further adventures of lad-第20节
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The Master recognized the fast…advancing newcomer。 He recognized him from many pictures in newspapers and magazines。
This was Rutherford Garretse； world…famed author and collector； the literary lion and chief celebrity of the summer colony at Daylight Park。 But what eccentricity of genius could account for his costume and for this bellicose method of bearing down upon a neighbor's home； was more than the Master could guess。
Nor did the visitor's first words clear up the mystery。 Halting at the foot of the steps； Rutherford Garretse gesticulated in dumb anguish； while he fought for breath and for coherent speech。 Then； disregarding Harmon's wondering greeting； the celebrity burst into choking staccato speech。
〃That dog！〃 he croaked。 〃ThatthatDOG！ The maid saw him go into the house。 Saw him go up to my study。 She was afraid to follow； at first。 But in a few minutes she did。 She saw him coming out of my study！ COME！！！ I demand it。 All of you。 COME！〃
Without another word； he wheeled and made off down the road； pausing only to beckon imperiously。 Marveling； the group on the veranda followed。 Deaf to their questions； he led the way。 Lad fell into line behind the perplexed Mistress。
Down the road to the next house； stalked Rutherford Garretse。 At the doorway； he repeated his dramatic gesture and commanded
〃COME！〃
Up the broad stairs he stamped。 Behind him trailed the dumfounded procession； Laddie still pattering happily along with the Mistress。 At the open door of a large room at the stairhead； the author stood aside and pointed in silent despair through the doorway。
〃What's up？〃 queried Harmon； for perhaps the tenth time。 〃Is anything？〃
His question ended in a grunt。 And； like the others； he stared aghast on the scene before him。
The room； very evidently； was a study。 But much of its floor； just now； was heaped； ankle high； with hundreds of pages of torn and crumpled paper。
The desk…top and a Sheraton cabinet and table were bare of all contents。 On the floor reposed countless shattered articles of glass and porcelain； jumbled together with blotters an pastepot and shears and ink…stand and other utensils。 Ink had been poured in grotesque pattern on rugs and parquetry and window curtains。
In one corner lay a typewriter； its keys twisted and its carriage broken。 Bookssome of them in rare bindings；lay gutted and ink…smeared； from one end of the place to the other。
Through the daze of general horror boomed the tremblingly majestic voice of Rutherford Garretse。
〃I wanted you to see！〃 he declaimed。 〃I ordered everything left as it was。 That mess of papers all over the floor is what remains of the first draft of my book。 The book I have been at work on for six months！ I〃
〃And it was the dog； there！〃 sputtered the maid…servant； emotion riding over discipline。 〃I c'n swear the room was neat and all dusted。 Not a blessed thing out of place； and all the paper where Mr。 Garretse had stacked 'em in his portfolio； yonder。 I dusted this study and then the dining room。 And then I went out to sweep the veranda； like I always do； before breakfast。 And maybe ten minutes later I see this brute trot out of Mr。 Harmon's place； and along the road； and come； asnuffing up the steps and into the house。 And when I followed him upstairs and scatted him out； I saw the room looking like it is； now； and I yells to Mr。 Garretse； and he's shaving； and〃
〃That will do； Esther！〃 snapped the author。 〃And； now； sir〃
〃But； Mr。 Garretse；〃 put in the Mistress； 〃Lad never did such a thing as this； in all his life！ He's been brought up in the house。 Even as a puppy； he was〃
〃The evidence shows otherwise；〃 interrupted Garretse； with a visible struggle at self…control。 〃No human； unless he were a maniac； would have done such a wantonly destructive thing。 No other animal has been here。 The dog was seen entering and leaving this room。 And my work of six months is not only destroyed by him； but many of the very best pieces in my glass…and…porcelain cabinet。〃
〃But〃
〃I consented to stay on at Daylight Park； only on the solemn assurance of the Governors that no animal should be allowed again within the Park precincts。 I detest animals。 Particularly dogs。 And now I see my dislike is not mere prejudice。 May I ask what the owners andand the harborerof the cur mean to do about this outrage？ Notice； please； that I am speaking with studied moderation； in asking this vital question。 I〃
