pgw.psmith,journalist-第25节

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gger　Conscience；　but　I　gather　that　rade　Waring　did　not　line　up　in　that　class。　What　was　his　trouble？〃
　〃His　trouble；〃　said　Billy；　〃was　that　he　stood　in　with　a　contractor　who　was　putting　up　a　music…hall；　and　the　contractor　put　it　up　with　material　about　as　strong　as　a　heap　of　meringues；　and　it　collapsed　on　the　third　night　and　killed　half　the　audience。〃
　〃And　then？〃
　〃The　papers　raised　a　howl；　and　they　got　after　the　contractor；　and　the　contractor　gave　Waring　away。　It　killed　him　for　the　time　being。〃
　〃I　should　have　thought　it　would　have　had　that　excellent　result　permanently；〃　said　Psmith　thoughtfully。　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　he　got　back　again　after　that？〃
　〃He　had　to　quit　being　missioner；　of　course；　and　leave　the　town　for　a　time；　but　affairs　move　so　fast　here　that　a　thing　like　that　blows　over。　He　made　a　bit　of　a　pile　out　of　the　job；　and　could　afford　to　lie　low　for　a　year　or　two。〃
　〃How　long　ago　was　that？〃
　〃Five　years。　People　don't　remember　a　thing　here　that　happened　five　years　back　unless　they're　reminded　of　it。〃
　Psmith　lit　another　cigarette。
　〃We　will　remind　them；〃　he　said。
　Billy　nodded。
　〃Of　course；〃　he　said；　〃one　or　two　of　the　papers　against　him　in　this　Aldermanic　Election　business　tried　to　bring　the　thing　up；　but　they　didn't　cut　any　ice。　The　other　papers　said　it　was　a　shame；　hounding　a　man　who　was　sorry　for　the　past　and　who　was　trying　to　make　good　now；　so　they　dropped　it。　Everybody　thought　that　Waring　was　on　the　level　now。　He's　been　shooting　off　a　lot　of　hot　air　lately　about　philanthropy　and　so　on。　Not　that　he　has　actually　done　a　thingnot　so　much　as　given　a　supper　to　a　dozen　news…boys；　but　he's　talked；　and　talk　gets　over　if　you　keep　it　up　long　enough。〃
　Psmith　nodded　adhesion　to　this　dictum。
　〃So　that　naturally　he　wants　to　keep　it　dark　about　these　tenements。　It'll　smash　him　at　the　election　when　it　gets　known。〃
　〃Why　is　he　so　set　on　being　an　Alderman；〃　inquired　Psmith。
　〃There's　a　lot　of　graft　to　being　an　Alderman；〃　explained　Billy。
　〃I　see。　No　wonder　the　poor　gentleman　was　so　energetic　in　his　methods。　What　is　our　move　now；　rade　Windsor？〃
　Billy　stared。
　〃Why；　publish　the　name；　of　course。〃
　〃But　before　then？　How　are　we　going　to　ensure　the　safety　of　our　evidence？　We　stand　or　fall　entirely　by　that　slip　of　paper；　because　we've　got　the　beggar's　name　in　the　writing　of　his　own　collector；　and　that's　proof　positive。〃
　〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Billy；　patting　his　breast…pocket。　〃Nobody's　going　to　get　it　from　me。〃
　Psmith　dipped　his　hand　into　his　trouser…pocket。
　〃rade　Windsor；〃　he　said；　producing　a　piece　of　paper；　〃how　do　we　go？〃
　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　surveying　Billy　blandly　through　his　eye…glass。　Billy's　eyes　were　goggling。　He　looked　from　Psmith　to　the　paper　and　from　the　paper　to　Psmith。
　〃Whatwhat　the？〃　he　stammered。　〃Why；　it's　it！〃
　Psmith　nodded。
　〃How　on　earth　did　you　get　it？〃
　Psmith　knocked　the　ash　off　his　cigarette。
　〃rade　Windsor；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　wish　to　cavil　or　carp　or　rub　it　in　in　any　way。　I　will　merely　remark　that　you　pretty　nearly　landed　us　in　the　soup；　and　pass　on　to　more　congenial　topics。　Didn't　you　know　we　were　followed　to　this　place？〃
