the woman-haters-第4节

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discarded　and　reach　the　open　air。　　His　guest　was　seated　on　the　bench
beside　the　house；　one　of　the　clay　pipes　in　his　hand。　　He　was　looking
out　to　sea。　　He　spoke　first：

〃Hello！〃　he　said。　〃You're　up　ahead　of　time；　aren't　you？　　It　isn't
six　yet。〃

Atkins　grinned。　　〃No；〃　he　answered；　〃'tain't！　not　quite。　　But　sence
Ezry　cleared　out　I've　been　a　kind　of　human　alarm　clock；　as　you　might
say。　　Feelin'　all　right；　are　you？〃

〃Yes；　thank　you。　　I　say；〃　holding　up　the　pipe　and　regarding　it
respectfully；　〃is　this　tobacco　of　yours　furnished　by　the　government？〃

〃No。　　Some　I　bought　myself　last　time　I　was　over　to　the　Center。　　Why；
what's　the　matter　with　it？　　Ain't　it　good？〃

〃Perhaps　so。〃

〃Then　what　made　you　ask？　　Ain't　it　strong　enough？〃

〃Strong　enough！　　You're　disposed　to　be　sarcastic。　　It's　stronger
than　I　am。　　What　do　they　flavor　it　withtar？〃

〃Say；　let's　see　that　plug。　　THAT　ain't　smokin'　tobacco。〃

〃What　is　it；　thenasphalt？〃

〃Why；　haw！　haw！　　That's　a　piece　of　Ezry's　chewin'。　　Some　he　left
when　he　went　away。　　It's　'Honest　Friend。'　　'TIS　flavored　up
consider'ble。　　And　you　tried　to　smoke　it！　　Ho！　ho！〃

The　young　man　joined　in　the　laugh。

〃That　explains　why　it　bubbled　so；〃　he　said。　　〃I　used　twenty…two
matches；　by　actual　count；　and　then　gave　it　up。　　Bah！〃　he　smacked　his
lips　disgustedly　and　made　a　face：　〃'Honest　Friend'is　that　the　name
of　it？　　Meaning　that　it'll　stick　to　you　through　life；　I　presume。
Water　has　no　effect　on　the　taste；　I've　tried　it。〃

〃Maybe　some　supper　might　help。　　I'll　wash　the　dinner　dishes　and
start　gettin'　it。　　All　there　seems　to　be　to　this　job　of　mine　just
now　is　washin'　dishes。　　And　how　I　hate　it！〃

He　reentered　the　kitchen。　　Then　he　uttered　an　exclamation：

〃Why；　what's　become　of　the　dishes？〃　he　demanded。　　〃I　left　'em　here
on　the　table。〃

Brown　arose　from　the　bench　and　sauntered　to　the　door。

〃I　washed　them；〃　he　said。　　〃I　judged　that　you　would　have　to　if　I
didn't；　and　it　seemed　the　least　I　could　do；　everything　considered。〃

〃Sho！　　You　washed　the　dishes；　hey？　　Where'd　you　put　'em？〃

〃In　the　closet　there。　　That's　where　they　belong；　isn't　it？〃

Seth　went　to　the　closet；　took　a　plate　from　the　pile　and　inspected
it。

〃Um！〃　he　grunted；　turning　the　plate　over；　〃that　ain't　such　a　bad
job。　　Not　so　all…fired　bad；　for　a　green　hand。　　What　did　you　wash　'em
with？〃

〃A　cloth　I　found　hanging　by　the　sink。〃

〃I　see。　　Yes；　yes。　　And　you　wiped　'em　onwhat？〃

〃Well；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　didn't　see　any　towels　in　sight；
except　that　one　on　the　door；　and；　for　various　reasons；　I　judged　that
wasn't　a　dish　towel。〃

〃Good　judgment。　　'Tisn't。　　Go　on。〃

〃So　I　hunted　around；　and　in　the　closet　in　the　parlor；　or　living
room；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　I　found　a　whole　stack　of　things　that
looked　like　towels；　so　I　used　one　of　those。〃

〃Is　this　it？〃　　Seth　picked　up　a　damp　and　bedraggled　cloth　from　the
table。

〃That's　it。　　I　should　have　hung　it　up　somewhere；　I　suppose。　　I'll
lose　my　job　if　I　don't　look　out。〃

