michael, brother of jerry-第25章

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〃Well；　go　ahead　with　what　you　was　goin'　to　do；〃　Daughtry　grumbled；　the　rush　of　events　too　swift　and　too　hidden　for　him　to　comprehend。　〃An'　when　you're　done　with　that；　I　just　want　you　to　explain　what　you　said　about　leprosy　an'　that　nigger…boy　there。　　He's　my　boy；　an'　you　can't　pull　anything　like　that　off　on　him　。　。　。　or　me。〃

〃Gentlemen；　you　have　seen；〃　Doctor　Emory　said。　　〃Two　undoubted　cases　of　it；　master　and　man；　the　man　more　advanced；　with　the　combination　of　both　forms；　the　master　with　only　the　anaesthetic　formhe　has　a　touch　of　it；　too；　on　his　little　finger。　　Take　them　away。　　I　strongly　advise；　Doctor　Masters；　a　thorough　fumigation　of　the　ambulance　afterward。〃

〃Look　here　。　。　。　〃　Dag　Daughtry　began　belligerently。

Doctor　Emory　glanced　warningly　to　Doctor　Masters；　and　Doctor　Masters　glanced　authoritatively　at　the　sergeant　who　glanced　commandingly　at　his　two　policemen。　　But　they　did　not　spring　upon　Daughtry。　　Instead；　they　backed　farther　away；　drew　their　clubs；　and　glared　intimidatingly　at　him。　　More　convincing　than　anything　else　to　Daughtry　was　the　conduct　of　the　policemen。　　They　were　manifestly　afraid　of　contact　with　him。　　As　he　started　forward；　they　poked　the　ends　of　their　extended　clubs　towards　his　ribs　to　ward　him　off。

〃Don't　you　come　any　closer；〃　one　warned　him；　flourishing　his　club　with　the　advertisement　of　braining　him。　　〃You　stay　right　where　you　are　until　you　get　your　orders。〃

〃Put　on　your　shirt　and　stand　over　there　alongside　your　master；〃　Doctor　Emory　commanded　Kwaque；　having　suddenly　elevated　the　chair　and　spilled　him　out　on　his　feet　on　the　floor。

〃But　what　under　the　sun　。　。　。　〃　Daughtry　began；　but　was　ignored　by　his　quondam　friend；　who　was　saying　to　Doctor　Masters：

〃The　pest…house　has　been　vacant　since　that　Japanese　died。　　I　know　the　gang　of　cowards　in　your　department　so　I'd　advise　you　to　give　the　dope　to　these　here　so　that　they　can　disinfect　the　premises　when　they　go　in。〃

〃For　the　love　of　Mike；〃　Daughtry　pleaded；　all　of　stunned　belligerence　gone　from　him　in　his　state　of　stunned　conviction　that　the　dread　disease　possessed　him。　　He　touched　his　finger　to　his　sensationless　forehead；　then　smelled　it　and　recognized　the　burnt　flesh　he　had　not　felt　burning。　　〃For　the　love　of　Mike；　don't　be　in　such　a　rush。　　If　I've　got　it；　I've　got　it。　　But　that　ain't　no　reason　we　can't　deal　with　each　other　like　white　men。　　Give　me　two　hours　an'　I'll　get　outa　the　city。　　An'　in　twenty…four　I'll　be　outa　the　country。　　I'll　take　ship〃

〃And　continue　to　be　a　menace　to　the　public　health　wherever　you　are；〃　Doctor　Masters　broke　in；　already　visioning　a　column　in　the　evening　papers；　with　scare…heads；　in　which　he　would　appear　the　hero；　the　St。　George　of　San　Francisco　standing　with　poised　lance　between　the　people　and　the　dragon　of　leprosy。

〃Take　them　away；〃　said　Waiter　Merritt　Emory；　avoiding　looking　Daughtry　in　the　eyes。

〃Ready！　　March！〃　commanded　the　sergeant。

The　two　policemen　advanced　on　Daughtry　and　Kwaque　with　extended　clubs。

〃Keep　away；　an'　keep　movin'；〃　one　of　the　policemen　growled　fiercely。　　〃An'　do　what　we　say；　or　get　your　head　cracked。　　Out　you　go；　now。　　Out　the　door　with　you。　　Better　tell　that　coon　to　stick　right　alongside　you。〃

〃Doc。；　won't　you　let　me　talk　a　moment？〃　Daughtry　begged　of　Emory。

〃The　time　for　talking　is　past；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃This　is　the　time　for　segregation。Doctor　Masters；　don't　forget　that　ambulance　when　you're　quit　of　the　load。〃

So　the　procession；　led　by　the　board…of…heath　doctor　and　the　sergeant；　and　brought　up　in　the　rear　by　the　policemen　with　their　protectively　extended　clubs；　started　through　the　doorway。

Whirling　about　on　the　threshold；　at　the　imminent　risk　of　having　his　skull　cracked；　Dag　Daughtry　called　back：

