the gentle grafter-第21节

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men　that　looked　like　war　veterans；　and　some　was　crippled；　and　a　good
many　was　just　kidsbootblacks　and　newsboys　and　messengers。　Some　was
working…men　in　overalls；　with　their　sleeves　rolled　up。　Not　one　of　the
gang　looked　like　a　stockholder　in　anything　unless　it　was　a　peanut
stand。　But　they　all　had　Golconda　stock　and　looked　as　sick　as　you
please。

I　saw　a　queer　kind　of　a　pale　look　come　on　Buck's　face　when　he　sized　up
the　crowd。　He　stepped　up　to　a　sickly　looking　woman　and　says：　〃Madam；
do　you　own　any　of　this　stock？〃

〃I　put　in　a　hundred　dollars；〃　says　the　woman；　faint　like。　〃It　was　all
I　had　saved　in　a　year。　One　of　my　children　is　dying　at　home　now　and　I
haven't　a　cent　in　the　house。　I　came　to　see　if　I　could　draw　out　some。
The　circulars　said　you　could　draw　it　at　any　time。　But　they　say　now　I
will　lose　it　all。〃

There　was　a　smart　kind　of　kid　in　the　gangI　guess　he　was　a　newsboy。
〃I　got　in　twenty…fi'；　mister；〃　he　says；　looking　hopeful　at　Buck's　silk
hat　and　clothes。　〃Dey　paid　me　two…fifty　a　mont'　on　it。　Say；　a　man
tells　me　dey　can't　do　dat　and　be　on　de　square。　Is　dat　straight？　Do　you
guess　I　can　get　out　my　twenty…fi'？〃

Some　of　the　old　women　was　crying。　The　factory　girls　was　plumb
distracted。　They'd　lost　all　their　savings　and　they'd　be　docked　for　the
time　they　lost　coming　to　see　about　it。

There　was　one　girla　pretty　onein　a　red　shawl；　crying　in　a　corner
like　her　heart　would　dissolve。　Buck　goes　over　and　asks　her　about　it。

〃It　ain't　so　much　losing　the　money；　mister；〃　says　she；　shaking　all
over；　〃though　I've　been　two　years　saving　it　up；　but　Jakey　won't　marry
me　now。　He'll　take　Rosa　Steinfeld。　I　know　JJJakey。　She's　got　400
in　the　savings　bank。　Ai；　ai；　ai〃　she　sings　out。

Buck　looks　all　around　with　that　same　funny　look　on　his　face。　And　then
we　see　leaning　against　the　wall；　puffing　at　his　pipe；　with　his　eye
shining　at　us；　this　newspaper　reporter。　Buck　and　me　walks　over　to　him。

〃You're　a　real　interesting　writer；〃　says　Buck。　〃How　far　do　you　mean　to
carry　it？　Anything　more　up　your　sleeve？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　just　waiting　around；〃　says　the　reporter；　smoking　away；　〃in
case　any　news　turns　up。　It's　up　to　your　stockholders　now。　Some　of　them
might　complain；　you　know。　Isn't　that　the　patrol　wagon　now？〃　he　says；
listening　to　a　sound　outside。　〃No；〃　he　goes　on；　〃that's　Doc。
Whittleford's　old　cadaver　coupe　from　the　Roosevelt。　I　ought　to　know
that　gong。　Yes；　I　suppose　I've　written　some　interesting　stuff　at
times。〃

〃You　wait；〃　says　Buck；　〃I'm　going　to　throw　an　item　of　news　in　your
way。〃

Buck　reaches　in　his　pocket　and　hands　me　a　key。　I　knew　what　he　meant
before　he　spoke。　Confounded　old　buccaneerI　knew　what　he　meant。　They
don't　make　them　any　better　than　Buck。

〃Pick；〃　says　he；　looking　at　me　hard；　〃ain't　this　graft　a　little　out　of
our　line？　Do　we　want　Jakey　to　marry　Rosa　Steinfeld？〃

〃You've　got　my　vote；〃　says　I。　〃I'll　have　it　here　in　ten　minutes。〃　And
I　starts　for　the　safe　deposit　vaults。

