michael, brother of jerry-第22章

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〃Look　here；　Captain；〃　he　said。　　〃You　don't　know　how　smart　that　Killeny　Boy　is。　　Why；　he　can　count　just　like　you　and　me。〃

〃Hoh！〃　rumbled　Captain　Jorgensen。　　〃I　seen　'em　do　it　in　side　shows。　　It's　all　tricks。　　Dogs　an'　horses　can't　count。〃

〃This　dog　can；〃　Daughtry　continued　quietly。　　〃You　can't　fool　'm。　I　bet　you；　right　now；　I　can　order　two　beers；　loud　so　he　can　hear　and　notice；　and　then　whisper　to　the　waiter　to　bring　one；　an'；　when　the　one　comes；　Killeny　Boy'll　raise　a　roar　with　the　waiter。〃

〃Hoh！　　Hoh！　　How　much　will　you　bet？〃

The　steward　fingered　a　dime　in　his　pocket。　　If　Killeny　failed　him　it　meant　that　the　rent…money　would　be　broken　in　upon。　　But　Killeny　couldn't　and　wouldn't　fail　him；　he　reasoned；　as　he　answered：

〃I'll　bet　you　the　price　of　two　beers。〃

The　waiter　was　summoned；　and；　when　he　had　received　his　secret　instructions；　Michael　was　called　over　from　where　he　lay　at　Kwaque's　feet　in　a　corner。　　When　Steward　placed　a　chair　for　him　at　the　table　and　invited　him　into　it；　he　began　to　key　up。　　Steward　expected　something　of　him；　wanted　him　to　show　off。　　And　it　was　not　because　of　the　showing　off　that　he　was　eager；　but　because　of　his　love　for　Steward。　　Love　and　service　were　one　in　the　simple　processes　of　Michael's　mind。　　Just　as　he　would　have　leaped　into　fire　for　Steward's　sake；　so　would　he　now　serve　Steward　in　any　way　Steward　desired。　　That　was　what　love　meant　to　him。　　It　was　all　love　meant　to　himservice。

〃Waiter！〃　Steward　called；　and；　when　the　waiter　stood　close　at　hand：　　〃Two　beers。Did　you　get　that；　Killeny？　　TWO　beers。〃

Michael　squirmed　in　his　chair；　placed　an　impulsive　paw　on　the　table；　and　impulsively　flashed　out　his　ribbon　of　tongue　to　Steward's　close…bending　face。

〃He　will　remember；〃　Daughtry　told　the　scow…schooner　captain。

〃Not　if　we　talk；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃Now　we　will　fool　your　bow…wow。　I　will　say　that　the　job　is　yours　when　I　smash　Hanson。　　And　you　will　say　it　is　for　me　to　smash　Hanson　now。　　And　I　will　say　Hanson　must　give　me　reason　first　to　smash　him。　　And　then　we　will　argue　like　two　fools　with　mouths　full　of　much　noise。　　Are　you　ready？〃

Daughtry　nodded；　and　thereupon　ensued　a　loud…voiced　discussion　that　drew　Michael's　earnest　attention　from　one　talker　to　the　other。

〃I　got　you；〃　Captain　Jorgensen　announced；　as　he　saw　the　waiter　approaching　with　but　a　single　schooner　of　beer。　　〃The　bow…wow　has　forgot；　if　he　ever　remembered。　　He　thinks　you　'an　me　is　fighting。　The　place　in　his　mind　for　ONE　beer；　and　TWO；　is　wiped　out；　like　a　wave　on　the　beach　wipes　out　the　writing　in　the　sand。〃

〃I　guess　he　ain't　goin'　to　forget　arithmetic　no　matter　how　much　noise　you　shouts；〃　Daughtry　argued　aloud　against　his　sinking　spirits。　　〃An'　I　ain't　goin'　to　butt　in；〃　he　added　hopefully。　〃You　just　watch　'm　for　himself。〃

The　tall；　schooner…glass　of　beer　was　placed　before　the　captain；　who　laid　a　swift；　containing　hand　around　it。　　And　Michael；　strung　as　a　taut　string；　knowing　that　something　was　expected　of　him；　on　his　toes　to　serve；　remembered　his　ancient　lessons　on　the　Makambo；　vainly　looked　into　the　impassive　face　of　Steward　for　a　sign；　then　looked　about　and　saw；　not　TWO　glasses；　but　ONE　glass。　　So　well　had　he　learned　the　difference　between　one　and　two　that　it　came　to　him…　…how　the　profoundest　psychologist　can　no　more　state　than　can　he　state　what　thought　is　in　itselfthat　there　was　one　glass　only　when　two　glasses　had　been　commanded。　　With　an　abrupt　upspring；　his　throat　half　harsh　with　anger；　he　placed　both　fore…paws　on　the　table　and　barked　at　the　waiter。

Captain　Jorgensen　crashed　his　fist　down。

〃You　win！〃　he　roared。　　〃I　pay　for　the　beer！　Waiter；　bring　one　more。〃

Michael　looked　to　Steward　for　verification；　and　Steward's　hand　on　his　head　gave　adequate　reply。

