the woman-haters-第3节

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undress　yourself；　neither。　　Set　still；　and　I'll　have　you　peeled　in　a
jiffy。〃

His　guest　was　making　feeble　efforts　to　remove　his　socks。　　Atkins
pushed　him　back　into　the　chair　and　stripped　the　blue　and　dripping
rags　from　feet　which　were　almost　as　blue　from　cold。　　The　castaway
attempted　a　weak　resistance；　but　gave　it　up　and　said；　with　a
whimsical　smile：

〃I'm　mightily　obliged　to　you。　　I　never　realized　before　that　a　valet
was　such　a　blessing。　　Most　of　mine　have　been　confounded　nuisances。〃

〃Hey？〃　queried　Seth；　looking　up。

〃Nothing。　　Pardon　me　for　comparing　you　with　a　valet。〃

〃Land　sakes！　　I　don't　care　what　you　call　me。　　I　was　out　of　my　head
once　myselftyphoid　fever　'twasand　they　say　the　things　I　called
the　doctor　was　somethin'　scandalous。　　You　ain't　responsible。　　You're
beat　out；　and　your　brain's　weak；　like　the　rest　of　you。　　Now　hold　on
till　I　get　you　a　nightgown。〃

He　started　for　the　bedroom。　　The　young　man　seemed　a　bit　troubled。

〃Just　a　minute；〃　he　observed。　　〃Don't　you　think　I　had　better　move　to
a　less　conspicuous　apartment？　　The　door　is　open；　and　if　any　of　your
neighbors　should　happen　byany　ladies；　for　instance；　I〃

〃Ladies！〃　　Mr。　Atkins　regarded　him　frowningly。　　〃In　the　fust　place；
there　ain't　a　neighbor　nigher'n　four　miles；　and；　in　the　next；　I'd
have　you　understand　no　women　come　to　this　house。　　If　you　knew　me
better；　young　feller；　you'd　know　that。　　Set　where　you　be。〃

The　nightshirt　was　one　of　the　lightkeeper's　own；　and；　although　Seth
was　a　good…sized　man；　it　fitted　the　castaway　almost　too　tightly　for
comfort。　　However；　it　was　dry　and　warm　and；　by　leaving　a　button　or
two　unfastened　at　the　neck；　answered　the　purpose　well　enough。　　The
stranger　was　piloted　to　the　bedroom；　assisted　into　the　depths　of　a
feather　bed；　and　covered　with　several　layers　of　blankets　and
patchwork　quilts。

〃There！〃　observed　Seth；　contentedly；　〃now　you　go　to　sleep。　　If　you
get　to　sweatin'；　so　much　the　better。　　'Twill　get　some　of　that　cold
water　out　of　you。　　So　long！〃

He　departed；　closing　the　door　after　him。　　Then　he　built　a　fire　in
the　range；　got　breakfast；　ate　it；　washed　the　dishes　and　continued
his　forenoon's　work。　　Not　a　sound　from　the　bedroom。　　Evidently　the
strange　arrival　had　taken　the　advice　concerning　going　to　sleep。　　But
all　the　time　he　was　washing　dishes；　rubbing　brass　work　or　sweeping；
Mr。　Atkins's　mind　was　busy　with　the　puzzle　which　fate　had　handed
him。　　Occasionally　he　chuckled；　and　often　he　shook　his　head。　　He
could　make　nothing　out　of　it。　　One　thing　only　was　certainhe　had
never　before　met　a　human　being　exactly　like　this　specimen。

It　was　half　past　twelve　before　there　were　signs　of　life　in　the
bedroom。　　Seth　was　setting　the　table　for　dinner；　when　the　door　of
the　room　opened　a　little　way；　and　a　voice　said：

〃I　say；　are　you　there？〃

〃I　be。　　What　do　you　want？〃

〃Would　you　mind　telling　me　what　you've　done　with　my　clothes？〃

〃Not　a　bit。　　I've　got　'em　out　on　the　line；　and　they　ain't　dry　yet。
If　you'll　look　on　the　chair　by　the　sou'west　window　you'll　find　a
rig…out　of　mine。　　I'm　afraid　'twill　fit　you　too　quickyou're　such
an　elephantbut　I'll　risk　it　if　you　will。〃

