roads of destiny-第9节

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same　order。

Pilkins　leaned　over　after　a　short　time　and　spoke　to　the　youth；　who　answered　smilingly；　and　courteously。　From　general　topics　the　conversation　concentrated　to　the　bed…rock　of　grim　personalities。　But　Pilkins　did　it　as　delicately　and　heartily　as　any　caliph　could　have　done。　And　when　it　came　to　the　point；　the　youth　turned　to　him；　soft…　voiced　and　with　his　undiminished　smile。

〃I　don't　want　to　seem　unappreciative；　old　man；〃　he　said；　with　a　youth's　somewhat　too…early　spontaneity　of　address；　〃but；　you　see；　I　can't　accept　anything　from　a　stranger。　I　know　you're　all　right；　and　I'm　tremendously　obliged；　but　I　couldn't　think　of　borrowing　from　anybody。　You　see；　I'm　Marcus　Claytonthe　Claytons　of　Roanoke　County；　Virginia；　you　know。　The　young　lady　is　Miss　Eva　BedfordI　reckon　you've　heard　of　the　Bedfords。　She's　seventeen　and　one　of　the　Bedfords　of　Bedford　County。　We've　eloped　from　home　to　get　married；　and　we　wanted　to　see　New　York。　We　got　in　this　afternoon。　Somebody　got　my　pocketbook　on　the　ferry…boat；　and　I　had　only　three　cents　in　change　outside　of　it。　I'll　get　some　work　somewhere　to…morrow；　and　we'll　get　married。〃

〃But；　I　say；　old　man；〃　said　Pilkins；　in　confidential　low　tones；　〃you　can't　keep　the　lady　out　here　in　the　cold　all　night。　Now；　as　for　hotels〃

〃I　told　you；〃　said　the　youth；　with　a　broader　smile；　〃that　I　didn't　have　but　three　cents。　Besides；　if　I　had　a　thousand；　we'd　have　to　wait　here　until　morning。　You　can　understand　that；　of　course。　I'm　much　obliged；　but　I　can't　take　any　of　your　money。　Miss　Bedford　and　I　have　lived　an　outdoor　life；　and　we　don't　mind　a　little　cold。　I'll　get　work　of　some　kind　to…morrow。　We've　got　a　paper　bag　of　cakes　and　chocolates；　and　we'll　get　along　all　right。〃

〃Listen；〃　said　the　millionaire；　impressively。　〃My　name　is　Pilkins；　and　I'm　worth　several　million　dollars。　I　happen　to　have　in　my　pockets　about　800　or　900　in　cash。　Don't　you　think　you　are　drawing　it　rather　fine　when　you　decline　to　accept　as　much　of　it　as　will　make　you　and　the　young　lady　comfortable　at　least　for　the　night？〃

〃I　can't　say；　sir；　that　I　do　think　so；〃　said　Clayton　of　Roanoke　County。　〃I've　been　raised　to　look　at　such　things　differently。　But　I'm　mightily　obliged　to　you；　just　the　same。〃

〃Then　you　force　me　to　say　good　night；〃　said　the　millionaire。

Twice　that　day　had　his　money　been　scorned　by　simple　ones　to　whom　his　dollars　had　appeared　as　but　tin　tobacco…tags。　He　was　no　worshipper　of　the　actual　minted　coin　or　stamped　paper；　but　he　had　always　believed　in　its　almost　unlimited　power　to　purchase。

Pilkins　walked　away　rapidly；　and　then　turned　abruptly　and　returned　to　the　bench　where　the　young　couple　sat。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　began　to　speak。　The　girl　looked　at　him　with　the　same　sprightly；　glowing　interest　that　she　had　been　giving　to　the　lights　and　statuary　and　sky…　reaching　buildings　that　made　the　old　square　seem　so　far　away　from　Bedford　County。

