the portygee-第12节

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〃Where'll　I　put　it？〃　he　asked；　hurriedly。

〃Why　don't　you　　Oh；　don't　put　it　in　your　pocket！　　It　will　set　you
on　fire。　　Put　it　in　the　stove；　quick。〃

Into　the　stove　it　went；　all　but　its　fragrance；　which　lingered。

〃Do　you　think　you　COULD　find　me　that　hook？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃I'll　try。　　_I_　don't　know　anything　about　the　confounded　things。〃

〃Oh！〃　innocently。　　〃Don't　you？〃

〃No；　of　course　I　don't。　　Why　should　I？〃

〃Aren't　you　working　here？〃

〃Here？　　Work　HERE？　　ME？　　Well；　IshouldsayNOT！〃

〃Oh；　excuse　me。　　I　thought　you　must　be　a　new　bookkeeper；　oror　a
new　partner；　or　something。〃

Albert　regarded　her　intently　and　suspiciously　for　some　seconds
before　making　another　remark。　　She　was　as　demurely　grave　as　ever；
but　his　suspicions　were　again　aroused。　　However；　she　WAS　pretty；
there　could　be　no　doubt　about　that。

〃Maybe　I　can　find　the　hook　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　can　try；　anyway。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you　ever　so　much；〃　gratefully。　　〃It's　VERY　kind　of　you
to　take　so　much　trouble。〃

〃Oh；〃　airily；　〃that's　all　right。　　Come　on；　perhaps　we　can　find　it
together。〃

They　were　still　looking　when　Mr。　Price　came　panting　in。

〃Whew！〃　he　observed；　with　emphasis。　　〃If　anybody　tells　you　heavin'
bundles　of　laths　aboard　a　truck…wagon　ain't　hard　work　you　tell　him
for　me　he's　a　liar；　will　ye。　　Whew！　　And　I　had　to　do　the　heft　of
everything；　'cause　Cahoon　sent　that　one…armed　nephew　of　his　to
drive　the　team。　　A　healthy　lot　of　good　a　one…armed　man　is　to　help
heave　lumber！　　I　says　to　him；　says　I：　　'What　in　time　did'　　Eh？
Why；　hello；　Helen！　　Good　mornin'。　　Land　sakes！　you're　out　airly；
ain't　ye？〃

The　young　lady　nodded。　　〃Good　morning；　Issachar；〃　she　said。　　〃Yes；
I　am　pretty　early　and　I'm　in　a　dreadful　hurry。　　The　wind　blew　our
kitchen　door　back　against　the　house　last　night　and　broke　the　hook。
I　promised　Father　I　would　run　over　here　and　get　him　a　new　one　and
bring　it　back　to　him　before　I　went　to　school。　　And　it's　quarter　to
nine　now。〃

〃Land　sakes；　so　'tis！　　Ain'tererwhat's…his…nameAlbert　here；
found　it　for　you　yet？　　He　ain't　no　kind　of　a　hand　to　find　things；
is　he？　　We'll　have　to　larn　him　better'n　that。　　Yes　indeed！〃

Albert　laughed；　sarcastically。　　He　was　about　to　make　a　satisfyingly
crushing　reproof　to　this　piece　of　impertinence　when　Mr。　Price　began
to　sniff　the　air。

〃What　in　tunket？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Sn'f！　　Sn'f！　　Who's　been　smokin'
in　here？　　And　cigarettes；　too；　by　crimus！　　Sn'f！　　Sn'f！　　Yes；　sir；
cigarettes；　by　crimustee！　　Who's　been　smokin'　cigarettes　in　here？
If　Cap'n　Lote　knew　anybody'd　smoked　a　cigarette　in　here　I　don't
know's　he　wouldn't　kill　'em。　　Who　done　it？〃

Albert　shivered。　　The　girl　with　the　dark　blue　eyes　flashed　a　quick
glance　at　him。　　〃I　think　perhaps　someone　went　by　the　window　when　it
was　open　just　now；〃　she　suggested。　　〃Perhaps　they　were　smoking　and
the　smoke　blew　in。〃

