the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第19章
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One morning； about a week after my admission into the secret order；
the quiet citizens awoke to find that the signboards of all the principal
streets had changed places during the night。 People who went trustfully to
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sleep in Currant Square opened their eyes in Honeysuckle Terrace。 Jones's
Avenue at the north end had suddenly become Walnut Street； and Peanut
Street was nowhere to be found。 Confusion reigned。 The town authorities
took the matter in hand without delay； and six of the Temple Grammar
School boys were summoned to appear before justice Clapbam。
Having tearfully disclaimed to my grandfather all knowledge of the
transaction； I disappeared from the family circle； and was not apprehended
until late in the afternoon； when the Captain dragged me ignominiously
from the haymow and conducted me； more dead than alive； to the office of
justice Clapham。 Here I encountered five other pallid culprits； who had
been fished out of divers coal…bins； garrets； and chicken…coops； to answer
the demands of the outraged laws。 （Charley Marden had hidden himself in
a pile of gravel behind his father's house； and looked like a recently
exhumed mummy。）
There was not the least evidence against us； and； indeed； we were
wholly innocent of the offence。 The trick； as was afterwards proved； had
been played by a party of soldiers stationed at the fort in the harbor。 We
were indebted for our arrest to Master Conway； who had slyly dropped a
hint； within the hearing of Selectman Mudge； to the effect that 〃young
Bailey and his five cronies could tell something about 20them signs。〃
When he was called upon to make good his assertion； he was considerably
more terrified than the Centipedes； though they were ready to sink into
their shoes。
At our next meeting it was unanimously resolved that Conway's
animosity should not be quietly submitted to。 He had sought to inform
against us in the stagecoach business； he had volunteered to carry
Pettingil's 〃little bill〃 for twenty…four icecreams to Charley Marden's
father； and now he had caused us to be arraigned before justice Clapham
on a charge equally groundless and painful。 After much noisy discussion； a
plan of retaliation was agreed upon。
There was a certain slim； mild apothecary in the town； by the name of
Meeks。 It was generally given out that Mr。 Meeks had a vague desire to
get married； but； being a shy and timorous youth； lacked the moral
courage to do so。 It was also well known that the Widow Conway had not
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buried her heart with the late lamented。 As to her shyness； that was not so
clear。 Indeed； her attentions to Mr。 Meeks； whose mother she might have
been； were of a nature not to be misunderstood； and were not
misunderstood by anyone but Mr。 Meeks himself。
The widow carried on a dress…making establishment at her residence
on the comer opposite Meeks's drug…store； and kept a wary eye on all the
young ladies from Miss Dorothy Gibbs's Female Institute who patronized
the shop for soda…water； aciddrops； and slate…pencils。 In the afternoon the
widow was usually seen seated； smartly dressed； at her window upstairs；
casting destructive glances across the street…the artificial roses in her cap
and her whole languishing manner saying as plainly as a label on a
prescription； 〃To be Taken Immediately！〃 But Mr。 Meeks didn't take。
The lady's fondness； and the gentleman's blindness； were topics ably
handled at every sewing…circle in the town。 It was through these two
luckless individuals that we proposed to strike a blow at the common
enemy。 To kill less than three birds with one stone did not suit our
sanguinary purpose。 We disliked the widow not so much for her
sentimentality as for being the mother of Bill Conway； we disliked Mr。
Meeks； not because he was insipid； like his own syrups； but because the
widow loved him。 Bill Conway we hated for himself。
Late one dark Saturday night in September we carried our plan into
effect。 On the following morning； as the orderly citizens wended their way
to church past the widow's abode； their sober faces relaxed at beholding
over her front door the well known gilt Mortar and Pestle which usually
stood on the top of a pole on the opposite corner； while the passers on that
side of the street were equally amused and scandalized at seeing a placard
bearing the following announcement tacked to the druggist's window…
shutters：
Wanted； a Sempstress！
The naughty cleverness of the joke （which I should be sorry to defend）
was recognized at once。 It spread like wildfire over the town； and； though
the mortar and the placard were speedily removed； our triumph was
complete。 The whole community was on the broad grin； and our
participation in the affair seemingly unsuspected。
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It was those wicked soldiers at the fort！
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CHAPTER Ten
I Fight Conway
There was one person； however； who cherished a strong suspicion that
the Centipedes had had a hand in the business； and that person was
Conway。 His red hair seemed to change to a livelier red； and his sallow
cheeks to a deeper sallow； as we glanced at him stealthily over the tops of
our slates the next day in school。 He knew we were watching him； and
made sundry mouths and scowled in the most threatening way over his
sums。
Conway had an accomplishment peculiarly his own…that of throwing
his thumbs out of joint at will。 Sometimes while absorbed in study； or on
becoming nervous at recitation； he performed the feat unconsciously。
Throughout this entire morning his thumbs were observed to be in a
chronic state of dislocation； indicating great mental agitation on the part of
the owner。 We fully expected an outbreak from him at recess； but the
intermission passed off tranquilly； somewhat to our disappointment。
At the close of the afternoon session it happened that Binny Wallace
and myself； having got swamped in our Latin exercise； were detained in
school for the purpose of refreshing our memories with a page of Mr。
Andrews's perplexing irregular verbs。 Binny Wallace finishing his task
first； was dismissed。 I followed shortly after； and； on stepping into the
playground； saw my little friend plastered； as it were； up against the fence；
and Conway standing in front of him ready to deliver a blow on the
upturned； unprotected face； whose gentleness would have stayed any arm
but a coward's。
Seth Rodgers； w
