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第21章

pgw.psmith,journalist-第21章

小说: pgw.psmith,journalist 字数: 每页3500字

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 Billy was leaning forward with a pale face。
 〃Jove!〃 he muttered。
 〃That about sums it up;〃 said Psmith。
 Billy snatched the paper from the table and extended it towards him。
 〃Here;〃 he said feverishly; 〃you take it。 Gum; I never thought I was such a mutt! I'm not fit to take charge of a toothpick。 Fancy me not being on the watch for something of that sort。 I guess I was so tickled with myself at the thought of having got the thing; that it never struck me they might try for it。 But I'm through。 No more for me。 You're the man in charge now。〃
 Psmith shook his head。
 〃These stately pliments;〃 he said; 〃do my old heart good; but I fancy I know a better plan。 It happened that I chanced to have my eye on the blighter in the tall…shaped hat; and so was enabled to land him among the ribstones; but who knows but that in the crowd on Broadway there may not lurk other; unidentified blighters in equally tall…shaped hats; one of whom may work the same sleight…of…hand speciality on me? It was not that you were not capable of taking care of that paper: it was simply that you didn't happen to spot the man。 Now observe me closely; for what follows is an exhibition of Brain。〃
 He paid the bill; and they went out into the entrance…hall of the hotel。 Psmith; sitting down at a table; placed the paper in an envelope and addressed it to himself at the address of Cosy Moments。 After which; he stamped the envelope and dropped it into the letter…box at the back of the hall。
 〃And now; rade Windsor;〃 he said; 〃let us stroll gently homewards down the Great White Way。 What matter though it be fairly stiff with low…browed bravoes in tall…shaped hats? They cannot harm us。 From me; if they search me thoroughly; they may scoop a matter of eleven dollars; a watch; two stamps; and a packet of chewing…gum。 Whether they would do any better with you I do not know。 At any rate; they wouldn't get that paper; and that's the main thing。〃
 〃You're a genius;〃 said Billy Windsor。
 〃You think so?〃 said Psmith diffidently。 〃Well; well; perhaps you are right; perhaps you are right。 Did you notice the hired ruffian in the flannel suit who just passed? He wore a baffled look; I fancy。 And hark! Wasn't that a muttered 'Failed!' I heard? Or was it the breeze moaning in the tree…tops? To…night is a cold; disappointing night for Hired Ruffians; rade Windsor。〃
 
