Nevada (1995) (30 page)

"If you believe him, Ben, why, there's no need in my bothering yo
u
with my side of the story," rejoined Hettie, finding her self-
c
ontrol.

"Reckon there's no call to think Dillon's a liar," went on Ben.

"The truth is, Hettie, you're a little of a man-hater. Oh, I know--

I remember, an' I sure don't blame you for bein' true--to--t
o
HIM. . . . But you're hard on all these poor devils who fall i
n
love with you. That's the way I see it."

"Ben Ide, I am not a man-hater," protested Hettie.

"We won't argue the question," said Ben, wearily. "You an' In
a
always beat me. But please don't misunderstand. I don't want yo
u
to marry Dillon. He seems a fine fellow who'll make a big man i
n
Arizona some day. Just the same, I'd want to know him bette
r
before I'd let him have you."

"Thank you, Ben. I can forgive you now," murmured Hettie.

"I'd like to ask you somethin'," went on Ben, with both concern an
d
mirth in his look. "Did you strike Dillon last night--when h
e
tried to kiss you?"

"Strike him? No, I certainly did not," declared Hettie
,
vehemently. "I wouldn't soil my hands on--But why do you as
k
that?"

"Well, he had a beautiful black eye," replied Ben, ponderingly.

"He told me he had stumbled in the dark--in his room--an' hit
a
chair. Sure it could have happened. But it looked to me like
a
beautiful black eye that had come from a good swing an' a har
d
fist. I've been wonderin' if he lied to me."

"Well, I'm wondering who gave him just what he deserved. But, Ben
,
if you have such faith in this Dillon, why did you wonder at all?"

"I happened to run into Dillon talkin' to Stewart, who is Tom Day'
s
foreman," replied Ben. "I heard Dillon say somethin' about bumpin'
i
nto a chair. Then Stewart, who'd been drinkin', gave Dillon th
e
horse laugh. Struck me funny, that's all."

"Brother dear, I hope you won't be struck by anything funnier,"
s
aid Hettie, as she arose. "I've got more shopping to do, and tim
e
flies. You wished me to meet you at twelve?"

"You bet; pronto, too," he returned. "It's a long drive home, yo
u
know. I've got a lot of things to see to. But reckon I'll mak
e
it."

"How about Marvie?"

"He'll be there. Marvie hunted me up an' asked for money. I'
d
just given him some, before we left. The kid was intoxicated, al
l
right."

"Ben! You don't mean he was drunk?" burst out Hettie, in horror.

"No. I was goin' to tell you he was intoxicated over some girl.

Wanted to buy her candy an' presents. But, by George! I forgot I
p
romised not to give him away. Don't you dare give ME away. . . .

So long, till twelve. I'll pick you up at Brydon's store."

"What a fright you gave me!" complained Hettie. "You should choos
e
your words more carefully. As to Marvie--I think he's in love. I
s
aw the girl. Tell you more later."

Hettie's thoughts reverted to Marvie and lingered dreamily an
d
anxiously around him until she reached the dry-goods store, wher
e
she forgot everything except the important shopping at hand.

It lacked five minutes to twelve when she labored to the front o
f
the store, burdened by bundles, and vastly satisfied with hersel
f
that she had finished in time to meet Ben. He was punctualit
y
itself and appreciated the same in anyone. Hettie deposited he
r
bundles on a window seat beside the door, and looked out for Ben.

He had not yet arrived.

Suddenly a man, hatless and coatless, dashed by, yelling, "KEEP OFF

THE STREET!"

"What's the matter with him?" asked Hettie, amused.

Several clerks came hurriedly to peep out.

"Looks like another fight," said one of them, excitedly.

Shouting and trampling of feet followed. Across the stree
t
pedestrians hurriedly ran into the first open doorway they happene
d
upon. The noise ceased. Then a man entered the door where Hetti
e
stood transfixed and thrilling.

"Hello, Matt! What's doin'?" queried the clerk.

"Darned if I know," replied the man. "I seen people run off th
e
street, so I ducked in here. Just before I heard Jim Lacy was i
n
town."

"Who?" shouted his questioner.

"Jim Lacy. Don't know how true it is. But somebody's in town, yo
u
can gamble on that."

Faces appeared at all doors and windows. Some peeped down th
e
street, then jerked back. How ridiculous it seemed to Hettie! Ye
t
there she stood likewise, her heart throbbing, her whole being in
a
state of suspense.

A shot pealed out, deep and ringing. Then BANG! Another followed
,
almost like an echo. Silence ensued, palpitating, stifling t
o
Hettie. What had happened? A fight! Guns! A single shout cam
e
from far down the street.

The man beside Hettie peeped out.

"By Gawd!" he ejaculated, in husky accents.

The clerk, frightened as he was, also had to look. He jerked i
n
his head, with pale face and eyes staring, and he began to jabber.

Hettie obeyed an irresistible instinct. She peeped out. Th
e
street appeared empty. No, there was a man lying face down, no
t
fifty feet from the door. His arms were outstretched.

