the vision spendid(美景)-第43节
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the wharf the _Fly by Night_ shot out of the dock。
PART 2
In the wintry afternoon sunlight Beauchamp and Alice were playing a
match of shuffleboard against Jeff and the daughter of a Honolulu
missionary。 The game had reached an exciting and critical stage when they
noticed that the ship was no longer quivering from the throb of the
engines。
〃A steam yacht； probably from Verden；〃 the ship purser remarked to
the first mate as they passed。
The players gave up their game to watch the boat that was being
lowered from the deck of a yacht close at hand。 Into it stepped five men in
addition to the crew。 Presently Jeff； leaning against the rail； borrowed the
glasses of a man near。 After Alice had looked she handed them to Farnum。
He gave a little exclamation of surprise。
〃I beg your pardon？〃 the girl beside him murmured。
〃They are my friends； Miss Frome。 Come to meet me； I expect。 The
little man in gray with one arm is Captain Chunn。〃
She was all excitement at once。 〃Then they must have received your
message？〃
〃Probably。〃
Jeff was the first man to meet Captain Chunn as he walked up the steps。
The gray little man gave a whoop of joy。
〃David！〃
Their hands gripped。
Rawson fell on Farnum from behind and pounded him jubilantly。
Instantly the editor was the center of a group of eager； urgent wellwishers。
Alice explained to Captain Barclay what it was all about and stood
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back smiling while questions and answers flew back and forth。
〃What about our bill？〃 Jeff inquired as soon as the first hubbub had
quieted。
〃Dead as a door nail。 Your cousin has substituted H。 B。 I7。 They will
pass it to…morrow or the next day。〃
A swift sickness ran through Farnum。 〃James gone back on us？〃
〃That's what。 He's double…crossed us。〃 Rawson snapped the words out
bitterly。
〃Whywhysurely not James。〃 Jeff's mind groped for some possible
explanation。
〃Says our bill was lost anyhow and it was a question of getting
through Garman's bill or none。〃
〃But Garman's bill was framed by Ned Merrill。 It doesn't give us
anything。〃
Rawson nodded grimly。 〃That's the idea。 We're to get nothing； but it's
to be wrapped up like a Christmas present so as to fool us。〃
〃And isn't there any chance at all for our bill？〃
〃Just this one chance。〃 Rawson leaned forward and spoke in a low
voice； driving his hand down on the deck railing。 〃That you've got a
charge of dynamite up your sleeve to throw into their camp。 If you can't
stampede them we're down and out。〃
Jeff and his allies presently moved away together to hold a conference
of ways and means。 The boat crew pulled back to the yacht。 The engines
began to throb once more。 The _Bellingham_ gathered momentum and
was soon plunging forward at full speed。
PART 3
With a queer little surge of pride in him Alice watched Jeff and his
friends move away。 They depended on him。 Unless he could save it their
fight was lost。 To her he was a prophet of the better civilization that would
some day rise on the ruins of an Individualism grown topheavy。 But he
was neither a dreamer nor a weakling。 His idealism was sane and practical；
and he would fight to the last ditch when he must。
And this was another strange thing about him； that though his
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democracy was a faith； vital and ardent； it was tempered with the liberal
spirit。 He could make allowances； held no grudges； would laugh away
insults at which another man would have raged。 Out of her very limited
experience Alice decided that he was a great man。 That he was so warm
and human with it all was one of his seizing charms。 No boy could have
been more interested in winning the shuffleboard game than he。
The fat pork packer from Chicago came wheezing toward her。 He took
the steamer chair beside Alice and jerked his head toward the spot where
Jeff had disappeared。
〃Now if you want my notion； Miss Frome； that's the kind of a man that
breeds anarchy。 I've seen his paper。 He fills it full of stuff that makes the
workingman discontented with his lot。 A trouble maker； that's what he is。
Stops the wheels of industry。 Gets in the road of the boosters to croak hard
times。〃
Alice observed the thick rolls of purple fat that bulged over his collar。
〃Progress now；〃 he went on。 〃I'm for progress。 Develop the country。
That gives work to the laborers and keeps them contented。 But men like
Farnum are always hampering development by annoying capital。 Now
that's foolish because capital employs labor。〃
The young woman suggested another possibility。 〃Or else labor
employs capital。〃
〃What！〃 The fat little man sat bolt upright in surprise。 〃I guess you
never heard your Uncle Joe Powers talk any such foolishness。〃 He snorted
indignantly。 〃Hmp！ The best friend labor has got is capital。 If I had the say
so I'd crush every labor unionfor the good of the working people
themselves。〃
Alice decided that the mental indigestion of the rich sat heavily upon
him。 She felt her temper rising and took advantage of the approach of
Beauchamp to leave quickly。
〃Oh； Lieutenant！ Have you seen Valencia？〃
The Englishman showed surprise。 It happened that Alice had at that
moment a view of Mrs。 Van Tyle stretched on a deck chair some thirty feet
away。
Miss Frome hurried him along。 Presently； with a low laugh； she
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explained。 〃I wanted to get away from him。 Carelessly； I dropped a new
idea there。 It's likely to go off。 You know how dangerous they are。〃
〃To people who haven't many。 Had it anything to do with making
money？〃
〃Not directly。〃
〃Then you needn't be alarmed on our stout friend's account。 He's
immune to all ideas not connected with that subject。〃
The double blast of a trumpet invited them to dinner down stairs。
PART 4
Dunn was sitting in the smoking room writing his story of the
kidnapping when a ruddy young Englishman stopped opposite him。
〃You're Mr。 Dunn； are you not？ Reporter for the _World？_〃
〃Yes。〃 The newspaper man looked him over with a swift； trained
attention。
〃A young lady would like to see you for a few minutes。 She is
interested in this shanghaing of Mr。 Farnum。〃
Dunn's black gimlet eyes searched Beauchamp's face。
〃All right。 Glad to see her。〃 Dunn's story was being transferred to his
pocket as he rose。
He followed his guide to the ladies' writing room。 A slender young
woman was standing in front of the bookcase。 She turned as they entered。
Beauchamp introduced the reporter to her； but Dunn failed to catch the
name of this rather remarkable looking young lady。
〃You are to write the story of Mr。 Farnum's adventure？〃 she asked。
The reporter's eyes narrowed very slightly。 〃What story？〃
〃The account of the shanghaing。 Oh； I know all about it。 Have you all
the facts？〃
〃I'll be glad to hear what you know； Miss〃
She answered his hesitation by mentioning her name。
Dunn grew more wary。 〃Miss Alice Frome； daughter of Senator
Frome？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Anything you have to say I'll be pleased to hear； Miss Frome。〃
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To his surprise she broke through the hedge of reserve he had
withdrawn behind。
〃You distrust me。 You think because I'm Senator Frome's daughter that
I must be against Mr。 Farnum。 Is that it？〃
〃I didn't say that；〃 he sparred。
〃I'm not against him。 It's because I'm anxious to see him
