登陆注册
20262900000051

第51章 THE SONG AND THE SERGEANT(5)

The desperado fired again.A little cry came from Nancy Derwent.Littlefield whirled, with blazing eyes, and saw the blood trickling down her cheek.

"I'm not hurt, Bob -- only a splinter struck me.Ithink he hit one of the wheel-spokes."

"Lord!" groaned Littlefield."If I only had a charge of buckshot!"The ruffian got his horse still, and took careful aim.

Fly gave a snort and fell in the harness, struck in the neck.Bess, now disabused of the idea that plover were being fired at, broke her traces and galloped wildly away -- Mexican Sam sent a ball neatly through the fulness of Nancy Derwent's shooting jacket.

"Lie down -- lie down!" snapped Littlefield."close to the horse -- flat on the ground -- so." He almost threw her upon the grass against the back of the recum-bent Fly.Oddly enough, at that moment the words of the Mexican girl returned to his mind:

"If the life of the girl you love is ever in danger, remem-ber Rafael Ortiz."

Littlefield uttered an exclamation.

"Open fire on him, Nan, across the horse's back.

Fire as fast as you can! You can't hurt him, but keep him dodging shot for one minute while I try to work a little scheme."Nancy gave a quick glance at Littlefield, and saw him take out his pocket-knife and open it.Then she turned her face to obey orders, keeping up a rapid fire at the enemy.

Mexico Sam waited patiently until this innocuous fusillade ceased.He had plenty of time, and he did not care to risk the chance of a bird-shot in his eye when could be avoided by a little caution.He pulled his heavy Stetson low down over his face until the shots ceased.

Then he drew a little nearer, and fired with careful aim at what he could see of his victims above the fallen horse.

Neither of them moved.He urged his horse a few steps nearer.He saw the district attorney rise to one knee and deliberately level his shotgun.He pulled his hat down and awaited the harmless rattle of the tiny pellets.

The shotgun blazed with a heavy report.Mexico Sam sighed, turned limp all over, and slowly fell from his horse -- a dead rattlesnake.

At ten o'clock the next morning court opened, and the case of the United States versus Rafael Ortiz was called.

The district attorney, with his arm in a sling, rose and addressed the court.

"May it please your honour," he said, "I desire to enter a nolle pros.in this case.Even though the defend-ant should be guilty, there is not sufficient evidence in the hands of the government to secure a conviction.The piece of counterfeit coin upon the identity of which the case was built is not now available as evidence.I ask, therefore, that the case be stricken off."At the noon recess Kilpatrick strolled into the district attorney's office.

"I've just been down to take a squint at old Mexico Sam," said the deputy."They've got him laid out.

Old Mexico was a tough outfit, I reckon.The boys was wonderin' down there what you shot him with.Some said it must have been nails.I never see a gun carry anything to make holes like he had.""I shot him," said the district attorney, "with Exhibit A of your counterfeiting case.Lucky thing for me --and somebody else -- that it was as bad money as it was!

It sliced up into slugs very nicely.Say, Kil, can't you go down to the jacals and find where that Mexican girl lives? Miss Derwent wants to know."A NEWSPAPER STORY

AT 8 A.M.it lay on Giuseppi's news-stand, still damp from the presses.Giuseppi, with the cunning of his ilk, philandered on the opposite comer, leaving his patrons to help themselves, no doubt on a theory related to the hypothesis of the watched pot.

This particular newspaper was, according to its custom and design, an educator, a guide, a monitor, a champion and a household counsellor and vade mecum.

From its many excellencies might be selected three editorials.One was in simple and chaste but illuminat-ing language directed to parents and teachers, depreca-ting corporal punishment for children.

Another was an accusive and significant warning addressed to a notorious labour leader who was on the point of instigating his clients to a troublesome strike.

The third was an eloquent demand that the police force be sustained and aided in everything that tended to increase its efficiency as public guardians and servants.

Besides these more important chidings and requisitions upon the store of good citizenship was a wise prescription or form of procedure laid out by the editor of the heart-to-heart column in the specific case of a young man who had complained of the obduracy of his lady love, teaching him how he might win her.

Again, there was, on the beauty page, a complete answer to a young lady inquirer who desired admonition toward the securing of bright eyes, rosy cheeks and a beautiful countenance.

One other item requiring special cognizance was a brief "personal," running thus:

DEAR JACK: -- Forgive me.You were right.Meet me comer Madison and -th at 8.30 this morning.We leave at noon.

PENITENT.

At 8 o'clock a young man with a haggard look and the feverish gleam of unrest in his eye dropped a penny and picked up the top paper as he passed Giuseppi's stand.

A sleepless night had left him a late riser.There was an office to be reached by nine, and a shave and a hasty cup of coffee to be crowded into the interval.

He visited his barber shop and then hurried on his way.He pocketed his paper, meditating a belated perusal of it at the luncheon hour.At the next corner it fell from his pocket, carrying with it his pair of new gloves.Three blocks he walked, missed the gloves and turned back fuming.

