a far country-第70节

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got　out　I　went　down　to　Gallagher's　saloon；　and　there　was　Red　leaning　over
the　bar。　　'Here's　a　smart　kid！　he　says；　'He　and　me　were　room…mates　over
in　Hickory　Street。'　　He　got　to　gassing　me；　and　telling　me　I'd　better　come
along　with　him；　when　Gallagher　came　in。　　'What　is　it　ye'd　like　to　be；　my
son？'　says　he。　　A　politician；　I　told　him。　　I　was　through　going　to　jail。
Gallagher　had　a　laugh　you　could　hear　all　over　the　place。　　He　took　me　on
as　a　kind　of　handy　boy　around　the　establishment；　and　by　and　by　I　began　to
run　errands　and　find　out　things　for　him。　　I　was　boss　of　that　ward　myself
when　I　was　twenty…six。。。。　　How'd　you　like　that　cigar？〃

I　praised　it。

〃It　ought　to　have　been　a　good　one；〃　he　declared。　　〃Well；　I　don't　want　to
keep　you　here　all　afternoon　telling　you　my　life　story。〃

I　assured　him　I　had　been　deeply　interested。

〃Pretty　slick　idea　of　yours；　that　dummy　company；　Mr。　Paret。　　Go　ahead　and
organize　it。〃　　He　rose；　which　was　contrary　to　his　custom　on　the　departure
of　a　visitor。　　〃Drop　in　again。　　We'll　talk　about　the　books。〃。。。

I　walked　slowly　back　reflecting　on　this　conversation；　upon　the　motives
impelling　Mr。　Jason　to　become　thus　confidential；　nor　was　it　the　most
comforting　thought　in　the　world　that　the　artist　in　me　had　appealed　to　the
artist　in　him；　that　he　had　hailed　me　as　a　breather。　　But　for　the　grace　of
God　I　might　have　been　Mr。　Jason　and　he　Mr。　Paret：　undoubtedly　that　was
what　he　had　meant　to　imply。。。　　And　I　was　forced　to　admit　that　he　had
succeededdeliberately　or　notin　making　the　respectable　Mr。　Paret　just
a　trifle　uncomfortable。

In　the　marble　vestibule　of　the　Corn　National　Bank　I　ran　into　Tallant；
holding　his　brown　straw　hat　in　his　hand　and　looking　a　little　more　moth…
eaten　than　usual。

〃Hello；　Paret；〃　he　said　〃how　is　that　telephone　business　getting　along？〃

〃Is　Dickinson　in？〃　I　asked。

Tallant　nodded。

We　went　through　the　cool　bank；　with　its　shining　brass　and　red　mahogany；
its　tiled　floor；　its　busy　tellers　attending　to　files　of　clients；　to　the
president's　sanctum　in　the　rear。　　Leonard　Dickinson；　very　spruce　and
dignified　in　a　black　cutaway　coat；　was　dictating　rapidly　to　a　woman；
stenographer；　whom　he　dismissed　when　he　saw　us。　　The　door　was　shut。

〃I　was　just　asking　Paret　about　the　telephone　affair；〃　said　Mr。　Tallant。

〃Well；　have　you　found　a　way　out？〃　Leonard　Dickinson　looked　questioningly
at　me。

〃It's　all　right；〃　I　answered。　　〃I've　seen　Jason。〃

〃All　right！〃　they　both　ejaculated　at　once。

〃We　win；〃　I　said。

They　stood　gazing　at　me。　　Even　Dickinson；　who　was　rarely　ruffled；　seemed
excited。

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you've　fixed　it？〃　he　demanded。

I　nodded。　　They　stared　at　me　in　amazement。

〃How　the　deuce　did　you　manage　it？〃

〃We　organize　the　Interurban　Telephone　Company；　and　bid　for　the　franchise
that's　all。〃

〃A　dummy　company！〃　cried　Tallant。　　〃Why；　it's　simple　as　ABC！〃

Dickinson　smiled。　　He　was　tremendously　relieved；　and　showed　it。

〃That's　true　about　all　great　ideas；　Tallant；〃　he　said。　　〃They're　simple；
only　it　takes　a　clever　man　to　think　of　them。〃

