the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第23节
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you'll know he's an unconscious agent of book…destiny。 There's an old sea…
captain who drops in here now and then。 He's simply the novels of
Captain Marryat put into flesh。 He has me under a kind of spell： I
know I shall have to read Peter Simple before I die； just because the old
fellow loves it so。 That's why I call this place the Haunted Bookshop。
Haunted by the ghosts of the books I haven't read。 Poor uneasy spirits；
they walk and walk around me。 There's only one way to lay the ghost of a
book； and that is to read it。〃
〃I know what you mean；〃 said Titania。 〃I haven't read much Bernard
Shaw； but I feel I shall have to。 He meets me at every turn； bullying me。
And I know lots of people who are simply terrorized by H。 G。 Wells。 Every
time one of his books comes out； and that's pretty often； they're in a
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perfect panic until they've read it。〃
Roger chuckled。 〃Some have even been stampeded into subscribing
to the New Republic for that very purpose。〃
〃But speaking of the Haunted Bookshop； what's your special interest
in that Oliver Cromwell book？〃
〃Oh； I'm glad you mentioned it；〃 said Roger。 〃I must put it back in its
place on the shelf。〃 He ran back to the den to get it； and just then the bell
clanged at the door。 A customer came in； and the one…sided gossip was
over for the time being。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
Chapter VII
Aubrey Takes Lodgings
I am sensible that Mr。 Aubrey Gilbert is by no means ideal as the
leading juvenile of our piece。 The time still demands some explanation
why the leading juvenile wears no gold chevrons on his left sleeve。 As a
matter of fact； our young servant of the Grey…Matter Agency had been
declined by a recruiting station and a draft board on account of flat feet；
although I must protest that their flatness detracts not at all from his
outward bearing nor from his physical capacity in the ordinary concerns of
amiable youth。 When the army 〃turned him down flat；〃 as he put it； he had
entered the service of the Committee on Public Information； and had
carried on mysterious activities in their behalf for over a year； up to the
time when the armistice was signed by the United Press。 Owing to a small
error of judgment on his part； now completely forgotten； but due to the
regrettable delay of the German envoys to synchronize with overexuberant
press correspondents； the last three days of the war had been carried on
without his active assistance。 After the natural recuperation necessary on
the 12th of November； he had been reabsorbed by the Grey…Matter
Advertising Agency； with whom he had been connected for several years；
and where his sound and vivacious qualities were highly esteemed。 It
was in the course of drumming up post…war business that he had swung so
far out of his ordinary orbit as to call on Roger Mifflin。 Perhaps these
explanations should have been made earlier。
At any rate； Aubrey woke that Saturday morning； about the time
Titania began to dust the pavement…boxes； in no very world…conquering
humour。 As it was a half…holiday； he felt no compunction in staying away
from the office。 The landlady； a motherly soul； sent him up some coffee
and scrambled eggs； and insisted on having a doctor in to look at his
damage。 Several stitches were taken； after which he had a nap。 He woke
up at noon； feeling better； though his head still ached abominably。 Putting
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
on a dressing gown； he sat down in his modest chamber； which was
furnished chiefly with a pipe…rack； ash trays； and a set of O。 Henry； and
picked up one of his favourite volumes for a bit of solace。 We have hinted
that Mr。 Gilbert was not what is called 〃literary。〃 His reading was mostly
of the newsstand sort； and Printer's Ink； that naive journal of the publicity
professions。 His favourite diversion was luncheon at the Advertising
Club where he would pore； fascinated； over displays of advertising
booklets； posters； and pamphlets with such titles as Tell Your Story in
Bold…Face。 He was accustomed to remark that 〃the fellow who writes the
Packard ads has Ralph Waldo Emerson skinned three ways from the Jack。〃
Yet much must be forgiven this young man for his love of O。 Henry。 He
knew； what many other happy souls have found； that O。 Henry is one of
those rare and gifted tellers of tales who can be read at all times。 No
matter how weary； how depressed； how shaken in morale； one can always
find enjoyment in that master romancer of the Cabarabian Nights。 〃Don't
talk to me of Dickens' Christmas Stories；〃 Aubrey said to himself；
recalling his adventure in Brooklyn。 〃I'll bet O。 Henry's Gift of the Magi
beats anything Dick ever laid pen to。 What a shame he died without
finishing that Christmas story in Rolling Stones！ I wish some boss writer
like Irvin Cobb or Edna Ferber would take a hand at finishing it。 If I were
an editor I'd hire someone to wind up that yarn。 It's a crime to have a good
story like that lying around half written。〃
He was sitting in a soft wreath of cigarette smoke when his landlady
came in with the morning paper。
〃Thought you might like to see the Times； Mr。 Gilbert；〃 she said。 〃I
knew you'd been too sick to go out and buy one。 I see the President's
going to sail on Wednesday。〃
Aubrey threaded his way through the news with the practiced eye of
one who knows what interests him。 Then； by force of habit； he carefully
scanned the advertising pages。 A notice in the HELP WANTED columns
leaped out at him。
WANTEDFor temporary employment at Hotel Octagon； 3 chefs； 3
experienced cooks； 20 waiters。 Apply chef's office； 11 P。M。 Tuesday。
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〃Hum；〃 he thought。 〃I suppose； to take the place of those fellows
who are going to sail on the George Washington to cook for Mr。 Wilson。
That's a grand ad for the Octagon； having their kitchen staff chosen for the
President's trip。 Gee； I wonder why they don't play that up in some real
space？ Maybe I can place some copy for them along that line。〃
An idea suddenly occurred to him； and he went over to the chair where
he had thrown his overcoat the night before。 From the pocket he took out
the cover of Carlyle's Cromwell； and looked at it carefully。
〃I wonder what the jinx is on this book？〃 he thought。 〃It's a queer
thing the way that fellow trailed me last nightthen my finding this in the
drug store； and getting that crack on the bean。 I wonder if that
neighbourhood is a safe place for a girl to work in？〃
He paced up and down the room； forgetting the pain in his head。
〃Maybe I ought to tip the police off about this business；〃 he thought。
〃It looks wrong to me。 But I have a hankering to work the thing out on
my own。 I'd have a wonderful stand…in with old man Chapman if I saved
that girl from anything。 。 。 。 I've heard of gangs of kidnappers。 。 。 。 No； I
don't like the looks of things a little bit。 I think that bookseller is half
cracked； anyway。 He doesn't believe in advertising！ The idea of
Chapman trusting his daughter in a place like that〃
The thought of playing knight errant to something more personal and
romantic than an advertising account was irresistible。 〃I'll slip over to
Brooklyn as soon as it gets dark this evening；〃 he said to himself。 〃I
ought to be able to get a room somewhere along that street； where I can
watch that bookshop without being seen； and find out what's haunting it。
I've got that old 。22 popgun of mine that I used to us
