a ward of the golden gate-第6章

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〃I　had　intended　to　leave　for　Sacramento　to…morrow　night；〃　said
Paul；　glancing　curiously　at　the　helpless　man；　〃but　I　will　go　there
if　you　wish。〃

〃Thank　you。　　It　will　be　better。〃

There　were　a　few　words　of　further　explanation　of　the　papers；　and
Pendleton　placed　the　packet　in　his　visitor's　hands。　　Paul　rose。
Somehow；　it　appeared　to　him　that　the　room　looked　more　faded　and
forgotten　than　when　he　entered　it；　and　the　figure　of　the　man　before
him　more　lonely；　helpless；　and　abandoned。　　With　one　of　his
sympathetic　impulses　he　said：

〃I　don't　like　to　leave　you　here　alone。　　Are　you　sure　you　can　help
yourself　without　George？　　Can　I　do　anything　before　I　go？〃

〃I　am　quite　accustomed　to　it；〃　said　Pendleton；　quietly。　　〃It
happens　once　or　twice　a　year；　and　when　I　go　outwellI　miss　more
than　I　do　here。〃

He　took　Paul's　proffered　hand　mechanically；　with　a　slight　return　of
the　critical；　doubting　look　he　had　cast　upon　him　when　he　entered。
his　voice；　too；　had　quite　recovered　its　old　dominance；　as　he　said；
with　half…patronizing　conventionality；　〃You'll　have　to　find　your
way　out　alone。　　Let　me　know　how　you　have　sped　at　Santa　Clara；　will
you？　　Good…by。〃

The　staircase　and　passage　seemed　to　have　grown　shabbier　and　meaner
as　Paul；　slowly　and　hesitatingly；　descended　to　the　street。　　At　the
foot　of　the　stairs　he　paused　irresolutely；　and　loitered　with　a
vague　idea　of　turning　back　on　some　pretense；　only　that　he　might
relieve　himself　of　the　sense　of　desertion。　　He　had　already
determined　upon　making　that　inquiry　into　the　colonel's　personal　and
pecuniary　affairs　which　he　had　not　dared　to　offer　personally；　and
had　a　half…formed　plan　of　testing　his　own　power　and　popularity　in　a
certain　line　of　relief　that　at　once　satisfied　his　sympathies　and
ambitions。　　Nevertheless；　after　reaching　the　street；　he　lingered　a
moment；　when　an　odd　idea　of　temporizing　with　his　inclinations
struck　him。　　At　the　farther　end　of　the　hotelone　of　the　parasites
living　on　its　decayed　fortuneswas　a　small　barber's　shop。　　By
having　his　hair　trimmed　and　his　clothes　brushed　he　could　linger　a
little　longer　beneath　the　same　roof　with　the　helpless　solitary；　and
perhaps　come　to　some　conclusion。　　He　entered　the　clean　but　scantily
furnished　shop；　and　threw　himself　into　one　of　the　nearest　chairs；
hardly　noting　that　there　were　no　other　customers；　and　that　a　single
assistant；　stropping　a　razor　behind　a　glass　door；　was　the　only
occupant。　　But　there　was　a　familiar　note　of　exaggerated　politeness
about　the　voice　of　this　man　as　he　opened　the　door　and　came　towards
the　back　of　the　chair　with　the　formula：

〃Mo'nin'；　sah！　　Shall　we　hab　de　pleshure　of　shavin'　or　hah…cuttin'
dis　mo'nin'？〃　　Paul　raised　his　eyes　quickly　to　the　mirror　before
him。　　It　reflected　the　black　face　and　grizzled　hair　of　George。

More　relieved　at　finding　the　old　servant　still　near　his　master　than
caring　to　comprehend　the　reason；　Hathaway　said　pleasantly；　〃Well；
George；　is　this　the　way　you　look　after　your　family？〃

The　old　man　started；　for　an　instant　his　full　red　lips　seemed　to
become　dry　and　ashen；　the　whites　of　his　eyes　were　suffused　and
staring；　as　he　met　Paul's　smiling　face　in　the　glass。　　But　almost　as
quickly　he　recovered　himself；　and；　with　a　polite　but　deprecating
bow；　said；〃For　God　sake；　sah！　　I　admit　de　sarkumstances　is　agin
me；　but　de　simple　fack　is　dat　I'm　temper'ly　occupyin'　de　place　of
an　ole　frien'；　sah；　who　is　called　round　de　cornah。〃

〃And　I'm　devilish　glad　of　any　fact；　George；　that　gives　me　a　chance
of　having　my　hair　cut　by　Colonel　Pendleton's　right…hand　man。　　So
fire　away！〃

The　gratified　smile　which　now　suddenly　overspread　the　whole　of　the
old　man's　face；　and　seemed　to　quickly　stiffen　the　rugged　and
wrinkled　fingers　that　had　at　first　trembled　in　drawing　a　pair　of
shears　from　a　ragged　pocket；　appeared　to　satisfy　Paul's　curiosity
for　the　present。　　But　after　a　few　moments'　silent　snipping；　during
which　he　could　detect　in　the　mirror　some　traces　of　agitation　still
twitching　the　negro's　face；　he　said　with　an　air　of　conviction：

