roads of destiny-第27节

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Got　any　more　dimes？〃

Jimmy　went　to　the　Planters'　Hotel；　registered　as　Ralph　D。　Spencer；　and　engaged　a　room。　He　leaned　on　the　desk　and　declared　his　platform　to　the　clerk。　He　said　he　had　come　to　Elmore　to　look　for　a　location　to　go　into　business。　How　was　the　shoe　business；　now；　in　the　town？　He　had　thought　of　the　shoe　business。　Was　there　an　opening？

The　clerk　was　impressed　by　the　clothes　and　manner　of　Jimmy。　He；　himself；　was　something　of　a　pattern　of　fashion　to　the　thinly　gilded　youth　of　Elmore；　but　he　now　perceived　his　shortcomings。　While　trying　to　figure　out　Jimmy's　manner　of　tying　his　four…in…hand　he　cordially　gave　information。

Yes；　there　ought　to　be　a　good　opening　in　the　shoe　line。　There　wasn't　an　exclusive　shoe…store　in　the　place。　The　dry…goods　and　general　stores　handled　them。　Business　in　all　lines　was　fairly　good。　Hoped　Mr。　Spencer　would　decide　to　locate　in　Elmore。　He　would　find　it　a　pleasant　town　to　live　in；　and　the　people　very　sociable。

Mr。　Spencer　thought　he　would　stop　over　in　the　town　a　few　days　and　look　over　the　situation。　No；　the　clerk　needn't　call　the　boy。　He　would　carry　up　his　suit…case；　himself；　it　was　rather　heavy。

Mr。　Ralph　Spencer；　the　phoenix　that　arose　from　Jimmy　Valentine's　ashes　ashes　left　by　the　flame　of　a　sudden　and　alterative　attack　of　love　remained　in　Elmore；　and　prospered。　He　opened　a　shoe…store　and　secured　a　good　run　of　trade。

Socially　he　was　also　a　success；　and　made　many　friends。　And　he　accomplished　the　wish　of　his　heart。　He　met　Miss　Annabel　Adams；　and　became　more　and　more　captivated　by　her　charms。

At　the　end　of　a　year　the　situation　of　Mr。　Ralph　Spencer　was　this：　he　had　won　the　respect　of　the　community；　his　shoe…store　was　flourishing；　and　he　and　Annabel　were　engaged　to　be　married　in　two　weeks。　Mr。　Adams；　the　typical；　plodding；　country　banker；　approved　of　Spencer。　Annabel's　pride　in　him　almost　equalled　her　affection。　He　was　as　much　at　home　in　the　family　of　Mr。　Adams　and　that　of　Annabel's　married　sister　as　if　he　were　already　a　member。

One　day　Jimmy　sat　down　in　his　room　and　wrote　this　letter；　which　he　mailed　to　the　safe　address　of　one　of　his　old　friends　in　St。　Louis：

　　Dear　Old　Pal：

　　I　want　you　to　be　at　Sullivan's　place；　in　Little　Rock；　next　　　Wednesday　night；　at　nine　o'clock。　I　want　you　to　wind　up　some　　　little　matters　for　me。　And；　also；　I　want　to　make　you　a　present　of　　　my　kit　of　tools。　I　know　you'll　be　glad　to　get　themyou　couldn't　　　duplicate　the　lot　for　a　thousand　dollars。　Say；　Billy；　I've　quit　　　the　old　businessa　year　ago。　I've　got　a　nice　store。　I'm　making　an　　　honest　living；　and　I'm　going　to　marry　the　finest　girl　on　earth　two　　　weeks　from　now。　It's　the　only　life；　Billythe　straight　one。　I　　　wouldn't　touch　a　dollar　of　another　man's　money　now　for　a　million。　　　After　I　get　married　I'm　going　to　sell　out　and　go　West；　where　there　　　won't　be　so　much　danger　of　having　old　scores　brought　up　against　　　me。　I　tell　you；　Billy；　she's　an　angel。　She　believes　in　me；　and　I　　　wouldn't　do　another　crooked　thing　for　the　whole　world。　Be　sure　to　be　　　at　Sully's；　for　I　must　see　you。　I'll　bring　along　the　tools　with　me。

