the portygee-第74节

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exaggeration　there；〃　he　added；　with　a　grin。　　〃It　takes　about　all　my
gumption　when　I'm　wide　awake　to　turn　the　flivver　around　in　a　narrow
road；　but　I　manage　to　do　it。　。　。　。　　Well；　what　are　you　doin'　in
here；　Al？〃　he　added。　　〃Readin'　the　Item's　prophesy　about　how　big
your　majority's　goin'　to　be？〃

Albert　smiled。　　〃I　dropped　in　here　to　wait　for　you；　Grandfather；〃
he　replied。　　〃The　novel…writing　mill　wasn't　working　particularly
well；　so　I　gave　it　up　and　took　a　walk。〃

〃To　the　parsonage；　I　presume　likely？〃

〃Well；　I　did　stop　there　for　a　minute　or　two。〃

〃You　don't　say！　　I'm　surprised　to　hear　it。　　How　is　Helen　this
mornin'？　　Did　she　think　you'd　changed　much　since　you　saw　her　last
night？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　She　didn't　say　so　if　she　did。　　She　sent　her　love　to
you　and　Grandmother〃

〃What　she　had　left　over；　you　mean。〃

〃And　said　to　tell　you　not　to　tire　yourself　out　electioneering　for
me。　　That　was　good　advice；　too。　　Grandfather；　don't　you　know　that
you　shouldn't　motor　all　the　way　to　Trumet　and　back　a　morning　like
this？　　I'd　rathermuch　rather　go　without　the　votes　than　have　you
do　such　things。〃

Captain　Zelotes　seated　himself　in　his　desk　chair。

〃But　you　ain't　goin'　to　do　without　'em；〃　he　chuckled。　　Obed　Nye
he's　chairman　of　the　Trumet　committeefiggers　you'll　have　a　five…
to…one　majority。　　He　told　me　to　practice　callin'　you　'the
Honorable'　because　that's　what　you'd　be　by　Tuesday　night　of　week
after　next。　　And　next　winter　Mother　and　I　will　be　takin'　a　trip　to
Washin'ton　so　as　to　set　in　the　gallery　and　listen　to　you　makin'
speeches。　　We'll　be　some　consider'ble　proud　of　you；　too；　boy；〃　he
added；　with　a　nod。

His　grandson　looked　away；　out　of　the　window；　over　the　bleak　yard
with　its　piles　of　lumber。　　The　voice　of　Issacher　raised　in
expostulation　with　the　driver　of　Cahoon's　〃truck…wagon〃　could　be
faintly　heard。

〃I　shall　hate　to　leave　you　and　Grandmother　and　the　old　place；〃　he
said。　　〃If　I　am　elected〃

〃WHEN　you're　elected；　there　isn't　any　'if。'〃

〃Well；　all　right。　　I　shall　hate　to　leave　South　Harniss。　　Every
person　I　really　care　for　will　be　here。　　Helenand　you　people　at
home。〃

〃It's　too　bad　you　and　Helen　can't　be　married　and　go　to　Washin'ton
together。　　Not　to　stay　permanent；〃　he　added　quickly；　〃but　just
while　Congress　is　in　session。　　Your　grandma　says　then　she'd　feel　as
if　you　had　somebody　to　look　after　you。　　She　always　figgers；　you
know；　that　a　man　ain't　capable　of　lookin'　out　for　himself。　　There'd
ought　to　be　at　least　one　woman　to　take　care　of　him；　see　that　he
don't　get　his　feet　wet　and　goes　to　meetin'　reg'lar　and　so　on；　if
there　could　be　two；　so　much　the　better。　　Mother　would　have　made　a
pretty　good　Mormon；　in　some　ways。〃

Albert　laughed。　　〃Helen　feels　she　must　stay　with　her　father　for　the
present；〃　he　said。　　〃Of　course　she　is　right。　　Perhaps　by　and　by　we
can　find　some　good　capable　housekeeper　to　share　the　responsibility；
but　not　this　winter。　　IF　I　am　sent　to　Washington　I　shall　come　back
often；　you　may　be　sure。〃

