roads of destiny-第52节
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〃What do you mean？〃 asked Boston； also rising。
〃W'y； you can count me outer dis deal。 You oughter know that。 I'm on de bum all right enough； but dat other t'ing don't go wit' me。 Burglary is no good。 I'll say good night and many t'anks fer〃
Whistling Dick had moved away a few steps as he spoke； but he stopped very suddenly。 Boston had covered him with a short revolver of roomy calibre。
〃Take your seat；〃 said the tramp leader。 〃I'd feel mighty proud of myself if I let you go and spoil the game。 You'll stick right in this camp until we finish the job。 The end of that brick pile is your limit。 You go two inches beyond that； and I'll have to shoot。 Better take it easy； now。〃
〃It's my way of doin'；〃 said Whistling Dick。 〃Easy goes。 You can depress de muzzle of dat twelve…incher； and run 'er back on de trucks。 I remains； as de newspapers says； 'in yer midst。'〃
〃All right；〃 said Boston； lowering his piece； as the other returned and took his seat again on a projecting plank in a pile of timber。 〃Don't try to leave； that's all。 I wouldn't miss this chance even if I had to shoot an old acquaintance to make it go。 I don't want to hurt anybody specially； but this thousand dollars I'm going to get will fix me for fair。 I'm going to drop the road； and start a saloon in a little town I know about。 I'm tired of being kicked around。〃
Boston Harry took from his pocket a cheap silver watch； and held it near the fire。
〃It's a quarter to nine；〃 he said。 〃Pete； you and Blinky start。 Go down the road past the house； and fire the cane in a dozen places。 Then strike for the levee； and come back on it； instead of the road； so you won't meet anybody。 By the time you get back the men will all be striking out for the fire； and we'll break for the house and collar the dollars。 Everybody cough up what matches he's got。〃
The two surly tramps made a collection of all the matches in the party； Whistling Dick contributing his quota with propitiatory alacrity； and then they departed in the dim starlight in the direction of the road。
Of the three remaining vagrants； two； Goggles and Indiana Tom； reclined lazily upon convenient lumber and regarded Whistling Dick with undisguised disfavour。 Boston； observing that the dissenting recruit was disposed to remain peaceably； relaxed a little of his vigilance。 Whistling Dick arose presently and strolled leisurely up and down keeping carefully within the territory assigned him。
〃Dis planter chap；〃 he said； pausing before Boston Harry； 〃w'ot makes yer t'ink he's got de tin in de house wit' 'im？〃
〃I'm advised of the facts in the case；〃 said Boston。 〃He drove to Noo Orleans and got it； I say； to…day。 Want to change your mind now and come in？〃
〃Naw； I was just askin'。 Wot kind o' team did de boss drive？〃
〃Pair of grays。〃
〃Double surrey？〃
〃Yep。〃
〃Women folks along？〃
〃Wife and kid。 Say； what morning paper are you trying to pump news for？〃
〃I was just conversin' to pass de time away。 I guess dat team passed me in de road dis evenin'。 Dat's all。〃
As Whistling Dick put his hands in his pockets and continued his curtailed beat up and down by the fire； he felt the silk stocking he had picked up in the road。
〃Ther bloomin' little skeezicks；〃 he muttered； with a grin。
As he walked up and down he could see； through a sort of natural opening or lane among the trees； the planter's residence some seventy… five yards distant。 The side of the house toward him exhibited spacious； well…lighted windows through which a soft radiance streamed； illuminating the broad veranda and some extent of the lawn beneath。
〃What's that you said？〃 asked Boston； sharply。
〃Oh； nuttin' 't all；〃 said Whistling Dick； lounging carelessly； and kicking meditatively at a little stone on the ground。
〃Just as easy；〃 continued the warbling vagrant softly to himself； 〃an' sociable an' swell an' sassy； wit' her 'Mer…ry Chris…mus；' Wot d'yer t'ink； now！〃
* * * * *
Dinner； two hours late； was being served in the Bellemeade plantation dining…room。
