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y。
She leaned her head back。 She didn't know why she should be surprised。 She had read enough in the newspapers about him。 The forty…acre ranch； and the thirty…room mansion he had built right in the middle of Beverly Hills。 But reading about it never made it seem real。 She closed her eyes so she could remember how it had bee a reality for her。
It had been about five months after she'd e back East。 She'd gone down to New York for a week of shopping and a banker friend of her father's had asked her to attend the premiere of a motion picture produced by a pany in which he had a substantial interest。
〃What's it called？〃 she had asked。
〃The Sheriff of Peaceful Village；〃 the banker had answered。 〃It's a Norman picture。 Bernie Norman says it's the greatest Western ever made。〃
〃Westerns bore me；〃 she'd answered。 〃I had enough of that when I was out there myself。〃
〃Norman says he has a new star in the man that's playing the lead。 Nevada Smith。 He says he'll be the biggest… 〃
〃What was that name？〃 she interrupted。 She couldn't have heard right。
〃Nevada Smith；〃 the banker repeated。 〃An odd name but these movie actors always have fancy names。〃
〃I'll go；〃 she had said quickly。
She remembered walking into the theater … the crowds； the bright lights outside； the well…groomed men and bejeweled women。 And then that world seemed to vanish with the magic of the image on the screen。
It was near the end of the picture now and alone in a dreary room； the sheriff of Peaceful Village was putting on his gun； the gun he had sworn never to touch again。
The camera moved in close to his face； so close that she could almost see the tiny pores in his skin； feel his warm breath。 He raised the gun and looked at it。
She could feel the weariness in him； see the torture of decision tighten his lips； set his square jaw； flatten the high； Indian…like cheekbones into the thin lines that etched their way into his cheeks。 But his eyes were what held her。
They were the eyes of a man who had known death。 Not once but many times。 The eyes of a man who understood its futility； who felt its pain and sorrow。
Slowly the sheriff walked to the door and stepped outside。 The bright sunlight came down and hit his face。 He pulled his dark hat down over his eyes to shield them from the glare and began to walk down the lonely street。 Faces of the townspeople peeked out at him from behind shutters and windows and curtains。 He didn't return their glances； just walked forward stolidly； his faded shirt beginning to show the sweat pouring from him in the heat； his patched jeans looking threadbare against his lean； slightly bowed legs。 The bright metal of his badge shone on his breast。
Death wore soft； expensive clothing。 No dust marred the shine of his boots； the gleaming ivory handle of his gun。 There was hatred in his face； the pleasurable lust to kill in his eyes； and his hand hovered like a rattlesnake above his holster。
They looked deep into each other's eyes for a moment。 Death's eyes glittered with the joy of bat。 The sheriff's were weary with sadness。
Death moved first； his hand speeding to his gun； but with a speed almost too quick for the eye to follow； the sheriff's gun seemed to leap into his hand。 Death was flung violently backward to the ground； his gun falling from his hand； his eyes already glazing。 His body twitched as two more bullets tore in him； and then he lay still。
The sheriff stood there for a moment； then slowly put his gun back into the holster。 He turned his back on the dead man and began to walk down the street。
People began to flock out of the buildings。 They watched the sheriff； their faces bright with battle lust。 He did not return their glances。
The girl came out onto a porch。 The sheriff stopped in front of her。
The girl's eyes were dim with tears。
The sheriff's were wide and unblinking。 An expression of contempt suddenly came into his face。 Disgust with her demand for blood； disgust for a town full of people who wanted nothing but their own form of sacrifice。
His hand moved up to his shirt and tore off the badge。 He flung it into the dirt at her feet and turned away。
The girl looked down at the badge in shock； then up at the sheriff's retreating back。 She started to move after him； then stopped。
Far down the street； the sheriff was mounting his horse。 He turned it toward the hills。 His shoulders slumping and head bowed； wearily he moved out of their lives and into the bright； glaring sunlight； as the screen began to fade。
There was silence as the lights came up in the theater。 Rina turned to the banker； who smiled embarrassedly at her and cleared his throat。 〃That's the first time a movie ever did this to me。〃
Oddly enough； she felt a lump in her own throat。 〃Me； too；〃 she said huskily。
He took her arm。 〃There's Bernie Norman over there。 I want to go over and congratulate him。〃
They pushed their way through a crowd of enthusiastic well…wishers。 Norman was a heavy…set man with dark jowls； his eyes were bright and elated。 〃How about that guy； Nevada Smith？〃 he asked。 〃Did you ever see anything like it？ Still want me to get Tom Mix for a picture？〃
The banker laughed and Rina looked up at him。 He didn't laugh very often。 〃Tom Mix？〃 He chortled。 〃Who's he？〃
Norman hit the banker on the back。 〃This picture will net two million；〃 he said happily。 〃And I got Nevada Smith starting another picture right away！〃
The limousine turned into a driveway at the foot of the hill。 It passed under an iron gateway over which the now familiar insignia was emblazoned and began to wind its way up the narrow roadway to the top of the hill。 Rina looked out the window and saw the huge house； its white roof turning blood orange in the falling sun。
She began to feel strange。 What was she doing here？ This wasn't the Nevada she knew。 Suddenly； frantically； she opened her purse and began to search through it for Nevada's cablegram。 Then it was in her hand and she felt calmer as she read it。
She remembered sending him a wire from Switzerland last month。 It had been three years since she had heard from him。 Three years in which she had kept on running。 The first six months she spent in Boston； then boredom set in。 New York was next； then London； Paris； Rome； Madrid； Constantinople； Berlin。 There were the parties； the hungers； the fierce affairs； the passionate men； the voracious women。 And the more she ran； the more frightened and alone she became。
And then came the morning in Zurich when she awoke with the sun shining in her eyes。 She lay naked in bed； a white sheet thrown over her。 Her mouth was dry and parched； she felt as if she hadn't had a drink of water in months。 She reached for the carafe on the night table and when it wasn't there； she first realized she wasn't in her own room。
She sat up in a room that was furnished in expensive European fashion but wasn't familiar at all。 She looked around for her robe but there wasn't a single item of her clothing anywhere。 Vaguely she wondered where she was。 There were cigarettes and matches on the night table and she lit one。 The acrid smoke bit into her lungs as the door opened。
An attractive dark…haired woman came into the room。 She paused when she saw Rina sitting up in bed。 A smile came to her lips。 She came over to the bed。 〃Ah； you are awake； ma chérie；〃 she said softly； bending and kissing Rina on the mouth。
Rina stared up at her； her eyes wide。 〃Who are you？〃
〃Ah； my love； you do not remember me？〃
Rina shook her head。
〃Maybe this will refresh your memory； my darling；〃 the woman said； dropping her gown and pressing Rina's head to her naked full bosom。 〃There now； do you remember how much we loved each other？〃 Her hand caressed Rina's face。 Angrily Rina pushed it away。
The door opened again and a man came in。 He held a bottle of champagne in one hand and was pletely nude。 He smiled at them。 〃Ah；〃 he said。 〃We are all awake once again。 The party was getting dull。〃
He crossed the room and held the champagne bottle out to Rina。 〃Have some wine； darling；〃 he said。 〃The trouble is … one wakes up with such a terrible thirst； no？〃
Rina held her hands to her temples。 She felt the throbbing pulse beneath her fi