〃Look　here；　Georgewhy　don't　you　regularly　use　your　leisure
moments　in　this　trade？　　You'd　make　your　fortune　by　your　taste　and
skill　at　it。〃

For　the　next　half　minute　the　old　man's　frame　shook　with　silent
childlike　laughter　behind　Paul's　chair。　　〃Well；　Marse　Hathaway；
yo's　an　ole　frien'　o'　my　massa；　and　a　gemman　yo'self；　sah；　and　a
senetah；　and　I　do'an　mind　tellin'　yo'dat's　jess　what　I　bin　gone
done！　　It　makes　a　little　ready　money　for　de　ole　woman　and　de
chilleren。　　But　de　Kernel　don'　no'。　　Ah；　sah！　de　Kernel　kill　me　or
hisself　if　he　so　much　as　'spicioned　me。　　De　Kernel　is　high…toned；
sah！bein'　a　gemman　yo'self；　yo'　understand。　　He　wouldn't　heah　ob
his　niggah　worken'　for　two　massasfor　all　he's　willen'　to　lemme　go
and　help　myse'f。　　But；　Lord　bless　yo'；　sah；　dat　ain't　in　de
category！　　De　Kernel　couldn't　get　along　widout　me。〃

〃You　collect　his　rents；　don't　you？〃　said　Paul；　quietly。

〃Yes；　sah。〃

〃Much？〃

〃Well；　no；　sah；　not　so　much　as　fom'ly；　sah！　　Yo'　see；　de　Kernel's
prop'ty　lies　in　de　ole　parts　ob　de　town；　where　de　po'　white　folks
lib；　and　dey　ain't　reg'lar。　　De　Kernel　dat　sof'　in　his　heart；　he
dare　n'　press　'em；　some　of　'em　is　ole　fo'ty…niners；　like　hisself；
sah；　and　some　is　Spanish；　sah；　and　dey　is　sof'　too；　and　ain't　no
more　gumption　dan　chilleren；　and　tink　it's　ole　time　come　ag'in；　and
dey's　in　de　ole　places　like　afo'　de　Mexican　wah！　and　dey　don'　bin
payin'　noffin'。　　But　we　gets　along；　sah；we　gets　along；not　in　de
prima　facie　style；　sah！　mebbe　not　in　de　modden　way　dut　de　Kernel
don't　like；　but　we　keeps　ourse'f；　sah；　and　has　wine　fo'　our
friends。　　When　yo'　come　again；　sah；　yo'　'll　find　de　Widder　Glencoe
on　de　sideboard。〃

〃Has　the　colonel　many　friends　here？〃

〃Mos'　de　ole　ones　bin　done　gone；　sah；　and　de　Kernel　don'　cotton　to
de　new。　　He　don'　mix　much　in　sassiety　till　de　bank　settlements　bin
gone　done。　　Skuse　me；　sah！but　you　don'　happen　to　know　when　dat
is？　　It　would　be　a　pow'ful　heap　off　de　Kernel's　mind　if　it　was
done。　　Bein'　a　high　and　mighty　man　in　committees　up　dah　in
Sacramento；　sah；　I　didn't　know　but　what　yo'　might　know　as　it　might
come　befo'　yo'。〃

〃I'll　see　about　it；〃　said　Paul；　with　an　odd；　abstracted　smile。

〃Shampoo　dis　mornen'；　sah？〃

〃Nothing　more　in　this　line；〃　said　Paul；　rising　from　his　chair；　〃but
something　more；　perhaps；　in　the　line　of　your　other　duties。　　You're
a　good　barber　for　the　public；　George；　and　I　don't　take　back　what　I
said　about　your　future；　but　JUST　NOW　I　think　the　colonel　wants　all
your　service。　　He's　not　at　all　well。　　Take　this；〃　he　said；　putting
a　twenty…dollar　gold　piece　in　the　astonished　servant's　hand；　〃and
for　the　next　three　or　four　days　drop　the　shop；　and　under　some
pretext　or　another　arrange　to　be　with　him。　　That　money　will　cover
what　you　lose　here；　and　as　soon　as　the　colonel's　all　right　again
you　can　come　back　to　work。　　But　are　you　not　afraid　of　being
recognized　by　some　one？〃

〃No；　sah；　dat's　just　it。　　On'y　strangers　dat　don't　know　no　better
come　yere。〃

〃But　suppose　your　master　should　drop　in？　　It's　quite　convenient　to
his　rooms。〃

〃Marse　Harry　in　a　barber…shop！〃　said　the　old　man　with　a　silent
laugh。　　〃Skuse　me；　sah；〃　he　added；　with　an　apologetic　mixture　of
respect　and　dignity；　〃but　fo'　twenty　years　no　man　hez　touched　de
Kernel's　chin　but　myself。　　When　Marse　Harry　hez　to　go　to　a　barber's
shop；　it　won't　make　no　matter　who's　dar。〃

