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！
woman's husband would damn that boasted reputation you make so much
of and set every man's hand against us； I do； and I won't permit it。 It's a
rotten business enough；our coming on him as we have； and if this wasn't
the only God…forsaken place where we could divide our stuff without
danger and get it away off the highroads； I'd pull up stakes at once。〃
〃Let her stay at the convent； then； and be dd to her；〃 said Chivers
roughly。 〃She'll be glad enough to be with your sister again； and there's
no fear of her being touched there。〃
〃But I want to put an end to that； too；〃 returned Riggs sharply。 〃I do
not choose to have my sister any longer implicated with OUR confederate
or YOUR mistress。 No more of thatyou understand me？〃
The two men had been standing side by side； leaning against the
chimney。 Chivers now faced his companion； his full lips wreathed into
an evil smile。
〃I think I understand you； Mr。 Jack Riggs； orI beg your pardon
Rivers； or whatever your real name may be；〃 he began slowly。 〃Sadie
Collinson； the mistress of Judge Godfrey Chivers； formerly of Kentucky；
was good enough company for you the day you dropped down upon us in
our little house in the hollow of Galloper's Ridge。 We were living quite an
idyllic； pastoral life there； weren't we？ she and me； hidden from the
censorious eye of society and Collinson； obeying only the voice of
Nature and the little birds。 It was a happy time；〃 he went on with a grimly
affected sigh； disregarding his companion's impatient gesture。 〃You were
young then； waging YOUR fight against society； and freshuncommonly
fresh； I may sayfrom your first exploit。 And a very stupid； clumsy；
awkward exploit； too； Mr。 Riggs； if you will pardon my freedom。 You
wanted money； and you had an ugly temper； and you had lost both to a
gambler； so you stopped the coach to rob him； and had to kill two men to
get back your paltry thousand dollars； after frightening a whole coach…load
of passengers； and letting Wells； Fargo； and Co。's treasure…box with fifty
61
… Page 62…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
thousand dollars in it slide。 It was a stupid； a blundering； a CRUEL act；
Mr。 Riggs； and I think I told you so at the time。 It was a waste of energy
and material； and made you； not a hero； but a stupid outcast！ I think I
proved this to you； and showed you how it might have been done。〃
〃Dry up on that；〃 interrupted Riggs impatiently。 〃You offered to
become my partner； and you did。〃
〃Pardon me。 Observe； my impetuous friend； that my contention is
that youYOUpoisoned our blameless Eden in the hollow； that YOU
were our serpent； and that this Sadie Collinson； over whom you have
become so fastidious； whom you knew as my mistress； was obliged to
become our confederate。 You did not object to her when we formed our
gang； and her house became our hiding…place and refuge。 You took
advantage of her woman's wit and fine address in disposing of our booty；
you availed yourself； with the rest； of the secrets she gathered as MY
mistress； just as you were willing to profit by the superior address of her
paramouryour humble servantwhen your own face was known to the
sheriff； and your old methods pronounced brutal and vulgar。 Excuse me；
but I must insist upon THIS； and that you dropped down upon me and
Sadie Collinson exactly as you have dropped down here upon her
husband。〃
〃Enough of this！〃 said Riggs angrily。 〃I admit the woman is part and
parcel of the gang； and gets her share；or you get it for her；〃 he added
sneeringly； 〃but that doesn't permit her to mix herself with my family
affairs。〃
〃Pardon me again；〃 interrupted Chivers softly。 〃Your memory； my
dear Riggs； is absurdly defective。 We knew that you had a young sister
in the mountains； from whom you discreetly wished to conceal your real
position。 We respected； and I trust shall always respect； your noble
reticence。 But do you remember the night you were taking her to school
at Santa Clara；two nights before the fire；when you were recognized on
the road near Skinner's； and had to fly with her for your life； and brought
her to us；your two dear old friends； 'Mr。 and Mrs。 Barker of Chicago；'
who had a pastoral home in the forest？ You remember how we took her
in； yes； doubly took her in；and kept your secret from her？ And do you
62
… Page 63…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
remember how this woman （this mistress of MINE and OUR confederate）；
while we were away； saved her from the fire on our only horse； caught the
stage…coach； and brought her to the convent？〃
Riggs walked towards the window； turned； and coming back； held out
his hand。 〃Yes； she did it； and I thanked her； as I thank you。〃 He stopped
and hesitated； as the other took his hand。 〃But； blank it all； Chivers； don't
you see that Alice is a young girl； and this woman isyou know what I
mean。 Somebody might recognize HER； and that would be worse for
Alice than even if it were known what Alice's BROTHER was。 Gd！ if
these two things were put together； the girl would be ruined forever。〃
〃Jack；〃 said Chivers suddenly； 〃you want this woman out of the way。
Welldash it all！she nearly separated us； and I'll be frank with you as
between man and man。 I'll give her up！ There are women enough in
the world； and hang it； we're partners； after all！〃
〃Then you abandon her？〃 said Riggs slowly； his eyes fixed on his
companion。
〃Yes。 She's getting a little too maundering lately。 It will be a
ticklish job to manage； for she knows too much； but it will be done。
There's my hand on it。〃
Riggs not only took no notice of the proffered hand； but his former
look of discontent came back with an ill…concealed addition of loathing
and contempt。
〃We'll drop that now；〃 he said shortly； 〃we've talked here a