the major-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



The　application　of　these　same　galvanically　vigorous　methods　to　Mr。　Gwynne's　debtors　produced　surprising　results。　　Mr。　Sleighter　made　the　astounding　discovery　that　Mr。　Gwynne's　business　instead　of　being　bankrupt　would　produce　not　only　one　hundred　cents　on　the　dollar；　but　a　slight　profit　as　well。　　This　discovery　annoyed　Mr。　Sleighter。　　He　hated　to　confess　a　mistake　in　business　judgment；　and　he　frankly　confessed　he　〃hated　to　see　good　money　roll　past　him。〃　Hence　with　something　of　a　grudge　he　prepared　to　hand　over　to　Mr。　Gwynne　some　twelve　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　of　salvage　money。

〃I　suppose　he　will　be　selling　out　his　farm；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter　in　conversation　with　Mr。　Martin。　　〃What's　land　worth　about　here？〃

〃Oh；　somewhere　about　a　hundred。〃

〃A　hundred　dollars　an　acre！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Sleighter。　　〃Don't　try　to　put　anything　over　on　me。　　Personally　I　admire　your　generous；　kindly　nature；　but　as　a　financial　adviser　you　don't　shine。　　I　guess　I　won't　bother　about　that　farm　anyway。〃

Mr。　Sleighter's　question　awakened　earnest　thought　in　Mr。　Martin；　and　the　next　morning　he　approached　Mr。　Gwynne　with　a　proposition　to　purchase　his　farm　with　its　attached　buildings。　　Mr。　Martin　made　it　clear　that　he　was　chiefly　anxious　to　do　a　neighbourly　turn。

〃The　house　and　the　stable　ain't　worth　much；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　farm　bein'　handy　to　my　property；　I　own　up　is　worth　more　to　me　than　to　other　folks；　perhaps。　　So　bein'　old　neighbours；　I　am　willin'　to　give　four　thousand　dollars；　half　cash　down；　for　the　hull　business。〃

〃Surely　that　is　a　low　figure；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne。

〃Low　figure！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Martin。　　〃All　right；　I　ain't　pressin'　it　on　you；　but　if　you　could　get　any　one　in　this　neighbourhood　to　offer　four　thousand　dollars　for　your　farm；　I　will　give　you　five　hundred　extra。　　But；〃　he　continued；　〃I　ain't　pressin'　you。　　Don't　much　matter　to　me。〃

The　offer　came　at　a　psychologically　critical　moment；　when　Mr。　Gwynne　was　desperately　seeking　escape　from　an　intolerable　environment。

〃I　shall　consult　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　he　said；　〃and　let　you　know　in　a　few　days。〃

〃Don't　know　as　I　can　wait　that　long；〃　said　Mr。　Martin。　　〃I　made　the　offer　to　oblige　you；　and　besides　I　got　a　chance　at　the　Monroe　fifty。〃

〃Call　to…morrow　night；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne；　and　carried　the　proposal　home　to　his　wife。

The　suggestion　to　break　up　her　home　to　a　woman　of　Mrs。　Gwynne's　type　is　almost　shattering。　　In　the　big　world　full　of　nameless　terrors　the　one　spot　offering　shelter　and　safety　for　herself　and　her　family　was　her　home。　　But　after　all；　her　husband　was　her　great　concern；　and　she　could　see　he　was　eager　for　the　change。　　She　made　up　her　mind　to　the　sacrifice　and　decided　that　she　would　break　up　the　home　in　Mapleton　and　with　her　husband　try　again　their　fortune。

〃But　four　thousand　dollars；〃　she　said；　〃is　surely　a　small　price。〃

〃Small？　　I　know　it　is　small；　but　Martin　knows　I　am　in　a　corner。　　He　is　a　highway　robber。〃

It　was　a　bitter　experience　for　him　to　be　forced　to　confess　himself　a　business　failure；　and　with　this　bitterness　there　mingled　a　feeling　of　hostility　toward　all　successful　business　men。　　To　him　it　seemed　that　in　order　to　win　success　in　business　a　man　must　become；　like　Mr。　Martin；　a　highway　robber。　　In　this　mood　of　bitterness　and　hostility　toward　successful　men；　Mr。　Sleighter　found　him　the　next　day。

