the lost road-第58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！


away。'　　I'm　going　to　degrade　you　and　disgrace　you；　and　drive　you　out
of　the　army！〃　He　threw　his　note…book　on　the　table。　　〃There's　your　dossier；
Aintree；〃　he　said。　　〃For　three　months　you've　been　drunk；　and　there's　your
record。　　The　police　got　it　for　me；　it's　written　there　with　dates　and　the　names
of　witnesses。　　I'll　swear　to　it。　I've　been　after　you　to　get　you；　and　I've　got
you。
With　that　book；　with　what　you　did　to…night；　you'll　leave　the　army。　　You
may　resign；　you　may　be　court…martialled；　you　may　be　hung。　　I　don't
give　a　damn　what　they　do　to　you；　but　you　will　leave　the　army！〃

He　turned　to　Meehan；　and　with　a　jerk　of　the　hand　signified　Aintree。

〃Put　him　in　a　cell；〃　he　said。　　〃If　he　resists〃

Aintree　gave　no　sign　of　resisting。　　He　stood　motionless；　his　arms
hanging　limp；　his　eyes　protruding。　　The　liquor　had　died　in　him；　and
his　anger　had　turned　chill。　　He　tried　to　moisten　his　lips　to　speak；
but　his　throat　was　baked；　and　no　sound　issued。　　He　tried　to　focus
his　eyes　upon　the　menacing　little　figure　behind　the　desk；　but　
between　the　two　lamps　it　swayed；　and　shrank　and　swelled。　　Of　one　
thing　only　was　he　sure；　that　some　grave　disaster　had　overtaken
him；　something　that　when　he　came　fully　to　his　senses　still　would
overwhelm　him；　something　he　could　not　conquer　with　his　fists。
His　brain；　even　befuddled　as　it　was；　told　him　he　had　been　caught
by　the　heels；　that　he　was　in　a　trap；　that　smashing　this　boy　who　
threatened　him　could　not　set　him　free。　　He　recognized；　and　it　was
this　knowledge　that　stirred　him　with　alarm；　that　this　was　no　
ordinary　officer　of　justice；　but　a　personal　enemy；　an　avenging　
spirit　who；　for　some　unknown　reason；　had　spread　a　trap；　who；　for
some　private　purpose　of　revenge；　would　drag　him　down。

Frowning　painfully；　he　waved　Meehan　from　him。

〃Wait；〃　he　commanded。　　〃I　don'　unnerstan'。　　What　good's　it　goin'　to
do　you　to　lock　me　up　an'　disgrace　me？　　What　harm　have　I　done　you？
Who　asked　you　to　run　the　army；　anyway？　Who　are　you？〃

〃My　name　is　Standish；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃My　father　was　colonel
of　the　Thirty…third　when　you　first　joined　it　from　the　Academy。〃

Aintree　exclaimed　with　surprise　and　enlightenment。　　He　broke　into
hurried　speech；　but　Standish　cut　him　short。

〃And　General　Standish　of　the　Mexican　War；〃　he　continued；　〃was　my
grandfather。　　Since　Washington　all　my　people　have　been　officers　of
the　regular　army；　and　I'd　been　one；　too；　if　I'd　been　bright　enough。
That's　why　I　respect　the　army。　　That's　why　I'm　going　to　throw　you
out　of　it。　　You've　done　harm　fifty　men　as　good　as　you　can't　undo。
You've　made　drunkards　of　a　whole　battalion。　　You've　taught　boys
who　looked　up　to　you；　as　I　looked　up　to　you　once；　to　laugh　at
discipline；　to　make　swine　of　themselves。　　You've　set　them　an　example。
I'm　going　to　make　an　example　of　you。　　That's　all　there　is　to　this。　　I've
got　no　grudge　against　you。　　I'm　not　vindictive；　I'm　sorry　for　you。　　But；〃
he　paused　and　pointed　his　hand　at　Aintree　as　though　it　held　a　gun；
〃you　are　going　to　leave　the　army！〃

