the portygee-第51节

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alcohol；　and　Keeler　had　declared　that　he　had　not　been　drinking；
but

〃You're　going　to　ENLIST？〃　repeated　Albert。　　〃YOU？　　Why；　Labe；　what〃

Laban　laughed　nervously。　　〃Not　to　kill　the　Kaiser；〃　he　replied。
〃No；　no；　not　thatnot　exactly。　　I'd　like　to；　only　I　wouldn't　be
much　help　that　way。　　Butbut　Al；　II　want　to　do　somethin'。　　I
I'd　like　to　try　to　showI'd　like　to　be　an　American；　a　decent
American；　and　the　best　way　to　begin；　seems　to　me；　is　to　try　and　be
a　man；　a　decent　man。　　Eh？　　You　understand；　II　　Oh；　Lord；　what　a
mess　I　am　makin'　of　this！　　II　　Al；〃　turning　and　desperately
waving　his　hands；　〃I'm　goin'　to　try　to　swear　off。　　Will　you　help
me？〃

Albert's　answer　was　enthusiastic。　　〃You　bet　I　will！〃　he　exclaimed。
Keeler　smiled　pathetically。

〃It's　goin'　to　be　some　job；　I　cal'late；〃　he　said。　　〃Some　job；　yes；
yes。　　But　I'm　goin'　to　try　it；　Al。　　I　read　in　the　papers　'tother
day　that　America　needed　every　man。　　Then　you　enlisted；　Al；or
you're　goin'　to　enlist。　　It　set　me　to　thinkin'　I'd　try　to　enlist；
too。　　For　the　duration　of　the　war；　eh？　　Yes；　yes。〃

〃Good　for　you；　Labe！　　Bully！〃

Laban　held　up　a　protesting　hand。　　〃Don't　hurrah　yet；　Al；〃　he　said。
〃This　ain't　the　first　time　I've　tried　it。　　I've　swore　off　a　dozen
times　in　the　last　fifteen　years。　　I've　promised　Rachel　and　broke
the　promise　over　and　over　again。　　Broke　my　promise　to　her；　the　best
woman　in　the　world。　　Shows　what　I　am；　what　sort　I　am；　don't　it；　Al？
Yes；　it　does；yes；　yes。　　And　she's　stuck　by　me；　too；　Lord　knows
why。　　Last　time　I　broke　it　I　said　I'd　never　promise　her　again。　　Bad
enough　to　be　a　common　drunk　without　bein'　a　liaryes；　yes。　　But
this　is　a　little　different。　　Seems　to　meseems　so。〃

He　began　his　pacing　up　and　down　again。

〃Seems　different；　somehow；〃　he　went　on。　　〃Seems　like　a　new　chance。
I　want　to　do　somethin'　for　Uncle　Sam。　　II'd　like　to　try　and
enlist　for　the　duration　of　the　warswear　off　for　that　long；
anyhow。　　Then；　maybe；　I'd　be　able　to　keep　on　for　life；　you　know
duration　of　Labe　Keeler；　eh？　　Yes；　yes；　yes。　　But　I　could　begin　for
just　the　war；　couldn't　I？　　Maybe；　'twould　fool　me　into　thinkin'
that　was　easier。〃

〃Of　course；　Labe。　　It's　a　good　idea。〃

〃Maybe；　and　maybe　it's　a　fool　one。　　But　I'm　goin'　to　try　it。　　I　AM
tryin'　it；　have　been　all　day。〃

He　paused；　drew　a　shaking　hand　across　his　forehead　and　then　asked；
〃Al；　will　you　help　me？　　I　asked　you　up　here　hopin'　you　would。　　Will
you；　Al；　eh？　　Will　you？〃

Albert　could　not　understand　how　he　could　possibly　help　another　man
keep　the　pledge；　but　his　promise　was　eagerly　given。

〃Certainly；　Labe；〃　he　said。

〃Thanks　。　。　。　thank　you；　Al。　。　。　。　　And　now　will　you　do　something
for　mea　favor？〃

〃Gladly。　　What　is　it？〃

Laban　did　not　answer　at　once。　　He　appeared　to　be　on　the　point　of
doing　so；　but　to　be　struggling　either　to　find　words　or　to　overcome
a　tremendous　reluctance。　　When　he　did　speak　the　words　came　in　a
burst。

