\"Itblows,\"saidJoeWingate.
AsiftoaccentthewordsofthespeakeraheavygustofwindatthatmomentshookthelonglightwoodenstructurewhichservedasthegeneralstoreofSidonsettlement,inContraCosta.Evenafterithadpassedaprolongedwhistlecamethroughthekeyhole,sides,andopeningsoftheclosedglassfrontdoors,thatservedequallyforwindows,andfilledthecanvasceilingwhichhidtheroofabovelikeabellyingsail.Awaveofenthusiasticemotionseemedtobecommunicatedtoalineofstrawhatsandsou-westerssuspendedfromacross-beam,andswungthemwitheveryappearanceoffestiverejoicing,whileafewdusters,overcoats,and\"hickory\"shirtshangingonthesidewallsexhibitedsuchmarkedthoughidioticanimationthatithadtheeffectofasatiricalcommentonthelazy,purposelessfiguresofthefourlivinginmatesofthestore.
NedBillingsmomentarilyraisedhisheadandshouldersdepressedinthebackofhiswoodenarmchair,glancedwearilyaround,said,\"Youbet,it\'snoslouchofastorm,\"andthenlapsedagainwithfurtherextendedlegsandanaddedsenseofcomfort.
Herethethirdfigure,whichhadbeenleaninglistlesslyagainsttheshelves,puttingasidethearmofaswayingovercoatthatseemedtobeemptilyembracinghim,walkedslowlyfrombehindthecountertothedoor,examineditsfastenings,andgazedattheprospect.Hewastheownerofthestore,andtheviewwasafamiliarone,——alongstretchoftreelesswastebeforehimmeetinganequalstretchofdrearyskyabove,andnighthoveringsomewherebetweenthetwo.Thiswasindicatedbysplashesofdarkershadowasifwashedinwithindiaink,andalighterlow-lyingstreakthatmighthavebeenthehorizon,butwasnot.Totheright,onalinewiththefrontdoorofthestore,wereseveralscattered,widelydispersedobjects,that,althoughvagueinoutline,wererigidenoughinanglestosuggestshedsorbarns,butcertainlynottrees.
\"There\'saheapmorewettocomeaforethewindgoesdown,\"hesaid,glancingatthesky.\"Harktothat,now!\"
Theylistenedlazily.Therewasafaintmurmurfromtheshinglesabove;thensuddenlythewholewindowwasfilmedandblurredasiftheentireprospecthadbeenwipedoutwithadampsponge.Themanturnedlistlesslyaway.
\"That\'sthekindthatsoaksin;tharwon\'tbemuchteamin\'overTasajaraforthenexttwoweeks,Ireckon,\"saidthefourthlounger,who,seatedonahighbarrel,wasnibbling——albeitcriticallyandfastidiously——biscuitsanddriedapplesalternatelyfromopenboxesonthecounter.\"It\'sluckyyou\'vegotinyourwinterstock,Harkutt.\"
TheshrewdeyesofMr.Harkutt,proprietor,glancedattheoccupationofthespeakerasifevenhisforesightmighthaveitspossibledrawbacks,buthesaidnothing.
\"There\'llbenoshowforSidonuntilyou\'vegotawagonroadfromheretothecreek,\"saidBillingslanguidly,fromthedepthsofhischair.\"Butwhat\'stheuseo\'talkin\'?Tharain\'tenergyenoughinallTasajaratobuildit.AGod-forsakenplace,thattwomonthsoftheyearcanonlybereachedbyamail-rideronceaweek,don\'tlookezifitwasgoin\'tobreakitsbackhaulin\'ingoodsandsettlers.Itellyewhat,gentlemen,itmakesmesick!\"Andapparentlyithadenfeebledhimtotheextentofinterferingwithhisaiminthatexpectorationofdisgustagainstthestovewithwhichheconcludedhissentence.
\"Whydon\'tYOUbuildit?\"askedWingate,carelessly.
\"Iwouldn\'tonprinciple,\"saidBillings.\"It\'sgov\'mentwork.
