a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第14章
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handed it to a man behind him； who in turn handed it to another； while a
chorus of 〃suthin quite new；〃 〃the latest style；〃 followed it in its passage
round the room； and indicated to Clarence its whereabouts。 It was
presently handed back to the barkeeper； who had begged also to inspect it；
and who； with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon placing it
himself in Clarence's side pocket； as if it were an important part of his
function。 The driver here called 〃all aboard。〃 The passengers hurriedly
reseated themselves； and the episode abruptly ended。 For； to Clarence's
surprise； these attentive friends of a moment ago at once became interested
in the views of a new passenger concerning the local politics of San
Francisco； and he found himself utterly forgotten。 The bonnetless
woman had changed her position； and her head was no longer visible。
The disillusion and depression that overcame him suddenly were as
complete as his previous expectations and hopefulness had been
extravagant。 For the first time his utter unimportance in the world and
his inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him crushingly。
The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight
slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got out at
a wayside station。 They had evidently not cared to waken him to say
〃Good…by。〃 From the conversation of the other passengers he learned
that the tall man was a well…known gambler； and the one who looked like a
farmer was a ship captain who had become a wealthy merchant。
Clarence thought he understood now why the latter had asked him if he
came off a voyage； and that the nickname of 〃Commodore〃 given to him；
Clarence； was some joke intended for the captain's understanding。 He
missed them； for he wanted to talk to them about his relative at
Sacramento； whom he was now so soon to see。 At last； between sleeping
and waking； the end of his journey was unexpectedly reached。 It was
dark； but； being 〃steamer night；〃 the shops and business places were still
open； and Mr。 Peyton had arranged that the stage…driver should deliver
Clarence at the address of his relative in 〃J Street；〃an address which
Clarence had luckily remembered。 But the boy was somewhat
discomfited to find that it was a large office or banking… house。 He；
however； descended from the stage； and with his small pack in his hand
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entered the building as the stage drove off； and； addressing one of the busy
clerks； asked for 〃Mr。 Jackson Brant。〃
There was no such person in the office。 There never had been any
such person。 The bank had always occupied that building。 Was there
not some mistake in the number？ No； the name； number； and street had
been deeply engrafted in the boy's recollection。 Stop！ it might be the
name of a customer who had given his address at the bank。 The clerk
who made this suggestion disappeared promptly to make inquiries in the
counting…room。 Clarence； with a rapidly beating heart； awaited him。
The clerk returned。 There was no such name on the books。 Jackson
Brant was utterly unknown to every one in the establishment。
For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed
to yield with his weight； he was obliged to steady himself with both hands
to keep from falling。 It was not his disappointment； which was terrible； it
was not a thought of his future； which seemed hopeless； it was not his
injured pride at appearing to have willfully deceived Mr。 Peyton； which
was more dreadful than all else； but it was the sudden； sickening sense that
HE himself had been deceived； tricked； and fooled！ For it flashed upon
him for the first time that the vague sense of wrong which had always
haunted him was thisthat this was the vile culmination of a plan to GET
RID OF HIM； and that he had been deliberately lost and led astray by his
relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless cat or dog！
Perhaps there was something of this in his face； for the clerk； staring at
him； bade him sit down for a moment； and again vanished into the
mysterious interior。 Clarence had no conception how long he was absent；
or indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts； for he was conscious
of wondering afterwards why the clerk was leading him through a door in
the counter into an inner room of many desks； and again through a glass
