the lost road-第70章

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elder　brother　ask；　〃and　see　our　royal　suite？〃

But　the　younger　brother　laughed　him　to　scorn。

〃What's　your　royal　suite；〃　he　mocked；　〃to　our　royal　palace？〃

An　hour　later；　had　the　boarders　listened　outside　the　flat　of　the
head　clerk；　they　would　have　heard　issuing　from　his　bathroom　the
cooling　murmur　of　running　water　and　from　his　gramophone　the
jubilant　notes　of　〃Alexander's　Rag…time　Band。〃

When　in　his　private　office　Carroll　was　making　a　present　of　the
royal　suite　to　the　head　clerk；　in　the　main　office　Hastings；　the
junior　partner；　was　addressing　〃Champ〃　Thorne；　the　bond　clerk。
He　addressed　him　familiarly　and　affectionately　as　〃Champ。〃　　This
was　due　partly　to　the　fact　that　twenty…six　years　before　Thorne　had
been　christened　Champneys　and　to　the　coincidence　that　he　had
captained　the　football　eleven　of　one　of　the　Big　Three　to　the
championship。

〃Champ；〃　said　Mr。　Hastings；　〃last　month；　when　you　asked　me　to
raise　your　salary；　the　reason　I　didn't　do　it　was　not　because　you
didn't　deserve　it；　but　because　I　believed　if　we　gave　you　a　raise
you'd　immediately　get　married。〃

The　shoulders　of　the　ex…football　captain　rose　aggressively；　he
snorted　with　indignation。

〃And　why　should　I　not　get　married？〃　he　demanded。　　〃You're　a　fine
one　to　talk！　You're　the　most　offensively　happy　married　man　I　ever
met。〃

〃Perhaps　I　know　I　am　happy　better　than　you　do；〃　reproved　the
junior　partner；　〃but　I　know　also　that　it　takes　money　to　support　a
wife。〃

〃You　raise　me　to　a　hundred　a　week；〃　urged　Champ；　〃and　I'll　make
it　support　a　wife　whether　it　supports　me　or　not。〃

〃A　month　ago；〃　continued　Hastings；　〃we　could　have　promised　you　a
hundred；　but　we　didn't　know　how　long　we　could　pay　it。　　We　didn't
want　you　to　rush　off　and　marry　some　fine　girl〃

〃Some　fine　girl！〃　muttered　Mr。　Thorne。　　〃The　finest　girl！〃

〃The　finer　the　girl；〃　Hastings　pointed　out；　〃the　harder　it　would
have　been　for　you　if　we　had　failed　and　you　had　lost　your　job。〃

The　eyes　of　the　young　man　opened　with　sympathy　and　concern。

〃Is　it　as　bad　as　that？〃　he　murmured。

Hastings　sighed　happily。

〃It　was；〃　he　said；　〃but　this　morning　the　Young　Man　of　Wall　Street
did　us　a　good　turnsaved　ussaved　our　creditors；　saved　our　homes；
saved　our　honor。　　We're　going　to　start　fresh　and　pay　our　debts；　and
we　agreed　the　first　debt　we　paid　would　be　the　small　one　we　owe　you。
You've　brought　us　more　than　we've　given；　and　if　you'll　stay　with　us
we're　going　to　'see'　your　fifty　and　raise　it　a　hundred。　　What　do　you
say？〃

Young　Mr。　Thorne　leaped　to　his　feet。　　What　he　said　was：　〃Where'n
hell's　my　hat？〃

But　by　the　time　he　had　found　the　hat　and　the　door　he　mended　his
manners。

〃I　say；　'Thank　you　a　thousand　times；〃'　he　shouted　over　his
shoulder。　　〃Excuse　me；　but　I've　got　to　go。　　I've　got　to　break　the
news　to〃

He　did　not　explain　to　whom　he　was　going　to　break　the　news；　but
Hastings　must　have　guessed；　for　again　he　sighed　happily　and　then；
a　little　hysterically　laughed　aloud。　　Several　months　had　passed
since　he　had　laughed　aloud。

In　his　anxiety　to　break　the　news　Champ　Thorne　almost　broke　his
neck。　　In　his　excitement　he　could　not　remember　whether　the　red
flash　meant　the　elevator　was　going　down　or　coming　up；　and　sooner
than　wait　to　find　out　he　started　to　race　down　eighteen　flights　of
stairs　when　fortunately　the　elevator…door　swung　open。

〃You　get　five　dollars；〃　he　announced　to　the　elevator　man；　〃if　you
drop　to　the　street　without　a　stop。　　Beat　the　speed　limit！　Act　like
the　building　is　on　fire　and　you're　trying　to　save　me　before　the
roof　falls。〃

