part 6-第2节
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Archie lived in his own house on Colfax Avenue； where
he had roomy grounds and a rose garden and a conserva…
tory。 His housekeeping was done by three Japanese boys；
devoted and resourceful； who were able to manage Archie's
dinner parties； to see that he kept his engagements； and to
make visitors who stayed at the house so comfortable that
they were always loath to go away。
Archie had never known what comfort was until he
became a widower； though with characteristic delicacy； or
dishonesty； he insisted upon accrediting his peace of mind
to the San Felipe； to Time； to anything but his release from
Mrs。 Archie。
Mrs。 Archie died just before her husband left Moonstone
and came to Denver to live； six years ago。 The poor wo…
man's fight against dust was her undoing at last。 One
summer day when she was rubbing the parlor upholstery
with gasoline；the doctor had often forbidden her to use
it on any account； so that was one of the pleasures she
seized upon in his absence；an explosion occurred。 No…
body ever knew exactly how it happened； for Mrs。 Archie
was dead when the neighbors rushed in to save her from the
burning house。 She must have inhaled the burning gas and
died instantly。
Moonstone severity relented toward her somewhat after
her death。 But even while her old cronies at Mrs。 Smiley's
millinery store said that it was a terrible thing； they added
that nothing but a powerful explosive COULD have killed
Mrs。 Archie； and that it was only right the doctor should
have a chance。
Archie's past was literally destroyed when his wife died。
The house burned to the ground； and all those material
reminders which have such power over people disappeared
in an hour。 His mining interests now took him to Denver
so often that it seemed better to make his headquarters
there。 He gave up his practice and left Moonstone for
good。 Six months afterward； while Dr。 Archie was living
at the Brown Palace Hotel； the San Felipe mine began to
give up that silver hoard which old Captain Harris had
always accused it of concealing； and San Felipe headed the
list of mining quotations in every daily paper； East and
West。 In a few years Dr。 Archie was a very rich man。
His mine was such an important item in the mineral out…
put of the State； and Archie had a hand in so many of the
new industries of Colorado and New Mexico； that his poli…
tical influence was considerable。 He had thrown it all； two
years ago； to the new reform party； and had brought about
the election of a governor of whose conduct he was now
heartily ashamed。 His friends believed that Archie himself
had ambitious political plans。
II
WHEN Ottenburg and his host reached the house on
Colfax Avenue； they went directly to the library；
a long double room on the second floor which Archie had
arranged exactly to his own taste。 It was full of books and
mounted specimens of wild game； with a big writing…table
at either end； stiff； old…fashioned engravings； heavy hang…
ings and deep upholstery。
When one of the Japanese boys brought the cocktails；
Fred turned from the fine specimen of peccoray he had
been examining and said； 〃A man is an owl to live in such
a place alone； Archie。 Why don't you marry？ As for me；
just because I can't marry； I find the world full of charm…
ing； unattached women； any one of whom I could fit up a
house for with alacrity。〃
〃You're more knowing than I。〃 Archie spoke politely。
〃I'm not very wide awake about women。 I'd be likely to
pick out one of the uncomfortable onesand there are a
few of them； you know。〃 He drank his cocktail and rubbed
his hands together in a friendly way。 〃My friends here
have charming wives； and they don't give me a chance
to get lonely。 They are very kind to me； and I have a
great many pleasant friendships。〃
Fred put down his glass。 〃Yes； I've always noticed that
women have confidence in you。 You have the doctor's way
of getting next。 And you enjoy that kind of thing？〃
〃The friendship of attractive women？ Oh； dear； yes！
I depend upon it a great deal。〃
The butler announced dinner； and the two men went
downstairs to the dining…room。 Dr。 Archie's dinners were
always good and well served； and his wines were excellent。
〃I saw the Fuel and Iron people to…day；〃 Ottenburg said；
looking up from his soup。 〃Their heart is in the right place。
I can't see why in the mischief you ever got mixed up with
that reform gang； Archie。 You've got nothing to reform
out here。 The situation has always been as simple as two
and two in Colorado； mostly a matter of a friendly under…
standing。〃
〃Well；〃Archie spoke tolerantly；〃some of the
young fellows seemed to have red…hot convictions； and I
thought it was better to let them try their ideas out。〃
Ottenburg shrugged his shoulders。 〃A few dull young
men who haven't ability enough to play the old game the
old way； so they want to put on a new game which doesn't
take so much brains and gives away more advertising
that's what your anti…saloon league and vice commission
amounts to。 They provide notoriety for the fellows who
can't distinguish themselves at running a business or prac…
ticing law or developing an industry。 Here you have a
mediocre lawyer with no brains and no practice； trying to
get a look…in on something。 He comes up with the novel
proposition that the prostitute has a hard time of it； puts
his picture in the paper； and the first thing you know； he's
a celebrity。 He gets the rake…off and she's just where she
was before。 How could you fall for a mouse…trap like
Pink Alden； Archie？〃
Dr。 Archie laughed as he began to carve。 〃Pink seems
to get under your skin。 He's not worth talking about。
He's gone his limit。 People won't read about his blame…
less life any more。 I knew those interviews he gave out
would cook him。 They were a last resort。 I could have
stopped him； but by that time I'd come to the conclusion
that I'd let the reformers down。 I'm not against a general
shaking…up； but the trouble with Pinky's crowd is they
never get beyond a general writing…up。 We gave them a
chance to do something； and they just kept on writing
about each other and what temptations they had over…
come。〃
While Archie and his friend were busy with Colorado
politics； the impeccable Japanese attended swiftly and
intelligently to his duties； and the dinner； as Ottenburg at
last remarked； was worthy of more profitable conversation。
〃So it is；〃 the doctor admitted。 〃Well； we'll go up…
stairs for our coffee and cut this out。 Bring up some cognac
and arak； Tai；〃 he added as he rose from the table。
They stopped to examine a moose's head on the stair…
way； and when they reached the library the pine logs in
the fireplace had been lighted； and the coffee was bubbling
before the hearth。 Tai placed two chairs before the fire
and brought a tray of cigarettes。
〃Bring the cigars in my lower desk drawer； boy；〃 the
doctor directed。 〃Too much light in here； isn't there；
Fred？ Light the lamp there on my desk； Tai。〃 He turned
off the electric glare and settled himself deep into the chair
opposite Ottenburg's。
〃To go back to our conversation； doctor；〃 Fred began
while he waited for the first steam to blow off his coffee；
〃why don't you make up your mind to go to Washington？
There'd be no fight made against you。 I needn't say the
United Breweries would back you。 There'd be some KUDOS
coming to us； too； backing a reform candidate。〃
Dr。 Archie measured his length in his chair and thrust
his large boots toward the crackling pitch…pine。 He drank
his coffee and lit a big black cigar while his guest looked
over the assortment of cigarettes on the tray。 〃You say
why don't I；〃 the doctor spoke with the deliberation of a
man in the position of having several courses to choose
from； 〃but； on the other hand； why should I？〃 He puffed
away and seemed； through his half…closed eyes； to look
down
