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！
The fact that Lise's love affairs had not been prospering undoubtedly had
something to do with the fit of depression into which she had fallen that
evening。 A month or so before she had acquired another beau。 It was
understood by Lise's friends and Lise's family； though not by the gentleman
himself； that his position was only temporary or at most probationary； he had
not even succeeded to the rights； title； and privileges of the late Mr。 Wiley；
though occupying a higher position in the social scalebeing the agent of a
patent lawn sprinkler with an office in Faber Street。
〃Stick to him and you'll wear diamondsthat's what he tries to put across；〃
was Lise's comment on Mr。 Frear's method； and thus Janet gained the impression
that her sister's feelings were not deeply involved。 〃If I thought he'd make
good with the sprinkler I might talk business。 But say； he's one of those
ginks that's always tryin' to beat the bank。 He's never done a day's work in
his life。 Last year he was passing around Foley's magazine； and before that he
was with the race track that went out of business because the ministers got
nutty over it。 Well； he may win out；〃 she added reflectively； 〃those guys
sometimes do put the game on the blink。 He sure is a good spender when the
orders come in； with a line of talk to make you holler for mercy。〃
Mr。 Frear's 〃line of talk〃 came wholly； astonishingly； from one side of his
mouththe left side。 As a muscular feat it was a triumph。 A deaf person on
his right side would not have known he was speaking。 The effect was secretive；
extraordinarily confidential； enabling him to sell sprinklers； it ought to have
helped him to make love； so distinctly personal was it； implying as it did that
the individual addressed was alone of all the world worthy of consideration。
Among his friends it was regarded as an accomplishment； but Lise was critical；
especially since he did not look into one's eyes； but gazed off into space； as
though he weren't talking at all。
She had once inquired if the right side of his face was paralyzed。
She permitted him to take her； however； to Gruber's Cafe； to the movies； and
one or two select dance halls； and to Slattery's Riverside Park； where one
evening she had encountered the rejected Mr。 Wiley。
〃Say； he was sore！〃 she told Janet the next morning； relating the incident with
relish； 〃for two cents he would have knocked Charlie over the ropes。 I guess
he could do it； too； all right。〃
Janet found it curious that Lise should display such vindictiveness toward Mr。
Wiley； who was more sinned against than sinning。 She was moved to inquire
after his welfare。
〃He's got one of them red motorcycles；〃 said Lise。 〃He was gay with it too
when we was waiting for the boulevard trolley he opened her up and went right
between Charlie and me。 I had to laugh。 He's got a job over in Haverhill you
can't hold that guy under water long。〃
Apparently Lise had no regrets。 But her premonitions concerning Mr。 Frear
proved to be justified。 He did not 〃make good。〃 One morning the little office
on Faber Street where the sprinklers were displayed was closed； Hampton knew
him no more； and the police alone were sincerely regretful。 It seemed that of
late he had been keeping all the money for the sprinklers； and spending a good
deal of it on Lise。 At the time she accepted the affair with stoical
pessimism； as one who has learned what to expect of the world； though her moral
sense was not profoundly disturbed by the reflection that she had indulged in
the delights of Slattery's and Gruber's and a Sunday at 〃the Beach〃 at the
expense of the Cascade Sprinkler Company of Boston。 Mr。 Frear inconsiderately
neglected to prepare her for his departure； the news of which was conveyed to
her in a singular manner； and by none other than Mr。 Johnny Tiernan of the tin
shop；their conversation throwing some light； not only on Lise's
sophistication； but on the admirable and intricate operation of Hampton's city
government。 About five o'clock Lise was coming home along Fillmore Street
after an uneventful； tedious and manless holiday spent in the company of Miss
Schuler and other friends when she perceived Mr。 Tiernan seated on his steps；
grinning and waving a tattered palm…leaf fan。
〃The mercury is sure on the jump；〃 he observed。 〃You'd think it was July。〃
And Lise agreed。
〃I suppose you'll be going to Tim Slattery's place tonight；〃 he went on。 〃It's
the coolest spot this side of the Atlantic Ocean。〃
There was； apparently； nothing cryptic in this remark； yet it is worth noting
