the night-born-第26部分
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〃That is because I like your appearance。 You are too
decent…looking a man to be a robber。 You oughtn't to do such
things。 If you are in bad luck you should go to work。 Come； put
away that nasty revolver and let us talk it over。 The thing for
you to do is to work。〃
〃Not in this burg；〃 he commented bitterly。 〃I've walked two
inches off the bottom of my legs trying to find a job。 Honest；
I was a fine large man once。 。 。 before I started looking for a
job。〃
The merry laughter with which she greeted his sally obviously
pleased him； and she was quick to note and take advantage of
it。 She moved directly away from the door and toward the
sideboard。
〃Come； you must tell me all about it while I get that drink for
you。 What will it be？ Whisky？〃
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 he said； as he followed her； though he still
carried the big revolver at his side； and though he glanced
reluctantly at the unguarded open door。
She filled a glass for him at the sideboard。
〃I promised to drink with you；〃 she said hesitatingly。 〃But I
don't like whisky。 I 。 。 。 I prefer sherry。〃
She lifted the sherry bottle tentatively for his consent。
〃Sure；〃 he answered； with a nod。 〃Whisky's a man's drink。 I
never like to see women at it。 Wine's more their stuff。〃
She raised her glass to his； her eyes meltingly sympathetic。
〃Here's to finding you a good position〃
But she broke off at sight of the expression of surprised
disgust on his face。 The glass； barely touched； was removed
from his wry lips。
〃What is the matter！〃 she asked anxiously。 〃Don't you like it？
Have I made a mistake？〃
〃It's sure funny whisky。 Tastes like it got burned and smoked
in the making。〃
〃Oh！ How silly of me！ I gave you Scotch。 Of course you are
accustomed to rye。 Let me change it。〃
She was almost solicitiously maternal； as she replaced the
glass with another and sought and found the proper bottle。
〃Better？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； ma'am。 No smoke in it。 It's sure the real good stuff。 I
ain't had a drink in a week。 Kind of slick； that； oily； you
know； not made in a chemical factory。〃
〃You are a drinking man？〃 It was half a question； half a
challenge。
〃No； ma'am； not to speak of。 I HAVE rared up and ripsnorted at
spells； but most unfrequent。 But there is times when a good
stiff jolt lands on the right spot kerchunk； and this is sure
one of them。 And now； thanking you for your kindness； ma'am；
I'll just be a pulling along。〃
But Mrs。 Setliffe did not want to lose her burglar。 She was too
poised a woman to possess much romance； but there was a thrill
about the present situation that delighted her。 Besides； she
knew there was no danger。 The man； despite his jaw and the
steady brown eyes； was eminently tractable。 Also； farther back
in her consciousness glimmered the thought of an audience of
admiring friends。 It was too bad not to have that audience。
〃You haven't explained how burglary； in your case； is merely
collecting what is your own；〃 she said。 〃Come； sit down； and
tell me about it here at the table。〃
She maneuvered for her own seat； and placed him across the
corner from her。 His alertness had not deserted him； as she
noted； and his eyes roved sharply about； returning always with
smoldering admiration to hers； but never resting long。 And she
noted likewise that while she spoke he was intent on listening
for other sounds than those of her voice。 Nor had he
relinquished the revolver； which lay at the corner of the table
between them； the butt close to his right hand。
But he was in a new habitat which he did not know。 This man
from the West； cunning in woodcraft and plainscraft； with eyes
and ears open； tense and suspicious； did not know that under
the table； close to her foot； was the push button of an
electric bell。 He had never heard of such a contrivance； and
his keenness and wariness went for naught。
〃It's like this； Miss；〃 he began； in response to her urging。
〃Old Setliffe done me up in a little deal once。 It was raw； but
it worked。 Anything will work full and legal when it's got few
hundred million behind it。 I'm not squealin'； and I ain't
taking a slam at your pa。 He don't know me from Adam； and I
reckon he don't know he done me outa anything。 He's too big；
thinking and dealing in millions； to ever hear of a small
