stories of a western town-第25章

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　make　somebody　hear？〃　panted　Armorer。　〃Well；　you　see　there's　a　deal　of　noise　of　the　machinery；〃　said　Shuey；　scratching　his　chin　with　a　thoughtful　air；　〃and　they　expect　we've　gone　up！〃　〃Best　try；　anyhow。　　This　infernal　machine　may　take　a　notion　to　drop！〃　said　Armorer。　〃And　that's　true；　too；〃　acquiesced　Shuey。　　Forthwith　he　did　lift　up　his　voice　in　a　loud　wailing：　　〃OHH；　Jimmy！　　OHH；　Jimmy　Ryan！〃　Jimmy　might　have　been　in　Chicago　for　any　response　he　made；　though　Armorer　shouted　with　Shuey；　and　at　every　pause　the　whir　of　the　machinery　mocked　the　shouters。　　Indescribable　moans　and　gurgles；　with　a　continuous　malignant　hiss；　floated　up　to　them　from　the　rebel　steam　below；　as　from　a　volcano　considering　eruption。　〃They'll　be　bound　to　need　the　elevator　some　time；　if　they　don't　need　US；　and　that's　one　comfort！〃　said　Shuey；　philosophically。　〃Don't　you　think　if　we　pulled　on　her　we　could　get　her　up　to　the　next　floor；　by　degrees？　　Now　then！〃　Armorer　gave　a　dash　and　Shuey　let　out　his　muscles　in　a　giant　tug。　The　elevator　responded　by　an　astonishing　leap　that　carried　them　past　three　or　four　floors！　〃Stop　her！　stop　her！〃　bawled　Shuey；　but　in　spite　of　Armorer's　pulling　himself　purple　in　the　face；　the　elevator　did　not　stop　until　it　bumped　with　a　crash　against　the　joists　of　the　roof。　〃Well；　do　you　suppose　we're　stuck　HERE？〃　growled　Armorer。　〃Well；　sir；　I'll　try。　　Say；　don't　be　exerting　yourself　violent。　It　strikes　me　she's　for　all　the　world　like　the　wimmen；　in　exthremes；　sir；　in　exthremes！　　And　it　wouldn't　be　noways　so　pleasant　to　go　riproaring　that　gait　down　cellar！　Slow　and　easy；　sir；　let　me　manage　her。　　Hi！　she's　working。〃　In　fact；　by　slow　degrees　and　much　puffing；　Shuey　got　the　erratic　box　to　the　next　floor；　where；　disregarding　Shuey's　protestations　that　he　could　〃make　her　mind；〃　Mr。　Armorer　got　out；　and　they　left　the　elevator　to　its　fate。　It　was　a　long　way；　through　many　rooms；　downstairs。　　Shuey　would　have　beguiled　the　way　by　describing　the　rooms；　but　Armorer　was　in　a　raging　hurry　and　urged　his　guide　over　the　ground。　Once　they　were　delayed　by　a　bundle　of　stuff　in　front　of　a　door；　and　after　Shuey　had　laboriously　rolled　the　great　roll　away；　he　made　a　misstep　and　tumbled　over；　rolling　it　back；　to　a　tittering　accompaniment　from　the　sewing…girls　in　the　room。　But　he　picked　himself　up　in　perfect　good　temper　and　kicked　the　roll　ten　yards。　　〃Girls　is　silly　things；〃　said　the　philosopher　Shuey；　〃but　being　born　that　way　it　ain't　to　be　expected　otherwise！〃　He　had　the　friendly　freedom　of　his　class　in　the　West。　He　praised　Mrs。　Ellis's　gymnastics；　and　urged　Armorer　to　stay　over　a　morning　train　and　see　a　〃real　pretty　boxing　match〃　between　Mr。　Lossing　and　himself。　〃Oh；　he　boxes　too；　does　he？〃　said　Armorer。　〃And　why　on　earth　would　he　groan…like？〃　wondered　Shuey　to　himself。　〃He　does　that；　sir；〃　he　continued　aloud；　〃didn't　Mrs。　Ellis　ever　tell　you　about　the　time　at　the　circus？　　She　was　there　herself；　with　three　children　she　borrowed　and　an　unreasonable　gyurl；　with　a　terrible　big　screech　in　her　and　no　sense。　Yes；　sir；　Mr。　