the gentle grafter-第11节

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〃Well；　of　course；　that　fixed　the　scheme。　The　women　boarders　all　left
the　next　morning。　The　landlord　wouldn't　speak　to　us　for　two　days；　but
when　he　found　we　had　money　to　pay　our　way　he　loosened　up。

〃So　me　and　Andy　had　a　quiet；　restful　summer　after　all；　coming　away
from　Crow　Knob　with　1；100；　that　we　enticed　out　of　old　Smoke…'em…out
playing　seven　up。〃



VIII

SHEARING　THE　WOLF

Jeff　Peters　was　always　eloquent　when　the　ethics　of　his　profession　was
under　discussion。

〃The　only　times；〃　said　he；　〃that　me　and　Andy　Tucker　ever　had　any
hiatuses　in　our　cordial　intents　was　when　we　differed　on　the　moral
aspects　of　grafting。　Andy　had　his　standards　and　I　had　mine。　I　didn't
approve　of　all　of　Andy's　schemes　for　levying　contributions　from　the
public；　and　he　thought　I　allowed　my　conscience　to　interfere　too　often
for　the　financial　good　of　the　firm。　We　had　high　arguments　sometimes。
One　word　led　on　to　another　till　he　said　I　reminded　him　of　Rockefeller。

〃'I　don't　know　how　you　mean　that；　Andy；'　says　I；　'but　we　have　been
friends　too　long　for　me　to　take　offense；　at　a　taunt　that　you　will
regret　when　you　cool　off。　I　have　yet；'　says　I；　'to　shake　hands　with　a
subpoena　server。'

〃One　summer　me　and　Andy　decided　to　rest　up　a　spell　in　a　fine　little
town　in　the　mountains　of　Kentucky　called　Grassdale。　We　was　supposed　to
be　horse　drovers；　and　good　decent　citizens　besides；　taking　a　summer
vacation。　The　Grassdale　people　liked　us；　and　me　and　Andy　declared　a
cessation　of　hostilities；　never　so　much　as　floating　the　fly　leaf　of　a
rubber　concession　prospectus　or　flashing　a　Brazilian　diamond　while　we
was　there。

〃One　day　the　leading　hardware　merchant　of　Grassdale　drops　around　to
the　hotel　where　me　and　Andy　stopped；　and　smokes　with　us；　sociable；　on
the　side　porch。　We　knew　him　pretty　well　from　pitching　quoits　in　the
afternoons　in　the　court　house　yard。　He　was　a　loud；　red　man；　breathing
hard；　but　fat　and　respectable　beyond　all　reason。

〃After　we　talk　on　all　the　notorious　themes　of　the　day；　this　Murkison
for　such　was　his　entitlementstakes　a　letter　out　of　his　coat　pocket
in　a　careful；　careless　way　and　hands　it　to　us　to　read。

〃'Now；　what　do　you　think　of　that？'　says　he；　laughing'a　letter　like
that　to　ME！'

〃Me　and　Andy　sees　at　a　glance　what　it　is；　but　we　pretend　to　read　it
through。　It　was　one　of　them　old　time　typewritten　green　goods　letters
explaining　how　for　1；000　you　could　get　5；000　in　bills　that　an　expert
couldn't　tell　from　the　genuine；　and　going　on　to　tell　how　they　were
made　from　plates　stolen　by　an　employee　of　the　Treasury　at　Washington。

〃'Think　of　'em　sending　a　letter　like　that　to　ME！'　says　Murkison　again。

〃'Lot's　of　good　men　get　'em；'　says　Andy。　'If　you　don't　answer　the
first　letter　they　let　you　drop。　If　you　answer　it　they　write　again
asking　you　to　come　on　with　your　money　and　do　business。'

〃'But　think　of　'em　writing　to　ME！'　says　Murkison。

〃A　few　days　later　he　drops　around　again。

〃'Boys；'　says　he；　'I　know　you　are　all　right　or　I　wouldn't　confide　in
you。　I　wrote　to　them　rascals　again　just　for　fun。　They　answered　and
told　me　to　come　on　to　Chicago。　They　said　telegraph　to　J。　Smith　when　I
would　start。　When　I　get　there　I'm　to　wait　on　a　certain　street　corner
till　a　man　in　a　gray　suit　comes　along　and　drops　a　newspaper　in　front
of　me。　Then　I　am　to　ask　him　how　the　water　is；　and　he　knows　it's　me　and
I　know　it's　him。'