WhatdidwewhoopupthingsherelastspringtoelectKennedytothelegislationfor?WhatdidIrigupmyshedandathousandfeetoflumberforbenchesatthebarbecuefor?Why,togetKennedyelectedandmakehimgetabillpassedfortheroad!That\'sMY
shareofbuildingit,ifitcomestothat.AndIonlywishsomefolks,thatblowenoughaboutwhatoughterbedonetobulgeoutthatceiling,wouldonlydoasmuchasIhavedoneforSidon.\"
Asthisremarkseemedtohaveapersonalaswellaslocalapplication,thestorekeeperdiplomaticallyturnedit.\"There\'sagoodmanyasDON\'TbelievethataroadfromheretothecreekisgoingtodoanygoodtoSidon.It\'sverywelltosaythecreekisanembarcadero,butcallin\'itsodon\'tputanoughwaterintoittofloatasteamboatfromthebay,norclearoutthereedsandtulesinit.EveniftheStatebuildsyouroads,itain\'tgotnocalltomakeTasajaraCreeknavigableforye;andasthatwillcostasmuchastheroad,Idon\'tseewherethemoney\'scomin\'fromforboth.\"
\"There\'swaterenoughinfrontof\'LigeCurtis\'sshanty,andhislocationisonlyamilealongthebank,\"returnedBillings.
\"Waterenoughforhimtolazeawayhistimefishin\'whenhe\'ssober,anddeepenoughtodrownhimwhenhe\'sdrunk,\"saidWingate.
\"Ifyoucallthatanembarcadero,youkinbuyitanydayfrom\'Lige,——title,possession,andshantythrownin,——forademijohno\'
whiskey.\"
Thefourthmanheredistastefullythrewbackahalf-nibbledbiscuitintothebox,andlanguidlyslippedfromthebarreltothefloor,fastidiouslyflickingthecrumbsfromhisclothesashedidso.\"I
reckonsomebody\'llgetitfornothing,if\'Ligedon\'tpullupmightysoon.He\'lleithergooffhisheadwithjim-jamsorjumpintothecreek.He\'saboutasneardesp\'ritastheymake\'em,andhavin\'nopartnertolookafterhim,andhimaloneinthetules,ther\'\'snotellin\'WHAThemaydo.\"
Billings,stretchedatfulllengthinhischair,heregurgledderisively.\"Desp\'rit!——ketchhim!Why,that\'shislittlegame!
He\'sjistplayin\'offhisdesp\'ritconditiontofrightenSidon.
Wheneveranyoneaskshimwhyhedon\'tgotowork,wheneverhe\'shardupforadrink,wheneverhe\'shadtoomuchortoolittle,he\'sworkin\'thatdesp\'ritdodge,andeventalkin\'o\'killin\'himself!
Why,lookhere,\"hecontinued,momentarilyraisinghimselftoasittingpostureinhisdisgust,\"itwasonlylastweekhewasoveratRawlett\'stryingtoraiseprovisionsandwhiskeyouterhiswaterrightsonthecreek!Fact,sir,——haditallwrittendownlawyer-
likeonpaper.Rawlettdidn\'texactlyseeitinthatlight,andtoldhimso.Thenheupwiththedesp\'ritdodgeandbegantoworkthat.Saidifhehadtostarveinaswamplikeadoghemightaswellkillhimselfatonce,andwouldtooifhecouldaffordtheweppins.Johnsonsaiditwasnotabadidea,andofferedtolendhimhisrevolver;Bilsonhandeduphisshot-gun,andleftitalongsideofhim,andturnedhisheadawayconsiderate-likeandthoughtfulwhileRawletthandedhimaboxofratpizonoverthecounter,incasehepreferredsuthin\'morequiet.Well,whatdid\'Ligedo?Nothin\'!Smiledkindersickly,lookedsorterwild,andshutup.Hedidn\'tsuicidemuch.No,sir!Hedidn\'tkillhimself,——nothe.Why,oldBixby——andhe\'sadeaconingoodstandin\'——allowed,in\'Lige\'shearin\'andfor\'Lige\'sbenefit,thatself-destructionwasbetternorbadexample,andproveditbyScripturetoo.Andyet\'Ligedidnothin\'!Desp\'rit!He\'sonlydesp\'rittolazearoundandfishalldayoffaloginthetules,andsoakupwithwhiskey,until,betwixtfeveran\'agueandthejumps,hekindershakeshisselffreeo\'responsibility.\"
Alongsilencefollowed;itwassomehowfeltthatthesubjectwasincongruouslyexciting;Billingsallowedhimselftolapseagainbehindthebackofhischair.Meantimeithadgrownsodarkthatthedullglowofthestovewasbeginningtooutlineafainthaloontheceilingevenwhileitplungedthefurtherlinesofshelvesbehindthecounterintogreaterobscurity.