〃Mr。erRoanoke；〃　said　Pilkins；　〃I　admire　youryour　indepenyour　idiocy　so　much　that　I'm　going　to　appeal　to　your　chivalry。　I　believe　that's　what　you　Southerners　call　it　when　you　keep　a　lady　sitting　outdoors　on　a　bench　on　a　cold　night　just　to　keep　your　old；　out…of…date　pride　going。　Now；　I've　a　frienda　ladywhom　I　have　known　all　my　life　who　lives　a　few　blocks　from　herewith　her　parents　and　sisters　and　aunts；　and　all　that　kind　of　endorsement；　of　course。　I　am　sure　this　lady　would　be　happy　and　pleased　to　put　upthat　is；　to　have　Misser　Bedford　give　her　the　pleasure　of　having　her　as　a　guest　for　the　night。　Don't　you　think；　Mr。　Roanoke；　oferVirginie；　that　you　could　unbend　your　prejudices　that　far？〃

Clayton　of　Roanoke　rose　and　held　out　his　hand。

〃Old　man；〃　he　said；　〃Miss　Bedford　will　be　much　pleased　to　accept　the　hospitality　of　the　lady　you　refer　to。〃

He　formally　introduced　Mr。　Pilkins　to　Miss　Bedford。　The　girl　looked　at　him　sweetly　and　comfortably。　〃It's　a　lovely　evening；　Mr。　Pilkins　don't　you　think　so？〃　she　said　slowly。

Pilkins　conducted　them　to　the　crumbly　red　brick　house　of　the　Von　der　Ruyslings。　His　card　brought　Alice　downstairs　wondering。　The　runaways　were　sent　into　the　drawing…room；　while　Pilkins　told　Alice　all　about　it　in　the　hall。

〃Of　course；　I　will　take　her　in；〃　said　Alice。　〃Haven't　those　Southern　girls　a　thoroughbred　air？　Of　course；　she　will　stay　here。　You　will　look　after　Mr。　Clayton；　of　course。〃

〃Will　I？〃　said　Pilkins；　delightedly。　〃Oh　yes；　I'll　look　after　him！　As　a　citizen　of　New　York；　and　therefore　a　part…owner　of　its　public　parks；　I'm　going　to　extend　to　him　the　hospitality　of　Madison　Square　to…night。　He's　going　to　sit　there　on　a　bench　till　morning。　There's　no　use　arguing　with　him。　Isn't　he　wonderful？　I'm　glad　you'll　look　after　the　little　lady；　Alice。　I　tell　you　those　Babes　in　the　Wood　made　mythat　is；　ermade　Wall　Street　and　the　Bank　of　England　look　like　penny　arcades。〃

Miss　Von　der　Ruysling　whisked　Miss　Bedford　of　Bedford　County　up　to　restful　regions　upstairs。　When　she　came　down；　she　put　an　oblong　small　pasteboard　box　into　Pilkins'　hands。

〃Your　present；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　am　returning　to　you。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　remember；〃　said　Pilkins；　with　a　sigh；　〃the　woolly　kitten。〃

He　left　Clayton　on　a　park　bench；　and　shook　hands　with　him　heartily。

〃After　I　get　work；〃　said　the　youth；　〃I'll　look　you　up。　Your　address　is　on　your　card；　isn't　it？　Thanks。　Well；　good　night。　I'm　awfully　obliged　to　you　for　your　kindness。　No；　thanks；　I　don't　smoke。　Good　night。〃

In　his　room；　Pilkins　opened　the　box　and　took　out　the　staring；　funny　kitten；　long　ago　ravaged　of　his　candy　and　minus　one　shoe…button　eye。　Pilkins　looked　at　it　sorrowfully。

〃After　all；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　believe　that　just　money　alone　will〃

And　then　he　gave　a　shout　and　dug　into　the　bottom　of　the　box　for　something　else　that　had　been　the　kitten's　resting…placea　crushed　but　red；　red；　fragrant；　glorious；　promising　Jacqueminot　rose。



IV

THE　ENCHANTED　PROFILE

There　are　few　Caliphesses。　Women　are　Scheherazades　by　birth；　predilection；　instinct；　and　arrangement　of　the　vocal　cords。　The　thousand　and　one　stories　are　being　told　every　day　by　hundreds　of　thousands　of　viziers'　daughters　to　their　respective　sultans。　But　the　bowstring　will　get　some　of　'em　yet　if　they　don't　watch　out。

