options-第20章

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s　　full　of　life　and　devilment。　　She　stopped　and　stuck　her　head　in　our　　door。　　She　certainly　was　good…looking。　　But　I　knew　how　Joe　Granberry　　stood　with　her。　　So　did　Willie；　but　he　kept　on　ba…a…a…ing　after　her　　and　following　her　around。　　He　had　a　system　of　persistence　that　didn't　　coincide　with　pale　hair　and　light　eyes。

〃'Hello；　Willie！'　says　Myra。　　'What　are　you　doing　to　yourself　in　the　　glass？'

〃I'm　trying　to　look　fly；'　says　Willie。

〃'Well；　you　never　could　be　fly；'　says　Myra；　with　her　special　laugh；　　which　was　the　provokingest　sound　I　ever　heard　except　the　rattle　of　an　　empty　canteen　against　my　saddle…horn。

〃I　looked　around　at　Willie　after　Myra　had　gone。　　He　had　a　kind　of　a　　lily…white　look　on　him　which　seemed　to　show　that　her　remark　had；　as　　you　might　say；　disrupted　his　soul。　　I　never　noticed　anything　in　what　　she　said　that　sounded　particularly　destructive　to　a　man's　ideas　of　　self…consciousness；　but　he　was　set　back　to　an　extent　you　could　　scarcely　imagine。

〃After　we　went　down…stairs　with　our　clean　collars　on；　Willie　never　　went　near　Myra　again　that　night。　　After　all；　he　seemed　to　be　a　diluted　　kind　of　a　skim…milk　sort　of　a　chap；　and　I　never　wondered　that　Joe　　Granberry　beat　him　out。

〃The　next　day　the　battleship　Maine　was　blown　up；　and　then　pretty　soon　　somebody…I　reckon　it　was　Joe　Bailey；　or　Ben　Tillman；　or　maybe　the　　Government…declared　war　against　Spain。

〃Well；　everybody　south　of　Mason　&　Hamlin's　line　knew　that　the　North　by　　itself　couldn't　whip　a　whole　country　the　size　of　Spain。　　So　the　　Yankees　commenced　to　holler　for　help；　and　the　Johnny　Rebs　answered　the　　call。　　'We're　coming；　Father　William；　a　hundred　thousand　strongand　　then　some；'　was　the　way　they　sang　it。　　And　the　old　party　lines　drawn　　by　Sherman's　march　and　the　Kuklux　and　nine…cent　cotton　and　the　Jim　　Crow　street…car　ordinances　faded　away。　　We　became　one　undivided。　　　country；　with　no　North；　very　little　East；　a　good…sized　chunk　of　West；　　and　a　South　that　loomed　up　as　big　as　the　first　foreign　label　on　a　new　　eight…dollar　suit…case。

〃Of　course　the　dogs　of　war　weren't　a　complete　pack　without　a　yelp　from　　the　San　Augustine　Rifles；　Company　D；　of　the　Fourteenth　Texas　Regiment。　　　Our　company　was　among　the　first　to　land　in　Cuba　and　strike　terror　into　　the　hearts　of　the　foe。　　I'm　not　going　to　give　you　a　history　of　the　　war；　I'm　just　dragging　it　in　to　fill　out　my　story　about　Willie　　Robbins；　just　as　the　Republican　party　dragged　it　in　to　help　out　the　

election　in　1898。

〃If　anybody　ever　had　heroitis；　it　was　that　Willie　Robbins。　　From　the　　minute　he　set　foot　on　the　soil　of　the　tyrants　of　Castile　he　seemed　to　　engulf　danger　as　a　cat　laps　up　cream。　　He　certainly　astonished　every　　man　in　our　company；　from　the　captain　up。　　You'd　have　expected　him　to　　gravitate　naturally　to　the　job　of　an　orderly　to　the　colonel；　or　　typewriter　in　the　commissarybut　not　any。　　He　created　the　part　of　the　　flaxen…haired　boy　hero　who　lives　and　gets　back　home　with　the　goods；　　instead　of　dying　with　an　important　despatch　in　his　hands　at　his　　colonel's　feet。

〃Our　company　got　into　a　section　of　Cuban　scenery　where　one　of　the　　messiest　and　most　unsung　portions　of　the　campaign　occurred。　　We　were　　out　every　day　capering　around　in　the　bushes；　and　having　little　　skirmishes　with　the　Spanish　troops　that　looked　more　like　kind　of　　tired…out　feuds　than　anything　else。　　The　war　was　a　joke　to　us；　and　of　　no　interest　to　them。　　We　never　could　see　it　any　other　way　than　as　a　　howling　farce…comedy　that　the　San　Augustine　Rifles　were　actually　　fighting　to　uphold　the　Stars　and　Stripes。　　And　the　blamed　little　　senors　didn't　get　enough　pay　to　make　them　care　whether　they　were　　patriots　or　traitors。　　Now　and　then　somebody　would　get　killed。　　It　　seemed　like　a　waste　of　life　to　me。　　I　was　at　Coney　Island　when　I　went　　to　New　York　once；　and　one　of　them　down…hill　skidding　apparatuses　they　　call　'roller…coasters'　flew　the　track　and　killed　a　man　in　a　brown　　sack…suit。　　Whenever　the　Spaniards　shot　one　of　our　men；　it　struck　me　　as　just　about　as　unnecessary　and　regrettable　as　that　was。

