bruce-第3章
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of her。 He'll wake up in the morning and find she's gone； and the
door'll be open。 He'll think she's run away。 He'll go looking for
her； and he'll keep on hoping to find her。 So that'll ease the
shock； you see； by letting him down bit by bit； instead of
snatching his pet away from him violent…like。 And he won't hold
it up against US； either； as he would the other way。 I can offer
a reward for her； too。〃
There was a long and thought…crammed pause。 The woman plunged
deep into the silences as her fat brain wrought over the
suggestion。 Then
〃Maybe you HAVE got just a few grains of sense； after all； Ed；〃
grudgingly vouchsafed Mrs。 Hazen。 〃It isn't a bad idea。 Only
he'll grieve a lot for her。〃
〃He'll be hoping； though；〃 said her husband。 〃He'll be hoping all
the while。 That always takes the razor…edge off of grieving。
Leave it to me。〃
That was the happiest day Dick Hazen had ever known。 And it was
the first actively happy day in all Lass's five months of life。
Boy and dog spent hours in a ramble through the woods。 They began
Lass's educationwhich was planned to include more intricate
tricks than a performing elephant and a troupe of circus dogs
could hope to learn in a lifetime。 They became sworn chums。 Dick
talked to Lass as if she were human。 She amazed the enraptured
boy by her cleverness and spirits。 His initiation to the dog…
masters' guild was joyous and complete。
It was a tired and ravenous pair of friends who scampered home at
dinner…time that evening。 The pallor was gone from Dick's face。
His cheeks were glowing； and his eyes shone。 He ate greedily。 His
parents looked covertly at each other。 And the self…complacency
lines around Hazen's mouth blurred。
Boy and dog went to bed early； being blissfully sleepy and full
of foodalso because another and longer woodland ramble was
scheduled for the morrow。
Timidly Dick asked leave to have Lass sleep on the foot of his
cot…bed。 After a second telegraphing of glances； his parents
consented。 Half an hour later the playmates were sound asleep；
the puppy snuggling deep in the hollow of her master's arm； her
furry head across his thin chest。
It was in this pose that Hazen found them when； late in the
evening； he tiptoed into Dick's cubby…hole room。 He gazed down at
the slumberous pair for a space； while he fought and conquered an
impulse toward fair play。 Then he stooped to pick up the dog。
Lass； waking at the slight creak of a floorboard； lifted her
head。 At sight of the figure leaning above her adored master； the
lip curled back from her white teeth。 Far down in her throat a
growl was born。 Then she recognized the intruder as the man who
had petted her and fed her that evening。 The growl died in her
throat； giving place to a welcoming thump or two of her bushy
tail。 Dick stirred uneasily。
Patting the puppy lightly on her upraised head； Hazen picked up
Lass in his arms and tiptoed out of the room with her。 Mistaking
this move for a form of caress； she tried to lick his face。 The
man winced。
Downstairs and out into the street Hazen bore his trustful little
burden； halting only to put on his hat； and for a whispered word
with his wife。 For nearly a mile he carried the dog。 Lass greatly
enjoyed the ride。 She was pleasantly tired； and it was nice to be
carried thus； by some one who was so considerate as to save her
the bother of walking。
At the edge of the town； Hazen set her on the ground and at once
began to walk rapidly away in the direction of home。 He had gone
perhaps fifty yards when Lass was gamboling merrily around his
feet。 A kick sent the dismayed and agonized puppy flying through
the air like a whimpering catapult； and landed her against a bank
with every atom of breath knocked out of her。 Before she had
fairly struck ground；before she could look about her；Hazen
had doubled around a corner and had vanished。
At a run； he made for home； glad the unpleasant job was over。 At
the door his wife met him。
〃Well；〃 she demanded； 〃did you drown her in the canal； the way
you said？〃
〃No；〃 he confessed sheepishly； 〃I didn't exactly drown her。 You
see； she nestled down into my arms so cozy and trusting…like；
that Iwell； I fixed it so she'll never show up around here
again。 Trust me to do a job thoroughly； if I do it at all。 I〃
A dramatic gesture from Mrs。 Hazen's stubby forefinger
interrupted him。 He followed the finger's angry point。 Close at
his side stood Lass； wagging her tail and staring expectantly up
at him。
With her keen power of scent； it had been no exploit at all to
track the man over a mile of unfamiliar ground。 Already she had
forgiven the kick or had put it down to accident on his part。 And
at the end of her eager chase； she was eager for a word of
greeting。
〃I'll be〃 gurgled Hazen； blinking stupidly。
〃I guess you will be；〃 conceded his wife。 〃If that's the
'thorough' way you do your jobs at the factory〃
〃Say；〃 he mumbled in a sort of wondering appeal； 〃is there any
HUMAN that would like to trust a feller so much as to risk
another ribcracking kick； just for the sake of being where he is？
I almost wish〃
But the wish was unspoken。 Hazen was a true American husband。 He
feared his wife more than he loved fairness。 And his wife's glare
was full upon him。 With a grunt he picked Lass up by the neck；
tucked her under his arm and made off through the dark。