"It's Jim Lacy. I never saw him, but I know them who has," sai
d
the man beside Hettie.

"Oh--how dreadful! . . . the dead man--there in the road--Ji
m
Lacy?" whispered Hettie, beginning to shake and grow sick.

"No. Jim Lacy is the one comin' up the street. . . . See his gun.

It's smokin'!"

Then Hettie, looking farther, espied a man in rider's garb, gun i
n
hand, stalking toward his victim. He passed him, with only
a
downward glance. He sheathed the gun. He strode toward th
e
sidewalk.

His walk! His shape! A terrible piercing sensation attacke
d
Hettie. Had she been horrified out of her senses? Was she mad?

What flashed so swiftly in memory? But this man--this Jim Lacy!

He was coming. He would pass the door.

Hettie drew back with the last of failing strength. She reeled.

Her mind had halted. The quivering of her body ceased as i
f
paralysis had set in. Cold, numb, awful suspense held her upright
,
waiting, as if for death itself.

The man in rider's garb passed the doorway, erect, stone-faced
,
with eyes of lightning set ahead.

Nevada! Hettie's faculties leaped out of terror and stupefactio
n
to recognize him. Nevada! Jim Lacy? . . . NEVADA!

She had a sense of sinking down. All went blank--then slipped int
o
black oblivion.

Chapter
fourteen.

Hettie recovered consciousness before she had strength enough t
o
open her eyes. She was lying down, with some one supporting he
r
head. Cold water had been dashed in her face. She felt i
t
trickling down her neck.

"It's Miss Ide," said some one. "She fainted. . . . Fell righ
t
down!"

"No wonder!" returned another speaker, evidently a woman. "I'
m
sort of sickish an' weak myself. Hadn't you better call a doctor?"

Whereupon Hettie opened her eyes, to whisper weakly, "I'll be--al
l
right."

She lay on the window seat, with her head supported by the youn
g
clerk. Several persons, one a woman, stood around sympathetically.

"There! She's come to."

A bewildering complexity and whirling of thought suddenly lef
t
Hettie with her mind clear.

"Is my brother here?" she asked, trying to sit up. With the aid o
f
the young man she managed it, and slipped her feet to the floor.

"No," was the reply.

"First time--in my life--I ever fainted," said Hettie.

"Better set still a little, miss. You're awful white yet," sai
d
the woman kindly. "Let me help you put on your hat. It was her
e
on the floor. You must have had a tumble."

The clerk smiled and got up. "No. She just sank. Like a lim
p
sack. So she couldn't have hurt herself."

"Indeed, I'm not hurt," returned Hettie. "You're all ver
y
kind. . . . It was silly of me to--to keel over like that."

While she talked there seemed to be an awful question hammering a
t
her consciousness. When Ben and, Marvie entered, at that moment
,
she understood what the question was. Neither of them knew wha
t
she knew. Her relief was so great that it overcame her, and whe
n
she tried to rise she only sank back again.

"Why, Hettie!" cried Ben, in sharp concern, as he sat down to gras
p
her. Then Marvie knelt on the seat at her other side. Hetti
e
smiled wanly at them and closed her eyes. She felt dizzy, and the
n
feared to look at them.

"It's nothin' serious, Mr. Ide," spoke up the clerk, hastily. "Sh
e
just fainted. It was the shootin'. She peeped out--an' then whe
n
I seen her again, there she lay on the floor."

"Whew, Hettie! You gave me a scare," said Ben, as he hugged he
r
and shook her a little. "But you're all right. It was only yo
u
went flooy over a street duel. Why, I'm surprised at you. Anyon
e
would think you'd never heard a gun back in California. . . .

Come, brace up, Hettie."

"Take me home," replied Hettie, opening her eyes again. "I--I wan
t
to get out of this town."

"Wal, I should smile! Me, too," joined in Marvie, squeezing he
r
hand. Hettie had never seen the lad look quite as he did then.

The freckles stood out on his pale wet face. His eyes held
a
bright stare. She did not dare ask him if he had seen th
e
participants of the street duel. She feared he had.

"Marvie, you fetch these bundles," requested Ben, as he lifte
d
Hettie to her feet. He had to support her, or she could not hav
e
walked just yet. He swore under his breath, then, scornfully
,
"This Arizona's a nice place for women! . . . Never mind, honey;
m
aybe we'll get over it. I'm thankin' my stars Ina didn't see."

Ben helped her into the back seat of the buckboard. "There, you'r
e
all right. . . . Marvie, put the bundles under the seats. The
n
get in beside Hettie an' hang on to her. I've got some drivin' t
o
do. Soon as I pick up Ina, I'll sure leave this town in a cloud o
f
dust."

Hettie did not look to right or left, yet she saw and heard th
e
excited people passing, talking down the street. Ben drov
e
rapidly. Soon the center of town lay behind. The streets wer
e
quiet. Hettie lost the cold dread of seeing a lithe stone-face
d
man in rider's garb. Ben halted the horses before a house set wel
l
back in a green yard, and as he leaped to the ground Ina appeared.