\"Timetolightup,Harkutt,ain\'tit?\"saidWingate,tentatively.
\"Well,Iwasreckoningezit\'ssuchawildnighttherewouldn\'tbeanyusekeepin\'open,andwhenyoufellowsleftI\'djustshutupforgoodandmakethingsfast,\"saidHarkutt,dubiously.Beforehisguestshadtimetofullyweighthisdelicatehint,anothergustofwindshookthetenement,andevenforcedtheunboltedupperpartofthedoortoyieldfarenoughtoadmitaneagercurrentofhumidairthatseemedtojustifythewisdomofHarkutt\'ssuggestion.
Billingsslowlyandwithasighassumedasittingpostureinthechair.Thebiscuit-nibblerselectedafreshdaintyfromthecounter,andWingateabstractedlywalkedtothewindowandrubbedtheglass.Skyandwaterhadalreadydisappearedbehindacurtainofdarknessthatwasilluminatedbyasinglepointoflight——thelampinthewindowofsomeinvisiblebutnearerhouse——whichthrewitsraysacrosstheglisteningshallowsintheroad.\"Well,\"saidWingate,buttoninguphiscoatinslowdejection,\"IreckonI
oughterbetravelin\'tohelptheoldwomandothechoresbeforesupper.\"Hehadjustrecognizedthelightinhisowndining-room,andknewbythatsignthathislong-waitinghelpmeethadfinallydonethechoresherself.
\"Somefolkshaveitmightyeasy,\"saidBillings,withlong-drawndiscontent,ashestruggledtohisfeet.\"You\'veonlyasteptogo,andyer\'smeandPetersthere\"——indicatingthebiscuit-nibbler,whowasbeginningtoshowalarmingsignsofreturningtothebarrelagain——\"hevgottotrapsefivetimesthatdistance.\"
\"More\'nhalfamile,ifitcomestothat,\"saidPeters,gloomily.
Hepausedinputtingonhisovercoatasifthinkingbetterofit,whileeventhemorefortunateandcontiguousWingatelanguidlylapsedagainstthecounteragain.
Themomentwasacriticalone.Billingswasevidentlyalsoregretfullyeyingthechairhehadjustquitted.Harkuttresolvedonaheroiceffort.
\"Come,boys,\"hesaid,withbriskconviviality,\"takeapartingdrinkwithmebeforeyougo.\"Producingablackbottlefromsomeobscuritybeneaththecounterthatsmeltstronglyofindia-rubberboots,heplaceditwithfourglassesbeforehisguests.Eachmadeafeintofholdinghisglassagainsttheopaquewindowwhilefillingit,althoughnothingcouldbeseen.Asuddentumultofwindandrainagainshookthebuilding,butevenafterithadpassedtheglassdoorstillrattledviolently.
\"Justseewhat\'sloose,Peters,\"saidBillings;\"you\'renearestit.\"
Peters,stillholdingtheundrainedglassinhishand,walkedslowlytowardsit.
\"It\'ssuthin\'——orsomebodyoutside,\"hesaid,hesitatingly.
Thethreeotherscameeagerlytohisside.Throughtheglass,cloudedfromwithinbytheirbreath,andfilmedfromwithoutbytherain,somevagueobjectwasmoving,andwhatseemedtobeamopoftangledhairwasapparentlybrushingagainstthepane.Thedoorshookagain,butlessstrongly.Billingspressedhisfaceagainsttheglass.\"Hol\'on,\"hesaidinaquickwhisper,——\"it\'s\'Lige!\"
Butitwastoolate.Harkutthadalreadydrawnthelowerbolt,andamanstumbledfromtheouterobscurityintothedarkerroom.
