the pit-第73节

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n　his　throat　again；　and　tears　of　excitement；　of　grief；　of　anger　and　impotence　were　running　down　his　face。

〃Yah…h…h。　　Yah…h…h；　he's　done　for；　busted；　busted！〃

〃Damn　you　all；〃　cried　Landry；　throwing　out　a　furious　fist；　〃damn　you　all；　you　brutes；　you　beasts！　If　he'd　so　much　as　raised　a　finger　a　week　ago；　you'd　have　run　for　your　lives。〃

But　the　cheering　drowned　his　voice；　and　as　the　two　passed　out　of　the　Pit　upon　the　floor；　the　gong　that　closed　the　trading　struck　and；　as　it　seemed；　put　a　period；　definite　and　final　to　the　conclusion　of　Curtis　Jadwin's　career　as　speculator。

Across　the　floor　towards　the　doorway　Landry　led　his　defeated　captain。　　Jadwin　was　in　a　daze；　he　saw　nothing；　heard　nothing。　　Quietly　he　submitted　to　Landry's　guiding　arm。　　The　visitors　in　the　galleries　bent　far　over　to　see　him　pass；　and　from　all　over　the　floor；　spectators；　hangers…on；　corn…and…provision　traders；　messenger　boys；　clerks　and　reporters　came　hurrying　to　watch　the　final　exit　of　the　Great　Bull；　from　the　scene　of　his　many　victories　and　his　one　overwhelming　defeat。

In　silence　they　watched　him　go　by。　　Only　in　the　distance　from　the　direction　of　the　Pit　itself　came　the　sound　of　dying　cheers。　　But　at　the　doorway　stood　a　figure　that　Landry　recognised　at　oncea　small　man；　lean…faced；　trimly　dressed；　his　clean…shaven　lips　pursed　like　the　mouth　of　a　shut　money　bag；　imperturbable　as　ever；　cold；　unexcitedCalvin　Crookes　himself。

And　as　Jadwin　passed；　Landry　heard　the　Bear　leader　say：

〃They　can　cheer　now；　all　they　want。　　_They_　didn't　do　it。　　It　was　the　wheat　itself　that　beat　him；　no　combination　of　men　could　have　done　itgo　on；　cheer；　you　damn　fools！　He　was　a　bigger　man　than　the　best　of　us。〃

With　the　striking　of　the　gong；　and　the　general　movement　of　the　crowd　in　the　galleries　towards　the　exits；　Page　rose；　drawing　a　long　breath；　pressing　her　hands　an　instant　to　her　burning　cheeks。　　She　had　seen　all　that　had　happened；　but　she　had　not　understood。　　The　whole　morning　had　been　a　whirl　and　a　blur。　　She　had　looked　down　upon　a　jam　of　men；　who　for　three　hours　had　done　nothing　but　shout　and　struggle。　　She　had　seen　Jadwin　come　into　the　Pit；　and　almost　at　once　the　shouts　had　turned　to　cheers。　　That　must　have　meant；　she　thought；　that　Jadwin　had　done　something　to　please　those　excited　men。　　They　were　all　his　friends；　no　doubt。　　They　were　cheering　himcheering　his　success。　　He　had　won　then！　And　yet　that　announcement　from　the　opposite　balcony；　to　the　effect　that　business　with　Mr。　Gretry　must　be　stopped；　immediately！　That　had　an　ominous　ring。　　Or；　perhaps；　that　meant　only　a　momentary　check。

As　she　descended　the　stairways；　with　the　departing　spectators；　she　distinctly　heard　a　man's　voice　behind　her　exclaim：

〃Well；　that　does　for　_him！_〃

Possibly；　after　all；　Mr。　Jadwin　had　lost　some　money　that　morning。　　She　was　desperately　anxious　to　find　Landry；　and　to　learn　the　truth　of　what　had　happened；　and　for　a　long　moment　after　the　last　visitors　had　disappeared　she　remained　at　the　foot　of　the　gallery　stairway；　hoping　that　he　would　come　for　her。　　But　she　saw　nothing　of　him；　and　soon　remembered　she　had　told　him　to　come　for　her；　only　in　case　he　was　able　to　get　away。　　No　doubt　he　was　too　busy　now。　　Even　if　Mr。　Jadwin　had　won；　the　morning's　work　had　evidently　been　of　tremendous　importance。　　This　had　been　a　great　day　for　the　wheat　speculators。　　It　was　not　surprising　that　Landry　should　be　detained。　　She　would　wait　till　she　saw　him　the　next　day　to　find　out　all　that　had　taken　place。

