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第4章

the three partners-第4章

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〃Ah; yes!  True;〃 said Van Loo。  〃But now〃



〃Wellhe's got money enough to marry; and he's going to marry。〃



〃Rather young; isn't he?〃 said Van Loo; still deprecatingly。  〃And

she's got nothing。  Used to wait on the table at her father's hotel

in Boomville; didn't she?〃



〃Yes。  What of that?  We all know it。〃



〃Of course。  It's an excellent thing for herand her father。

He'll have a rich son…in…law。  About two hundred thousand is his

share; isn't it?  I suppose old Carter is delighted?〃



Stacy had thought this before; but did not care to have it

corroborated by this superfine young foreigner。  〃And I don't

reckon that Barker is offended if he is;〃 he said curtly as he

turned away。  Nevertheless; he felt irritated that one of the three

superior partners of Heavy Tree Hill should be thought a dupe。



Suddenly the conversation dropped; the laughter ceased。  Every one

turned round; and; by a common instinct; looked towards the door。

From the obscurity of the hill slope below came a wonderful tenor

voice; modulated by distance and spiritualized by the darkness:





     〃When at some future day

      I shall be far away;

      Thou wilt be weeping;

      Thy lone watch keeping。〃





The men looked at one another。  〃That's Jack Hamlin;〃 they said。

〃What's he doing here?〃



〃The wolves are gathering around fresh meat;〃 said Steptoe; with

his coarse laugh and a glance at the treasure。  〃Didn't ye know he

came over from Red Dog yesterday?〃



〃Well; give Jack a fair show and his own game;〃 said one of the old

locators; 〃and he'd clean out that pile afore sunrise。〃



〃And lose it next day;〃 added another。



〃But never turn a hair or change a muscle in either case;〃 said a

third。  〃Lord!  I've heard him sing away just like that when he's

been leaving the board with five thousand dollars in his pocket; or

going away stripped of his last red cent。〃



Van Loo; who had been listening with a peculiar smile; here said in

his most deprecating manner; 〃Yes; but did you never consider the

influence that such a man has on the hard…working tunnelmen; who

are ready to gamble their whole week's earnings to him?  Perhaps

not。  But I know the difficulties of getting the Ditch rates from

these men when he has been in camp。〃



He glanced around him with some importance; but only a laugh

followed his speech。  〃Come; Frenchy;〃 said an old locator; 〃you

only say that because your little brother wanted to play with Jack

like a grown man; and when Jack ordered him off the board and he

became sassy; Jack scooted him outer the saloon。〃



Van Loo's face reddened with an anger that had the apparent effect

of removing every trace of his former polished repose; and leaving

only a hard outline beneath。  At which Demorest interfered:



〃I can't say that I see much difference in gambling by putting

money into a hole in the ground and expecting to take more from it

than by putting it on a card for the same purpose。〃



Here the ravishing tenor voice; which had been approaching; ceased;

and was succeeded by a heart…breaking and equally melodious

whistling to finish the bar of the singer's song。  And the next

moment Jack Hamlin appeared in the doorway。



Whatever was his present financial condition; in perfect self…

possession and charming sang…froid he fully bore out his previous

description。  He was as clean and refreshing looking as a madrono…

tree in the dust…blown forest。  An odor of scented soap and freshly

ironed linen was wafted from him; there was scarcely a crease in

his white waistcoat; nor a speck upon his varnished shoes。  He

might have been an auditor of the previous conversation; so quickly

and completely did he seem to take in the whole situation at a

glance。  Perhaps there was an extra tilt to his black…ribboned

Panama hat; and a certain dancing devilry in his brown eyeswhich

might also have been an answer to adverse criticism。



〃When I; his truth to prove; would trifle with my love;〃 he warbled

in general continuance from the doorway。  Then dropping cheerfully

into speech; he added; 〃Well; boys; I am here to welcome the little

stranger; and to trust that the family are doing as well as can be

expected。  Ah! there it is!  Bless it!〃 he went on; walking

leisurely to the treasure。  〃Triplets; too!and plump at that。

Have you had 'em weighed?〃



Frankness was an essential quality of Heavy Tree Hill。  〃We were

just saying; Jack;〃 said an old locator; 〃that; giving you a fair

show and your own game; you could manage to get away with that pile

before daybreak。〃



〃And I'm just thinking;〃 said Jack cheerfully; 〃that there were

some of you here that could do that without any such useless

preliminary。〃  His brown eyes rested for a moment on Steptoe; but

turning quite abruptly to Van Loo; he held out his hand。  Startled

and embarrassed before the others; the young man at last advanced

his; when Jack coolly put his own; as if forgetfully; in his

pocket。  〃I thought you might like to know what that little brother

of yours is doing;〃 he said to Van Loo; yet looking at Steptoe。  〃I

found him wandering about the Hill here quite drunk。〃



〃I have repeatedly warned him〃began Van Loo; reddening。



〃Against bad companyI know;〃 suggested Jack gayly; 〃yet in spite

of all that; I think he owes some of his liquor to Steptoe yonder。〃



〃I never supposed the fool would get drunk over a glass of whiskey

offered in fun;〃 said Steptoe harshly; yet evidently quite as much

disconcerted as angry。



〃The trouble with Steptoe;〃 said Hamlin; thoughtfully spanning his

slim waist with both hands as he looked down at his polished shoes;

〃is that he has such a soft…hearted liking for all weaknesses。

Always wanting to protect chaps that can't look after themselves;

whether it's Whiskey Dick there when he has a pull on; or some

nigger when he's made a little strike; or that straying lamb of Van

Loo's when he's puppy drunk。  But you're wrong about me; boys。  You

can't draw me in any game to…night。  This is one of my nights off;

which I devote exclusively to contemplation and song。  But;〃 he

added; suddenly turning to his three hosts with a bewildering and

fascinating change of expression; 〃I couldn't resist coming up here

to see you and your pile; even if I never saw the one or the other

before; and am not likely to see either again。  I believe in luck!

And it comes a mighty sight oftener than a fellow thinks it does。

But it doesn't come to stay。  So I'd advise you to keep your eyes

skinned; and hang on to it while it's with you; like grim death。

So long!〃



Resisting all attempts of his hostswho had apparently fallen as

suddenly and unaccountably under the magic of his mannerto detain

him longer; he stepped lightly away; his voice presently rising

again in melody as he descended the hill。  Nor was it at all

remarkable that the others; apparently drawn by the same inevitable

magnetism; were impelled to follow him; naturally joining their

voices with his; leaving Steptoe and Van Loo so markedly behind

them alone that they were compelled at last in sheer embarrassment

to close up the rear of the procession。  In another moment the

cabin and the three partners again relapsed into the peace and

quiet of the night。  With the dying away of the last voices on the

hillside the old solitude reasserted itself。



But since the irruption of the strangers they had lost their former

sluggish contemplation; and now busied themselves in preparation

for their early departure from the cabin the next morning。  They

had arranged to spend the following day and night at Boomville and

Carter's Hotel; where they were to give their farewell dinner to

Heavy Tree Hill。  They talked but little together: since the rebuff

his enthusiastic confidences had received from Van Loo; Barker had

been grave and thoughtful; and Stacy; with the irritating

recollection of Van Loo's criticisms in his m

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