〃Go　down　stairs；〃　he　cried。　　〃Down　those　stairs　you　came　up。　　At
the　foot　of　'em；　in　a　kind　of　cupboard　place；　under　'em；　there's
there　probably　is　a　jug；　a　full　jug。　　It　was　due　to　come　by　express
to…day　and　I　cal'late　it　did；　cal'late　Jim　Young　fetched　it　down
this　afternoon。　　II　could　have　looked　for　myself　and　seen　if
'twas　there；〃　he　added；　after　a　momentary　hesitation；　〃butbut　I
didn't　dare　to。　　I　was　afraid　I'dI'd〃

〃All　right；　Labe。　　I　understand。　　What　do　you　want　me　to　do　with　it
if　it　is　there？〃

〃I　want　youI　want　you　toto〃　　The　little　bookkeeper　seemed　to
be　fighting　another　internal　battle　between　inclination　and
resolution。　　The　latter　won；　for　he　finished　with；　〃I　want　you　to
take　it　out　back　of　the　buildin'　andand　empty　it。　　That's　what　I
want　you　to　do；　empty　it；　Al；　every　drop。　。　。　。　　And；　for　the
Almighty's　sake；　go　quick；〃　he　ordered；　desperately；　〃or　I'll　tell
you　not　to　before　you　start。　　Go！〃

Albert　went。　　He　fumbled　in　the　cupboard　under　the　stairs；　found
the　juga　large　one　and　heavyand　hastened　out　into　the　night
with　it　in　his　hands。　　Behind　the　shoe　store；　amid　a　heap　of　old
packing　boxes　and　other　rubbish；　he　emptied　it。　　The　process　was
rather　lengthy　and　decidedly　fragrant。　　As　a　finish　he　smashed　the
jug　with　a　stone。　　Then　he　climbed　the　stairs　again。

Laban　was　waiting　for　him；　drops　of　perspiration　upon　his　forehead。

〃Waswas　it　there？〃　he　demanded。

Albert　nodded。

〃Yes；　yes。　　'Twas　there；　eh？　　And　did　youdid　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；　jug　and　all。〃

〃Thank　you；　Al　。　。　。　thank　you　。　。　。　　II've　been　trying　to　muster
up　spunk　enough　to　do　it　myself；　butbut　I　swan　I　couldn't。　　I
didn't　dast　to　go　nigh　it　。　。　。　　I'm　a　fine　specimen；　ain't　I；
now？〃　he　added；　with　a　twisted　smile。　　〃Some　coward；　eh？　　Yes；　yes。
Some　coward。〃

Albert；　realizing　a　little　of　the　fight　the　man　was　making；　was
affected　by　it。　　〃You're　a　brick；　Labe；〃　he　declared；　heartily。
〃And　as　for　being　a　coward　　Well；　if　I　am　half　as　brave　when　my
turn　comes　I　shall　be　satisfied。〃

Laban　shook　his　head。　　〃I　don't　know　how　scared　I'd　be　of　a　German
bombshell；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'm　everlastin'　sure　I　wouldn't　run　from
it　for　fear　of　runnin'　towards　it；　and　that's　how　I　felt　about　that
jug。　。　。　。　　Yes；　yes；　yes。　　I　did　so　。　。　。　　I'm　much　obliged　to
you；　Al。　　I　shan't　forget　itno；　no。　　I　cal'late　you　can　trot
along　home　now；　if　you　want　to。　　I'm　pretty　safefor　to…night；
anyhow。　　Guess　likely　the　new　recruit　won't　desert　afore　morning。〃

But　Albert；　watching　him　intently；　refused　to　go。

〃I'm　going　to　stay　for　a　while；　Labe；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　not　a　bit
sleepy；　really。　　Let's　have　a　smoke　and　talk　together。　　That　is；　of
course；　unless　you　want　to　go　to　bed。〃

Mr。　Keeler　smiled　his　twisted　smile。　　〃I　ain't　crazy　to；〃　he　said。
〃The　way　I　feel　now　I'd　get　to　sleep　about　week　after　next。　　But　I
hadn't　ought　to　keep　you　up；　Al。〃

〃Rubbish！　I'm　not　sleepy；　I　tell　you。　　Sit　down。　　Have　a　cigar。
Now　what　shall　we　talk　about？　　How　would　books　do？　　What　have　you
been　reading　lately；　Labe？〃

They　smoked　and　talked　books　until　nearly　two。　　Then　Laban　insisted
upon　his　guest　departing。　　〃I'm　all　right；　Al〃　he　declared；
earnestly。　　〃I　am　honestyes；　yes；　I　am。　　I'll　go　to　sleep　like　a
lamb；　yes　indeed。〃

