whirligigs-第28部分

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　Gorees　sprawled　in　his　disreputable　office；　at　the　end

of　his　row；　spurned　by　the　cronies　whom　he　had　gorged；

strangers　dwelt　in　the　halls　of　his　fathers。



A　cloud　of　dust　was　rolling；　slowly　up　the　parched

street；　with　something　travelling　in　the　midst　of　it。　　A

little　breeze　wafted　the　cloud　to　one　side；　and　a　new；

brightly　painted　carryall；　drawn　by　a　slothful　gray　horse；

became　visible。　　The　vehicle　deflected　from　the　middle

of　the　street　as　it　neared　Goree's　office；　and　stopped　in　the

gutter　directly　in　front　of　his　door。



On　the　front　seat　sat　a　gaunt；　tall　man；　dressed　in

black　broadcloth；　his　rigid　hands　incarcerated　in　yellow

kid　gloves。　　On　the　back　seat　was　a　lady　who　triumphed

over　the　June　heat。　　Her　stout　form　was　armoured　in　a

skintight　silk　dress　of　the　description　known　as　〃change…

able；〃　being　a　gorgeous　combination　of　shifting　hues。

She　sat　erect；　waving　a　much…omamented　fan；　with　her

eyes　fixed　stonily　far　down　the　street。　　However　Martella

Garvey's　heart　might　be　rejoicing　at　the　pleasures　of　her

new　life；　Blackjack　had　done　his　work　with　her　exterior。

He　had　carved　her　countenance　to　the　image　of　emptiness

and　inanity；　had　imbued　her　with　the　stolidity　of　his

crags；　and　the　reserve　of　his　hushed　interiors。　　She　always

seemed　to　hear；　whatever　her　surroundings　were；　the

scaly…barks　falling　and　pattering　down　the　mountain…

side。　　She　could　always　hear　the　awful　silence　of　Black…

jack　sounding　through　the　stillest　of　nights。



Goree　watched　this　solemn　equipage；　as　it　drove　to

his　door；　with　only　faint　interest；　but　when　the　lank

driver　wrapped　the　reins　about　his　whip；　awkwardly

descended；　and　stepped　into　the　office；　he　rose　unsteadily

to　receive　him；　recognizing　Pike　Garvey；　the　new；　the

transformed；　the　recently　civilized。



The　mountaineer　took　the　chair　Goree　offered　him。

They　who　cast　doubts　upon　Garvey's　soundness　of　mind

had　a　strong　witness　in　the　man's　countenance。　　His　face

was　too　long；　a　dull　saffron　in　hue；　and　immobile　as　a

statue's。　　Pale…blue；　unwinking　round　eyes　without

lashes　added　to　the　singularity　of　his　gruesome　visage。

Goree　was　at　a　loss　to　account　for　the　visit。



〃Everything　all　right　at　Laurel；　Mr。　Garvey？〃　　he

inquired。



〃Everything　all　right；　sir；　and　mighty　pleased　is　Missis

Garvey　and　me　with　the　property。　　Missis　Garvey　likes

yo'　old　place；　and　she　likes　the　neighbourhood。　　Society

is　what　she　'lows　she　wants；　and　she　is　gettin'　of　it。　　The

Rogerses；　the　Hapgoods；　the　Pratts　and　the　Troys　hev

been　to　see　Missis　Garvey；　and　she　hev　et　meals　to　most

of　thar　houses。　　The　best　folks　hev　axed　her　to　differ'nt