〃It is my fault；or rather； it is a mistake；that Lad is in the Park；〃 spoke up the Master。 〃Mr。 Harmon is wholly innocent in the matter。 I can testify to that。 If there is any fine or other penalty in connection with my dog's being here； I'm ready to settle for it。 But if you expect me to believe that Laddie did all this weird damage to your manuscript and your collection and your room；why； that's absurd！ Utterly absurd！ Lad； never in his life；〃
〃The courts will think otherwise！〃 blazed Garretse； losing a fraction of his hard…held selfmastery。 〃And the case shall go through every court in the land； since you persist in this idiotic denial of a proven fact。 I warn you； I shallLook there！〃 he broke off； furiously； leveling a shakily vehement forefinger at Lad。 〃Watch him！ He's prowling around； even now； in search of more things to injure。 He〃
The author finished his sentence by catching up a heavy metal paperweight and drawing it back as if for a throw。 His muscles flexed。 The Mistress moved； as by accident； between the raging man and the dog。
The Master； for the moment； lacked presence of mind to do even that much for his canine chum's safety。 He was too much taken up in glaring unbelievingly at Lad。
The sedate collie； after following the bevy of excited humans upstairs； had stood gravely； just inside the threshold； looking with keen interest from one to the other of the gesticulating and noisy group。 Then； as a sharp whiff of that same baffling scent assailed his nose； he began a new tour of the room。
The odor was fresher than before。 And Lad's curiosity was roused to the full。 He sniffed to right and left； exploring the floor rubbish with inquiring muzzle； and circling the despoiled writing desk。
It was then that Garretse called attention to him。 And it was then that Lad's nose suddenly pointed skyward。 In another moment； he had bounded eagerly toward one of the windows；the window that was slightly open from the top。
From that direction； the scent now came； and it was more potent than at any earlier time in his quest。
Even as the astonished eyes of the group followed Lad window…ward； those same eyes were attracted by a partial darkening of the open space at the window's top。
Into the room； through the narrow aperture wiggled a hairy form； moving with eel…like speed。
Thence； it leaped to the floor。 For the fraction of a second； the intruder crouched there； peering about； to determine into what company his jump had landed him。
He was a gray monkey； small； infinitely aged and withered of aspect。 His paws and forearms were black with half…dry ink。 Here and there； all over his fuzzy gray body； ink…blobs were spattered。 In one skinny paw he still clutched the splintered fragment of a Satsuma vase。
By the time the gaping humans could get a single good look at the monkey； Lad was at him。 Here at last was the solution of that mysterious scent； so new to the collie。
Lad galloped toward the wizened and malodorous gray bunch； more intent on investigation than on attack。 The monkey did not wait for him。 With an incredibly agile leap； he was on the spattered window curtains and swarming up to the rod at the top。 There he squatted； well out of reach； grimacing horribly and chattering in simian wrath。
〃It'sit's a devil！〃 stammered Rutherford Garretse； his nearsighted eyes squinting as he sought to take in the motley details of the creature's appearance。 〃I〃
〃It's Mrs。 McMurdle's pest of a monkey； sirs〃 blithered the maid。 〃Asking your pardon。 The one she made such a fuss about sending away； last month； when all beastees was barred from the Park。 It must 'a' strayed back from where she sent it to； the crafty little nuisance！ It's〃
〃Incidentally；〃 said the Master； 〃it is the creature that wrecked your room。 See the ink on it。 And that bit of porcelain it's brandishing at us looks like a match for some of these smashed bits on the floor。 It got in here； I suppose； through that window； earlier；and〃
〃No；〃 corrected the Mistress； wiser at deduction。 〃Through the doorway； downstairs。 From somewhere outside。 Probably while the maid was dusting the dining…room。 It came in here and began destroying things； as monkeys love to。 And Laddie struck its trail and followed it up here。 It heard Lad coming and it got out through the window。 Then； just now； something outside scared it； and it climbed back in again。 I wonder if〃
As she talked； the Mistress had moved toward the nearest window。
〃See？〃 she finished； in triumph； as she pointed out and down。
On the patch of back lawn； below； stood a very much flustered old lady； her worried gaze upraised to the study。 In one hand she carried a leash； in the other a half…peeled banana。
〃It's Mrs。 McMurdle！〃 exclaimed Harmon。 〃The maid was right。 She must have disobeyed the ordinance and
