the make-believe man(说服者)-第4节
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cigarette…holder； and； apparently surprised and relieved at finding a
cigarette there； again smiled contentedly。
The lovely lady pointed at the marble shaft rising above Madison
Square。
〃That is the tallest sky…scraper；〃 she said； 〃in New York。〃 I had just
informed her of that fact。 The young man smiled as though he were
being introduced to the building； but exhibited no interest。
〃IS it？〃 he remarked。 His tone seemed to show that had she said；
〃That is a rabbit；〃 he would have been equally gratified。
〃Some day；〃 he stated； with the same startling abruptness with which
he had made his first remark； 〃our war…ships will lift the roofs off those
sky…scrapers。〃
The remark struck me in the wrong place。 It was unnecessary。
Already I resented the manner of the young man toward the lovely lady。
It seemed to me lacking in courtesy。 He knew her； and yet treated her
with no deference； while I； a stranger； felt so grateful to her for being what
I knew one with such a face must be； that I could have knelt at her feet。
So I rather resented the remark。
〃If the war…ships you send over here；〃 I said doubtfully； 〃aren't more
successful in lifting things than your yachts； you'd better keep them at
home and save coal！〃
Seldom have I made so long a speech or so rude a speech； and as soon
as I had spoken； on account of the lovely lady； I was sorry。
But after a pause of half a second she laughed delightedly。
〃I see；〃 she cried； as though it were a sort of a game。 〃He means
Lipton！ We can't lift the cup； we can't lift the roofs。 Don't you see；
Stumps！〃 she urged。 In spite of my rude remark； the young man she
called Stumps had continued to smile happily。 Now his expression
changed to one of discomfort and utter gloom； and then broke out into a
radiant smile。
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
〃I say！〃 he cried。 〃That's awfully good： 'If your war…ships aren't any
better at lifting things' Oh； I say； really；〃 he protested； 〃that's awfully
good。〃 He seemed to be afraid I would not appreciate the rare excellence
of my speech。 〃You know； really；〃 he pleaded； 〃it is AWFULLY good！〃
We were interrupted by the sudden appearance； in opposite directions；
of Kinney and the young man with the real hat…band。 Both were excited
and disturbed。 At the sight of the young man； Stumps turned appealingly
to the golden…rod girl。 He groaned aloud； and his expression was that of
a boy who had been caught playing truant。
〃Oh； Lord！〃 he exclaimed； 〃what's he huffy about now？ He TOLD
me I could come on deck as soon as we started。〃
The girl turned upon me a sweet and lovely smile and nodded。 Then；
with Stumps at her side； she moved to meet the young man。 When he
saw them coming he halted； and； when they joined him； began talking
earnestly； almost angrily。 As he did so； much to my bewilderment； he
glared at me。 At the same moment Kinney grabbed me by the arm。
〃Come below！〃 he commanded。 His tone was hoarse and thrilling
with excitement。
〃Our adventures；〃 he whispered； 〃have begun！〃
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II
I felt； for me； adventures had already begun； for my meeting with the
beautiful lady was the event of my life； and though Kinney and I had
agreed to share our adventures； of this one I knew I could not even speak
to him。 I wanted to be alone； where I could delight in it； where I could
go over what she had said； what I had said。 I would share it with no one。
It was too wonderful； too sacred。 But Kinney would not be denied。 He
led me to our cabin and locked the door。
〃I am sorry；〃 he began； 〃but this adventure is one I cannot share with
you。〃 The remark was so in keeping with my own thoughts that with
sudden unhappy doubt I wondered if Kinney； too； had felt the charm of the
beautiful lady。 But he quickly undeceived me。
〃I have been doing a little detective work；〃 he said。 His voice was
low and sepulchral。 〃And I have come upon a real adventure。 There are
reasons why I cannot share it with you； but as it develops you can follow it。
About half an hour ago；〃 he explained； 〃I came here to get my pipe。 The
window was open。 The lattice was only partly closed。 Outside was that
young man from Harvard who tried to make my acquaintance； and the
young Englishman who came on board with that blonde。〃 Kinney
suddenly interrupted himself。 〃You were talking to her just now；〃 he said。
I hated to hear him speak of the Irish lady as 〃that blonde。〃 I hated to
hear him speak of her at all。 So； to shut him off； I answered briefly： 〃She
asked me about the Singer Building。〃
〃I see；〃 said Kinney。 〃Well； these two men were just outside my
window； and； while I was searching for my pipe； I heard the American
speaking。 He was very excited and angry。 'I tell you；' he said； 'every
boat and railroad station is watched。 You won't be safe till we get away
from New York。 You must go to your cabin； and STAY there。' And the
other one answered： 'I am sick of hiding and dodging。'〃
Kinney paused dramatically and frowned。
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〃Well；〃 I asked； 〃what of it？〃
〃What of it？〃 he cried。 He exclaimed aloud with pity and impatience。
〃No wonder；〃 he cried； 〃you never have adventures。 Why； it's plain
as print。 They are criminals escaping。 The Englishman certainly is
escaping。〃
I was concerned only for the lovely lady； but I asked： 〃You mean the
Irishman called Stumps？〃
〃Stumps！〃 exclaimed Kinney。 〃What a strange name。 Too strange
to be true。 It's an alias！〃 I was incensed that Kinney should charge the
friends of the lovely lady with being criminals。 Had it been any one else
I would have at once resented it； but to be angry with Kinney is difficult。
I could not help but remember that he is the slave of his own imagination。
It plays tricks and runs away with him。 And if it leads him to believe
innocent people are criminals； it also leads him to believe that every
woman in the Subway to whom he gives his seat is a great lady； a leader of
society on her way to work in the slums。
〃Joe！〃 I protested。 〃Those men aren't criminals。 I talked to that
Irishman； and he hasn't sense enough to be a criminal。〃
〃The railroads are watched；〃 repeated Kinney。 〃Do HONEST men
care a darn whether the railroad is watched or not？ Do you care？ Do I
care？ And did you notice how angry the American got when he found
Stumps talking with you？〃
I had noticed it； and I also recalled the fact that Stumps had said to the
lovely lady： 〃He told me I could come on deck as soon as we started。〃
The words seemed to bear out what Kinney claimed he had overheard。
But not wishing to encourage him； of what I had heard I said nothing。
〃He may be dodging a summons；〃 I suggested。 〃He is wanted；
probably； only as a witness。 It might be a civil suit； or his chauffeur may
have hit somebody。〃
Kinney shook his head sadly。
〃Excuse me；〃 he said； 〃but I fear you lack imagination。 Those men
are rascals； dangerous rascals； and the woman is their accomplice。 What
they have done I don't know； but I have already learned enough to arrest
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them as suspicious characters。 Listen！ Each of them has a separate
state…room forward。 The window of the American's room was open； and
his suit…case was on the bed。 On it