〃And　Jason　agrees？〃　Tallant　demanded。

I　nodded　again。　　〃We'll　have　to　outbid　the　Automatic　people。　　I　haven't
seen　Bitter　yet　about　theabout　the　fee。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Leonard　Dickinson；　quickly。　　〃I　take　off　my　hat
to　you。　　You've　saved　us。　　You　can　ask　any　fee　you　like；〃　he　added
genially。　　〃Let's　go　over　toto　the　Ashuela　and　get　some　lunch。〃　　He　had
been　about　to　say　the　Club；　but　he　remembered　Mr。　Tallant's　presence　in
time。　　〃Nothing's　worrying　you；　Hugh？〃　he　added；　as　we　went　out；　followed
by　the　glances　of　his　employees。

〃Nothing；〃　I　said。。。。




XVIX。

Making　money　in　those　days　was　so　ridiculously　easy！　　The　trouble　was　to
know　how　to　spend　it。　　One　evening　when　I　got　home　I　told　Maude　I　had　a
surprise　for　her。

〃A　surprise？〃　she　asked；　looking　up　from　a　little　pink　smock　she　was
making　for　Chickabiddy。

〃I've　bought　that　lot　on　Grant　Avenue；　next　to　the　Ogilvys'。〃

She　dropped　her　sewing；　and　stared　at　me。

〃Aren't　you　pleased？〃　I　asked。　　〃At　last　we　are　going　to　have　a　house　of
our　very　own。　　What's　the　matter？〃

〃I　can't　bear　the　thought　of　leaving　here。　　I'm　so　used　to　it。　　I've
grown　to　love　it。　　It's　part　of　me。〃

〃But；〃　I　exclaimed；　a　little　exasperated；　〃you　didn't　expect　to　live　here
always；　did　you？　　The　house　has　been　too　small　for　us　for　years。　　I
thought　you'd　be　delighted。〃　　（This　was　not　strictly　true；　for　I　had
rather　expected　some　such　action　on　her　part。）　〃Most　women　would。　　Of
course；　if　it's　going　to　make　such　a　difference　to　you　as　that；　I'll　sell
the　lot。　　That　won't　be　difficult。〃

I　got　up；　and　started　to　go　into　my　study。　　She　half　rose；　and　her　sewing
fell　to　the　floor。

〃Oh；　why　are　we　always　having　misunderstandings？　　Do　sit　down　a　minute；
Hugh。　　Don't　think　I'm　not　appreciative；〃　she　pleaded。　　〃It　wassuch　a
shock。〃

I　sat　down　rather　reluctantly。

〃I　can't　express　what　I　think；〃　she　continued；　rather　breathlessly；　〃but
sometimes　I'm　actually　frightened；　we're　going　through　life　so　fast　in
these　days；　and　it　doesn't　seem　as　if　we　were　getting　the　real　things　out
of　it。　　I'm　afraid　of　your　success；　and　of　all　the　money　you're　making。〃

I　smiled。

〃I'm　not　so　rich　yet；　as　riches　go　in　these　days；　that　you　need　be
alarmed；〃　I　said。

She　looked　at　me　helplessly　a　moment。

〃I　feel　that　it　isn'tright；　somehow；　that　you'll　pay　for　it；　that　we'll
pay　for　it。　　Goodness　knows；　we　have　everything　we　want；　and　more　too。
This　housethis　house　is　real；　and　I'm　afraid　that　won't　be　a　home；
won't　be　real。　　That　we'll　be　overwhelmed　withwith　things！〃。。。

She　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　the　children。　　But　after　dinner；
when　she　had　seen　them　to　bed；　as　was　her　custom；　she　came　downstairs
into　my　study　and　said　quietly：　…

〃I　was　wrong；　Hugh。　　If　you　want　to　build　a　house；　if　you　feel　that　you'd
be　happier；　I　have　no　right　to　object。　　Of　course　my　sentiment　for　this
house　is　natural；　the　children　were　born　here；　but　I've　realized　we
couldn't　live　here　always。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　look　at　it　that　way；〃　I　replied。　　〃Why；　we're　already
getting　cramped；　Maude；　and　now　you're　going　to　have　a　governess　I　don't
know　where　you'd　put　her。〃