Lossing　he　is　mighty　cliver　with　his　hands！　There　come　a　yell　of　'Lion　loose！　lion　loose！'　at　that　circus；　just　as　the　folks　was　all　crowding　out　at　the　end　of　it；　and　them　that　had　gone　into　the　menagerie　tent　came　a…tumbling　and　howling　back；　and　them　that　was　in　the　circus　tent　waiting　for　the　concert　（which　never　ain't　worth　waiting　for；　between　you　and　me！）　was　a…scrambling　off　them　seats；　making　a　noise　like　thunder；　and　all　fighting　and　pushing　and　bellowing　to　get　out！　I　was　there　with　my　wife　and　making　for　the　seats　that　the　fools　quit；　so's　to　get　under　and　crawl　out　under　the　canvas；　when　I　see　Mrs。　Ellis　holding　two　of　the　children；　and　that　fool　girl　let　the　other　go　and　I　grabbed　it。　　'Oh；　save　the　baby！　save　one；　anyhow；'　cries　my　wifethe　woman　is　a　tinder…hearted　crechure！　And　just　then　I　seen　an　old　lady　tumble　over　on　the　benches；　with　her　gray　hair　stringing　out　of　her　black　bonnet。　The　crowd　was　WILD；　hitting　and　screaming　and　not　caring　for　anything；　and　I　see　a　big　jack　of　a　man　come　plunging　down　right　spang　on　that　old　lady！　　His　foot　was　right　in　the　air　over　her　face！　　Lord；　it　turned　me　sick。　　I　yelled。　But　that　minnit　I　seen　an　arm　shoot　out　and　that　fellow　shot　off　as　slick！　it　was　Mr。　Lossing。　　He　parted　that　crowd；　hitting　right　and　left；　and　he　got　up　to　us　and　hauled　a　child　from　Mrs。　Ellis　and　put　it　on　the　seats；　all　the　while　shouting：　'Keep　your　seats！　it's　all　right！　it's　all　over！　stand　back！'　I　turned　and　floored　a　feller　that　was　too　pressing；　and　hollered　it　was　all　right　too。　　And　some　more　people　hollered　too。　You　see；　there　is　just　a　minnit　at　such　times　when　it　is　a　toss　up　whether　folks　will　quiet　down　and　begin　to　laugh；　or　get　scared　into　wild　beasts　and　crush　and　kill　each　other。　And　Mr。　Lossing　he　caught　the　minnit！　　The　circus　folks　came　up　and　the　police；　and　it　was　all　over。　　WELL；　just　look　here；　sir；　there's　our　folks　coming　out　of　the　elevator！〃　They　were　just　landing；　and　Mrs。　Ellis　wanted　to　know　where　he　had　gone。　〃We　run　away　from　ye；　shure；〃　said　Shuey；　grinning；　and　he　related　the　adventure。　　Armorer　fell　back　with　Mrs。　Ellis。　〃Did　you　stay　with　Esther　every　minute？〃　said　he。　Mrs。　Ellis　nodded。　　She　opened　her　lips　to　speak；　then　closed　them　and　walked　ahead　to　Harry　Lossing。　　Armorer　looked　suspicion　of　a　dozen　kinds　gnawing　him　and　insinuating　that　the　three　all　seemed　agitatedfrom　Harry　to　Esther；　and　then　to　Shuey。　But　he　kept　his　thoughts　to　himself　and　was　very　agreeable　the　remainder　of　the　afternoon。　He　heard　Harry　tell　Mrs。　Ellis　that　the　city　council　would　meet　that　evening；　before；　however；　Armorer　could　feel　exultant　he　added；　〃but　may　I　come　late？〃　〃He　is　certainly　the　coolest　beggar；〃　Armorer　snarled；　〃but　he　is　sharp　as　a　nigger's　razor；　confound　him！〃　Naturally　this　remark　was　a　confidential　one　to　himself。　He　thought　it　more　times　than　one　during　the　evening；　and　by　consequence　played　trumps　with　equal　disregard　of　the　laws　of　the　noble　game　of　whist　and　his　partner's　feelings。　He　found　a　few；　a　very　few；　elderly　people　who　remembered　his　parent；　and　they　will　never　believe　ill　of　Horatio　Armorer；　who　talked　so　simply　and　with　so　much　feeling　of　old　times；　and　who　is　going　to　give　a　memorial　window　in　the　new　Presbyterian　church。　