pgw.psmith,journalist-第24节
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we are expecting at any moment an important munication from rade Gooch。〃
〃We're goin' to wait here till youse e down。〃
〃If you wish it；〃 said Psmith courteously； 〃by all means do。 Who am I that I should dictate your movements？ The most I aspire to is to check them when they take an upward direction。〃
There was silence below。 The time began to pass slowly。 The Irishmen on the other roof； now definitely abandoning hope of further entertainment； proceeded with hoots of scorn to climb down one by one into the recesses of their own house。
Suddenly from the street far below there came a fusillade of shots and a babel of shouts and counter…shouts。 The roof of the house next door； which had been emptying itself slowly and reluctantly； filled again with a magical swiftness。 and the low wall facing into the street became black with the backs of those craning over。
〃What's that？〃 inquired Billy。
〃I rather fancy；〃 said Psmith； 〃that our allies of the Table Hill contingent must have arrived。 I sent rade Maloney to explain matters to Dude Dawson； and it seems as if that golden…hearted sportsman had responded。 There appear to be great doings in the street。〃
In the room below confusion had arisen。 A scout； clattering upstairs； had brought the news of the Table Hillites' advent； and there was doubt as to the proper course to pursue。 Certain voices urged going down to help the main body。 Others pointed out that that would mean abandoning the siege of the roof。 The scout who had brought the news was eloquent in favour of the first course。
〃Gum！〃 he cried； 〃don't I keep tellin' youse dat de Table Hills is here？ Sure； dere's a whole bunch of dem； and unless youse e on down dey'll bite de hull head off of us lot。 Leave those stiffs on de roof。 Let Sam wait here with his canister； and den dey can't get down； 'cos Sam'll pump dem full of lead while dey're beatin' it t'roo de trap…door。 Sure。〃
Psmith nodded reflectively。
〃There is certainly something in what the bright boy says；〃 he murmured。 〃It seems to me the grand rescue scene in the third act has sprung a leak。 This will want thinking over。〃
In the street the disturbance had now bee terrific。 Both sides were hard at it； and the Irishmen on the roof； rewarded at last for their long vigil； were yelling encouragement promiscuously and whooping with the unfettered ecstasy of men who are getting the treat of their lives without having paid a penny for it。
The behaviour of the New York policeman in affairs of this kind is based on principles of the soundest practical wisdom。 The unthinking man would rush in and attempt to crush the bat in its earliest and fiercest stages。 The New York policeman； knowing the importance of his own safety； and the insignificance of the gangsman's； permits the opposing forces to hammer each other into a certain distaste for battle； and then； when both sides have begun to have enough of it； rushes in himself and clubs everything in sight。 It is an admirable process in its results； but it is sure rather than swift。
Proceedings in the affair below had not yet reached the police interference stage。 The noise； what with the shots and yells from the street and the ear…piercing approval of the roof…audience； was just working up to a climax。
Psmith rose。 He was tired of kneeling by the trap； and there was no likelihood of Sam making another attempt to climb through。 He walked towards Billy。
As he did so； Billy got up and turned to him。 His eyes were gleaming with excitement。 His whole attitude was triumphant。 In his hand he waved a strip of paper。
〃I've got it；〃 he cried。
〃Excellent； rade Windsor；〃 said Psmith。 〃Surely we must win through now。 All we have to do is to get off this roof； and fate cannot touch us。 Are two mammoth minds such as ours unequal to such a feat？ It can hardly be。 Let us ponder。〃
〃Why not go down through the trap？ They've all gone to the street。〃
Psmith shook his head。
〃All；〃 he replied； 〃save Sam。 Sam was the subject of my late successful experiment； when I proved that coloured gentlemen's heads could be hurt with a stick。 He is now waiting below； armed with a pistol； readyeven anxiousto pick us off as we climb through the trap。 How would it be to drop rade Gooch through first； and so draw his fire？ rade Gooch； I am sure； would be delighted to do a little thing like that for old friends of our standing orbut what's that！〃
〃What's the matter？〃
〃Is that a ladder that I see before me； its handle to my hand？ It is！ rade Windsor； we win through。 Cosy Moments' editorial staff may be tree'd； but it cannot be put out of business。 rade Windsor； take the other end of that ladder and follow me。〃
