The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister (beach read book txt) 📗

“Roads do.”

“Cheaper to build 'em the way they want 'em at the start, a man would think,” suggested the Virginian, most friendly. “There go some more I-talians.”

“They're Chinese,” said Trampas.

“That's so,” acknowledged the Virginian, with a laugh.

“What's he monkeyin' at now?” muttered Scipio.

“Without cheap foreigners they couldn't afford all this hyeh new gradin',” the Southerner continued.

“Grading! Can't you tell when a flood's been eating the banks?”

“Why, yes,” said the Virginian, sweet as honey. “But 'ain't yu' heard of the improvements west of Big Timber, all the way to Missoula, this season? I'm talkin' about them.”

“Oh! Talking about them. Yes, I've heard.”

“Good money-savin' scheme, ain't it?” said the Virginian. “Lettin' a freight run down one hill an' up the next as far as she'll go without steam, an' shavin' the hill down to that point.” Now this was an honest engineering fact. “Better'n settin' dudes squintin' through telescopes and cypherin' over one per cent reductions,” the Southerner commented.

“It's common sense,” assented Trampas. “Have you heard the new scheme about the water-tanks?”

“I ain't right certain,” said the Southerner.

“I must watch this,” said Scipio, “or I shall bust.” He went in, and so did I.

They were all sitting over this discussion of the Northern Pacific's recent policy as to betterments, as though they were the board of directors. Pins could have dropped. Only nobody would have cared to hear a pin.

“They used to put all their tanks at the bottom of their grades,” said Trampas.

“Why, yu' get the water easier at the bottom.”

“You can pump it to the top, though,” said Trampas, growing superior. “And it's cheaper.”

“That gets me,” said the Virginian, interested.

“Trains after watering can start down hill now and get the benefit of the gravity. It'll cut down operating expenses a heap.”

“That's cert'nly common sense!” exclaimed the Virginian, absorbed. “But ain't it kind o' tardy?”

“Live and learn. So they gained speed, too. High speed on half the coal this season, until the accident.”

“Accident!” said the Virginian, instantly.

“Yellowstone Limited. Man fired at engine driver. Train was flying past that quick the bullet broke every window and killed a passenger on the back platform. You've been running too much with aristocrats,” finished Trampas, and turned on his heel.

“Haw, hew!” began the enthusiast, but his neighbor gripped him to silence. This was a triumph too serious for noise. Not a mutineer moved; and I felt cold.

“Trampas,” said the Virginian, “I thought yu'd be afeared to try it on me.”

Trampas whirled round. His hand was at his belt. “Afraid!” he sneered.

“Shorty!” said Scipio, sternly, and leaping upon that youth, took his half-drawn pistol from him.

“I'm obliged to yu',” said the Virginian to Scipio. Trampas's hand left his belt. He threw a slight, easy look at his men, and keeping his back to the Virginian, walked out on the platform and sat on the chair where the Virginian had sat so much.

“Don't you comprehend,” said the Virginian to Shorty, amiably, “that this hyeh question has been discussed peaceable by civilized citizens? Now you sit down and be good, and Mr. Le Moyne will return your gun when we're across that broken bridge, if they have got it fixed for heavy trains yet.”

“This train will be lighter when it gets to that bridge,” spoke Trampas, out on his chair.

“Why, that's true, too!” said the Virginian. “Maybe none of us are crossin' that Big Horn bridge now, except me. Funny if yu' should end by persuadin' me to quit and go to Rawhide myself! But I reckon I'll not. I reckon I'll worry along to Sunk Creek, somehow.”

“Don't forget I'm cookin' for yu',” said Scipio, gruffy.

“I'm obliged to yu',” said the Southerner.

“You were speaking of a job for me,” said Shorty.

“I'm right obliged. But yu' see—I ain't exackly foreman the way this comes out, and my promises might not bind Judge Henry to pay salaries.”

A push came through the train from forward. We were slowing for the Rawhide station, and all began to be busy and to talk. “Going up to the mines to-day?” “Oh, let's grub first.” “Guess it's too late, anyway.” And so forth; while they rolled and roped their bedding, and put on their coats with a good deal of elbow motion, and otherwise showed off. It was wasted. The Virginian did not know what was going on in the caboose. He was leaning and looking out ahead, and Scipio's puzzled eye never left him. And as we halted for the water-tank, the Southerner exclaimed, “They 'ain't got away yet!” as if it were good news to him.

He meant the delayed trains. Four stalled expresses were in front of us, besides several freights. And two hours more at least before the bridge would be ready.

Travellers stood and sat about forlorn, near the cars, out in the sage-brush, anywhere. People in hats and spurs watched them, and Indian chiefs offered them painted bows and arrows and shiny horns.

“I reckon them passengers would prefer a laig o' mutton,” said the Virginian to a man loafing near the caboose.

“Bet your life!” said the man. “First lot has been stuck here four days.”

“Plumb starved, ain't they?” inquired the Virginian.

“Bet your life! They've eat up their dining cars and they've eat up this town.”

“Well,” said the Virginian, looking at the town, “I expaict the dining-cyars contained more nourishment.”

“Say, you're about right there!” said the man. He walked beside the caboose as we puffed slowly forward from the water-tank to our siding. “Fine business here if we'd only been ready,” he continued. “And the Crow agent has let his Indians come over from the reservation. There has been a little beef brought in, and game, and fish. And big money in it, bet your life! Them Eastern passengers has just been robbed. I wisht I had somethin' to sell!”

“Anything starting for Rawhide this afternoon?” said Trampas, out of the caboose door.

“Not until morning,” said the man. “You going to the mines?” he resumed to the Virginian.

“Why,” answered the Southerner, slowly and casually, and addressing himself strictly to the man, while Trampas, on his side, paid obvious inattention, “this hyeh delay, yu'