the woman-haters-第24节

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The　lightkeeper's　mouth　opened　and　stayed　open　for　seconds　before　he
could　use　it　as　a　talking　machine。　　He　could　scarcely　believe　what
he　had　heard。

〃Butbut　I　wanted　you　to　have　it；〃　he　gasped。　　〃I　left　it　for　you。〃

〃Well；　I　didn't　take　it；　'tain't　likely！〃　with　fiery　indignation。
〃Did　you　think　I　could　be　bought　off　like　aa　meanoh；　I　don't
know　what？〃

〃Butbut　I　left　it　at　the　bankfor　you。　　Whatwhat'll　I　do　with
it？〃

〃I　don't　know；　I'm　sure。　　You　might　give　it　to　Sarah　Ann　Christy；　I
wouldn't　wonder　if　she　was　less　particular　than　I　be。〃

Seth's　guns　were　spiked；　for　the　moment。　　He　felt　the　blood　rush　to
face；　and　his　fists；　as　he　brandished　them　in　the　air；　trembled。

〃IIyouyou〃　he　stammered。　　〃IIyou　think　I〃

He　knew　that　his　companion　would　regard　his　agitation　as　an　evidence
of　conscious　guilt；　and　this　knowledge　did　not　help　to　calm　him。　　He
strode　up　and　down　the　floor。

〃Look　out；〃　said　Mrs。　Bascom；　coldly；　〃you'll　kick　over　the
lantern。〃

Her　husband　stopped　in　his　stride。　　〃Darn　the　lantern！〃　he　shouted。

〃S…sh…sh！　you'll　wake　up　the　Brown　man。〃

This　warning　was　more　effective。　　But　Seth　was　still　furious。

〃Emeline　Bascom；〃　he　snarled；　shaking　his　forefinger　in　her　face；
〃you've　said　over　and　over　that　I　wa'n't　a　man。　　You　have；　haven't
you？〃

She　was　looking　at　his　shirt　cuff；　then　but　a　few　inches　from　her
nose。

〃Who　sewed　on　that　button？〃　she　asked。

This　was　so　unexpected　that　his　wrath　was；　for　the　instant；
displaced　by　astonishment。

〃What？〃　he　asked。　　〃What　button？〃

〃That　one　on　your　shirt　sleeve。　　Who　sewed　it　on？〃

〃Why；　I　did；　of　course。　　What　a　crazy　question　that　is！〃

She　smiled。　　〃I　guessed　you　did；〃　she　said。　　〃Nobody　but　a　man　would
sew　a　white　button　on　a　white　shirtor　one　that　was　white　once
with　black　thread。〃

He　looked　at　the　button　and　then　at　her。　　His　anger　returned。

〃You　said　I　wa'n't　a　man；　didn't　you？〃　he　demanded。

〃Yes；　I　did。　　But　I'll　have　to　take　part　of　it　back。　　You're　half　a
man　anyhow；　that　sewin'　proves　it。〃

〃Huh！　　I　want　to　know。　　Well；　maybe　I　ain't　a　man；　maybe　I'm　only
half　a　one。　　But　I　ain't　a　fool！　　I　ain't　a　fool！〃

She　sighed　wearily。　　〃Well；　all　right；〃　she　admitted。　　〃I　sha'n't
argue　it。〃

〃You　needn't。　　I　ain'tor　anyhow　I　ain't　an　EVERLASTIN'　fool。　　And
nobody　but　the　everlastin'est　of　all　fools　would　chase　Sarah　Ann
Christy。　　I　didn't。　　That　whole　business　was　just　one　of　youryour
Bennie　D。's　lies。　　You　know　that；　too。〃

〃I　know　some　one　lied；　I　heard　'em。　　They　denied　seein'　Sarah　Ann；
and　I　saw　'em　with　herwith　my　own　eyes　I　saw　'em。　。　。　。　　But
there；　there；〃　she　added；　〃this　is　enough　of　such　talk。　　I'm　goin'
now。〃

〃I　didn't　lie；　I　forgot。〃

〃All　right；　then；　you　forgot。　　I　ain't　jealous；　Seth。　　I　wa'n't　even
jealous　then。　　Even　then　I　give　you　a　chance；　and　you　didn't　take
ityou　'forgot'　instead。　　I'm　goin'　back　to　the　bungalow；　but　afore
I　go　let's　understand　this：　you're　to　stay　here　at　the　lights；　and　I
stay　where　I　am　as　housekeeper。　　We　don't　see　each　other　any　oftener
than　we　have　to；　and　then　only　when　nobody　else　is　around。　　We　won't
let　my　Miss　Graham　nor　your　Brown　nor　anybody　know　we've　ever　met
aforeor　are　meetin'　now。　　Is　that　it？〃