door into a smaller office； where a preternaturally busy…looking man sat
writing at a desk。 Without looking up； but pausing only to apply a blotting…
pad to the paper before him； the man said crisply
〃So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up； and
can't be found； eh？ Never mind that；〃 as Clarence laid Peyton's letter
before him。 〃Can't read it now。 Well； I suppose you want to be shipped
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back to Stockton？〃
〃No！〃 said the boy； recovering his voice with an effort。
〃Eh； that's business； though。 Know anybody here？〃
〃Not a living soul； that's why they sent me；〃 said the boy； in sudden
reckless desperation。 He was the more furious that he knew the tears
were standing in his eyes。
The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly。 〃Looks a little like it；
don't it？〃 he said； smiling grimly at the paper before him。 〃Got any
money？〃
〃A little。〃
〃How much？〃
〃About twenty dollars；〃 said Clarence hesitatingly。 The man opened
a drawer at his side； mechanically； for he did not raise his eyes； and took
out two ten…dollar gold pieces。 〃I'll go twenty better；〃 he said； laying
them down on the desk。 〃That'll give you a chance to look around。
Come back here； if you don't see your way clear。〃 He dipped his pen into
the ink with a significant gesture as if closing the interview。
Clarence pushed back the coin。 〃I'm not a beggar；〃 he said doggedly。
The man this time raised his head and surveyed the boy with two keen
eyes。 〃You're not； hey？ Well； do I look like one？〃
〃No；〃 stammered Clarence； as he glanced into the man's haughty eyes。
〃Yet； if I were in your fix； I'd take that money and be glad to get it。〃
〃If you'll let me pay you back again；〃 said Clarence； a little ashamed；
and considerably frightened at his implied accusation of the man before
him。
〃You can；〃 said the man； bending over his desk again。
Clarence took up the money and awkwardly drew out his purse。 But it
was the first time he had touched it since it was returned to him in the bar…
room； and it struck him that it was heavy and full indeed； so full that on
opening it a few coins rolled out on to the floor。 The man looked up
abruptly。
〃I thought you said you had only twenty dollars？〃 he remarked grimly。
〃Mr。 Peyton gave me forty；〃 returned Clarence； stupefied and blushing。
〃I spent twenty dollars for drinks at the barand；〃 he stammered； 〃III
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don't know how the rest came here。〃
〃You spent twenty dollars for DRINKS？〃 said the man； laying down
his pen； and leaning back in his chair to gaze at the boy。
〃Yesthat isI treated some gentlemen of the stage； sir； at Davidson's
Crossing。〃
〃Did you treat the whole stage company？〃
〃No； sir； only about four or fiveand the bar…keeper。 But everything's
so dear in California。 I know that。〃
〃Evidently。 But it don't seem to make much difference with YOU；〃
said the man； glancing at the purse。
〃They wanted my purse to look at；〃 said Clarence hurriedly； 〃and that's
how the thing happened。 Somebody put HIS OWN MONEY back into
MY purse by accident。〃
〃Of course；〃 said the man grimly。
〃Yes； that's the reason；〃 said Clarence； a little relieved； but somewhat
embarrassed by the man's persistent eyes。
〃Then； of course；〃 said the other quietly； 〃you don't require my twenty
dollars now。〃
〃But；〃 returned Clarence hesitatingly； 〃this isn't MY money。 I must
find out who it belongs to； and give it back again。 Perhaps；〃 he added
timidly； 〃I might leave it here with you； and call for it when I find the man；
or send him here。〃
With the greatest gravity he here separated the surplus from what was
left of Peyton's gift and the twenty dollars he had just received。 The
balance unaccounted for was forty dollars。 He laid it on the desk before
the man； who； still looking at him； rose and opened the door。
〃Mr。 Reed。〃
The clerk who had shown Clarence in appeared。
〃Open an account with〃 He stopped and turned interrogatively to
Clarence。
〃Clarence Brant；〃 said Clarence； coloring with excitement。
〃With Clarence Brant。 Take that deposit〃pointing to the money
〃and give him a receipt。〃 He paused as the clerk retired with a
wondering gaze at the money； looked again at Clarence； said； 〃I think
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YOU'LL do；〃 and reentered the private office； closing the door behind
him。
I hope it will not be deemed inconceivable that Clarence； only a few
moments before crushed with bitter disappointment and the hopeless