　〃Followed！〃
　By　a　merchant　in　what　rade　Maloney　would　call　a　tall…shaped　hat。　I　spotted　him　at　an　early　date；　somewhere　down　by　Twenty…ninth　Street。　When　we　dived　into　Sixth　Avenue　for　a　space　at　Thirty…third　Street；　did　he　dive；　too？　He　did。　And　when　we　turned　into　Forty…second　Street；　there　he　was。　I　tell　you；　rade　Windsor；　leeches　were　aloof；　and　burrs　non…adhesive　pared　with　that　tall…shaped…hatted　blighter。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Do　you　remember；　as　you　came　to　the　entrance　of　this　place；　somebody　knocking　against　you？〃
　〃Yes；　there　was　a　pretty　big　crush　in　the　entrance。〃
　〃There　was；　but　not　so　big　as　all　that。　There　was　plenty　of　room　for　this　merchant　to　pass　if　he　had　wished。　Instead　of　which　he　butted　into　you。　I　happened　to　be　waiting　for　just　that；　so　I　managed　to　attach　myself　to　his　wrist　with　some　vim　and　give　it　a　fairly　hefty　wrench。　The　paper　was　inside　his　hand。〃
　Billy　was　leaning　forward　with　a　pale　face。
　〃Jove！〃　he　muttered。
　〃That　about　sums　it　up；〃　said　Psmith。
　Billy　snatched　the　paper　from　the　table　and　extended　it　towards　him。
　〃Here；〃　he　said　feverishly；　〃you　take　it。　Gum；　I　never　thought　I　was　such　a　mutt！　I'm　not　fit　to　take　charge　of　a　toothpick。　Fancy　me　not　being　on　the　watch　for　something　of　that　sort。　I　guess　I　was　so　tickled　with　myself　at　the　thought　of　having　got　the　thing；　that　it　never　struck　me　they　might　try　for　it。　But　I'm　through。　No　more　for　me。　You're　the　man　in　charge　now。〃
　Psmith　shook　his　head。
　〃These　stately　pliments；〃　he　said；　〃do　my　old　heart　good；　but　I　fancy　I　know　a　better　plan。　It　happened　that　I　chanced　to　have　my　eye　on　the　blighter　in　the　tall…shaped　hat；　and　so　was　enabled　to　land　him　among　the　ribstones；　but　who　knows　but　that　in　the　crowd　on　Broadway　there　may　not　lurk　other；　unidentified　blighters　in　equally　tall…shaped　hats；　one　of　whom　may　work　the　same　sleight…of…hand　speciality　on　me？　It　was　not　that　you　were　not　capable　of　taking　care　of　that　paper：　it　was　simply　that　you　didn't　happen　to　spot　the　man。　Now　observe　me　closely；　for　what　follows　is　an　exhibition　of　Brain。〃
　He　paid　the　bill；　and　they　went　out　into　the　entrance…hall　of　the　hotel。　Psmith；　sitting　down　at　a　table；　placed　the　paper　in　an　envelope　and　addressed　it　to　himself　at　the　address　of　Cosy　Moments。　After　which；　he　stamped　the　envelope　and　dropped　it　into　the　letter…box　at　the　back　of　the　hall。
　〃And　now；　rade　Windsor；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　stroll　gently　homewards　down　the　Great　White　Way。　What　matter　though　it　be　fairly　stiff　with　low…browed　bravoes　in　tall…shaped　hats？　They　cannot　harm　us。　From　me；　if　they　search　me　thoroughly；　they　may　scoop　a　matter　of　eleven　dollars；　a　watch；　two　stamps；　and　a　packet　of　chewing…gum。　Whether　they　would　do　any　better　with　you　I　do　not　know。　At　any　rate；　they　wouldn't　get　that　paper；　and　that's　the　main　thing。〃
　〃You're　a　genius；〃　said　Billy　Windsor。