I　heard　a　story；　though；　of　one　lady　Caliph。　It　isn't　precisely　an　Arabian　Nights　story；　because　it　brings　in　Cinderella；　who　flourished　her　dishrag　in　another　epoch　and　country。　So；　if　you　don't　mind　the　mixed　dates　（which　seem　to　give　it　an　Eastern　flavour；　after　all）；　we'll　get　along。

In　New　York　there　is　an　old；　old　hotel。　You　have　seen　woodcuts　of　it　in　the　magazines。　It　was　builtlet's　seeat　a　time　when　there　was　nothing　above　Fourteenth　Street　except　the　old　Indian　trail　to　Boston　and　Hammerstein's　office。　Soon　the　old　hostelry　will　be　torn　down。　And；　as　the　stout　walls　are　riven　apart　and　the　bricks　go　roaring　down　the　chutes；　crowds　of　citizens　will　gather　at　the　nearest　corners　and　weep　over　the　destruction　of　a　dear　old　landmark。　Civic　pride　is　strongest　in　New　Bagdad；　and　the　wettest　weeper　and　the　loudest　howler　against　the　iconoclasts　will　be　the　man　（originally　from　Terre　Haute）　whose　fond　memories　of　the　old　hotel　are　limited　to　his　having　been　kicked　out　from　its　free…lunch　counter　in　1873。

At　this　hotel　always　stopped　Mrs。　Maggie　Brown。　Mrs。　Brown　was　a　bony　woman　of　sixty；　dressed　in　the　rustiest　black；　and　carrying　a　handbag　made；　apparently；　from　the　hide　of　the　original　animal　that　Adam　decided　to　call　an　alligator。　She　always　occupied　a　small　parlour　and　bedroom　at　the　top　of　the　hotel　at　a　rental　of　two　dollars　per　day。　And　always；　while　she　was　there；　each　day　came　hurrying　to　see　her　many　men；　sharp…faced；　anxious…looking；　with　only　seconds　to　spare。　For　Maggie　Brown　was　said　to　be　the　third　richest　woman　in　the　world；　and　these　solicitous　gentlemen　were　only　the　city's　wealthiest　brokers　and　business　men　seeking　trifling　loans　of　half　a　dozen　millions　or　so　from　the　dingy　old　lady　with　the　prehistoric　handbag。

The　stenographer　and　typewriter　of　the　Acropolis　Hotel　（there！　I've　let　the　name　of　it　out！）　was　Miss　Ida　Bates。　She　was　a　hold…over　from　the　Greek　classics。　There　wasn't　a　flaw　in　her　looks。　Some　old…timer　paying　his　regards　to　a　lady　said：　〃To　have　loved　her　was　a　liberal　education。〃　Well；　even　to　have　looked　over　the　black　hair　and　neat　white　shirtwaist　of　Miss　Bates　was　equal　to　a　full　course　in　any　correspondence　school　in　the　country。　She　sometimes　did　a　little　typewriting　for　me；　and；　as　she　refused　to　take　the　money　in　advance；　she　came　to　look　upon　me　as　something　of　a　friend　and　protege。　She　had　unfailing　kindliness　and　a　good　nature；　and　not　even　a　white…lead　drummer　or　a　fur　importer　had　ever　dared　to　cross　the　dead　line　of　good　behaviour　in　her　presence。　The　entire　force　of　the　Acropolis；　from　the　owner；　who　lived　in　Vienna；　down　to　the　head　porter；　who　had　been　bedridden　for　sixteen　years；　would　have　sprung　to　her　defence　in　a　moment。

One　day　I　walked　past　Miss　Bates's　little　sanctum　Remingtorium；　and　saw　in　her　place　a　black…haired　unitunmistakably　a　personpounding　with　each　of　her　forefingers　upon　the　keys。　Musing　on　the　mutability　of　temporal　affairs；　I　passed　on。　The　next　day　I　went　on　a　two　weeks'　vacation。　Returning；　I　strolled　through　the　lobby　of　the　Acropolis；　and　saw；　with　a　lit