smoke bellew-第22节

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〃If　you　don't　mind；　Mrs　Peabody；　I'll　have　another　whack　at　that　steak。　　Make　it　thick　and　not　so　well　done。〃




THE　RACE　FOR　NUMBER　ONE。




I。

〃Huh！　　Get　on　to　the　glad　rags！〃

Shorty　surveyed　his　partner　with　simulated　disapproval；　and　Smoke；　vainly　attempting　to　rub　the　wrinkles　out　of　the　pair　of　trousers　he　had　just　put　on；　was　irritated。

〃They　sure　fit　you　close　for　a　second…hand　buy；〃　Shorty　went　on。　〃What　was　the　tax？〃

〃One　hundred　and　fifty　for　the　suit；〃　Smoke　answered。　　〃The　man　was　nearly　my　own　size。　　I　thought　it　was　remarkable　reasonable。　　What　are　you　kicking　about？〃

〃Who？　　Me？　　Oh；　nothin'。　　I　was　just　thinkin'　it　was　goin'　some　for　a　meat…eater　that　hit　Dawson　in　an　ice…jam；　with　no　grub；　one　suit　of　underclothes；　a　pair　of　mangy　moccasins；　an'　overalls　that　looked　like　they'd　ben　through　the　wreck　of　the　Hesperus。　　Pretty　gay　front；　pardner。　　Pretty　gay　front。　　Say？〃

〃What　do　you　want　now？〃　Smoke　demanded　testily。

〃What's　her　name？〃

〃There　isn't　any　her；　my　friend。　　I'm　to　have　dinner　at　Colonel　Bowie's；　if　you　want　to　know。　　The　trouble　with　you；　Shorty；　is　you're　envious　because　I'm　going　into　high　society　and　you're　not　invited。〃

〃Ain't　you　some　late？〃　Shorty　queried　with　concern。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃For　dinner。　　They'll　be　eatin'　supper　when　you　get　there。〃

Smoke　was　about　to　explain　with　elaborate　sarcasm　when　he　caught　the　twinkle　in　the　others'　eyes。　　He　went　on　dressing；　with　fingers　that　had　lost　their　deftness；　tying　a　Windsor　tie　in　a　bow…knot　at　the　throat　of　the　soft　cotton　shirt。

〃Wish　I　hadn't　sent　all　my　starched　shirts　to　the　laundry；〃　Shorty　murmured　sympathetically。　　〃I　might　a…fitted　you　out。〃

By　this　time　Smoke　was　straining　at　a　pair　of　shoes。　　The　thick　woollen　socks　were　too　thick　to　go　into　them。　　He　looked　appealingly　at　Shorty；　who　shook　his　head。

〃Nope。　　If　I　had　thin　ones　I　wouldn't　lend　'em　to　you。　　Back　to　the　moccasins；　pardner。　　You'd　sure　freeze　your　toes　in　skimpy…fangled　gear　like　that。〃

〃I　paid　fifteen　dollars　for　them；　second…hand；〃　Smoke　lamented。

〃I　reckon　they　won't　be　a　man　not　in　moccasins。〃

〃But　there　are　to　be　women；　Shorty。　　I'm　going　to　sit　down　and　eat　with　real　live　womenMrs　Bowie；　and　several　others；　so　the　Colonel　told　me。〃

〃Well；　moccasins　won't　spoil　their　appetite　none；〃　was　Shorty's　comment。　　〃Wonder　what　the　Colonel　wants　with　you？〃

〃I　don't　know；　unless　he's　heard　about　my　finding　Surprise　Lake。　　It　will　take　a　fortune　to　drain　it；　and　the　Guggenheims　are　out　for　investment。〃

〃Reckon　that's　it。　　That's　right；　stick　to　the　moccasins。　　Gee！　That　coat　is　sure　wrinkled；　an'　it　fits　you　a　mite　too　swift。　　Just　peck　around　at　your　vittles。　　If　you　eat　hearty　you'll　bust　through。　And　if　them　women…folks　gets　to　droppin'　handkerchiefs；　just　let　'em　lay。　　Don't　do　any　pickin'　up。　　Whatever　you　do；　don't。〃



