the drums of jeopardy-第55节

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Cutty's　heart。　　Queer　how　he　felt　his　fifty…two。　　He　began　to
recognize　one　of　the　truths　that　had　passed　by：　One　did　not　sense
age　if　one　ran　with　the　familiar　pack。　　But　for　an　old…timer　to　jog
along　for　a　few　weeks　with　youth！　　That　was　it　…　the　youth　of　these
two　had　knocked　his　conceit　into　a　cocked　hat。

〃Poor　dear　old　Cutty！〃　said　Kitty。　　

〃Old　thoroughbred！〃　said　Hawksley。

And　there　you　were；　relegated　to　the　bracket　where　the　family　kept
the　kaleidoscope；　the　sea…shell；　and　the　album。　　His　children；
though；　from　now　on　he　would　have　that　interest　in　life。　　The　blessed
infant　…　Molly's　girl　…　taking　a　sunbonnet　when　she　might　have　worn
a　tiara！　　And　that　boy；　stepping　down　from　the　pomp　of　palaces　to
the　dusty　ranges　of　Bar…K。　　An　American　citizen。　　It　was　more　than
funny；　this　old　top；　it　was　stark　raving　mad。

Well；　he　had　one　of　the　drums。　　It　reposed　in　his　wallet。　　Another
queer　thing；　he　could　not　work　up　a　bit　of　the　old　enthusiasm。　　It
was　only　a　green　stone。　　One　of　the　finest　examples　of　the　emerald
known；　and　he　could　not　conjure　up　the　panorama　of　murder　and　loot
behind　it。　　Possibly　because　he　was　no　longer　detached；　the　stone
had　entered　his　own　life　and　touched　it　with　tragedy。　　For　it　was
tragedy　to　be　fifty…two　and　to　realize　it。　　Thus　whenever　he　took
out　the　emerald　he　found　his　imagination　walled　in。　　Besides；　it
was　a　kind　of　magic　mirror；　he　saw　always　his　own　tentative
villainy。　　He　was　not　quite　the　honest　man　he　had　once　been。

But　what　was　happening　down　the　line　there？　　The　passengers　were
making　way　for　someone。　　Kitty；　and　racing　back　to　the　gate！　　She
did　not　pause　until　she　stood　in　front　of　him；　breathless。

〃Forget　something？〃　he　asked；　awkwardly。

〃Uh…hm！〃　　Suddenly　she　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed
him。　　〃If　only　the　three　of　us　could　be　always　together！　　Take　care
of　yourself。　　Johnny　and　I　need　you。〃　　Then　she　caught　his　hand；
gave　it　a　pressure；　and　was　off　again。　　Cutty　stood　there；　staring
blindly　in　her　direction。　　Old　Stefani　Gregor；　sacrifice。　　By　and
by　he　became　conscious　of　something　warm　and　hard　in　his　palm。
He　looked　down。

A　green　stone；　green　as　the　turban　of　a　Mecca　pilgrim；　green　as　the
eye　of　a　black　panther　in　the　thicket。　　He　dropped　the　emerald　into
a　vest　pocket　and　fumbled　round　for　his　pipe　…　always　his　mental
crutch。　　He　lit　it　and　marched　out　of　the　station　into　the　night
　…　chuckling　sardonically。　　For　the　second　time　the　thought　occurred
to　him：　Of　all　his　earthly　possessions　he　would　carry　into　the
Beyond　…　a　chuckle。

Molly；　then　Kitty；　but　the　drums　of　jeopardy　were　his！







End