〃We　try　again；〃　said　the　captain；　very　much　awake　and　interested；　with　the　back　of　his　hand　wiping　the　beer…foam　from　his　moustache。　〃Maybe　he　knows　one　an'　two。　　How　about　three？　　And　four？〃

〃Just　the　same；　Skipper。　　He　counts　up　to　five；　and　knows　more　than　five　when　it　is　more　than　five；　though　he　don't　know　the　figures　by　name　after　five。〃

〃Oh；　Hanson！〃　Captain　Jorgensen　bellowed　across　the　bar…room　to　the　cook　of　the　Howard。　　〃Hey；　you　square…head！　　Come　and　have　a　drink！〃

Hanson　came　over　and　pulled　up　a　chair。

〃I　pay　for　the　drinks；〃　said　the　captain；　〃but　you　order；　Daughtry。　　See；　now；　Hanson；　this　is　a　trick　bow…wow。　　He　can　count　better　than　you。　　We　are　three。　　Daughtry　is　ordering　three　beers。　　The　bow…wow　hears　three。　　I　hold　up　two　fingers　like　this　to　the　waiter。　　He　brings　two。　　The　bow…wow　raises　hell　with　the　waiter。　　You　see。〃

All　of　which　came　to　pass；　Michael　blissfully　unappeasable　until　the　order　was　filled　properly。

〃He　can't　count；〃　was　Hanson's　conclusion。　　〃He　sees　one　man　without　beer。　　That's　all。　　He　knows　every　man　should　ought　to　have　a　glass。　　That's　why　he　barks。〃

〃Better　than　that；〃　Daughtry　boasted。　　〃There　are　three　of　us。　　We　will　order　four。　　Then　each　man　will　have　his　glass；　but　Killeny　will　talk　to　the　waiter　just　the　same。〃

True　enough；　now　thoroughly　aware　of　the　game；　Michael　made　outcry　to　the　waiter　till　the　fourth　glass　was　brought。　　By　this　time　many　men　were　about　the　table；　all　wanting　to　buy　beer　and　test　Michael。

〃Glory　be；〃　Dag　Daughtry　solloquized。　　〃A　funny　world。　　Thirsty　one　moment。　　The　next　moment　they'd　fair　drown　you　in　beer。〃

Several　even　wanted　to　buy　Michael；　offering　ridiculous　sums　like　fifteen　and　twenty　dollars。

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　Captain　Jorgensen　muttered　to　Daughtry；　whom　he　had　drawn　away　into　a　corner。　　〃You　give　me　that　bow…wow；　and　I'll　smash　Hanson　right　now；　and　you　got　the　job　right　awaycome　to　work　in　the　morning。〃

Into　another　corner　the　proprietor　of　the　Pile…drivers'　Home　drew　Daughtry　to　whisper　to　him：

〃You　stick　around　here　every　night　with　that　dog　of　yourn。　　It　makes　trade。　　I'll　give　you　free　beer　any　time　and　fifty　cents　cash　money　a　night。〃

It　was　this　proposition　that　started　the　big　idea　in　Daughtry's　mind。　　As　he　told　Michael；　back　in　the　room；　while　Kwaque　was　unlacing　his　shoes：

〃It's　this　way　Killeny。　　If　you're　worth　fifty　cents　a　night　and　free　beer　to　that　saloon　keeper；　then　you're　worth　that　to　me　。　。　。　and　more；　my　son；　more。　　'Cause　he's　lookin'　for　a　profit。　That's　why　he　sells　beer　instead　of　buyin'　it。　　An'；　Killeny；　you　won't　mind　workin'　for　me；　I　know。　　We　need　the　money。　　There's　Kwaque；　an'　Mr。　Greenleaf；　an'　Cocky；　not　even　mentioning　you　an'　me；　an'　we　eat　an　awful　lot。　　An'　room…rent's　hard　to　get；　an'　jobs　is　harder。　　What　d'ye　say；　son；　to…morrow　night　you　an'　me　hustle　around　an'　see　how　much　coin　we　can　gather？〃

And　Michael；　seated　on　Steward's　knees；　eyes　to　eyes　and　nose　to　nose；　his　jowls　held　in　Steward's　hand's　wriggled　and　squirmed　with　delight；　flipping　out　his　tongue　and　bobbing　his　tail　in　the　air。　　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　good；　for　it　was　Steward　who　spoke。



CHAPTER　XVIII



The　grizzled　ship's　steward　and　the　rough…coated　Irish　terrier　quickly　became　conspicuous　figures　in　the　night　life　of　the　Barbary　Coast　of　San　Francisco。　　Daughtry　elaborated　on　the　counting　trick　by　bringing　Cocky　along。　　Thus；　when　a　waiter　did　not　fetch　the　right　number　of　glasses；　Michael　would　remain　quite　still；　until　Cocky；　at　a　privy　signal　from　Steward；　standing　on　one　leg；　with　the　free　claw　would　clutch　Michael's　neck　and　apparently　talk　into　Michael's　ear。　　Whereupon　Michael　would　look　about　the　glasses　on　the　table　and　begin　his　usual　expostulation　with　the　waiter。