The ladder was lying against the farther wall。 It was long； more than long enough for the purpose for which it was needed。 Psmith and Billy rested it on the coping； and pushed it till the other end reached across the gulf to the roof of the house next door； Mr。 Gooch eyeing them in silence the while。
Psmith turned to him。
〃rade Gooch；〃 he said； 〃do nothing to apprise our friend Sam of these proceedings。 I speak in your best interests。 Sam is in no mood to make nice distinctions between friend and foe。 If you bring him up here； he will probably mistake you for a member of the staff of Cosy Moments； and loose off in your direction without waiting for explanations。 I think you had better e with us。 I will go first； rade Windsor； so that if the ladder breaks； the paper will lose merely a sub…editor； not an editor。〃
He went down on all…fours； and in this attitude wormed his way across to the opposite roof； whose occupants； engrossed in the fight in the street； in which the police had now joined； had their backs turned and did not observe him。 Mr。 Gooch； pallid and obviously ill…attuned to such feats； followed him； and finally Billy Windsor reached the other side。
〃Neat；〃 said Psmith placently。 〃Unmonly neat。 rade Gooch reminded me of the untamed chamois of the Alps； leaping from crag to crag。〃
In the street there was now parative silence。 The police； with their clubs； had knocked the last remnant of fight out of the batants。 Shooting had definitely ceased。
〃I think；〃 said Psmith； 〃that we might now descend。 If you have no other engagements； rade Windsor； I will take you to the Knickerbocker； and buy you a square meal。 I would ask for the pleasure of your pany also； rade Gooch； were it not that matters of private moment； relating to the policy of the paper； must be discussed at the table。 Some other day； perhaps。 We are infinitely obliged to you for your sympathetic co…operation in this little matter。 And now good…bye。 rade Windsor； let us debouch。〃
CHAPTER XXII
CONCERNING MR。 WARING
PSMITH pushed back his chair slightly； stretched out his legs； and lit a cigarette。 The resources of the Knickerbocker Hotel had proved equal to supplying the fatigued staff of Cosy Moments with an excellent dinner； and Psmith had stoutly declined to talk business until the coffee arrived。 This had been hard on Billy； who was bursting with his news。 Beyond a hint that it was sensational he had not been permitted to go。
〃More bright young careers than I care to think of；〃 said Psmith； 〃have been ruined by the fatal practice of talking shop at dinner。 But now that we are through； rade Windsor； by all means let us have it。 What's the name which rade Gooch so eagerly divulged？〃
Billy leaned forward excitedly。
〃Stewart Waring；〃 he whispered。
〃Stewart who？〃 asked Psmith。
Billy stared。
〃Great Scott； man！〃 he said； 〃haven't you heard of Stewart Waring？〃
〃The name seems vaguely familiar； like isinglass or Post…toasties。 I seem to know it； but it conveys nothing to me。〃
〃Don't you ever read the papers？〃
〃I toy with my American of a morning； but my interest is confined mainly to the sporting page which reminds me that rade Brady has been matched against one Eddie Wood a month from to…day。 Gratifying as it is to find one of the staff getting on in life； I fear this will cause us a certain amount of inconvenience。 rade Brady will have to leave the office temporarily in order to go into training； and what shall we do then for a fighting editor？ However； possibly we may not need one now。 Cosy Moments should be able shortly to give its message to the world and ease up for a while。 Which brings us back to the point。 Who is Stewart Waring？〃
〃Stewart Waring is running for City Alderman。 He's one of the biggest men in New York！〃
〃Do you mean in girth？ If so； he seems to have selected the right career for himself。〃
〃He's one of the bosses。 He used to be missioner of Buildings for the city。〃
〃missioner of Buildings？ What exactly did that let him in for？〃
〃It let him in for a lot of graft。〃
〃How was that？〃
〃Oh； he took it off the contractors。 Shut his eyes and held out his hands when they ran up rotten buildings that a strong breeze would have knocked down； and places like that Pleasant Street hole without any ventilation。〃
〃Why did he throw up the job？〃 inquired Psmith。 〃it seems to me that it was among the World's Softest。 Certain drawbacks to it； perhaps； to the man with the Hair…Trigger Conscience； but I gather that rade Waring did not line up in that class。 What was his trouble？〃