〃Not　too　large；　a　house；〃　she　pleaded。　　〃I　know　you　think　I'm　silly；　but
this　extravagance　we　see　everywhere　does　make　me　uneasy。　　Perhaps　it's
because　I'm　provincial；　and　always　shall　be。〃

〃Well；　we　must　have　a　house　large　enough　to　be　comfortable　in；〃　I　said。
〃There's　no　reason　why　we　shouldn't　be　comfortable。〃　　I　thought　it　as
well　not　to　confess　my　ambitions；　and　I　was　greatly　relieved　that　she　did
not　reproach　me　for　buying　the　lot　without　consulting　her。　　Indeed；　I　was
grateful　for　this　unanticipated　acquiescence；　I　felt　nearer　to　her；　than
I　had　for　a　long　time。　　I　drew　up　another　chair　to　my　desk。

〃Sit　down　and　we'll　make　a　few　sketches；　just　for　fun；〃　I　urged。

〃Hugh；〃　she　said　presently；　as　we　were　blacking　out　prospective　rooms；
〃do　you　remember　all　those　drawings　and　plans　we　made　in　England；　on　our
wedding　trip；　and　how　we　knew　just　what　we　wanted；　and　changed　our　minds
every　few　days？　　And　now　we're　ready　to　build；　and　haven't　any　ideas　at
all！〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answeredbut　I　did　not　look　at　her。

〃I　have　the　book　stillit's　in　the　attic　somewhere；　packed　away　in　a
box。　　I　suppose　those　plans　would　seem　ridiculous　now。〃

It　was　quite　true；now　that　we　were　ready　to　build　the　home　that　had
been　deferred　so　long；　now　that　I　had　the　money　to　spend　without　stint　on
its　construction；　the　irony　of　life　had　deprived　me　of　those　strong
desires　and　predilections　I　had　known　on　my　wedding　trip。　　What　a　joy　it
would　have　been　to　build　then！　　But　now　I　found　myself：　wholly　lacking　in
definite　ideas　as　to　style　and　construction。　　Secretly；　I　looked　forward
to　certain　luxuries；　such　as　a　bedroom　and　dressing…room　and　warm　tiled
bathroom　all　to　myself　bachelor　privacies　for　which　I　had　longed。　　Two
mornings　later　at　the　breakfast　table　Maude　asked　me　if　I　had　thought　of
an　architect。

〃Why；　Archie　Lammerton；　I　suppose。　　Who　else　is　there？　　Have　you　anyone
else　in　mind？〃

〃N…no；〃　said　Maude。　　〃But　I　heard　of　such　a　clever　man　in　Boston；　who
doesn't　charge　Mr。　Lammerton's　prices；　and　who　designs　such　beautiful
private　houses。〃

〃But　we　can　afford　to　pay　Lammerton's　prices；〃　I　replied；　smiling。　　〃And
why　shouldn't　we　have　the　best？〃

〃Are　you　surehe　is　the　best；　Hugh？〃

〃Everybody　has　him；〃　I　said。

Maude　smiled　in　return。

〃I　suppose　that's　a　good　reason；〃　she　answered。

〃Of　course　it's　a　good　reason；〃　I　assured　her。　　〃These　peoplethe　people
we　knowwouldn't　have　had　Lammerton　unless　he　was　satisfactory。　　What's
the　matter　with　his　houses？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Maude；　〃they're　not　very　original。　　I　don't　say　they're　not
good；　in　away；　but　they　lack　a　certain　imagination。　　It's　difficult　for
me　to　express　what　I　mean；　'machine　made'　isn't　precisely　the　idea；　but
there　should　be　a　certain　irregularity　in　artshouldn't　there？　　I　saw　a
reproduction　in　one　of　the　architectural　journals　of　a　house　in　Boston　by
a　man　named　Frey；　that　seemed　to　me　to　have　great　charm。〃

Here　was　Lucia；　unmistakably。

〃That's　all　very　well；〃　I　said　im