active service-第9章

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clipse　was　in　hell。〃

That's　all　right；〃　laughed　the　proprietor　of　the　Eclipse。　〃　But　I　still　don't　see　how　you　'are　going　to　get　any　vacation　out　of　a　war　that　will　upset　the　whole　of　Europe。　But　that's　your　affair。　If　you　want　to　become　the　chief　correspondent　in　the　field　in　case　of　any　such　war；　why；　of　course；　I　would　be　glad　to　have　you。　I　couldn't　get　anybody　better。　But　I　don't　see　where　your　vacation　comes　in。〃

〃　I'll　take　care　of　that；〃　answered　Coleman。　〃　When　I　take　a　vacation　I　want　to　take　it　my　own　way；　and　I　think　this　will　be　a　vacation　because　it　will　be　different　…don't　you　see…different　？　〃

〃　No；　I　don't　see　any　sense　in　it；　but　if　you　think　that　is　the　way　that　suits　you；　why；　go　ahead。　How　much　money　do　you　want　？　〃

〃　I　don't　want　much。　just　enough　to　see　me　through　nicely。〃

Sturgeon　scribbled　on　his　check　book　and　then　ripped　a　check　from　it。　〃　Here's　a　thousand　dollars。　Will　that　do　you　to　start　with？　〃

〃　That's　plenty。〃

〃When　do　you　want　to　start　？　〃

〃　To…morrow。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Sturgeon。　〃　You're　in　a　hurry。〃　This　impetuous　manner　of　exit　from　business　seemed　to　appeal　to　him。　〃　To…morrow；〃　he　repeated　smiling。　In　reality　he　was　some　kind　of　a　poet　using　his　millions　romantically；　spending　wildly　on　a　sentiment　that　might　be　with　beauty　or　without　beauty；　according　to　the　momentary　vacillation。　The　vaguely…defined　desperation　in　Coleman's　last　announcement　appeared　to　delight　him。　He　grinned　and　placed　the　points　of　his　fingers　together　stretching　out　his　legs　in　a　careful　attitude　of　indifference　which　might　even　mean　disapproval。　〃　To…morrow；〃　he　murmured　teasingly。

〃　By　jiminy；〃　exclaimed　Coleman；　ignoring　the　other　man's　mood；　〃　I'm　sick　of　the　whole　business。　I've　got　out　a　Sunday　paper　once　a　week　for　three　years　and　I　feel　absolutely　incapable　of　getting　out　another　edition。　It　would　be　all　right　if　we　were　running　on　ordinary　lines；　but　when　each　issue　is　more　or　less　of　an　attempt　to　beat　the　previous　issue；　it　becomes　rather　wearing；　you　know。　If　I　can't　get　a　vacation　now　I　take　one　later　in　a　lunatic　asylum。〃

〃　Why；　I'm　not　objecting　to　your　having　a　vacation。　I'm　simply　marvelling　at　the　kind　of　vacation　you　want　to　take。　And　'to…morrow；'　too；　eh　？　〃　〃　Well；　it　suits　me；〃　muttered　Coleman；　sulkily。

〃　Well；　if　it　suits　you；　that's　enough。　Here's　your　check。　Clear　out　now　and　don't　let　me　see　you　again　until　you　are　thoroughly　rested；　even　if　it　takes　a　year。〃　He　arose　and　stood　smiling。　He　was　mightily　pleased　with　himself。　He　liked　to　　perform　in　this　way。　He　was　almost　seraphic　as　he　thrust　the　　check　for　a　thousand　dollars　toward　Coleman。

Then　his　manner　changed　abruptly。　〃　Hold　on　a　minute。　I　must　think　a　little　about　this　thing　if　you　are　going　to　manage　the　correspondence。　Of　course　it　will　be　a　long　and　bloody　war。〃

〃You　bet。〃

〃The　big　chance　is　that　all　Europe　will　be　dragged　into　it。　Of　course　then　you　would　have　to　come　out　of　Greece　and　take　up　abetter　position…say　Vienna。〃

〃No；　I　wouldn't　care　to　do　that；〃　said　Coleman　positively。　〃I　just　want　to　take　care　of　the　Greek　end　of　it。〃

〃　It　will　be　an　idiotic　way　to　take　a　vacation；〃　observed　Sturgeon。

〃　Well；　it　suits　me；〃　muttered　Coleman　again。　〃　I　tell　you　what　it　is…〃　he　added　suddenly。　〃I've　got　some　private　reasons…　see　？　〃

Sturgeon　was　radiant　with　joy。　〃　Private　reasons。〃　He　was　charmed　by　the　sombre　pain　in　Coleman's　eyes　and　his　own　ability　to　eject　it。　〃Good。　Go　now　and　be　blowed。　I　will　cable　final　instruction　to　meet　you　in　London。　As　soon　as　you　get　to　Greece；　cable　me　an　account　of　the　situation　there　and　we　will　arrange　our　plans。〃　He　began　to　laugh。　〃　Private　reasons。　Come　out　to　dinner　with　me。〃

〃　I　can't　very　well；〃　said　Coleman。　〃　If　I　go　tomorrow；　I've　got　to　pack…〃

But　here　the　real　tyrant　appeared；　emerging　suddenly　from　behind　the　curtain　of　sentiment；　appearing　like　a　red　devil　in　a　pantomine。　〃　You　can't　？　〃　snapped　Sturgeon。　〃　Nonsense〃