〃But　I'm　dropping　Willie　Robbins　out　of　the　conversation。

〃He　was　out　for　bloodshed；　laurels；　ambition；　medals；　recommendations；　　and　all　other　forms　of　military　glory。　　And　he　didn't　seem　to　be　　afraid　of　any　of　the　recognized　forms　of　military　danger；　such　as　　Spaniards；　cannon…balls；　canned　beef；　gunpowder；　or　nepotism。　　He　went　　forth　with　his　pallid　hair　and　china…blue　eyes　and　ate　up　Spaniards　　like　you　would　sardines　a　la　canopy。　　Wars　and　rumbles　of　wars　never　　flustered　him。　　He　would　stand　guard…duty；　mosquitoes；　hardtack；　　treat；　and　fire　with　equally　perfect　unanimity。　　No　blondes　in　history　　ever　come　in　comparison　distance　of　him　except　the　Jack　of　Diamonds　　and　Queen　Catherine　of　Russia。

〃I　remember；　one　time；　a　little　caballard　of　Spanish　men　sauntered　out　　from　behind　a　patch　of　sugar…cane　and　shot　Bob　Turner；　the　first　　sergeant　of　our　company；　while　we　were　eating　dinner。　　As　required　by　　the　army　regulations；　we　fellows　went　through　the　usual　tactics　of　　falling　into　line；　saluting　the　enemy；　and　loading　and　firing；　　kneeling。

〃That　wasn't　the　Texas　way　of　scrapping；　but；　being　a　very　important　　addendum　and　annex　to　the　regular　army；　the　San　Augustine　Rifles　had　　to　conform　to　the　red…tape　system　of　getting　even。

〃By　the　time　we　had　got　out　our　'Upton's　Tactics；'　turned　to　page　　fifty…seven；　said　'onetwothreeonetwothree'　a　couple　of　　times；　and　got　blank　cartridges　into　our　Springfields；　the　Spanish　　outfit　had　smiled　repeatedly；　rolled　and　lit　cigarettes　by　squads；　and　　walked　away　contemptuously。

〃I　went　straight　to　Captain　Floyd；　and　says　to　him：　'Sam；　I　don't　　think　this　war　is　a　straight　game。　　You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　Bob　　Turner　was　one　of　the　whitest　fellows　that　ever　threw　a　leg　over　a　　saddle；　and　now　these　wirepullers　in　Washington　have　fixed　his　clock。　　　He's　politically　and　ostensibly　dead。　　It　ain't　fair。　　Why　should　they　　keep　this　thing　up？　　If　they　want　Spain　licked；　why　don't　they　turn　　the　San　Augustine　Rifles　and　Joe　Seely's　ranger　company　and　a　car…load　　of　West　Texas　deputy…sheriffs　onto　these　Spaniards；　and　let　us　　exonerate　them　from　the　face　of　the　earth？　　I　never　did；'　says　I；　　'care　much　about　fighting　by　the　Lord　Chesterfield　ring　rules。　　I'm　　going　to　hand　in　my　resignation　and　go　home　if　anybody　else　I　am　　personally　acquainted　with　gets　hurt　in　this　war。　　If　you　can　get　　somebody　in　my　place；　Sam；'　says　I；　'I'll　quit　the　first　of　next　week。　　　I　don't　want　to　work　in　an　army　that　don't　give　its　help　a　chance。　　　Never　mind　my　wages；'　says　I；　'let　the　Secretary　of　the　Treasury　keep　　'em。'

〃'Well；　Ben；'　says　the　captain　to　me；　'your　allegations　and　　estimations　of　the　tactics　of　war；　government；　patriotism；　guard…　mounting；　and　democracy　are　all　right。　　But　I've　looked　into　the　　system　of　international　arbitration　and　the　ethics　of　justifiable　　slaughter　a　little　closer；　maybe；　than　you　have。　　Now；　you　can　hand　in　　your　resignation　the　first　of　next　week　if　you　are　so　minded。　　But　if　　you　do；'　says　Sam；　'I'll　order　a　corporal's　guard　to　take　you　over　by　　that　limestone　bluff　on　the　creek　and　shoot　enough　lead　into　you　to　　ballast　a　submarine　air…ship。　　I'm　captain　of　this　company；　and　I've　　swore　allegiance　to　the　Amalgamated　States　regardless　of　sectional；　　secessional；　and　Congressional　differences。　　Have　you　got　any　smoking…　tobacco？'　winds　up　Sam。　　'Mine　got　wet　when　I　swum　the　creek　this　　morning。'