Your　old　friend；

Jimmy。


On　the　Monday　night　after　Jimmy　wrote　this　letter；　Ben　Price　jogged　unobtrusively　into　Elmore　in　a　livery　buggy。　He　lounged　about　town　in　his　quiet　way　until　he　found　out　what　he　wanted　to　know。　From　the　drug…store　across　the　street　from　Spencer's　shoe…store　he　got　a　good　look　at　Ralph　D。　Spencer。

〃Going　to　marry　the　banker's　daughter　are　you；　Jimmy？〃　said　Ben　to　himself；　softly。　〃Well；　I　don't　know！〃

The　next　morning　Jimmy　took　breakfast　at　the　Adamses。　He　was　going　to　Little　Rock　that　day　to　order　his　wedding…suit　and　buy　something　nice　for　Annabel。　That　would　be　the　first　time　he　had　left　town　since　he　came　to　Elmore。　It　had　been　more　than　a　year　now　since　those　last　professional　〃jobs；〃　and　he　thought　he　could　safely　venture　out。

After　breakfast　quite　a　family　party　went　downtown　togetherMr。　Adams；　Annabel；　Jimmy；　and　Annabel's　married　sister　with　her　two　little　girls；　aged　five　and　nine。　They　came　by　the　hotel　where　Jimmy　still　boarded；　and　he　ran　up　to　his　room　and　brought　along　his　suit…　case。　Then　they　went　on　to　the　bank。　There　stood　Jimmy's　horse　and　buggy　and　Dolph　Gibson；　who　was　going　to　drive　him　over　to　the　railroad　station。

All　went　inside　the　high；　carved　oak　railings　into　the　banking…room　Jimmy　included；　for　Mr。　Adams's　future　son…in…law　was　welcome　anywhere。　The　clerks　were　pleased　to　be　greeted　by　the　good…looking；　agreeable　young　man　who　was　going　to　marry　Miss　Annabel。　Jimmy　set　his　suit…case　down。　Annabel；　whose　heart　was　bubbling　with　happiness　and　lively　youth；　put　on　Jimmy's　hat；　and　picked　up　the　suit…case。　〃Wouldn't　I　make　a　nice　drummer？〃　said　Annabel。　〃My！　Ralph；　how　heavy　it　is？　Feels　like　it　was　full　of　gold　bricks。〃

〃Lot　of　nickel…plated　shoe…horns　in　there；〃　said　Jimmy；　coolly；　〃that　I'm　going　to　return。　Thought　I'd　save　express　charges　by　taking　them　up。　I'm　getting　awfully　economical。〃

The　Elmore　Bank　had　just　put　in　a　new　safe　and　vault。　Mr。　Adams　was　very　proud　of　it；　and　insisted　on　an　inspection　by　every　one。　The　vault　was　a　small　one；　but　it　had　a　new；　patented　door。　It　fastened　with　three　solid　steel　bolts　thrown　simultaneously　with　a　single　handle；　and　had　a　time…lock。　Mr。　Adams　beamingly　explained　its　workings　to　Mr。　Spencer；　who　showed　a　courteous　but　not　too　intelligent　interest。　The　two　children；　May　and　Agatha；　were　delighted　by　the　shining　metal　and　funny　clock　and　knobs。

While　they　were　thus　engaged　Ben　Price　sauntered　in　and　leaned　on　his　elbow；　looking　casually　inside　between　the　railings。　He　told　the　teller　that　he　didn't　want　anything；　he　was　just　waiting　for　a　man　he　knew。

Suddenly　there　was　a　scream　or　two　from　the　women；　and　a　commotion。　Unperceived　by　the　elders；　May；　the　nine…year…old　girl；　in　a　spirit　of　play；　had　shut　Agatha　in　the　vault。　She　had　then　shot　the　bolts　and　turned　the　knob　of　the　combination　as　she　had　seen　Mr。　Adams　do。

The　old　banker　sprang　to　the　handle　and　tugged　at　it　for　a　moment。　〃The　door　can't　be　opened；〃　he　groaned。　〃The　clock　hasn't　been　wound　nor　the　combination　set。〃

