the voice of the city(城市之声)-第17节
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through my fingers； and people are bowing to me； with the music and the
flowers and fine clothes all around。 As long as I knew I was out of the
game I didn't mind。 I was even happy sitting here ragged and hungry；
listening to the fountain jump and watching the carriages go up the avenue。
But it's in reach of my hand again now almost and I can't stand it to
wait twelve hours； Dawson I can't stand it。 There are fifty things that
could happen to me I could go blind I might be attacked with heart
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disease the world might come to an end before I could 〃
Ide sprang to his feet again； with a shriek。 Peo… ple stirred on the
benches and began to look。 Val… lance took his arm。
〃Come and walk；〃 he said； soothingly。 〃And try to calm yourself。
There is no need to become ex… cited or alarmed。 Nothing is going to
happen to you。 One night is like another。〃
〃That's right；〃 said Ide。 〃Stay with me； Daw… son that's a good
fellow。 Walk around with me awhile。 I never went to pieces like this
before； and I've had a good many hard knocks。 Do you think you could
hustle something in the way of a little lunch； old man？ I'm afraid my
nerve's too far gone to try any panhandling〃
Vallance led his companion up almost deserted Fifth Avenue； and then
westward along the Thirties toward Broadway。 〃Wait here a few minutes；〃
he said； leaving Ide in a quiet and shadowed spot。 He entered a familiar
hotel； and strolled toward the bar quite in his old assured way。
〃There's a poor devil outside； Jimmy；〃 he said to the bartender； 〃who
says he's hungry and looks it。 You know what they do when you give them
money。 Fix up a sandwich or two for him； and I'll see that he doesn't throw
it away。〃
〃Certainly； Mr。 Vallance；〃 said the bartender。 〃They ain't all fakes。
Don't like to see anybody go hungry。〃
Ide folded a liberal supply of the free lunch into a napkin。 Vallance
went with it and joined his com… panion。 Ide pounced upon the food
ravenously。 〃I haven't had any free lunch as good as this in a year；〃 be said。
〃Aren't you going to eat any； Dawson？
〃I'm not hungry … thanks；〃 said Vallance。
〃We'll go back to the Square；〃 said Ide。 〃The cops won't bother us
there。 I'll roll up the rest of this ham and stuff for our breakfast。 I won't eat
any more； I'm afraid I'll get sick。 Suppose I'd die of cramps or something
to…night； and never get to touch that money again！ It's eleven hours yet till
time to see that lawyer。 You won't leave me； will you； Dawson？ I'm afraid
something might happen。 You haven't any place to go； have you？〃
〃No；〃 said Vallance； 〃nowhere to…night。 I'll have a bench with you。〃
〃You take it cool；〃 said Ide； 〃if you've told it to me straight。 I should
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think a man put on the bum from a good job just in one day would be
tearing his hair。〃
〃I believe I've already remarked；〃 said Vallance； laughing； 〃that I
would have thought that a man who was expecting to come into a fortune
on the next day would be feeling pretty easy and quiet。〃
〃It's funny business；〃 philosophized Ide； 〃about the way people take
things； anyhow。 Here's your bench； Dawson； right next to mine。 The light
don't shine in your eyes here。 Say； Dawson； I'll get the old man to give you
a letter to somebody about a job when I get back home。 You've helped me
a lot to… night。 I don't believe I could have gone through the night if I
hadn't struck you。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Vallance。 〃Do you lie down or sit up on these when
you sleep？
For hours Vallance gazed almost without winking at the stars through
the branches of the trees and listened to the sharp slapping of horses' hoofs
on the sea of asphalt to the south His mind was active； but his feelings
were dormant。 Every emotion seemed to have been eradicated。 Ide felt no
regrets； no fears； no pain or discomfort。 Even when be thought of the girl；
it was as of an inhabitant of one of those remote stars at which be gazed。
He re… membered the absurd antics of his companion and laughed softly；
yet without a feeling of mirth。 Soon the daily army of milk wagons made
of the city a roaring drum to which they marched。 Vallance fell asleep on
his comfortless bench。
At ten o'clock on the next day the two stood at the door of Lawyer
Mead's office in Ann Street。
Ide's nerves fluttered worse than ever when the hour approached； and
Vallance could not decide to leave him a possible prey to the dangers he
dreaded。
When they entered the office； Lawyer Mead looked at them
wonderingly。 He and Vallance were old friends。 After his greeting； he
turned to Ide； who stood with white face and trembling limbs before the
expected crisis。
〃I sent a second letter to your address last night； Mr。 Ide；〃 he said。 〃I
learned this morning that you were not there to receive it。 It will inform
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you that Mr。 Paulding has reconsidered his offer to take you back into
favor。 He has decided not to do so； and desires you to understand that no
change will be made in the relations existing between you and him。〃
Ide's trembling suddenly ceased。 The color came back to his face； and
be straightened his back。 His jaw went forward half an inch； and a gleam
came into his eye。 He pushed back his battered bat with one hand； and
extended the other； with levelled fin… gers； toward the lawyer。 He took a
long breath and then laughed sardonically。
〃Tell old Paulding he may go to the devil；〃 he said； loudly and clearly；
and turned and walked out of the office with a firm and lively step。
Lawyer Mead turned on his heel to Vallance and smiled。
〃I am glad you came in；〃 he said； genially。 〃Your uncle wants you to
return home at once。 He is reconciled to the situation that led to his hasty
action； and desires to say that all will be as 〃
〃Hey； Adams！〃 cried Lawyer Mead； breaking his sentence； and calling
to his clerk。 〃Bring a glass of water Mr。 Vallance has fainted。〃
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THE PLUTONIAN FIRE
There are a few editor men with whom I am privi… leged to come in
contact。 It has not been long since it was their habit to come in contact
with me。 There is a difference。
They tell me that with a large number of the manuscripts that are
submitted to them come advices （in the way of a boost） from the author
asseverating that the incidents in the story are true。 The des… tination of
such contributions depends wholly upon the question of the enclosure of
stamps。 Some are returned； the rest are thrown on the floor in a corner on
top of a pair of gum shoes； an overturned statu… ette of the Winged Victory；
and a pile of old maga… zines containing a picture of the editor in the act of
reading the latest copy of Le Petit Journal； right side up … you can tell by
the illustrations。 It is only a legend that there are waste baskets in editors'
offices。
Thus is truth held in disrepute。 But in time truth and science and nature
will adapt themselves to art。 Things will happen logically； and the villain
be dis… comfited instead of being elected to the board of directors。 But in
the meantime fiction must not only be divorced from fact； but must pay
alimony and be awarded custody of the press despatches。
This preamble is to warn you off the grade cross… ing of a true story。
Being that； it shall be told sim… ply； with conjunctions substituted for
adjectives wherever possible； and whatever evidences of style may appear
in it shall be due to the linotype man。 It is a story of the literary life in a
great city； and it should be of interest to every author within a 20… mile
radius of Gosport； Ind。； whose desk holds a MS。 story beginning thus：
〃While th