Apparently　the　stranger　was　willing　to　risk　it；　for　in　a　few　moments
he　appeared；　dressed　in　the　Atkins　Sunday　suit　of　blue　cloth；　and
with　Seth's　pet　carpet　slippers　on　his　feet。

〃Hello！〃　was　the　lightkeeper's　greeting。　　〃How　you　feelin'？
better？〃

〃Tip　top；　thank　you。　　Where　do　you　wash；　when　it's　necessary？〃

〃Basin　right　there　in　the　sink。　　Soap　in　the　becket　over　top　of　it。
Roller　towel　on　the　closet　door。　　Ain't　you　had　water　enough　for　a
spell？〃

〃Not　fresh　water；　thank　you。　　I'm　caked　with　salt　from　head　to
foot。〃

〃Does　make　a　feller　feel　like　a　split　herrin'；　if　he　ain't　used　to
it。　　Think　you　can　eat　anything？〃

〃Can　I？〃　　The　response　was　enthusiastic。　　〃You　watch　me！　　My　last
meal　was　yesterday　noon。〃

〃Yesterday　NOON！　　Didn't　you　eat　no　supper？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Well；　Iwell；　to　be　frank；　because　I　hadn't　the　price。　　It　took　my
last　cent　to　pay　my　fare　on　that　blessed　steamer。〃

〃Great　land　of　love！　　What　time　was　it　when　you　fell　overboard？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　Two　o'clock；　perhaps。〃

〃Two　o'clock！　　What　was　you　doin'　up　at　two　o'clock？　　Why　wasn't　you
in　your　stateroom　asleep？〃

〃I　hadn't　any　stateroom。　　Staterooms　cost　money。〃

〃My　soul！　　And　you　swum　three　hours　on　an　empty　stomach？〃

〃Not　altogether。　　Part　of　it　on　my　back。　　But；　if　you'll　excuse
familiarity　on　short　acquaintance；　those　things　you're　cooking　smell
good　to　me。〃

〃Them's　clam　fritters；　and；　if　YOU'LL　excuse　my　sayin'　so　that
shouldn't；　they　ARE　good。　　Set　down　and　fill　up。〃

The　visitor　ate　nine　of　the　fritters；　a　slice　of　dried…apple　pie；
and　drank　two　cups　of　coffee。　　Seth；　between　intervals　of　frying　and
eating；　watched　him　with　tremendous　curiosity　and　as　much　patience
as　he　could　muster。　　When　the　pie　was　finished　he　asked　the　first　of
the　questions　with　which　he　had　been　bursting　all　the　forenoon。

〃Tell　me；〃　he　said；　〃how'd　you　come　to　fall　overboard？〃

〃I'm　not　very　certain　just　how　it　happened。　　I　remember　leaning　over
the　rail　and　watching　the　waves。　　Then　I　was　very　dizzy　all　at　once。
The　next　thing　I　knew　I　was　in　the　water。〃

〃Dizzy；　hey？　　Seasick；　may　be。〃

〃I　guess　not。　　I'm　a　pretty　good　sailor。　　I'm　inclined　to　think　the
cause　was　that　empty　stomach　you　mentioned。〃

〃Um…hm。　　You　didn't　have　no　supper。　　Still；　you　ate　the　noon　afore。〃

〃Not　much。　　Only　a　sandwich。〃

〃A　sandwich！　　What　did　you　have　for　breakfast？〃

〃Well；　the　fact　is；　I　overslept　and　decided　to　omit　the　breakfast。〃

〃Gosh！　no　wonder　you　got　dizzy。　　If　I　went　without　meals　for　a　whole
day　I　cal'late　I'd　be　worse　than　dizzy。　　What　did　you　do　when　you
found　yourself　in　the　water？〃

〃Yelled　at　first；　but　no　one　heard　me。　　Then　I　saw　some　lights　off
in　this　direction　and　started　to　swim　for　them。　　I　made　the　shore
finally；　but　I　was　so　used　up　that　I　don't　remember　anything　after
the　landing。　　Think　I　took　a　nap。〃

〃I　presume　likely。　　Wonder　'twasn't　your　everlastin'　nap！　　Tut！　tut！
tut！　　Think　of　it！〃

〃I　don't　want　to；　thank　you。　　It　isn't　pleasant　enough　to　think　of。
I'm　here　andby　the　way；　where　IS　here？〃

