hr.thecarpetbaggers-第26部分

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　A　fleeting　shadow　crossed　the　girl's　face。　〃I　half　expected　that；〃　she　said。　〃Daddy's　been　too　busy　to　e　home　for　ten　years。〃
　Max　guessed　that　she　didn't　know　her　father　had　been　in　prison。　〃e；〃　he　said　gently。　〃I've　got　a　room　for　you　over　at　the　Palace　Hotel。　You　can　clean　up　and　sleep　there　tonight。　We　got　a　two…day　trip　home；　so　we　won't　start　till　morning。〃
　By　the　time　they　reached　the　hotel；　twenty　minutes　later；　Max　was　in　love　for　the　first　time　in　his　life。
　
　Max　tied　his　horse　to　the　hitching　post　in　front　of　the　Reeves　ranch　house。　He　climbed　up　the　steps　and　knocked　at　the　door。　When　Reeves's　daughter　opened　it；　her　face　looked　tired　and　strained；　as　if　she'd　been　weeping；　〃Oh；　it's　you；'　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃e　in。〃
　He　followed　her　into　the　parlor。　He　reached　for　her；　suddenly　concerned。　〃Betty；　what's　wrong？〃
　She　slipped　away　from　his　hands。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　you　were　an　escaped　convict？〃　she　asked；　not　looking　at　him。
　His　face　settled　into　cold　lines。　〃Would　it　have　made　any　diff'rence？〃
　She　met　his　look　honestly。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃I'd　never　have　let　myself　get　this　involved　if　I'd　known。〃　
　〃Now　that　you　do　know；〃　he　persisted。　〃Does　it　matter？〃　
　〃Yes；〃　she　said　again。　〃Oh；　don't　ask　me。　I'm　so　confused！〃　
　〃What　else　did　your　father　tell　you？〃　
　She　looked　down　at　her　hands。　〃He　said　I　couldn't　marry　you。　Not　only　because　of　that　but　because　you're　…　you're　half　Indian！〃
　〃An'　just　because　of　that；　you　stopped　lovin'　me？〃　
　She　stared　down　at　her　twisting　hands　without　answering。　〃I　don't　know　how　I　feel；〃　she　said　finally。
　He　reached　out　and　pulled　her　toward　him。　〃Betty；　Betty；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃Las'　night　at　the　dance；　you　kissed　me。　You　said　you　loved　me。　I　haven't　changed　since　then。〃
　For　a　moment；　she　stood　quietly；　then　pulled　herself　away　from　him。　〃Don't　touch　me！〃　she　said　quickly。
　Max　stared　at　her　curiously。　〃You　don'　have　to　be　afraid　of　me。〃
　She　shrank　from　his　hand。　〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　said；　and　this　time　the　fear　in　her　voice　was　much　too　familiar　for　Max　not　to　recognize　it。　Without　another　word；　he　turned　and　left　the　room。
　He　rode　straight　into　town　to　the　bank　and　walked　into　the　back　room　that　served　Reeves　as　an　office。
　Reeves　looked　up　from　the　big　roll…top　desk。　〃What　the　hell　do　you　mean　bustin'　in　here　like　this？〃　he　demanded。
　Max　stared　at　him。　〃Don't　try　to　bull…shit　me；　Reeves。　You　already　done　a　good　job　on　your　daughter。〃
　Reeves　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　laughed。　〃Is　that　all？〃　he　asked。
　〃It's　enough；〃　Max　said。　〃Las'　night　she　promised　to　marry　me。〃
　Reeves　leaned　forward。　〃I　gave　you　credit　for　more　brains'n　that；　Max。〃
　〃It　don't　matter　now；　Reeves。　I'm　movin'　on。〃
　Reeves　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃You　mean　that？〃　
　Max　nodded。　〃I　mean　it。〃　
　〃You　takin'　the　nigger　with　you？〃　
　〃Yeah；〃　Max　said。　〃When　I　get　our　share　of　the　money。〃　
