the woman-haters-第33节

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lead　a　better　life。　　Come。〃

He　led　the　way；　and　Seth；　yielding　as　of　old　to　this　man's　almost
hypnotic　command　over　him　and　still　bewildered　by　the　unexpected
meeting；　followed　like　a　whipped　dog。　　Under　the　shelter　of　the
trees　they　paused。

〃Now　then；〃　said　Bennie　D。；　〃perhaps　you'll　tell　me　what　you　mean　by
decoying　my　sister　down　here　in　my　absence；　when　I　was　not　present
to　protect　her。　　What　do　you　mean　by　it？〃

Seth　stared　at　him　uncomprehendingly。　　〃Decoyin'　her？〃　he　repeated。
〃I　never　decoyed　her。　　I've　been　here　ever　since　I　leftleft　you
and　her　that　night。　　I　never　asked　her　to　come。　　I　didn't　know　she
was　comin'。　　And　she　didn't　know　I　was　here　untiluntil　a　month　or
so　ago。　　I〃

Bennie　D。　held　up　a　hand。　　He　was　delighted　by　this　piece　of　news；
but　he　did　not　show　it。

〃That　will　do；〃　he　said。　　〃I　understand　all　that。　　But　since　then
since　then？　　What　do　you　mean　by　trying　to　influence　her　as　you
have？　　Answer　me！〃

The　lightkeeper　rubbed　his　forehead。

〃I　ain't　tried　to　influence　her；〃　he　declared。　　〃She　and　me　have
scarcely　seen　each　other。　　Nobody　knows　that　we　was　married；　not
even　Miss　Graham　nor　the　young　feller　that'sthat's　my　helper　at
the　lights。　　You　must　know　that。　　She　must　have　wrote　you。　　What　are
you　talkin'　about？〃

She　had　not　written；　he　had　received　no　letters　from　her　during　the
two　years；　but　again　the　wily　〃genius〃　was　equal　to　the　occasion。
He　looked　wise　and　nodded。

〃Of　course；〃　he　said　importantly。　　〃Of　course。　　Certainly。〃

He　hesitated；　not　knowing　exactly　what　his　next　move　should　be。　　And
Seth；　having　had　time　to　collect；　in　a　measure；　his　scattered　wits；
began　to　do　some　thinking　on　his　own　account。

〃Say；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃if　you　knew　all　this　aforehand；　what　are
you　askin'　these　questions　for？〃

〃That；〃　Bennie　D。's　gesture　was　one　of　lofty　disdain；　〃is　my
business。〃

〃I　want　to　know！　　Well；　then；　maybe　I've　got　some　business　of　my
own。　　Who　made　my　business　your　business？　　Hey？〃

〃The　welfare　of　my　sister〃

〃Never　you　mind　your　sister。　　You're　talkin'　with　me　now。　　And　you
ain't　got　me　penned　up　in　a　house；　neither。　　By　jiminy　crimps！〃　　His
anger　boiled　over；　and；　to　the　inventor's　eyes；　he　began　to　look
alarmingly　alive。　　〃By　jiminy　crimps！〃　repeated　Seth；　〃I've　been
prayin'　all　these　years　to　meet　you　somewheres　alone；　and　now　I've　a
good　mind　toto〃

His　big　fist　closed。　　Bennie　D。　stepped　backward　out　of　reach。

〃Bascom〃　he　cried；　〃don't〃

〃Don't　you　call　me　that！〃

〃Bascom〃　　The　inventor　was　thoroughly　frightened；　and　his　voice
rose　almost　to　a　shout。

The　lightkeeper's　wrath　vanished　at　the　sound　of　the　name。　　If　any
native　of　Eastboro；　if　the　depot　master　on　the　other　side　of　the
track；　should　hear　him　addressed　as　〃Bascom；〃　the　fat　would　be　in
the　fire　for　good　and　all。　　The　secret　he　had　so　jealously　guarded
would　be　out；　and　all　the　miserable　story　would；　sooner　or　later；　be
known。