〃You'll　be　at　the　office　in　the　morning；　won't　you；　Labe？〃

The　little　bookkeeper　nodded。　　〃I'll　be　there；〃　he　said。　　〃Got　to
answer　roll　call　the　first　mornin'　after　enlistment。　　Yes；　yes。
I'll　be　there；　Al。〃

He　was　there；　but　he　did　not　look　as　if　his　indulgence　in　the　lamb…
like　sleep　had　been　excessive。　　He　was　so　pale　and　haggard　that　his
assistant　was　alarmed。

〃You're　not　sick；　are　you；　Labe？〃　he　asked；　anxiously。　　Laban　shook
his　head。

〃No；〃　he　said。　　〃No；　I　ain't　sick。　　Been　doin'　picket　duty　up　and
down　the　room　since　half　past　three；　that's　all。　　Um…hm；　that's
all。　　Say；　Al；　if　General　what's…his…nameervon　Hindenburgis
any　harder　scrapper　than　old　Field　Marshal　Barleycorn　he's　a　pretty
tough　one。　　Say；　Al；　you　didn't　say　anything　aboutabout　myer
enlistin'　to　Cap'n　Lote；　did　you？　　I　meant　to　ask　you　not　to。〃

〃I　didn't；　Labe。　　I　thought　you　might　want　it　kept　a　secret。〃

〃Um…hm。　　Better　keep　it　in　the　ranks　until　we　know　how　this　first
erskirmish　is　comin'　out。　　Yes；　yes。　　Better　keep　it　that　way。
Um…hm。〃

All　day　he　stuck　manfully　at　his　task　and　that　evening；　immediately
after　supper；　Albert　went　to　the　room　over　the　shoe　store；　found
him　there　and　insisted　upon　his　coming　over　to　call　upon　Rachel。
He　had　not　intended　doing　so。

〃You　see；　Al；〃　he　explained；　〃I'mI'm　kind　ofershaky　and
Rachel　will　be　worried；　I'm　afraid。　　She　knows　me　pretty　well　and
she'll　cal'late　I'm　just　gettin'　ready　toto　bust　loose　again。〃

Albert　interrupted。　　〃No；　she　won't；　Laban；〃　he　said。　　〃We'll　show
her　that　you're　not。〃

〃You　won't　say　anything　to　her　about　myerenlistin'；　Al？　　Don't。
No；　no。　　I've　promised　her　too　many　timesand　broke　the　promises。
If　anything　should　come　of　this　fight　of　mine　I'd　rather　she'd　find
it　out　for　herself。　　Better　to　surprise　her　than　to　disapp'int　her。
Yes；　yes；　lots　better。〃

Albert　promised　not　to　tell　Rachel　and　so　Laban　made　his　call。
When　it　was　over　the　young　man　walked　home　with　him　and　the　pair
sat　and　talked　until　after　midnight；　just　as　on　the　previous　night。
The　following　evening　it　was　much　the　same；　except　that；　as　Mr。
Keeler　pronounced　himself　more　than　usually　〃shaky〃　and　expressed　a
desire　to　〃keep　movin'；〃　they　walked　half　way　to　Orham　and　back
before　parting。　　By　the　end　of　the　week　Laban　declared　the　fight
wonfor　the　time。

〃You've　pulled　me　through　the　fust　tussle；　Al；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shan't
desert　now；　not　till　the　next　break…out；　anyhow。　　I　cal'late　it'll
get　me　harder　than　ever　then。　　Harder　than　everyes；　yes。　　And　you
won't　be　here　to　help　me；　neither。〃

〃Never　mind；　I　shall　be　thinking　of　you；　Labe。　　And　I　know　you're
going　to　win。　　I　feel　it　in　my　bones。〃

〃Um…hm。　。　。　。　　Yes；　yes；　yes。　。　。　　In　your　bones；　eh？　　Well；　MY
bones　don't　seem　to　feel　much；　except　rheumatics　once　in　a　while。
I　hope　yours　are　better　prophets；　but　I　wouldn't　want　to　bet　too
high　on　it。　　No；　I　wouldn'tno；　no。　　However；　we'll　do　our　best；
and　they　say　angels　can't　do　any　morethough　they'd　probably　do　it
in　a　different　way　。　。　。　some　different。　。