　Reeves　swung　his　chair　around　and　took　some　bills　from　the　safe　behind　him。　He　threw　them　down　on　the　desk　in　front　of　Max。　〃There　it　is。〃
　Max　looked　down　at　it；　then　at　Reeves。　He　picked　up　the　money　and　counted　it。　〃There's　only　five　hundred　dollars　here；〃　he　said。
　〃What　did　you　expect？〃　Reeves　asked。　
　〃We　came　into　Fort　Worth　with　seven　thousand。　My　share　of　that　alone　was　twenty…three　hundred　an'　we　ain't　been　exactly　losin'　money　in　the　saloon。〃　Max　took　a　ready…made　from　Reeves's　desk　and　lit　it。　〃I　figger　Mike　an'　me's　due　at　least　five　thousand。〃
　Reeves　shrugged。　〃I　won't　argue；〃　he　said。　〃After　all；　we　been　through　a　lot　together；　you　an'　me。　If　that's　what　you　figure；　that's　what　you　get。〃
　He　counted　the　money　out　on　the　desk。　Max　picked　it　up　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。　〃I　didn't　think　you'd　part　with　it　so　easy；〃　he　said。
　He　was　halfway　to　the　saloon　when　someone　hailed　him　from　the　rear。　He　turned　around　slowly。
　The　sheriff　and　two　deputies　advanced　on　him；　their　guns　drawn。　Reeves　was　with　them。　
　〃What's　up；　Sheriff？〃　Max　asked。
　〃Search　him；〃　Reeves　said　excitedly。　〃You'll　find　the　money　he　stole　right　on　him。〃
　〃Stole？〃　Max　said。　〃He's　crazy！　That　money's　mine。　He　owed　it　to　me。〃　
　〃Keep　your　hand　away　from　your　gun；〃　the　sheriff　said；　moving　forward　cautiously。　He　stuck　his　hand　in　Max's　pocket。　It　came　out　with　a　sheaf　of　bills。
　〃See！〃　Reeves　yelled。　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃
　〃You　son　of　a　bitch！〃　Max　exploded。　He　flung　himself　toward　Reeves。　Before　he　could　reach　him；　the　sheriff　brought　his　gun　butt　down　along　the　side　of　Max's　head。　It　was　just　at　that　moment　that　Mike　looked　out　the　window　of　the　room　over　the　saloon。
　Reeves　walked　over　to　Max　and　looked　down　at　him。　〃I　shoulda　known　better　than　to　trust　a　half…breed。〃
　〃Pick　him　up；　boys；　an'　tote　him　over　to　the　jail；〃　the　sheriff　said。
　〃Better　get　over　to　the　saloon　and　get　his　nigger　friend；　too；〃　Reeves　said。　〃He　was　probably　in　on　it。〃
　Mike　saw　the　sheriff　look　over　at　the　saloon；　then　begin　to　walk　toward　it。　He　didn't　wait　any　longer。　He　went　down　the　back　stairs　and　got　the　hell　out　of　town。
　
　Reeves　rode　along　the　road　to　his　ranch；　half　humming　to　himself。　He　was　feeling　good。　For　the　first　time；　he　was　secure。　Max　wouldn't　dare　talk；　it　would　only　make　it　worse　for　him。　And　the　nigger　was　gone。　Leave　it　to　a　nigger　to　run　when　things　got　rough。　He　was　so　wrapped　up　in　his　thoughts　that　he　never　heard　the　crack　of　the　snake　as　it　whipped　out　from　behind　the　trees　and　dragged　him　down　off　his　horse。
　He　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　reached　for　his　gun　but　the　next　crack　of　the　snake　tore　it　from　his　fingers。　Mike　walked　slowly　toward　him；　the　big　whip　coiling　slowly　back　up　his　arm。
　Reeves　screamed　in　terror。
　The　big　snake　cracked　again　and　Reeves　spun　around　and　tumbled　over　backward　into　the　dust。　He　got　to　his　hands　and　knees　and　began　to　crawl；　then　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　tried　to　run。　The　snake　ran　down　the　road　after　him　and　crept　between　his　legs；　throwing　him　to　the　ground。　He　turned　his　head　and　saw　Mike's　arm　go　up　into　the　air；　the　long　black　whip　rising　with　it。
　He　screamed　as　the　snake　tore　into　him　again。