The dining…room and all its appurtenances spoke of an old regime that was here continued rather than suggested to the memory。 The plate was rich to the extent that its age and quaintness alone saved it from being showy； there were interesting names signed in the corners of the pictures on the walls； the viands were of the kind that bring a shine into the eyes of gourmets。 The service was swift； silent； lavish； as in the days when the waiters were assets like the plate。 The names by which the planter's family and their visitors addressed one another were historic in the annals of two nations。 Their manners and conversation had that most difficult kind of easethe kind that still preserves punctilio。 The planter himself seemed to be the dynamo that generated the larger portion of the gaiety and wit。 The younger ones at the board found it more than difficult to turn back on him his guns of raillery and banter。 It is true； the young men attempted to storm his works repeatedly； incited by the hope of gaining the approbation of their fair companions； but even when they sped a well…aimed shaft； the planter forced them to feel defeat by the tremendous discomfiting thunder of the laughter with which he accompanied his retorts。 At the head of the table； serene； matronly； benevolent； reigned the mistress of the house； placing here and there the right smile； the right word； the encouraging glance。
The talk of the party was too desultory； too evanescent to follow； but at last they came to the subject of the tramp nuisance； one that had of late vexed the plantations for many miles around。 The planter seized the occasion to direct his good…natured fire of raillery at the mistress； accusing her of encouraging the plague。 〃They swarm up and down the river every winter；〃 he said。 〃They overrun New Orleans； and we catch the surplus； which is generally the worst part。 And； a day or two ago； Madame New Orleans； suddenly discovering that she can't go shopping without brushing her skirts against great rows of the vagabonds sunning themselves on the banquettes； says to the police： 'Catch 'em all；' and the police catch a dozen or two； and the remaining three or four thousand overflow up and down the levee； and madame there；〃pointing tragically with the carving…knife at her 〃feeds them。 They won't work； they defy my overseers； and they make friends with my dogs； and you； madame； feed them before my eyes； and intimidate me when I would interfere。 Tell us； please； how many to…day did you thus incite to future laziness and depredation？〃
〃Six； I think；〃 said madame； with a reflective smile； 〃but you know two of them offered to work； for you heard them yourself。〃
The planter's disconcerting laugh rang out again。
〃Yes； at their own trades。 And one was an artificial…flower maker； and the other a glass…blower。 Oh； they were looking for work！ Not a hand would they consent to lift to labour of any other kind。〃
〃And another one；〃 continued the soft…hearted mistress； 〃used quite good language。 It was really extraordinary for one of his class。 And he carried a watch。 And had lived in Boston。 I don't believe they are all bad。 They have always seemed to me to rather lack development。 I always look upon them as children with whom wisdom has remained at a standstill while whiskers have continued to grow。 We passed one this evening as we were driving home who had a face as good as it was incompetent。 He was whistling the intermezzo from 'Cavalleria' and blowing the spirit of Mascagni himself into it。〃
A bright eyed young girl who sat at the left of the mistress leaned over； and said in a confidential undertone：
〃I wonder； mamma； if that tramp we passed on the road found my stocking； and do you think he will hang it up to…night？ Now I can hang up but one。 Do you know why I wanted a new pair of silk stockings when I have plenty？ Well； old Aunt Judy says； if you hang up two that have never been worn； Santa Claus will fill one with good things； and Monsieur Pambe will place in the other payment for all the words you have spokengood or badon the day before Christmas。 That's why I've been unusually nice and polite to everyone to…day。 Monsieur Pambe； you know； is a witch gentleman； he〃
The words of the young girl were interrupted by a startling thing。
Like the wraith of some burned…out shooting star； a black streak came crashing through the window…pane and upon the table； where it shivered into fragments a dozen pieces of crystal and china ware； and then glanced between the heads of the guests to the wall； imprinting therein a deep； round indentation； at which； to…day； the visitor to Bellemeade marvels as he gazes upon it and listens to this tale as it is told。
The women screamed in many keys； and the men sprang to their feet； and would have laid their hands upon their swords had not the verities of chronology forbidden。
The planter was the first to act； he sprang to the intruding missile； and held it up to view。
〃By Jupiter！〃 he cried。 〃A meteoric shower of hosiery！ Has communication at last been established with Mars？〃
〃I should sayahemVenus；〃 ventured a young…gentleman visitor； looking hopefully for approbation toward the unresponsive young…lady visitors。
The planter hel
