part 6-第1章
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PART VI
KRONBORG
I
It is a glorious winter day。 Denver； standing on her
high plateau under a thrilling green…blue sky； is masked
in snow and glittering with sunlight。 The Capitol building
is actually in armor； and throws off the shafts of the sun
until the beholder is dazzled and the outlines of the building
are lost in a blaze of reflected light。 The stone terrace is a
white field over which fiery reflections dance； and the trees
and bushes are faithfully repeated in snowon every
black twig a soft； blurred line of white。 From the terrace
one looks directly over to where the mountains break in
their sharp； familiar lines against the sky。 Snow fills the
gorges； hangs in scarfs on the great slopes； and on the peaks
the fiery sunshine is gathered up as by a burning…glass。
Howard Archie is standing at the window of his private
room in the offices of the San Felipe Mining Company； on
the sixth floor of the Raton Building； looking off at the
mountain glories of his State while he gives dictation to his
secretary。 He is ten years older than when we saw him last；
and emphatically ten years more prosperous。 A decade of
coming into things has not so much aged him as it has forti…
fied； smoothed； and assured him。 His sandy hair and
imperial conceal whatever gray they harbor。 He has not
grown heavier； but more flexible； and his massive shoulders
carry fifty years and the control of his great mining inter…
ests more lightly than they carried forty years and a coun…
try practice。 In short； he is one of the friends to whom we
feel grateful for having got on in the world； for helping to
keep up the general temperature and our own confidence in
life。 He is an acquaintance that one would hurry to over…
take and greet among a hundred。 In his warm handshake
and generous smile there is the stimulating cordiality of
good fellows come into good fortune and eager to pass it on；
something that makes one think better of the lottery of
life and resolve to try again。
When Archie had finished his morning mail； he turned
away from the window and faced his secretary。 〃Did any…
thing come up yesterday afternoon while I was away；
T。 B。？〃
Thomas Burk turned over the leaf of his calendar。
〃Governor Alden sent down to say that he wanted to see
you before he sends his letter to the Board of Pardons。
Asked if you could go over to the State House this morn…
ing。〃
Archie shrugged his shoulders。 〃I'll think about it。〃
The young man grinned。
〃Anything else？〃 his chief continued。
T。 B。 swung round in his chair with a look of interest on
his shrewd； clean…shaven face。 〃Old Jasper Flight was in；
Dr。 Archie。 I never expected to see him alive again。 Seems
he's tucked away for the winter with a sister who's a
housekeeper at the Oxford。 He's all crippled up with
rheumatism； but as fierce after it as ever。 Wants to know
if you or the company won't grub…stake him again。 Says
he's sure of it this time； had located something when the
snow shut down on him in December。 He wants to crawl
out at the first break in the weather； with that same old
burro with the split ear。 He got somebody to winter the
beast for him。 He's superstitious about that burro； too；
thinks it's divinely guided。 You ought to hear the line of
talk he put up here yesterday； said when he rode in his
carriage； that burro was a…going to ride along with him。〃
Archie laughed。 〃Did he leave you his address？〃
〃He didn't neglect anything；〃 replied the clerk cynically。
〃Well； send him a line and tell him to come in again。 I
like to hear him。 Of all the crazy prospectors I've ever
known； he's the most interesting； because he's really crazy。
It's a religious conviction with him； and with most of 'em
it's a gambling fever or pure vagrancy。 But Jasper Flight
believes that the Almighty keeps the secret of the silver
deposits in these hills； and gives it away to the deserving。
He's a downright noble figure。 Of course I'll stake him！
As long as he can crawl out in the spring。 He and that
burro are a sight together。 The beast is nearly as white as
Jasper； must be twenty years old。〃
〃If you stake him this time； you won't have to again；〃
said T。 B。 knowingly。 〃He'll croak up there； mark my
word。 Says he never ties the burro at night now； for fear he
might be called sudden； and the beast would starve。 I guess
that animal could eat a lariat rope； all right； and enjoy it。〃
〃I guess if we knew the things those two have eaten； and
haven't eaten； in their time； T。 B。； it would make us vege…
tarians。〃 The doctor sat down and looked thoughtful。
〃That's the way for the old man to go。 It would be pretty
hard luck if he had to die in a hospital。 I wish he could
turn up something before he cashes in。 But his kind seldom
do； they're bewitched。 Still； there was Stratton。 I've been
meeting Jasper Flight； and his side meat and tin pans； up
in the mountains for years； and I'd miss him。 I always
halfway believe the fairy tales he spins me。 Old Jasper
Flight；〃 Archie murmured； as if he liked the name or the
picture it called up。
A clerk came in from the outer office and handed Archie
a card。 He sprang up and exclaimed； 〃Mr。 Ottenburg？
Bring him in。〃
Fred Ottenburg entered； clad in a long； fur…lined coat；
holding a checked…cloth hat in his hand； his cheeks and
eyes bright with the outdoor cold。 The two men met before
Archie's desk and their handclasp was longer than friend…
ship prompts except in regions where the blood warms and
quickens to meet the dry cold。 Under the general keying…
up of the altitude； manners take on a heartiness； a vivacity；
that is one expression of the half…unconscious excitement
which Colorado people miss when they drop into lower
strata of air。 The heart； we are told； wears out early in
that high atmosphere； but while it pumps it sends out no
sluggish stream。 Our two friends stood gripping each other
by the hand and smiling。
〃When did you get in； Fred？ And what have you come
for？〃 Archie gave him a quizzical glance。
〃I've come to find out what you think you're doing out
here；〃 the younger man declared emphatically。 〃I want
to get next； I do。 When can you see me？〃
〃Anything on to…night？ Then suppose you dine with
me。 Where can I pick you up at five…thirty？〃
〃Bixby's office； general freight agent of the Burlington。〃
Ottenburg began to button his overcoat and drew on his
gloves。 〃I've got to have one shot at you before I go；
Archie。 Didn't I tell you Pinky Alden was a cheap squirt？〃
Alden's backer laughed and shook his head。 〃Oh； he's
worse than that； Fred。 It isn't polite to mention what he
is； outside of the Arabian Nights。 I guessed you'd come
to rub it into me。〃
Ottenburg paused； his hand on the doorknob； his high
color challenging the doctor's calm。 〃I'm disgusted with
you； Archie； for training with such a pup。 A man of your
experience！〃
〃Well； he's been an experience；〃 Archie muttered。 〃I'm
not coy about admi
