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！
chances that instant destruction might be averted。
Utterly beyond her control； the motor…car thundered down； reached the
foot of the butte； and swept over a little hill in its wild flight。 She rushed
by a mounted horseman in the thousandth part of a second。 She was still
speeding at a tremendous velocity； but a second hill reduced this
somewhat。 She had not yet recovered control of the machine； but； though
her eyes instinctively followed the white road that flashed past； she again
had photographed on her brain the scene of the turbid tragedy in which she
was intervening。
At the foot of the butte the road circled and dipped into the coulee。 She
braced herself for the shock； but； though the wheels skidded till her heart
was in her throat； the automobile； hanging on the balance of disaster；
swept round in safety。
Her horn screamed an instant warning to the trapped man。 She could
not see him； and for an instant her heart sank with the fear that they had
killed him。 But she saw then that they were still firing； and she continued
her honking invitation as the car leaped forward into the zone of spitting
4
… Page 5…
WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
bullets。
By this time she was recovering control of the motor； and she dared
not let her attention wander； but out of the corner of her eye she
appreciated the situation。 Temporarily； out of sheer amaze at this
apparition from the blue； the guns ceased their sniping。 She became aware
that a light curly head； crouched low in the sage…brush； was moving
rapidly to meet her at right angles； and in doing so was approaching
directly the line of fire。 She could see him dodging to and fro as he moved
forward； for the rifles were again barking。
She was within two hundred yards of him； still going rapidly； but not
with the same headlong rush as before； when the curly head disappeared in
the sage…brush。 It was up again presently； but she could see that the man
came limping； and so uncertainly that twice he pitched forward to the
ground。 Incautionsly one of his assailants ran forward with a shout the
second time his head went down。 Crack！ The unerring rifle rang out； and
the impetuous one dropped in his tracks。
As she approached； the young woman slowed without stopping； and as
the car swept past Curly Head flung himself in headlong。 He picked
himself up from her feet； crept past her to the seat beyond； and almost
instantly whipped his rifle to his shoulder in prompt defiance of the fire
that was now converged on them。
Yet in a few moments the sound died away； for a voice midway in the
crescent had shouted an amazed discovery：
〃By God； it's a woman！〃
The car skimmed forward over the uneven ground toward the end of
the semicircle； and passed within fifty yards of the second man from the
end； the one she had picked out as the leader of the party。 He was a black；
swarthy fellow in plain leather chaps and blue shirt。 As they passed he
took a long； steady aim。
〃Duck！〃 shouted the man beside her； and dragged her down on the seat
so that his body covered hers。
A puff of wind fanned the girl's cheek。
〃Near thing；〃 her companion said coolly。 He looked back at the
swarthy man and laughed softly。 〃Some day you'll mebbe wish you had
5
… Page 6…
WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
sent your pills straighter； Mr。 Judd Morgan。〃
Yet a few wheel…turns and they had dipped forward out of range
among the great land waves that seemed to stretch before them forever。
The unexpected had happened； and she had achieved a rescue in the face
of the impossible。
〃Hurt badly？〃 the girl inquired briefly； her dark…blue eyes meeting his
as frankly as those of a boy。
〃No need for an undertaker。 I reckon I'll survive； ma'am；〃
〃Where are you hit？〃
〃I just got a telegram from my ankle saying there was a cargo of lead
arrived there unexpected；〃 he drawled easily。
〃Hurts a good deal； doesn't it？〃
〃No more than is needful to keep my memory jogged up。 It's a sort of a
forget…me…not souvenir。 For a good boy； compliments of Mr。 Jim Henson；〃
he explained。
Her dark glance swept him searchingly。 She disapproved the assurance
of his manner even while the youth in her applauded his reckless
sufficiency。 His gay courage held her unconsenting admiration even while
she resented it。 He was a trifle too much at his ease for one who had just
been snatched from dire peril。 Yet even in his insouciance there was
something engaging； something almost of distinction。
〃What was the trouble？〃
Mirth bubbled in his gray eyes。 〃I gathered； ma'am； that they wanted to
collect my scalp。〃
〃Do what？〃 she frowned。
〃Bump me offsend me across the divide。〃
〃Oh； I know that。 But why？〃
He seemed to reproach himself。 〃Now how could I be so neglectful？ I
clean forgot to ask。〃
〃That's ridiculous；〃 was her sharp verdict。
〃Yes； ma'am； plumb ridiculous。 My only excuse is that they began
scattering lead so sudden I didn't have time to ask many 'Whyfors。' I
reckon we'll just have to call it a Wyoming difference of opinion；〃 he
concluded pleasantly。
6
… Page 7…
WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
〃Which means； I suppose； that you are not going to tell me。〃
〃I got so much else to tell y'u that's a heap more important；〃 he
laughed。 〃Y'u see； I'm enjoyin' my first automobile ride。 It was certainly
thoughful of y'u to ask me to go riding with y'u； Miss Messiter。〃
〃So you know my name。 May I ask how？〃 was her astonished
question。
He gave the low laugh that always seemed to suggest a private source
of amusement of his own。 〃I suspicioned that might be your name when I
say y'u come a…sailin' down from heaven to gather me up like Enoch。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Well； ma'am； I happened to drift in to Gimlet Butte two or three days
ago； and while I was up at the depot looking for some freight a train
sashaid in and side tracked a flat car。 There was an automobile on that car
addressed to Miss Helen Messiter。 Now； automobiles are awful seldom in
this country。 I