vera, the medium-第9章

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was　equaled　only　by　her　awe　of　her。　On　this　particular
afternoon；　although　it　already　was　after　five　o'clock；　Mrs。
Vance　still　wore　a　short　dressing　sack；　open　at　the　throat；　and
heavy　with　somewhat　soiled　lace。　But　her　blonde　hair　was　freshly
〃marcelled；〃　and　her　nails　pink　and　shining。　In　the　absence　of
Vera；　she　was　making　a　surreptitious　and　guilty　use　of　the
telephone。　From　the　fact　that　in　her　left　hand　she　held　the
morning　telegraph　open　at　the　〃previous　performances〃　of　the
horses；　and　that　the　page　had　been　cruelly　lacerated　by　a　hat
pin；　it　was　fair　to　suppose　that　whoever　was　at　the　other　end　of
the　wire；　was　tempting　her　with　the　closing　odds　at　the　races。

In　her　speculations；　she　was　interrupted　by　〃Mannie〃　Day；　who
entered　softy　through　the　door　from　the　hall。

〃Mannie〃　Day　was　a　youth　of　twenty…four。　It　was　his　heart's
desire　to　be　a　〃Broadwayard。〃　He　wanted　to　know　all　of　those；
and　to　be　known　only　by　those；　who　moved　between　the　giant
pillars　that　New　York　threw　into　the　sky　to　mark　her　progress
North。

He　knew　the　soiled　White　Way　as　the　oldest　inhabitant　knows　the
single　street　of　the　village。　He　knew　it　from　the　Rathskellers
underground；　to　the　roof　gardens　in　the　sky；　in　his　firmament
the　stars　were　the　electric　advertisements　over　Long　Acre
Square；　his　mother　earth　was　asphalt；　the　breath　of　his　nostrils
gasolene；　the　telegraph　was　his　Bible。　His　grief　was　that　no　one
in　the　Tenderloin　would　take　him　seriously；　would　believe　him
wicked；　wise；　predatory。　They　might　love　him；　they　might　laugh
with　him；　they　might　clamor　for　his　company；　in　no　flat　that
could　boast　a　piano；　was　he　not；　on　his　entrance；　greeted　with　a
shout；　but　the　real　Knights　of　the　Highway　treated　him　always　as
the　questioning；　wide…eyed　child。　In　spite　of　his　after…midnight
pallor；　in　spite　of　his　honorable　scars　of　dissipation；　it　was
his　misfortune　to　be　cursed　with　a　smile　that　was　a　perpetual
plea　of　〃not　guilty。〃

〃What　can　you　expect？〃　an　outspoken　friend；　who　made　a　living　as
a　wireless　wire　tapper；　had　once　pointed　out　to　him。　〃That　smile
of　yours　could　open　a　safe。　It　could　make　a　show　girl　give　up
money！　It's　an　alibi　for　everything　from　overspeeding　to
murder。〃

Mannie；　as　he　listened；　flushed　with　mortification。　From　that
moment　he　determined　that　his　life　should　be　devoted　to　giving
the　lie　to　that　smile；　to　that　outward　and　visible　sign　of
kindness；　good　will；　and　innate　innocence。　As　yet；　he　had　not
succeeded。

He　interrupted　Mabel　at　the　telephone　to　inquire　the　whereabouts
of　Vera。　〃There's　two　girls　in　there；　now；〃　he　said；　〃waiting　to
have　their　fortunes　doped。〃

〃Let'em　wait！〃　exclaimed　Mabel。　〃Vera's　upstairs　dressing。〃　In
her　eyes　was　the　baleful　glare　of　the　plunger。　〃What　was　that
you　give　me　in　the　third　race？〃

At　the　first　touch　of　the　ruling　passion；　what　interest　Mannie
may　have　felt　for　the　impatient　visitors　vanished。　〃Not　in　the
third；〃　he　corrected　briskly。　〃Keene　entry　win　the　third。〃

Mabel　appealed　breathlessly　to　the　telephone。　〃What　price　the
Keene　entry　in　the　third？〃　She　turned　to　Mannie　with　reproachful
eyes。　〃Even　money！〃　she　complained。

〃That's　what　I　told　you；〃　retorted　Mannie。　He　lowered　his　voice；
and　gazed　apprehensively　toward　the　front　parlor。　〃If　you　want　a
really　good　thing；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely；　〃ask　Joe　what
Pompadour　is　in　the　fifth！〃　Mabel　laughed　scornfully；
disappointedly。

〃Pompadour！〃　she　mocked。

〃That's　right！〃　cried　the　expert。　〃That's　the　one　daily　hint
from　Paris　today。　Joe　will　give　you　thirty　to　one。〃

Upon　the　defenseless　woman　he　turned　the　full　force　of　his
accursed　smile。　〃Put　five　on　for　me；　Mabel？〃　he　begged。

With　unexpected　determination　of　character　Mabel　declared
sharply　that　she　would　do　nothing　of　the　sort。

〃Two；　then？〃　entreated　the　boy。

〃Where；〃　demanded　Mabel　unfeelingly；　〃is　the　twenty　you　owe　me
now？〃

The　abruptness　of　this　unsportsmanlike　blow　below　the　belt
caused　Mannie　to　wince。

〃How　do　I　know　where　it　is？〃　he　protested。　〃As　long　as　you
haven't　got　it；　why　do　you　care　where　it　is？〃　He　heard　the　door
from　the　hall　open　and；　turning；　saw　Vera。　He　appealed　to　her。
〃Vera；〃　he　cried；　〃You'll　loan　me　two　dollars？　I　stand　to　win
sixty。　I'll　give　you　thirty。〃

