the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第15章
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‘‘More。 He's had ninety…five on account。 I relied on you to handle
the brewer。''
‘‘And we're out our expenses in getting ready for trial。''
‘‘Wellyou'll send Ganser a heavy bill。''
Beck shook his head dismally。 ‘‘That's the worst of it。 He called
me a swindler； said he'd show that you and I were in a conspiracy； and
dared me to send him a bill。 And in the circumstances I don't think I
will。''
Loeb gave Beck a long and searching look which Beck bore without
flinching。
‘‘No； I don't think you will send him a bill；'' said Loeb slowly。 ‘‘But
how much did he pay you？''
‘‘Not a centnothing but insults。''
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Loeb finished his luncheon in silence。 But he and Beck separated on
the friendliest terms。 Loeb was too practical a philosopher to hate
another man for doing that which he would have done himself if he had
had the chance。 At his office he told a clerk to send Feuerstein a note；
asking him to call the next morning。 When Feuerstein came into the
anteroom the gimlet…eyed office boy disappeared through one of the doors
in the partition and reappeared after a longer absence than usual。 He
looked at Feuerstein with a cynical； contemptuous smile in his eyes。
‘‘Mr。 Loeb asks me to tell you；'' he said； ‘‘with his compliments； that
you are a bigamist and a swindler； and that if you ever show your face
here again he'll have you locked up。''
Feuerstein staggered and paledthere was no staginess in his manner。
Then without a word he slunk away。 He had not gone far up Center
Street before a hand was laid upon his shoulder from behind。 He stopped
as if he had been shot； he shivered； he slowly； and with a look of
fascinated horror； turned to see whose hand had arrested him。
He was looking into the laughing face of a man who was obviously a
detective。
‘‘You don't seem glad to see me； old boy；'' said the detective with
contemptuous familiarity。
‘‘I don't know you； sir。'' Feuerstein made a miserable attempt at
haughtiness。
‘‘Of course you don't。 But I know YOUall about you。 Come in
here and let's sit down a minute。''
They went into a saloon and the detective ordered two glasses of beer。
‘‘Now listen to me； young fellow；'' he said。
‘‘You're played out in this town。 You've got to get a move on you；
see？ We've been looking you up； and you're wanted for bigamy。 But if
you clear out； you won't be followed。 You've got to leave today；
understand？ If you're here to…morrow morning； up the road you go。''
The detective winked and waggled his thumb meaningly in a northerly
direction。
Feuerstein was utterly crushed。 He gulped down the beer and sat
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wiping the sweat from his face。 ‘‘I have done nothing；'' he protested in
tragic tones。 ‘‘Why am I persecutedI； poor； friendless； helpless？''
‘‘Pity about you；'' said the detective。
‘‘You'd better go west and start again。 Why not try honest work？
It's not so bad； they say； once you get broke in。'' He rose and shook
hands with Feuerstein。 ‘‘So long；'' he said。 ‘‘Good luck！ Don't
forget！'' And again he winked and waggled his thumb in the direction of
the penitentiary。
Feuerstein went to his lodgings； put on all the clothes he could wear
without danger of attracting his landlady's attention； filled his pockets and
the crown of his hat with small articles； and fled to Hoboken。
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
CHAPTER IX
AN IDYL OF PLAIN PEOPLE
Hilda had not spent her nineteen years in the glare of the Spartan
publicity in which the masses live without establishing a character。 Just
as she knew all the good points and bad in all the people of that
community； so they knew all hers； and therefore knew what it was possible
for her to do and what impossible。 And if a baseless lie is swift of foot
where everybody minutely scrutinizes everybody else； it is also scant of
breath。 Sophie's scandal soon dwindled to a whisper and expired； and the
kindlier and probable explanation of Hilda's wan face and downcast eyes
was generally accepted。
Her code of morals and her method of dealing with moral questions
were those of all the people about herstrict； severe； primitive。
Feuerstein was a cheat； a traitor。 She cast him out of her heartcast him
out at once and utterly and for ever。 She could think of him only with
shame。 And it seemed to her that she was herself no longer pureshe had
