the man from glengarry-第51节

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〃Yes！　　Yes！〃　cried　Ranald；　eagerly；　the　glad　light　of　battle　coming
into　his　eyes。

〃Good；〃　said　De　Lacy；　slowly　putting　back　his　chair；　and　proceeding
to　remove　his　coat。

〃Glengarry！〃　cried　LeNoir；　raising　the　battle　cry　he　had　cause　to
remember　so　well；　and　flinging　off　his　coat　upon　the　floor；　he
patted　Ranald　on　the　back；　yelling；　〃Go　in；　bully　boy！〃

〃Shut　the　door；　LeNoir；〃　said　Ranald；　quickly；　〃and　keep　it　shut。〃

〃De　Lacy；〃　cried　Harry；　〃this　must　not　go　on！　　Ranald；　think　what
you　are　doing！〃

〃You　didn't　notice　his　remark；　apparently；　St。　Clair；〃　said　the
lieutenant；　calmly。

〃Never　mind；〃　cried　Harry；　〃he　was　excited；　and　anyway　the　thing
must　end　here。〃

〃There　is　only　one　way。　　Does　he　retract？〃　said　De　Lacy；　quietly。

〃Ranald；〃　Harry　cried；　beseechingly；　〃you　know　he　is　no　coward；　you
did　not　mean　that。〃

By　this　time　Ranald　had　himself　in　hand。

〃No；〃　he　said；　regretfully；　forcing　himself　to　speak　the　truth。　　〃I
know　he　is　no　coward；　I　have　seen　him　where　no　coward　would　be；
but；〃　he　added；　〃he　struck　a　man　unguarded；　and　that　was　a　coward's
blow。〃

〃Macdonald；〃　said　De　Lacy　deliberately；　〃you　are　right。　　True；　he
called　me　a　cheat；　but　I　should　have　given　him　time。　　Still；〃　he
added；　rolling　up　his　sleeves；　〃I　hope　you　will　not　deprive
yourself　or　me　of　the　privilege　of　settling　this　little　business。〃

〃I　will　be　glad；〃　said　Ranald；　his　eyes　once　more　lighting　up。
〃Very　glad　indeed；　if　you　wish。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　cried　Harry；　passionately；　〃I　tell　you　I　will　not　have
it。　　He　has　given　you　ample　apology；　De　Lacy；　and　you；　Ranald；　I
thought　a　Macdonald　never　fought　except　for　sufficient　cause！〃
Harry　remembered　the　fighting　rule　of　the　Macdonald　gang。

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Ranald；　gravely；　〃but　it　was　a　cruel　blow；〃
pointing　to　Rouleau；　who；　supported　by　LeNoir；　was　sitting　on　a
chair；　his　face　badly　cut　and　bleeding；　〃and　that；　too；　after
taking　from　him　the　wages　of　six　months　in　the　bush！〃

〃I　suppose　you　admit　the　game　was　fair；〃　said　the　lieutenant；
moving　nearer　to　Ranald；　the　threat　in　his　tone　evident　to　all。

〃The　game　was　fair；〃　said　Ranald；　facing　De　Lacy；　〃but　I　will　say
the　lad　was　no　fair　match　for　you！〃

〃He　chose　to　risk　his　money；　which　you　were　not　willing　to　do。〃
De　Lacy　felt　that　he　was　being　put　in　an　unpleasant　light　and　was
determined　to　anger　Ranald　beyond　control。　　Ranald　caught　the
sneer。

〃If　I　did　not　play；〃　he　cried；　hotly；　〃it　was　for　no　fear　of　you
or　any　of　you。　　It　was　no　man's　game　whatever；〃　he　continued；
contemptuously。

〃Now；　De　Lacy；〃　cried　Harry；　again；　〃let　this　stop。　　The　man　who
fights　will　first　fight　me！〃

〃Perhaps　Mr。　Macdonald　would　show　us　how　the　game　should　be
played；〃　said　Mr。　Sims；　coming　as　near　to　a　sneer　as　he　dared。

〃It　would　not　be　hard　to　show　you　this　game；〃　said　Ranald；　ignoring
Mr。　Sims；　and　looking　the　lieutenant　in　the　eyes；　〃or　perhaps　the
other！〃

