the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第18节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
house tenants about Hallowe'en。 A fume of golden light eddied over
uptown merriment： he could see the ruby beacon on the Metropolitan
Tower signal three quarters。 Underneath the airy decking of the bridge a
tug went puffing by； her port and starboard lamps trailing red and green
threads over the tideway。 Some great argosy of the Staten Island fleet
swept serenely down to St。 George； past Liberty in her soft robe of light；
carrying theatred commuters； dazed with weariness and blinking at the
raw fury of the electric bulbs。 Overhead the night was a superb arch of
clear frost； sifted with stars。 Blue sparks crackled stickily along the
trolley wires as the cars groaned over the bridge。
Aubrey surveyed all this splendid scene without exact observation。 He
was of a philosophic turn； and was attempting to console his discomfiture
in the overwhelming lustre of Miss Titania by the thought that she was；
after all； the creature and offspring of the science he worshippedthat of
Advertising。 Was not the fragrance of her presence； the soft compulsion
of her gaze； even the delirious frill of muslin at her wrist； to be set down to
the credit of his chosen art？ Had he not； pondering obscurely upon
〃attention…compelling〃 copy and lay…out and type…face； in a corner of the
Grey…Matter office； contributed to the triumphant prosperity and grace of
this unconscious beneficiary？ Indeed she seemed to him； fiercely
62
… Page 63…
THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
tormenting himself with her loveliness； a symbol of the mysterious and
subtle power of publicity。 It was Advertising that had done this that had
enabled Mr。 Chapman； a shy and droll little person； to surround this girl
with all the fructifying glories of civilization to foster and cherish her
until she shone upon the earth like a morning star！ Advertising had
clothed her； Advertising had fed her； schooled； roofed； and sheltered her。
In a sense she was the crowning advertisement of her father's career； and
her innocent perfection taunted him just as much as the bright sky…sign he
knew was flashing the words CHAPMAN PRUNES above the teeming
pavements of Times Square。 He groaned to think that he himself； by his
conscientious labours； had helped to put this girl in such a position that he
could hardly dare approach her。
He would never have approached her again； on any pretext； if the
intensity of his thoughts had not caused him； unconsciously； to grip the
railing of the bridge with strong and angry hands。 For at that moment a
sack was thrown over his head from behind and he was violently seized by
the legs； with the obvious intent of hoisting him over the parapet。 His
unexpected grip on the railing delayed this attempt just long enough to
save him。 Swept off his feet by the fury of the assault； he fell sideways
against the barrier and had the good fortune to seize his enemy by the leg。
Muffled in the sacking； it was vain to cry out； but he held furiously to the
limb he had grasped and he and his attacker rolled together on the footway。
Aubrey was a powerful man； and even despite the surprise could probably
have got the better of the situation； but as he wrestled desperately and tried
to rid himself of his hood； a crashing blow fell upon his head； half
stunning him。 He lay sprawled out； momentarily incapable of struggle；
yet conscious enough to expect； rather curiously； the dizzying sensation of
a drop through insupportable air into the icy water of the East River。
Hands seized him and then； passively； he heard a shout； the sound of
footsteps running on the planks； and other footsteps hurrying away at top
speed。 In a moment the sacking was torn from his head and a friendly
pedestrian was kneeling beside him。
〃Say； are you all right？〃 said the latter anxiously。 〃Gee； those guys
63
… Page 64…
THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
nearly got you。〃
Aubrey was too faint and dizzy to speak for a moment。 His head was
numb and he felt certain that several inches of it had been caved in。
Putting up his hand； feebly； he was surprised to find the contours of his
skull much the same as usual。 The stranger propped him against his knee
and wiped away a trickle of blood with his handkerchief。
〃Say； old man； I thought you was a goner；〃 he said sympathetically。 〃I
seen those fellows jump you。 Too bad they got away。 Dirty work； I'll
say so。〃
Aubrey gulped the night air； and sat up。 The bridge rocked under him；
against the star…speckled sky he could see the Woolworth Building
bending and jazzing like a poplar tree in a gale。 He felt very sick。
〃Ever so much obliged to you；〃 he stammered。 〃I'll be all right in a
minute。〃
〃D'you want me to go and ring up a nambulance？〃 said his assistant。
〃No； no；〃 said Aubrey； 〃I'll be all right。〃 He staggered to his feet and
clung to the rail of the bridge； trying to collect his wits。 One phrase ran
over and over in his mind with damnable iteration〃Mild； but they
satisfy！〃
〃Where were you going？〃 said the other； supporting him。
〃Madison Avenue and Thirty…Second〃
〃Maybe I can flag a jitney for you。 Here；〃 he cried； as another citizen
approached afoot； 〃Give this fellow a hand。 Someone beat him over the
bean with a club。 I'm going to get him a lift。〃
The newcomer readily undertook the friendly task； and tied Aubrey's
handkerchief round his head； which was bleeding freely。 After a few
moments the first Samaritan succeeded in stopping a touring car which
was speeding over from Brooklyn。 The driver willingly agreed to take
Aubrey home； and the other two helped him in。 Barring a nasty gash on
his scalp he was none the worse。
〃A fellow needs a tin hat if he's going to wander round Long Island at
night；〃 said the motorist genially。 〃Two fellows tried to hold me up
coming in from Rockville Centre the other evening。 Maybe they were the
64
… Page 65…
THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
same two that picked on you。 Did you get a look at them？〃
〃No；〃 said Aubrey。 〃That piece of sacking might have helped me
trace them； but I forgot it。〃
〃Want to run back for it？〃
〃Never mind；〃 said Aubrey。 〃I've got a hunch about this。〃
〃Think you know who it is？ Maybe you're in politics； hey？〃
The car ran swiftly up the dark channel of the Bowery； into Fourth
Avenue； and turned off at Thirty…Second Street to deposit Aubrey in front
of his boarding house。 He thanked his convoy heartily； and refused
further assistance。 After several false shots he got his latch key in the
lock； climbed four creaking flights； and stumbled into his room。 Groping
his way to the wash…basin； he bathed his throbbing head； tied a towel
round it； and fell into bed。
65
… Page 66…
THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
Chapter VI
Titania Learns the Business
Although he kept late hours； Roger Mifflin was a prompt riser。 It is
only the very young who find satisfaction in lying abed in the morning。
Those who approach the term of the fifth decade are sensitively aware of
the fluency of life； and have no taste to squander it among the blankets。
The bookseller's morning routine was brisk and habitual。 He was
generally awakened about half…past seven by the jangling bell that
balanced on a coiled spring at the foot of the stairs。 This ringing
announced the arrival of Becky； the old scrubwoman who came each
morning to sweep out the shop and clean the floors for the day's traffic。
Roger； in his old dressing gown of vermilion flannel； woul
