pgw.psmith,journalist-第32节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lf rose。 For an instant the muzzle of the pistol ceased to point at Psmith's waistcoat。 It was the very chance Psmith had been waiting for。 His left hand shot out； grasped the other's wrist； and gave it a sharp wrench。 The revolver went off with a deafening report； the bullet passing through the back of the cab； then fell to the floor； as the fingers lost their hold。 The next moment Psmith's right fist； darting upwards； took Mr。 Parker neatly under the angle of the jaw。
The effect was instantaneous。 Psmith had risen from his seat as he delivered the blow； and it consequently got the full benefit of his weight； which was not small。 Mr。 Parker literally crumpled up。 His head jerked back； then fell limply on his chest。 He would have slipped to the floor had not Psmith pushed him on to the seat。
The interested face of the Kid appeared at the window。 Behind him could be seen portions of the faces of the two thick…necks。
〃Ah； rade Brady！〃 said Psmith genially。 〃I heard your voice； and was hoping you might look in for a chat。〃
〃What's doin'； Mr。 Smith？〃 queried the excited Kid。
〃Much； rade Brady； much。 I will tell you all anon。 Meanwhile； however； kindly knock that chauffeur down and sit on his head。 He's a bad person。〃
〃De guy's beat it；〃 volunteered the first thick…neck。
〃Surest thing you know；〃 said the other。
〃What's been doin'； Mr。 Smith？〃 asked the Kid。
〃I'll tell you about it as we go； rade Brady；〃 said Psmith； stepping into the road。 〃Riding in a taxi is pleasant provided it is not overdone。 For the moment I have had sufficient。 A bit of walking will do me good。〃
〃What are you going to do with this guy； Mr。 Smith？〃 asked the Kid； pointing to Parker； who had begun to stir slightly。
Psmith inspected the stricken one gravely。
〃I have no use for him； rade Brady；〃 he said。 〃Our ride together gave me as much of his society as I desire for to…day。 Unless you or either of your friends are collecting Parkers； I propose that we leave him where he is。 We may as well take the gun； however。 In my opinion； rade Parker is not the proper man to have such a weapon。 He is too prone to go firing it off in any direction at a moment's notice； causing inconvenience to all。〃 He groped on the floor of the cab for the revolver。 〃Now； rade Brady；〃 he said； straightening himself up； 〃I am at your disposal。 Shall we be pushing on？〃
* * *
It was late in the evening when Psmith returned to the metropolis； after a pleasant afternoon at the Brady training…camp。 The Kid； having heard the details of the ride； offered once more to abandon his match with Eddie Wood； but Psmith would not hear of it。 He was fairly satisfied that the opposition had fired their last shot； and that their next move would be to endeavour to e to terms。 They could not hope to catch him off his guard a second time； and； as far as hired assault and battery were concerned； he was as safe in New York； now that Bat Jarvis had declared himself on his side； as he would have been in the middle of a desert。 What Bat said was law on the East Side。 No hooligan； however eager to make money； would dare to act against a protege of the Groome Street leader。
The only flaw in Psmith's contentment was the absence of Billy Windsor。 On this night of all nights the editorial staff of Cosy Moments should have been together to celebrate the successful oute of their campaign。 Psmith dined alone； his enjoyment of the rather special dinner which he felt justified in ordering in honour of the somewhat diminished by the thought of Billy's hard case。 He had seen Mr William Collier in The Man from Mexico； and that had given him an understanding of what a term of imprisonment on Blackwell's Island meant。 Billy； during these lean days； must be supporting life on bread； bean soup； and water。 Psmith； toying with the hors d'oeuvre； was somewhat saddened by the thought。
* * *
All was quiet at the office on the following day。 Bat Jarvis； again acpanied by the faithful Otto； took up his position in the inner room； prepared to repel all invaders； but none arrived。 No sounds broke the peace of the outer office except the whistling of Master Maloney。
Things were almost dull when the telephone bell rang。 Psmith took down the receiver。
〃Hullo？〃 he said。
〃I'm Parker；〃 said a moody voice。
Psmith uttered a cry of wele。
〃Why； rade Parker； this is splendid！ How goes it？ Did you get back all right yesterday？ I was sorry to have to tear myself away； but I had other engagements。 But why use the telephone？ Why not e here in person？ You know how wele you are。 Hire a taxi…cab and e right round。〃
