a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第15部分
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with lemon soda。〃
Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey； like the others； but a
little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his guest's order； and
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perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that all the other customers
seemed to have gathered round him and his party with equally immovable
faces； he said hurriedly：
〃Lemon soda for me； please。〃
〃The Commodore；〃 said the barkeeper with impassive features； as he
bent forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation； 〃is
right。 No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life to
liquor； when he is changing climate； gentlemen； he says 'Lemon soda for
me' all the time。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Clarence； brightening； 〃you will join too？〃
〃I shall be proud on this occasion； sir。〃
〃I think；〃 said the tall man； still as ceremoniously unbending as before；
〃that there can be but one toast here； gentlemen。 I give you the health of
the Commodore。 May his shadow never be less。〃
The health was drunk solemnly。 Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and
in his excitement drank his own health with the others。 Yet he was
disappointed that there was not more joviality； he wondered if men always
drank together so stiffly。 And it occurred to him that it would be
expensive。 Nevertheless； he had his purse all ready ostentatiously in his
hand； in fact； the paying for it out of his own money was not the least
manly and independent pleasure he had promised himself。 〃How much？〃
he asked； with an affectation of carelessness。
The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom。 〃I think
you said treats for the crowd； call it twenty dollars to make even change。〃
Clarence's heart sank。 He had heard already of the exaggeration of
California prices。 Twenty dollars！ It was half his fortune。 Nevertheless；
with an heroic effort； he controlled himself； and with slightly nervous
fingers counted out the money。 It struck him； however； as curious； not to
say ungentlemanly； that the bystanders craned their necks over his
shoulder to look at the contents of his purse； although some slight
explanation was offered by the tall man。
〃The Commodore's purse； gentlemen； is really a singular one。 Permit
me；〃 he said； taking it from Clarence's hand with great politeness。 〃It is
one of the new pattern； you observe； quite worthy of inspection。〃 He
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handed it to a man behind him； who in turn handed it to another； while a
chorus of 〃suthin quite new；〃 〃the latest style；〃 followed it in its passage
round the room； and indicated to Clarence its whereabouts。 It was
presently handed back to the barkeeper； who had begged also to inspect it；
and who； with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon placing it
himself in Clarence's side pocket； as if it were an important part of his
function。 The driver here called 〃all aboard。〃 The passengers hurriedly
reseated themselves； and the episode abruptly ended。 For； to Clarence's
surprise； these attentive friends of a moment ago at once became interested
in the views of a new passenger concerning the local politics of San
Francisco； and he found himself utterly forgotten。 The bonnetless
woman had changed her position； and her head was no longer visible。
The disillusion and depression that overcame him suddenly were as
complete as his previous expectations and hopefulness had been
extravagant。 For the first time his utter unimportance in the world and
his inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him crushingly。
The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight
slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got out at
a wayside station。 They had evidently not cared to waken him to say
〃Good…by。〃 From the conversation of the other passengers he learned
that the tall man was a well…known gambler； and the one who looked like a
farmer was a ship captain who had become a wealthy merchant。
Clarence thought he understood now why the latter had asked him if he
came off a voyage； and that the nickname of 〃Commodore〃 given to him；
Clarence； was some joke intended for the captain's understanding。 He
missed them； for he wanted to talk to them about his relative at
Sacramento； whom he was now so soon to see。 At last； between sleeping
and waking； the end of his journey was unexpectedly reached。 It was
dark； but； being 〃steamer night；〃 the shops and business places were still
open； and Mr。 Peyton had arranged that the stage…driver should deliver
Clarence at the address of his relative in 〃J Street；〃an address which
Clarence had luckily remembered。 But the boy was somewhat
discomfited to find that it was a large office or banking… house。 He；
however； descended from the stage； and with his small pack in his hand
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entered the building as the stage drove off； and； addressing one of the busy
clerks； asked for 〃Mr。 Jackson Brant。〃
There was no such person in the office。 There never had been any
such person。 The bank had always occupied that building。 Was there
not some mistake in the number？ No； the name； number； and street had
been deeply engrafted in the boy's recollection。 Stop！ it might be the
name of a customer who had given his address at the bank。 The clerk
who made this suggestion disappeared promptly to make inquiries in the
counting…room。 Clarence； with a rapidly beating heart； awaited him。
The clerk returned。 There was no such name on the books。 Jackson
Brant was utterly unknown to every one in the establishment。
For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed
to yield with his weight； he was obliged to steady himself with both hands
to keep from falling。 It was not his disappointment； which was terrible； it
was not a thought of his future； which seemed hopeless； it was not his
injured pride at appearing to have willfully deceived Mr。 Peyton； which
was more dreadful than all else； but it was the sudden； sickening sense that
HE himself had been deceived； tricked； and fooled！ For it flashed upon
him for the first time that the vague sense of wrong which had always
haunted him was thisthat this was the vile culmination of a plan to GET
RID OF HIM； and that he had been deliberately lost and led astray by his
relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless cat or dog！
Perhaps there was something of this in his face； for the clerk； staring at
him； bade him sit down for a moment； and again vanished into the
mysterious interior。 Clarence had no conception how long he was absent；
or indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts； for he was conscious
of wondering afterwards why the clerk was leading him through a door in
the counter into an inner room of many desks； and again through a glass
door into a smaller office； where a preternaturally busy…looking man sat
writing at a desk。 Without looking up； but pausing only to apply a blotting…
pad to the paper before him； the man said crisply
〃So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up； and
can't be found； eh？ Never mind that；〃 as Clarence laid Peyton's letter
before him。 〃Can't read it now。 Well； I suppose you want to be shipped
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back to Stockton？〃
〃No！〃 said the boy； recovering his voice with an effort。
〃Eh； that's business； though。 Know anybody here？〃
〃Not a living soul； that's why they sent me；〃 said the boy； in sudden
reckless desperation。 He was the more furious that he knew the tears
were standing in his eyes。
The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly。 〃Looks a little like it；
don't it？〃 he said； smiling grimly at the paper before him。 〃Got any
money？〃
〃A little。〃
〃How much？〃
〃About twenty dollars；〃 said Clarence hesitatingly。 The man opened
a drawer at his side； mechanically； for he did not raise his eyes； and took
out two ten…dollar gold pieces。 〃I'll go twenty better；〃 he said； laying
them down on the desk。 〃That'll give