〃Couldn't　find　you　at　the　store；〃　said　that　gentleman；　walking　in　with　his　hat　on　his　head。　　〃I　wanted　to　get　this　business　straightened　up；　so　I　just　came　in。　　Won't　take　more　than　five　minutes。　　I　guess　you　won't　mind　taking　a　little　check　from　me。　Your　business　turned　out　better　than　that　fool　of　an　assignee　thought。　　Don't　hurt　me　any；　of　course。　　I　got　all　that　was　comin'　to　me　out　of　it；　but　here's　this　check。　　Perhaps　you'll　sign　the　receipt。　　I　guess　they　been　puttin'　it　over　you　all　right。　　You're　a　little　too　soft　with　'em。〃

Mr。　Gwynne　was　an　even…tempered　man；　but　Mr。　Sleighter's　patronising　manner　and　his　criticism　of　his　business　ability　wrought　in　him　a　rage　that　he　could　with　difficulty　control。　　He　remembered　he　was　in　his　own　house；　however；　and　that　the　man　before　him　was　a　stranger。　While　he　was　searching　for　pen　and　ink　the　door　opened　and　his　wife　entered　the　room。　　Mr。　Sleighter；　with　his　hat　still　upon　his　head；　was　intently　gazing　out　of　the　window；　easily　rocking　on　the　two　hind　legs　of　the　chair。　　The　door　opened　behind　him。

〃My　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne；　〃will　you　excuse　me？　　I　am　engaged。〃

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；　I　didn't　know　any　one　was　here。　　I　merely　wanted〃

Mr。　Sleighter　glanced　over　his　shoulder。

〃Mr。　Sleighter；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne。　　〃My　wife。〃

It　was　not　his　tone；　however；　that　brought　Mr。　Sleighter　hurriedly　to　his　feet　with　his　hat　in　his　hand。　　It　was　something　in　the　bearing　of　the　little　lady　standing　behind　him。

〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　ma'am。　　I　hope　you　are　well；〃　he　said；　bowing　elaborately　before　her。

〃Thank　you　very　much；　I　am　quite　well。　　I　have　heard　a　great　deal　about　you；　Mr。　Sleighter。　　I　am　glad　to　meet　you。〃

Mr。　Sleighter　held　her　hand　a　moment　while　her　eyes　rested　quietly　and　kindly；　if　searchingly；　upon　his　face。　　This　was　the　man　who　had　profited　by　her　husband's　loss。　　Was　he　too　a　highway　robber？　Mr。　Sleighter　somehow　felt　as　if　his　soul　were　being　exposed　to　a　searchlight。　　It　made　him　uncomfortable。

〃It's　a　fine　day；　ma'am；〃　he　remarked；　seeking　cover　for　his　soul　in　conversation。　　〃A　little　warm　for　the　time；〃　he　continued；　wiping　his　forehead　with　a　highly　coloured　silk　handkerchief。

〃Won't　you　sit　down；　Mr。　Sleighter？　　Do　you　find　it　warm？　　I　thought　there　was　quite　a　chilly　wind　to…day。　　But　then　you　are　more　accustomed　to　the　wind　than　I。〃

The　searching　eyes　were　holding　him　steadily；　but　the　face　was　kindly　and　full　of　genuine　interest。

〃I　guess　so；〃　he　said　with　a　little　laugh。　　He　would　have　scorned　to　acknowledge　that　his　laugh　was　nervous　and　thin。　　〃I　come　from　the　windy　side　of　the　earth。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Yes；　I　am　from　out　WestAlberta。　　We　have　got　all　the　winds　there　is　and　the　Chinook　besides　for　a　change。〃