　
　Sometime　early　the　next　morning；　the　sheriff　and　his　deputies　came　across　a　body　lying　at　the　side　of　the　road。　During　the　night；　someone　had　torn　the　bars　from　the　window　of　the　jail's　only　cell　and　Max　had　escaped。
　One　of　the　deputies　saw　the　body　first。　He　wheeled　his　horse　over　beside　it　and　looked　down。
　The　sheriff　and　the　other　deputy　wheeled　their　horses。　For　a　long　while；　they　stared　down　at　the　mutilated　body。　Then　one　of　them　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped　the　cold；　beaded　sweat　from　his　forehead。　〃That　looks　like　Banker　Reeves。〃
　The　sheriff　turned　and　looked　at　him。　〃That　was　Banker　Reeves；〃　he　said。　He；　too；　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped　his　face。　〃Funny；〃　he　added。　〃The　only　thing　I　know　of　that　can　do　that　to　a　man　is　a　Louisiana　prison　snake。〃
　
　14
　
　THE　NAME　OF　THE　VILLAGE　IN　SPANISH　WAS　VERY　long　and　difficult　for　Americans　to　pronounce；　so　after　a　while　they　gave　it　their　own　name。　Hideout。　It　was　a　place　to　go　when　there　was　nowhere　else　to　turn；　when　the　law　was　hot　on　your　neck　and　you　were　tired　of　sleeping　nights　on　the　cold　prairie　and　eating　dry　beef　and　cold　beans　from　a　can。　It　was　expensive　but　it　was　worth　it。　Four　miles　over　the　border　and　the　law　could　not　reach　you。
　And　it　was　the　only　place　in　Mexico　where　you　could　always　get　American　whisky。　Even　if　you　had　to　pay　four　times　the　price　for　it。
　The　alcalde　sat　at　his　table　in　the　rear　of　the　cantina　and　watched　the　two　americanos　e　in。　They　sat　down　at　the　table　near　the　door。　The　smaller　one　ordered　tequila。
　The　alcalde　watched　the　two　with　interest。　Soon　they　would　be　going　away。　It　was　always　like　that。　When　first　they　came；　they'd　have　nothing　but　the　best。　The　finest　whisky；　the　best　rooms；　the　most　expensive　girls。　Then　their　money　would　run　short　and　they'd　begin　to　reduce　their　expenses。　First；　the　room　would　be　changed　for　a　cheaper　one；　next；　the　girls　would　go。　Last；　the　whisky。　When　they　got　down　to　drinking　tequila；　it　meant　that　before　long；　they'd　be　moving　on。
　He　lifted　his　glass　and　drank　his　tequila　quickly。　That　was　the　way　of　the　world。　He　looked　at　the　smaller　man　again。　There　was　something　about　him　that　had　caught　his　eye。　He　sighed；　thinking　of　his　youth。　Juárez　would　have　liked　this　one：　the　Indian　blood　in　the　Jefe　told　him　instinctively　which　ones　were　the　warriors。　He　sighed　again。　Poor　Juárez；　he　wanted　so　much　for　the　people　and　got　so　little。　He　wondered　if　before　the　Jefe　died；　he　had　realized　that　the　only　reason　for　his　failure　was　that　the　people　didn't　want　as　much　for　themselves　as　he　had　wanted　for　them。　He　stared　at　the　americanos；　remembering　the　first　time　he　had　seen　them。　It　was　almost　three　years　ago。
　They　had　e　into　the　cantina　quietly；　weary　and　covered　with　the　dust　of　their　travels。　Then；　as　now；　they　had　sat　at　the　table　near　the　door。
　The　bottle　and　glasses　were　on　the　table　when　the　big　man　at　the　bar　had　e　over　to　them。　He　spoke　to　the　smaller　man；　ignoring　the　other。　〃We　don't　allow　niggers　in　this　here　saloon。〃
　The　smaller　man　didn't　even　look　up。　He　filled　his　friend's　glass　first；　then　his　own。　He　lifted　it　to　his　lips。
　The　glas