the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第39章
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who married Miss Medley； shipped with the preacher in his cruise around
the world； and he and his wife eventually reached Greece； as he had
originally intended。 Elmer went with the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop to assist him
in his missionary work。
But it was some time before the Jasper B。 sailed。 Besides the hole
which was the entrance to the tunnel it was discovered that the vessel
rested on a brick foundation。 The man who had used her for a saloon and
dancing platform in years past had dug away part of the bank of the canal
to fit the curve of her starboard side and had then jammed her tight into
the land。 Even then she would move a trifle at times； so he had built a
dam around her； pumped the water out of the inclosed space； jacked the
hulk up； built the brick foundation； and let her down solidly on it again。
With the dam removed the water covered this masonry work； and she
looked quite like a real ship。 Mr。 Goldberg had known about this
foundation； but he had forgotten it； he explained to Cleggett。
The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop fitted her out as a floating chapel and filled her
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with Bibles printed in all languages； which he distributes in many lands。
When his fatal attractiveness for women threatens to involve him in
trouble he hastily puts to sea。 He has never become a really
accomplished sailor； and the Jasper B。 is something of a menace to
navigation in the ports and harbors of the world。 The suggestion has
frequently been made that she should be set ashore permanently and put
on wheels。 But she has her features。 She is； possibly； the only ship
extant with a memorial skylight to her cabin。 Cleggett wished her to
carry some sort of memorial to the faithful Teddy； the Pomeranian dog；
who perished of a stray shot in the fight at Morris's。 And as a memorial
window did not seem feasible a compromise was made on the memorial
skylight。 The glass is by Tiffany。
Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat； still followed by Reginald Maltravers；
made their way to Brooklyn； where all three were arrested and lodged in
the observation ward of the Kings County Hospital on the suspicion that
they were insane。 The two gunmen were able to get free through
political influence； but Maltravers was sent to England。 He was
maintained for some time in a private institution through the generosity of
the Cleggetts； but finally went on a hunger strike and died。
Wilton Barnstable smiles and prospers。 He gained great additional
fame for his clever work in the Case of Logan Black。
Cleggett； in 1925； was the father of four boys named D'Artagnan；
Athos； Porthos； and Aramis Cleggett； and the owner of the Claiborne
estates。
He is now immensely wealthy。 It never would have occurred to him；
perhaps； to attempt to increase his modest fortune of 500；000 by
speculating on the Stock Exchange； had it not been for a fortunate meeting
with a barber in Nassau Street。
This barber； whose Christian name was Walter； was； indeed； a mine of
suggestion and information of all sorts。 And being a good…natured fellow；
who wished the world well； Walter delighted to impart his original ideas
and the fruits of his observation to his patrons while shaving them。 Some
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
of these received his remarks coldly； it is true； but Walter was so charged
with a sense of friendliness towards all mankind that he was never daunted
for long by a rebuff。
His interests were wide and varied； Walter found no difficulty in
talking pleasantly upon any subject； he could touch it lightly； or deal with
it in a more serious vein； as the mood of his customer seemed to require；
and he had the art of making deft and rapid transitions from topic to topic。
But there were two things in particular concerning which Walter had
thought deeply： racehorses and the stock market。
It was the settled grief of Walter's life that he had never been able to
persuade any person with money to take his advice concerning the races；
or follow any of the dazzling stock market campaigns which he was
forever outlining。
〃They listen to me；〃 said Walter； a little wistfully； but with a brave
smile； 〃or else they do not listenbut no one has ever yet taken my advice！
Do you wet your hair when you part it； sir？〃
〃What；〃 said Cleggett； carefully concealing from Walter the fact that
he spoke of himself； 〃would be your advice to a man with 100；000 who
wished to double it in a few weeks？〃