〃Good！〃　cried　Harry；　gladly　seizing　the　opportunity　of　averting　a
fight。　　〃The　game！　　Take　your　places；　gentlemen！〃

The　lieutenant　hesitated　for　a　moment；　as　if　uncertain　what　to　do。
Then；　with　a　slight　laugh；　he　said；　〃Very　well；　one　thing　at　a
time；　the　other　can　wait。〃

〃Come　on！〃　cried　Harry；　〃who　goes　in？　　LeNoir；　you？〃

LeNoir　looked　at　Ranald。

〃What　you　say？〃

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　shortly；　〃this　is　my　game！〃　　With　that　he　turned
aside　from　the　table　and　spoke　a　few　words　in　a　low　tone　to　LeNoir；
who　assisted　Rouleau　from　the　room；　and　after　some　minutes'　absence；
returned　with　a　little　linen　bag。　　Ranald　took　the　bag　and　began
to　count　out　some　money　upon　the　table　before　him。

〃I　will　play　to　one　hundred　dollars；〃　he　said。

The　lieutenant　and　Mr。　Sims　each　laid　the　same　amount　before　them
upon　the　table。

〃I　have　not　so　much　on　me；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　perhaps　my　I。　O。　U。
will　do。〃

〃What　shall　we　say；〃　said　Mr。　Sims；　〃a　dollar　to　play　and　five
dollars　limit？〃

〃Say　five　and　twenty…five；〃　said　De　Lacy；　who　was　commanding
himself　with　a　great　effort。

〃Is　that　too　high？〃　said　Harry；　looking　toward　Ranald。

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　〃the　higher　the　better。〃

It　was　soon　evident　that　Ranald　knew　the　game。　　He　had　learned　it
during　the　long　winter　nights　in　the　shanty　from　Yankee；　who　was　a
master　at　it；　and　he　played　it　warily　and　with　iron　nerve。　　He
seemed　to　know　as　by　instinct　when　to　retreat　and　when　to　pursue；
and　he　played　with　the　single　purpose　of　bleeding　the　lieutenant
dry。　　Often　did　he　refuse　to　take　toll　of　Harry　or　Mr。　Sims　when
opportunity　offered；　but　never　once　did　he　allow　the　lieutenant　to
escape。

〃You　flatter　me；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　sarcastically；　as　Ranald's
purpose　became　increasingly　clear。

〃I　will　have　from　you　all　you　have　won；〃　replied　Ranald；　in　a　tone
of　such　settled　resolve　that　it　seemed　as　if　nothing　could　prevent
the　accomplishment　of　his　purpose。　　In　vain　the　lieutenant　sought
to　brace　his　nerves　with　his　brandy…and…sodas。　　He　played　now
recklessly　and　again　with　over…caution；　while　Ranald；　taking
advantage　of　every　slip　and　every　sign　of　weakness；　followed　him
with　relentless　determination。

With　such　stakes　the　game　was　soon　over。　　It　was　not　long　before
the　lieutenant　was　stripped　of　his　hundred；　while　Harry　and　Mr。
Sims　had　each　lost　smaller　amounts。

〃You　will　try　another　hundred？〃　said　the　lieutenant；　burning　to　get
revenge。

Without　a　word　Ranald　laid　down　his　hundred；　the　others　did
likewise；　and　once　more　the　game　proceeded。　　There　was　no　change
in　Ranald's　play。　　Thorough　knowledge　of　the　game；　absolute　self…
command；　an　instinctive　reading　of　his　opponent's　mind；　and
unswerving　purpose　soon　brought　about　the　only　result　possible。
The　lieutenant's　second　hundred　with　a　part　of　Harry's　and　Mr。
Sims's　passed　into　Ranald's　possession。

Again　De　Lacy　challenged　to　play。

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　have　done。〃　　He　put　back　into　his　linen　bag
his　one　hundred　dollars；　counted　out　two　hundred；　and　gave　it　to
LeNoir；　saying：　　〃That　is　Rouleau's；〃　and　threw　the　rest　upon　the
table。　　〃I　want　no　man's　money；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　do　not　earn。〃