Theinmatesdrewawayasheleanedbackforamomentagainstthedoorthatclosedbehindhim.Thendimly,butinstinctively,discerningtheglassofliquorwhichWingatestillmechanicallyheldinhishand,hereachedforwardeagerly,tookitfromWingate\'ssurprisedandunresistingfingers,anddraineditatagulp.Thefourmenlaughedvaguely,butnotascheerfullyastheymight.
\"Iwasjustshuttingup,\"beganHarkutt,dubiously.
\"Iwon\'tkeepyouaminit,\"saidtheintruder,nervouslyfumblinginthebreastpocketofhishickoryshirt.\"It\'samatterofbusiness——Harkutt——I\"——Buthewasobligedtostopheretowipehisfaceandforeheadwiththeendsofaloosehandkerchieftiedroundhisthroat.Fromtheaction,andwhatcouldbeseenofhispale,exhaustedface,itwasevidentthatthemoistureuponitwasbeadsofperspiration,andnottherainwhichsomeabnormalheatofhisbodywasconvertingintovaporfromhissoddengarmentsashestoodthere.
\"I\'vegotadocumenthere,\"hebeganagain,producingarollofpapertremblinglyfromhispocket,\"thatI\'dlikeyoutoglanceover,andperhapsyou\'d\"——Hisvoice,whichhadbeenfeverishlyexalted,herebrokeandrattledwithacough.
Billings,Wingate,andPetersfellapartandlookedoutofthewindow.\"It\'stoodarktoreadanythingnow,\'Lige,\"saidHarkutt,withevasivegoodhumor,\"andIain\'tlightin\'upto-night.\"
\"ButIcantellyouthesubstanceofit,\"saidtheman,withafaintnessthathoweverhadallthedistinctnessofawhisper,\"ifyou\'lljuststepinsideaminute.It\'samatterofimportanceandabargain\"——
\"Ireckonwemustbegoin\',\"saidBillingstotheothers,withmarkedemphasis.\"We\'rekeepin\'Harkuttfromshuttin\'up.\"\"Good-
night!\"\"Good-night!\"addedPetersandWingate,ostentatiouslyfollowingBillingshurriedlythroughthedoor.\"Solong!\"
Thedoorclosedbehindthem,leavingHarkuttalonewithhisimportunateintruder.Possiblyhisresentmentathiscustomers\'
selfishabandonmentofhimatthismomentdevelopedavaguespiritofoppositiontothemandmitigatedhisfeelingtowards\'Lige.Hegropedhiswaytothecounter,struckamatch,andlitacandle.
Itsfeebleraysfaintlyilluminatedthepale,drawnfaceoftheapplicant,setinatangleofwet,unkempt,party-coloredhair.Itwasnotthefaceofanordinarydrunkard;althoughtremulousandsensitivefromsomeartificialexcitement,therewasnoENGORGEMENT
orcongestioninthefeaturesorcomplexion,albeittheyweremorbidandunhealthy.Theexpressionwasofasufferingthatwasasmuchmentalasphysical,andyetinsomevaguewayappearedunmeaning——andunheroic.
\"Iwanttoseeyouaboutsellingmyplaceonthecreek.Iwantyoutotakeitoffmyhandsforabargain.Iwanttogetquitofit,atonce,forjustenoughtotakemeouto\'this.Idon\'twantanyprofit;onlymoneyenoughtogetaway.\"Hisutterance,whichhadacertainkindofcultivation,heregrewthickandharshagain,andhelookedeagerlyatthebottlewhichstoodonthecounter.
\"Lookhere,\'Lige,\"saidHarkutt,notunkindly.\"It\'stoolatetodoanythin\'tonight.Youcomeinto-morrow.\"Hewouldhaveadded\"whenyou\'resober,\"butforatrader\'ssenseofpolitenesstoapossiblecustomer,andprobablysomedoubtoftheman\'sactualcondition.