He　was　beginning　to　think　with　some　interest　of　supper；　the　usual　dinner　of　the　family　having　been　sacrificed　to　the　demands　of　state；　then　he　saw　Harry　Lossing。　　The　young　mayor's　blond　head　was　bowing　before　his　sister's　black　velvet。　He　caught　Armorer's　eye　and　followed　him　out　to　the　lawn　and　the　shadows　and　the　gay　lanterns。　　He　looked　animated。　Evening　dress　was　becoming　to　him。　　〃One　of　my　daughters　married　a　prince；　but　I　am　hanged　if　he　looked　it　like　this　fellow；〃　thought　Armorer；　〃but　then　he　was　only　an　Italian。　I　suppose　the　council　did　not　pass　the　ordinance？　your　committee　reported　against　it？〃　he　said　quite　amicably　to　Harry。　〃I　wish　you　could　understand　how　much　pain　it　has　given　me　to　oppose　you；　Mr。　Armorer；〃　said　Harry；　blushing。　〃I　don't　doubt　it；　under　the　circumstances；　Mr。　Lossing。〃　Armorer　spoke　with　suave　politeness；　but　there　was　a　cynical　gleam　in　his　eye。　〃But　Esther　understands；〃　says　Harry。　〃Esther！〃　repeats　Armorer；　with　an　indescribable　intonation。　〃You　spoke　to　her　this　afternoon？　　For　a　man　with　such　high…toned　ideas　as　you　carry；　I　think　you　took　a　pretty　mean　advantage　of　your　guests！〃　〃You　will　remember　I　gave　you　fair　warning；　Mr。　Armorer。〃　〃It　was　while　I　was　in　the　elevator；　of　course。　I　guessed　it　was　a　put…up　job；　how　did　you　manage　it？〃　Harry　smiled　outright；　he　is　one　who　cannot　keep　either　his　dog　or　his　joke　tied　up。　　〃It　was　Shuey　did　it；〃　said　he；　〃he　pulled　the　opposite　way　from　you；　and　he　has　tremendous　strength；　but　he　says　you　were　a　handful　for　him。〃　〃You　seem　to　have　taken　the　town　into　your　confidence；〃　said　Armorer；　bitterly；　though　he　had　a　sneaking　inclination　to　laugh　himself；　〃do　you　need　all　your　workmen　to　help　you　court　your　girl？〃　〃I'd　take　the　whole　United　States　into　my　confidence　rather　than　lose　her；　sir；〃　answered　Harry；　steadily。　Armorer　turned　on　his　heel　abruptly；　it　was　to　conceal　a　smile。　〃How　about　my　sister？　did　you　propose　before　her？　But　I　don't　suppose　a　little　thing　like　that　would　stop　you。〃　〃I　had　to　speak；　Miss　Armorer　goes　away　tomorrow。　Mrs。　Ellis　was　kind　enough　to　put　her　fingers　in　her　ears　and　turn　her　back。〃　〃And　what　did　my　daughter　say？〃　〃I　asked　her　only　to　give　me　the　chance　to　show　her　how　I　loved　her；　and　she　has。　　God　bless　her！　　I　don't　pretend　I'm　worthy　of　her；　Mr。　Armorer；　but　I　have　lived　a　decent　life；　and　I'll　try　hard　to　live　a　better　one　for　her　trust　in　me。〃　〃I'm　glad　there　is　one　thing　on　which　we　are　agreed；〃　jeered　Armorer；　〃but　you　are　more　modest　than　you　were　this　noon。　I　think　it　was　considerably　like　bragging；　sending　that　woman　to　tell　of　your　heroic　feats！〃　〃Oh；　I　can　brag　when　it　is　necessary；〃　said　Harry；　serenely；　〃what　would　the　West　be　but　for　bragging？〃　〃And　what　do　you　intend　to　do　if　I　take　your　girl　to　Europe？〃　〃Europe　is　not　very　far；〃　said　Harry。　Armorer　was　a　quick　thinker；　but　he　had　never　thought　more　quickly　in　his　life。　　This　young　fellow　had　beaten　him。　There　was　no　doubt　of　it。　　He　might　have　principles；　but　he　declined