the three partners-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
〃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