按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Jessie； but that's what I mean； andI mean all the things I'd like to say
and can't。〃 He stopped and smiled at her； wistfully whimsical。 〃I've been
three weeks getting my feelings into proper words； little girl； and coming
over here I had a speech thought out that sure done justice to my subject。
But all I can remember of it is just thatthat I want you for always。〃
Miss Conroy looked away from him； but he could see a deeper tint of red in
her cheek。 It seemed a long time before she said anything。 Then： 〃But you've
forgotten about Harry。 He's my brother； and he'd beeryou wouldn't want
him related to you。〃
〃Harry！ Well； I pass him up。 I've got a pretty long account against him； but
I'll cross it off。 It won't be hard to dofor you。 I've thought of all
that； and a man can forgive a whole lot in the brother of the woman he
loves。〃 He leaned toward her and added honestly： 〃I can't promise you I'll
ever get to like him； Jessie； but I'll keep my hands off him； and I'll treat
him civil； and when you consider all he's done； that's quite a large…sized
contract。〃
Miss Conroy became much interested in the ears of her horse。
〃The only thing to decide is whether you like me enough。 If you do； we'll
sure be happy。 Never mind Harry。〃
〃You're very generous；〃 she flared； 〃telling me to never mind Harry。 And
Harry's my own brother； and the only near relative I've got。 I know
he'simpulsive； and quick…tempered； perhaps。 But he needs me all the more。
Do you think I'll turn against him； even for you？〃
That 〃even〃 may have been a slip； but it heartened Rowdy immensely。 〃I don't
ask you to；〃 he told her gently。 〃I only want you to not turn against me。〃
〃I do wish you two would be sensible； and stop quarreling。〃 She glanced at
him briefly。
〃I'm willing to cut it outI told you that。 I can't answer for him；
though。〃 Rowdy sighed； wishing Harry Conroy in Australia； or some place
equally remote。
Miss Conroy suddenly resolved to be strictly just； and when a young woman
sets about being deliberately just； the Lord pity him whom she judges！
〃Before I answer you； I must know just what all this is about；〃 she said
firmly。 〃I want to hear both sides； I'm sure Harry wouldn't do anything
mean。 Do you think he would？〃
Rowdy was dissentingly silent。
〃Do you really； in your heart； believe that Harry wouldknowinglybe
guilty of anything mean？〃 Her eyes plainly told the answer she wanted to
hear。
Rowdy looked into them； hesitated； and clung tenaciously to his
convictions。 〃Yes； I do； and I know Harry pretty well； Jessie。〃 His face
showed how much he hated to say it。
〃I'm afraid you are very prejudiced；〃 she sighed。 〃But go on； tell me just
what you have against Harry。 I'm sure it can all be explained away； only I
must hear what it is。〃
Rowdy regarded her； puzzled。 How he was to comply he did not know。 It would
be simply brutal to tell her。 He would feel like a hangman。 And she believed
so in Harry； she wouldn't listen； even if she did； he thought bitterly； she
would hate him for destroying her faith。 A woman's justiceah； me！
〃Don't you see you're putting me in a mighty hard position； girlie？〃 he
protested。 〃You're a heap better off not to know。 He's your brother。 I wish
you'd take my word that I'll drop the whole thing right where it is。 Harry's
had all the best of it； so far； let it stand that way。〃
Her eyes met his coldly。 〃Are you afraid to let me judge between you？ What
did he do？ Daren't you tell？〃
Rowdy's lids drooped ominously。 〃If you call that a dare；〃 he said grimly；
〃I'll tell you； fast enough。 I was a friend to him when he needed one mighty
bad。 I helped him when he was dead broke and out uh work。 I kept him going
all winterand to show his gratitude； he gave me the doublecross； in more
ways than one。 I won't go into details。〃 He decided that he simply could not
tell her bluntly that Harry had worked off stolen horses on him； and worse。
〃Ohyou won't go into details！〃 Scorn filled eyes and voice。 〃Are they so
trivial； then？ You tell me what you did for Harryplaying Good Samaritan。