Seth　hesitated。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　slowly；　〃I　guess　that's　it。　　But；〃
he　added；　anxiously；　〃II　wish　you'd　be　'specially　careful　not　to
let　that　young　feller　who's　workin'　for　me　know。　　Him　and　me　had　a
a　sort　of　agreement　andand　II〃

〃He　sha'n't　know。　　Good…by。〃

She　fumbled　with　the　latch　of　the　heavy　door。　　He　stepped　forward
and　opened　it　for　her。　　The　night　was　very　dark；　a　heavy　fog；　almost
a　rain；　had　drifted　in　while　they　were　together。　　She　didn't　seem　to
notice　or　mind　the　fog　or　blackness；　but　went　out　and　disappeared
beyond　the　faint　radiance　which　the　lantern　cast　through　the　open
door。　　She　blundered　on　and　turned　the　corner　of　the　house；　then　she
heard　steps　behind　her。

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　whispered；　in　some　alarm。

〃Me；〃　whispered　the　lightkeeper；　gruffly。　　〃I'll　go　with　you　a
ways。〃

〃No；　of　course　you　won't。　　I'm　goin'　alone。〃

〃It's　too　dark　for　you　to　go　alone。　　You'll　lose　the　way。〃

〃I'm　goin'　alone；　I　tell　you！　　Go　back。　　I　don't　want　you。〃

〃I　know　you　don't；　but　I'm　goin'。　　You'll　fetch　up　in　the　cove　or
somewheres　if　you　try　to　navigate　this　path　on　your　own　hook。〃

〃I　sha'n't。　　I'm　used　to　findin'　my　own　way；　and　I'm　goin'　aloneas
I've　had　to　do　for　a　good　while。　　Go　back。〃

She　stopped　short。　　Seth　stopped；　also。

〃Go　back；〃　she　insisted；　adding　scornfully：　〃I　don't　care　for　your
help　at　all。　　I'm　partic'lar　about　my　company。〃

〃I　ain't；〃　sullenly。　　〃Anyhow；　I'm　goin'　to　pilot　you　around　the　end
of　that　cove。　　You　sha'n't　say　I　let　you　get　into　trouble　when　I
might　have　kept　you　out　of　it。〃

〃Say？　　Who　would　I　say　it　to？　　Think　I'm　so　proud　of　this　night's
cruise　that　I'll　brag　of　it？　　WILL　you　go　back？〃

〃No。〃

They　descended　the　hill；　Mrs。　Bascom　in　advance。　　She　could　not　see
the　path；　but　plunged　angrily　on　through　the　dripping　grass　and
bushes。

〃EmelineEmeline；〃　whispered　Seth。　　She　paid　no　attention　to　him。
They　reached　the　foot　of　the　slope　and　suddenly　the　lady　realized
that　her　shoes；　already　wet；　were　now　ankle　deep　in　water。　　And
there　seemed　to　be　water　amid　the　long　grass　all　about　her。

〃Why？　　What　in　the　world？〃　she　exclaimed　involuntarily。　　〃What　is
it？〃

〃The　salt　marsh　at　the　end　of　the　cove；〃　answered　the　lightkeeper。
〃I　told　you　you'd　fetch　up　in　it　if　you　tried　to　go　alone。　　Been
tryin'　to　tell　you　you　was　off　the　track；　but　you　wouldn't　listen　to
me。〃

And　she　would　not　listen　to　him　now。　　Turning；　she　splashed　past
him。

〃Hold　on；〃　he　whispered；　seizing　her　arm。　　〃That　ain't　the　way。〃

She　shook　herself　from　his　grasp。

〃WILL　you　let　me　be；　and　mind　your　own　business？〃　she　hissed。

〃No；　I　won't。　　I've　set　out　to　get　you　home；　and　I'll　do　it　if　I
have　to　carry　you。〃