〃Doc！　　My　dog！　　You　know　'm。〃

〃I'll　get　him　for　you；〃　Doctor　Emory　consented　quickly。　　〃What's　the　address？〃

〃Room　eight…seven；　Clay　street；　the　Bowhead　Lodging　House；　you　know　the　place；　entrance　just　around　the　corner　from　the　Bowhead　Saloon。　　Have　'm　sent　out　to　me　wherever　they　put　mewill　you？〃

〃Certainly　I　will；〃　said　Doctor　Emory；　〃and　you've　got　a　cockatoo；　too？〃

〃You　bet；　Cocky！　　Send　'm　both　along；　please；　sir。〃


〃My！〃　said　Miss　Judson；　that　evening；　at　dinner　with　a　certain　young　interne　of　St。　Joseph's　Hospital。　　〃That　Doctor　Emory　is　a　wizard。　　No　wonder　he's　successful。　　Think　of　it！　　Two　filthy　lepers　in　our　office　to…day！　　One　was　a　coon。　　And　he　knew　what　was　the　matter　the　moment　he　laid　eyes　on　them。　　He's　a　caution。　When　I　tell　you　what　he　did　to　them　with　his　cigar！　　And　he　was　cute　about　it！　　He　gave　me　the　wink　first。　　And　they　never　dreamed　what　he　was　doing。　　He　took　his　cigar　and　。　。　。　〃



CHAPTER　XX



The　dog；　like　the　horse；　abases　the　base。　　Being　base；　Waiter　Merritt　Emory　was　abased　by　his　desire　for　the　possession　of　Michael。　　Had　there　been　no　Michael；　his　conduct　would　have　been　quite　different。　　He　would　have　dealt　with　Daughtry　as　Daughtry　had　described；　as　between　white　men。　　He　would　have　warned　Daughtry　of　his　disease　and　enabled　him　to　take　ship　to　the　South　Seas　or　to　Japan；　or　to　other　countries　where　lepers　are　not　segregated。　　This　would　have　worked　no　hardship　on　those　countries；　since　such　was　their　law　and　procedure；　while　it　would　have　enabled　Daughtry　and　Kwaque　to　escape　the　hell　of　the　San　Francisco　pest…house；　to　which；　because　of　his　baseness；　he　condemned　them　for　the　rest　of　their　lives。

Furthermore；　when　the　expense　of　the　maintenance　of　armed　guards　over　the　pest…house；　day　and　night；　throughout　the　years；　is　considered；　Walter　Merritt　Emory　could　have　saved　many　thousands　of　dollars　to　the　tax…payers　of　the　city　and　county　of　San　Francisco；　which　thousands　of　dollars；　had　they　been　spent　otherwise；　could　have　been　diverted　to　the　reduction　of　the　notorious　crowding　in　school…rooms；　to　purer　milk　for　the　babies　of　the　poor；　or　to　an　increase　of　breathing…space　in　the　park　system　for　the　people　of　the　stifling　ghetto。　　But　had　Walter　Merritt　Emory　been　thus　considerate；　not　only　would　Daughtry　and　Kwaque　have　sailed　out　and　away　over　the　sea；　but　with　them　would　have　sailed　Michael。

Never　was　a　reception…roomful　of　patients　rushed　through　more　expeditiously　than　was　Doctor　Emory's　the　moment　the　door　had　closed　upon　the　two　policemen　who　brought　up　Daughtry's　rear。　　And　before　he　went　to　his　late　lunch；　Doctor　Emory　was　away　in　his　machine　and　down　into　the　Barbary　Coast　to　the　door　of　the　Bowhead　Lodging　House。　　On　the　way；　by　virtue　of　his　political　affiliations；　he　had　been　able　to　pick　up　a　captain　of　detectives。　The　addition　of　the　captain　proved　necessary；　for　the　landlady　put　up　a　stout　argument　against　the　taking　of　the　dog　of　her　lodger。　But　Milliken；　captain　of　detectives；　was　too　well　known　to　her；　and　she　yielded　to　the　law　of　which　he　was　the　symbol　and　of　which　she　was　credulously　ignorant。

As　Michael　started　out　of　the　room　on　the　end　of　a　rope；　a　plaintive　call　of　reminder　came　from　the　window…sill；　where　perched　a　tiny；　snow…white　cockatoo。

〃Cocky；〃　he　called。　　〃Cocky。〃

Walter　Merritt　Emory　glanced　back　and　for　no　more　than　a　moment　hesitated。　　〃We'll　send　for　the　bird　later；〃　he　told　the　landlady；　who；　still　mildly　expostulating　as　she　followed　them　downstairs；　failed　to　notice　that　the　captain　of　the　detectives　had　carelessly　left　the　door　to　Daughtry's　rooms　ajar。


