the lost road-第69章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　Pelham　Manor？〃

〃That's　right！〃　assented　Jimmie　eagerly。　　〃But　I　wanted　to　save
the　ten　cents　so's　to　send　Sadie　to　the　movies。　　So　I　walked。〃

The　young　man　looked　his　embarrassment。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　murmured。

But　Jimmie　did　not　hear　him。　　From　the　back　of　the　car　he　was
dragging　excitedly　at　the　hated　suit…case。

〃Stop！〃　he　commanded。　　〃I　got　ter　get　out。　　I　got　ter　walk。〃

The　young　man　showed　his　surprise。

〃Walk！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃What　is　ita　bet？〃

Jimmie　dropped　the　valise　and　followed　it　into　the　roadway。　　It
took　some　time　to　explain　to　the　young　man。　　First；　he　had　to　be
told　about　the　scout　law　and　the　one　good　turn　a　day；　and　that　it
must　involve　some　personal　sacrifice。　　And；　as　Jimmie　pointed　out；
changing　from　a　slow　suburban　train　to　a　racing…car　could　not　be
listed　as　a　sacrifice。　　He　had　not　earned　the　money；　Jimmie　argued；
he　had　only　avoided　paying　it　to　the　railroad。　　If　he　did　not　walk
he　would　be　obtaining　the　gratitude　of　Sadie　by　a　falsehood。
Therefore；　he　must　walk。

〃Not　at　all；〃　protested　the　young　man。　　〃You've　got　it　wrong。　　What
good　will　it　do　your　sister　to　have　you　sunstruck？　I　think　you　are
sunstruck。　　You're　crazy　with　the　heat。　　You　get　in　here；　and　we'll
talk　it　over　as　we　go　along。〃

Hastily　Jimmie　backed　away。　　〃I'd　rather　walk；〃　he　said。

The　young　man　shifted　his　legs　irritably。

〃Then　how'll　this　suit　you？〃　he　called。　　〃We'll　declare　that　first　'one
good　turn'　a　failure　and　start　afresh。　　Do　me　a　good　turn。〃

Jimmie　halted　in　his　tracks　and　looked　back　suspiciously。

〃I'm　going　to　Hunter's　Island　Inn；〃　called　the　young　man；　〃and　I've
lost　my　way。　　You　get　in　here　and　guide　me。　　That'll　be　doing　me
a　good　turn。〃

On　either　side　of　the　road；　blotting　out　the　landscape；　giant
hands　picked　out　in　electric…light　bulbs　pointed　the　way　to
Hunter's　Island　Inn。　　Jimmie　grinned　and　nodded　toward　them。

〃Much　obliged；〃　he　called。　　〃I　got　ter　walk。〃　　Turning　his　back
upon　temptation；　he　waddled　forward　into　the　flickering　heat
waves。


The　young　man　did　not　attempt　to　pursue。　　At　the　side　of　the　road；
under　the　shade　of　a　giant　elm；　he　had　brought　the　car　to　a　halt　and
with　his　arms　crossed　upon　the　wheel　sat　motionless；　following　with
frowning　eyes　the　retreating　figure　of　Jimmie。　　But　the　narrow…chested
and　knock…kneed　boy　staggering　over　the　sun…baked　asphalt　no　longer
concerned　him。　　It　was　not　Jimmie；　but　the　code　preached　by　Jimmie；
and　not　only　preached　but　before　his　eyes　put　into　practice；　that
interested　him。　　The　young　man　with　white　hair　had　been　running
away　from　temptation。　　At　forty　miles　an　hour　he　had　been　running
away　from　the　temptation　to　do　a　fellow　mortal　〃a　good　turn。〃　　That
morning；　to　the　appeal　of　a　drowning　Caesar　to　〃Help　me；　Cassius；
or　I　sink；〃　he　had　answered：　〃Sink！〃　That　answer　he　had　no　wish　to
reconsider。　　That　he　might　not　reconsider　he　had　sought　to　escape。
It　was　his　experience　that　a　sixty…horse…power　racing…machine　is　a
jealous　mistress。　　For　retrospective；　sentimental；　or　philanthropic
thoughts　she　grants　no　leave　of　absence。　　But　he　had　not　escaped。
Jimmie　had　halted　him；　tripped　him　by　the　heels；　and　set　him　again
to　thinking。　　Within　the　half…hour　that　followed　those　who　rolled
past　saw　at　the　side　of　the　road　a　car　with　her　engine　running；　and
leaning　upon　the　wheel；　as　unconscious　of　his　surroundings　as
though　he　sat　at　his　own　fireplace；　a　young　man　who　frowned　and
stared　at　nothing。　　The　half…hour　passed　and　the　young　man　swung
his　car　back　toward　the　city。　　But　at　the　first　road…house　that　showed
a　blue…and…white　telephone　sign　he　left　it；　and　into　the　iron　box　at
the　end　of　the　bar　dropped　a　nickel。　　He　wished　to　communicate　with
Mr。　Carroll；　of　Carroll　and　Hastings；　and　when　he　learned　Mr。　Carroll
had　just　issued　orders　that　he　must　not　be　disturbed；　the　young　man
gave　his　name。