〃Eh？　　Well；　maybe　so。　　Must　have　been　a　mighty　rank　cigarette　to
smell　up　the　whole　premises　like　this　just　goin'　past　a　window。
Whew！　　Gosh！　no　wonder　they　say　them　things　are　rank　pison。　　I'd
sooner　smoke　skunk…cabbage　myself；　'twouldn't　smell　no　worse　and
'twould　be　a　dum　sight　safer。　　Whew！　。　。　。　　Well；　Helen；　there's
about　the　kind　of　hook　I　cal'late　you　need。　　Fifteen　cents　'll　let
you　out　on　that。　　Cheap　enough　for　half　the　money；　eh？　　Give　my
respects　to　your　pa；　will　ye。　　Tell　him　that　sermon　he　preached
last　Sunday　was　fine；　but　I'd　like　it　better　if　he'd　laid　it　on　to
the　Univer'lists　a　little　harder。　　Folks　that　don't　believe　in　hell
don't　deserve　no　consideration；　'cordin'　to　my　notion。　　So　long；
Helen　。　。　。　　Oh　say；〃　he　added；　as　an　afterthought；　〃I　guess　you
and　Albert　ain't　been　introduced；　have　ye？　　Albert；　this　is　Helen
Kendall；　she's　our　Orthodox　minister's　daughter。　　Helen；　this　young
feller　is　Alberterer　　Consarn　it；　I've　asked　Cap'n　Lote　that
name　a　dozen　times　if　I　have　once！　　What　is　it；　anyway？〃

〃Speranza；〃　replied　the　owner　of　the　name。

〃That's　it；　Sperandy。　　This　is　Albert　Sperandy；　Cap'n　Lote's
grandson。〃

Albert　and　Miss　Kendall　shook　hands。

〃Thanks；〃　said　the　former；　gratefully　and　significantly。

The　young　lady　smiled。

〃Oh；　you're　welcome；〃　she　said。　　I　knew　who　you　were　all　the　time
or　I　guessed　who　you　must　be。　　Cap'n　Snow　told　me　you　were　coming。〃

She　went　out。　　Issachar；　staring　after　her；　chuckled　admiringly。
〃Smartest　girl　in　THIS　town；〃　he　observed；　with　emphasis。　　〃Head　of
her　class　up　to　high　school　and　only　sixteen　and　three…quarters　at
that。〃

Captain　Zelotes　came　bustling　in　a　few　minutes　later。　　He　went　to
his　desk；　paying　little　attention　to　his　grandson。　　The　latter
loitered　idly　up　and　down　the　office　and　hardware　shop；　watching
Issachar　wait　on　customers　or　rush　shouting　into　the　yard　to　attend
to　the　wants　of　others　there。　　Plainly　this　was　Issachar's　busy
day。

〃Crimus！〃　he　exclaimed；　returning　from　one　such　excursion　and
mopping　his　forehead。　　〃This　doin'　two　men's　work　ain't　no　fun。
Every　time　Labe　goes　on　a　time　seem's　if　trade　was　brisker'n　it's
been　for　a　month。　　Seems　as　if　all　creation　and　part　of　East
Harniss　had　been　hangin'　back　waitin'　till　he　had　a　shade　on　'fore
they　come　to　trade。　　Makes　a　feller　feel　like　votin'　the
Prohibition　ticket。　　I　WOULD　vote　it；　by　crimustee；　if　I　thought
'twould　do　any　good。　　'Twouldn't　though；　Labe　would　take　to
drinkin'　bay　rum　or　Florida　water　or　somethin'；　same　as　Hoppy
Rogers　done　when　he　was　alive。　　Jim　Young　says　he　went　into　Hoppy's
barber…shop　once　and　there　was　Hoppy　with　a　bottle　of　a　new　kind　of
hair…tonic　in　his　hand。　　'Drummer　that　was　here　left　it　for　a
sample；'　says　Hoppy。　　'Wanted　me　to　try　it　and；　if　I　liked　it；　he
cal'lated　maybe　I'd　buy　some。　　I　don't　think　I　shall；　though；'　he
says；　'don't　taste　right　to　me。'　　Yes；　sir；　Jim　Young　swears　that's
true。　　Wan't　enough　snake…killer　in　that　hair　tonic　to　suit　Hoppy。
I　　Yes；　Cap'n　Lote；　what　is　it？　　Want　me；　do　ye？〃

But　the　captain　did　not；　as　it　happened；　want　Mr。　Price　at　that
time。　　It　was　Albert　whose　name　he　had　called。　　The　boy　went　into
the　office　and　his　grandfather　rose　and　shut　the　door。

