roads of destiny-第15节
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Senator Kinney was the picture's champion and sponsor。 It was he who so often stepped forward and asserted； with the voice of a bronco… buster； that it would be a lasting blot； sir； upon the name of this great state if it should decline to recognize in a proper manner the genius that had so brilliantly transferred to imperishable canvas a scene so typical of the great sources of our state's wealth and prosperity； landanderlive…stock。
Senator Kinney represented a section of the state in the extreme West 400 miles from the San Saba countrybut the true lover of art is not limited by metes and bounds。 Nor was Senator Mullens； representing the San Saba country； lukewarm in his belief that the state should purchase the painting of his constituent。 He was advised that the San Saba country was unanimous in its admiration of the great painting by one of its own denizens。 Hundreds of connoisseurs had straddled their broncos and ridden miles to view it before its removal to the capital。 Senator Mullens desired reelection； and he knew the importance of the San Saba vote。 He also knew that with the help of Senator Kinneywho was a power in the legislaturethe thing could be put through。 Now； Senator Kinney had an irrigation bill that he wanted passed for the benefit of his own section； and he knew Senator Mullens could render him valuable aid and information； the San Saba country already enjoying the benefits of similar legislation。 With these interests happily dovetailed； wonder at the sudden interest in art at the state capital must； necessarily； be small。 Few artists have uncovered their first picture to the world under happier auspices than did Lonny Briscoe。
Senators Kinney and Mullens came to an understanding in the matter of irrigation and art while partaking of long drinks in the cafe of the Empire Hotel。
〃H'm！〃 said Senator Kinney； 〃I don't know。 I'm no art critic； but it seems to me the thing won't work。 It looks like the worst kind of a chromo to me。 I don't want to cast any reflections upon the artistic talent of your constituent； Senator； but I； myself； wouldn't give six bits for the picturewithout the frame。 How are you going to cram a thing like that down the throat of a legislature that kicks about a little item in the expense bill of six hundred and eighty…one dollars for rubber erasers for only one term？ It's wasting time。 I'd like to help you； Mullens； but they'd laugh us out of the Senate chamber if we were to try it。〃
〃But you don't get the point；〃 said Senator Mullens； in his deliberate tones； tapping Kinney's glass with his long forefinger。 〃I have my own doubts as to what the picture is intended to represent； a bullfight or a Japanese allegory； but I want this legislature to make an appropriation to purchase。 Of course； the subject of the picture should have been in the state historical line； but it's too late to have the paint scraped off and changed。 The state won't miss the money and the picture can be stowed away in a lumber…room where it won't annoy any one。 Now； here's the point to work on； leaving art to look after itselfthe chap that painted the picture is the grandson of Lucien Briscoe。〃
〃Say it again；〃 said Kinney； leaning his head thoughtfully。 〃Of the old； original Lucien Briscoe？〃
〃Of him。 'The man who；' you know。 The man who carved the state out of the wilderness。 The man who settled the Indians。 The man who cleaned out the horse thieves。 The man who refused the crown。 The state's favourite son。 Do you see the point now？〃
〃Wrap up the picture；〃 said Kinney。 〃It's as good as sold。 Why didn't you say that at first； instead of philandering along about art。 I'll resign my seat in the Senate and go back to chain…carrying for the county surveyor the day I can't make this state buy a picture calcimined by a grandson of Lucien Briscoe。 Did you ever hear of a special appropriation for the purchase of a home for the daughter of One…Eyed Smothers？ Well； that went through like a motion to adjourn； and old One…Eyed never killed half as many Indians as Briscoe did。 About what figure had you and the calciminer agreed upon to sandbag the treasury for？〃
〃I thought；〃 said Mullens； 〃that maybe five hundred〃