Like　a　man　coming　out　of　an　ugly　dream；　Aintree　opened　and　shut　
his　eyes；　shivered；　and　stretched　his　great　muscles。　　They　watched
him　with　an　effort　of　the　will　force　himself　back　to　consciousness。
When　again　he　spoke；　his　tone　was　sane。

〃See　here；　Standish；〃　he　began；　〃I'll　not　beg　of　you　or　any　man。
I　only　ask　you　to　think　what　you're　doing。　　This　means　my　finish。　
If　you　force　this　through　to…night　it　means　court…martial；　it　means
I　lose　my　commission；　I　loselose　things　you　know　nothing　about。
And；　if　I've　got　a　record　for　drinking；　I've　got　a　record　for　other　
things；　too。　　Don't　forget　that！〃

Standish　shook　his　head。　　〃I　didn't　forget　it；〃　he　said。

〃Well；　suppose　I　did；〃　demanded　Aintree。　　〃Suppose　I　did　go　on
the　loose；　just　to　pass　the　time；　just　because　I'm　sick　of　this　damned
ditch？　Is　it　fair　to　wipe　out　all　that　went　before；　for　that？　I'm　the
youngest　major　in　the　army；　I　served　in　three　campaigns；　I'm　a
medal…of…honor　man；　I've　got　a　career　ahead　of　me；　andand　I'm
going　to　be　married。　　If　you　give　me　a　chance…〃

Standish　struck　the　table　with　his　fist。

〃I　will　give　you　a　chance；〃　he　cried。　　〃If　you'll　give　your　word　to　this
man　and　to　me；　that；　so　help　you　God；　you'll　never　drink　againI'll
let　you　go。〃

If　what　Standish　proposed　had　been　something　base；　Aintree　could
not　have　accepted　it　with　more　contempt。

〃I'll　see　you　in　hell　first；〃　he　said。

As　though　the　interview　was　at　an　end；　Standish　dropped　into　his
chair　and　leaning　forward；　from　the　table　picked　up　a　cigar。　　As
he　lit　it；　he　motioned　Meehan　toward　his　prisoner；　but　before　the
policeman　could　advance　the　sound　of　footsteps　halted　him。

Bullard；　his　eyes　filled　with　concern；　leaped　up　the　steps；　and　
ran　to　the　desk。

〃Lieutenant！〃　he　stammered；　〃that　manthe　nigger　that　officer　
shothe's　dead！〃

Aintree　gave　a　gasp　that　was　partly　a　groan；　partly　a　cry　of　
protest；　and　Bullard；　as　though　for　the　first　time　aware　of　his　
presence；　sprang　back　to　the　open　door　and　placed　himself　between
it　and　Aintree。

〃It's　murder！〃　he　said。

None　of　the　three　men　spoke；　and　when　Meehan　crossed　to　where　
Aintree　stood；　staring　fearfully　at　nothing；　he　had　only　to　touch
his　sleeve；　and　Aintree；　still　staring；　fell　into　step　beside　him。

From　the　yard　outside　Standish　heard　the　iron　door　of　the　cell　
swing　shut；　heard　the　key　grate　in　the　lock；　and　the　footsteps　of
Meehan　returning。

Meehan　laid　the　key　upon　the　desk；　and　with　Bullard　stood　at　
attention；　waiting。

〃Give　him　time；〃　whispered　Standish。　　〃Let　it　sink　in！〃

At　the　end　of　half　an　hour　Standish　heard　Aintree　calling；　and；　
with　Meehan　carrying　a　lantern；　stepped　into　the　yard　and　stopped
at　the　cell　door。

Aintree　was　quite　sober。　　His　face　was　set　and　white；　his　voice　
was　dull　with　suffering。　　He　stood　erect；　clasping　the　bars　in　his
hands。