I　comes　back　with　the　money　done　up　in　a　big　bundle；　and　then　Buck　and
me　takes　the　journalist　reporter　around　to　another　door　and　we　let
ourselves　into　one　of　the　office　rooms。

〃Now；　my　literary　friend；〃　says　Buck；　〃take　a　chair；　and　keep　still；
and　I'll　give　you　an　interview。　You　see　before　you　two　grafters　from
Graftersville；　Grafter　County；　Arkansas。　Me　and　Pick　have　sold　brass
jewelry；　hair　tonic；　song　books；　marked　cards；　patent　medicines；
Connecticut　Smyrna　rugs；　furniture　polish；　and　albums　in　every　town
from　Old　Point　Comfort　to　the　Golden　Gate。　We've　grafted　a　dollar
whenever　we　saw　one　that　had　a　surplus　look　to　it。　But　we　never　went
after　the　simoleon　in　the　toe　of　the　sock　under　the　loose　brick　in　the
corner　of　the　kitchen　hearth。　There's　an　old　saying　you　may　have　heard
'fussily　decency　averni'which　means　it's　an　easy　slide　from　the
street　faker's　dry　goods　box　to　a　desk　in　Wall　Street。　We've　took　that
slide；　but　we　didn't　know　exactly　what　was　at　the　bottom　of　it。　Now；
you　ought　to　be　wise；　but　you　ain't。　You've　got　New　York　wiseness；
which　means　that　you　judge　a　man　by　the　outside　of　his　clothes。　That
ain't　right。　You　ought　to　look　at　the　lining　and　seams　and　the　button…
holes。　While　we　are　waiting　for　the　patrol　wagon　you　might　get　out
your　little　stub　pencil　and　take　notes　for　another　funny　piece　in　the
paper。〃

And　then　Buck　turns　to　me　and　says：　〃I　don't　care　what　Atterbury
thinks。　He　only　put　in　brains；　and　if　he　gets　his　capital　out　he's
lucky。　But　what　do　you　say；　Pick？〃

〃Me？〃　says　I。　〃You　ought　to　know　me；　Buck。　I　didn't　know　who　was
buying　the　stock。〃

〃All　right；〃　says　Buck。　And　then　he　goes　through　the　inside　door　into
the　main　office　and　looks　at　the　gang　trying　to　squeeze　through　the
railing。　Atterbury　and　his　hat　was　gone。　And　Buck　makes　'em　a　short
speech。

〃All　you　lambs　get　in　line。　You're　going　to　get　your　wool　back。　Don't
shove　so。　Get　in　a　linea　/line/not　in　a　pile。　Lady；　will　you
please　stop　bleating？　Your　money's　waiting　for　you。　Here；　sonny；　don't
climb　over　that　railing；　your　dimes　are　safe。　Don't　cry；　sis；　you
ain't　out　a　cent。　Get　in　/line/；　I　say。　Here；　Pick；　come　and
straighten　'em　out　and　let　'em　through　and　out　by　the　other　door。〃

Buck　takes　off　his　coat；　pushes　his　silk　hat　on　the　back　of　his　head；
and　lights　up　a　reina　victoria。　He　sets　at　the　table　with　the　boodle
before　him；　all　done　up　in　neat　packages。　I　gets　the　stockholders
strung　out　and　marches　'em；　single　file；　through　from　the　main　room；
and　the　reporter　man　passes　'em　out　of　the　side　door　into　the　hall
again。　As　they　go　by；　Buck　takes　up　the　stock　and　the　Gold　Bonds；
paying　'em　cash；　dollar　for　dollar；　the　same　as　they　paid　in。　The
shareholders　of　the　Golconda　Gold　Bond　and　Investment　Company　can't
hardly　believe　it。　They　almost　grabs　the　money　out　of　Buck's　hands。
Some　of　the　women　keep　on　crying；　for　it's　a　custom　of　the　sex　to　cry
when　they　have　sorrow；　to　weep　when　they　have　joy；　and　to　shed　tears
whenever　they　find　themselves　without　either。