Just on the half-hour he reached the corner where lay the gloves and the paper.But he strangely ignored that which he had come to seek.He was holding two little hands as tightly as ever he could and looking into two penitent brown eyes, while joy rioted in his heart.

同类推荐
  • 贯休应梦罗汉画歌

    贯休应梦罗汉画歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 全相平话三国志至治新刊

    全相平话三国志至治新刊

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 补农书

    补农书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 省心杂言

    省心杂言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 特牲单

    特牲单

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 神魔人道

    神魔人道

    馄饨初开,宇宙刚立,天道初醒,苍天复苏,大地一片荒芜,没有丝毫的生机……“太凄凉了,看来我们需要找点乐子了!”一身白衣的男子对着旁边一人说道。“确实,省得你天天烦我!”另一个男子闻言,笑了一声说道。……不过在两人的玩笑中,却是诞生了大地上第一个种族‘神族’。但是神族稀少,世界看起来仍是过于单调,于是神族创造了人族。随着人族的快速繁衍,大地上欣欣向荣,充满了生机……不过随后发生了‘灾难’,一场惨绝人寰的‘灾难’,神族与人族为了对抗这场‘灾难’付出了巨大的代价,并且这场‘灾难’过后,诞生了一个新的种族‘魔族’……罗兰,一个猎魔者,由于身体内同时存在圣光与暗属性,所以注定了他的不平凡,面对这个世界一次一次被‘魔族’入侵,他走上了成神之路……最终罗兰能否揭示‘魔族’的秘密,而‘神族’又是如何产生的,并且‘人族’是否能够真正强大起来,一切尽在《神魔人道》。
  • tfboys之心之所恋

    tfboys之心之所恋

    tfboys青春年少,遇见了同一个善良美丽的女孩,她的手,将会与谁共牵?
  • 原狱

    原狱

    一群农民起义者为逃避官府追捕,匿入煤窑挖煤为生,残酷而充斥着血泪的原始积累由此开始。不蓄私银的美好时代结束了,共同的精神崩溃了。以金钱为基础的新秩序在一场场火拼与厮杀中建立起来。有了雇佣与被雇佣,有了剥削与被剥削,有了暴富和赤贫,有了这块土地的繁荣“娼盛”。花窑原始积累的残酷不亚于煤窑,金钱的气息充斥在糜烂的空气中。花船上滋生着年轻女人的梦想,煤窑下沸腾着青壮男儿的热血。然而,仍有人顽强地以人的名义生存着,挣扎着,呼唤着公理与正义,期待着革命。
  • 本色做人,变通做事

    本色做人,变通做事

    内外兼修,做人还原本色,刚柔并济,做事讲求变通。人生难,难于上青天。形形色色的人在你的周围,有人颠倒黑白,混淆事非;有人阳奉阴违,两面三刀;有人阴险狡诈,诡计多端。本书巧妙融合“本色”“变通”两大理念,教你如何本色做人,变通做事,在复杂的人际关系中,用精湛的技巧有效地解决人生难题。
  • exo:青梅竹马不是恋人

    exo:青梅竹马不是恋人

    吴世勋让我知道:这个世界上的青梅竹马并非都是恋人都说青梅竹马到后来都会是情侣,可是我和吴世勋到头来还是朋友。我们,终究是错过了吗我的边伯贤,你要永远笑着。世界上最痛苦的事,就是你爱上那个爱你入骨的人,可他却已经不爱你了。朴灿烈,你不要我了吗?鹿晗,我们一定要永远永远生生世世在一起。我亲爱的小怪兽,你在哪?吴亦凡,当我相信你时,你却已经不相信了我。
  • 翼庵禅师语录

    翼庵禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我的降灵师女友

    我的降灵师女友

    在我租住的地方,一个不知是人是鬼的神秘少女,美艳动人的房东老板娘。灵体和人类的战斗!未知和死亡的触碰!我将带着复杂特殊的身份,去一一面对这些!今有长缨在手,何时缚住苍龙!口喝道令鬼神惊,身动法出天地震!
  • 若惜若忆

    若惜若忆

    你是我这辈子想放也放不下的人。一百块都不给我,还要我帮你养娃!造孽啊!
  • 狠心老公走着瞧

    狠心老公走着瞧

    她是豪门世家之女,爱上了英俊的他。可是当她怀孕的时候,他却是跟别人鬼混!她被人陷害,却无人帮助!她告诫自己,靠人不如靠己!
  • 异界破天

    异界破天

    身怀异能的屌丝青年,在追杀中命丧海底,却意外穿越到神秘的异界大陆,他虽打通脉门成为武者,却因不是元素之脉,无法催动厉害的武技,为人嘲笑。可隔空控物的异能,让他可以使用别人所不能用的武器,去旁人去不了的地方,凭借着强大的异能,纵横异界,这一切究竟是无意为之,还是冥冥之中自有天定。神秘的大陆之外,是更加神秘的世界,本来就不平静的异界因为他的到来,又会掀起怎样的波澜……书友群传送阵:312819483