〃When　ARE　you　cal'latin'　to　be　married；　if　that　ain't　a　secret？〃

〃Perhaps　next　spring。　　Certainly　next　fall。　　It　will　depend　upon
Mr。　Kendall's　health。　　But；　Grandfather；　I　do　feel　rather　like　a
deserter；　going　off　and　leaving　you　here〃

〃Good　Lord！　　You　don't　cal'late　I'M　breakin'　down；　runnin'　strong
to　talk　and　weakenin'　everywhere　else；　like　old　Minister　Kendall；
do　you？〃

〃Well；　hardly。　　But　。　。　。　well；　you　see；　I　have　felt　a　little
ungrateful　ever　since　I　came　back　from　the　war。　　In　a　way　I　am
sorry　that　I　feel　I　must　give　myself　entirely　to　my　writingand　my
political　work。　　I　wish　I　might　have　gone　on　here　in　this　office；
accepted　that　partnership　you　would　have　given　me〃

〃You　can　have　it　yet；　you　know。　　Might　take　it　and　just　keep　it　to
fall　back　on　in　case　that　story…mill　of　yours　busts　altogether　or
all　hands　in　Ostable　County　go　crazy　and　vote　the　wrong　ticket。
Just　take　it　and　wait。　　Always　well　to　have　an　anchor　ready　to　let
go；　you　know。〃

〃Thanks；　but　that　wouldn't　be　fair。　　I　wish　I　MIGHT　have　taken　it
for　your　sake。　　I　wish　for　your　sake　I　were　so　constituted　as　to　be
good　for　something　at　it。　　Of　course　I　don't　mean　by　that　that　I
should　be　willing　to　give　up　my　writingbutwell；　you　see；
Grandfather；　I　owe　you　an　awful　lot　in　this　world　。　。　。　and　I　know
you　had　set　your　heart　on　my　being　your　partner　in　Z。　Snow　and　Co。
I　know　you're　disappointed。〃

Captain　Lote　did　not　answer　instantly。　　He　seemed　to　be　thinking。
Then　he　opened　a　drawer　in　his　desk　and　took　out　a　box　of　cigars
similar　to　those　he　had　offered　the　Honorable　Fletcher　Fosdick　on
the　occasion　of　their　memorable　interview。

〃Smoke；　Al？〃　he　asked。　　Albert　declined　because　of　the　nearness　to
dinner　time；　but　the　captain；　who　never　permitted　meals　or　anything
else　to　interfere　with　his　smoking；　lighted　one　of　the　cigars　and
leaned　back　in　his　chair；　puffing　steadily。

〃We…ll；　Al；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃I'll　tell　you　about　that。　　There　was
a　timeI'll　own　up　that　there　was　a　time　when　the　idea　you　wasn't
goin'　to　turn　out　a　business　man　and　the　partner　who　would　take
over　this　concern　after　I　got　my　clearance　papers　was　a　notion　I
wouldn't　let　myself　think　of　for　a　minute。　　I　wouldn't　THINK　of　it；
that's　all。　　But　I've　changed　my　mind　about　that；　as　I　have　about
some　other　things。〃　　He　paused；　tugged　at　his　beard；　and　then
added；　〃And　I　guess　likely　I　might　as　well　own　up　to　the　whole
truth　while　I'm　about　it：　　I　didn't　change　it　because　I　wanted　to；
but　because　I　couldn't　help　it'twas　changed　for　me。〃

He　made　this　statement　more　as　if　he　were　thinking　aloud　than　as　if
he　expected　a　reply。　　A　moment　later　he　continued。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃'twas　changed　for　me。　　And；〃　with　a　shrug；
〃I'd　rather　prided　myself　that　when　my　mind　was　made　up　it　stayed
that　way。　　Butbut；　well；　consarn　it；　I've　about　come　to　the
conclusion　that　I　was　a　pig…headed　old　fool；　Al；　in　some　ways。〃

〃Nonsense；　Grandfather。　　You　are　the　last　man　to〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　a　candidate　for　the　feeble…minded　school。　　There
ain't　been　any　Snows　put　there　that　I　can　remember；　not　our　branch
of　'em；　anyhow。　　But；　consarn　it；　II〃　he　was　plainly　finding
it　hard　to　express　his　thought；　〃Iwell；　I　used　to　think　I　knew
consider'ble；　had　what　I　liked　to　think　was　good；　hard　sense。
'Twas　hard　enough；　I　cal'latepretty　nigh　petrified　in　spots。〃