〃Um！　　Well；　I'm　much　obliged　to　you；　only〃

〃Only？〃

〃Only　you　washed　them　dishes　with　the　sink　cloth　and　wiped　'em　with
a　piller　case。〃

The　volunteer　dishwasher's　mouth　opened。

〃NO！〃　he　gasped。

〃Ya…as。〃

〃A　pillow　case！　　Well；　by　George！〃

〃Um…hm。　　I　jedge　you　ain't　washed　many　dishes　in　your　lifetime。〃

〃Not　so　very　many。　　No。〃

They　looked　at　each　other　and　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter。　　Brown
was　the　first　to　recover。

〃Well；〃　he　observed；　〃I　guess　it's　up　to　me。　　If　you'll　kindly　put
me　next　to　a　genuine　cloth；　or　sponge；　or　whatever　is　the　proper
caper　for　dish…washing；　I'll　undertake　to　do　them　over　again。　　And；
for　heaven's　sake；　lock　up　the　pillow　cases。〃

Seth　protested；　declaring　that　the　dishes　need　not　be　rewashed　that
very　minute；　and　that　when　he　got　a　chance　he　would　do　them　himself。
But　the　young　man　was　firm；　and；　at　last；　the　lightkeeper　yielded。

〃It's　real　kind　of　you；〃　he　declared；　〃and　bein'　as　I've
consider'ble　to　do；　I　don't　know　but　I'll　let　you。　　Here's　a　couple
of　dishcloths；　and　there's　the　towels。　　I'm　goin'　out　to　see　to　the
lights；　and　I'll　be　back　pretty　soon　and　get　supper。〃

Later　in　the　evening；　after　supper；　the　housework　done；　they　sat
again　on　the　bench　beside　the　door；　each　with　a　pipe；　filled；　this
time；　with　genuine　smoking　tobacco。　　Before　and　below　them　was　the
quiet　sea；　rolling　lazily　under　the　stars。　　Overhead　the　big
lanterns　in　the　towers　thrust　their　parallel　lances　of　light　afar
into　the　darkness。　　The　only　sounds　were　the　low　wash　of　the　surf
and　the　hum　of　the　eager　mosquitoes。　　Brown　was　silent；　alternately
puffing　at　the　pipe　and　slapping　at　the　insects；　which　latter；
apparently　finding　his　skin　easier　to　puncture　than　that　of　the
tanned　and　leathery　Atkins；　were　making　the　most　of　their
opportunity。

Seth；　whose　curiosity　had　been　checked　but　not　smothered　by　his
companion's　evident　desire　to　say　nothing　concerning　himself；　was
busy　thinking　of　various　guileful　schemes　with　which　to　entrap　the
castaway　into　the　disclosure　of　his　identity。　　Having　prepared　his
bait；　he　proceeded　to　get　over　a　line。

〃Mr。　Brown；〃　he　said；　〃I　ain't　mentioned　it　to　you　afore；　'count　of
your　needin'　rest　and　grub　and　all　after　your　fallin'　overboard　last
night。　　But　tomorrer　you'll　be　feelin'　fustrate　again；　and　I
cal'late　you'll　be　wantin'　to　get　word　to　your　folks。　　Now　we　can
telephone　to　the　Eastboro　depot；　where　there's　a　telegraph；　and　the
depot　master'll　send　a　dispatch　to　your　people；　lettin'　'em　know
you're　all　safe　and　sound。　　If　you'll　just　give　me　the　address　and
what　you　want　to　say；　I'll　'tend　to　it　myself。　　The　depot　master's　a
good　friend　of　mine；　and　he'll　risk　sending　the　dispatch　'collect'
if　I　tell　him　to。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　replied　Brown；　shortly。

〃Oh；　don't　mention　it。　　Now　who'll　I　send　it　to？〃

〃You　needn't　send　it。　　I　couldn't　think　of　putting　you　to　further
trouble。〃

〃Trouble！　　'Tain't　no　trouble　to　telephone。　　Land　sakes；　I　do　it
four　or　five　times　a　day。　　Now　who'll　I　send　it　to？〃

