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！
well as the others； and Schultz raised them outall except Lyte。
He did not like the German's tone； and he raised him back。 Schultz
raised in turn； and in turn Lyte raised Schultz。 So they went； back
and forth。 The stakes were big。 And do you know what Lyte held？ A
pair of kings and three little clubs。 It wasn't poker。 Lyte wasn't
playing poker。 He was playing his optimism。 He didn't know what
Schultz held； but he raised and raised until he made Schultz squeal；
and Schultz held three aces all the time。 Think of it！ A man with
a pair of kings compelling three aces to see before the draw！
〃Well； Schultz called for two cards。 Another German was dealing；
Schultz's friend at that。 Lyte knew then that he was up against
three of a kind。 Now what did he do？ What would you have done？
Drawn three cards and held up the kings； of course。 Not Lyte。 He
was playing optimism。 He threw the kings away； held up the three
little clubs； and drew two cards。 He never looked at them。 He
looked across at Schultz to bet； and Schultz did bet； big。 Since he
himself held three aces he knew he had Lyte； because he played Lyte
for threes； and； necessarily； they would have to be smaller threes。
Poor Schultz！ He was perfectly correct under the premises。 His
mistake was that he thought Lyte was playing poker。 They bet back
and forth for five minutes； until Schultz's certainty began to ooze
out。 And all the time Lyte had never looked at his two cards； and
Schultz knew it。 I could see Schultz think； and revive； and splurge
with his bets again。 But the strain was too much for him。〃
〃'Hold on； Gregory；' he said at last。 'I've got you beaten from the
start。 I don't want any of your money。 I've got'〃
〃'Never mind what you've got；' Lyte interrupted。 'You don't know
what I've got。 I guess I'll take a look。'〃
〃He looked； and raised the German a hundred dollars。 Then they went
at it again； back and forth and back and forth； until Schultz
weakened and called； and laid down his three aces。 Lyte faced his
five cards。 They were all black。 He had drawn two more clubs。 Do
you know； he just about broke Schultz's nerve as a poker player。 He
never played in the same form again。 He lacked confidence after
that； and was a bit wobbly。〃
〃'But how could you do it？' I asked Lyte afterwards。 'You knew he
had you beaten when he drew two cards。 Besides； you never looked at
your own draw。'〃
〃'I didn't have to look；' was Lyte's answer。 'I knew they were two
clubs all the time。 They just had to be two clubs。 Do you think I
was going to let that big Dutchman beat me？ It was impossible that
he should beat me。 It is not my way to be beaten。 I just have to
win。 Why； I'd have been the most surprised man in this world if
they hadn't been all clubs。'〃
〃That was Lyte's way； and maybe it will help you to appreciate his
colossal optimism。 As he put it he just had to succeed； to fare
well； to prosper。 And in that same incident； as in ten thousand
others； he found his sanction。 The thing was that he did succeed；
did prosper。 That was why he was afraid of nothing。 Nothing could
ever happen to him。 He knew it； because nothing had ever happened
to him。 That time the Luga was lost and he swam thirty miles； he
was in the water two whole nights and a day。 And during all that
terrible stretch of time he never lost hope once； never once doubted
the outcome。 He just knew he was going to make the land。 He told
me so himself； and I know it was the truth。
〃Well； that is the kind of a man Lyte Gregory was。 He was of a
different race from ordinary； ailing mortals。 He was a lordly
being； untouched by common ills and misfortunes。 Whatever he wanted
he got。 He won his wifeone of the Caruthers； a little beauty
from a dozen rivals。 And she settled down and made him the finest
wife in the world。 He wanted a boy。 He got it。 He wanted a girl
and another boy。 He got them。 And they were just right； without
spot or blemish； with chests like little barrels； and with all the
inheritance of his own health and strength。
〃And then it happened。 The mark of the beast was laid upon him。 I
watched it for a year。 It broke my heart。 But he did not know it；
nor did anybody else guess it except that cursed hapa…haole； Stephen
Kaluna。 He knew it； but I did not know that he did。 AndyesDoc