II。

As　became　a　high…salaried　expert　and　the　representative　of　the　great　house　of　Guggenheim；　Colonel　Bowie　lived　in　one　of　the　most　magnificent　cabins　in　Dawson。　　Of　squared　logs；　hand…hewn；　it　was　two　stories　high；　and　of　such　extravagant　proportions　that　it　boasted　a　big　living　room　that　was　used　for　a　living　room　and　for　nothing　else。

Here　were　big　bear…skins　on　the　rough　board　floor；　and　on　the　walls　horns　of　moose　and　caribou。　　Here　roared　an　open　fireplace　and　a　big　wood…burning　stove。　　And　here　Smoke　met　the　social　elect　of　Dawson　not　the　mere　pick…handle　millionaires；　but　the　ultra…cream　of　a　mining　city　whose　population　had　been　recruited　from　all　the　world　men　like　Warburton　Jones；　the　explorer　and　writer；　Captain　Consadine　of　the　Mounted　Police；　Haskell；　Gold　Commissioner　of　the　North…West　Territory；　and　Baron　Von　Schroeder；　an　emperor's　favourite　with　an　international　duelling　reputation。

And　here；　dazzling　in　evening　gown；　he　met　Joy　Gastell；　whom　hitherto　he　had　encountered　only　on　trail；　befurred　and　moccasined。　At　dinner　he　found　himself　beside　her。

〃I　feel　like　a　fish　out　of　water；〃　he　confessed。　　〃All　you　folks　are　so　real　grand　you　know。　　Besides　I　never　dreamed　such　oriental　luxury　existed　in　the　Klondike。　　Look　at　Von　Schroeder　there。　　He's　actually　got　a　dinner　jacket；　and　Consadine's　got　a　starched　shirt。　I　noticed　he　wore　moccasins　just　the　same。　　How　do　you　like　MY　outfit？〃

He　moved　his　shoulders　about　as　if　preening　himself　for　Joy's　approval。

〃It　looks　as　if　you'd　grown　stout　since　you　came　over　the　Pass；〃　she　laughed。

〃Wrong。　　Guess　again。〃

〃It's　somebody　else's。〃

〃You　win。　　I　bought　it　for　a　price　from　one　of　the　clerks　at　the　A。　C。　Company。〃

〃It's　a　shame　clerks　are　so　narrow…shouldered；〃　she　sympathized。　〃And　you　haven't　told　me　what　you　think　of　MY　outfit。〃

〃I　can't；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　out　of　breath。　　I've　been　living　on　trail　too　long。　　This　sort　of　thing　comes　to　me　with　a　shock；　you　know。　I'd　quite　forgotten　that　women　have　arms　and　shoulders。　　To…morrow　morning；　like　my　friend　Shorty；　I'll　wake　up　and　know　it's　all　a　dream。　　Now；　the　last　time　I　saw　you　on　Squaw　Creek〃

〃I　was　just　a　squaw；〃　she　broke　in。

〃I　hadn't　intended　to　say　that。　　I　was　remembering　that　it　was　on　Squaw　Creek　that　I　discovered　you　had　feet。〃

〃And　I　can　never　forget　that　you　saved　them　for　me；〃　she　said。　〃I've　been　wanting　to　see　you　ever　since　to　thank　you〃　　（He　shrugged　his　shoulders　deprecatingly）。　　〃And　that's　why　you　are　here　to…night〃

〃You　asked　the　Colonel　to　invite　me？〃

〃No！　　Mrs　Bowie。　　And　I　asked　her　to　let　me　have　you　at　table。　　And　here's　my　chance。　　Everybody's　talking。　　Listen；　and　don't　interrupt。　　You　know　Mono　Creek？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It　has　turned　out　richdreadfully　rich。　　They　estimate　the　claims　as　worth　a　million　and　more　apiece。　　It　was　only　located　the　other　day。〃

〃I　remember　the　stampede。〃

〃Well；　the　whole　creek　was　staked　to　the　sky…line；　and　all　the　feeders；　too。　　And　yet；　right　now；　on　the　main　creek；　Number　Three　below　Discovery　is　unrecorded。　　The　creek　was　so　far　away　from　Dawson　that　the　Commissioner　allowed　sixty　days　for　recording　after　location。　　Every　claim　was　recorded　except　Number　Three　Below。　　It　was　staked　by　Cyrus　Johnson。　　And　that　was　all。　　Cyrus　Johnson　has　disappeared。　　Whether　he　died；　whether　he　went　down　river　or　up；　nobody　knows。　　Anyway；　in　six　days；　the　time　for　recording　will　be　up。　　Then　the　man　who　stakes　it；　and　reaches　Dawson　first　and　records　it；　gets　it。〃

