pgw.piccadillyjim-第48节

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　〃I've　tried　for　two　years　to　get　you　to　send　that　boy　to　a　good　boarding…school；　and　you　wouldn't　do　it。　I　couldn't　stand　having　him　loafing　around　the　house　any　longer；　so　I　told　Jerry　Mitchell　to　take　him　away　to　a　friend　of　his　who　keeps　a　dogs'　hospital　on　Long　Island　and　to　tell　his　friend　to　hold　him　there　till　he　got　some　sense　into　him。　Well；　you've　spoiled　that　for　the　moment　with　your　detectives；　but　it　still　looks　good　to　me。　I'll　give　you　a　choice。　You　can　either　send　that　boy　to　a　boarding…school　next　week；　or　he　goes　to　Jerry　Mitchell's　friend。　I'm　not　going　to　have　him　in　the　house　any　longer；　loafing　in　my　chair　and　smoking　my　cigarettes。　Which　is　it　to　be？〃
　〃But；　Peter！〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃If　I　send　him　to　a　school；　he　may　be　kidnapped。〃
　〃Kidnapping　can't　hurt　him。　It's　what　he　needs。　And；　anyway；　if　he　is　I'll　pay　the　bill　and　be　glad　to　do　it。　Take　him　off　to　bed　now。　To…morrow　you　can　start　looking　up　schools。　Great　Godfrey！〃　He　hopped　to　the　writing…desk　and　glared　disgustedly　at　the　debris　on　it。　〃Who's　been　making　this　mess　on　my　desk？　It's　hard！　It's　darned　hard！　The　only　room　in　the　house　that　I　ask　to　have　for　my　own；　where　I　can　get　a　little　peace；　and　I　find　it　turned　into　a　beer…garden；　and　coffee　or　some　damned　thing　spilled　all　over　my　writing…desk！〃
　〃That　isn't　coffee；　Peter；〃　said　Mrs。　Pett　mildly。　This　cave…man　whom　she　had　married　under　the　impression　that　he　was　a　gentle　domestic　pet　had　taken　all　the　spirit　out　of　her。　〃It's　Willie's　explosive。〃
　〃Willie's　explosive？〃
　〃Lord　WisbeachI　mean　the　man　who　pretended　to　be　Lord　Wisbeachdropped　it　there。〃
　〃Dropped　it　there？　Well；　why　didn't　it　explode　and　blow　the　place　to　Hoboken；　then？〃
　Mrs。　Pett　looked　helplessly　at　Willie；　who　thrust　his　fingers　into　his　mop　of　hair　and　rolled　his　eyes。
　〃There　was　fortunately　some　slight　miscalculation　in　my　formula；　uncle　Peter；〃　he　said。　〃I　shall　have　to　look　into　it　to…morrow。　Whether　the　trinitrotoluol〃
　Mr。　Pett　uttered　a　sharp　howl。　He　beat　the　air　with　his　clenched　fists。　He　seemed　to　be　having　a　brain…storm。
　〃Has　thisthis　fish　been　living　on　me　all　this　timehave　I　been　supporting　thisthis　buzzard　in　luxury　all　these　years　while　he　fooled　about　with　an　explosive　that　won't　explode！　He　pointed　an　accusing　finger　at　the　inventor。　Look　into　it　tomorrow；　will　you？　Yes；　you　can　look　into　it　to…morrow　after　six　o'clock！　Until　then　you'll　be　workingfor　the　first　time　in　your　lifeworking　in　my　office；　where　you　ought　to　have　been　all　along。〃　He　surveyed　the　crowded　room　belligerently。　〃Now　perhaps　you　will　all　go　back　to　bed　and　let　people　get　a　little　sleep。　Go　home！〃　he　said　to　the　detective。
　Miss　Trimble　stood　her　ground。　She　watched　Mrs。　Pett　pass　away　with　Ogden　and　Willie　Partridge　head　a　stampede　of　geniuses　but　she　declined　to　move。
　〃Y'　gotta　cut　th'　rough　stuff；　'ster　Pett；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃I　need　my　sleep；　j'st　's　much　's　everyb'dy　else；　but　I　gotta　stay　here。　There's　a　lady　c'ming　right　up　in　a　taxi　fr'm　th'　Astorbilt　to　identify　this　gook。　She's　after'm　f'r　something。〃
