options-第26章

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　are　not　　wise　to　it　that　we　are　wise；　and

But　let's　go　on　with　the　story。


II


Once　upon　a　time　I　found　a　ten…cent　magazine　lying　on　a　bench　in　a　　little　city　park。　　Anyhow；　that　was　the　amount　he　asked　me　for　when　I　　sat　on　the　bench　next　to　him。　　He　was　a　musty；　dingy；　and　tattered　　magazine；　with　some　queer　stories　bound　in　him；　I　was　sure。　　He　turned　　out　to　be　a　scrap…book。

〃I　am　a　newspaper　reporter；〃　I　said　to　him；　to　try　him。　　〃I　have　been　　detailed　to　write　up　some　of　the　experiences　of　the　unfortunate　ones　　who　spend　their　evenings　in　this　park。　　May　I　ask　you　to　what　you　　attribute　your　downfall　in〃

I　was　interrupted　by　a　laugh　from　my　purchasea　laugh　so　rusty　and　　unpractised　that　I　was　sure　it　had　been　his　first　for　many　a　day。

〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　said　he。　　〃You　ain't　a　reporter。　　Reporters　don't　talk　　that　way。　　They　pretend　to　be　one　of　us；　and　say　they've　just　got　in　　on　the　blind　baggage　from　St。　　Louis。　　I　can　tell　a　reporter　on　sight。　　　Us　park　bums　get　to　be　fine　judges　of　human　nature。　　We　sit　here　all　　day　and　watch　the　people　go　by。　　I　can　size　up　anybody　who　walks　past　　my　bench　in　a　way　that　would　surprise　you。〃

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃go　on　and　tell　me。　　How　do　you　size　me　up？〃

〃I　should　say；〃　said　the　student　of　human　nature　with　unpardonable　　hesitation；　〃that　you　was；　say；　in　the　contracting　businessor　maybe　　worked　in　a　storeor　was　a　sign…painter。　　You　stopped　in　the　park　to　　finish　your　cigar；　and　thought　you'd　get　a　little　free　monologue　out　　of　me。　　Still；　you　might　be　a　plasterer　or　a　lawyerit's　getting　kind　　of　dark；　you　see。　　And　your　wife　won't　let　you　smoke　at　home。〃

I　frowned　gloomily。

〃But；　judging　again；〃　went　on　the　reader　of　men；　〃I'd　say　you　ain't　　got　a　wife。〃

〃No；〃　said　I；　rising　restlessly。　　〃No；　no；　no；　I　ain't。　　But　I　will　　have；　by　the　arrows　of　Cupid！　That　is；　if〃

My　voice　must　have　trailed　away　and　muffled　itself　in　uncertainty　and　　despair。

〃I　see　you　have　a　story　yourself；〃　said　the　dusty　vagrantimpudently；　　it　seemed　to　me。　　〃Suppose　you　take　your　dime　back　and　spin　your　yarn　　for　me。　　I'm　interested　myself　in　the　ups　and　downs　of　unfortunate　　ones　who　spend　their　evenings　in　the　park。〃

Somehow；　that　amused　me。　　I　looked　at　the　frowsy　derelict　with　more　　interest。　　I　did　have　a　story。　　Why　not　tell　it　to　him？　　I　had　told　　none　of　my　friends。　　I　had　always　been　a　reserved　and　bottled…up　man。　　　It　was　psychical　timidity　or　sensitiveness…perhaps　both。　　And　I　smiled　　to　myself　in　wonder　when　I　felt　an　impulse　to　confide　in　this　stranger　　and　vagabond。

〃Jack；〃　said　I。

〃Mack；〃　said　he。

〃Mack；〃　said　I；　〃I'll　tell　you。〃

〃Do　you　want　the　dime　back　in　advance　？〃　said　he。

I　handed　him　a　dollar。

〃The　dime；〃　said　I；　〃was　the　price　of　listening　to　your　story。〃

〃Right　on　the　point　of　the　jaw；〃　said　he。　　〃Go　on。〃

And　then；　incredible　as　it　may　seem　to　the　lovers　in　the　world　who　　confide　their　sorrows　only　to　the　night　wind　and　the　gibbous　moon；　I　　laid　bare　my　secret　to　that　wreck　of　all　things　that　you　would　have　　supposed　to　be　in　sympathy　with　love。

I　told　him　of　the　days　and　weeks　and　months　that　I　had　spent　in　　adoring　Mildred　Telfair。　　I　spoke　of　my　despair；　my　grievous　days　and　　wakeful　nights；　my　dwindling　hopes　and　distress　of　mind。　　I　even　　pictured　to　this　night…prowler　her　beauty　and　dignity；　the　great　sway　　she　had　in　society；　and　the　magnificence　of　her　life　as　the　elder　　daughter　of　an　ancient　race　whose　pride　overbalanced　the　dollars　of　　the　city's　millionaires。

〃Why　don't　you　cop　the　lady　out？〃　asked　Mack；　bringing　me　down　to　　earth　and　dialect　again。

