the vision spendid(美景)-第31节
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a villain？ Her very faith and trust had betrayed her。 Every honest instinct
in him cried out against the world's verdict； that she must pay with salt
tears to the end of her life while the scoundrel who had led her into trouble
walked gaily to fresh conquests。
Cogged dice！ She had gone forth smiling to play the game of life with
them； never dreaming that the cubes were loaded。 He remembered how
once her every motion sang softly to him like music； with what dear
abandon she had given herself to his kisses。 Her fondness had been a thing
to cherish； her innocence had called for protection。 And her chivalrous
lover had struck the lightness forever from her soul。
For long he never thought of her without an icy sinking of the heart。
PART 2
Weeks passed。 Sam Miller gave his whole time to the search for the
missing girl。 Jeff supplied the means； in every way he could he
encouraged him and the broken mother。 For a thousand miles south and
east the police had her description and her photograph。 But no trace of her
could be found。 False clews there were aplenty。 A dozen haggard
streetwalkers were arrested in mistake for her。 Patiently Sam ran down
every story； followed every possibility to its hopeless end。
The weeks ran into months。 Mrs。 Anderson still hoped drearily。 Every
night the light in the hall burned now till daybreak。 And every night she
wept herself to sleep for that her one ewe lamb was lost in a ravenous
world。
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Tears were for the night。 Wan smiles for the day； when she and Sam；
drawn close by a common grief； met to understand each other with few
words。 He was back again at his work as curator of the museum at the
State House； a place Jeff had secured for him after the election。
Outside of Nellie's mother the one friend to whom Sam turned now
was Jeff。 He came for comfort； to sit long hours in the office while
Farnum did his night work。 Sometimes he would read； more often sit
brooding with his chin in his hands。 When the midnight rush was past and
Jeff was free they would go together to a restaurant。
Afterwards they would separate at the door of the block where Jeff had
his rooms。
PART 3
Yet when Jeff found her it was not Sam who was with him； but
Marchant。 They had been to see Sobieski about a place Captain Chunn had
secured for him as a night watchman of the shipbuilding plant of which
Clinton Rogers was part owner。 The Pole had mounted his hobby and it
had been late when they got away from his cabin under the viaduct。
Just before they turned into lower Powers Avenue from the deadline
below Yarnell Way； Marchant clutched at the sleeve of his friend。
〃See that woman's face？〃 he asked sharply。
〃No。〃
Jeff was interested at once。 For during the past months he had fallen
into a habit of scanning the countenance of any woman who might be the
one they sought。
〃She knew you。 I could see fear jump to her eyes。〃
〃We'll go back；〃 Jeff decided instantly。
〃She's in deep water。 Death is written on her face。〃
Already Jeff was swinging back； almost on the run。 But she had gone
swallowed up in the darkness of the night。 They listened； but could hear
only the steady splashing of the rain。 While they stood hesitating the
figure of a woman showed at the other end of the alley and was lost at
once down Pacific Avenue。
Jeff ran toward the lights of the other avenue； but before he reached it
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she had again disappeared。 Marchant joined him a few moments later。 The
little socialist leaned against the wall to steady himself against the fit of
coughing that racked him。
〃Nuisance 。 。 。 this 。 。 。 being a lunger。 。 。 What's it all 。 。 。 about； Jeff？〃
〃I know her。 We'll cover the waterfront。 Take from Coffee Street up。
Don't miss a wharf or a boathouse。 And if you find the girl don't let her get
away。〃
The editor crossed to the Pacific & Alaska dock； his glance sweeping
every dark nook and cranny that might conceal a huddled form。 Out of a
sodden sky rain pelted in a black night。
He was turning away when an empty banana crate behind him crashed
down from a pyramid of them。 Jeff whirled； was upon her in an instant
before she could escape。
She was shrinking against the wall of the warehouse； her face a tragic
mask in its haggard pallor； a white outline clenched hard against the
driving rain。 One hand was at her heart； the other beat against the air to
hold him back。
〃Nellie！〃 he cried。
〃What do you want？ Let me alone！ Let me alone！〃 She was panting
like a spent deer； and in her wild eyes he saw the hunted look of a forest
creature at bay。
〃We've looked everywhere for you。 I've come to take you home。〃
〃Home！〃 Her strange laughter mocked the word。 〃There's no home for
folks like me in this world。〃
〃Your mother is breaking her heart for you。 She thinks of nothing else。
All night she keeps a light burning to let you know。〃
She broke into a sob。 〃I've seen it。 To…night I saw itfor the last time。〃
〃It is pitiful how she waits and waits；〃 he went on quietly。 〃She takes
out your dresses and airs them。 All the playthings you used when you were
a little girl she keeps near her。 She〃
〃Don't！ Don't！〃 she begged。
〃Your place is set at the table every day； so that when you come in it
may be ready。〃
At that she leaned against the crates and broke down utterly。 Jeff knew
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that for the moment the battle was won。 He slipped out of his rain coat and
made her put it on； coaxing her gently while the sobs shook her。 He led her
by the hand back to Pacific Avenue； talking cheerfully as if it were a
matter of course。
Here Marchant met them。
〃I want a cab； Oscar；〃 Jeff told him。
While he was gone they waited in the entrance to a store that sheltered
them from the rain。
Suddenly the girl turned to Jeff。 〃II was going to do it to… night；〃 she
whispered。
He nodded。 〃That's all past now。 Don't think of it。 There are good days
aheadhappy days。 It will be new life to your mother to see you。 We've all
been frightfully anxious。〃
She shivered； beginning to sob once more。 Not for an instant had he
withdrawn the hand to which she clung so desperately。
〃It's all right； Nellie。 。 。All right at last。 You're going home to those that
love you。〃
〃Not to…nightnot while I'm looking like this。 Don't take me home to…
night；〃 she begged。 〃I can't stand it yet。 Give me to…night； please。 I 。 。 。〃
She trembled like an aspen。 Jeff could see she was exhausted； in
deadly fear； ready to give way to any wild impulse that might seize her。 To
reason with her would do no good and might do much harm。 He must
humor her fancy about not going home at once。 But he could not take her
to a rooming house and leave her alone while her mind was in this
condition。 She must be watched； protected against herself。 Otherwise in
the morning she might be gone。
〃All right。 You may have my rooms。 Here's the cab。〃
Jeff helped her in； thanked Marchant with a word； got in himself； and
shut the door。 They were driven through streets shining with rain beneath
the light clusters。 Nellie crouched in a corner and wept。 As they swung
down Powers Avenue they passed motor car after motor car filled with gay
parties returning from the theaters。 He glimpsed young women in furs；
wrapped from the cruelty of life by the caste system in which wealth had
incased them。 Once a ripple of merry laughter floated to him across the
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gulf that separated this girl from them。
A year ago her laughter had been light as theirs。 Life had been a thing