Strowbridge knew it。 He was the federal physician； and he had
developed the leper eye。 You see； part of his business was to
examine suspects and order them to the receiving station at
Honolulu。 And Stephen Kaluna had developed the leper eye。 The
disease ran strong in his family； and four or five of his relatives
were already on Molokai。
〃The trouble arose over Stephen Kaluna's sister。 When she became
suspect； and before Doc Strowbridge could get hold of her； her
brother spirited her away to some hiding…place。 Lyte was Sheriff of
Kona； and it was his business to find her。
〃We were all over at Hilo that night； in Ned Austin's。 Stephen
Kaluna was there when we came in； by himself； in his cups； and
quarrelsome。 Lyte was laughing over some jokethat huge； happy
laugh of a giant boy。 Kaluna spat contemptuously on the floor。
Lyte noticed； so did everybody； but he ignored the fellow。 Kaluna
was looking for trouble。 He took it as a personal grudge that Lyte
was trying to apprehend his sister。 In half a dozen ways he
advertised his displeasure at Lyte's presence； but Lyte ignored him。
I imagined Lyte was a bit sorry for him； for the hardest duty of his
office was the apprehension of lepers。 It is not a nice thing to go
in to a man's house and tear away a father； mother； or child； who
has done no wrong； and to send such a one to perpetual banishment on
Molokai。 Of course； it is necessary as a protection to society； and
Lyte； I do believe； would have been the first to apprehend his own
father did he become suspect。
〃Finally； Kaluna blurted out： 'Look here； Gregory； you think you're
going to find Kalaniweo； but you're not。'
〃Kalaniweo was his sister。 Lyte glanced at him when his name was
called； but he made no answer。 Kaluna was furious。 He was working
himself up all the time。
〃'I'll tell you one thing；' he shouted。 'You'll be on Molokai
yourself before ever you get Kalaniweo there。 I'll tell you what
you are。 You've no right to be in the company of honest men。
You've made a terrible fuss talking about your duty； haven't you？
You've sent many lepers to Molokai； and knowing all the time you
belonged there yourself。'
〃I'd seen Lyte angry more than once； but never quite so angry as at
that moment。 Leprosy with us； you know； is not a thing to jest
about。 He made one leap across the floor； dragging Kaluna out of
his chair with a clutch on his neck。 He shook him back and forth
savagely； till you could hear the half…caste's teeth rattling。
〃'What do you mean？' Lyte was demanding。 'Spit it out； man； or I'll
choke it out of you！'
〃You know； in the West there is a certain phrase that a man must
smile while uttering。 So with us of the islands； only our phrase is
related to leprosy。 No matter what Kaluna was； he was no coward。
As soon as Lyte eased the grip on his throat he answered：…
〃'I'll tell you what I mean。 You are a leper yourself。'
Lyte suddenly flung the half…caste sideways into a chair； letting
him down easily enough。 Then Lyte broke out into honest； hearty
laughter。 But he laughed alone； and when he discovered it he looked
around at our faces。 I had reached his side and was trying to get
him to come away； but he took no notice of me。 He was gazing；
fascinated； at Kaluna； who was brushing at his own throat in a
flurried； nervous way； as if to brush off the contamination of the
fingers that had clutched him。 The action was unreasoned； genuine。
〃Lyte looked around at us； slowly passing from face to face。
〃'My God； fellows！ My God！' he said。
〃He did not speak it。 It was more a hoarse whisper of fright and
horror。 It was fear that fluttered in his throat； and I don't think
that ever in his life before he had known fear。
〃Then his colossal optimism asserted itself； and he laughed again。
〃'A good jokewhoever put it up；' he said。 'The drinks are on me。
I had a scare for a moment。 But； fellows； don't do it again； to
anybody。 It's too serious。 I tell you I died a thousand deaths in
that moment。 I thought of my wife and the kids； and 。 。 。 '
〃His voice broke； and the half…caste； still throat…brushing； drew
his eyes。 He was puzzled and worried。
〃'John；' he said； turning toward me。
〃His jovial； rotund voice rang in my ears。 But I could not answer。
I was swallowing hard at that moment； and besides； I knew my face
didn't look just right。
〃'Jo