\"GodknowswhereorwhatImaybetomorrow!Itwouldkillmetogobackandspendanothernightasthelast,ifIdon\'tkillmyselfonthewaytodoit.\"
Harkutt\'sfacedarkenedgrimly.ItwasindeedasBillingshadsaid.Thepitiableweaknessoftheman\'smannernotonlymadehisdesperationinadequateandineffective,butevenlentitallthecheapnessofacting.And,asiftoaccenthissimulationofapart,hisfingers,feeblygropinginhisshirtbosom,slippedaimlesslyandhelplesslyfromtheshininghandleofapistolinhispockettowanderhesitatinglytowardsthebottleonthecounter.
Harkutttookthebottle,pouredoutaglassoftheliquor,andpusheditbeforehiscompanion,whodrankiteagerly.Whetheritgavehimmoreconfidence,orhisattentionwasnolongerdiverted,hewentonmorecollectedlyandcheerfully,andwithnotraceofhispreviousdesperationinhismanner.\"Come,Harkutt,buymyplace.It\'sabargain,Itellyou.I\'llsellitcheap.Ionlywantenoughtogetawaywith.Givemetwenty-fivedollarsandit\'syours.See,there\'sthepapers——thequitclaim——alldrawnupandsigned.\"Hedrewtherollofpaperfromhispocketagain,apparentlyforgetfuloftheadjacentweapon.
\"Lookhere,\'Lige,\"saidHarkutt,withabusiness-likestraighteningofhislips,\"Iain\'tbuyin\'anylandinTasajara,——leastofallyoursonthecreek.I\'vegotmoreinvestedherealreadythanI\'llevergetbackagain.ButItellyouwhatI\'lldo.Yousayyoucan\'tgobacktoyourshanty.Well,seein\'howroughitisoutside,andthatthewatersofthecreekareprobablyalloverthetrailbythistime,Ireckonyou\'reaboutright.Now,there\'sfivedollars!\"
Helaiddownacoinsharplyonthecounter.\"TakethatandgoovertoRawlett\'sandgetabedandsomesupper.Inthemornin\'youmaybeabletostrikeupatradewithsomebodyelse——orchangeyourmind.Howdidyougethere?Onyourhoss?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"Heain\'tstarvedyet?\"
\"No;hecaneatgrass.Ican\'t.\"
EithertheliquororHarkutt\'spracticalunsentimentaltreatmentofthesituationseemedtogivehimconfidence.HemetHarkutt\'seyemoresteadilyasthelatterwenton.\"YoukinturnyourhossforthenightintomystockcorralnexttoRawlett\'s.It\'llsaveyoupayin\'forfodderandstablin\'.\"
Themantookupthecoinwithacertainslowgravitywhichwasalmostlikedignity.\"Thankyou,\"hesaid,layingthepaperonthecounter.\"I\'llleavethatassecurity.\"
\"Don\'twantit,\'Lige,\"saidHarkutt,pushingitback.
\"I\'dratherleaveit.\"
\"ButsupposeyouhaveachancetosellittosomebodyatRawlett\'s?\"
continuedHarkutt,withaprecautionthatseemedironical.
\"Idon\'tthinkthere\'smuchchanceofthat.\"
Heremainedquiet,lookingatHarkuttwithanoddexpressionasherubbedtheedgeofthecointhatheheldbetweenhisfingersabstractedlyonthecounter.Somethinginhisgaze——ratherperhapstheapparentabsenceofanythinginitapproximatetothepresentoccasion——wasbeginningtoaffectHarkuttwithavagueuneasiness.
Providentiallyaresumedonslaughtofwindandrainagainstthepaneseffectedadiversion.\"Come,\"hesaid,withbriskpracticality,\"you\'dbetterhurryontoRawlett\'sbeforeitgetsworse.Haveyourclothesdriedbyhisfire,takesuthin\'toeat,andyou\'llbeallright.\"Herubbedhishandscheerfully,asifsummarilydisposingofthesituation,andincidentallyofall\'Lige\'stroubles,andwalkedwithhimtothedoor.Nevertheless,astheman\'slookremainedunchanged,hehesitatedamomentwithhishandonthehandle,inthehopethathewouldsaysomething,evenifonlytorepeathisappeal,buthedidnot.ThenHarkuttopenedthedoor;themanmovedmechanicallyout,andatthedistanceofafewfeetseemedtomeltintotherainanddarkness.