Page　returned　home。　　It　was　long　past　the　hour　for　luncheon　when　she　came　into　the　dining…room　of　the　North　Avenue　house。

〃Where　is　my　sister？〃　she　asked　of　the　maid；　as　she　sat　down　to　the　table；　〃has　she　lunched　yet？〃

But　it　appeared　that　Mrs。　Jadwin　had　sent　down　word　to　say　that　she　wanted　no　lunch；　that　she　had　a　headache　and　would　remain　in　her　room。

Page　hurried　through　with　her　chocolate　and　salad；　and　ordering　a　cup　of　strong　tea；　carried　it　up　to　Laura's　〃sitting…room〃　herself。

Laura；　in　a　long　tea…gown　lay　back　in　the　Madeira　chair；　her　hands　clasped　behind　her　head；　doing　nothing　apparently　but　looking　out　of　the　window。　　She　was　paler　even　than　usual；　and　to　Page's　mind　seemed　preoccupied；　and　in　a　certain　indefinite　way　tense　and　hard。　　Page；　as　she　had　told　Landry　that　morning；　had　remarked　this　tenseness；　this　rigidity　on　the　part　of　her　sister；　of　late。　　But　to…day　it　was　more　pronounced　than　ever。　　Something　surely　was　the　matter　with　Laura。　She　seemed　like　one　who　had　staked　everything　upon　a　hazard　and；　blind　to　all　else；　was　keeping　back　emotion　with　all　her　strength；　while　she　watched　and　waited　for　the　issue。　　Page　guessed　that　her　sister's　trouble　had　to　do　with　Jadwin's　complete　absorption　in　business；　but　she　preferred　to　hold　her　peace。　　By　nature　the　young　girl　〃minded　her　own　business；〃　and　Laura　was　not　a　woman　who　confided　her　troubles　to　anybody。　　Only　once　had　Page　presumed　to　meddle　in　her　sister's　affairs；　and　the　result　had　not　encouraged　a　repetition　of　the　intervention。　　Since　the　affair　of　the　silver　match　box　she　had　kept　her　distance。

Laura　on　this　occasion　declined　to　drink　the　tea　Page　had　brought。　　She　wanted　nothing；　she　said；　her　head　ached　a　little；　she　only　wished　to　lie　down　and　be　quiet。

〃I've　been　down　to　the　Board　of　Trade　all　the　morning；〃　Page　remarked。

Laura　fixed　her　with　a　swift　glance；　she　demanded　quickly：

〃Did　you　see　Curtis？〃

〃Noor；　yes；　once；　he　came　out　on　the　floor。　　Oh；　Laura；　it　was　so　exciting　there　this　morning。　Something　important　happened；　I　know。　　I　can't　believe　it's　that　way　all　the　time。　　I'm　afraid　Mr。　Jadwin　lost　a　great　deal　of　money。　　I　heard　some　one　behind　me　say　so；　but　I　couldn't　understand　what　was　going　on。　　For　months　I've　been　trying　to　get　a　clear　idea　of　wheat　trading；　just　because　it　was　Landry's　business；　but　to…　day　I　couldn't　make　anything　of　it　at　all。〃

〃Did　Curtis　say　he　was　coming　home　this　evening？〃

〃No。　　Don't　you　understand；　I　didn't　see　him　to　talk　to。〃

〃Well；　why　didn't　you；　Page？〃

〃Why；　Laura；　honey；　don't　be　cross。　　You　don't　know　how　rushed　everything　was。　　I　didn't　even　try　to　see　Landry。〃

