登陆注册
5421300000010

第10章

So he'd get him a pair of boots. For a while it was enough to wear and own all these things. He seemed to delight in his six-shooter and his rope just as ornaments to himself and horse.

But he soon got over that. Then he had to learn to use them.

For the time being, pistol practice, for instance, would absorb all his thoughts. He'd bang away at intervals all day, and figure out new theories all night.

"That bally scheme won't work," he would complain. "I believe if I extended my thumb along the cylinder it would help that side jump."He was always easing the trigger-pull, or filing the sights. In time he got to be a fairly accurate and very quick shot.

The same way with roping and hog-tying and all the rest.

"What's the use?" I used to ask him. "If you were going to be a buckeroo, you couldn't go into harder training.""I like it," was always his answer.

He had only one real vice, that I could see. He would gamble.

Stud poker was his favourite; and I never saw a Britisher yet who could play poker. I used to head him off, when I could, and he was always grateful, but the passion was strong.

After we got back from founding Tombstone I was busted and had to go to work.

"I've got plenty," said Tim, "and it's all yours.""I know, old fellow," I told him, "but your money wouldn't do for me."Buck Johnson was just seeing his chance then, and was preparing to take some breeding cattle over into the Soda Springs Valley.

Everybody laughed at him--said it was right in the line of the Chiricahua raids, which was true. But Buck had been in there with Agency steers, and thought he knew. So he collected a trail crew, brought some Oregon cattle across, and built his home ranch of three-foot adobe walls with portholes. I joined the trail crew; and somehow or another the Honourable Timothy got permission to go along on his own hook.

The trail was a long one. We had thirst and heat and stampedes and some Indian scares. But in the queer atmospheric conditions that prevailed that summer, I never saw the desert more wonderful. It was like waking to the glory of God to sit up at dawn and see the colours change on the dry ranges.

At the home ranch, again, Tim managed to get permission to stay on. He kept his own mount of horses, took care of them, hunted, and took part in all the cow work. We lost some cattle from Indians, of course, but it was too near the Reservation for them to do more than pick up a few stray head on their way through.

The troops were always after them full jump, and so they never had time to round up the beef. But of course we had to look out or we'd lose our hair, and many a cowboy has won out to the home ranch in an almighty exciting race. This was nuts for the Honourable Timothy Clare, much better than hunting silver-tips, and he enjoyed it no limit.

Things went along that way for some time, until one evening as I was turning out the horses a buckboard drew in, and from it descended Tony Briggs and a dapper little fellow dressed all in black and with a plug hat.

"Which I accounts for said hat reachin' the ranch, because it's Friday and the boys not in town," Tony whispered to me.

As I happened to be the only man in sight, the stranger addressed me.

"I am looking," said he in a peculiar, sing-song manner I have since learned to be English, "for the Honourable Timothy Clare.

Is he here?"

"Oh, you're looking for him are you?" said I. "And who might you be?"You see, I liked Tim, and I didn't intend to deliver him over into trouble.

The man picked a pair of eye-glasses off his stomach where they dangled at the end of a chain, perched them on his nose, and stared me over. I must have looked uncompromising, for after a few seconds he abruptly wrinkled his nose so that the glasses fell promptly to his stomach again, felt his waistcoat pocket, and produced a card. I took it, and read:

JEFFRIES CASE, Barrister.

"A lawyer!" said I suspiciously.

"My dear man," he rejoined with a slight impatience, "I am not here to do your young friend a harm. In fact, my firm have been his family solicitors for generations.""Very well," I agreed, and led the way to the one-room adobe that Tim and I occupied.

If I had expected an enthusiastic greeting for the boyhood friend from the old home, I would have been disappointed. Tim was sitting with his back to the door reading an old magazine. When we entered he glanced over his shoulder.

"Ah, Case," said he, and went on reading. After a moment he said without looking up, "Sit down."The little man took it calmly, deposited himself in a chair and his bag between his feet, and looked about him daintily at our rough quarters. I made a move to go, whereupon Tim laid down his magazine, yawned, stretched his arms over his head, and sighed.

"Don't go, Harry," he begged. "Well, Case," he addressed the barrister, "what is it this time? Must be something devilish important to bring you--how many thousand miles is it--into such a country as this.""It is important, Mr. Clare," stated the lawyer in his dry sing-song tones; "but my journey might have been avoided had you paid some attention to my letters.""Letters!" repeated Tim, opening his eyes. "My dear chap, I've had no letters.""Addressed as usual to your New York bankers."Tim laughed softly. "Where they are, with my last two quarters'

allowance. I especially instructed them to send me no mail. One spends no money in this country." He paused, pulling his moustache. "I'm truly sorry you had to come so far," he continued, "and if your business is, as I suspect, the old one of inducing me to return to my dear uncle's arms, I assure you the mission will prove quite fruitless. Uncle Hillary and I could never live in the same county, let alone the same house.""And yet your uncle, the Viscount Mar, was very fond of you,"ventured Case. "Your allowances--"

"Oh, I grant you his generosity in MONEY affairs--""He has continued that generosity in the terms of his will, and those terms I am here to communicate to you.""Uncle Hillary is dead!" cried Tim.