〃Double it！〃 cried Walter。 〃Why； I could show such a person how to
multiply it by ten inside of two months。〃 And he rapidly outlined to
Cleggett a scheme so audacious and so brilliant that it fairly took our
hero's breath away。 Moreover； it stood the test of reflection； it was sound。
Not to descend to the sordid details； in three weeks Cleggett found himself
possessed of a million dollars' gain。 Half of this he gave to the excellent
Walter； and in three months ran the other half million up to twenty
millions。
Then he withdrew permanently from business； as Lady Agatha
complained that it took too much of his time； moreover； he shrank from
notoriety； which his stock market operations were beginning to bring upon
him。
Giuseppe Jones； who recovered of his wounds； forswore anarchy and
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
became a newspaper reporter； and grew to be a fast friend of Cleggett；
who discovered that he was a lad of parts。 Cleggett eventually made him
president of a college of journalism which he founded。 While he was
establishing the institution the man Wharton； his old managing editor；
broken； shattered； out of work； and a hopeless drunkard； came to him and
begged for a position。 The man had sunk so low that he was repeatedly
arrested for pretending to be blind on the street corners； and had
debauched an innocent dog to assist in this deception。 Cleggett forgave
him the slights of many years and made him an assistant janitor in the new
college of journalism。
The post is a sinecure； and well within even the man Wharton's
powers。
Cap'n Abernethy travels with the Cleggetts a great deal； under the
hallucination； which they humor； that he is of service to them。 The
children are very fond of him。 At Claiborne Castle Cleggett has had a
shallow lake constructed for him。 There the Captain； still firm in the
belief that he is a sailor； loves to potter about with catboats and rafts。
Dr。 Farnsworth enjoys a lucrative position as physician to the Cleggett
family； and Kuroki is their butler。
By 1925 the prejudice against militants had abated in certain exalted
circles in England； and Lady Agatha Cleggett and her husband were much
at court。
Cleggett； hating notoriety； had endeavored to conceal the story of his
adventures along the dangerous coasts of Long Island； but concealment
was impossible。 After the death of the old Earl of Claiborne； and the
demise of Reginald Maltravers； and Cleggett's purchase of the Claiborne
estate； the King wished Cleggett to take the title of Earl of Claiborne。
His Majesty sent the Premier to sound Cleggett upon the matter。
〃No； no；〃 said Cleggett affably。 〃I couldn't think of it。 I am quite
democratic； you know。〃
The second time the King sent one of the Royal Dukes to see Cleggett。
They were at a house party in Wales； and Cleggett was a little disturbed
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that this business affair should be brought up at a gathering so distinctly
social in its nature。 He was too tactful to let it be seen； but secretly he
felt that in approaching the matter in that fashion the Duke had erred in
taste。
〃But we need men like you in the House of Lords；〃 pleaded the Duke。
〃I cannot think of it；〃 said Cleggett。 And then； not wishing to hurt the
Englishman's feelings； he said kindly： 〃But I will promise you this： if I
should change my mind and decide to become a member of any
aristocracy at all； it will be the English aristocracy。〃
The Duke thanked Cleggett for the compliment； and Cleggett thought
he had heard the end of it。
He was； therefore； surprised； a few weeks later； as he was conversing
with the King at Buckingham Palace； when His Majesty himself； laying
his hand familiarly on Cleggett's shoulder； renewed the petition in person。
It is hard to refuse things continually without seeming unappreciative。 In
fact； Cleggett felt trapped； if the truth must be known； he was a little
angry。
〃Come； come； Cleggett；〃 said the King； 〃lay aside your prejudices and
oblige me。 After all； it is not the sort of thing I run about offering to
every American in London！〃
〃Your Majesty；〃 said Cleggett； politely but with a note of firmness and
finality in his voice； 〃since you mention the word American you force me
to speak plainly。 I would not willingly wound your sensibilities in any
particular； butpardon me if I am directyou have been very persistent。
I AM an American； your Majesty； and I consider the honor of being an
American citizen far above any that it is within your power to bestow。 If
I have not mentioned this before； it was because I did not wish to hurt you。
I hope our friendship will not cease； but I must