〃Let's　hope　he　will　not；〃　said　Paul　gayly；　then；　anxious　to　evade
the　gratitude　which；　since　his　munificence；　he　had　seen　beaming　in
the　old　negro's　eye　and　evidently　trying　to　find　polysyllabic　and
elevated　expression　on　his　lips；　he　said　hurriedly；　〃I　shall　expect
to　find　you　with　the　colonel　when　I　call　again　in　a　day　or　two；〃
and　smilingly　departed。

At　the　end　of　two　hours　George's　barber…employer　returned　to
relieve　his　assistant；　and；　on　receiving　from　him　an　account　and　a
certain　percentage　of　the　afternoon's　fees　（minus　the　gift　from
Paul）；　was　informed　by　George　that　he　should　pretermit　his
attendance　for　a　few　days。　　〃Udder　private　and　personal　affairs；〃
explained　the　old　negro；　who　made　no　social　distinction　in　his
vocabulary；　〃peroccupyin'　dis　niggah's　time。〃　　The　head　barber；
unwilling　to　lose　a　really　good　assistant；　endeavored　to　dissuade
him　by　the　offer　of　increased　emolument；　but　George　was　firm。

As　he　entered　the　sitting…room　the　colonel　detected　his　step；　and
called　him　in。

〃Another　time；　George；　never　allow　a　guest　of　mine　to　send　away
wine。　　If　he　don't　care　for　it；　put　it　on　the　sideboard。〃

〃Yes；　sah；　but　as　yo'　didn't　like　it　yo'self；　Marse　Harry；　and　de
wine　was　de　most　'xpensive　quality　ob　Glencoe〃

〃Dn　the　expense！〃　He　paused；　and　gazed　searchingly　at　his　old
retainer。

〃George；〃　he　said　suddenly；　yet　in　a　gentle　voice；　〃don't　lie　to
me；　or〃in　a　still　kinder　voice〃I'll　flog　the　black　skin　off
you！　　Listen　to　me。　　HAVE　you　got　any　money　left？〃

〃'Deed；　sah；　dere　IS；〃　said　the　negro　earnestly。　　〃I'll　jist　fetch
it　wid　de　accounts。〃

〃Hold　on！　　I've　been　thinking；　lying　here；　that　if　the　Widow　Molloy
can't　pay　because　she　sold　out；　and　that　tobacconist　is　ruined；　and
we've　had　to　pay　the　water　tax　for　old　Bill　Soames；　the　rent　last
week　don't　amount　to　much；　while　there's　the　month's　bill　for　the
restaurant　and　that　blank　druggist's　account　for　lotions　and
medicines　to　come　out　of　it。　　It　strikes　me　we're　pretty　near
touching　bottom。　　I've　everything　I　want　here；　but；　by　God；　sir；　if
I　find　YOU　skimping　yourself　or　lying　to　me　or　borrowing　money〃

〃Yes；　Marse　Harry；　but　the　Widder　Molloy　done　gone　and　paid　up　dis
afernoon。　　I'll　bring　de　books　and　money　to　prove　it；〃　and　he
hurriedly　reentered　the　sitting…room。

Then　with　trembling　hands　he　emptied　his　pockets　on　the　table；
including　Paul's　gift　and　the　fees　he　had　just　received；　and
opening　a　desk…drawer　took　from　it　a　striped　cotton　handkerchief；
such　as　negro　women　wear　on　their　heads；　containing　a　small
quantity　of　silver　tied　up　in　a　hard　knot；　and　a　boy's　purse。　　This
he　emptied　on　the　table　with　his　own　money。

They　were　the　only　rents　of　Colonel　Henry　Pendleton！　　They　were
contributed　by　〃George　Washington　Thomson；〃　his　wife；　otherwise
known　as　〃Aunt　Dinah；〃　washerwoman；　and　〃Scipio　Thomson；〃　their
son；　aged　fourteen；　bootblack。　　It　did　not　amount　to　much。　　But　in
that　happy　moisture　that　dimmed　the　old　man's　eyes；　God　knows　it
looked　large　enough。


CHAPTER　III。


Although　the　rays　of　an　unclouded　sun　were　hot　in　the　Santa　Clara
roads　and　byways；　and　the　dry；　bleached　dust　had　become　an
impalpable　powder；　the　perspiring　and　parched　pedestrian　who　rashly
sought　relief　in　the　shade　of　the　wayside　oak　was　speedily　chilled
to　the　bone　by　the　northwest　trade…winds　that　on　those　August
afternoons　swept　through　the　defiles　of　the　Coast　Range；　and　even
penetrated　the　pastoral　valley　of　San　Jose。　　The　anomaly　of　straw
hats　and　overcoats　with　the　occupants　of　buggies　and　station　wagons
was　thus　accounted　for；　and　even　in　the　sheltered　garden　of　〃El
Rosario〃　two　young　girls　in　light　summer　dresses　had　thrown　wraps
over　their　shoulders　as　they　lounged　down　a　broad　rose…alley　at
right　angles　with　the　deep；　long　veranda　of　the　casa。　　Yet；　in
spite　of　the　chill；　the　old