He did not take the road toward the canal； however。 Instead he
made for the railroad tracks。 He remembered how； as a lad； he had
once gotten rid of a mangy cat； and he resolved to repeat the
exploit。 It was far more merciful to the puppyor at least； to
Hazen's conscience；than to pitch Lass into the slimy canal with
a stone tied to her neck。
A line of freight cars〃empties〃was on a siding； a short
distance above the station。 Hazen walked along the track； trying
the door of each car he passed。 The fourth he came to was
unlocked。 He slid back the newly greased side door； thrust Lass
into the chilly and black interior and quickly slid shut the door
behind her。 Then with the silly feeling of having committed a
crime； he stumbled away through the darkness at top speed。
A freight car has a myriad uses； beyond the carrying of
legitimate freight。 From time immemorial； it has been a favorite
repository for all manner of illicit flotsam and jetsam human or
otherwise。
Its popularity with tramps and similar derelicts has long been a
theme for comic paper and vaudeville jest。 Though； heaven knows；
the inside of a moving box…car has few jocose features； except in
the imagination of humorous artist or vaudevillian！
But a far more frequent use for such cars has escaped the notice
of the public at large。 As any old railroader can testify；
trainhands are forever finding in box…cars every genus and
species of stray。
These finds range all the way from cats and dogs and discarded
white rabbits and canaries； to goats。 Dozens of babies have been
discovered； wailing and deserted； in box…car recesses； perhaps a
hundred miles from the siding where； furtively； the tiny human
bundle was thrust inside some conveniently unlatched side door。
A freight train offers glittering chances for the disposal of the
Unwanted。 More than once a slain man or woman has been sent along
the line； in this grisly but effective fashion； far beyond the
reach of recognition。
Hazen had done nothing original or new in depositing the luckless
collie pup in one of these wheeled receptacles。 He was but
following an oldestablished custom； familiar to many in his
line of life。 There was no novelty to it；except to Lass。
The car was dark and cold and smelly。 Lass hated it。 She ran to
its door。 Here she found a gleam of hope for escape and for
return to the home where every one that day had been so kind to
her。 Hazen had shut the door with such vehemence that it had
rebounded。 The hasp was down； and so the catch had not done its
duty。 The door had slid open a few inches from the impetus of
Hazen's shove。
It was not wide enough open to let Lass jump out； but it was wide
enough for her to push her nose through。 And by vigorous
thrusting； with her triangular head as a wedge； she was able to
widen the aperture； inch by inch。 In less than three minutes she
had broadened it far enough for her to wriggle out of the car and
leap to the side of the track。 There she stood bewildered。
A spring snow was drifting down from the sulky sky。 The air was
damp and penetrating。 By reason of the new snow the scent of
Hazen's departing footsteps was blotted out。 Hazen himself was no
longer in sight。 As Lass had made the journey from house to
tracks with her head tucked confidingly under her kidnaper's arm；
she had not noted the direction。 She was lost。
A little way down the track the station lights were shining with
misty warmth through the snow。 Toward these lights the puppy
trotted。
Under the station eaves； and waiting to be taken aboard the
almost…due eleven…forty express； several crates and parcels were
grouped。 One crate was the scene of much the same sort of escape…
…drama that Lass had just enacted。
The crate was big and comfortable； bedded down with soft sacking
and with 〃insets〃 at either side containing food and water。 But
commodious as was the box； the unwonted confinement did not at
all please its occupanta temperamental and highly bred young
collie in process of shipment from the Rothsay Kennels to a
purchaser forty miles up the line。
This collie； wearying of the delay and the loneliness and the
strange quarters； had begun to plunge from one side of the crate
to the other in an effort to break out。 A carelessly nailed slat
gave away under the impact。 The dog scrambled through the gap and
proceeded to gallop homeward through the snow。
Ten seconds later； Lass； drawn by the lights and by the scent of
the other dog； came to the crate。 She looked in。 There； made to
order for her； was a nice bed。 There； too； were food and drink to
appease the ever…present appetite of a puppy。 Lass writhed her
way in through the gap as easily as the former occupant had
crawled out。
After doing due justice to the broken puppy biscuits in the
inset…trough； she curled herself up for a nap。
The clangor and glare of the oncoming express awakened her。 She
cowered in one corner of the crate。 Just then two station…hands
began to move the express packages out to the edge of the
platform。 One of them noticed the displaced board of the crate。
He drove home its loosened nails with two sharp taps from a
monkey…wrench； glanced inside to make certain the dog had not
gotten out； and presently hoisted the crate aboard the express…
car。
Two hours later the crate was unloaded at a waystation。 At seven
in the morning an expressman drove two miles with it to a
