down the mother lode-第4章

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rious　rumbling　noise　in　the　stable　underneath。　Rosa　swept　over　the　candelabra。　All　the　lights　in　the　place　were　struck　out。　Phillips　and　Driscoll　slipped　two　great　bolts；　and　the　entire　bar…room　floor　swung　downward　on　hinges。

The　chute　to　purgatory　was　open！

There　was　bedlam　in　that　dank　pass　to　the　region　of　shades；　and　no　quarter　was　shown　to　any　man；　only　cries　of　〃The　String！　The　String！〃　from　members　of　the　gang　in　order　to　distinguish　the　robbers　from　the　robbed；　in　the　darkness。　There　were　curses；　the　kicking　and　squealing　of　horses　in　their　stalls；　a　verse　from　the　Talmud　recited　in　Yiddish　（which　suddenly　stopped）；　and　above　it　all　the　high　and　hysterical　laugh　of　a　woman。

The　boy　turned　from　the　peddler's　pack　as　Rosa　entered　the　room。　〃What　is　that　horrible　noise？〃

〃A　fight。　Come；　you　had　better　go。〃　She　led　him　down　a　dark　stair　to　another　section　of　the　cellar。　〃Jose；〃　she　called。　An　evil　looking　Mexican　pushed　open　a　rough　door。　〃You　shall　take　this　man　out　through　the　second　tunnel。〃

〃Si；　senora。〃

〃And；　Jose；　he　shall　reach　the　outer　opening　alive；　and　with　all　his　belongings。　He　has　no　money。　Do　you　hear？〃　Jose　grunted。　〃Go；　now；　under；　cover　of　the　noise。〃

〃But　the　gift　for　Elena！〃

Rosa　laughed　mockingly。　〃What　a　child　it　is！　My　gift　to　Elena　tonight；　is　you　…　her　lover。　Ask　her　to　thank　me　with　a　prayer　from　her　pure　heart　for　my　sins。〃

Jose　led　the　young　man　through　a　long；　damp；　evil…odored　passage　underground；　and　out　through　a　trapdoor　at　the　extreme　end　of　the　garden。　A　shrub　grew　on　top　of　the　door；　surrounded　by　a　bed　of　fragrant　wild　pansies。　Jose　kicked　the　staring　youth　away　from　the　entrance　and　vanished　into　the　earth　looking；　in　the　lantern…light　like　a　malevolent　fiend　returning　to　the　realm　of　everlasting　fire。

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The　balls　which　were　given　at　the　Franklin　House　on　the　old　Pioneer　road　were　the　most　pretentious　of　the　year。　Feminine　loveliness　in　silks　and　cameos　gathered　from　every　section。　General　Sutter　and　his　officers　sometimes　were　there；　and　the　Spanish　grandees　brought　to　them　the　lovely；　star…eyed　beauties　of　their　households。

On　this　night　a　brilliant　assemblage　stood　about　in　the　ballroom　floor　ready　for　a　quadrille。　Elena　Ashley　and　her　betrothed　were　near　the　wide　entrance　doors。

〃There　is　〃Sheriff　Paul　of　Calaveras　County；〃　she　told　him。　〃He　does　not　dance。　I　wonder　what　brings　him　here？〃

The　doors　opened　and　Rosa　Phillips　entered；　magnificently　jewelled　and　dressed　in　a　rich　silk　of　pearl　grey。　Elena　stared；　clutching　at　her　partner's　arm。

〃Oh；　look！〃　she　shrieked　；　〃she　is　wearing　my　wedding　dress。　My　wedding　dress　which　was　stitched　at　the　shop　of　Rosenthal　the　peddler；　in　Sacramento；　and　which　he　was　to　bring　me　two　weeks　ago。　I　know　it　is　mine！　There　is　the　pearl　passe…mentre　on　it　that　was　my　mother's。　There　is　none　other　like　it　in　California！〃

〃So？〃　answered　Rosa　cooly；　glancing　down　at　the　voluminous　silken　folds　of　her　robe。　Then　she　stood　waving　her　big　fan；　her　large；　dark　eyes　roving　across　the　throng。

〃Mine　Host〃　came　quickly　forward。　〃It　is　not　permitted；　senora；　that　you　…　〃

Rosa　smiled　cynically。　〃I；　the　silken　hawk；　came　not　to　flutter　your　nest　of　doves；　senor。　I　came　but　for　a　little　hour　to　meet　a　man　who　…　Ah；　he　is　coming　now。　Sheriff　Paul；　I　have　that　to　tell　you　which　…　〃

The　sheriff　offered　his　arm　ceremoniously　and　they　passed　out　of　the　ballroom。　Tender　hearted　Elena　was　conscience　stricken。　She　dropped　her　lover's　arm　and　darted　after　them　through　the　big　doors。

〃Oh；　I　am　sorry；　I　did　not　mean　…　please；　Sheriff　Paul；　she　may　have　the　dress；　poor　thing！　But　for　her；　I　should　have　had　no　man　to　marry　on　my　wedding　day　next　week。〃

Sheriff　Paul　turned　quickly。　Elena；　frightened；　clapped　two　little　hands　over　her　mouth。　Rosa　shrugged　indifferently；　and　tipping　back　her　small；　black　head；　listened　to　the　music　in　the　ballroom。

〃Madam；〃　to　Rosa；　〃you　sent　for　me；　making　strange　promises　which；　for　the　safety　of　this　community；　I　hope　that　you　are　now　pleased　to　keep。〃