"He passed away the sixteenth of last June."A slight pause ensued.

同类推荐
  • 明实录宣宗实录

    明实录宣宗实录

    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。
  • 龙角山记

    龙角山记

    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。
  • 三个火枪手

    三个火枪手

    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。
  • 伤寒辨要笺记

    伤寒辨要笺记

    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。
  • 悬解录

    悬解录

    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。
热门推荐
  • 嫡女当嫁:一等世子妃

    嫡女当嫁:一等世子妃

    【本书完结】楚世子身世显赫,俊美无双。但第一纨绔的名头,全京城都知道。这样一个人扬言要娶云王府大房那位以美貌扬名天下的第一美人二小姐,云王府上下吓坏了,可阴差阳错,圣旨却变成了那位名不见经传,自小在乡下长大的大小姐。殊不知,人家楚世子真正要娶的,就是这位乡下长大的大小姐……这是一个小小嫡女把霸道世子爷打造成绝世好男人的故事,同时也是一个傲娇男人狂宠妻儿的故事。简介小白,内容不白,正剧文风。新书《妖妃倾城:冥帝的心尖宠妃》求收藏!
  • 我的女王太妖娆

    我的女王太妖娆

    他,是空间异能者,掌握空间机密。想要杀他们的人无数多,却终究只会成为他们前进的踏脚石。我的女王太妖娆太拽太酷太霸道
  • 神寂

    神寂

    吞食残月花的勾陈,在两百年之后重生,他发现大路上的武学已经变得低微。而自己却掌握着无穷的武技,从此走上一条神挡杀人,佛挡杀佛,有妞必泡,有仇必报的无上神寂之路。
  • 黑暗种族之猎人崛起

    黑暗种族之猎人崛起

    一个被后人渐渐忘却的群体,它只存在于传说,千年以来,他们销声匿迹,但是宿敌重现,他们亦重新归来。
  • 假如给我三天光明

    假如给我三天光明

    作者以一个身残志坚的柔弱女子的视角,告诫身体健全的人们应热爱生活,珍惜生命。本书系统而完整地介绍了作者丰富、生动、真实而伟大的一生。在文中,作者希望在这假想的三天时间里,能看见自己的老师、朋友;能去参观自然史和艺术博物馆;能看看纽约城和日常世界;最后还要去看一场戏剧。三天的活动,内容涉及生活的各个方面,既表现了作者对生活中美的追求,也表达了作者对人类创造的高度赞美。她还以自己的痛苦经历和美好渴望,劝诫世人要珍惜光明,珍惜光阴。《假如给我三天光明》是自传,采用了白描的手法,无论是对往事的回忆,还是对自己内心的表白, 都是极平常的话语,真实而亲切,自然而流畅。
  • 次元萌娘契约之书

    次元萌娘契约之书

    嗯?嗯?让我想想~这本书讲的好像就是青年穿越异世界变成小屁孩贵族,之后契约妹子,征服异世界的故事吧。。差不多就这样。。
  • 圣徒

    圣徒

    一生行善的神父,在除魔行动中不幸身亡,却转世成了贵族子弟,不但有超人的魔法天赋,还有高手作靠山、圣兽当小弟……让我们开始一段奇妙的香艳之旅吧!
  • 花样萌鬼来袭

    花样萌鬼来袭

    一大波花样萌鬼来袭,古籍中记载的各种鬼怪,叫出名字就会退下的山魈,会叫人名字的美女蛇、唤人蛇,叫声如婴儿的九尾狐,山海经中记载的国家,凶残但是丝却可以止血的山蜘蛛……古籍中记载的各种有趣的鬼怪都在这里。ps:这是一本正经的欢乐吐槽文,本文第一人称,女主外表高贵冷艳内心吐槽不断,神似王大锤、新八酱,风格有点像十冷、万万没想到、银魂。pps:无男主(大概吧),无cp(大概吧),有主线(大概吧),文文轻松搞笑,不恐怖,不灵异,不打怪,不升级,不惊悚,主打搞笑温馨。
  • 女皇的男闺蜜

    女皇的男闺蜜

    他是一名中学体育老师,也是埋头写作的宅男。他和漂亮女友同居三年,却依然还是悲催处男。他偶遇传说中的龙,没沾好运,还被汽车撞翻。温柔贤淑的大小姐武顺对他笑靥如花。霸气侧漏的二小姐武珝对他死缠烂打。娇憨可爱的三小姐武瑛对他投怀送抱。牛皮吹大,必遭惩罚;本领再高,也会摔跤。普通婚姻,夫唱妇随;政治婚姻,俱荣俱毁。大唐真好,遍地是宝;随手可捞,爱要不要。
  • 沐浴清晨的微光

    沐浴清晨的微光

    云清晨,穆青集团CEO,隐藏土豪。童微光,烨光事务所中一名律师,社会小白领,长相清新脱俗,身材不可言说。当清新小白领撞上一肚子黑墨水的CEO会有怎样的火花?光:“离婚吧。”晨:“为什么?”光:“你不在意孩子。”晨:“有了孩子忘了老公。所以爱会消失,对不对”