 CHAPTER XXIII
 REDUCTIONS IN THE STAFF
 
 THE first member of the staff of Cosy Moments to arrive at the office on the following morning was Master Maloney。 This sounds like the beginning of a 〃Plod and Punctuality;〃 or 〃How Great Fortunes have been Made〃 story; but; as a matter of fact; Master Maloney was no early bird。 Larks who rose in his neighbourhood; rose alone。 He did not get up with them。 He was supposed to be at the office at nine o'clock。 It was a point of honour with him; a sort of daily declaration of independence; never to put in an appearance before nine…thirty。 On this particular morning he was punctual to the minute; or half an hour late; whichever way you choose to look at it。
 He had only whistled a few bars of 〃My Little Irish Rose;〃 and had barely got into the first page of his story of life on the prairie when Kid Brady appeared。 The Kid; as was his habit when not in training; was smoking a big black cigar。 Master Maloney eyed him admiringly。 The Kid; unknown to that gentleman himself; was Pugsy's ideal。 He came from the Plains; and had; indeed; once actually been a cowboy; he was a ing champion; and he could smoke black cigars。 It was; therefore; without his usual well…what…is…it…now? air that Pugsy laid down his book; and prepared to converse。
 〃Say; Mr。 Smith or Mr。 Windsor about; Pugsy?〃 asked the Kid。
 〃Naw; Mr。 Brady; they ain't came yet;〃 replied Master Maloney respectfully。
 〃Late; ain't they?〃
 〃Sure。 Mr。 Windsor generally blows in before I do。〃
 〃Wonder what's keepin' them。〃
 〃P'raps; dey've bin put out of business;〃 suggested Pugsy nonchalantly。
 〃How's that?〃
 Pugsy related the events of the previous day; relaxing something of his austere calm as he did so。 When he came to the part where the Table Hill allies swooped down on the unsuspecting Three Pointers; he was almost animated。
 〃Say;〃 said the Kid approvingly; 〃that Smith guy's got more grey matter under his thatch than you'd think to look at him。 I〃
 〃rade Brady;〃 said a voice in the doorway; 〃you do me proud。〃
 〃Why; say;〃 said the Kid; turning; 〃I guess the laugh's on me。 I didn't see you; Mr。 Smith。 Pugsy's been tellin' me how you sent him for the Table Hills yesterday。 That was cute。 It was mighty smart。 But say; those guys are goin' some; ain't they now! Seems as if they was dead set on puttin' you out of business。〃
 〃Their manner yesterday; rade Brady; certainly suggested the presence of some sketchy outline of such an ideal in their minds。 One Sam; in particular; an ebony…hued sportsman; threw himself into the task with great vim。 I rather fancy he is waiting for us with his revolver to this moment。 But why worry? Here we are; safe and sound; and rade Windsor may be expected to arrive at any moment。 I see; rade Brady; that you have been matched against one Eddie Wood。〃
 〃It's about that I wanted to see you; Mr。 Smith。 Say; now that things have been and brushed up so; what with these gang guys layin' for you the way they're doin'; I guess you'll be needin' me around here。 Isn't that right? Say the word and I'll call off this Eddie Wood fight。〃
 〃rade Brady;〃 said Psmith with some enthusiasm; 〃I call that a sporting offer。 I'm very much obliged。 But we mustn't stand in your way。 If you eliminate this rade Wood; they will have to give you a chance against Jimmy Garvin; won't they?〃
 〃I guess that's right; sir;〃 said the Kid。 〃Eddie stayed nineteen rounds against Jimmy; and if I can put him away; it gets me into line with Jimmy; and he can't side…step me。〃
 〃Then go in and win; rade Brady。 We shall miss you。 It will be as if a ray of sunshine had been removed from the office。 But you mustn't throw a chance away。 We shall be all right; I think。〃
 〃I'll train at White Plains;〃 said the Kid。 〃That ain't far from here; so I'll be pretty near in case I'm wanted。 Hullo; who's here?〃
 He pointed to the door。 A small boy was standing there; holding a note。
 〃Mr。 Smith? 〃
 〃Sir to you;〃 said Psmith courteously。
 〃P。 Smith?〃
 〃The same。 This is your lucky day。〃
 〃Cop at Jefferson Market give me dis to take to youse。〃
 〃A cop in Jefferson Market?〃 repeated Psmith。 〃I did not know I had friends among the constabulary there。 Why; it's from rade Windsor。〃 He opened the envelope and read the letter。 〃Thanks;〃 he said; giving the boy a quarter…dollar。
 It was apparent the Kid was politely endeavouring to veil his curiosity。 Master Maloney had no such scruples。
 〃What's in de letter; boss?〃 he inquired。
 〃The letter; rade Maloney; is from our Mr。 Windsor; and relates in terse language the following facts; that our editor last night hit a policeman in the eye; and that he was sentenced this morning to thirty days on Blackwell's Island。〃
 〃He's de guy!〃 admitted Master Maloney approvingly。
 〃What's that?〃 said the Kid。 〃Mr。 Windsor bin punchin' cops! What's he bin doin' that for?〃
 〃He gives no clue。 I must go and find out。 Could you help rade Maloney mind the shop for a few moments while I push round to Jefferson Market and make inquiries?〃
 〃Sure。 But say; fancy Mr。 Windsor cuttin' loose that way!〃 said the Kid admiringly。
 The Jefferson Market Police Court is a little way down town; near Washington Square。 It did not take Psmith long to reach it; and by the judicious expenditure of a few dollars he was enabled to obtain an interview with Billy in a back room。
 The chief editor of Cosy Moments was seated on a bench; looking upon the world through a pair of much blackened eyes。 His general appearance was dishevelled。 He had the air of a man who has been caught in the machinery。
 〃Hullo; Smith;〃 he said。 〃You got my note all right then?〃
 Psmith looked at him; concerned。
 〃rade Windsor;〃 he said; 〃what on earth has been happening to you?〃
 〃Oh; that's all right;〃 said Billy。 〃That's nothing。〃
 〃Nothing! You look as if you had been run over by a motor…car。〃
 〃The cops did that;〃 said Billy; without any apparent resentment。 〃They always turn nasty if you put up a fight。 I was a fool to do it; I suppose; but I got so mad。 They knew perfectly well that I had nothing to do with any pool…room downstairs。〃
 Psmith's eye…glass dropped from his eye。
 〃Pool…room; rade Windsor?〃
 〃Yes。 The house where I live was raided late last night。 It seems that some gamblers have been running a pool…room on the ground floor。 Why the cops should have thought I had anything to do with it; when I was sleeping peacefully upstairs; is more than I can understand。 Anyway; at about three in the morning there was the dickens of a banging at my door。 I got up to see what was doing; and found a couple of Policemen there。 They told me to e along with them to the station。 I asked what on earth for。 I might have known it was no use arguing with a New York cop。 They said they had been tipped off that there was a pool…room being run in the house; and that they were cleaning up the house; and if I wanted to say anything I'd better say it to the magistrate。 I said; all right; I'd put on some clothes and e with them。 They said they couldn't wait about while I put on clothes。 I said I wasn't going to travel about New York in pyjamas; and started to get into my shirt。 One of them gave me a shove in the ribs with his night…stick; and told me to e along quick。 And that made me so mad I hit out。〃 A chuckle escaped Billy。 〃He wasn't expecting it; and I got him fair。 He went down over the bookcase。 The other cop took a swipe at me with his club; but by that time I was so mad I'd have taken on Jim Jeffries; if he had shown up and got in my way。 I just sailed in; and was beginning to make the man think that he had stumbled on Stanley Ketchel or Kid Brady or a dynamite explosion by mistake; when the other fellow loosed himself from the bookcase; and they started in on me together; and there was a general rough house; in the middle of which somebody seemed to let off about fifty thousand dollars' worth of fireworks all in a bunch; and I didn't remember anything more till I found myself in a cell; pretty nearly knocked to pieces。 That's my little life…history。 I guess I was a fool to cut loose that way; but I was so mad I didn't stop to think。〃
 Psmith sighed。
 〃You have told me your painful story;〃 he said。 〃Now hear mine。 After parting with you last night; I went meditatively back to my Fourth Avenue address; and; with a courtly good night to the large policeman who; as I have mentioned in previous conversations; is stationed almost at my very door; I passed on into my room; and had soon sunk into a dreamless slumber。 At about three o'clock in the morning I was aroused by a somewhat hefty banging on the door。 〃
 〃What!〃
 〃A banging at the door;〃 repeated Psmith。 〃There; standing on the mat; were three policemen。 From their remarks I gathered that certain bright spirits had been running a gambling establishment in the lower regions of the buildingwhere; I think I told you; there is a saloonand 

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