〃Five hundred！〃 interrupted Kinney； as he hammered on his glass for a lead pencil and looked around for a waiter。 〃Only five hundred for a red steer on the hoof delivered by a grandson of Lucien Briscoe！ Where's your state pride； man？ Two thousand is what it'll be。 You'll introduce the bill and I'll get up on the floor of the Senate and wave the scalp of every Indian old Lucien ever murdered。 Let's see； there was something else proud and foolish he did； wasn't there？ Oh； yes； he declined all emoluments and benefits he was entitled to。 Refused his head…right and veteran donation certificates。 Could have been governor； but wouldn't。 Declined a pension。 Now's the state's chance to pay up。 It'll have to take the picture； but then it deserves some punishment for keeping the Briscoe family waiting so long。 We'll bring this thing up about the middle of the month； after the tax bill is settled。 Now； Mullens； you send over； as soon as you can； and get me the figures on the cost of those irrigation ditches and the statistics about the increased production per acre。 I'm going to need you when that bill of mine comes up。 I reckon we'll be able to pull along pretty well together this session and maybe others to come； eh； Senator？〃
Thus did fortune elect to smile upon the Boy Artist of the San Saba。 Fate had already done her share when she arranged his atoms in the cosmogony of creation as the grandson of Lucien Briscoe。
The original Briscoe had been a pioneer both as to territorial occupation and in certain acts prompted by a great and simple heart。 He had been one of the first settlers and crusaders against the wild forces of nature； the savage and the shallow politician。 His name and memory were revered； equally with any upon the list comprising Houston； Boone； Crockett； Clark； and Green。 He had lived simply； independently； and unvexed by ambition。 Even a less shrewd man than Senator Kinney could have prophesied that his state would hasten to honour and reward his grandson； come out of the chaparral at even so late a day。
And so； before the great picture by the door of the chamber of representatives at frequent times for many days could be found the breezy； robust form of Senator Kinney and be heard his clarion voice reciting the past deeds of Lucien Briscoe in connection with the handiwork of his grandson。 Senator Mullens's work was more subdued in sight and sound； but directed along identical lines。
Then； as the day for the introduction of the bill for appropriation draws nigh； up from the San Saba country rides Lonny Briscoe and a loyal lobby of cowpunchers； bronco…back； to boost the cause of art and glorify the name of friendship； for Lonny is one of them； a knight of stirrup and chaparreras； as handy with the lariat and 。45 as he is with brush and palette。
On a March afternoon the lobby dashed； with a whoop； into town。 The cowpunchers had adjusted their garb suitably from that prescribed for the range to the more conventional requirements of town。 They had conceded their leather chaparreras and transferred their six…shooters and belts from their persons to the horns of their saddles。 Among them rode Lonny； a youth of twenty…three； brown； solemn…faced； ingenuous； bowlegged； reticent； bestriding Hot Tamales； the most sagacious cow pony west of the Mississippi。 Senator Mullens had informed him of the bright prospects of the situation； had even mentionedso great was his confidence in the capable Kinneythe price that the state would； in all likelihood； pay。 It seemed to Lonny that fame and fortune were in his hands。 Certainly； a spark of the divine fire was in the little brown centaur's breast； for he was counting the two thousand dollars as but a means to future development of his talent。 Some day he would paint a picture even greater than thisone； say； twelve feet by twenty； full of scope and atmosphere and action。
During the three days that yet intervened before the coming of the date fixed for the introduction of the bill； the centaur lobby did valiant service。 Coatless； spurred； weather…tanned； full of enthusiasm expressed in bizarre terms； they loafed in front of the painting with tireless zeal。 Reasoning not unshrewdly； they estimated that their comments upon its fidelity to nature would be received as expert evidence。 Loudly they praised the skill of the painter whenever there were ears near to which such evidence might be profitably addressed。 Lem Perry； the leader of the claque； had a somewhat set speech； being uninventive in the construction of new phrases。
〃Look at that two…year…old； now；〃 he would say； waving a cinnamon… brown hand toward the salient point of the picture。 〃Why； dang my hide； the critter's alive。 I can jest hear him； 'lumpety…lump；' a…cuttin' away from the herd； pretendin' he's skeered。 He's a mean scamp； that there steer。 Look at his eyes a…wailin' and his tail a…wavin'。 He's true and nat'ral to life。 He's jest hankerin' fur a cow pony to round him up and send him scootin' back to the bunch。 Dang my hide！ jest look at that tail of his'n a…wavin'。 Never knowed a st