〃This　is　Eastboro　townshipEastboro；　Cape　Cod。　　Them　lights　out
there　are　Eastboro　Twin…Lights。　　I'm　the　keeper　of　'em。　　My　name's
Atkins；　Seth　Atkins。〃

〃Delighted　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Atkins。　　And　tremendously　obliged　to
you；　besides。〃

〃You　needn't　be。　　I　ain't　done　nothin'。　　Let　me　see；　you　said　your
name　was〃

〃Did　I？〃　　The　young　man　seemed　startled；　almost　alarmed。　　〃When？〃

Seth　was　embarrassed；　but　not　much。　　〃Well；〃　he　admitted；　〃I　don't
know's　you　did　say　it；　come　to　think　of　it。　　What　IS　your　name？〃

〃My　name？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　whymy　name　is　BrownerJohn　Brown。　　Not　the　gentleman　who
was　hanged；　of　course；　distant　relative；　that's　all。〃

〃Hum！　　John　Brown；　hey？　　What　steamer　did　you　fall　off　of？〃

〃WhywhyI　can't　seem　to　remember。　　That's　odd；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　should　say　'twas。　　Where　was　she　bound？〃

〃Bound？　　Oh；　you　mean　where　was　she　going？〃

〃Sartin。〃

〃I　thinkI　think　she　was　going　toto。　。　。　。　　Humph！　how　strange
this　is！〃

〃What？〃

〃Why；　that　I　should　forget　all　these　things。〃

The　lightkeeper　regarded　his　guest　with　suspicion。

〃Yaas；〃　he　drawled　slowly；　〃when　you　call　it　strange　you　ain't
exaggeratin'　none　wuth　mentionin'。　　I　s'pose；〃　he　added；　after　a
moment；　during　which　he　stared　intently　at　Mr。　Brown；　who　smiled　in
polite　acknowledgment　of　the　stare；　〃I　s'pose　likely　you　couldn't
possibly　remember　what　port　you　hailed　from？〃

〃I　suppose　not；〃　was　the　calm　reply。

Seth　rose　from　the　table。

〃Well；〃　he　observed；　〃I've　been　up　all　night；　too；　and　it's　past　my
bedtime。　　As　I　told　you；　my　assistant's　left　all　of　a　sudden　and　I'm
alone　in　charge　of　gov'ment　property。　　I　ought　to　turn　in；　but〃　he
hesitated。

John　Brown　also　rose。

〃Mr。　Atkins；〃　he　said；　〃my　memory　seems　to　be　pretty　bad；　but　I
haven't　forgotten　everything。　　For　instance；〃　his　smile　disappeared；
and　his　tone　became　earnest；　〃I　can　remember　perfectly　well　that　I'm
not　a　crook；　that　I　haven't　done　anything　to　be　ashamed　ofas　I　see
itthat　I'm　very　grateful　to　you；　and　that　I　don't　steal。　　If　you
care　to　believe　that　and；　also；　that；　being　neither　a　sneak　or　a
thief；　I　sha'n't　clear　out　with　the　spoons　while　you're　asleep；　you
mightwell；　you　might　risk　turning　in。〃

The　lightkeeper　did　not　answer　immediately。　　The　pair　looked　each
other　straight　in　the　eye。

Then　Seth　yawned　and　turned　toward　the　bedroom。

〃I抣l　risk　it；〃　he　said；　curtly。　　〃If　I　ain't　awake　by　six　o'clock　I
wish　you'd　call　me。　　You'll　find　some　spare　clay　pipes　and　tobacco
on　the　mantelpiece　by　the　clock。　　So　long。〃

He　entered　the　bedroom　and　closed　the　door。　　Mr。　Brown　stepped　over
to　the　mantel　and　helped　himself　to　a　pipe。


CHAPTER　III

MR。　BROWN　PUTS　IN　AN　APPLICATION


At　half　past　five　the　lightkeeper　opened　the　bedroom　door　and　peeped
out。　　The　kitchen　was　empty。　　There　was　no　sign　of　Mr。　Brown。　　It
took　Seth　just　four　minutes　to　climb　into　the　garments　he　had
discarded　and　reach　the　open　air。　　His　guest　was　seated　on　the　bench
beside　the　h