I　explained　to　him　that　my　worth　was　so　small；　my　income　so　minute；　　and　my　fears　so　large　that　I　hadn't　the　courage　to　speak　to　her　of　my　　worship。　　I　told　him　that　in　her　presence　I　could　only　blush　and　　stammer；　and　that　she　looked　upon　me　with　a　wonderful；　maddening　smile　　of　amusement。

〃She　kind　of　moves　in　the　professional　class；　don't　she？〃　asked　Mack。

〃The　Telfair　family〃　I　began；　haughtily。

〃I　mean　professional　beauty；〃　said　my　hearer。

〃She　is　greatly　and　widely　admired；〃　I　answered；　cautiously。

〃Any　sisters？〃

〃One。〃

〃You　know　any　more　girls？〃

〃Why；　several；〃　I　answered。　　〃And　a　few　others。〃

〃Say；〃　said　Mack；　〃tell　me　one　thingcan　you　hand　out　the　dope　to　　other　girls？　　Can　you　chin　'em　and　make　matinee　eyes　at　'em　and　　squeeze　'em？　　You　know　what　I　mean。　　You're　just　shy　when　it　comes　to　　this　particular　damethe　professional　beautyain't　that　right　？〃

〃In　a　way　you　have　outlined　the　situation　with　approximate　truth；〃　I　　admitted。

〃I　thought　so；〃　said　Mack；　grimly。　　〃Now；　that　reminds　me　of　my　own　　case。　　I'll　tell　you　about　it。〃

I　was　indignant；　but　concealed　it。　　What　was　this　loafer's　case　or　　anybody's　case　compared　with　mine？　　Besides；　I　had　given　him　a　dollar　　and　ten　cents。

〃Feel　my　muscle；〃　said　my　companion；　suddenly；　flexing　his　biceps。　　I　　did　so　mechanically。　　The　fellows　in　gyms　are　always　asking　you　to　do　　that。　　His　arm　was　as　hard　as　cast…iron。

〃Four　years　ago；〃　said　Mack；　〃I　could　lick　any　man　in　New　York　outside　　of　the　professional　ring。　　Your　case　and　mine　is　just　the　same。　　I　　come　from　the　West　Sidebetween　Thirtieth　and　FourteenthI　won't　　give　the　number　on　the　door。　　I　was　a　scrapper　when　I　was　ten；　and　　when　I　was　twenty　no　amateur　in　the　city　could　stand　up　four　rounds　　with　me。　　'S　a　fact。　　You　know　Bill　McCarty？　　No？　　He　managed　the　　smokers　for　some　of　them　swell　clubs。　　Well；　I　knocked　out　everything　　Bill　brought　up　before　me。　　I　was　a　middle…weight；　but　could　train　　down　to　a　welter　when　necessary。　　I　boxed　all　over　the　West　Side　at　　bouts　and　benefits　and　private　entertainments；　and　was　never　put　out　　once。

〃But；　say；　the　first　time　I　put　my　foot　in　the　ring　with　a　　professional　I　was　no　more　than　a　canned　lobster。　　I　dunno　how　it　was…　…I　seemed　to　lose　heart。　　I　guess　I　got　too　much　imagination。　　There　　was　a　formality　and　publieness　about　it　that　kind　of　weakened　my　　nerve。　　I　never　won　a　fight　in　the　ring。　　Light…weights　and　all　kinds　　of　scrubs　used　to　sign　up　with　my　manager　and　then　walk　up　and　tap　me　　on　the　wrist　and　see　me　fall。　　The　minute　I　seen　the　crowd　and　a　lot　　of　gents　in　evening　clothes　down　in　front；　and　seen　a　professional　　come　inside　the　ropes；　I　got　as　weak　as　ginger…ale。

〃Of　course；　it　wasn't　long　till　I　couldn't　get　no　backers；　and　I　　didn't　have　any　more　chances　to　fight　a　professionalor　many　　amateurs；　either。　　But　lemme　tell　youI　was　as　good　as　most　men　　inside　the　ring　or　out。　　It　was　just　that　dumb；　dead　feeling　I　had　　when　I　was　up　against　a　regular　that　always　done　me　up。

〃Well；　sir；　after　I　had　got　out　of　the　business；　I　got　a　mighty　grouch　　on。　　I　used　to　go　round　town　licking　private　citizens　and　all　kinds　of　　unprofessionals　just　to　please　myself。　　I'd　lick　cops　in　dark　streets　　and　car…conductors　and　cab…drivers　and　draymen　whenever　I　could　start　　a　row　with　'em。　　It　didn't　make　any　difference　how　big　they　were；　or　　how　much　science　they　had；　I　got　away　with　'em。　　If　I'd　only　just　have　　had　the　confidence　in　the　ring　that　I　had　beating　up　the　best　men　　outside　of　it；　I'd　be　wearing　black　pearls　and　heliotrope　silk　socks　　to…day。

〃One　evening　I　was　walking　along　near　the　Bowery；　thinking　about　　things；　when　along　comes　a　slumming…party。　　About　six　or　seven　they　　was；　all　in　swallowtails；　and　these　silk　hats　that　don't　shine。　　One　　of　the　gang　kind　of　shoves　me　off　the　sidewalk。　　I　hadn't　had　a　scrap　　in　three　days；　and　I　just　says；　'De…lighted！'　and　hits　him　back　of　the　　ear。