that Lise instantly became suspicious。
〃Why would I be going out there？〃 she inquired innocently； darting at him a
dark； coquettish glance。
Mr。 Tiernan regarded her guilelessly； but there was admiration in his soul； not
because of her unquestioned feminine attractions；he being somewhat amazingly
proof against such things；but because it was conveyed to him in some
unaccountable way that her suspicions were aroused。 The brain beneath that
corkscrew hair was worthy of a Richelieu。 Mr。 Tiernan's estimate of Miss Lise
Bumpus； if he could have been induced to reveal it； would have been worth
listening to。
〃And why wouldn't you？〃 he replied heartily。 〃Don't I see all the pretty young
ladies out there； including yourself； and you dancing with the Cascade man。
Why is it you'll never give me a dance？〃
〃Why is it you never ask me？〃 demanded Lise。
〃What chance have I got； against him？〃
〃He don't own me；〃 said Lise。
Mr。 Tiernan threw back his head； and laughed。
〃Well； if you're there to…night； tangoin' with him and I come up and says；
‘Miss Bumpus； the pleasure is mine；' I'm wondering what would happen。〃
〃I'm not going to Slattery's to…night；〃 she declared having that instant
arrived at this conclusion。
〃And where then？ I'll come along； if there's a chance for me。〃
〃Quit your kidding；〃 Lise reproved him。
Mr。 Tiernan suddenly looked very solemn：
〃Kidding； is it？ Me kiddin' you？ Give me a chance； that's all I'm asking。
Where will you be； now？〃
〃Is Frear wanted？〃 she demanded。
Mr。 Tiernan's expression changed。 His nose seemed to become more pointed； his
eyes to twinkle more merrily than ever。 He didn't take the trouble； now； to
conceal his admiration。
〃Sure； Miss Bumpus；〃 he said； 〃if you was a man； we'd have you on the force to…
morrow。〃
〃What's he wanted for？〃
〃Well；〃 said Johnny； 〃a little matter of sprinklin'。 He's been sprinklin' his
company's water without a license。〃
She was silent a moment before she exclaimed：
〃I ought to have been wise that he was a crook！〃
〃Well；〃 said Johnny consolingly； 〃there's others that ought to have been wise；
too。 The Cascade people had no business takin' on a man that couldn't use but
half of his mouth。〃
This seemed to Lise a reflection on her judgment。 She proceeded to clear
herself。
〃He was nothing to me。 He never gave me no rest。 He used to come 'round and
pester me to go out with him〃
〃Sure！〃 interrupted Mr。 Tiernan。 〃Don't I know how it is with the likes of
him！ A good time's a good time； and no harm in it。 But the point is 〃 and
here he cocked his nose〃the point is； where is he？ Where will he be
tonight？〃
All at once Lise grew vehement； almost tearful。
〃I don't knowhonest to God； I don't。 If I did I'd tell you。 Last night he
said he might be out of town。 He didn't say where he was going。〃 She fumbled
in her bag； drawing out an imitation lace handkerchief and pressing it to her
eyes。
〃There now！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Tiernan； soothingly。 〃How would you know？ And he
deceivin' you like he did the company〃
〃He didn't deceive me；〃 cried Lise。
〃Listen；〃 said Mr。 Tiernan； who had risen and laid his hand on her arm。 〃It's
not young ladies like you that works and are self…respecting that any one would
be troublin'； and you the daughter of such a fine man as your father。 Run
along； now； I won't be detaining you； Miss Bumpus； and you'll accept my
apology。 I guess we'll never see him in Hampton again。。。。〃
Some twenty minutes later he sauntered down the street； saluting acquaintances；
and threading his way across the Common entered a grimy brick building where a
huge policeman with an insignia on his arm was seated behind a desk。 Mr。
Tiernan leaned on the desk； and reflectively lighted a Thomas…Jefferson…Five…
Cent Cigar； Union Label； the excellencies of which were set forth on large
signs above the 〃ten foot〃 buildings on Faber Street。
〃She don't know nothing； Mike；〃 he remarked。 〃I guess he got wise this
morning。〃
The sergeant nodded。。。。
CHAPTER V
To feel potential within one's self the capacity to live and yet to have no
means of realizing this capacity is doubtless one of the least comfortable and
agreeable of human experiences。 Such； as summer came on； was Janet's case。
The memory of that visit to Silliston lingered in her mind； sometimes to flare
up so vividly as to make her existence seem unbearable。 How wonderful； she
thought； to be able to dwell in such a beautiful place； to have as friends and
companions such amusing and intelligent people as the stranger with whom she
had talked！ Were