〃Alberta？　　The　Chinook？〃　　The　eyes　became　less　searching。

〃Yes；　that's　the　wind　that　comes　down　from　the　mountains　and　licks　up　the　snow　at　ten　miles　an　hour。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃It　was　an　Alberta　man；　you　know；　who　invented　a　rig　with　runners　in　front　and　wheels　behind。〃　　The　lady　was　bewildered。　　〃To　catch　up　with　the　Chinook；　you　see。　　One　of　my　kid's　jokes。　　Not　much　of　a　joke　I　guess；　but　he's　always　ringin'　'em　in。〃

〃You　have　a　son；　Mr。　Sleighter？　　He's　in　Alberta　now？〃

〃No；　the　missis　and　the　kids；　three　of　them；　are　in　Winnipeg。　　She　got　tired　of　it　out　there；　she　was　always　wantin'　the　city；　so　I　gave　in。〃

〃I　hear　it's　a　beautiful　country　out　there。〃

〃Now　you're　talkin'；　ma'am。〃　　She　had　touched　Mr。　Sleighter's　favourite　theme。　　Indeed；　the　absorbing　passion　of　his　life；　next　to　the　picking　up　of　good　salvage　bargains；　was　his　home　in　the　Foothill　country　of　the　West。

While　he　was　engaged　in　an　enthusiastic　description　of　the　glories　of　that　wonderland　the　children　came　in　and　were　presented。　　Mr。　Gwynne　handed　his　visitor　his　receipt　and　stood　suggestively　awaiting　his　departure。　　But　Mr。　Sleighter　was　fairly　started　on　his　subject　and　was　not　to　be　denied。　　The　little　girls　drew　shyly　near　him　with　eyes　aglow　while　Mr。　Sleighter's　words　roiled　forth　like　a　mountain　flood。　　Eloquently　he　described　the　beauty　of　the　rolling　lands；　the　splendour　of　the　mountains；　the　richness　of　the　soil；　the　health…giving　qualities　of　the　climate；　the　warm…hearted　hospitality　of　the　settlers。

〃None　of　your　pin…head　two…by…four　shysters　that　you　see　here　in　the　East；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Sleighter。　　〃I　mean　some　folks；　of　course；〃　he　explained　in　some　confusion。

〃And　the　children；　did　they　like　it？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃You　bet　they　did。　　Why；　they　was　all　over　the　hull　prairie；　all　day　and　all　night；　too；　mostlyon　ponies　you　know。〃

〃Ponies！〃　exclaimed　Larry。　　〃Did　they　have　ponies？　　Could　they　ride？　　How　big　are　they？〃

〃How　big？　　Blamed　if　I　know。　　Let's　see。　　There's　Tom。　　He's　just　about　a　man；　or　thinks　he　is。　　He's　sixteen　or　seventeen。　　Just　now　he's　in　the　high　school　at　Winnipeg。　　He　don't　like　it　though。〃　Here　a　shadow　fell　on　Mr。　Sleighter's　face。　　〃And　the　girls　there's　Hazel；　she's　fifteen；　and　Ethel　Mary；　she's　eleven　or　somewhere　thereabouts。　　I　never　can　keep　track　of　them。　　They　keep　againin'　on　me　all　the　time。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃It　is　hard　to　realise　that　they　are　growing　up　and　will　soon　be　away　from　us。〃

〃That's　so；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter。

〃And　the　schools；〃　continued　Mrs。　Gwynne；　〃are　there　good　schools？〃

〃Schools？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Sleighter。　　〃There's　a　real　good　school　not　more　than　a　couple　of　miles　away。〃

〃Two　miles；〃　exclaimed　the　mother　aghast。

〃Oh；　that's　nothin'。　　They　ride；　of　course。　　But　we　ain't　got　much　of　a　master　now。　　He's　ratheryou　know。〃　　Mr。　Sleighter　significantly　tipped　up　with　his　little　finger　and　winked　toward　Mr。　Gwynne。

〃But　you　love　that　country；〃　she　said。

〃Yes；　I　love　it　and　I　hated　to　leave　it。　　But　the　missis　never　liked　it。　　She　was　city　born　and　bred。　　She　wanted　the　lights；　I　guess；　and　the　shows。　　I　don't　blame　her；　though；〃　he　continued　rapidly。　　〃It's　kind　of　lonely