃I　heaved　at　it　once　and　have　never　gotten　over　my　scare。〃

〃Well；　you　do　seem　uncommon　nervous；〃　replied　Lassiter；　much　amused。　〃Now；　as　for　me；　why　I　always　had　the　funniest　notion　to　roll　stones！　When　I　was　a　kid　I　did　it；　an'　the　bigger　I　got　the　bigger　stones　I'd　roll。　Ain't　that　funny？　Honesteven　now　I　often　get　off　my　hoss　just　to　tumble　a　big　stone　over　a　precipice；　en'　watch　it　drop；　en'　listen　to　it　bang　an'　boom。　I've　started　some　slides　in　my　time；　an'　don't　you　forget　it。　I　never　seen　a　rock　I　wanted　to　roll　as　bad　as　this　one！　Wouldn't　there　jest　be　roarin'；　crashin'　hell　down　that　trail？〃

〃You'd　close　the　outlet　forever！〃　exclaimed　Venters。　〃Well；　good…by；　Lassiter。　Keep　my　secret　and　don't　forget　me。　And　be　mighty　careful　how　you　get　out　of　the　valley　below。　The　rustlers'　canyon　isn't　more　than　three　miles　up　the　Pass。　Now　you've　tracked　me　here；　I'll　never　feel　safe　again。〃

In　his　descent　to　the　valley；　Venters's　emotion；　roused　to　stirring　pitch　by　the　recital　of　his　love　story；　quieted　gradually；　and　in　its　place　came　a　sober；　thoughtful　mood。　All　at　once　he　saw　that　he　was　serious；　because　he　would　never　more　regain　his　sense　of　security　while　in　the　valley。　What　Lassiter　could　do　another　skilful　tracker　might　duplicate。　Among　the　many　riders　with　whom　Venters　had　ridden　he　recalled　no　one　who　could　have　taken　his　trail　at　Cottonwoods　and　have　followed　it　to　the　edge　of　the　bare　slope　in　the　pass；　let　alone　up　that　glistening　smooth　stone。　Lassiter；　however；　was　not　an　ordinary　rider。　Instead　of　hunting　cattle　tracks　he　had　likely　spent　a　goodly　portion　of　his　life　tracking　men。　It　was　not　improbable　that　among　Oldring's　rustlers　there　was　one　who　shared　Lassiter's　gift　for　trailing。　And　the　more　Venters　dwelt　on　this　possibility　the　more　perturbed　he　grew。

Lassiter's　visit；　moreover；　had　a　disquieting　effect　upon　Bess；　and　Venters　fancied　that　she　entertained　the　same　thought　as　to　future　seclusion。　The　breaking　of　their　solitude；　though　by　a　well…meaning　friend；　had　not　only　dispelled　all　its　dream　and　much　of　its　charm；　but　had　instilled　a　canker　of　fear。　Both　had　seen　the　footprint　in　the　sand。

Venters　did　no　more　work　that　day。　Sunset　and　twilight　gave　way　to　night；　and　the　canyon　bird　whistled　its　melancholy　notes；　and　the　wind　sang　softly　in　the　cliffs；　and　the　camp…fire　blazed　and　burned　down　to　red　embers。　To　Venters　a　subtle　difference　was　apparent　in　all　of　these；　or　else　the　shadowy　change　had　been　in　him。　He　hoped　that　on　the　morrow　this　slight　depression　would　have　passed　away。

In　that　measure；　however；　he　was　doomed　to　disappointment。　Furthermore；　Bess　reverted　to　a　wistful　sadness　that　he　had　not　observed　in　her　since　her　recovery。　His　attempt　to　cheer　her　out　of　it　resulted　in　dismal　failure；　and　consequently　in　a　darkening　of　his　own　mood。　Hard　work　relieved　him；　still；　when　the　day　had　passed；　his　unrest　returned。　Then　he　set　to　deliberate　thinking；　and　there　came　to　him　the　startling　conviction　that　he　must　leave　Surprise　Valley　and　take　Bess　with　him。　As　a　rider　he　had　taken　many　chances；　and　as　an　adventurer　in　Deception　Pass　he　had　unhesitatingly　risked　his　life；　but　now　he　would　run　no　preventable　hazard　of　Bess's　safety　and　happiness；　and　he　was　too　keen　not　to　see　that　hazard。　It　gave　him　a　pang　to　think　of　leaving　the　beautiful　valley　just　when　he　had　the　means　to　establish　a　permanent　and　delightful　home　there。　One　flashing　thought　tore　in　hot　temptation　through　his　mindwhy　not　climb　up　into　the　gorge；　roll　Balancing　Rock　down　the　trail；　and　close　forever　the　outlet　to　Deception　Pass？　〃That　was　the　beast　in　meshowing　his　teeth！〃　muttered　Venters；　scornfully。　〃I'll　just　kill　him　good　and　quick！　I'll　be　fair　to　this　girl；　if　it's　the　last　thing　I　do　on　earth！〃