〃Did　he　seem　very　busy？〃

〃Who；　Landry？　　I〃

〃No；　no；　no；　Curtis。〃

〃Oh；　I　should　say　so。　　Why；　Laura；　I　think；　honestly；　I　think　wheat　went　down　tooh；　way　down。　　They　say　that　means　so　much　to　Mr。　Jadwin；　and　it　went　down；　down；　down。　　It　looked　that　way　to　me。　　Don't　that　mean　that　he'll　lose　a　great　deal　of　money？　　And　Landry　seemed　so　brave　and　courageous　through　it　all。　　Oh；　I　felt　for　him　so；　I　just　wanted　to　go　right　into　the　Pit　with　him　and　stand　by　his　shoulder。〃

Laura　started　up　with　a　sharp　gesture　of　impatience　and　exasperation；　crying：

〃Oh；　what　do　I　care　about　wheatabout　this　wretched　scrambling　for　money。　　Curtis　was　busy；　you　say？　　He　looked　that　way？〃

Page　nodded：　〃Everybody　was；〃　she　said。　　Then　she　hazarded：

〃I　wouldn't　worry；　Laura。　　Of　course；　a　man　must　give　a　great　deal　of　time　to　his　business。　　I　didn't　mind　when　Landry　couldn't　come　home　with　me。〃

〃OhLandry；〃　murmured　Laura。

On　the　instant　Page　bridled；　her　eyes　snapping。

〃I　think　that　was　very　uncalled　for；〃　she　exclaimed；　sitting　bolt　upright；　〃and　I　can　tell　you　this；　Laura　Jadwin；　if　you　did　care　a　little　more　about　wheat　about　your　husband's　businessif　you　had　taken　more　of　an　interest　in　his　work；　if　you　had　tried　to　enter　more　into　his　life；　and　be　a　help　to　himandand　sympathiseand〃　Page　caught　her　breath；　a　little　bewildered　at　her　own　vehemence　and　audacity。　　But　she　had　committed　herself　now；　recklessly　she　plunged　on。　〃Just　think；　he　may　be　fighting　the　battle　of　his　life　down　there　in　La　Salle　Street；　and　you　don't　know　anything　about　itno；　nor　want　to　know。　　'What　do　you　care　about　wheat；'　that's　what　you　said。　　Well；　I　don't　care　either；　just　for　the　wheat　itself；　but　it's　Landry's　business；　his　work；　and　right　or　wrong〃　Page　jumped　to　her　feet；　her　fists　tight　shut；　her　face　scarlet；　her　head　upraised；　〃right　or　wrong；　good　or　bad；　I'd　put　my　two　hands　into　the　fire　to　help　him。〃

〃What　business〃　began　Laura；　but　Page　was　not　to　be　interrupted。　　〃And　if　he　did　leave　me　alone　sometimes；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　think　I　would　draw　a　long　face；　and　think　only　of　my　own　troubles。　　I　guess　he's　got　his　own　troubles　too。　　If　my　husband　had　a　battle　to　fight；　do　you　think　I'd　mope　and　pine　because　he　left　me　at　home；　no　I　wouldn't。　　I'd　help　him　buckle　his　sword　on；　and　when　he　came　back　to　me　I　wouldn't　tell　him　how　lonesome　I'd　been；　but　I'd　take　care　of　him　and　cry　over　his　wounds；　and　tell　him　to　be　braveandand　and　I'd　help　him。〃

And　with　the　words；　Page；　the　tears　in　her　eyes　and　the　sobs　in　her　throat；　flung　out　of　the　room；　shutting　the　door　violently　behind　her。

Laura's　first　sensation　was　one　of　anger　only。　　As　always；　her　younger　sister　had　presumed　again　to　judge　her；　had　chosen　this　day　of　all　others；　to　annoy　her。　She　gazed　an　instant　at　the　closed　door；　then　rose　and　put　her　chin　in　the　air。　　She　was　right；　and　Page　her　husband；　everybody；　were　wrong。　　She　had　been　flouted；　ignored。　　She　paced　the　length　of　the　room　a　couple　of　times；　then　threw　herself　down　upon　the　couch；　her　chin　supported　on　her　palm。

As　she　crossed　the　room；　however；　her　eye　had