But　it　was　when　Daughtry　and　Michael　first　sang　〃Roll　me　Down　to　Rio〃　together；　that　the　ten…strike　was　made。　　It　occurred　in　a　sailors'　dance…hall　on　Pacific　Street；　and　all　dancing　stopped　while　the　sailors　clamoured　for　more　of　the　singing　dog。　　Nor　did　the　place　lose　money；　for　no　one　left；　and　the　crowd　increased　to　standing　room　as　Michael　went　through　his　repertoire　of　〃God　Save　the　King；〃　〃Sweet　Bye　and　Bye；〃　〃Lead；　Kindly　Light；〃　〃Home；　Sweet　Home；〃　and　〃Shenandoah。〃

It　meant　more　than　free　beer　to　Daughtry；　for；　when　he　started　to　leave；　the　proprietor　of　the　place　thrust　three　silver　dollars　into　his　hand　and　begged　him　to　come　around　with　the　dog　next　night。

〃For　that？〃　Daughtry　demanded；　looking　at　the　money　as　if　it　were　contemptible。

Hastily　the　proprietor　added　two　more　dollars；　and　Daughtry　promised。

〃Just　the　same；　Killeny；　my　son；〃　he　told　Michael　as　they　went　to　bed；　〃I　think　you　an'　me　are　worth　more　than　five　dollars　a　turn。　Why；　the　like　of　you　has　never　been　seen　before。　　A　real　singing　dog　that　can　carry　'most　any　air　with　me；　and　that　can　carry　half　a　dozen　by　himself。　　An'　they　say　Caruso　gets　a　thousand　a　night。　Well；　you　ain't　Caruso；　but　you're　the　dog…Caruso　of　the　entire　world。　　Son；　I'm　goin'　to　be　your　business　manager。　　If　we　can't　make　a　twenty…dollar　gold…piece　a　nightsay；　son；　we're　goin'　to　move　into　better　quarters。　　An'　the　old　gent　up　at　the　Hotel　de　Bronx　is　goin'　to　move　into　an　outside　room。　　An'　Kwaque's　goin'　to　get　a　real　outfit　of　clothes。　　Killeny；　my　boy；　we're　goin'　to　get　so　rich　that　if　he　can't　snare　a　sucker　we'll　put　up　the　cash　ourselves　'n'　buy　a　schooner　for　'm；　'n'　send　him　out　a…treasure…　huntin'　on　his　own。　　We'll　be　the　suckers；　eh；　just　you　an'　me；　an'　love　to。〃


The　Barbary　Coast　of　San　Francisco；　once　the　old…time　sailor…town　in　the　days　when　San　Francisco　was　reckoned　the　toughest　port　of　the　Seven　Seas；　had　evolved　with　the　city　until　it　depended　for　at　least　half　of　its　earnings　on　the　slumming　parties　that　visited　it　and　spent　liberally。　　It　was　quite　the　custom；　after　dinner；　for　many　of　the　better　classes　of　society；　especially　when　entertaining　curious　Easterners；　to　spend　an　hour　or　several　in　motoring　from　dance…hall　to　dance…hall　and　cheap　cabaret　to　cheap　cabaret。　　In　short；　the　〃Coast〃　was　as　much　a　sight…seeing　place　as　was　Chinatown　and　the　Cliff　House。

It　was　not　long　before　Dag　Daughtry　was　getting　his　twenty　dollars　a　night　for　two　twenty…minute　turns；　and　was　declining　more　beer　than　a　dozen　men　with　thirsts　equal　to　his　could　have　accommodated。　　Never　had　he　been　so　prosperous；　nor　can　it　be　denied　that　Michael　enjoyed　it。　　Enjoy　it　he　did；　but　principally　for　Steward's　sake。　　He　was　serving　Steward；　and　so　to　serve　was　his　highest　heart's　desire。

In　truth；　Michael　was　the　bread…winner　for　quite　a　family；　each　member　of　which　fared　well。　　Kwaque　blossomed　out　resplendent　in　russet…brown　shoes；　a　derby　hat；　and　a　gray　suit　with　trousers　immaculately　creased。　　Also；　he　became　a　devotee　of　the　moving…　picture　shows；　spending　as　much　as　twenty　and　thirty　cents　a　day　and　resolutely　sitting　out　every　repetition　of　programme。　　Little　time　was　required　of　him　in　caring　for　Daughtry；　for　they　had　come　to　eating　in　restaurants。　　Not　only　had　the　Ancient　Mariner　moved　into　a　more　expensive　outside　room　at　the　Bronx；　but　Daughtry　insisted　on　thrusting　upon　him　more　spending　money；　so　that；　on　occasion；　he　could　invite　a　likely　acquaintance　to　the　theatre　or　a　concert　and　bring　him　home　in　a　taxi。

〃We　won't　keep　this　up　for　ever；　Killeny；〃　Steward　told　Michael。　〃For　just　as　long　as　it　takes　the　old　gent　to　land　another　bunch　of　gold…pouched；　retriever…snouted　treasure…hunters；　and　no　longer。　　Then　it's　hey　for　the　ocean　blue；　my　son；