The　effect　upon　the　barkeeper　was　instantaneous。　　With　the　aggrieved
air　of　one　who　feels　he　is　the　victim　of　a　jest　he　laughed　scornfully。

〃What　are　you　putting　over？〃　he　demanded。

The　young　man　smiled　reassuringly。　　He　had　begun　to　speak　and；
though　apparently　engaged　with　the　beer…glass　he　was　polishing；
the　barkeeper　listened。

Down　in　Wall　Street　the　senior　member　of　Carroll　and　Hastings
also　listened。　　He　was　alone　in　the　most　private　of　all　his　private
offices；　and　when　interrupted　had　been　engaged　in　what；　of　all
undertakings；　is　the　most　momentous。　　On　the　desk　before　him
lay　letters　to　his　lawyer；　to　the　coroner；　to　his　wife；　and　hidden
by　a　mass　of　papers；　but　within　reach　of　his　hand；　was　an
automatic　pistol。　　The　promise　it　offered　of　swift　release　had
made　the　writing　of　the　letters　simple；　had　given　him　a　feeling
of　complete　detachment；　had　released　him；　at　least　in　thought；
from　all　responsibilities。　　And　when　at　his　elbow　the　telephone
coughed　discreetly；　it　was　as　though　some　one　had　called　him
from　a　world　from　which　already　he　had　made　his　exit。

Mechanically；　through　mere　habit；　he　lifted　the　receiver。

The　voice　over　the　telephone　came　in　brisk；　staccato　sentences。

〃That　letter　I　sent　this　morning？　Forget　it。　　Tear　it　up。　　I've　been
thinking　and　I'm　going　to　take　a　chance。　　I've　decided　to　back　you
boys；　and　I　know　you'll　make　good。　　I'm　speaking　from　a　road…house
in　the　Bronx；　going　straight　from　here　to　the　bank。　　So　you　can　begin
to　draw　against　us　within　an　hour。　　Andhello！will　three　millions
see　you　through？〃

From　Wall　Street　there　came　no　answer；　but　from　the　hands　of　the
barkeeper　a　glass　crashed　to　the　floor。

The　young　man　regarded　the　barkeeper　with　puzzled　eyes。

〃He　doesn't　answer；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃He　must　have　hung　up。〃

〃He　must　have　fainted！〃　said　the　barkeeper。

The　white…haired　one　pushed　a　bill　across　the　counter。　　〃To　pay
for　breakage；〃　he　said；　and　disappeared　down　Pelham　Parkway。

Throughout　the　day；　with　the　bill；　for　evidence；　pasted　against
the　mirror；　the　barkeeper　told　and　retold　the　wondrous　tale。

〃He　stood　just　where　you're　standing　now；〃　he　related；　〃blowing
in　million…dollar　bills　like　you'd　blow　suds　off　a　beer。　　If　I'd
knowed　it　was　him；　I'd　have　hit　him　once　and　hid　him　in　the
cellar　for　the　reward。　　Who'd　I　think　he　was？　I　thought　he　was
a　wire…tapper；　working　a　con　game！〃

Mr。　Carroll　had　not　〃hung　up；〃　but　when　in　the　Bronx　the
beer…glass　crashed；　in　Wall　Street　the　receiver　had　slipped　from
the　hand　of　the　man　who　held　it；　and　the　man　himself　had　fallen
forward。　　His　desk　hit　him　in　the　face　and　woke　himwoke　him
to　the　wonderful　fact　that　he　still　lived；　that　at　forty　he　had　been
born　again；　that　before　him　stretched　many　more　years　in　which；
as　the　young　man　with　the　white　hair　had　pointed　out；　he　still
could　make　good。

The　afternoon　was　far　advanced　when　the　staff　of　Carroll　and
Hastings　were　allowed　to　depart；　and；　even　late　as　was　the　hour；
two　of　them　were　asked　to　remain。　　Into　the　most　private　of　the
private　offices　Carroll　invited　Gaskell；　the　head　clerk；　in　the
main　office　Hastings　had　asked　young　Thorne；　the　bond　clerk；
to　be　seated。


Until　the　senior　partner　has　finished　with　Gaskell　young　Thorne
must　remain　seated。