touched pitch； how could she be undefiled？
She accepted these conclusions and went about her work； too busy to
indulge in hysteria of remorse； repining； self…examination。
She avoided Otto； taking care not to be left alone with him when he
called on Sundays； and putting Sophie between him and her when he came
up to them in the Square。 But Otto was awaiting his chance； and when it
came； plunged boldly into his heart…subject and floundered bravely about。
‘‘I don't like to see you so sad； Hilda。 Isn't there any chance for me？
Can't things be as they used to be？''
Hilda shook her head sadly。 ‘‘I'm never going to marry；'' she said。
‘‘You must find some one else。''
‘‘It's you or nobody。 I said that when we were in school together
andI'll stick to it。'' His eyes confirmed his words。
‘‘You mustn't； Otto。 You make me feel as if I were spoiling your life。
And if you knew； you wouldn't want to marry me。''
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‘‘I don't care。 I always have； and I always will。''
‘‘I suppose I ought to tell you；'' she said； half to herself。 She turned
to him suddenly； and； with flushed cheeks and eyes that shifted； burst out：
‘‘Otto； he was a married man！''
‘‘But you didn't know。''
‘‘It doesn't change the way I feel。 You mightany man mightthrow
it up to me。 And sooner or later； everybody'll know。 No man would
want a girl that had had a scandal like that on her。''
‘‘I would；'' he said； ‘‘and I do。 And it isn't a scandal。''
Some one joined them and he had no chance to continue until the
following Sunday； when Heiligs and Brauners went together to the Bronx
for a half…holiday。 They could not set out until their shops closed； at half…
past twelve； and they had to be back at five to reopen for the Sunday
supper customers。 They lunched under the trees in the yard of a German
inn； and a merry party they were。
Hilda forgot to keep up her pretense that her healing wounds were not
healing and never would heal。 She teased Otto and even flirted with him。
This elevated her father and his mother to hilarity。 They were two very
sensible young…old people； with a keen sense of humorthe experience of
age added to the simplicity and gaiety of youth。
You would have paused to admire and envy had you passed that way
and looked in under the trees； as they clinked glasses and called one to
another and went off into gales of mirth over nothing at all。 What
laughter is so gay as laughter at nothing at all？ Any one must laugh
when there is something to laugh at； but to laugh just because one must
have an outlet for bubbling spirits there's the test of happiness！
After luncheon they wandered into the woods and soon Otto and Hilda
found themselves alone； seated by a little waterfall； which in a quiet；
sentimental voice suggested that low tones were the proper tones to use in
that place。
‘‘We've known each other always； Hilda；'' said Otto。 ‘‘And we know
all about each other。 Why notdear？''
She did not speak for several minutes。
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‘‘You know I haven't any heart to give you；'' she answered at last。
Otto did not know anything of the kind； but he knew she thought so；
and he was too intelligent to dispute； when time would settle the question…
…and； he felt sure； would settle it right。 So he reached out and took her
hand and said： ‘‘I'll risk that。''
And they sat watching the waterfall and listening to it； and they were
happy in a serious； tranquil way。 It filled him with awe to think that he
had at last won her。 As for her； she was looking forward； without
illusions； without regrets； to a life of work and content beside this strong；
loyal； manly man who protested little； but never failed her or any one else。
On the way home in the train she told her mother； and her mother told
her father。 He； then and there； to the great delight and pleasure of the
others in the car； rose up and embraced and kissed first his daughter； then
Otto and then Otto's mother。 And every once in a while he beamed
down the line of his party and said： ‘‘This is a happy day！''
And he made them all come into the sitting…room back of the shop。
‘‘Wait here；'' he commanded。 ‘‘No one must move！''
He went down to the cellar； presently to reappear with a dusty bottle of
Johannisberger Cabinet。 He pointed proudly to the seal。 ‘‘Bronze！'' he
exclaimed。 ‘‘It is wine like gold。 It must be drunk slowly。'' He drew
the cork and poured the wine with great ceremony； and t
