my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第5节
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shovelled the sand into the hole； and then placed the suitcases in the
carriage。 With increasing anger I observed that the contents of each were
so heavy that to lift it he used both hands。
〃There is no use your asking any questions；〃 he announced； 〃because I
won't answer them。〃
I gave him minute directions as to where he could go； but instead we
drove in black silence to the station。 There Edgar rewarded Rupert with a
dime； and while we waited for the train to New York placed the two suit…
cases against the wall of the ticket office and sat upon them。 When the
train arrived he warned me in a hoarse whisper that I had promised to help
him guard the treasure； and gave me one of the suit… cases。 It weighed a
ton。 Just to spite Edgar； I had a plan to kick it open； so that every one on
the platform might scramble for the contents。 But again my infernal New
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MY BURIED TREASURE
England conscience restrained me。
Edgar had secured the drawing…room in the parlor…car； and when we
were safely inside and the door bolted my curiosity became stronger than
my pride。
〃Edgar；〃 I said； 〃your ingratitude is contemptible。 Your suspicions are
ridiculous； but； under these most unusual conditions； I don't blame you。
But we are quite safe now。 The door is fastened；〃 I pointed out
ingratiatingly； it and this train doesn't stop for another forty minutes。 I
think this would be an excellent time to look at the treasure。〃 〃I don't！〃
said Edgar。
I sank back into my chair。 With intense enjoyment I imagined the train
in which we were seated hurling itself into another train； and everybody；
including Edgar； or； rather； especially Edgar； being instantly but painlessly
killed。 By such an act of an all…wise Providence I would at once become
heir to one million dollars。 It was a beautiful； satisfying dream。 Even MY
conscience accepted it with a smug smile。 It was so vivid a dream that I sat
guiltily expectant； waiting for the crash to come； for the shrieks and
screams； for the rush of escaping steam and breaking window…panes。
But it was far too good to be true。 Without a jar the train carried us and
its precious burden in safety to the Jersey City terminal。 And each； with
half a million dollars in his hand； hurried to the ferry； assailed by porters；
news…boys； hackmen。 To them we were a couple of commuters saving a
dime by carrying our own hand…bags。
It was now six o'clock； and I pointed out to Edgar that at that hour the
only vaults open were those of the Night and Day Bank。 And to that
institution in a taxicab we at once made our way。 I paid the chauffeur； and
two minutes later； with a gasp of relief and rejoicing； I dropped the suit…
case I had carried on a table in the steel…walled fastnesses of the vaults。
Gathered excitedly around us were the officials of the bank； summoned
hastily from above； and watchmen in plain clothes； and watchmen in
uniforms of gray。 Great bars as thick as my leg protected us。 Walls of
chilled steel rising from solid rock stood between our treasure and the
outer world。 Until then I had not known how tremendous the nervous
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MY BURIED TREASURE
strain had been； but now it came home to me。 I mopped the perspiration
from my forehead； I drew a deep breath。
〃Edgar；〃 I exclaimed happily； 〃I congratulate you！〃 I found Edgar
extending toward me a two…dollar bill。 〃You gave the chauffeur two
dollars；〃' he said。 〃The fare was really one dollar eighty； so you owe me
twenty cents。〃
Mechanically I laid two dimes upon the table。
〃All the other expenses；〃 continued Edgar； 〃which I agreed to pay； I
have paid。〃 He made a peremptory gesture。 〃I won't detain you any
longer；〃 he said。 〃Good…night！〃
〃Good…night！〃 I cried。 〃Don't I see the treasure？〃 Against the walls of
chilled steel my voice rose like that of a tortured soul。 〃Don't I touch it！〃 I
yelled。 〃Don't I even get a squint？ 〃
Even the watchmen looked sorry for me。
〃You do not！〃 said Edgar calmly。 〃You have fulfilled your part of the
agreement。 I have fulfilled mine。 A year from now you can write the
story。〃 As I moved in a dazed state toward the steel door； his voice halted
me。
〃And you can say in your story；〃 called Edgar；〃 that there is only one
way to get a buried treasure。 That is to go； and get it！〃
THE CONSUL
For over forty years； in one part of the world or another； old man
Marshall had； served his country as a United States consul。 He had been
appointed by Lincoln。 For a quarter of a century that fact was his
distinction。 It was now his epitaph。 But in former years； as each new
administration succeeded the old； it had again and again saved his official
head。 When victorious and voracious place…hunters； searching the map of
the world for spoils； dug out his hiding…place and demanded his consular
sign as a reward for a younger and more aggressive party worker； the
ghost of the dead President protected him。 In the State Department；
Marshall had become a tradition。 〃You can't touch Him！〃 the State
Department would say； 〃why； HE was appointed by Lincoln！〃 Secretly； for
this weapon against the hungry headhunters； the department was infinitely
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grateful。 Old man Marshall was a consul after its own heart。 Like a soldier；
he was obedient； disciplined； wherever he was sent； there； without
question； he would go。 Never against exile； against ill…health； against
climate did he make complaint。 Nor when he was moved on and down to
make way for some ne'er…do…well with influence； with a brother…in… law in
the Senate； with a cousin owning a newspaper； with rich relatives who
desired him to drink himself to death at the expense of the government
rather than at their own； did old man Marshall point to his record as a
claim for more just treatment。
And it had been an excellent record。 His official reports； in a quaint；
stately hand； were models of English； full of information； intelligent；
valuable； well observed。 And those few of his countrymen； who stumbled
upon him in the out…of… the…world places to which of late he had been
banished； wrote of him to the department in terms of admiration and awe。
Never had he or his friends petitioned for promotion； until it was at last
apparent that； save for his record and the memory of his dead patron； he
had no friends。 But； still in the department the tradition held and； though
he was not advanced； he was not dismissed。
〃If that old man's been feeding from the public trough ever since the
Civil War；〃 protested a 〃practical〃 politician； 〃it seems to me； Mr。
Secretary； that he's about had his share。 Ain't it time he give some one else
a bite？ Some of us that has； done the work； that has borne the brunt〃
〃This place he now holds；〃 interrupted the Secretary of State suavely；
〃is one hardly commensurate with services like yours。 I can't pronounce
the name of it； and I'm not sure just where it is； but I see that； of the last
six consuls we sent there； three resigned within a month and the other
three died of yellow…fever。 Still； if you。 insist〃
The practical politician reconsidered hastily。 〃I'm not the sort；〃 he
protested； 〃to turn out a man appointed by our martyred President。 Besides；
he's so old now； if the fever don't catch him； he'll die of old age； anyway。〃
The Secretary coughed uncomfortably。 〃And they say；〃 he murmured；
〃republics are ungrateful。〃
〃I don't quite get that；〃 said the practical politician。
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Of Porto Banos； of the Republic of Colombia； where as consul Mr。
Marshall was upholding the dignity of the United States； little could be
said except that it possessed a sure harbor。 When driven from the
Caribbean Sea by stress of weather； the larg