〃Don't　call　me　Bascom；〃　he　begged。　　Erplease　don't。〃

Bennie　D。's　courage　returned。　　Yet　he　realized　that　if　a　trump　card
was　to　be　played　it　must　be　then。　　This　man　was　dangerous；　and；
somehow　or　other；　his　guns　must　be　spiked。　　A　brilliant　idea
occurred　to　him。　　Exactly　how　much　of　the　truth　Seth　knew　he　was　not
sure；　but　he　took　the　risk。

〃Very　well　thenAtkins；〃　he　said　contemptuously。　　〃I　am　not　used　to
aliasesnot　having　dealt　with　persons　finding　it　necessary　to
employ　themand　I　forget。　　But　before　this　disagreeable　interview
is　ended　I　wish　you　to　understand　thoroughly　why　I　am　here。　　I　am
here　to　protect　my　sister　and　to　remove　her　from　your　persecution。
I　am　here　to　assist　her　in　procuring　a　divorce。〃

〃A　divorce！　　A　DIVORCE！　　Good　heavens　above！〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　triumphantly；　〃a　divorce　from　the　man　she　was　trapped
into　marrying　and　who　deserted　her。　　You　did　desert　her；　you　can't
deny　that。　　So　long　as　she　remains　your　wife；　even　in　name；　she　is
liable　to　persecution　from　you。　　She　understands　this。　　She　and　I
are　to　see　a　lawyer　at　once。　　That　is　why　I　am　here。〃

Seth　was　completely　overwhelmed。　　A　divorce！　　A　case　for　the　papers
to　print；　and　all　of　Ostable　county　to　read！

〃III〃　he　stammered；　and　then　added　weakly；　〃I　don't　believe
it。　　She　wouldn't　。　。　。　　There　ain't　no　lawyer　here。〃

Then　we　shall　seek　the　one　nearest　here。　　Emeline　understands。　　I
'phoned　her　this　morning。〃

〃Was　it　YOU　that　'phoned？〃

〃It　was。　　NowerAtkins；　I　am　disposed　to　be　as　considerate　of
your　welfare　as　possible。　　I　know　that　any　publicity　in　this　matter
might　prejudice　you　in　the　eyes　of　yourof　the　government
officials。　　I　shall　not　seek　publicity；　solely　on　your　account。　　The
divorce　will　be　obtained　privately；　providedPROVIDED　you　remain
out　of　sight　and　do　not　interfere。　　I　warn　you；　therefore；　not　to
make　trouble　or　to　attempt　to　see　my　sister　again。　　If　you　dowell；
if　you　do；　the　consequences　will　be　unpleasant　for　you。　　Do　you
understand？〃

Seth　understood；　or　thought　he　did。　　He　groaned　and　leaned　heavily
against　a　tree　trunk。

〃You　understand；　do　you？〃　repeated　Bennie　D。　　〃I　see　that　you　do。
Very　good　then。　　I　have　nothing　more　to　say。　　I　advise　that　you
remainerin　seclusion　for　the　next　few　days。　　Good…by。〃

He　gave　a　farewell　glance　at　the　crushed　figure　leaning　against　the
tree。　　Then　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　walked　off。

Seth　remained　where　he　was　for　perhaps　ten　minutes；　not　moving　a
muscle。　　Then　he　seemed　to　awaken；　looked　anxiously　in　the　direction
of　the　depot　to　make　sure　that　no　one　was　watching；　pulled　his　cap
over　his　eyes；　jammed　his　hands　into　his　pockets；　and　started　to
walk　across　the　fields。　　He　had　no　fixed　destination　in　mind；　had　no
idea　where　he　was　going　except　that　he　must　go　somewhere；　that　he
could　not　keep　still。

He　stumbled　along；　through　briers　and　bushes；　paying　no　attention　to
obstacles　such　as　fences　or　stone　walls　until　he　ran　into　them；　when
he　climbed　over　and　went　blindly　on。　　A　mile　from　Eastboro；　and　he
was　alone　in　a　grove　of　scrub　pines。　　Here　he　stopped　short；　struck
his　hands　together；　and　groaned　aloud：

