hr.thecarpetbaggers-第124节

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　He　pressed　his　mouth　to　hers　again　and　kissed　her。　She　felt　his　hands　inside　her　robe；　his　fingers　on　her　back　unfastening　her　brassière；　her　breasts　rising　from　their　restraint；　the　nipples　leaping　joyfully　into　his　hands。　A　shiver　of　ecstasy　raced　through　her　and　she　almost　fell。　〃Please　don't；〃　she　whispered；　her　lips　moving　under　his。　〃It's　wrong。〃
　He　picked　her　up　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　across　the　room　to　the　bed。　He　placed　her　on　it　gently　and　knelt　beside　her。　〃When　a　man　and　a　woman　are　in　love；〃　he　whispered；　〃nothing　they　do　in　the　privacy　of　their　own　home　is　ever　wrong。　And　this　is　our　home。〃
　He　pressed　his　lips　down　on　her　mouth　again。
　
　Tom　looked　across　the　table　at　the　kitchen　clock。　It　was　a　few　minutes　past　ten。　He　folded　his　newspaper。　〃I　guess　she　won't　be　ing　now；〃　he　said；　〃so　I　might　as　well　be　turning　in。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃The　boys　down　at　the　Alliance　tell　me　I'll　be　making　supervisor　any　day　now；　so　I　better　get　my　sleep。　It　won't　do　for　me　to　be　showing　up　late　to　work。〃
　Ellen　sniffed　contemptuously。　〃If　ye　keep　listenin'　to　them　munists　down　at　the　Workers'　Alliance；　you'll　be　lucky　even　to　hold　your　job　with　the　WPA。〃
　〃They're　in　pretty　good；　you　can't　deny　that。　It　was　them　that　got　me　onto　full　time　instead　of　half　time　and　you　know　it。　It's　them　that's　for　the　working　man。〃
　〃munists　are　heathens；〃　she　said。　〃Father　Hadley　told　me　they're　against　the　church　because　they　don't　believe　in　God。　He　says　they're　only　playing　up　to　the　workin'　man　until　they　get　in　power；　like　in　Russia。　Then　they'll　close　the　churches　and　make　slaves　out　of　us　all。〃
　〃What　if　they　are？〃　he　asked。　〃I　don't　see　Father　Hadley　getting　me　a　job　or　paying　our　bills。　No；　it　was　the　Alliance　that　put　me　to　work　and　saw　to　it　I　earned　enough　to　pay　rent　and　buy　food。　I　don't　care　what　Father　Hadley　calls　them；　as　long　as　they　do　good　for　me。〃
　She　smiled　bitterly。　〃A　fine　family　I　have。　A　husband　who's　a　munist　and　a　daughter　who　never　has　the　time　to　e　home。〃
　〃Maybe　she's　busy；〃　Tom　said　lamely。　〃You　know　it's　a　responsible　position　she's　got。　Didn't　the　sister　at　St。　Mary's　say；　when　she　graduated；　that　she　was　very　lucky　to　be　working　for　such　an　important　doctor？〃
　〃Yes；　but　she　still　should　e　home　once　in　a　while。　I'm　willin'　to　bet　she　hasn't　been　to　Mass　since　she　left　St。　Mary's。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Tom　asked　angrily。　〃St。　Paul's　ain't　the　only　church　in　San　Francisco。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　feel　it。　She　doesn't　want　to　e　see　us。　She's　makin'　so　much　money　now；　she's　ashamed　of　us。〃
　〃And　what　has　she　got　to　be　proud　of？　With　you　preaching　religion　at　her　all　the　time　and　the　boys　on　the　street　still　sniggering　and　laughing　behind　her　back　when　she　walks　by？　Do　you　think　that's　something　to　make　a　young　girl　want　to　e　home？〃
　Ellen　ignored　him。　〃It's　not　right　that　a　girl　should　stay　away　like　this；〃　she　said　stubbornly。　〃We　both　know　what　goes　on　up　there　on　the　hill；　with　everybody　sleepin'　with　each　other's　wives　and　the　drink。　I　read　the　papers；　too；　ye　know。〃