Albert　laid　a　hand　on　his　knee。

〃Don't　talk　like　that；〃　he　replied　impulsively。　　〃I　don't　like　to
hear　you。〃

〃Don't　you？　　Then　I　won't。　　But；　you　see；　Al；　it　bothers　me。　　Look
how　I　used　to　talk　about　makin'　up　poetry　and　writin'　yarns　and　all
that。　　Used　to　call　it　silliness　and　a　waste　of　time；　I　didworse
names　than　that；　generally。　　And　look　what　you're　makin'　at　it　in
money；　to　say　nothin'　of　its　shovin'　you　into　Congress；　and　keepin'
the　newspapers　busy　printin'　stuff　about　you。　。　。　。　　Well；　well；〃
with　a　sigh　of　resignation；　〃I　don't　understand　it　yet；　but　know
it's　so；　and　if　I'd　had　my　pig…headed　way　'twouldn't　have　been　so。
It's　a　dreadful　belittlin'　feelin'　to　a　man　at　my　time　of　life；　a
man　that's　commanded　ten…thousand…ton　steamers　and　handled　crews
and　bossed　a　business　like　this。　　It　makes　him　wonder　how　many
other　fool　things　he's　done。　。　。　。　　Why；　do　you　know；　Al；〃　he
added；　in　a　sudden　burst　of　confidence；　〃I　was　consider'ble
prejudiced　against　you　when　you　first　came　here。〃

He　made　the　statement　as　if　he　expected　it　to　come　as　a　stunning
surprise。　　Albert　would　not　have　laughed　for　the　world；　nor　in　one
way　did　he　feel　like　it；　but　it　was　funny。

〃Well；　perhaps　you　were；　a　little；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃I　don't
wonder。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　just　because　you　was　your　father's　son。　　I　mean
on　your　own　account；　in　a　way。　　Somehow；　you　see；　I　couldn't
believeeh？　　Oh；　come　in；　Labe！　　It's　all　right。　　Al　and　I　are
just　talkin'　about　nothin'　in　particular　and　all　creation　in
general。〃

Mr。　Keeler　entered　with　a　paper　in　his　hand。

〃Sorry　to　bother　you；　Cap'n　Lote；〃　he　said；　〃but　this　bill　of　Colby
and　Sons　for　that　last　lot　of　hardware　ain't　accordin'　to　agreement。
The　prices　on　those　butts　ain't　right；　and　neither's　those　half…inch
screws。　　Better　send　it　back　to　em；　eh？〃

Captain　Zelotes　inspected　the　bill。

〃Humph！〃　he　grunted。　　〃You're　right；　Labe。　　You　generally　are；　I
notice。　　Yes；　send　it　back　and　tell　'emanything　you　want　to。〃

Laban　smiled。　　〃I　want　to；　all　right；〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　the　third
time　they've　sent　wrong　bills　inside　of　two　months。　　Well；　Al；〃
turning　toward　him；　〃I　cal'late　this　makes　you　kind　of　homesick；
don't　it；　this　talk　about　bills　and　screws　and　bolts　and　such？
Wa'n't　teasin'　for　your　old　job　back　again；　was　you；　Al？　　Cal'late
he　could　have　it；　couldn't　he；　Cap'n？　　We'll　need　somebody　to　heave
a　bucket　of　water　on　Issy　pretty　soon；　he's　gettin'　kind　of　pert
and　uppish　again。　　Pretty　much　so。　　Yes；　yes；　yes。〃

He　departed；　chuckling。　　Captain　Zelotes　looked　after　him。　　He
tugged　at　his　beard。

〃Al；〃　he　said；　〃do　you　know　what　I've　about　made　up　my　mind　to　do？〃

Albert　shook　his　head。

〃I've　about　made　up　my　mind　to　take　Labe　Keeler　into　the　firm　of
Z。　Snow　and　Co。　　YOU　won't　come　in；　and；〃　with　a　twinkle；　〃I　need
somebody　to　keep　my　name　from　getti