options-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


cival　Saint　Clair；　an　ex…sheep…herder　of　the　Rancho　　Chiquito；　might　have　been　seen；　with　a　hundred　and　nine　dollarswages　　and　blood…moneyin　his　pocket；　riding　south　on　another　horse　　belonging　to　said　ranch。〃

The　red…faced　man　paused　and　listened。　　The　whistle　of　a　coming　　freight…train　sounded　far　away　among　the　low　hills。

The　fat；　seedy　man　at　his　side　sniffed；　and　shook　his　frowzy　head　　slowly　and　disparagingly。

〃What　is　it；　Snipy？〃　asked　the　other。　　〃Got　the　blues　again？〃

〃No；　I　ain't〃　said　the　seedy　one；　sniffing　again。　　〃But　I　don't　like　　your　talk。　　You　and　me　have　been　friends；　off　and　on；　for　fifteen　　year；　and　I　never　yet　knew　or　heard　of　you　giving　anybody　up　to　the　　lawnot　no　one。　　And　here　was　a　man　whose　saleratus　you　had　et　and　at　　whose　table　you　had　played　games　of　cardsif　casino　can　be　so　called。　　　And　yet　you　inform　him　to　the　law　and　take　money　for　it。　　It　never　was　　like　you；　I　say。〃

〃This　H。　　Ogden；〃　resumed　the　red…faced　man；　〃through　a　lawyer；　proved　　himself　free　by　alibis　and　other　legal　terminalities；　as　I　so　heard　　afterward。　　He　never　suffered　no　harm。　　He　did　me　favors；　and　I　hated　　to　hand　him　over。〃

〃How　about　the　bills　they　found　in　his　pocket？〃　asked　the　seedy　man。

〃I　put　'em　there；〃　said　the　red…faced　man；　〃while　he　was　asleep；　when　　I　saw　the　posse　riding　up。　　I　was　Black　Bill。　　Look　out；　Snipy；　here　　she　comes！　　We'll　board　her　on　the　bumpers　when　she　takes　water　at　the　　tank。〃




SCHOOLS　AND　SCHOOLS



I


Old　Jerome　Warren　lived　in　a　hundred…thousand…dollar　house　at　35　East　　Fifty…Soforth　Street。　　He　was　a　down…town　broker；　so　rich　that　he　　could　afford　to　walkfor　his　healtha　few　blocks　in　the　direction　of　　his　office　every　morning；　and　then　call　a　cab。

He　had　an　adopted　son；　the　son　of　an　old　friend　named　GilbertCyril　　Scott　could　play　him　nicelywho　was　becoming　a　successful　painter　as　　fast　as　he　could　squeeze　the　paint　out　of　his　tubes。　　Another　member　　of　the　household　was　Barbara　Ross；　a　stepniece。　　Man　is　born　to　　trouble；　so；　as　old　Jerome　had　no　family　of　his　own；　he　took　up　the　　burdens　of　others。

Gilbert　and　Barbara　got　along　swimmingly。　　There　was　a　tacit　and　　tactical　understanding　all　round　that　the　two　would　stand　up　under　a　　floral　bell　some　high　noon；　and　promise　the　minister　to　keep　old　　Jerome's　money　in　a　state　of　high　commotion。　　But　at　this　point　　complications　must　be　introduced。

Thirty　years　before；　when　old　Jerome　was　young　Jerome；　there　was　a　　brother　of　his　named　Dick。　　Dick　went　West　to　seek　his　or　somebody　　else's　fortune。　　Nothing　was　heard　of　him　until　one　day　old　Jerome　had　　a　letter　from　his　brother。　　It　was　badly　written　on　ruled　paper　that　　smelled　of　salt　bacon　and　coffee…grounds。　　The　writing　was　asthmatic　　and　the　spelling　St。　　Vitusy。

It　appeared　that　instead　of　Dick　having　forced　Fortune　to　stand　and　　deliver；　he　had　been　held　up　himself；　and　made　to　give　hostages　to　the　　enemy。　　That　is；　as　his　letter　disclosed；　he　was　on　the　point　of　　pegging　out　with　a　complication　of　disorders　that　even　whiskey　had　　failed　to　check。　　All　that　his　thirty　years　of　prospecting　had　netted　　him　was　one　daughter；　nineteen　years　old；　as　per　invoice；　whom　he　was　　shipping　East；　charges　prepaid；　for　Jerome　to　clothe；　feed；　educate；　　comfort；　and　cherish　for　the　rest　of　her　natural　life　or　until　　matrimony　should　them　part。