〃'Ah；　yes；'　says　Andy；　gaping；　'it's　the　same　old　game。　I've　often
read　about　it　in　the　papers。　Then　he　conducts　you　to　the　private
abattoir　in　the　hotel；　where　Mr。　Jones　is　already　waiting。　They　show
you　brand　new　real　money　and　sell　you　all　you　want　at　five　for　one。
You　see　'em　put　it　in　a　satchel　for　you　and　know　it's　there。　Of　course
it's　brown　paper　when　you　come　to　look　at　it　afterward。'

〃'Oh；　they　couldn't　switch　it　on　me；'　says　Murkison。　'I　haven't　built
up　the　best　paying　business　in　Grassdale　without　having　witticisms
about　me。　You　say　it's　real　money　they　show　you；　Mr。　Tucker？'

〃'I've　alwaysI　see　by　the　papers　that　it　always　is；'　says　Andy。

〃'Boys；'　says　Murkison；　'I've　got　it　in　my　mind　that　them　fellows
can't　fool　me。　I　think　I'll　put　a　couple　of　thousand　in　my　jeans　and
go　up　there　and　put　it　all　over　'em。　If　Bill　Murkison　gets　his　eyes
once　on　them　bills　they　show　him　he'll　never　take　'em　off　of　'em。　They
offer　5　for　1；　and　they'll　have　to　stick　to　the　bargain　if　I　tackle
'em。　That's　the　kind　of　trader　Bill　Murkison　is。　Yes；　I　jist　believe
I'll　drop　up　Chicago　way　and　take　a　5　to　1　shot　on　J。　Smith。　I　guess
the　water'll　be　fine　enough。'

〃Me　and　Andy　tries　to　get　this　financial　misquotation　out　of
Murkison's　head；　but　we　might　as　well　have　tried　to　keep　the　man　who
rolls　peanuts　with　a　toothpick　from　betting　on　Bryan's　election。　No；
sir；　he　was　going　to　perform　a　public　duty　by　catching　these　green
goods　swindlers　at　their　own　game。　Maybe　it　would　teach　'em　a　lesson。

〃After　Murkison　left　us　me　and　Andy　sat　a　while　prepondering　over　our
silent　meditations　and　heresies　of　reason。　In　our　idle　hours　we　always
improved　our　higher　selves　by　ratiocination　and　mental　thought。

〃'Jeff；'　says　Andy　after　a　long　time；　'quite　unseldom　I　have　seen　fit
to　impugn　your　molars　when　you　have　been　chewing　the　rag　with　me　about
your　conscientious　way　of　doing　business。　I　may　have　been　often　wrong。
But　here　is　a　case　where　I　think　we　can　agree。　I　feel　that　it　would　be
wrong　for　us　to　allow　Mr。　Murkison　to　go　alone　to　meet　those　Chicago
green　goods　men。　There　is　but　one　way　it　can　end。　Don't　you　think　we
would　both　feel　better　if　we　was　to　intervene　in　some　way　and　prevent
the　doing　of　this　deed？'

〃I　got　up　and　shook　Andy　Tucker's　hand　hard　and　long。

〃'Andy；'　says　I；　'I　may　have　had　one　or　two　hard　thoughts　about　the
heartlessness　of　your　corporation；　but　I　retract　'em　now。　You　have　a
kind　nucleus　at　the　interior　of　your　exterior　after　all。　It　does　you
credit。　I　was　just　thinking　the　same　thing　that　you　have　expressed。　It
would　not　be　honorable　or　praiseworthy；'　says　I；　'for　us　to　let
Murkison　go　on　with　this　project　he　has　taken　up。　If　he　is　determined
to　go　let　us　go　with　him　and　prevent　this　swindle　from　coming　off。'