Another　day　went　by；　in　which　he　worked　less　and　pondered　more　and　all　the　time　covertly　watched　Bess。　Her　wistfulness　had　deepened　into　downright　unhappiness；　and　that　made　his　task　to　tell　her　all　the　harder。　He　kept　the　secret　another　day；　hoping　by　some　chance　she　might　grow　less　moody；　and　to　his　exceeding　anxiety　she　fell　into　far　deeper　gloom。　Out　of　his　own　secret　and　the　torment　of　it　he　divined　that　she；　too；　had　a　secret　and　the　keeping　of　it　was　torturing　her。　As　yet　he　had　no　plan　thought　out　in　regard　to　how　or　when　to　leave　the　valley；　but　he　decided　to　tell　her　the　necessity　of　it　and　to　persuade　her　to　go。　Furthermore；　he　hoped　his　speaking　out　would　induce　her　to　unburden　her　own　mind。

〃Bess；　what's　wrong　with　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Nothing；〃　she　answered；　with　averted　face。

Venters　took　hold　of　her　gently；　though　masterfully；　forced　her　to　meet　his　eyes。

〃You　can't　look　at　me　and　lie；〃　he　said。　〃Nowwhat's　wrong　with　you？　You're　keeping　something　from　me。　Well；　I've　got　a　secret；　too；　and　I　intend　to　tell　it　presently。〃

〃OhI　have　a　secret。　I　was　crazy　to　tell　you　when　you　came　back。　That's　why　I　was　so　silly　about　everything。　I　kept　holding　my　secret　backgloating　over　it。　But　when　Lassiter　came　I　got　an　ideathat　changed　my　mind。　Then　I　hated　to　tell　you。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　now？〃

〃Yesyes。　I　was　coming　to　it。　I　tried　yesterday；　but　you　were　so　cold。　I　was　afraid。　I　couldn't　keep　it　much　longer。〃

〃Very　well；　most　mysterious　lady；　tell　your　wonderful　secret。〃

〃You　needn't　laugh；〃　she　retorted；　with　a　first　glimpse　of　reviving　spirit。　〃I　can　take　the　laugh　out　of　you　in　one　second。〃

〃It's　a　go。〃

She　ran　through　the　spruces　to　the　cave；　and　returned　carrying　something　which　was　manifestly　heavy。　Upon　nearer　view　he　saw　that　whatever　she　held　with　such　evident　importance　had　been　bound　up　in　a　black　scarf　he　well　remembered。　That　alone　was　sufficient　to　make　him　tingle　with　curiosity。

〃Have　you　any　idea　what　I　did　in　your　absence？〃　she　asked。

〃I　imagine　you　lounged　about；　waiting　and　watching　for　me；〃　he　replied；　smiling。　〃I've　my　share　of　conceit；　you　know。〃

〃You're　wrong。　I　worked。　Look　at　my　hands。〃　She　dropped　on　her　knees　close　to　where　he　sat；　and；　carefully　depositing　the　black　bundle；　she　held　out　her　hands。　The　palms　and　inside　of　her　fingers　were　white；　puckered；　and　worn。

〃Why；　Bess；　you've　been　fooling　in　the　water；〃　he　said。

〃Fooling？　Look　here！〃　With　deft　fingers　she　spread　open　the　black　scarf；　and　the　bright　sun　shone　upon　a　dull；　glittering　heap　of　gold。

〃Gold！〃　he　ejaculated。

〃Yes；　gold！　See；　pounds　of　gold！　I　found　itwashed　it　out　of　the　streampicked　it　out　grain　by　grain；　nugget　by　nugget！〃

〃Gold！〃　he　cried。

〃Yes。　Nownow　laugh　at　my　secret！〃

For　a　long　minute　Venters　gazed。　Then　he　stretched　forth　a　hand　to　feel　if　the　gold　was　real。

〃Gold！〃　he　almost　shouted。　〃Bess；　there　are　hundredsthousands　of　dollars'　worth　here！〃

He　leaned　over　to　her；　and　put　his　hand；　strong　and　clenching　now；　on　hers。

〃Is　there　more　where　this　came　from？〃　he　whispered。

〃Plenty　of　it；　all　the　way　up　the　stream　to　the　cliff。　You　know　I've　often　washed　for　gold。　Then　I've　heard　the　men　talk。　I　think　there's　no　great　quantity　of　gold　here；　but　enough　forfor　a　fortune　for　you。〃

〃Thatwasyoursecret！　〃

〃Yes。　I　hate　gold。　For　it　makes　men　mad。　I've　seen　them　drunk　with　joy　and　dance　and　fling　themselves　around。　I've　seen　them　curse　and　rave。　I've　seen　them　fight　like　dogs　and　roll　in　the　dust。　I've　seen　them　kill　each　other　for　gold。〃

〃Is　that　why　you　hated　to　tell　me？〃

〃Notnot　altogether。〃　Bess　lowered　her　head。　〃It　was　because　I　knew　you'd　never　stay　here　long　after　you　found　gold。〃

〃You　were　afraid　I'd　leave　you？〃

〃Yes。

〃Listen！。。。You　great；　simple　child！　Listen。。。You　sweet；　wonderful；　wild；　blue…eyed　girl！　I　was　tortured　by　my　secret。　It　was　that　I　knew　wewe　must　leave　the　valley。　We　can't　stay　here　much　longer。　I　couldn't　think　how　we'd　get　awayout　of　the　countryor　how　we'd　live；　if　we　ever　got　out。　I'm　a　beggar。　That's　why　I　kept　my　secret。　I'm　poor。　It　takes　money　to　make　way　beyond　Sterling。