〃Carry　me？　　You？　　You　DARE！〃

His　answer　was　to　pick　her　up　in　his　arms。　　She　was　no　light　weight；
and　she　fought　and　wriggled　fiercely；　but　Seth　was　big　and　strong
and　he　held　her　tight。　　She　did　not　scream；　she　was　too　anxious　not
to　wake　either　the　substitute　assistant　or　Miss　Graham；　but　she　made
her　bearer　all　the　trouble　she　could。　　They　splashed　on　for　some
distance；　then　Seth　set　her　on　her　feet；　and　beneath　them　was　dry
ground。

〃There！〃　he　grumbled；　breathlessly。　　〃Now　I　cal'late　you　can't　miss
the　rest　of　it。　　There's　the　bungalow　right　in　front　of　you。〃

〃Youyou〃　she　gasped；　chokingly。

〃Ugh！〃　grunted　her　husband；　and　stalked　off　into　the　dark。


CHAPTER　XI

BEHIND　THE　SAND　DUNE


〃A　fog　last　night；　wasn't　there？〃　inquired　Brown。　　Breakfast　was
over；　and　Seth　was　preparing　for　his　day's　sleep。

〃Yes；　some　consider'ble；〃　was　the　gruff　answer；　then；　more　sharply；
〃How'd　you　know？　　'Twas　all　gone　this　mornin'。〃

〃Oh；　I　guessed；　that's　all。〃

〃Humph！　　Guessed；　hey？　　You　wa'n't　up　in　the　night；　was　you？〃

〃No。　　Slept　like　a　top　all　through。〃

〃Humph！　。　。　。　　Well；　that's　good；　sleep's　a　good　thing。　　Cal'late
I'll　turn　in　and　get　a　little　myself。〃

He　moved　toward　the　living　room。　　At　the　door　he　paused　and　asked
another　question。

〃How'd　youerguess　there　was　fog　last　night？〃　he　inquired。

〃Oh；　that　was　easy；　everythinggrass　and　busheswere　so　wet　this
morning。　　Those　boots　of　yours；　for　example；〃　pointing　to　the　pair
the　lightkeeper　had　just　taken　off；　〃they　look　as　if　you　had　worn
them　wading。〃

His　back　was　toward　his　superior　as　he　spoke；　therefore　he　did　not
see　the　start　which　the　latter　gave　at　this　innocent　observation；
nor　the　horrified　glare　at　the　soaked　boots。　　But　he　could　not　help
noticing　the　change　in　Seth's　voice。

〃Wawadin'？〃　repeated　Atkins　faintly。　　〃What's　that　you　say？〃

〃I　said　the　boots　were　as　wet　as　if　you　had　been　wading。　　Why？〃

〃Whawhat　made　you　say　a　fool　thing　like　that？　　How　could　I　go
wadin'　on　top　of　a　lighthouse？〃

〃I　don't　know。　。　。　。　　There；　there！〃　impatiently；　〃don't　ask　any　more
questions。　　I　didn't　say　you　had　been　wading；　and　I　didn't　suppose
you　really　had。　　I　was　only　joking。　　What　IS　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃Nothin'　。　。　。　nothin'。　　So　you　was　just　jokin'；　hey？　　Ha；　ha！　　Yes；
yes；　wadin'　up　in　a　lighthouse　would　be　a　pretty　good　joke。　　II
didn't　see　it　at　first；　you　know。　　Ha；　ha！　　I　thought　you　must　be
off　your　head。　　Thought　you'd　been　swimmin'　too　much　or　somethin'。
So　long；　I'm　goin'　to　bed。〃

But　now　it　was　the　helper's　turn　to　start　and　stammer。

〃Wait！〃　he　cried。　　〃Whatwhat　did　you　say　about　myerswimming；
was　it？〃

〃Oh；　nothin'；　nothin'。　　I　was　just　jokin'；　same　as　you　was　about　the
wadin'。　　Ha；　ha！〃

〃Ha；　ha！〃

Both　laughed　with　great　heartiness。　　The　door　shut　between　them；　and
each　stared　doubtfully　at　his　side　of　it　for　several　moments　before
turning　away。

That　forenoon　was　a　dismal　one　for　John　Brown。　　His　troublesome
conscience；　stirred　by　Seth's　reference　to　swimming；　was　again　in
full　working　order。　　He　tried　to　stifle　its　reproaches；　tried　to
give　his　entire　attention　to　his　labors　about　the　lights　and　in　the
kitchen；　but　the　consciousness　of　guilt　was　too　strong。　　He　felt
mean　and　traitorous；　a　Bened