the voice of the city(城市之声)-第31节
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smile and a blush of pleased trepidation。
〃How're ye； Miss Posie？〃 he said in accents not to be doubted。 〃Don't
ye remember me … Bill Sum… mers … the Summerses that lived back of the
black… smith shop？ I reckon I've growed up some since ye left Cranberry
Corners。
〃'Liza Perry 'lowed I might see ye in the city while I was here。 You
know 'Liza married Benny Stanfield； and she says 〃
〃Ah； say！ 〃 interrupted Miss Carrington； brightly； 〃Lize Perry is never
married … what！ Oh； the freckles of her！〃
〃Married in June；〃 grinned the gossip； 〃and livin' in the old Tatum
Place。 Ham Riley perfessed reli… gion； old Mrs。 Blithers sold her place to
Cap'n Spooner； the youngest Waters girl run away with a music teacher；
the court…house burned up last March； your uncle Wiley was elected
constable； Matilda Hos… kins died from runnin' a needle in her hand； and
Tom Beedle is courtin' Sallie Lathrop … they say he don't miss a night but
what he's settin' on their porch。〃
〃The wall…eyed thing！〃 exclaimed Miss Carring… ton； with asperity。
〃Why； Tom Beedle once say； you folks； excuse me a while this is an
old friend of mine Mr。 what was it？ Yes； Mr。 Summers Mr。
Goldstein； Mr。 Ricketts； Mr。 Oh； what's yours？ 'Johnny''ll do come on
over here and tell me some more。〃 She swept him to an isolated table in a
corner。 Herr Goldstein shrugged his fat shoulders and beck… oned to the
waiter。 The newspaper man brightened a little and mentioned absinthe。
The youth with parted hair was plunged into melancholy。 The guests of the
rathskeller laughed； clinked glasses and enjoyed the comedy that Posie
Carrington was treat… ing them to after her regular performance。 A few
cynical ones whispered 〃press agent〃' and smiled wisely。
Posie Carrington laid her dimpled and desirable chin upon her hands；
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and forgot her audience a faculty that had won her laurels for her。
〃I don't seem to recollect any Bill Summers；〃 she said； thoughtfully
gazing straight into the innocent blue eyes of the rustic young man。 〃But I
know the Summerses； all right。 I guess there ain't many changes in the old
town。 You see any of my folks lately？〃
And then Highsmith played his trump。 The part of 〃Sol Haytosser〃
called for pathos as well as comedy。 Miss Carrington should see that he
could do that as well。
〃Miss Posie；〃 said 〃Bill Summers；〃〃 I was up to your folkeses house
jist two or three days ago。 No； there ain't many changes to speak of。 The
lilac bush by the kitchen window is over a foot higher； and the elm in the
front yard died and had to be cut down。 And yet it don't seem the same
place that it used to be。〃
〃How's ma？〃 asked Miss Carrington。
〃She was settin' by the front door； crocheting a lamp…mat when I saw
her last；〃 said 〃Bill。〃 〃She's older'n she was； Miss Posie。 But everything in
the house looked jest the same。 Your ma asked me to set down。 'Don't
touch that willow rocker； William；〃 says she。 'It ain't been moved since
Posie left； and that's the apron she was hemmin'； layin' over the arm of it；
jist as she flung it。 I'm in hopes；' she goes on； that Posie'll finish runnin'
out that hem some day。'〃
Miss Carrington beckoned peremptorily to a waiter。
〃A pint of extra dry；〃 she ordered； briefly； 〃and give the check to
Goldstein。〃
〃The sun was shinin' in the door；〃 went on the chronicler from
Cranberry； 〃and your ma was settin' right in it。 I asked her if she hadn't
better move back a little。 'William；' says she； 'when I get sot down and
lookin' down the road； I can't bear to move。 Never a day；' says she； 'but
what I set here every minute that I can spare and watch over them palin's
for Posie。 She went away down that road in the night； for we seen her little
shoe tracks in the dust； and somethin' tells me she'll come back that way
ag'in when she's weary of the world and begins to think about her old
mother。〃
〃When I was comin' away；〃 concluded 〃Bill；〃 〃I pulled this off'n the
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bush by the front steps。 I thought maybe I might see you in the city； and I
knowed you'd like somethin' from the old home。〃
He took from his coat pocket a rose … a drooping； yellow； velvet；
odorous rose； that hung its bead in the foul atmosphere of that tainted
rathskeller like a virgin bowing before the hot breath of the lions in a
Roman arena。
Miss Carrington's penetrating but musical laugh rose above the
orcbestra's rendering of 〃Bluebells。〃
〃Oh； say！〃 she cried； with glee； 〃ain't those poky places the limit？ I
just know that two hours at Cranberry Corners would give me the horrors
now。 Well； I'm awful glad to have seen you； Mr。 Summers。 Guess I'll
bustle around to the hotel now and get my beauty sleep。〃
She thrust the yellow rose into the bosom of her wonderful； dainty；
silken garments； stood up and nodded imperiously at Herr Goldstein。
Her three companions and 〃Bill Summers〃 at… tended her to her cab。
When her flounces and streamers were all safely tucked inside she dazzled
them with au revoirs from her shining eyes and teeth。
〃Come around to the hotel and see me； Bill； before you leave the city；〃
she called as the glittering cab rolled away。
Highsmith； still in his make…up； went with Herr Goldstein to a cafe
booth。
〃Bright idea； eh？ 〃 asked the smiling actor。 〃Ought to land 'Sol
Haytosser ' for me； don't you think？ The little lady never once tumbled。〃
〃I didn't bear your conversation；〃 said Goldstein； but your make…up
and acting was 0。 K。 Here's to your success。 You'd better call on Miss
Carrington early to…morrow and strike her for the part。 I don't see how she
can keep from being satisfied with your exhibition of ability。〃
At 11。45 A。 M。 on the next day Highsmith； hand… some； dressed in the
latest mode； confident； with a fuchsia in his button…bole； sent up his card
to Miss Carrington in her select apartment hotel。
He was shown up and received by the actress's French maid。
〃I am sorree；〃 said Mlle。 Hortense； 〃but I am to say this to all。 It is
with great regret。 Mees Car… rington have cancelled all engagements on
the stage and have returned to live in that how you call that town？
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Cranberry Cornaire！〃
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THE CLARION CALL
Half of this story can be found in the records of the Police Department；
the other half belong behind the business counter of a newspaper office。
One afternoon two weeks after Millionaire Nor… cross was found in his
apartment murdered by a bur… glar； the murderer； while strolling serenely
down Broadway ran plump against Detective Barney Woods。
〃Is that you； Johnny Kernan？〃 asked Woods； who had been near…
sighted in public for five years。
〃No less；〃 cried Kernan； heartily。 〃If it isn't Barney Woods； late and
early of old Saint Jo！ You'll have to show me！ What are you doing East？
Do the green…goods circulars get out that far？〃 said Woods。
〃I've been in New York some years； I'm on the city detective force。〃
〃Well； well！〃 said Kernan； breathing smiling joy and patting the
detective's arm。
〃Come into Muller's；〃 said Woods； 〃and let's hunt a quiet table。 I'd like
to talk to you awhile。〃
It lacked a few minutes to the hour of four。 The tides of trade were not
yet loosed； and they found a quiet corner of the cafe。 Kernan； well dressed
Slightly swaggering； self…confident； seated himself op… posite the little
detective； with his pale； sandy mus… tache； squinting eyes and ready…made
cheviot sui