　〃You　think　so？〃　said　Psmith　diffidently。　〃Well；　well；　perhaps　you　are　right；　perhaps　you　are　right。　Did　you　notice　the　hired　ruffian　in　the　flannel　suit　who　just　passed？　He　wore　a　baffled　look；　I　fancy。　And　hark！　Wasn't　that　a　muttered　'Failed！'　I　heard？　Or　was　it　the　breeze　moaning　in　the　tree…tops？　To…night　is　a　cold；　disappointing　night　for　Hired　Ruffians；　rade　Windsor。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XXIII
　REDUCTIONS　IN　THE　STAFF
　
　THE　first　member　of　the　staff　of　Cosy　Moments　to　arrive　at　the　office　on　the　following　morning　was　Master　Maloney。　This　sounds　like　the　beginning　of　a　〃Plod　and　Punctuality；〃　or　〃How　Great　Fortunes　have　been　Made〃　story；　but；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　Master　Maloney　was　no　early　bird。　Larks　who　rose　in　his　neighbourhood；　rose　alone。　He　did　not　get　up　with　them。　He　was　supposed　to　be　at　the　office　at　nine　o'clock。　It　was　a　point　of　honour　with　him；　a　sort　of　daily　declaration　of　independence；　never　to　put　in　an　appearance　before　nine…thirty。　On　this　particular　morning　he　was　punctual　to　the　minute；　or　half　an　hour　late；　whichever　way　you　choose　to　look　at　it。
　He　had　only　whistled　a　few　bars　of　〃My　Little　Irish　Rose；〃　and　had　barely　got　into　the　first　page　of　his　story　of　life　on　the　prairie　when　Kid　Brady　appeared。　The　Kid；　as　was　his　habit　when　not　in　training；　was　smoking　a　big　black　cigar。　Master　Maloney　eyed　him　admiringly。　The　Kid；　unknown　to　that　gentleman　himself；　was　Pugsy's　ideal。　He　came　from　the　Plains；　and　had；　indeed；　once　actually　been　a　cowboy；　he　was　a　ing　champion；　and　he　could　smoke　black　cigars。　It　was；　therefore；　without　his　usual　well…what…is…it…now？　air　that　Pugsy　laid　down　his　book；　and　prepared　to　converse。
　〃Say；　Mr。　Smith　or　Mr。　Windsor　about；　Pugsy？〃　asked　the　Kid。
　〃Naw；　Mr。　Brady；　they　ain't　came　yet；〃　replied　Master　Maloney　respectfully。
　〃Late；　ain't　they？〃
　〃Sure。　Mr。　Windsor　generally　blows　in　before　I　do。〃
　〃Wonder　what's　keepin'　them。〃
　〃P'raps；　dey've　bin　put　out　of　business；〃　suggested　Pugsy　nonchalantly。
　〃How's　that？〃
　Pugsy　related　the　events　of　the　previous　day；　relaxing　something　of　his　austere　calm　as　he　did　so。　When　he　came　to　the　part　where　the　Table　Hill　allies　swooped　down　on　the　unsuspecting　Three　Pointers；　he　was　almost　animated。
　〃Say；〃　said　the　Kid　approvingly；　〃that　Smith　guy's　got　more　grey　matter　under　his　thatch　than　you'd　think　to　look　at　him。　I〃
　〃rade　Brady；〃　said　a　voice　in　the　doorway；　〃you　do　me　proud。〃
　〃Why；　say；〃　said　the　Kid；　turning；　〃I　guess　the　laugh's　on　me。　I　didn't　see　you；　Mr。　Smith。　Pugsy's　been　tellin'　me　how　you　sent　him　for　the　Table　Hills　yesterday。　That　was　cute。　It　was　mighty　smart。　But　say；　those　guys　are　goin'　some；　ain't　they　now！　Seems　as　if　they　was　dead　set　on　puttin'　you　out　of　business。〃
　〃Their　manner　yesterday；　rade　Brady；　certainly　suggested　the　presence　of　some　sketchy　outline　of　such　an　ideal　in　their　minds。　One　Sam；　in　particular；　an　ebony…hued　sportsman；　threw　himself　into　the　task　with　great　vim。　I　rather　fancy　he　is　waiting　for　us　with　his　revolver　to　this　moment。　But　why　worry？　Here　we　are；　safe　and　sound；　and　rade　Windsor　may　be　expected　to　arrive　at　any　moment。　I　see；　rade　Brady；　that　you　have　been　matched　against　one　Eddie　Wood。〃
　〃It's　about　that　I　wante