Without　lowering　her　chin　she　looked　at　him　through　sinister；　narrowed　eyelids；　and　a　smile　of　triumphant　malice　touched　her　face。

〃Senor；　I　make　no　promises　which　I　fail　to　keep；〃　she　answered；　〃and　there　is　also　a　promise　which　I　made　Senor　Tom　Bell　…　〃

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〃There　is　some　one　knocking　at　the　cellar　door；〃　said　Tom　Bell　to　Phillips。　〃See　who　is　there；　and　be　careful　that　you　let　no　one　in　without　the　bullet　and　the　password。〃

〃Tom；　I'm　afraid；〃　whined　Driscoll　〃that　Spanish　devil's　promised　to　get　you　hung　more　than　once　lately；　and　last　night　I　know　she　sent　that　Mexican　Jose　of　hers　out　somewhere　with　a　string　and　bullet。　I　saw　them　…　〃

〃What！　Why　didn't　you　tell　me　before？　Listen！　Phillips　is　in　trouble！　Go　help　him！　Call　the　boys！　Hurry！〃　As　Jim　Driscoll；　with　a　halt　in　his　walk；　left　him；　Tom　Bell　stole　quietly　to　one　of　the　tunnels　and　ran　to　the　trap…door　which　opened　into　an　outhouse。

He　found　the　corral　full　of　saddle…horses　and　the　Mountaineer　House　completely　surrounded　by　Sheriff　Paul's；　posse。

〃Come　on；　boys；〃　said　a　voice。

〃Did　he　get　in？〃

〃Ye…ah　…　put　his　hand　in　with　the　bullet　on　a　string；　got　his　foot　in　the　door；　gave　the　password　and　heaved　the　door　wide　open。　Come　on；　now；　and　there's　orders　not　to　take　the　woman；　remember。〃

Bell　stole　a　rawboned　roan　from　the　corral　and　was　far　from　the　frightful　battle　at　Mountaineer　House　before　he　dared　burst　forth　into　the　vituperation　which　he　heaped　upon　the　name　of　Rosa　Phillips。

*　*　*　*　*

Rosa　sat　strumming　her　guitar　idly；　and　musing　upon　the　events　of　the　past　few　months。　Jack　Phillips　was　serving　a　term　in　prison。　Driscoll　had　also　been　sent　to　the　penitentiary。　One　day　a　rumor　reached　her　that　he　was　threatening　to　turn　state's　evidence；　and　to　divulge　the　truth　in　regard　to　Rosenthal。

Three　days　later　an　iron　bar　was　accidentally（？）　dropped　on　his　head；　through　some　mysterious　agent　he　was　given　poison；　and　died。　At　the　memory　of　it　Rosa　smiled　her　enigmatic　and　implacable　smile。　Tom　Bell　was　at　large　somewhere　far　to　the　north　and　she　…　she　was　rich　now　and　she　would　go　back　to　Monterey；　perhaps。　She　drew　her　guitar　closer　and　sang：

〃The　far　distant　sound　of　a　harp's　soft　strings　…　an　echo　on　the　air；　The　hidden　page　may　be　full　of　sweet　things；　of　things　that　once　were　fair。　There's　a　turned　down　page　in　each　life；　and　mine　…　a　story　might　unfold；　But　the　end　was　sad　of　the　dream　divine。　It　better　rests　untold。〃

It　was　time　for　Harlan　to　arrive。　Charlie　Harlan；　the　man　whom　she　hoped　to　cajole　into　buying　Mountaineer　House。　She　strolled　out　into　the　garden　as　Harlan　rode　up　and　tied　his　horse　under　one　of　the　trees。

A　happy　pair　passed。　A　delicate　girl　mounted　upon　a　little　mule　and　a　sturdy　youth　walking　in　the　dust；　his　hand　upon　the　beast's　shoulder。　With　their　serene　and　joy…illumined　faces　they　somehow　suggested　the　holy　family；　symbolical　of　all　that　was　divine　in　a　sordid　world。

The　girl　smiled　and　waved　to　Rosa；　but　the　young　man　doffed　his　hat　coldly　and　hastened　by。

〃The　sweet　little　Elena；〃　said　Rosa　to　herself；　〃and　her　lover…husband。　I　wear　the　silken　wedding　gown　which　no　lover　sees；　but　she　travels　the　way　in　calico　with　the　man　she　loves。　May　the　Blessed　Virgin　grant　that　she　shall　have　no　turned　down　pages　in　her　life；〃　and　forcing　her　proud　and　bitter　mouth　into　a　provocative　smile；　she　went　forward　to　welcome　Harlan。



The　Hanging　of　Charlie　Price

III

〃He　goes　to　the　well；　And　he　stands　on　the　brink；　And　stops　for　a　spell　Jest　to　listen　and　think：　Let's　see　…　well；　that　forty…foot　grave　wasn't　his；　sir；　that　day；　anyhow。〃

…　Bret　Harte。



Everywhere　in　the　foothills　of　the　Sierras　there　are　still　evidences　of　gold　mining。　High　cliffs　face　the　rivers；　all　that　is　left　of　hills　torn　down　at　the　point　of　the　powerful　hydraulic　nozzles；　with　great　heaps　of　cobbles　at　their　base　which　Mother　Nature；　even　in　seventy　years　has　been　unable　to　change　or　cover。

At　the　mouth　of　nearly　every　ravine　there　are　countless　little　mounds　which　marked　the　end；　or　dump　of　the　sluice…box　in　the　placer　mining。　When　the　mound　got　the　proper　height　the　sluice　was　simply　lengthened；