〃Andy　agreed　with　me；　and　I　was　glad　to　see　that　he　was　in　earnest
about　breaking　up　this　green　goods　scheme。

〃'I　don't　call　myself　a　religious　man；'　says　I；　'or　a　fanatic　in　moral
bigotry；　but　I　can't　stand　still　and　see　a　man　who　has　built　up　his
business　by　his　own　efforts　and　brains　and　risk　be　robbed　by　an
unscrupulous　trickster　who　is　a　menace　to　the　public　good。'

〃'Right；　Jeff；'　says　Andy。　'We'll　stick　right　along　with　Murkison　if
he　insists　on　going　and　block　this　funny　business。　I'd　hate　to　see　any
money　dropped　in　it　as　bad　as　you　would。'

〃Well；　we　went　to　see　Murkison。

〃'No；　boys；'　says　he。　'I　can't　consent　to　let　the　song　of　this　Chicago
siren　waft　by　me　on　the　summer　breeze。　I'll　fry　some　fat　out　of　this
ignis　fatuus　or　burn　a　hole　in　the　skillet。　But　I'd　be　plumb　diverted
to　death　to　have　you　all　go　along　with　me。　Maybe　you　could　help　some
when　it　comes　to　cashing　in　the　ticket　to　that　5　to　1　shot。　Yes；　I'd
really　take　it　as　a　pastime　and　regalement　if　you　boys　would　go　along
too。'

〃Murkison　gives　it　out　in　Grassdale　that　he　is　going　for　a　few　days
with　Mr。　Peters　and　Mr。　Tucker　to　look　over　some　iron　ore　property　in
West　Virginia。　He　wires　J。　Smith　that　he　will　set　foot　in　the　spider
web　on　a　given　date；　and　the　three　of　us　lights　out　for　Chicago。

〃On　the　way　Murkison　amuses　himself　with　premonitions　and　advance
pleasant　recollections。

〃'In　a　gray　suit；'　says　he；　'on　the　southwest　corner　of　Wabash　avenue
and　Lake　street。　He　drops　the　paper；　and　I　ask　how　the　water　is。　Oh；
my；　my；　my！'　And　then　he　laughs　all　over　for　five　minutes。

〃Sometimes　Murkison　was　serious　and　tried　to　talk　himself　out　of　his
cogitations；　whatever　they　was。

〃'Boys；'　says　he；　'I　wouldn't　have　this　to　get　out　in　Grassdale　for
ten　times　a　thousand　dollars。　It　would　ruin　me　there。　But　I　know　you
all　are　all　right。　I　think　it's　the　duty　of　every　citizen；'　says　he；
'to　try　to　do　up　these　robbers　that　prey　upon　the　public。　I'll　show
'em　whether　the　water's　fine。　Five　dollars　for　onethat's　what　J。
Smith　offers；　and　he'll　have　to　keep　his　contract　if　he　does　business
with　Bill　Murkison。'

〃We　got　into　Chicago　about　7　P。M。　Murkison　was　to　meet　the　gray　man　at
half　past　9。　We　had　dinner　at　a　hotel　and　then　went　up　to　Murkison's
room　to　wait　for　the　time　to　come。

〃'Now；　boys；'　says　Murkison；　'let's　get　our　gumption　together　and
inoculate　a　plan　for　defeating　the　enemy。　Suppose　while　I'm　exchanging
airy　bandage　with　the　gray　capper　you　gents　come　along；　by　accident；
you　know；　and　holler：　〃Hello；　Murk！〃　and　shake　hands　with　symptoms　of
surprise　and　familiarity。　Then　I　take　the　capper　aside　and　tell　him
you　all　are　Jenkins　and　Brown　of　Grassdale；　groceries　and　feed；　good
men　and　maybe　willing　to　take　a　chance　while　away　from　home。'

〃'〃Bring　'em　along；〃　he'll　say；　of　course；　〃if　they　care　to　invest。〃
Now；　how　does　that　scheme　strike　you？'

〃'What　do　you　say；　Jeff？'　says　Andy；　looking　at　me。

〃'Why；　I'll　tell　you　what　I　say；'　says　I。　'I　say　let's　settle　this
thing　right　here　now。　I　don't　se