〃A　million　dollars；〃　Smoke　murmured。

〃Gilchrist；　who　has　the　next　claim　below；　has　got　six　hundred　dollars　in　a　single　pan　off　bedrock。　　He's　burned　one　hole　down。　And　the　claim　on　the　other　side　is　even　richer。　　I　know。〃

〃But　why　doesn't　everybody　know？〃　Smoke　queried　skeptically。

〃They're　beginning　to　know。　　They　kept　it　secret　for　a　long　time；　and　it　is　only　now　that　it's　coming　out。　　Good　dog…teams　will　be　at　a　premium　in　another　twenty…four　hours。　　Now；　you've　got　to　get　away　as　decently　as　you　can　as　soon　as　dinner　is　over。　　I've　arranged　it。　An　Indian　will　come　with　a　message　for　you。　　You　read　it；　let　on　that　you're　very　much　put　out；　make　your　excuses；　and　get　away。〃

〃IerI　fail　to　follow。〃

〃Ninny！〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　half…whisper。　　〃What　you　must　do　is　to　get　out　to…night　and　hustle　dog…teams。　　I　know　of　two。　　There's　Hanson's　team；　seven　big　Hudson　Bay　dogshe's　holding　them　at　four　hundred　each。　　That's　top　price　to…night；　but　it　won't　be　to…morrow。　And　Sitka　Charley　has　eight　Malemutes　he's　asking　thirty…five　hundred　for。　　To…morrow　he'll　laugh　at　an　offer　of　five　thousand。　Then　you've　got　your　own　team　of　dogs。　　And　you'll　have　to　buy　several　more　teams。　　That's　your　work　to…night。　　Get　the　best。　　It's　dogs　as　well　as　men　that　will　win　this　race。　　It's　a　hundred　and　ten　miles；　and　you'll　have　to　relay　as　frequently　as　you　can。〃

〃Oh；　I　see；　you　want　me　to　go　in　for　it；〃　Smoke　drawled。

〃If　you　haven't　the　money　for　the　dogs；　I'll〃

She　faltered；　but　before　she　could　continue；　Smoke　was　speaking。

〃I　can　buy　the　dogs。　　Buteraren't　you　afraid　this　is　gambling？〃

〃After　your　exploits　at　roulette　in　the　Elkhorn；〃　she　retorted；　〃I'm　not　afraid　that　you're　afraid。　　It's　a　sporting　proposition；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　　A　race　for　a　million；　and　with　some　of　the　stiffest　dog…mushers　and　travellers　in　the　country　entered　against　you。　　They　haven't　entered　yet；　but　by　this　time　to…morrow　they　will；　and　dogs　will　be　worth　what　the　richest　man　can　afford　to　pay。　Big　Olaf　is　in　town。　　He　came　up　from　Circle　City　last　month。　　He　is　one　of　the　most　terrible　dog…mushers　in　the　country；　and　if　he　enters　he　will　be　your　most　dangerous　man。　　Arizona　Bill　is　another。　He's　been　a　professional　freighter　and　mail…carrier　for　years。　　It　he　goes　in；　interest　will　be　centred　on　him　and　Big　Olaf。〃

〃And　you　intend　me　to　come　along　as　a　sort　of　dark　horse。〃

〃Exactly。　　And　it　will　have　its　advantages。　　You　will　not　be　supposed　to　stand　a　show。　　After　all；　you　know；　you　are　still　classed　as　a　chechaquo。　　You　haven't　seen　the　four　seasons　go　around。　　Nobody　will　take　notice　of　you　until　you　come　into　the　home　stretch　in　the　lead。〃

〃It's　on　the　home　stretch　the　dark　horse　is　to　show　up　its　classy　form；　eh？〃

She　nodded；　and　continued　earnestly。　　〃Remember；　I　shall　never　forgive　myself　for　the　trick　I　played