CHAPTER　VII。

SWEEPING　out　from　between　two　remote；　half…submerged　dunes　on　which　stood　slender　sentry　light。　houses；　the　steamer　began　to　roll　with　a　gentle　insinuating　motion。　Passengers　in　their　staterooms　saw　at　rhythmical　intervals　the　spray　racing　fleetly　past　the　portholes。　The　waves　grappled　hurriedly　at　the　sides　of　the　great　flying　steamer　and　boiled　discomfited　astern　in　a　turmoil　of　green　and　white。　From　the　tops　of　the　enormous　funnels　streamed　level　masses　of　smoke　which　were　immediately　torn　to　nothing　by　the　headlong　wind。　Meanwhile　as　the　steamer　rushed　into　the　northeast；　men　in　caps　and　ulsters　comfortably　paraded　the　decks　and　stewards　arranged　deck　chairs　for　the　reception　of　various　women　who　were　coming　from　their　cabins　with　rugs。

In　the　smoking　room；　old　voyagers　were　settling　down　comfortably　while　new　voyagers　were　regarding　them　with　a　diffident　respect。　Among　the　passengers　Coleman　found　a　number　of　people　whom　he　knew；　including　a　wholesale　wine　merchant；　a　Chicago　railway　magnate　and　a　New　York　millionaire。　They　lived　practically　in　the　smoking　room。　Necessity　drove　them　from　time　to　time　to　the　salon；　or　to　their　berths。　Once　indeed　the　millionaire　was　absent；　from　the　group　while　penning　a　short　note　to　his　wife。

When　the　Irish　coast　was　sighted　Coleman　came　on　deck　to　look　at　it。　A　tall　young　woman　immediately　halted　in　her　walk　until　he　had　stepped　up　to　her。　〃　Well；　of　all　ungallant　men；　Rufus　Coleman；　you　are　the　star；〃　she　cried　laughing　and　held　out　her　hand。

〃　Awfully　sorry；　I'm　sure；〃　he　murmured。　〃　Been　playing　poker　in　the　smoking　room　all　voyage。　Didn't　have　a　look　at　the　passenger　list　until　just　now。　Why　didn't　you　send　me　word？〃　These　lies　were　told　so　modestly　and　sincerely　that　when　the　girl　flashed　her；　brilliant　eyes　full　upon　their　author　there　was　a　mixt　of　admiration　in　the　indignation。

〃　Send　you　a　card　〃　I　don't　believe　you　can　read；　　else　you　would　have　known　I　was　to　sail　on　this　steamer。　If　I　hadn't　been　ill　until　to…day　you　would　have　seen　me　in　the　salon。　I　open　at　the　Folly　Theatre　next　week。　Dear　ol'　Lunnon；　y'　know。〃

〃　Of　course；　I　knew　you　were　going；〃　said　Coleman。　〃But　I　thought　you　were　to　go　later。　What　do　you　open　in？　〃

〃　Fly　by　Night。　Come　walk　along　with　me。　See　those　two　old　ladies　〃　They've　been　watching　for　me　like　hawks　ever　since　we　left　New　York。　They　expected　me　to　flirt　with　every　man　on　board。　But　I've　fooled　them。　I've　been　just　as　g…o…o…d。　I　had　to　be。〃

As　the　pair　moved　toward　the　stern；　enormous　and　radiant　green　waves　were　crashing　futilely　after　the　steamer。　Ireland　showed　a　dreary　coast　line　to　the　north。　A　wretched　man　who　had　crossed　the　Atlantic　eighty…four　times　was　declaiming　to　a　group　of　novices。　A　venerable　banker；　bundled　in　rugs；　was　asleep　in　his　deck　chair。

〃　Well；　Nora；〃　said　Coleman；　〃　I　hope　you　make　a　hit　in　London。　You　deserve　it　if　anybody　does。　You've　worked　hard。〃

〃Worked　hard；〃　cried　the　girl。　〃I　should　think　so。　Eight　years　ago　I　was　in　the　rear　row。　Now　I　have　the　centre　of　the　stage　whenever　I　want　it。　I　made　Chalmers　cut　out　that　great　scene　in　the　second　act　between　the　queen　and　Rodolfo。　The　idea！　Did　he　think　I　would　stand　that　？　And　just　because　he　was　in　love　with　Clara　Trotwood；　too。〃

Coleman　was　dreamy。　〃　Remember　when　I　was　dramatic　man　for　the　Gazette　and　wrote　the　first　notice　？　〃

〃　Indeed；　I　do；〃　answered　the　girl　affectionately。　〃　Indeed；　I　do；　Rufus。　Ah；　that　was　a　great　lift。　I　believe　that　was　the　first　thing　that　had　an　effect　on　old　Oliver。　Before　that；　he　never　would　believe　that　I　was　any　good。　Give　me　your　arm；　Rufus。　Let's　parade　before　the　two　old　women。〃　Coleman　glanced　at　her　keenly。　Her　voice　had　trembled　slightly。　Her　eyes　were　lustrous　as　if　she　were　about　to　weep。

〃　Good　heavens；〃　he　said。　〃　You　are　the　same　old　Nora　Black。　I　thought　you　would　be　proud　and　'aughty　by　this　time。〃

〃　Not　to　my　friends；〃　she　murmured。；　〃　Not　to　my　friends。　I'm　always　the　same　and　I　never　forget。　Rufus。〃

〃　Never　forget　what？　〃　asked　Coleman。

〃　If　anybody　does　me　a　favour　I　never　forget　it　as　long　as　I　live；〃　she　answered　fervently。

〃　Oh；　you　mustn't　be　so　sentimental；　Nora。　You　remember　that　play　you　bought　from　little　Ben　Whipple；　just　because　he　had　onc