　〃Jennie's　a　good　girl。　She　wouldn't　do　a　thing　like　that。〃
　〃I'm　not　too　sure。　Sometimes　a　taste　of　temptation　is　like　a　spoonful　of　honey。　Just　enough　to　sweeten　your　tongue　but　not　enough　to　fill　your　whole　mouth。　And　we　both　know　she's　tasted　temptation。〃
　〃You　still　don't　believe　her；　do　you？〃　he　asked　bitterly。　〃You'd　rather　take　the　word　of　those　two　hoodlums　than　your　own　daughter。〃
　〃Then　why　didn't　she　go　into　court？　If　there　wasn't　just　a　little　truth　in　what　they　said；　she　wouldn't　have　been　afraid。　But　no；　she　takes　the　thousand　dollars　and　lets　herself　be　labeled　a　whore。〃
　〃You　know　as　well　as　I　why　she　didn't；〃　Tom　answered。　〃And　you　can　thank　your　church　for　it。　They'd　not　even　e　into　court　to　say　she　was　a　good　girl。　No；　they　were　afraid　the　boys'　parents　might　not　like　it　and　cut　off　their　weekly　contributions。〃
　〃The　church　sent　her　to　college。　And　they　found　her　this　job。　They　did　their　duty。〃
　〃Then　what　are　you　plaining　about？〃
　
　She　sat　there　quietly　for　a　moment；　listening　to　him　drop　his　shoes　angrily　to　the　floor　as　he　undressed　in　the　bedroom。　Then　she　got　out　of　the　chair　and　felt　the　hot…water　heater。　A　hot　bath　would　soothe　her　aches　and　pains　a　little；　all　this　damp　fall　weather　was　bringing　out　her　arthritis。　She　took　a　match　and　kneeled　down　beside　the　heater。　Striking　the　match；　she　turned　the　pet　cock。　The　flame　caught　for　a　moment；　then　died　out　in　a　tiny　yellow　circle。　She　looked　up　at　the　meter。　They　were　out　of　gas。　The　red　flag　was　up。　She　got　to　her　feet　and　walked　over　to　her　pocketbook。　She　opened　the　small　change　purse　and　searched　through　it。　She　had　no　quarters；　only　nickels　and　dimes。　For　a　moment；　she　thought　of　asking　Tom　for　a　quarter；　then　shrugged　her　shoulders。　She'd　had　enough　of　his　blasphemous　tongue。　She'd　do　without　her　bath。　She　could　take　it　in　the　morning；　when　she　came　back　from　Mass。　She　went　into　the　bathroom　and　used　the　last　of　the　hot　water　to　wash　her　face。　Tom　was　standing　in　the　kitchen　when　she　came　out；　his　chest　bare　above　his　trousers。　She　swept　by　him　silently　and　closed　the　bedroom　door　behind　her。
　Tom　went　into　the　bathroom　and　washed　up　noisily。　Suddenly；　the　water　went　cold。　He　swore　and　dried　himself　quickly；　then　fished　in　his　pocket　for　a　quarter。　He　reached　up　and　put　the　quarter　into　the　meter；　then　watched　the　red　on　the　dial　disappear。　He　nodded；　satisfied。
　In　the　morning；　he'd　turn　on　the　heater　and　in　a　few　minutes；　he'd　have　enough　hot　water　for　his　shave。　He　went　into　the　bedroom；　leaving　the　door　open　behind　him；　unaware　of　the　slight　hiss　ing　from　under　the　heater。
　He　draped　his　pants　on　the　chair　and　sat　down　on　the　bed。　After　a　moment；　he　stretched　out　with　a　sigh。　His　shoulder　touched　Ellen　and　he　felt　her　turn　away。
　Ah；　the　hell　with　her；　he　thought；　turning　on　his　side；　his　back　to　her。　Maybe　the　mies　were　right　with　their　ideas　of　free　love。　At　least　a　man　wouldn't　have　to　put　up　with　a　woman　like　her。