　〃What！　Skinner？〃
　〃's　what　he　calls　h'mself。〃
　〃What's　he　done？〃
　〃I　d'no。　Th'　lady'll　tell　us　that。〃
　There　was　a　violent　ringing　at　the　front　door　bell。
　〃I　guess　that's　her；〃　said　Miss　Trimble。　〃Who's　going　to　let　'r　in？　I　can't　go。〃
　〃I　will；〃　said　Ann。
　Mr。　Pett　regarded　Mr。　Crocker　with　affectionate　encouragement。
　〃I　don't　know　what　you've　done；　Skinner；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'll　stand　by　you。　You're　the　best　fan　I　ever　met；　and　if　I　can　keep　you　out　of　the　penitentiary；　I　will。〃
　〃It　isn't　the　penitentiary！〃　said　Mr。　Crocker　unhappily。
　A　tall；　handsome；　and　determined…looking　woman　came　into　the　room。　She　stood　in　the　doorway；　looking　about　her。　Then　her　eyes　rested　on　Mr。　Crocker。　For　a　moment　she　gazed　incredulously　at　his　discoloured　face。　She　drew　a　little　nearer；　peering。
　〃D'yo　'dentify　'm；　ma'am？〃　said　Miss　Trimble。
　〃Bingley！〃
　〃Is　't　th'　guy　y'　wanted？〃
　〃It's　my　husband！〃　said　Mrs。　Crocker。
　〃Y'　can't　arrest　'm　f'r　that！〃　said　Miss　Trimble　disgustedly。
　She　thrust　her　revolver　back　into　the　hinterland　of　her　costume。
　〃Guess　I'll　be　beatin'　it；〃　she　said　with　a　sombre　frown。　She　was　plainly　in　no　sunny　mood。　〃'f　all　th'　hunk　jobs　I　was　ever　on；　this　is　th'　hunkest。　I'm　told　off　't　watch　a　gang　of　crooks；　and　after　I've　lost　a　night's　sleep　doing　it；　it　turns　out　't's　a　nice；　jolly　fam'ly　party！〃　She　jerked　her　thumb　towards　Jimmy。　〃Say；　this　guy　says　he's　that　guy's　son。　I　s'pose　it's　all　right？〃
　〃That　is　my　step…son；　James　Crocker。〃
　Ann　uttered　a　little　cry；　but　it　was　lost　in　Miss　Trimble's　stupendous　snort。　The　detective　turned　to　the　window。
　〃I　guess　I'll　beat　't；〃　she　observed　caustically；　〃before　it　turns　out　that　I'm　y'r　l'il　daughter　Genevieve。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XXV
　NEARLY　EVERYBODY　HAPPY
　
　MRS。　CROCKER　turned　to　her　husband。
　〃Well；　Bingley？〃　she　said；　a　steely　tinkle　in　her　voice。
　〃Well；　Eugenia？〃　said　Mr。　Crocker。
　A　strange　light　was　shining　in　Mr。　Crocker's　mild　eyes。　He　had　seen　a　miracle　happen　that　night。　He　had　seen　an　even　more　formidable　woman　than　his　wife　dominated　by　an　even　meeker　man　than　himself；　and　he　had　been　amazed　and　impressed　by　the　spectacle。　It　had　never　even　started　to　occur　to　him　before；　but　apparently　it　could　be　done。　A　little　resolution；　a　little　determination　。　。　。　nothing　more　was　needed。　He　looked　at　Mr。　Pett。　And　yet　Mr。　Pett　had　crumpled　up　Eugenia's　sister　with　about　three　firm　speeches。　It　could　be　done。　。　。　。
　〃What　have　you　to　say；　Bingley？〃
　Mr。　Crocker　drew　himself　up。
　〃Just　this！〃　he　said。　〃I'm　an　American　citizen；　and　the　way　I've　figured　it　out　is　that　my　place　is　in　America。　It's　no　good　talking　about　it；　Eugenia。　I'm　sorry　if　it　upsets　your　plans；　but　IamnotgoingbacktoLondon！〃　He　eyed　his　speechless　wife　unflatteringly。　〃I'm　going　to　stick　on　here　and　see　the　pennant　race　out。　And　after　that　I'm　going　to　take　in　the　World's　Series。〃
　Mrs。　Crocker　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　closed　it；　re…opened　it。　Then　she　found　that　she　had　nothing　to　say。