〃Well；　we　had　it。　　That　Johnnie　put　up　as　decent　a　little　fight　as　　you'd　want　to　see　in　the　moving　pictures。　　It　was　on　a　side　street；　　and　no　cops　around。　　The　other　guy　had　a　lot　of　science；　but　it　only　　took　me　about　six　minutes　to　lay　him　out。

〃Some　of　the　swallowtails　dragged　him　up　against　some　steps　and　began　　to　fan　him。　　Another　one　of　'em　comes　over　to　me　and　says：

〃'Young　man；　do　you　know　what　you've　done？'

〃'Oh；　beat　it；'　says　I。　　'I've　done　nothing　but　a　little　punching…bag　　work。　　Take　Freddy　back　to　Yale　and　tell　him　to　quit　studying　　sociology　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　sidewalk。'

〃'My　good　fellow；'　says　he；　'I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　I'd　like　　to。　　You've　knocked　out　Reddy　Burns；　the　champion　middle…weight　of　the　　world！　　He　came　to　New　York　yesterday；　to　try　to　get　a　match　on　with　　Jim　Jeifries。　　If　you'

〃But　when　I　come　out　of　my　faint　I　was　laying　on　the　floor　in　a　drug…　store　saturated　with　aromatic　spirits　of　ammonia。　　If　I'd　known　that　　was　Reddy　Burns；　I'd　have　got　down　in　the　gutter　and　crawled　past　him　　instead　of　handing　him　one　like　I　did。　　Why；　if　I'd　ever　been　in　a　　ring　and　seen　him　climbing　over　the　ropes；　I'd　have　been　all　to　the　　sal　volatile。

〃So　that's　what　imagination　does；〃　concluded　Mack。　　〃And；　as　I　said；　　your　case　and　mine　is　simultaneous。　　You'll　never　win　out。　　You　can't　　go　up　against　the　professionals。　　I　tell　you；　it's　a　park　bench　for　　yours　in　this　romance　business。〃

Mack；　the　pessimist；　laughed　harshly。

〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　see　the　parallel；〃　I　said；　coldly。　　〃I　have　only　a　　very　slight　acquaintance　with　the　prize…ring。〃

The　derelict　touched　my　sleeve　with　his　forefinger；　for　emphasis；　as　　he　explained　his　parable。

〃Every　man；〃　said　he；　with　some　dignity；　〃has　got　his　lamps　on　　something　that　looks　good　to　him。　　With　you；　it's　this　dame　that　　you're　afraid　to　say　your　say　to。　　With　me；　it　was　to　win　out　in　the　　ring。　　Well；　you'll　lose　just　like　I　did。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　I　shall　lose？〃　I　asked　warmly。

〃'Cause；〃　said　he；　〃you're　afraid　to　go　in　the　ring。　　You　dassen't　　stand　up　before　a　professional。　　Your　case　and　mine　is　just　the　same。　　　You're　a　amateur；　and　that　means　that　you'd　better　keep　outside　of　the　　ropes。〃

〃Well；　I　must　be　going；〃　I　said；　rising　and　looking　with　elaborate　　care　at　my　watch。

When　I　was　twenty　feet　away　the　park…bencher　called　to　me。

〃Much　obliged　for　the　dollar；〃　he　said。　　〃And　for　the　dime。　　But　　you'll　never　get　'er。　　You're　in　the　amateur　class。〃

〃Serves　you　right；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃for　hobnobbing　with　a　tramp。　　　His　impudence！〃

But；　as　I　walked；　his　words　seemed　to　repeat　themselves　over　and　over　　again　in　my　brain。　　I　think　I　even　grew　angry　at　the　man。

〃I'll　show　him！〃　I　finally　said；　aloud。　　〃I'll　show　him　that　I　can　　fight　Reddy　Burns；　tooeven　knowing　who　he　is。〃

I　hurried　to　a　telephone…booth　and　rang　up　the　Telfair　residence。

A　soft；　sweet　voice　answered。　　Didn't　I　know　that　voice？　　My　hand　　holding　the　receiver　shook。

〃Is　that　you？〃　said　I；　employing　the　foolish　words　that　form　the　　vocabulary　of　every　talker　through　the　telephone。

〃Yes；　this　is　I；〃　came　back　the　answer　in　the　low；　clear…cut　tones　　that　are　an　inheritance　of　the　Telfairs。　　〃Who　is　it；　please？〃

〃It's　me；〃　said　I；　less　ungrammatically　than　egotistically。　　〃It's　me；　　and　I've　got　a　few　things　that　I　want　to　say　to　you　right　now　and　　immediately　and　straight　to　the　point。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　said　the　voice。　　〃Oh；　it's　you；　Mr。　　Arden！〃

I　wondered　if　any　accent　on　the　first　word　was　intended；　Mildred　was　　fine　at　saying　things　that　you　had　to　study　out　afterward。

〃Yes；〃　said　I。　　〃I　hope　so。　　And　now　to　come　down　to　brass　tacks。〃　　I　　thought　that　rather　a　ve