Agatha's　mother　screamed　again；　hysterically。

〃Hush！〃　said　Mr。　Adams；　raising　his　trembling　hand。　〃All　be　quite　for　a　moment。　Agatha！〃　he　called　as　loudly　as　he　could。　〃Listen　to　me。〃　During　the　following　silence　they　could　just　hear　the　faint　sound　of　the　child　wildly　shrieking　in　the　dark　vault　in　a　panic　of　terror。

〃My　precious　darling！〃　wailed　the　mother。　〃She　will　die　of　fright！　Open　the　door！　Oh；　break　it　open！　Can't　you　men　do　something？〃

〃There　isn't　a　man　nearer　than　Little　Rock　who　can　open　that　door；〃　said　Mr。　Adams；　in　a　shaky　voice。　〃My　God！　Spencer；　what　shall　we　do？　That　childshe　can't　stand　it　long　in　there。　There　isn't　enough　air；　and；　besides；　she'll　go　into　convulsions　from　fright。〃

Agatha's　mother；　frantic　now；　beat　the　door　of　the　vault　with　her　hands。　Somebody　wildly　suggested　dynamite。　Annabel　turned　to　Jimmy；　her　large　eyes　full　of　anguish；　but　not　yet　despairing。　To　a　woman　nothing　seems　quite　impossible　to　the　powers　of　the　man　she　worships。

〃Can't　you　do　something；　Ralph/try/；　won't　you？〃

He　looked　at　her　with　a　queer；　soft　smile　on　his　lips　and　in　his　keen　eyes。

〃Annabel；〃　he　said；　〃give　me　that　rose　you　are　wearing；　will　you？〃

Hardly　believing　that　she　heard　him　aright；　she　unpinned　the　bud　from　the　bosom　of　her　dress；　and　placed　it　in　his　hand。　Jimmy　stuffed　it　into　his　vest…pocket；　threw　off　his　coat　and　pulled　up　his　shirt…　sleeves。　With　that　act　Ralph　D。　Spencer　passed　away　and　Jimmy　Valentine　took　his　place。

〃Get　away　from　the　door；　all　of　you；〃　he　commanded；　shortly。

He　set　his　suit…case　on　the　table；　and　opened　it　out　flat。　From　that　time　on　he　seemed　to　be　unconscious　of　the　presence　of　any　one　else。　He　laid　out　the　shining；　queer　implements　swiftly　and　orderly；　whistling　softly　to　himself　as　he　always　did　when　at　work。　In　a　deep　silence　and　immovable；　the　others　watched　him　as　if　under　a　spell。

In　a　minute　Jimmy's　pet　drill　was　biting　smoothly　into　the　steel　door。　In　ten　minutesbreaking　his　own　burglarious　recordhe　threw　back　the　bolts　and　opened　the　door。

Agatha；　almost　collapsed；　but　safe；　was　gathered　into　her　mother's　arms。

Jimmy　Valentine　put　on　his　coat；　and　walked　outside　the　railings　towards　the　front　door。　As　he　went　he　thought　he　heard　a　far…away　voice　that　he　once　knew　call　〃Ralph！〃　But　he　never　hesitated。

At　the　door　a　big　man　stood　somewhat　in　his　way。

〃Hello；　Ben！〃　said　Jimmy；　still　with　his　strange　smile。　〃Got　around　at　last；　have　you？　Well；　let's　go。　I　don't　know　that　it　makes　much　difference；　now。〃

And　then　Ben　Price　acted　rather　strangely。

〃Guess　you're　mistaken；　Mr。　Spencer；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　believe　I　recognize　you。　Your　buggy's　waiting　for　you；　ain't　it？〃

And　Ben　Price　turned　and　strolled　down　the　street。



XI

CHERCHEZ　LA　FEMME

Robbins；　reporter　for　the　/Picayune/；　and　Dumars；　of　/L'Abeille/the　old　French　newspaper　that　has　buzzed　for　nearly　a　centurywere　good　friends；　well　proven　by　years　of　ups　and　downs　together。　They　were　seated　where　they　had　a　habit　of　meetingin　the　little；　Creole…　haunted　cafe　of　Madame　Tibault；　in　Dumaine　Street。　If　you　know　the　place；　y