potato like me。 He's an operator。 He's got all kinds of experts
thinking and planning and working for him； some of them； I
hear； getting more cash salary than the President of the United
States。 I'm only one of thousands that have been done up by
your pa； that's all。
〃You see； ma'am； I had a little hole in the grounda dinky；
hydraulic； one…horse outfit of a mine。 And when the Setliffe
crowd shook down Idaho； and reorganized the smelter trust； and
roped in the rest of the landscape； and put through the big
hydraulic scheme at Twin Pines； why I sure got squeezed。 I
never had a run for my money。 I was scratched off the card
before the first heat。 And so； to…night； being broke and my
friend needing me bad； I just dropped around to make a raise
outa your pa。 Seeing as I needed it； it kinda was coming to
me。〃
〃Granting all that you say is so；〃 she said； 〃nevertheless it
does not make house…breaking any the less house…breaking。 You
couldn't make such a defense in a court of law。〃
〃I know that；〃 he confessed meekly。 〃What's right ain't always
legal。 And that's why I am so uncomfortable a…settin' here and
talking with you。 Not that I ain't enjoying your companyI
sure do enjoy itbut I just can't afford to be caught。 I know
what they'd do to me in this here city。 There was a young
fellow that got fifty years only last week for holding a man up
on the street for two dollars and eighty…five cents。 I read
about it in the paper。 When times is hard and they ain't no
work； men get desperate。 And then the other men who've got
something to be robbed of get desperate； too； and they just
sure soak it to the other fellows。 If I got caught； I reckon I
wouldn't get a mite less than ten years。 That's why I'm
hankering to be on my way。〃
〃No； wait。〃 She lifted a detaining hand； at the same time
removing her foot from the bell； which she had been pressing
intermittently。 〃You haven't told me your name yet。〃
He hesitated。
〃Call me Dave。〃
〃Then 。 。 。 Dave；〃 she laughed with pretty confusion。
〃Something must be done for you。 You are a young man； and you
are just at the beginning of a bad start。 If you begin by
attempting to collect what you think is coming to you； later on
you will be collecting what you are perfectly sure isn't coming
to you。 And you know what the end will be。 Instead of this； we
must find something honorable for you to do。〃
〃I need the money； and I need it now；〃 he replied doggedly。
〃It's not for myself； but for that friend I told you about。
He's in a peck of trouble； and he's got to get his lift now or
not at all。〃
〃I can find you a position；〃 she said quickly。 〃Andyes； the
very thing！I'll lend you the money you want to send to your
friend。 This you can pay back out of your salary。〃
〃About three hundred would do；〃 he said slowly。 〃Three hundred
would pull him through。 I'd work my fingers off for a year for
that； and my keep； and a few cents to buy Bull Durham with。〃
〃Ah！ You smoke！ I never thought of it。〃
Her hand went out over the revolver toward his hand； as she
pointed to the tell…tale yellow stain on his fingers。 At the
same time her eyes measured the nearness of her own hand and of
his to the weapon。 She ached to grip it in one swift movement。
She was sure she could do it； and yet she was not sure； and so
it was that she refrained as she withdrew her hand。
〃Won't you smoke？〃 she invited。
〃I'm 'most dying to。〃
〃Then do so。 I don't mind。 I really like itcigarettes； I
mean。〃
With his left band he dipped into his side pocket； brought out
a loose wheat…straw paper and shifted it to his right hand
close by the revolver。 Again he dipped； transferring to the
paper a pinch of brown； flaky tobacco。 Then he proceeded； both
hands just over the revolver； to roll the cigarette。
〃From the way you hover close to that nasty weapon； you seem to
be afraid of me；〃 she challenged。
〃Not exactly afraid of you； ma'am； but； under the
circumstances； just a mite timid。〃
〃But I've not been afraid of you。〃
〃You've got nothing to lose。〃
〃My life；〃 she retorted。
〃That's right；〃 he acknowledged promptly； 〃and you ain't been
scairt of me。 Mebbe I am over anxious。〃
〃I wouldn't cause you any harm。〃
Even as she spoke； her slipper felt for the bell and pressed
it。 At the same time her eyes were earnest with a plea of
honesty。
〃You are a judge of men。 I know it。 And of women。 Surely； when
I am trying to persuade you from a criminal life and to get you
honest work to do 。 。 。 。？〃
