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第15章

the riverman-第15章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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Finally the gamblers yielded。  A canvass of the drawer; helped out 

by the bar and the other games; made up the sum。  It bulked large on 

the table beside Orde's higher denominations。



The interested audience now consisted of the dozen men comprised by 

Orde's friends; nearly twice as many strangers; evidently rivermen; 

eight hangers…on of the joint; probably fighters and 〃bouncers〃; 

half a dozen professional gamblers; and several waitresses。  The 

four barkeepers still held their positions。  Of these; the rivermen 

were scattered loosely back of Orde; although Orde's own friends had 

by now gathered compactly enough at his shoulder。  The mercenaries 

and gamblers had divided; and flanked the table at either side。  

Newmark; a growing wonder and disgust creeping into his usually 

unexpressive face; recognised the strategic advantage of this 

arrangement。  In case of difficulty; a determined push would 

separate the rivermen from the gamblers long enough for the latter 

to disappear quietly through the small door at the back。



〃Satisfied?〃 inquired the gambler briefly。



〃Let her flicker;〃 replied Orde with equal brevity。



A gasp of anticipation went up。  Quite coolly the gambler made his 

passes。  With equal coolness and not the slightest hesitation; Orde 

planted his great red fist on one of the cards。



〃That is the jack;〃 he announced; looking the gambler in the eye。



〃Oh; is it?〃 sneered the dealer。  〃Well; turn it over and let's 

see。〃



〃No!〃 roared Orde。  〃YOU TURN OVER THE OTHER TWO!〃



A low oath broke from the gambler; and his face contorted in a 

spasm。  The barkeepers slid out from behind the bar。  For a moment 

the situation was tense and threatening。  The dealer with a sweeping 

glance again searched the faces of those before him。  In that 

moment; probably; he made up his mind that an open scandal must be 

avoided。  Force and broken bones; even murder; might be all right 

enough under colour of right。  If Orde had turned up for a jack the 

card on which he now held his fist; and then had attempted to prove 

cheating; a cry of robbery and a lively fight would have given 

opportunity for making way with the stakes。  But McNeill's could not 

afford to be shown up before thirty interested rivermen as running 

an open…and…shut brace…game。  However; the gambler made a desperate 

try at what he must have known was a very forlorn hope。



〃That isn't the way this game is played;〃 said he。  〃Show up your 

jack。〃



〃It's the way I play it;〃 replied Orde sternly。  〃These gentlemen 

heard the bet。〃  He reached over and dexterously flipped over the 

other two cards。  〃You see; neither of these is the jack; this must 

be。〃



〃You win;〃 assented the gambler; after a pause。



Orde; his fist still on the third card; began pocketing the stakes 

with the other hand。  The gambler reached; palm up; across the 

table。



〃Give me the other card;〃 said he。



Orde picked it up; laughing。  For a moment he seemed to hesitate; 

holding the bit of pasteboard tantalisingly outstretched; as though 

he were going to turn also this one face up。  Then; quite 

deliberately he looked to right and to left where the fighters 

awaited their signal; laughed again; and handed the card to the 

gambler。



At once pandemonium broke loose。  The rivermen of Orde's party 

fairly shouted with joy over the unexpected trick; the employees of 

the resort whispered apart; the gambler explained; low…voiced and 

angry; his reasons for not putting up a fight for so rich a stake。



〃All to the bar!〃 yelled Orde。



They made a rush; and lined up and ordered their drinks。  Orde 

poured his on the floor and took the glass belonging to the man next 

him。



〃Get them to give you another; Tim;〃 said he。  〃No knock…out drops; 

if I can help it。〃



The men drank; and some one ordered another round。



〃Tim;〃 said Orde; low…voiced; 〃get the crowd together and we'll pull 

out。  I've a thousand dollars on me; and they'll sand…bag me sure if 

I go alone。  And let's get out right off。〃



Ten minutes later they all stood safely on the lighted thoroughfare 

of Water Street。



〃Good…night; boys;〃 said Orde。  〃Go easy; and show up at the booms 

Monday。〃



He turned up the street toward the main part of the town。  Newmark 

joined him。



〃I'll walk a little ways with you;〃 he explained。  〃And I say; Orde; 

I want to apologise to you。  'Most of the evening I've been thinking 

you the worst fool I ever saw; but you can take care of yourself at 

every stage of the game。  The trick was good; but your taking the 

other fellow's drink beat it。〃







VIII





Orde heard no more of Newmarkand hardly thought of himuntil over 

two weeks later。



In the meantime the riverman; assuming the more conventional 

garments of civilisation; lived with his parents in the old Orde 

homestead at the edge of town。  This was a rather pretentious two…

story brick structure; in the old solid; square architecture; 

surrounded by a small orchard; some hickories; and a garden。  Orde's 

father had built it when he arrived in the pioneer country from New 

England forty years before。  At that time it was considered well out 

in the country。  Since then the town had crept to it; so that the 

row of grand old maples in front shaded a stone…guttered street。  A 

little patch of corn opposite; and many still vacant lots above; 

placed it; however; as about the present limit of growth。



Jack Orde was the youngest and most energetic of a large family that 

had long since scattered to diverse cities and industries。  He and 

Grandpa and Grandma Orde dwelt now in the big; echoing; old…

fashioned house alone; save for the one girl who called herself the 

〃help〃 rather than the servant。  Grandpa Orde; now above sixty; was 

tall; straight; slender。  His hair was quite white; and worn a 

little long。  His features were finely chiselled and aquiline。  From 

them looked a pair of piercing; young; or; standing aside from the doorway。



Newmark entered the cool; dusky interior; and was shown to the left 

into a dim; long room。  He perched on a mahogany chair; and had time 

to notice the bookcases with the white owl atop; the old piano with 

the yellowing keys; the haircloth sofa and chairs; the steel 

engravings; and the two oil portraits; when Orde's large figure 

darkened the door。



For an instant the young man; who must just have come in from the 

outside sunshine; blinked into the dimness。  Newmark; too; blinked 

back; although he could by this time see perfectly well。



Newmark had known Orde only as a riverman。  Like most Easterners; 

then and now; he was unable to imagine a man in rough clothes as 

being anything but essentially a rough man。  The figure he saw 

before him was decently and correctly dressed in what was then the 

proper Sunday costume。  His big figure set off the cloth to 

advantage; and even his wind…reddened face seemed toned down and 

refined by the change in costume and surroundings。



〃Oh; it's you; Mr。 Newmark!〃 cried Orde in his hearty way; and 

holding out his hand。  〃I'm glad to see you。  Where you been?  Come 

on out of there。  This is the 'company place。'〃  Without awaiting a 

reply; he led the way into the narrow hall; whence the two entered 

another; brighter room; in which Grandma Orde sat; the canary 

singing above her head。



〃Mother;〃 said Orde; 〃this is Mr。 Newmark; w drive the logs for these ten firms

at so much a 

thousand; do you suppose it would get the business?〃



〃It would depend on the driving firm;〃 said Orde。  〃You see; mill 

men have got to have their logs。  They can't afford to take chances。  

It wouldn't pay。〃



〃Then that's all right;〃 agreed Newmark; with a gleam of 

satisfaction across his thin face。  〃Would you form a partnership 

with me having such an object in view?〃



Orde threw back his head and laughed w

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