〃Gaskell；〃　said　Mr。　Carroll；　〃if　we　had　listened　to　you；　if　we'd　run
this　place　as　it　was　when　father　was　alive；　this　never　would　have
happened。　　It　hasn't　happened；　but　we've　had　our　lesson。　　And
after　this　we're　going　slow　and　going　straight。　　And　we　don't　need
you　to　tell　us　how　to　do　that。　　We　want　you　to　go　awayon　a　month's
vacation。　　When　I　thought　we　were　going　under　I　planned　to　send　the
children　on　a　sea　voyage　with　the　governessso　they　wouldn't　see　the
newspapers。　　But　now　that　I　can　look　them　in　the　eye　again；　I　need
them；　I　can't　let　them　go。　　So；　if　you'd　like　to　take　your　wife　on　an
ocean　trip　to　Nova　Scotia　and　Quebec；　here　are　the　cabins　I　reserved
for　the　kids。　　They　call　it　the　royal　suitewhatever　that　isand　the　trip
lasts　a　month。　　The　boat　sails　to…morrow　morning。　　Don't　sleep　too　late
or　you　may　miss　her。〃

The　head　clerk　was　secreting　the　tickets　in　the　inside　pocket　of
his　waistcoat。　　His　fingers　trembled；　and　when　he　laughed　his
voice　trembled。

〃Miss　the　boat！〃　the　head　clerk　exclaimed。　　〃If　she　gets　away　from
Millie　and　me　she's　got　to　start　now。　　We'll　go　on　board　to…night！〃

A　half…hour　later　Millie　was　on　her　knees　packing　a　trunk；　and
her　husband　was　telephoning　to　the　drug…store　for　a　sponge…bag
and　a　cure　for　seasickness。

Owing　to　the　joy　in　her　heart　and　to　the　fact　that　she　was　on　her
knees；　Millie　was　alternately　weeping　into　the　trunk…tray　and
offering　up　incoherent　prayers　of　thanksgiving。　　Suddenly　she
sank　back　upon　the　floor。

〃John！〃　she　cried；　〃doesn't　it　seem　sinful　to　sail　away　in　a
'royal　suite'　and　leave　this　beautiful　flat　empty？〃

Over　the　telephone　John　was　having　trouble　with　the　drug　clerk。

〃No！〃　he　explained；　〃I'm　not　seasick　now。　　The　medicine　I　want　is
to　be　taken　later。　　I　know　I'm　speaking　from　the　Pavonia；　but　the
Pavonia　isn't　a　ship；　it's　an　apartment…house。〃

He　turned　to　Millie。　　〃We　can't　be　in　two　places　at　the　same
time；〃　he　suggested。

〃But；　think；〃　insisted　Millie；　〃of　all　the　poor　people　stifling
to…night　in　this　heat；　trying　to　sleep　on　the　roofs　and　fire…escapes；
and　our　flat　so　cool　and　big　and　prettyand　no　one　in　it。〃

John　nodded　his　head　proudly。

〃I　know　it's　big；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　isn't　big　enough　to　hold　all
the　people　who　are　sleeping　to…night　on　the　roofs　and　in　the
parks。〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　your　brotherand　Grace；〃　said　Millie。　　〃They've
been　married　only　two　weeks　now；　and　they're　in　a　stuffy　hall
bedroom　and　eating　with　all　the　other　boarders。　　Think　what　our
flat　would　mean　to　them；　to　be　by　themselves；　with　eight　rooms
and　their　own　kitchen　and　bath；　and　our　new　refrigerator　and　the
gramophone！　It　would　be　heaven！　It　would　be　a　real　honeymoon！〃

Abandoning　the　drug　clerk；　John　lifted　Millie　in　his　arms　and
kissed　her；　for；　next　to　his　wife；　nearest　his　heart　was　the
younger　brother。


The　younger　brother　and　Grace　were　sitting　on　the　stoop　of　the
boarding…house。　　On　the　upper　steps；　in　their　shirt…sleeves；　were
the　other　boarders；　so　the　bride　and　bridegroom　spoke　in　whispers。
The　air　of　the　cross　street　was　stale　and　stagnant；　from　it　rose
exhalations　of　rotting　fruit；　the　gases　of　an　open　subway；　the
smoke　of　passing　taxicabs。　　But　between　the　street　and　the　hall
bedroom；　with　its　odors　of　a　gas…stove　and　a　kitchen；　the　choice
was　difficult。

〃We've　got　to　cool　off　somehow；〃　the　young　husband　was　saying；
〃or　you　won't　sleep。　　Shall　we　treat　ourselves　to　ice…cream　sodas
or　a　trip　on　the　Weehawken　ferry…boat？〃

〃The　ferry…boat！〃　begged　the　girl；　〃where　we　can　get　away　from
all　these　people。〃

A　taxicab　with　a　trunk　in　front　whirled　into　the　street；　kicked
itself　to　a　stop；　and　the　head　clerk　and　Millie　spilled　out　upon
the　pavement。　　They　talked　so　fast；　and　the　younger　brother　and
Grace　talked　so　fast；　that　the　boarders；　although　they　listened
intently；　could　make　nothing　of　it。

They　distinguished　only　the　concluding　sentences：

〃Why　don't　you　drive　down　to　the　wharf　with　us；〃　they　heard　the
elder　brother　ask；　〃and　see　our　royal　suite？〃

But　the　younger　brother