　His　eyes　began　to　feel　heavy。　He　could　hear　the　soft；　even　sounds　of　her　breath。　She　was　asleep　already。　He　smiled　to　himself　in　the　dark。　With　free　love；　he'd　have　his　pick　of　women。　She'd　act　different　then；　all　right。　His　eyelids　drooped　and　closed　and　he　joined　his　wife　in　slumber。　And　death。
　
　Jennie　sat　up　in　the　bed；　clutching　the　sheet　to　her　naked　body　and　staring　with　wide；　frightened　eyes　at　the　woman　who　stood　in　the　doorway。　On　the　other　side　of　the　bed；　Bob　was　already　hurriedly　buttoning　his　shirt。
　〃Did　you　think　he'd　leave　me　for　you？〃　she　screamed　at　Jennie。　〃Did　you　think　you　were　the　first？　Hasn't　he　told　you　how　many　times　I've　caught　him　like　this？〃　Her　voice　grew　contemptuous。　〃Or　do　you　think　he's　really　in　love　with　you？〃
　Jennie　didn't　answer。
　〃Tell　her；　Robert；〃　his　wife　said　angrily。　〃Tell　her　you　wanted　to　make　love　to　me　tonight　and　when　I　refused；　you　came　running　over　here。　Tell　her。〃
　Jennie　stared　at　him。　His　face　was　white　and　he　didn't　look　in　her　direction。　He　grabbed　his　coat　from　the　chair　and　walked　over　to　his　wife。　〃You're　all　upset。　Let　me　take　you　home。〃
　Home。　Jennie　felt　a　sick　feeling　in　her　stomach。　This　was　home　…　his　and　hers。　He　had　said　so。　It　was　here　they　had　loved；　here　they　had　been　together。　But　he　was　talking　about　someplace　else。　Another　place。
　〃I'm　always　upset；　aren't　I；　Robert？　Every　time　you　promise　it　will　never　happen　again。　But　I　know　better；　don't　I？　All　right；〃　she　said　suddenly；　her　voice　hard　and　cold。　〃We'll　go。　But　not　until　you　tell　her。〃
　〃Please；　dear；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃Another　time。　Not　now。〃
　〃Now；　Robert；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃Now　…　or　the　whole　world　will　know　about　Dr。　Grant；　the　quack；　the　abortionist；　the　great　lover。〃
　He　turned　and　looked　back　at　Jennie　on　the　bed。　〃You'll　have　to　leave；　Miss　Denton；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃You　see；　I　don't　love　you；〃　he　said　in　a　strained　voice。　〃I　love　my　wife。〃
　And　almost　at　the　same　moment　that　the　door　closed　behind　him；　there　was　an　explosion　in　an　old　tenement　on　the　other　side　of　the　city。　After　the　firemen　pulled　the　charred　bodies　from　the　fire；　they　gave　their　verdict。　The　victims　had　been　fortunate。　They　were　already　dead　before　the　fire　started。
　
　9
　
　CHARLES　STANDHURST　WAS　EIGHTY…ONE　YEARS　OLD　WHEN　HE　MET　JENNIE　DENTON。　It　was　eight　o'clock　of　a　spring　morning　in　1936　and　he　was　in　the　operating　room　of　the　Colton　Sanitarium　at　Santa　Monica。　He　was　the　patient　just　being　placed　on　the　operating　table　and　she　was　acting　as　Chief　Nurse　in　Surgery。
　He　felt　them　place　his　legs　over　the　stirrups　and　quickly　arrange　a　sheet　so　that　even　if　he　moved　his　head；　he　could　not　see　his　lower　half。　When　they　had　finished；　he　saw　her　e　from　somewhere　behind　him　and　walk　down　to　the　foot　of　the　table。　She　lifted　up　the　sheet。
　He　felt　a　moment's　embarrassment　at　the　impersonal　manner　in　which　she　scrutinized　his　private　parts。　After　five　wives；　countless　mistresses　and　more　than　forty　children　that　he　was　sure　about；　only　eight　of　whom　were　the　result　of　his　marriages；　it　seemed　strange　to　him　that　anyone　could　look　at　him　in　such　a　detached　manner。　So　much　life　had　sprung　from　that　fountain。
　She　let　the　covering　fall　around　him　again　and