　〃I　hope　you'll　be　sensible；　Eugenia；　and　stay　on　this　side；　and　we　can　all　be　happy。　I'm　sorry　to　have　to　take　this　stand；　but　you　tried　me　too　high。　You're　a　woman；　and　you　don't　know　what　it　is　to　go　five　years　without　seeing　a　ball　game；　but　take　it　from　me　it's　more　than　any　real　fan　can　stand。　It　nearly　killed　me；　and　I'm　not　going　to　risk　it　again。　If　Mr。　Pett　will　keep　me　on　as　his　butler；　I'll　stay　here　in　this　house。　If　he　won't；　I'll　get　another　job　somewhere。　But；　whatever　happens；　I　stick　to　this　side！〃
　Mr。　Pett　uttered　a　whoop　of　approval。
　〃There's　always　been　a　place　for　you　in　my　house；　old　man！〃　he　cried。　〃When　I　get　a　butler　who〃
　〃But；　Bingley！　How　can　you　be　a　butler？〃
　〃You　ought　to　watch　him！〃　said　Mr。　Pett　enthusiastically。　〃He's　a　wonder！　He　can　pull　all　the　starchy　stuff　as　if　he'd　lived　with　the　Duke　of　Whoosis　for　the　last　forty　years；　and　then　go　right　off　and　fling　a　pop…bottle　at　an　umpire！　He's　all　right！〃
　The　eulogy　was　wasted　on　Mrs。　Crocker。　She　burst　into　tears。　It　was　a　new　experience　for　her　husband；　and　he　watched　her　awkwardly；　his　resolute　demeanour　crumbling　under　this　unexpected　assault。
　〃Eugenia！〃
　Mrs。　Crocker　wiped　her　eyes。
　〃I　can't　stand　it！〃　she　sobbed。　〃I've　worked　and　worked　all　these　years；　and　now；　just　as　success　has　nearly　eBingley；　do　e　back！　It　will　only　be　for　a　little　longer。〃
　Mr。　Crocker　stared。
　〃A　little　longer？　Why；　that　Lord　Percy　Whipple　businessI　know　you　must　have　had　excellent　reasons　for　soaking　him；　Jimmy；　but　it　did　put　the　lid　on　itsurely；　after　that　Lord　Percy　affair　there's　no　chance？〃
　〃There　is！　There　is！　It　has　made　no　difference　at　all！　Lord　Percy　came　to　call　next　day　with　a　black　eye；　poor　boy！and　said　that　James　was　a　sportsman　and　that　he　wanted　to　know　him　better！　He　said　he　had　never　felt　so　drawn　towards　any　one　in　his　life　and　he　wanted　him　to　show　him　how　he　made　some　blow　which　he　called　a　right　hook。　The　whole　affair　has　simply　endeared　James　to　him；　and　Lady　Corstorphine　says　that　the　Duke　of　Devizes　read　the　account　of　the　fight　to　the　Premier　that　very　evening　and　they　both　laughed　till　they　nearly　got　apoplexy。〃
　Jimmy　was　deeply　touched。　He　had　not　suspected　such　a　sporting　spirit　in　his　antagonist。
　〃Percy's　all　right。〃　he　said　enthusiastically。　〃Dad；　you　ought　to　go　back。　It's　only　fair。〃
　〃But；　Jimmy！　Surely　you　can　understand？　There's　only　a　game　separating　the　Giants　and　the　Phillies；　with　the　Braves　ing　along　just　behind。　And　the　season　only　half　over！　〃
　Mrs。　Crocker　looked　imploringly　at　him。
　〃It　will　only　be　for　a　little　while；　Bingley。　Lady　Corstorphine；　who　has　means　of　knowing；　says　that　your　name　is　certain　to　be　in　the　next　Honours　List。　After　that　you　can　e　back　as　often　as　you　like。　We　could　spend　the　summer　here　and　the　winter　in　England；　or　whatever　you　pleased。〃
　Mr。　Crocker　capitulated。
　〃All　right；　Eugenia。　I'll　e。〃
　〃Bingley！　We　shall　have　to　go　back　by　the　next　boat；　dear。　People　are　beginning　to　wonder　where　you　are。　I've　told　them　that　you　are　taking　a　rest　in　the　country。　But　they　will　suspect　something　if　you　don't　e　back　at　once。〃
　Mr。　Crocker's　face　wore　a　drawn　look。　He　had