Vera　looked　inquiringly　at　Mabel。　〃What　is　it；　Mabel；：〃　she
asked；　〃a　hand　book？〃

Mrs。　Vance　nodded　guiltily。

〃Mannie！〃　exclaimed　Vera　gently　but　reproachfully；　〃I　told　you　I
wouldn't　loan　you　any　more　money　till　you　paid　Mabel　what　you've
borrowed。〃

〃How　can　I　pay　Mabel　what　I　borrowed；〃　demanded　Mannie；　if　I
can't　borrow　the　money　from　you　to　pay　her？　Only　two　dollars；
Vera！〃

Vera　nodded　to　Mabel。

Mabel；　at　the　phone；　called；　〃Two　dollars　on　Pompadour　　to　
win　　for　Mannie　Day；〃　and　rang　off。

〃That　makes　thirty　for　you；〃　exclaimed　Mannie　enthusiastically；
〃and　twenty　I　owe　to　Mabel；　and　that　leaves　me　ten。〃

Mrs。　Vance；　no　longer　occupied　in　the　whirlpool　of　speculation；
for　the　first　time　observed　that　Vera　had　changed　her　matronly
robe　of　black　lace　for　a　short　white　skirt　and　a　white
shirtwaist。　She　noted　also　that　there　was　a　change　in　Vera's
face　and　manner。　She　gave　an　impression　of　nervous　eagerness；　of
unrest。　Her　smile　seemed　more　appealing；　wistful；　girlish。　She
looked　like　a　child　of　fourteen。

But　Mabel　was　concerned　more　especially　with　the　robe　of　virgin
white。

For　the　month；　which　was　July；　the　costume　was　appropriate；　but；
in　the　opinion　of　Mabel；　in　no　way　suited　to　the　priestess　of
the　occult　and　the　mysterious。

〃Why；　Vera！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Vance；　〃whatever　have　you　got　on？
Ain't　you　going　to　receive　visitors？　There's　ten　dollars　waiting
in　there　now。〃

In　sudden　apprehension；　Vera　looked　down　at　her　spotless
garments。

〃Don't　I　look　nice？〃　she　begged。

〃Of　course　you　look　nice；　dearie；〃　Mabel　assured　her；　〃but　you
don't　look　like　no　fortune　teller。〃

〃If　you　want　to　know　what　you　look　like；〃　said　Mannie　sternly；
〃you　look　like　one　of　the　waiter　girls　at　Childs's　　that's
what　you　look　like。〃

〃And　your　crown！〃　exclaimed　Mabel；　〃and　your　kimono。　Ain't　you
going　to　wear　your　kimono？〃

She　hastened　to　the　cabinet　and　produced　the　cloak　of　black
velvet　and　spangles；　and　the　silver…gilt　crown。

〃No；　I　am　not！〃　declared　Vera。　She　wore　the　frightened　look　of　a
mutinous　child。　〃I　　I　look　so　　foolish　in　them！〃

Such　heresy　caused　Mannie　to　gasp　aloud；　〃You　look　grand　in
them；〃　he　protested；　〃don't　she；　Mabel？〃

〃Sure　she　does；〃　assented　that　lady。

〃And　your　junk？〃　demanded　Mannie；　referring　to　the　jade　necklace
and　the　gold…　plated　bracelets。　His　eyes　opened　in　sympathy。
〃You　haven't　pawned　them；　have　you？〃

〃Pawned　them？〃　laughed　Vera；　〃I　couldn't　get　anything　on　them！〃
As　the　only　masculine　point　of　view　available；　she　appealed　to
Mannie　wistfully。　〃Don't　you　like　me　better　this　way；　Mannie？〃
she　begged。

But　that　critic　protested　violently。

〃Not　a　bit　like　it；〃　he　cried。　〃Now；　in　the　gold　tiara　and　the
spangled　opera　cloak；〃　he　differentiated；　〃you　look　like　a
picture　postal　card！　You　got　Lotta　Faust's　blue　skirt　back　to
Levey's。　But　not　in　the　white　goods！〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly；
firmly。　〃You　look；　now；　like　you　was　made　up　for　a　May…day
picnic　in　the　Bronx；　and　they'd　picked　on　you　to　be　Queen　of　the
May。〃

Mabel　carried　the　much…admired　opera　cloak　to　Vera；　and　held　it
out；　tempting　her。　〃You'll　wear　it；　just　to　please　me　and
Mannie；　won't　you；　dearie？〃　she　begged。　Vera　retreated　before　it
as　though　it　held　the　germs　of　contagion。

〃I　will　not；〃　she　rebelled。　〃I　hate　it！　When　I　have　that　on；　I
feel　　mean。　I　feel　as　mean　as　though　I　were　picking　pennies
out　of　a　blind　man's　hat。〃　Mannie　roared　with　delight。

〃Gee！〃　he　shouted；　〃but　that's　a　hot　one。〃

〃Besides；〃　said　Vera　consciously；　〃I'm　　I'm　expecting　some
one。〃

The　manner　more　than　the　words　thrilled　Mabel　with　the　most
joyful　expectations。

She　exclaimed　excitedly。　〃A　gentleman　friend；　Vera？〃　she　asked。

That　Vera　shunned　all　young　men　had　been　to　Mabel　a　source　of
wonder　and　of　pride。　Even　when　the　young　men　were　the　friends　of
her　husband　and　of　herself；　the　preoccupied　manner　with　which
Vera　received　them　did　not　provok