〃You　needn't　send　it。〃

〃Oh；　well；　of　course；　if　you'd　ruther　send　it　yourself〃

〃I　sha'n't　send　it。　　It　really　isn't　worth　while　'phoning　or
telegraphing　either。　　I　didn't　drown；　and　I'm　very　comfortable；
thank　youor　should　be　if　it　weren't　for　these　mosquitoes。〃

〃Comf'table！　　Yes；　you're　comf'table；　but　how　about　your　folks？
Won't　they　learn；　soon's　that　steamer　gets　intointo　Portlandor
orNew　York　or　Bostonor　。　。　。　　Hey？〃

〃I　didn't　speak。〃

Seth　swallowed　hard　and　continued。　　〃Well；　wherever　she　was　bound；〃
he　snapped。　　〃Won't　they　learn　that　you　sot　sail　in　her　and　never
got　there？　　Then　they'll　know　that　you　MUST　have　fell　overboard。〃

John　Brown　drew　a　mouthful　of　smoke　through　the　stem　of　the　pipe　and
blew　it　spitefully　among　the　mosquitoes。

〃I　don't　see　how　they'll　learn　it；〃　he　replied。

〃Why；　the　steamer　folks'll　wire　em　right　off。〃

〃They'll　have　to　find　them　first。〃

〃That'll　be　easy　enough。　　There'll　be　your　name；　'John　Brown；'　of
such　and　such　a　place；　written　right　on　the　purser's　book；　won't　it。〃

〃No；〃　drawled　Mr。　Brown；　〃it　won't。〃

The　lightkeeper　felt　very　much　as　if　this　particular　road　to　the
truth　had　ended　suddenly　in　a　blind　alley。　　He　pulled　viciously　at
his　chin　whiskers。　　His　companion　shifted　his　position　on　the　bench。
Silence　fell　again；　as　much　silence　as　the　mosquitoes　would　permit。

Suddenly　Brown　seemed　to　reach　a　determination。

〃Atkins；〃　he　said　briskly；　and　with　considerable　bitterness　in　his
tone；　〃don't　you　worry　about　my　people。　　They　don't　know　where　I　am；
andwell；　some　of　them；　at　least；　don't　care。　　Maybe　I'm　a　rolling
stoneat　any　rate；　I　haven't　gathered　any　moss；　any　financial　moss。
I'm　broke。　　I　haven't　any　friends；　any　that　I　wish　to　remember；　I
haven't　any　job。　　I　am　what　you　might　call　down　and　out。　　If　I　had
drowned　when　I　fell　overboard　last　night；　it　might　have　been　a　good
thingor　it　might　not。　　We　won't　argue　the　question；　because　just
now　I'm　ready　to　take　either　side。　　But　let's　talk　about　yourself。
You're　lightkeeper　here？〃

〃I　be；　yes。〃

〃And　these　particular　lights　seem　to　be　a　good　way　from　everywhere
and　everybody。〃

〃Five　mile　from　Eastboro　Center；　sixteen　from　Denboro；　and　two　from
the　nighest　life　savin'　station。　　Why？〃

〃Oh；　just　for　instance。　　No　neighbors；　you　said？〃

〃Nary　one。〃

〃I　noticed　a　bungalow　just　across　the　brook　here。　　It　seems　to　be
shut　up。　　Who　owns　it？〃

〃Bungawhich？　　Oh；　that　cottage　over　on　t'other　side　the　crick？
That　b'longs　to　a　couple　of　paintin'　fellers　from　up　Boston　way。
Not　house　painters；　you　understand；　but　fellers　that　put　in　their
time　paintin'　pictures　of　the　water　and　the　beach　and　the　like　of
that。　　Seems　a　pretty　silly　job　for　grown…up　men；　but　they're　real
pleasant　and　folksy。　　Don't　put　on　no　airs　nor　nothin。'　　They're
most　gen'rally　here　every　June　and　July　and　August；　but　I　understand
they　ain't　comin'　this　year；　so　the　cottage'll　be　shut　up。　　I'll
miss　'em；　kind　of。　　One　of　'em's　name　is　Graham　and　t'other's
Hamilton。〃

〃I　see。　　Many　visitors　to　the　lights？〃

〃Not　many。　　Once　in　a　while　a　picnic　comes　over　in　a　livery　four…
seater；　but　not　often。　　The　same　gang　never　comes　twice。　　R