Mr。 Parker made no reply to the invitation。
〃Mr。 Waring would like to see you。〃
〃Who； rade Parker？〃
〃Mr。 Stewart Waring。〃
〃The celebrated tenement house…owner？〃
Silence from the other end of the wire。 〃Well；〃 said Psmith； 〃what step does he propose to take towards it？〃
〃He tells me to say that he will be in his office at twelve o'clock to…morrow morning。 His office is in the Morton Building； Nassau Street。〃
Psmith clicked his tongue regretfully。
〃Then I do not see how we can meet；〃 he said。 〃I shall be here。〃
〃He wishes to see you at his office。〃
I am sorry； rade Parker。 It is impossible。 I am very busy just now； as you may know； preparing the next number； the one in which we publish the name of the owner of the Pleasant Street Tenements。 Otherwise； I should be delighted。 Perhaps later； when the rush of work has diminished somewhat。〃
〃Am I to tell Mr。 Waring that you refuse？〃
〃If you are seeing him at any time and feel at a loss for something to say； perhaps you might mention it。 Is there anything else I can do for you； rade Parker？〃
〃See here〃
〃Nothing？ Then good…bye。 Look in when you're this way。〃
He hung up the receiver。
As he did so； he was aware of Master Maloney standing beside the table。
〃Yes； rade Maloney？〃
〃Telegram；〃 said Pugsy。 〃For Mr。 Windsor。〃
Psmith ripped open the envelope。
The message ran：
〃Returning to…day。 Will be at office to…morrow morning；〃 and it was signed 〃Wilberfloss。〃
〃See who's here！〃 said Psmith softly。
CHAPTER XXVIII
STANDING ROOM ONLY
IN the light of subsequent events it was perhaps the least bit unfortunate that Mr。 Jarvis should have seen fit to bring with him to the office of Cosy Moments on the following morning two of his celebrated squad of cats； and that Long Otto； who； as usual； acpanied him； should have been fired by his example to the extent of introducing a large and rather boisterous yellow dog。 They were not to be blamed； of course。 They could not know that before the morning was over space in the office would be at a premium。 Still； it was unfortunate。
Mr。 Jarvis was slightly apologetic。
〃T'ought I'd bring de kits along；〃 he said。 〃Dey started in scrappin' yesterday when I was here； so to…day I says I'll keep my eye on dem。〃
Psmith inspected the menagerie without resentment。
〃Assuredly； rade Jarvis；〃 he said。 〃They add a pleasantly cosy and domestic touch to the scene。 The only possible criticism I can find to make has to do with their probable brawling with the dog。〃
〃Oh； dey won't scrap wit de dawg。 Dey knows him。〃
〃But is he aware of that？ He looks to me a somewhat impulsive animal。 Well； well； the matter's in your hands。 If you will undertake to look after the refereeing of any pogrom that may arise； I say no more。〃
Mr。 Jarvis's statement as to the friendly relations between the animals proved to be correct。 The dog made no attempt to annihilate the cats。 After an inquisitive journey round the room he lay down and went to sleep； and an era of peace set in。 The cats had settled themselves fortably； one on each of Mr。 Jarvis's knees； and Long Otto； surveying the ceiling with his customary glassy stare； smoked a long cigar in silence。 Bat breathed a tune； and scratched one of the cats under the ear。 It was a soothing scene。
But it did not last。 Ten minutes had barely elapsed when the yellow dog； sitting up with a start； uttered a whine。 In the outer office could be heard a stir and movement。 The next moment the door burst open and a little man dashed in。 He had a peeled nose and showed other evidences of having been living in the open air。 Behind him was a crowd of uncertain numbers。 Psmith recognised the leaders of this crowd。 They were the Reverend Edwin T。 Philpotts and Mr。 B。 Henderson Asher。
〃Why； rade Asher；〃 he said； 〃this is indeed a Moment of Mirth。 I have been wondering for weeks where you could have got to。 And rade Philpotts！ Am I wrong in saying that this is the maddest； merriest day of all the glad New Year？〃
The rest of the crowd had entered the room。
〃rade Waterman； too！〃 cried Psmith。 〃Why we have all met before。 Except〃
He glanced inquiringly at the little man with the peeled nose。
〃My name is Wilberfloss；〃 said the other with austerity。 〃Will you be so good as to tell me where Mr。 Windsor is？〃
A murmur of approval from his followers。
〃In one moment；〃 said Psmith。 〃First； however； let me introduce two important members of our staff。 On your right； Mr。 Bat Jarvis。 On your left； Mr。 Long Otto。 Both of Groome Street。〃
The two Bowery boys rose awkwardly。 The cats fell in an av