The　old　women's　fingers　shake　when　they　stuff　the　skads　in　the　bosom
of　their　rusty　dresses。　The　factory　girls　just　stoop　over　and　flap
their　dry　goods　a　second；　and　you　hear　the　elastic　go　〃pop〃　as　the
currency　goes　down　in　the　ladies'　department　of　the　〃Old　Domestic
Lisle…Thread　Bank。〃

Some　of　the　stockholders　that　had　been　doing　the　Jeremiah　act　the
loudest　outside　had　spasms　of　restored　confidence　and　wanted　to　leave
the　money　invested。　〃Salt　away　that　chicken　feed　in　your　duds；　and
skip　along；〃　says　Buck。　〃What　business　have　you　got　investing　in
bonds？　The　tea…pot　or　the　crack　in　the　wall　behind　the　clock　for　your
hoard　of　pennies。〃

When　the　pretty　girl　in　the　red　shawl　cashes　in　Buck　hands　her　an
extra　twenty。

〃A　wedding　present；〃　says　our　treasurer；　〃from　the　Golconda　Company。
And　sayif　Jakey　ever　follows　his　nose；　even　at　a　respectful
distance；　around　the　corner　where　Rosa　Steinfeld　lives；　you　are　hereby
authorized　to　knock　a　couple　of　inches　of　it　off。〃

When　they　was　all　paid　off　and　gone；　Buck　calls　the　newspaper　reporter
and　shoves　the　rest　of　the　money　over　to　him。

〃You　begun　this；〃　says　Buck；　〃now　finish　it。　Over　there　are　the　books；
showing　every　share　and　bond　issued。　Here's　the　money　to　cover；　except
what　we've　spent　to　live　on。　You'll　have　to　act　as　receiver。　I　guess
you'll　do　the　square　thing　on　account　of　your　paper。　This　is　the　best
way　we　know　how　to　settle　it。　Me　and　our　substantial　but　apple…weary
vice…president　are　going　to　follow　the　example　of　our　revered
president；　and　skip。　Now；　have　you　got　enough　news　for　to…day；　or　do
you　want　to　interview　us　on　etiquette　and　the　best　way　to　make　over　an
old　taffeta　skirt？〃

〃News！〃　says　the　newspaper　man；　taking　his　pipe　out；　〃do　you　think　I
could　use　this？　I　don't　want　to　lose　my　job。　Suppose　I　go　around　to
the　office　and　tell　'em　this　happened。　What'll　the　managing　editor
say？　He'll　just　hand　me　a　pass　to　Bellevue　and　tell　me　to　come　back
when　I　get　cured。　I　might　turn　in　a　story　about　a　sea　serpent　wiggling
up　Broadway；　but　I　haven't　got　the　nerve　to　try　'em　with　a　pipe　like
this。　A　get…rich…quick　schemeexcuse　megang　giving　back　the　boodle！
Oh；　no。　I'm　not　on　the　comic　supplement。〃

〃You　can't　understand　it；　of　course；〃　says　Buck；　with　his　hand　on　the
door　knob。　〃Me　and　Pick　ain't　Wall　Streeters　like　you　know　'em。　We
never　allowed　to　swindle　sick　old　women　and　working　girls　and　take
nickels　off　of　kids。　In　the　lines　of　graft　we've　worked　we　took　money
from　the　people　the　Lord　made　to　be　buncoedsports　and　rounders　and
smart　Alecks　and　street　crowds；　that　always　have　a　few　dollars　to
throw　away；　and　farmers　that　wouldn't　ever　be　happy　if　the　grafters
didn't　come　around　and　play　with　'em　when　they　sold　their　crops。　We
never　cared　to　fish　for　the　kind　of　suckers　that　bite　here。　No；　sir。
We　got　too　much　respect　for　the　profession　and　for　ourselves。　Good…by
to　you；　Mr。　Receiver。〃

〃Here！〃　says　the　journalist　reporter；　〃wait　a　minute。　There's　a　broker
I　know　on　the　next　floor。　Wait　till　I　put　this　truck　in　his　safe。　I
want　you　fellows　to　take　a　drink　on　me　before　you　go。〃

〃On　you？〃　says　Buck；　winking　solemn。　〃Don't　you　go　and　try　to　make　'em
believe　at　the　office　you　said　that。　Thanks。　We　can't　sp