kinds　of　doin's。　　I　cyan't　say；　Mr。　Goree；　that　sech

things　suits　me　　fur　me；　give　me　them　thar。〃　　Garvey's

huge；　yellow…gloved　hand　flourished　in　the　direction　of

the　mountains。　　〃That's　whar　I　b'long；　'mongst　the

wild　honey　bees　and　the　b'ars。　　But　that　ain't　what　I

come　fur　to　say；　Mr。　Goree。　　Thar's　somethin'　you　got

what　me　and　Missis　Garvey　wants　to　buy。〃



〃Buy！〃　　echoed　Goree。　　〃From　me？〃　　Then　he

laughed　harshly。　　〃I　reckon　you　are　mistaken　about

that。　　I　reckon　you　are　mistaken　about　that。　　I　sold　out

to　you；　as　you　yourself　expressed　it；　'lock；　stock　and

barrel。'　There　isn't　even　a　ramrod　left　to　sell。〃



〃You've　got　it；　and　we　'uns　want　it。　　'Take　the

money；'　says　Missis　Garvey；　'and　buy　it　fa'r　and

squared'。'〃



Goree　shook　his　head。　　〃The　cupboard's　bare；〃　he

said。



〃We've　riz；〃　pursued　the　mountaineer；　undetected

from　his　object；　〃a　heap。　　We　was　pore　as　possums；

and　now　we　could　hev　folks　to　dinner　every　day。　　We

been　recognized；　Missis　Garvey　says；　by　the　best　society。

But　there's　somethin'　we　need　we　ain't　got。　　She　says

it　ought　to　been　put　in　the　'ventory　ov　the　sale；　but　it

tain't　thar。　　'Take　the　money；　then；'　says　she；　'and　buy

it　fa'r　and　squar'。〃'



〃Out　with　it；〃　said　Goree；　his　racked　nerves　growing

impatient。



Garvey　threw　his　slouch　bat　upon　the　table；　and　leaned

forward；　fixing　his　unblinking　eves　upon　Goree's。



〃There's　a　old　feud；〃　he　said　distinctly　and　slowly；

〃'tween　you　'uns　and　the　Coltranes。〃



Goree　frowned　ominously。　　To　speak　of　his　feud　to

a　feudist　is　a　serious　breach　of　the　mountain　etiquette。

The　man　from　〃back　yan'〃　knew　it　as　well　as　the　lawyer

did。



〃Na　offense；〃　he　went　on　〃but　purely　in　the　way　of

business。　　Missis　Garvey　hev　studied　all　about　feuds。

Most　of　the　quality　folks　in　the　mountains　hev　'em。　　The

Settles　and　the　Goforths；　the　Rankins　and　the　Boyds；　the

Silers　and　the　Galloways；　hev　all　been　cyarin'　on　feuds

f'om　twenty　to　a　hundred　year。　　The　last　man　to　drap

was　when　yo'　uncle；　Jedge　Paisley　Goree；　'journed　co't

and　shot　Len　Coltrane　f'om　the　bench。　　Missis　Garvey

and　me；　we　come　f'om　the　po'　white　trash。　　Nobody

wouldn't　pick　a　feud　with　we　'uns；　no　mo'n　with　a　fam'ly

of　tree…toads。　　Quality　people　everywhar；　says　Missis

Garvey；　has　feuds。　　We　'uns　ain't　quality；　but　we're

uyin'　into　it　as　fur　as　we　can。　　'Take　the　money；　then；'

says　Missis　Garvey；　'and　buy　Mr。　Goree's　feud；　fa'r

and　squar'。'〃



The　squirrel　hunter　straightened　a　leg　half　across　the

room；　drew　a　roll　of　bills　from　his　pocket；　and　threw　them

on　the　table。



〃Thar's　two　hundred　dollars；　Mr。　Goree；　what　you

would　call　a　fa'r　price　for　a　feud　that's　been　'lowed　to

run　down　like　yourn　hev。　　Thar's　only　you　left　to　cyar'