Senator　Barnes　and　his　entire　family；　which　was　his　daughter
Barbara；　were　at　the　Ritz…Carlton。　　They　were　in　town　in　August
because　there　was　a　meeting　of　the　directors　of　the　Brazil　and
Cuyaba　Rubber　Company；　of　which　company　Senator　Barnes　was
president。　　It　was　a　secret　meeting。　　Those　directors　who　were
keeping　cool　at　the　edge　of　the　ocean　had　been　summoned　by
telegraph；　those　who　were　steaming　across　the　ocean；　by　wireless。

Up　from　the　equator　had　drifted　the　threat　of　a　scandal；　sickening；
grim；　terrible。　　As　yet　it　burned　beneath　the　surface；　giving　out　only
an　odor；　but　an　odor　as　rank　as　burning　rubber　itself。　　At　any　moment
it　might　break　into　flame。　　For　the　directors；　was　it　the　better　wisdom
to　let　the　scandal　smoulder；　and　take　a　chance；　or　to　be　the　first　to　give
the　alarm；　the　first　to　lead　the　way　to　the　horror　and　stamp　it　out？

It　was　to　decide　this　that；　in　the　heat　of　August；　the　directors　and　the
president　had　foregathered。

Champ　Thorne　knew　nothing　of　this；　he　knew　only　that　by　a　miracle
Barbara　Barnes　was　in　town；　that　at　last　he　was　in　a　position　to　ask
her　to　marry　him；　that　she　would　certainly　say　she　would。　　That　was
all　he　cared　to　know。

A　year　before　he　had　issued　his　declaration　of　independence。
Before　he　could　marry；　he　told　her；　he　must　be　able　to　support　a
wife　on　what　he　earned；　without　her　having　to　accept　money　from
her　father；　and　until　he　received　〃a　minimum　wage〃　of　five　thousand
dollars　they　must　wait。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　my　father's　money？〃　Barbara　had　demanded。

Thorne　had　evaded　the　direct　question。

〃There　is　too　much　of　it；〃　he　said。

〃Do　you　object　to　the　way　he　makes　it？〃　insisted　Barbara。　〃Because
rubber　is　most　useful。　　You　put　it　in　golf　balls　and　auto　tires　and
galoshes。　　There　is　nothing　so　perfectly　respectable　as　galoshes。
And　what　is　there　'tainted'　about　a　raincoat？〃

Thorne　shook　his　head　unhappily。

〃It's　not　the　finished　product　to　which　I　refer；〃　he　stammered；　〃it's
the　way　they　get　the　raw　material。〃

〃They　get　it　out　of　trees；〃　said　Barbara。　　Then　she　exclaimed　with
enlightenment〃Oh！〃　she　cried；　〃you　are　thinking　of　the　Congo。
There　it　is　terrible！　That　is　slavery。　　But　there　are　no　slaves　on　the
Amazon。　　The　natives　are　free　and　the　work　is　easy。　　They　just　tap
the　trees　the　way　the　farmers　gather　sugar　in　Vermont。　　Father　has
told　me　about　it　often。〃

Thorne　had　made　no　comment。　　He　could　abuse　a　friend；　if　the
friend　were　among　those　present；　but　denouncing　any　one　he
disliked　as　heartily　as　he　disliked　Senator　Barnes　was　a　public
service　he　preferred　to　leave　to　others。　　And　he　knew　besides　that
if　the　father　she　loved　and　the　man　she　loved　distrusted　each
other；　Barbara　would　not　rest　until　she　learned　the　reason　why。

One　day；　in　a　newspaper；　Barbara　read　of　the　Puju　Mayo　atrocities；
of　the　Indian　slaves　in　the　jungles　and　backwaters　of　the　Amazon；
who　are　offered　up　as　sacrifices　to　〃red　rubber。〃　　She　carried　the
paper　to　her　father。　　What　it　said；　her　father　told　her；　was　untrue；
and　if　it　were　true　it　was　the　first　he　had　heard　of　it。

Senator　Barnes　loved　the　good　things　of　life；　but　the　thing　he
loved　most　was　his　daughter；　the　thing　he　valued　the　highest　was
her　good　opinion。　　So　when　for　the　first　time　she　looked　at　him　in
doubt；　he　assured　her　he　at　once　would　order　an　investigation。

〃But；　of　course；〃　he　added；　〃it　will　be　many　months　before　our
agents　can　report。　　On　the　Amazon　news　travels　very　slowly。〃

In　the　eyes　of　his　daughter　the　doubt　still　lingered。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　said；　〃that　that　is　true。〃

That　was　six　months　before　the　directors　of　the　Brazil　and　Cuyaba
Rubber　Company　were　summoned　to　meet　their　president　at　his
rooms　in　the　Ritz…Carlton。　　They　were　due　to　arrive　in　half　an　hour；
and　while　Senator　Barnes　awaited　their　coming　Barbara　came　to
him。　　In　her　eyes　was　a　light　that　helped　to　tell　the　great　news。　　It
gave　him　a　sharp；　jealous　pang。　　He　wanted　at　once　to　play　a　part
in　her　happiness；　to　make　her　grateful　to　him；　not　alone　to　this
stranger　who　was　taking　her　away。　　So　fearful　was　he　that　she
would　shut　him　out　of　her　life　that　had　she　asked　for　half　his
kingdom　he　would　have　parted　with　it。