〃Sit　down；　Al；〃　he　said；　motioning　toward　a　chair。　　When　his
grandson　had　seated　himself　Captain　Zelotes　tilted　back　his　own
desk　chair　upon　its　springs　and　looked　at　him。

〃Well；　son；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment；　〃what　do　you　think　of　it？〃

〃Think　of　it？　　I　don't　know　exactly　what〃

〃Of　the　place　here。　　Shop；　yards；　the　whole　business。　　Z。　Snow　and
Companywhat　do　you　think　of　it？〃

Privately　Albert　was　inclined　to　classify　the　entire　outfit　as　one…
horse　and　countrified；　but　he　deemed　it　wiser　not　to　express　this
opinion。　　So　he　compromised　and　replied　that　it　〃seemed　to　be　all
right。〃

His　grandfather　nodded。　　〃Thanks；〃　he　observed；　dryly。　　〃Glad　you
find　it　that　way。　　Well；　then；　changin'　the　subject　for　a　minute　or
two；　what　do　you　think　about　yourself？〃

〃About　myself？　　About　me？　　I　don't　understand？〃

〃No；　I　don't　suppose　you　do。　　That's　what　I　got　you　over　here　this
mornin'　for；　so　as　we　could　understandyou　and　me。　　Al；　have　you
given　any　thought　to　what　you're　goin'　to　do　from　this　on？　　How
you're　goin'　to　live？〃

Albert　looked　at　him　uncomprehendingly。

〃How　I'm　going　to　live？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Whywhy；　I　thoughtI
supposed　I　was　going　to　live　with　youwith　you　and　Grandmother。〃

〃Um…hm；　I　see。〃

〃I　just　kind　of　took　that　for　granted；　I　guess。　　You　sent　for　me　to
come　here。　　You　took　me　away　from　school；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　so　I　did。　　You　know　why　I　took　you　from　school？〃

〃No；　II　guess　I　DON'T；　exactly。　　I　thoughtI　supposed　it　was
because　you　didn't　want　me　to　go　there　any　more。〃

〃'Twasn't　that。　　I　don't　know　whether　I　would　have　wanted　you　to　go
there　or　not　if　things　had　been　different。　　From　what　I　hear　it　was
a　pretty　extravagant　place；　and　lookin'　at　it　from　the　outside
without　knowin'　too　much　about　it；　I　should　say　it　was　liable　to
put　a　lot　of　foolish　and　expensive　notions　into　a　boy's　head。　　I
may　be　wrong；　of　course；　I　have　been　wrong　at　least　a　few　times　in
my　life。〃

It　was　evident　that　he　considered　the　chances　of　his　being　wrong　in
this　instance　very　remote。　　His　tone　again　aroused　in　the　youth　the
feeling　of　obstinacy；　of　rebellion；　of　desire　to　take　the　other
side。

〃It　is　one　of　the　best　schools　in　this　country；〃　he　declared。　　〃My
father　said　so。〃

Captain　Zelotes　picked　up　a　pencil　on　his　desk　and　tapped　his　chin
lightly　with　the　blunt　end。　　〃Um；〃　he　mused。　　〃Well；　I　presume
likely　he　knew　all　about　it。〃

〃He　knew　as　much　asmost　people；〃　with　a　slight　but　significant
hesitation　before　the　〃most。〃

〃Um…hm。　　Naturally；　havin'　been　schooled　there　himself；　I　suppose。〃

〃He　wasn't　schooled　there。　　My　father　was　a　Spaniard。〃

〃So　I've　heard。　。　。　。　　Well；　we're　kind　of　off　the　subject；　ain't
we？　　Let's　leave　your　father's　nationality　out　of　it　for　a　while。
And　we'll　leave　the　school；　too；　because　no　matter　if　it　was　the
best　one　on　earth　you　couldn't　go　there。　　I　shouldn't　feel　'twas
right　to　spend　as　much　money　as　that　at　any　school；　and　youwell；
son；　you　ain't　got　it　to　spend。　　Did　you　have　any　idea　what　your
father　left　you；　in　the　way　of　tangible　assets？〃

〃No。　　I　knew　he　had　plenty　of　money　always。　　He　was　one　of　t