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！
itself above the other warehouses； from the centre of an enormous
square pond； once the plaza； still arose a 〃Liberty pole；〃 or
flagstaff； which now supported a swinging lantern； and in the
distance appeared the glittering dome of some public building。
Grant recognized the scene at once。 It was all that was left of
the invincible youth of Tasajara！
As this was an objective point of the scheme of survey and relief
for the district； the boat was made fast to the second story of one
of the warehouses。 It was now used as a general store and depot；
and bore a singular resemblance in its interior to Harcourt's
grocery at Sidon。 This suggestion was the more fatefully indicated
by the fact that half a dozen men were seated around a stove in the
centre； more or less given up to a kind of philosophical and lazy
enjoyment of their enforced idleness。 And when to this was added
the more surprising coincidence that the party consisted of
Billings； Peters； and Wingate；former residents of Sidon and first
citizens of Tasajara；the resemblance was complete。
They were ruined；but they accepted their common fate with a
certain Indian stoicism and Western sense of humor that for the
time lifted them above the vulgar complacency of their former
fortunes。 There was a deep…seated； if coarse and irreverent
resignation in their philosophy。 At the beginning of the calamity
it had been roughly formulated by Billings in the statement that
〃it wasn't anybody's fault； there was nobody to kill； and what
couldn't be reached by a Vigilance Committee there was no use
resolootin' over。〃 When the Reverend Doctor Pilsbury had suggested
an appeal to a Higher Power； Peters had replied； good humoredly；
that 〃a Creator who could fool around with them in that style was
above being interfered with by prayer。〃 At first the calamity had
been a thing to fight against； then it became a practical joke； the
sting of which was lost in the victims' power of endurance and
assumed ignorance of its purport。 There was something almost
pathetic in their attempts to understand its peculiar humor。
〃How about that Europ…e…an trip o' yours； Peters？〃 said Billings；
meditatively； from the depths of his chair。 〃Looks as if those
Crowned Heads over there would have to wait till the water goes
down considerable afore you kin trot out your wife and darters
before 'em！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Peters； 〃it rather pints that way； and ez far ez I kin
see； Mame Billings ain't goin' to no Saratoga； neither； this year。〃
〃Reckon the boys won't hang about old Harcourt's Free Library to
see the girls home from lectures and singing…class much this year；〃
said Wingate。 〃Wonder if Harcourt ever thought o' this the day he
opened it； and made that rattlin' speech o' his about the new
property？ Clark says everything built on that made ground has got
to go after the water falls。 Rough on Harcourt after all his other
losses； eh？ He oughter have closed up with that scientific chap；
Grant； and married him to Clementina while the big boom was on〃
〃Hush！〃 said Peters； indicating Grant； who had just entered
quietly。
〃Don't mind me； gentlemen；〃 said Grant； stepping towards the group
with a grave but perfectly collected face； 〃on the contrary； I am
very anxious to hear all the news of Harcourt's family。 I left for
New York before the rainy season； and have only just got back。〃
His speech and manner appeared to be so much in keeping with the
prevailing grim philosophy that Billings； after a glance at the
others； went on。 〃Ef you left afore the first rains；〃 said he；
〃you must have left only the steamer ahead of Fletcher； when he run
off with Clementina Harcourt； and you might have come across them
on their wedding trip in New York。〃
Not a muscle of Grant's face changed under their eager and cruel
scrutiny。 〃No； I didn't；〃 he returned quietly。 〃But why did she
run away？ Did the father object to Fletcher？ If I remember
rightly he was rich and a good match。〃
〃Yes； but I reckon the old man hadn't quite got over the 'Clarion'
abuse； for all its eating humble…pie and taking back its yarns of
him。 And may be he might have thought the engagement rather
sudden。 They say that she'd only met Fletcher the day afore the
engagement。〃
〃That be dd；〃 said Peters； knocking the ashes out of his pipe；
and startling the lazy resignation of his neighbors by taking his
feet from the stove and sitting upright。 〃I tell ye； gentlemen；
I'm sick o' this sort o' hog…wash that's been ladled round to us。
That gal Clementina Harcourt and that feller Fletcher had met not
only once； but MANY times aforeyes！ they were old friends if it
comes to that； a matter of six years ago。〃
Grant's eyes were fixed eagerly on the speaker； although the others
scarcely turned their heads。
〃You know； gentlemen；〃 said Peters； 〃I never took stock in this yer
story of the drownin' of 'Lige Curtis。 Why？ Well； if you wanter
knowin my opinionthere never was any 'Lige Curtis！〃
Billings lifted his head with difficulty； Wingate turned his face
to the speaker。
〃There never was a scrap o' paper ever found in his cabin with the
name o' 'Lige Curtis on it； there never was any inquiry made for
'Lige Curtis； there never was any sorrowin' friends comin' after
'Lige Curtis。 For why？There never was any 'Lige Curtis。 The man
who passed himself off in Sidon under that namewas that man
Fletcher。 That's how he knew all about Harcourt's title； that's
how he got his best holt on Harcourt。 And he did it all to get
Clementina Harcourt； whom the old man had refused to him in Sidon。〃
A grunt of incredulity passed around the circle。 Such is the fate
of historical innovation！ Only Grant listened attentively。
〃Ye ought to tell that yarn to John Milton；〃 said Wingate
ironically； 〃it's about in the style o' them stories he slings in
the 'Clarion。'〃
〃He's made a good thing outer that job。 Wonder what he gets for
them？〃 said Peters。
It was Billings's time to rise； and； under the influence of some
strong cynical emotion； to even rise to his feet。 〃Gets for 'em！
GETS for 'em！ I'll tell you WHAT he gets for 'em！ It beats this
story o' Peters's；it beats the flood。 It beats me！ Ye know that
boy； gentlemen； ye know how he uster lie round his father's store；
reading flapdoodle stories and sich！ Ye remember how I uster try
to give him good examples and knock some sense into him？ Ye
remember how； after his father's good luck； he spiled all his own
chances； and ran off with his father's waiter galall on account
o' them flapdoodle books he read？ Ye remember how he sashayed
round newspaper offices in 'Frisco until he could write a
flapdoodle story himself？ Ye wanter know what he gets for 'em。
I'll tell you。 He got an interduction to one of them high…toned；
highfalutin'； 'don't…touch…me' rich widders from Philadelfy；
that's what he gets for 'em！ He got her dead set on him and his
stories； that's what he gets for 'em！ He got her to put him up
with Fletcher in the 'Clarion；'that's what he gets for 'em。 And
darn my skin！ef what they say is true； while we hard…working men
are sittin' here like drowned ratsthat air John Milton； ez never
did a stitch o' live work like me yere； ez never did anythin' but
spin yarns about US ez did WORK； is now 'gittin' for 'em'what？
Guess！ Why； he's gittin' THE RICH WIDDER HERSELF and HALF A
MILLION DOLLARS WITH HER！ Gentlemen！ lib'ty is a good thingbut
thar's some things ye gets too much lib'ty of in this countryand
that's this yer LIB'TY OF THE PRESS！〃
End