on　yo'　side　of　it；　and　you'd　make　mighty　po'　killin'。　　I'll

take　it　off　yo'　hands；　and　it'll　set　me　and　Missis　Garvey

up　among　the　quality。　　Thar's　the　money。〃



The　little　roll　of　currency　on　the　table　slowly　untwisted

itself；　writhing　and　jumping　as　its　folds　relaxed。　　In　the

silence　that　followed　Garvey's　last　speech　the　rattling　of

the　poker　chips　in　the　court…house　could　be　plainly　heard。

Goree　knew　that　the　sheriff　had　just　won　a　pot；　for　the

subdued　whoop　with　which　he　always　greeted　a　victory

floated　across　the　sqquare　upon　the　crinkly　heat　waves。

Beads　of　moisture　stood　on　Goree's　brow。　　Stooping；　he

drew　the　wicker…covered　demijohn　from　under　the　table；

and　filled　a　tumbler　from　it。



〃A　little　corn　liquor；　Mr。　Garvey？　　Of　course　you

are　joking　about　what　you　spoke　of？　　Opens　quite　a

new　market；　doesn't　it？　　Feuds。　　Prime；　two…fifty　to

three。　　Feuds；　slightly　damaged　　two　hundred；　I

believe　you　said；　Mr。　Garvey？〃



Goree　laughed　self…consciously。



The　mountaineer　took　the　glass　Goree　handed　him；

and　drank　the　whisky　without　a　tremor　of　the　lids　of

his　staring　eyes。　　The　lawyer　applauded　the　feat　by　a

look　of　envious　admiration。　　He　poured　his　own　drink；

and　took　it　like　a　drunkard；　by　gulps；　and　with　shudders

at　the　smell　and　taste。



〃Two　hundred；〃　repeated　Garvey。　　〃Thar's　the　money。〃



A　sudden　passion　flared　up　in　Goree's　brain。　　He

struck　the　table　with　his　fist。　　One　of　the　bills　flipped

over　and　touched　his　hand。　　He　flinched　as　if　something

had　stung　him。



〃Do　you　come　to　me；〃　he　shouted；　〃seriously　with　such

a　ridiculous；　insulting；　darned…fool　proposition？〃



〃It's　fa'r　and　squar'；〃　said　the　squirrel　hunter；　but　he

reached　out　his　hand　as　if　to　take　back　the　money；　and

then　Goree　knew　that　his　own　flurry　of　rage　had　not　been

from　pride　or　resentment；　but　from　anger　at　himself；

knowing　that　he　would　set　foot　in　the　deeper　depths　that

were　being　opened　to　him。　　He　turned　in　an　instant　from

an　outraged　gentleman　to　an　anxious　chafferer　recom…

mending　his　goods。



〃Don't　be　in　a　hurry；　Garvey；〃　he　said；　his　face　crimson

and　his　speech　thick。　　〃I　accept　your　p…p…proposition；

though　it's　dirt　cheap　at　two　hundred。　　A　t…trade's　all

right　when　both　p…purchaser　and　b…buyer　are　s…satisfied。

Shall　I　w…wrap　it　up　for　you；　Mr。　Garvey？〃



Garvey　rose；　and　shook　out　his　broadcloth。　　〃Missis

Garvev　will　be　pleased。　　You　air　out　of　it；　and　it　stands

Coltrane　and　Garvey。　　Just　a　scrap　ov　writin'；　Mr。

Goree；　you　bein'　a　lawyer；　to　show　we　traded。〃



Goree　seized　a　sheet　of　paper　and　a　pen。　　The　money

was　clutched　in　his　moist　hand。　　Everything　else　sud…

denly　seemed　to　grow　trivial　and　light。



〃Bill　of　sale；　by　all　means。　　'Right；　title；　and　interest

in　and　to'　。　。　。　'forever　warrant　and　　'　No；

Garvey；　we'll　have　to　leave　out　that　'defend；'〃　said

Goree　with　a　loud　laugh。　　〃You'll　have　to　defend　this

title　yourself。〃



The　mountaineer　received　the　amazing　screed　that　the

lawyer　handed　him；　folded　it　with　immense　labour；　and

laced　it　carefully　in　his　pocket。



Goree　was　standing　near　the　window。　　〃Step　here；

said；　raising　his　finger；　〃and　I'll　show　you　your　recently

purchased　enemy。　　There　he　goes；　down　the　other　side

of　the　street。〃



The　mountaineer　crooked　his　long　frame　to　look

through　the　window　in　the　direction　indicated　by　the　other。

Colonel　Abner　Coltrane；　an　erect；　portly　gentleman　of

about　fifty；　wearing　the　inevitable　long；　double…breasted

frock　coat