But　Walter　Merritt　Emory　was　not　the　only　base　one　abased　by　desire　of　possession　of　Michael。　　In　a　deep　leather　chair；　his　feet　resting　in　another　deep　leather　chair；　at　the　Indoor　Yacht　Club；　Harry　Del　Mar　yielded　to　the　somniferous　digestion　of　lunch；　which　was　for　him　breakfast　as　well；　and　glanced　through　the　first　of　the　early　editions　of　the　afternoon　papers。　　His　eyes　lighted　on　a　big　headline；　with　a　brief　five　lines　under　it。　　His　feet　were　instantly　drawn　down　off　the　chair　and　under　him　as　he　stood　up　erect　upon　them。　　On　swift　second　thought；　he　sat　down　again；　pressed　the　electric　button；　and；　while　waiting　for　the　club　steward；　reread　the　headline　and　the　brief　five　lines。

In　a　taxi；　and　away；　heading　for　the　Barbary　Coast；　Harry　Del　Mar　saw　visions　that　were　golden。　　They　took　on　the　semblance　of　yellow；　twenty…dollar　gold　pieces；　of　yellow…backed　paper　bills　of　the　government　stamping　of　the　United　States；　of　bank　books；　and　of　rich　coupons　ripe　for　the　clippingand　all　shot　through　the　flashings　of　the　form　of　a　rough…coated　Irish　terrier；　on　a　galaxy　of　brilliantly…lighted　stages；　mouth　open；　nose　upward　to　the　drops；　singing；　ever　singing；　as　no　dog　had　ever　been　known　to　sing　in　the　world　before。


Cocky　himself　was　the　first　to　discover　that　the　door　was　ajar；　and　was　looking　at　it　with　speculation　（if　by　〃speculation〃　may　be　described　the　mental　processes　of　a　bird；　in　some　mysterious　way　absorbing　into　its　consciousness　a　fresh　impression　of　its　environment　and　preparing　to　act；　or　not　act；　according　to　which　way　the　fresh　impression　modifies　its　conduct）。　　Humans　do　this　very　thing；　and　some　of　them　call　it　〃free　will。〃　　Cocky；　staring　at　the　open　door；　was　in　just　the　stage　of　determining　whether　or　not　he　should　more　closely　inspect　that　crack　of　exit　to　the　wider　world；　which　inspection；　in　turn；　would　determine　whether　or　not　he　should　venture　out　through　the　crack；　when　his　eyes　beheld　the　eyes　of　the　second　discoverer　staring　in。

The　eyes　were　bestial；　yellow…green；　the　pupils　dilating　and　narrowing　with　sharp　swiftness　as　they　sought　about　among　the　lights　and　glooms　of　the　room。　　Cocky　knew　danger　at　the　first　glimpsedanger　to　the　uttermost　of　violent　death。　　Yet　Cocky　did　nothing。　　No　panic　stirred　his　heart。　　Motionless；　one　eye　only　turned　upon　the　crack；　he　focused　that　one　eye　upon　the　head　and　eyes　of　the　gaunt　gutter…cat　whose　head　had　erupted　into　the　crack　like　an　apparition。

Alert；　dilating　and　contracting；　as　swift　as　cautious；　and　infinitely　apprehensive；　the　pupils　vertically　slitted　in　jet　into　the　midmost　of　amazing　opals　of　greenish　yellow；　the　eyes　roved　the　room。　　They　alighted　on　Cocky。　　Instantly　the　head　portrayed　that　the　cat　had　stiffened；　crouched；　and　frozen。　　Almost　imperceptibly　the　eyes　settled　into　a　watching　that　was　like　to　the　stony　stare　of　a　sphinx　across　aching　and　eternal　desert　sands。　　The　eyes　were　as　if　they　had　so　stared　for　centuries　and　millenniums。

No　less　frozen　was　Cocky。　　He　drew　no　film　across　his　one　eye　that　showed　his　head　cocked　sideways；　nor　did　the　passion　of　apprehension　that　whelmed　him　manifest　itself　in　the　quiver　of　a　single　feather。　　Both　creatures　were　petrified　into　the　mutual　stare　that　is　of　the　hunter　and　the　hunted；　the　preyer　and　the　prey；　the　meat…eater　and　the　meat。

It　was　a　matter　of　long　minutes；　that　stare；　until　the　head　in　the　doorway；　with　a　slight　turn；　disappeared。　　Could　a　bird　sigh；　Cocky　would　have　sighed。　　But　he　made　no　movement　as　he　listened　to　the　slow；　dragging　steps　of　a　man　go　by　and　fade　away　down　the　hall。

Several　minutes　passed；　and；　just　as　abruptly　the　apparition　reappearednot　alone　the　head　this　time；　but　the　entire　sinuous　form　as　it　glided　into　the　room　and　came　to　rest　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。　　The　eyes　brooded　on　Cocky；　and　the　entire　body　was　still　save　for　the　long　tail；　which　lashed　from　one　side　to　the　other　and　back　again　in　an　abrupt；　angry；　b