Old　Jerome　was　a　board…walk。　　Everybody　knows　that　the　world　is　　supported　by　the　shoulders　of　Atlas；　and　that　Atlas　stands　on　a　rail…　fence；　and　that　the　rail…fence　is　built　on　a　turtle's　back。　　Now；　the　　turtle　has　to　stand　on　something；　and　that　is　a　board…walk　made　of　men　　like　old　Jerome。

I　do　not　know　whether　immortality　shall　accrue　to　man；　but　if　not　so；　　I　would　like　to　know　when　men　like　old　Jerome　get　what　is　due　them？

They　met　Nevada　Warren　at　the　station。　　She　was　a　little　girl；　deeply　　sunburned　and　wholesomely　good…looking；　with　a　manner　that　was　frankly　　unsophisticated；　yet　one　that　not　even　a　cigar…drummer　would　intrude　　upon　without　thinking　twice。　　Looking　at　her；　somehow　you　would　expect　　to　see　her　in　a　short　skirt　and　leather　leggings；　shooting　glass　balls　　or　taming　mustangs。　　But　in　her　plain　white　waist　and　black　skirt　she　　sent　you　guessing　again。　　With　an　easy　exhibition　of　strength　she　　swung　along　a　heavy　valise；　which　the　uniformed　porters　tried　in　vain　　to　wrest　from　her。

〃I　am　sure　we　shall　be　the　best　of　friends；〃　said　Barbara；　pecking　at　　the　firm；　sunburned　cheek。

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Nevada。

〃Dear　little　niece；〃　said　old　Jerome；　〃you　are　as　welcome　to　my　home　　as　if　it　were　your　father's　own。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Nevada。

〃And　I　am　going　to　call　you　'cousin；'〃　said　Gilbert；　with　his　charming　　smile。

〃Take　the　valise；　please；〃　said　Nevada。　　〃It　weighs　a　million　pounds。　　　It's　got　samples　from　six　of　dad's　old　mines　in　it；〃　she　explained　to　　Barbara。　　〃I　calculate　they'd　assay　about　nine　cents　to　the　thousand　　tons；　but　I　promised　him　to　bring　them　along。〃


II


It　is　a　common　custom　to　refer　to　the　usual　complication　between　one　　man　and　two　ladies；　or　one　lady　and　two　men；　or　a　lady　and　a　man　and　a　　nobleman；　orwell；　any　of　those　problemsas　the　triangle。　　But　they　　are　never　unqualified　triangles。　　They　are　always　isoscelesnever　　equilateral。　　So；　upon　the　coming　of　Nevada　Warren；　she　and　Gilbert　　and　Barbara　Ross　lined　up　into　such　a　figurative　triangle；　and　of　that　　triangle　Barbara　formed　the　hypotenuse。

One　morning　old　Jerome　was　lingering　long　after　breakfast　over　the　　dullest　morning　paper　in　the　city　before　setting　forth　to　his　down…　town　fly…trap。　　He　had　become　quite　fond　of　Nevada；　finding　in　her　　much　of　his　dead　brother's　quiet　independence　and　unsuspicious　　frankness。

A　maid　brought　in　a　note　for　Miss　Nevada　Warren。

〃A　messenger…boy　delivered　it　at　the　door；　please；〃　she　said。　　〃He's　　waiting　for　an　answer。〃

Nevada；　who　was　whistling　a　Spanish　waltz　between　her　teeth；　and　　watching　　the　carriages　and　autos　roll　by　in　the　street；　took　the　　envelope。　　She　knew　it　was　from　Gilbert；　before　she　opened　it；　by　the　　little　gold　palette　in　the　upper　left…hand　corner。

After　tearing　it　open　she　pored　over　the　contents　for　a　while；　　absorbedly。　　Then；　with　a　serious　face；　she　went　and　stood　at　her　　uncle's　elbow。