〃And　besides　giving　my　consent；〃　said　the　rubber　king；　〃for　which
no　one　seems　to　have　asked；　what　can　I　give　my　little　girl　to　make
her　remember　her　old　father？　Some　diamonds　to　put　on　her　head；
or　pearls　to　hang　around　her　neck；　or　does　she　want　a　vacant　lot
on　Fifth　Avenue？〃

The　lovely　hands　of　Barbara　rested　upon　his　shoulders；　her　lovely
face　was　raised　to　his；　her　lovely　eyes　were　appealing；　and　a　little
frightened。

〃What　would　one　of　those　things　cost？〃　asked　Barbara。

The　question　was　eminently　practical。　　It　came　within　the　scope　of
the　senator's　understanding。　　After　all；　he　was　not　to　be　cast　into
outer　darkness。　　His　smile　was　complacent。　　He　answered　airily：

〃Anything　you　like；〃　he　said；　〃a　million　dollars？〃

The　fingers　closed　upon　his　shoulders。　　The　eyes；　still　frightened；
still　searched　his　in　appeal。

〃Then；　for　my　wedding…present；〃　said　the　girl；　〃I　want　you　to　take
that　million　dollars　and　send　an　expedition　to　the　Amazon。　　And　I
will　choose　the　men。　　Men　unafraid；　men　not　afraid　of　fever　or
sudden　death；　not　afraid　to　tell　the　trutheven　to　you。　　And　all　the
world　will　know。　　And　theyI　mean　youwill　set　those　people　free！〃

Senator　Barnes　received　the　directors　with　an　embarrassment　which
he　concealed　under　a　manner　of　just　indignation。

〃My　mind　is　made　up；〃　he　told　them。　〃Existing　conditions　cannot
continue。　　And　to　that　end；　at　my　own　expense；　I　am　sending　an
expedition　across　South　America。　　It　will　investigate；　punish；　and
establish　reforms。　　I　suggest；　on　account　of　this　damned　heat；　we
do　now　adjourn。〃

That　night；　over　on　Long　Island；　Carroll　told　his　wife　all；　or
nearly　all。　　He　did　not　tell　her　about　the　automatic　pistol。　　And
together　on　tiptoe　they　crept　to　the　nursery　and　looked　down　at
their　sleeping　children。　　When　she　rose　from　her　knees　the　mother
said：　〃But　how　can　I　thank　him？〃

By　〃him〃　she　meant　the　Young　Man　of　Wall　Street。

〃You　never　can　thank　him；〃　said　Carroll；　〃that's　the　worst　of　it。〃

But　after　a　long　silence　the　mother　said：　〃I　will　send　him　a
photograph　of　the　children。　　Do　you　think　he　will　understand？〃

Down　at　Seabright；　Hastings　and　his　wife　walked　in　the　sunken
garden。　　The　moon　was　so　bright　that　the　roses　still　held　their
color。

〃I　would　like　to　thank　him；〃　said　the　young　wife。　　She　meant　the
Young　Man　of　Wall　Street。　　〃But　for　him　we　would　have　lost　this。〃

Her　eyes　caressed　the　garden；　the　fruit…trees；　the　house　with　wide；
hospitable　verandas。　　〃To…morrow　I　will　send　him　some　of　these
roses；〃　said　the　young　wife。　　〃Will　he　understand　that　they　mean
our　home？〃

At　a　scandalously　late　hour；　in　a　scandalous　spirit　of　independence；
Champ　Thorne　and　Barbara　were　driving　around　Central　Park　in　a
taxicab。

〃How　strangely　the　Lord　moves；　his　wonders　to　perform；〃　misquoted
Barbara。　　〃Had　not　the　Young　Man　of　Wall　Street　saved　Mr。　Hastings；
Mr。　Hastings　could　not　have　raised　your　salary；　you　would　not　have
asked　me　to　marry　you；　and　had　you　not　asked　me　to　marry　you；
father　would　not　have　given　me　a　wedding…present；　and〃

〃And；〃　said　Champ；　taking　up　the　tale；　〃thousands　of　slaves　would
still　be　buried　in　the　jungles；　hidden　away　from　their　wives　and
children　and　the　light　of　the　sun　and　their　fellow　men。　　They
still　would　be　dying　of　fever；　starvation；　tortures。〃

He　took　her　hand　in　both　of　his　and　held　her　finger…tips　against
his　lips。

〃And　they　will　never　know；〃　he　whispered；　〃when　their　freedom
comes；　that　they　ow