Harry； let me tell you； has property of his own； I can't see why he should
ever be in need of charity。 You're like all the rest； you hint things
against himbut I believe it's just jealousy。 You can't come out honestly
and tell me a single instance where he has harmed you； or done anything
worse than other high…spirited young men。〃
〃It wouldn't do any good to tell you；〃 he retorted。 〃You think he's just
lacking wings to be an angel。 I hope to God you'll always be able to think
so！ I'm sure I don't want to jar your faith。〃
〃I must say your actions don't bear out your words。 You've just been trying
to turn me against him。〃
〃I haven't。 I've been trying to convince you that I want you； anyway； and
Harry needn't come between us。〃
〃In other words； you're willing to overlook my being Harry's sister。 I
appreciate your generosity； I'm sure。〃 She did not look； however； as if she
meant that。
〃I didn't mean that。〃
〃Then you won't overlook it？ How very unfortunate！ Because I can't help the
relationship。〃
〃Would you； if you could？〃 he asked rashly。
〃Certainly not！〃
〃I'm afraid we're getting off the trail；〃 he amended tactfully。 〃I asked
you； a while back； if you'd marry me。〃
〃And I said I must hear both sides of your trouble with Harry； before I
could answer。〃
〃What's the use？ You'd take his part； anyway。〃
〃Not if I found he was guilty of all youinsinuate。 I should be perfectly
just。〃 She really believed that。
〃Can't you tell me yes or no； anyway？ Don't let him come between us。〃
〃I can't help it。 We'd never agree； or be happy。 He'd keep on coming between
us； whether we meant him to or not；〃 she said dispiritedly。
〃That's a cinch；〃 Rowdy muttered； thinking of Harry's trouble…breeding
talents。
〃Then there's no more to be said。 Until you and Harry settle your
difficulties amicably； or I am convinced that he's in the wrong； we'll just
be friends； Mr。 Vaughan。 Good afternoon。〃 She rode into the Rodway yard；
feeling very just and virtuous； no doubt。 But she left Rowdy with some
rather unpleasant thoughts； and with a sentiment toward her precious brother
which was not far from manslaughter。
CHAPTER 8
Pink in a Threatening Mood。
Eagle Creek Smith had at last reached the point where he must face new
conditions and change established customs。 He could no longer ignore the
barrenness of the range； or close his eyes to the grim fact that his cattle
were facing starvationand that in June； when they should be taking on
flesh。
When he finally did confess to himself that things couldn't go on like that；
others had been before him in leasing and buying land； until only the dry
benches were left to him and his hungry herds。
But Eagle Creek was a man of resource。 When the round…up pulled in and
Wooden Shoes reported to him the general state of the cattle； and told of
the water…holes newly fenced and of creek bottoms gobbled by men more
farseeing than he； Eagle Creek took twenty…four hours to adjust himself to
the situation and to meet the crisis before him。 His own land； as compared
to his twenty thousand cattle； was too pitifully inadequate for a second
thought。
He must look elsewhere for the correct answer to his problem。
When Rowdy rode apathetically up to the stable； Pink came out of the
bunk…house to meet him； big with news。 〃Oh； doctor！ We're up against it
a…plenty now；〃 he greeted； with his dimples at their deepest。
〃Huh！〃 grunted Rowdy crossly。 〃What's hurting you； Pink？〃
〃Forecasting the future；〃 Pink retorted。 〃Eagle Creek has come alive； and
has wised up sudden to the fact that this ain't going t' be any Noah's flood
brand uh summer； and that his cattle look like the tailings of a wash…board
factory。 He's got busyand we're sure going to。 We're due t' hit the grit
out uh here in the first beams uh rosy morn； and do a record stunt at
gathering cattle。〃
〃Well； we were going to； anyhow；〃 Rowdy cut in。
〃But that's only the prelude； old…timer。 We've got t' take 'em across
country to the Belknap reservation。 Eagle Creek went t' town and
telegraphed； and got the refusal of it for pasturage； he ain't so