The　lieutenant　sprang　to　his　feet。

〃Hold！〃　he　cried；　〃you　forget；　there　is　something　else！〃

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　as　Harry　and　Mr。　Sims　put　themselves　in　De
Lacy's　way；　〃there　is　nothing　else　to…night；　another　day；　and　any
day　you　wish；　you　can　have　the　other　game；〃　and　with　that　he　passed
out　of　the　room。



CHAPTER　XX

HER　CLINGING　ARMS


The　ancient　capital　of　Canadathe　old　gray　queen　of　the　mighty　St。
Lawrenceis　a　city　of　many　charms　and　of　much　stately　beauty。　　Its
narrow；　climbing　streets；　with　their　quaint　shops　and　curious
gables；　its　old　market；　with　chaffering　habitant　farmers　and　their
wives；　are　full　of　living　interest。　　Its　noble　rock；　crowned　with
the　ancient　citadel；　and　its　sweeping　tidal　river；　lend　it　a　dignity
and　majestic　beauty　that　no　other　city　knows；　and　everywhere　about
its　citadel　and　walls；　and　venerable；　sacred　buildings；　there　still
linger　the　romance　and　chivalry　of　heroic　days　long　gone。　　But　there
are　times　when　neither　the　interests　of　the　living　present　nor　the
charms　of　the　romantic　past　can　avail；　and　so　a　shadow　lay　upon
Maimie's　beautiful　face　as　she　sat　in　the　parlor　of　the　Hotel　de
Cheval　Blanc；　looking　out　upon　the　mighty　streets　and　the　huddled
roofs　of　the　lower　town。　　She　held　in　her　hand　an　open　note。

〃It　is　just　awfully　stupid；〃　she　grumbled；　〃and　I　think　pretty　mean
of　him！〃

〃Of　whom；　may　I　ask？〃　said　Kate；　pausing　in　her　singing；　〃or　is
there　any　need？　　What　says　the　gallant　lieutenant？〃

Maimie　tossed　her　the　note。

〃The　picnic　is　postponed。　　Well；　of　course　the　rain　told　us　that；
and　he　is　unavoidably　prevented　from　calling；　and　entreats　your
sympathy　and　commiseration。　　Well；　that's　a　very　nice　note；　I　am
sure。〃

〃Where　has　he　been　these　three　days！　　He　might　have　known　it　would
be　stupid；　and　Harry　gives　one　no　satisfaction。〃　　Maimie　was
undeniably　cross。　　〃And　Ranald；　too；〃　she　went　on；　〃where　has　he
been？　　Not　even　your　music　could　bring　him！〃　with　a　little　spice　of
spite。　　〃I　think　men　are　just　horrid；　anyway。〃

〃Especially　when　they　will　keep　away；〃　said　Kate。

〃Well；　what　are　they　good　for　if　not　to　entertain　us？　　I　wish　we
could　do　without　them！　　But　I　do　think　Ranald　might　have　come。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Kate；　emphatically；　〃I　can't　see　why　you　should　expect
him。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃I　think　you　ought　to　know。〃

〃I；　how　should　I　know？〃　　Maimie's　innocent　blue　eyes　were　wide　open
with　surprise。

〃Nonsense；〃　cried　Kate；　with　impatience　rare　in　her；　〃don't　be
absurd；　Maimie；　I　am　not　a　child。〃

〃What　do　YOU　mean？〃

〃You　needn't　tell　me　you　don't　know　why　Ranald　comes。　　Do　you　want
him　to　come？〃

〃Why；　of　course　I　do；　how　silly　you　are。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Kate；　deliberately；　〃I　would　rather　be　silly　than
cruel　and　unkind。〃

〃Why；　Kate；　how　dreadful　of　you！〃　exclaimed　Maimie；　〃'cruel　and
unkind！'〃

〃Yes。〃　said　Kate；　〃you　are　not　treating　Ranald　well。　　You　should
not　encourage　him　totocare　for　you　when　you　do　not　mean　to
togo　on　with　it。〃

〃Oh；　what　nonsense；　Ranald　is　not　a　baby；　he　will　not　take　any
hurt。〃

〃Oh；　Maimie；〃　said　Kate；　and　her　voice　was　low　and　earnest；　〃Ranald
is