〃The　reason　I　drag　all　this　non　ex　parte　evidence　in　is　because　Willie　　Robbins　was　standing　there　listening　to　us。　　I　was　a　second　sergeant　　and　he　was　a　private　then；　but　among　us　Texans　and　Westerners　there　　never　was　as　much　tactics　and　subordination　as　there　was　in　the　　regular　army。　　We　never　called　our　captain　anything　but　'Sam'　except　　when　there　was　a　lot　of　major…generals　and　admirals　around；　so　as　to　　preserve　the　discipline。


〃And　says　Willie　Robbins　to　me；　in　a　sharp　construction　of　voice　much　　unbecoming　to　his　light　hair　and　previous　record：

〃'You　ought　to　be　shot；　Ben；　for　emitting　any　such　sentiments。　　A　man　　that　won't　fight　for　his　country　is　worse　than　a；　horse…thief。　　If　I　　was　the　cap；　I'd　put　you　in　the　guard…house　for　thirty　days　on　round　　steak　and　tamales。　　War；'　says　Willie；　'is　great　and　glorious。　　I　　didn't　know　you　were　a　coward。'

〃'I'm　not；'　says　I。　　'If　I　was；　I'd　knock　some　of　the　pallidness　off　　of　your　marble　brow。　　I'm　lenient　with　you；'　I　says；　'just　as　I　am　　with　the　Spaniards；　because　you　have　always　reminded　me　of　something　　with　mushrooms　on　the　side。　　Why；　you　little　Lady　of　Shalott；'　says　I；　　'you　underdone　leader　of　cotillions；　you　glassy　fashion　and　moulded　　form；　you　white…pine　soldier　made　in　the　Cisalpine　Alps　in　Germany　for　　the　late　New…Year　trade；　do　you　know　of　whom　you　are　talking　to？　　　We've　been　in　the　same　social　circle；'　says　I；　'and　I've　put　up　with　　you　because　you　seemed　so　meek　and　self…un…satisfying。　　I　don't　　understand　why　you　have　so　sudden　taken　a　personal　interest　in　　chivalrousness　and　murder。　　Your　nature's　undergone　a　complete　　revelation。　　Now；　how　is　it？'

〃'Well；　you　wouldn't　understand；　Ben；'　says　Willie；　giving　one　of　his　　refined　smiles　and　turning　away。

〃'Come　back　here！'　says　I；　catching　him　by　the　tail　of　his　khaki　coat。　　　'You've　made　me　kind　of　mad；　in　spite　of　the　aloofness　in　which　I　have　　heretofore　held　you。　　You　are　out　for　making　a　success　in　this　hero　　business；　and　I　believe　I　know　what　for。　　You　are　doing　it　either　　because　you　are　crazy　or　because　you　expect　to　catch　some　girl　by　it。　　　Now；　if　it's　a　girl；　I've　got　something　here　to　show　you。'

〃I　wouldn't　have　done　it；　but　I　was　plumb　mad。　　I　pulled　a　San　　Augustine　paper　out　of　my　hip…pocket；　and　showed　him　an　item。　　It　was　　a　half　a　column　about　the　marriage　of　Myra　Allison　and　Joe　Granberry。

〃Willie　laughed；　and　I　saw　I　hadn't　touched　him。

〃'Oh；'　says　he；　'everybody　knew　that　was　going　to　happen。　　I　heard　　about　that　a　week　ago。'　　And　then　he　gave　me　the　laugh　again。

〃'All　right；'　says　I。　　'Then　why　do　you　so　recklessly　chase　the　bright　　rainbow　of　fame？　Do　you　expect　to　be　elected　President；　or　do　you　　belong　to　a　suicide　club　？'

〃And　then　Captain　Sam　interferes。

〃'You　gentlemen　quit　jawing　and　go　back　to　your　quarters；'　says　he；　　'or　I'll　have　you　escorted　to　the　guard…house。　　Now；　scat；　both　of　　you！　　Before　you　go；　which　one　of　you　has　got　any　chewing…tobacco？'

〃'We're　off；　Sam；'　says　I。　　'It's　supper…time；　anyhow。　　But　what　do　　you　think　of　what　we　was　talking　about？　　I've　noticed　you　throwing　out　　a　good　many　grappling…hooks　for　this　here　balloon　called　fame　　　What's　ambition；　anyhow？　　What　does　a　man　risk　his　life　day　after　day　　for？　　Do　you　know　of　anything　he　gets　in　the　end　that　can　pay　him　for　　the　trouble？　　I　want　to　go　back　home；'　says　I。　　'I　don't　care　whether　　Cuba　sinks　or　swims；　and　I　don't　give　a　pipeful　of　rabbit　tobacco　　whether　Queen　Sophia　Christina　or　Charlie　Culberson　rules　these　fairy　　isles；　and　I　don't　want　my　name　on　any　list　except　the　list　of　　survivors。　　But　I've　noticed　you；　Sam；'　says　I；　'seeking　the　bubble　　notoriety　in　the　cannon's　larynx　a　number　of　times。　　Now；　what　do　you　　do　it　for？　　Is　it　ambition；　business；　or　some　freckle…faced　Pheebe　at　　home　that　you　are　h