〃I　don't　believe　it！　　I　don't　believe　it！〃

For　he　was　beginning　not　to　believe　it。　　At　first　he　had　not　thought
of　doubting　Bennie　D。's　statement　concerning　the　divorce。　　Now；　as
his　thoughts　became　clearer；　his　doubts　grew。　　His　wife　had　not
mentioned　the　subject　in　their　morning　interview。　　Possibly　she
would　not　have　done　so　in　any　event；　but；　as　the　memory　of　her
behavior　and　speech　became　clearer　in　his　mind；　it　seemed　to　him
that　she　could　not　have　kept　such　a　secret。　　She　had　been　kinder；
had　seemed　to　him　moreyes；　almostwhy；　when　he　asked　her　to　be
his　again；　to　give　him　another　chance；　she　had　hesitated。　　She　had
not　said　no　at　once；　she　hesitated。　　If　she　was　about　to　divorce
him；　would　she　have　acted　in　such　a　way？　　It　hardly　seemed　possible。

Then　came　the　letter　and　the　telephone　message。　　It　was　after　these
that　she　had　said　no　with　decision。　　Perhaps　。　。　。　was　it　possible
that　she　had　known　of　her　brother…in…law's　coming　only　then？　　Now
that　he　thought　of　it；　she　had　not　gone　away　at　once　after　the　talk
over　the　'phone。　　She　had　waited　a　moment　as　if　for　him　to　speak。
He；　staggered　and　paralyzed　by　the　sight　of　his　enemy's　name　in　that
letter；　had　not　spoken　and　then　she　。　。　。　　He　did　not　believe　she
was　seeking　a　divorce！　　It　was　all　another　of　Bennie　D。's　lies！

But　suppose　she　was　seeking　it。　　Or　supposefor　he　knew　the
persuasive　power　of　that　glib　tongue　only　too　wellsuppose　her
brother…in…law　should　persuade　her　to　do　it。　　Should　he　sit　still
in　seclusion；　as　his　late　adviser　had　counseledand　let　this
irrevocable　and　final　move　be　made？　　After　a　divorceSeth's　idea　of
divorces　were　vague　and　Puritanicalthere　would　be　no　hope。　　He　and
Emeline　could　never　come　together　after　that。　　And　he　must　give　her
up　and　all　his　hopes　of　happiness；　all　that　he　had　dreamed　of　late；
would　be　but　dreams；　never　realities。　　No！　he　could　not　give　them
up。　　He　would　not。　　Publicity；　scandal；　everything；　he　could　face；
but　he　would　not　give　his　wife　up　without　a　fight。　　What　should　he
do？

For　a　long　time　he　paced　up　and　down　beneath　the　pines　trying　to
plan；　to　come　to　some　decision。　　All　that　he　could　think　of　was　to
return　to　the　Lights；　to　go　openly　to　the　bungalow；　see　Emeline　and
make　one　last　appeal。　　Bennie　D。　might　be　there；　but　if　he　was
well；　by　jiminy　crimps；　let　him　look　out；　that's　all！

He　had　reached　this　point　in　his　meditations　when　the　wind；　which
had　been　steadily　increasing　and　tossing　the　pinetops　warningly；
suddenly　became　a　squall　which　brought　with　it　a　flurry　of　rain。　　He
started　and　looked　up。　　The　sky　was　dark；　it　was　late　in　the
afternoon；　and　the　storm　he　had　prophesied　had　arrived。

Half　an　hour　later　he　ran；　panting　and　wet；　into　the　blacksmith's
shop。　　The　automobile　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　and
Mr。　Ellis　was　standing　beside　it；　perspiring　and　troubled。

〃Where's　Joshua？〃　demanded　Seth。

〃Hey？〃　inquired　the　blacksmith　absently。

〃Where's　my　horse？　　Is　he　ready？〃

Benijah　wiped　his　forehead。

〃Gosh！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃By　。　。　。　gosh！〃

〃What　are　you　b'goshin'　about？〃

〃SethI　don't　know　what　you'll　say　to　mebutbut　I　d