〃Uncle　Jerome；　Gilbert　is　a　nice　boy；　isn't　he？〃

〃Why；　bless　the　child！〃　said　old　Jerome；　crackling　his　paper　loudly；　　〃of　course　he　is。　　I　raised　him　myself。〃

〃He　wouldn't　write　anything　to　anybody　that　wasn't　exactlyI　mean　　that　everybody　couldn't　know　and　read；　would　he？〃

〃I'd　just　like　to　see　him　try　it；〃　said　uncle；　tearing　a　handful　from　　his　newspaper。　　〃Why；　what〃

〃Read　this　note　he　just　sent　me；　uncle；　and　see　if　you　think　it's　all　　right　and　proper。　　You　see；　I　don't　know　much　about　city　people　and　　their　ways。〃

Old　Jerome　threw　his　paper　down　and　set　both　his　feet　upon　it。　　He　　took　Gilbert's　note　and　fiercely　perused　it　twice；　and　then　a　third　　time。

〃Why；　child；〃　said　he；　〃you　had　me　almost　excited；　although　I　was　sure　　of　that　boy。　　He's　a　duplicate　of　his　father；　and　he　was　a　gilt…edged　　diamond。　　He　only　asks　if　you　and　Barbara　will　be　ready　at　four　　o'clock　this　afternoon　for　an　automobile　drive　over　to　Long　Island。　　I　　don't　see　anything　to　criticise　in　it　except　the　stationery。　　I　always　　did　hate　that　shade　of　blue。〃

〃Would　it　be　all　right　to　go？〃　asked　Nevada；　eagerly。

〃Yes；　yes；　yes；　child；　of　course。　　Why　not？　　Still；　it　pleases　me　to　　see　you　so　careful　and　candid。　　Go；　by　all　means。〃

〃I　didn't　know；〃　said　Nevada；　demurely。　　〃I　thought　I'd　ask　you。　　　Couldn't　you　go　with　us；　uncle？〃

〃I？　　No；　no；　no；　no！　　I've　ridden　once　in　a　car　that　boy　was　driving。　　　Never　again！　But　it's　entirely　proper　for　you　and　Barbara　to　go。　　Yes；　　yes。　　But　I　will　not。　　No；　no；　no；　no！〃

Nevada　flew　to　the　door；　and　said　to　the　maid：

〃You　bet　we'll　go。　　I'll　answer　for　Miss　Barbara。　　Tell　the　boy　to　say　　to　Mr。　　Warren；　'You　bet　we'll　go。'〃

〃Nevada；〃　called　old　Jerome；　〃pardon　me；　my　dear；　but　wouldn't　it　be　　as　well　to　send　him　a　note　in　reply？　　Just　a　line　would　do。〃

〃No；　I　won't　bother　about　that；〃　said　Nevada；　gayly。　　〃Gilbert　will　　understandhe　always　does。　　I　never　rode　in　an　automobile　in　my　life；　　but　I've　paddled　a　canoe　down　Little　Devil　River　through　the　Lost　　Horse　Canon；　and　if　it's　any　livelier　than　that　I'd　like　to　know！〃


III


Two　months　are　supposed　to　have　elapsed。

Barbara　sat　in　the　study　of　the　hundred…thousand…dollar　house。　　It　was　　a　good　place　for　her。　　Many　places　are　provided　in　the　world　where　men　　and　women　may　repair　for　the　purpose　of　extricating　themselves　from　　divers　difficulties。　　There　are　cloisters；　　wailing…places；　watering…　places；　confessionals；　hermitages；　lawyer's　offices；　beauty　parlors；　　air…ships；　and　studies；　and　the　greatest　of　these　are　studies。

It　usually　takes　a　hypotenuse　a　long　time　to　discover　that　it　is　the　　longest　side　of　a　triangle。　　But　it's　a　long　　line　that　has　no　turning。

Barbara　was　alone。　　Uncle　Jerome　and　Nevada　had　gone　to　the　theatre。　　　Barbara　had　not　cared　to　go。　　She　wanted　to　stay　at　home　and　study　in　　the　study。　　If　you；　miss；　were　a　stunning　New　York　girl；　and　saw　every　　day　that　a　brown；　ingenuous　Wester