〃Standish；〃　he　said；　〃you　gave　me　a　chance　a　while　ago；　and　I　
refused　it。　　I　was　rough　about　it。　　I'm　sorry。　　It　made　me　hot　
because　I　thought　you　were　forcing　my　hand；　blackmailing　me　into
doing　something　I　ought　to　do　as　a　free　agent。　　Now；　I　am　a　free　
agent。　　You　couldn't　give　me　a　chance　now；　you　couldn't　let　me　go
now；　not　if　I　swore　on　a　thousand　Bibles。　　I　don't　know　what　
they'll　give　meLeavenworth　for　life；　or　hanging；　or　just　dismissal。
But；　you've　got　what　you　wantedI'm　leaving　the　army！〃　　Between
the　bars　he　stretched　out　his　arms　and　held　a　hand　toward　Meehan
and　Standish。　　In　the　same　dull；　numbed　voice　he　continued。

〃So；　now；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　I've　nothing　to　gain　by　it；　I　want　
to　swear　to　you　and　to　this　man　here；　that　whether　I　hang；　or　go
to　jail；　or　am　turned　loose；　I　will　never；　so　help　me　God；　take　
another　drink。〃

Standish　was　holding　the　hand　of　the　man　who　once　had　been　his　
hero。　　He　clutched　it　tight。

〃Aintree；〃　he　cried；　〃suppose　I　could　work　a　miracle；　suppose　I've
played　a　trick　on　you；　to　show　you　your　danger；　to　show　you　what
might　come　to　you　any　daydoes　that　oath　still　stand？〃

The　hand　that　held　his　ground　the　bones　together。

〃I've　given　my　word！〃　cried　Aintree。　　〃For　the　love　of　God；　don't
torture　me。　　Is　the　man　alive？〃

As　Standish　swung　open　the　cell　door；　the　hero　of　Batangas；
he　who　could　thrash　any　man　on　the　isthmus；　crumpled　up
like　a　child　upon　his　shoulder。

And　Meehan；　as　he　ran　for　water；　shouted　joyfully。

〃That　nigger；〃　he　called　to　Bullard；　〃can　go　home　now。　　The　lieutenant
don't　want　him　no　more。
〃




EVIL　TO　HIM　WHO　EVIL　THINKS



As　a　rule；　the　instant　the　season　closed　Aline　Proctor　sailed　on
the　first　steamer　for　London；　where　awaited　her　many　friends；
both　English　and　Americanand　to　Paris；　where　she　selected　those
gowns　that　on　and　off　the　stage　helped　to　make　her　famous。　　But
this　particular　summer　she　had　spent　with　the　Endicotts　at　Bar
Harbor；　and　it　was　at　their　house　Herbert　Nelson　met　her。　　After
Herbert　met　her　very　few　other　men　enjoyed　that　privilege。　　This
was　her　wish　as　well　as　his。

They　behaved　disgracefully。　　Every　morning　after　breakfast　they
disappeared　and　spent　the　day　at　opposite　ends　of　a　canoe。　　She；
knowing　nothing　of　a　canoe；　was　happy　in　stabbing　the　waters　with
her　paddle　while　he　told　her　how　he　loved　her　and　at　the　same
time；　with　anxious　eyes　on　his　own　paddle；　skilfully　frustrated
her　efforts　to　drown　them　both。　　While　the　affair　lasted　it　was
ideal　and　beautiful；　but　unfortunately　it　lasted　only　two　months。

Then　Lord　Albany；　temporarily　in　America　as　honorary　attache　to
the　British　embassy；　his　adoring　glances；　his　accent；　and　the　way
he　brushed　his　hair；　proved　too　much　for　the　susceptible　heart　of
Aline；　and　she　chucked　Herbert　and　asked　herself　how　a　woman　of
her　age　could　have　seriously　considered　marrying　a　youth　just　out
of　Harvard！　At　that　time　she　was　a　woman　of　nineteen；　but；　as　she
had　been　before　the　public　ever　since　she　was　eleven；　the　women
declared　she　was　not　a　day　under　twenty…six；　and　the　men　knew　she
could　not　possibly　be　over　sixteen！

Aline's　own　idea　of　herself　was　that　without　some　one　in　love
with　her　she　could　not　existthat；　unless　she　knew　some　man　cared
for　her　and　for　her　alone；　she　would　wither　and　die。　　As　a　matter
of　fact；　w