a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第17部分
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inquirya pan； a blanket； a shovel and pick； all of which he deposited at
the baker's； his unostentatious headquarters； with the exception of a pair of
disguising high boots that half hid his sailor trousers； which he kept to put
on at the last。 Even to his inexperience the cost of these articles seemed
enormous； when his purchases were complete； of his entire capital
scarcely four dollars remained！ Yet in the fond illusions of boyhood these
rude appointments seemed possessed of far more value than the gold he
had given in exchange for them； and he had enjoyed a child's delight in
testing the transforming magic of money。
Meanwhile； the feverish contact of the crowded street had； strange to
say； increased his loneliness； while the ruder joviality of its dissipations
began to fill him with vague uneasiness。 The passing glimpse of dancing
halls and gaudily whirled figures that seemed only feminine in their
apparel； the shouts and boisterous choruses from concert rooms； the
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groups of drunken roisterers that congregated around the doors of saloons
or； hilariously charging down the streets； elbowed him against the wall； or
humorously insisted on his company； discomposed and frightened him。
He had known rude companionship before； but it was serious； practical；
and under control。 There was something in this vulgar degradation of
intellect and powerqualities that Clarence had always boyishly
worshipedwhich sickened and disillusioned him。 Later on a pistol shot
in a crowd beyond； the rush of eager men past him； the disclosure of a
limp and helpless figure against the wall； the closing of the crowd again
around it； although it stirred him with a fearful curiosity； actually shocked
him less hopelessly than their brutish enjoyments and abandonment。
It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a
swinging door； which； giving way to his pressure； disclosed to his
wondering eyes a long； glitteringly adorned； and brightly lit room； densely
filled with a silent； attentive throng in attitudes of decorous abstraction and
preoccupation； that even the shouts and tumult at its very doors could not
disturb。 Men of all ranks and conditions； plainly or elaborately clad；
were grouped together under this magic spell of silence and attention。
The tables before them were covered with cards and loose heaps of gold
and silver。 A clicking； the rattling of an ivory ball； and the frequent；
formal； lazy reiteration of some unintelligible sentence was all that he
heard。 But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD it all。 It was a
gambling saloon！
Encouraged by the decorous stillness； and the fact that everybody
appeared too much engaged to notice him； the boy drew timidly beside
one of the tables。 It was covered with a number of cards； on which were
placed certain sums of money。 Looking down； Clarence saw that he was
standing before a card that as yet had nothing on it。 A single player at his
side looked up； glanced at Clarence curiously； and then placed half a
dozen gold pieces on the vacant card。 Absorbed in the general aspect of
the room and the players； Clarence did not notice that his neighbor won
twice； and even THRICE； upon that card。 Becoming aware； however；
that the player while gathering in his gains； was smilingly regarding him
he moved in some embarrassment to the other end of the table； where
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there seemed another gap in the crowd。 It so chanced that there was also
another vacant card。 The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly shoved
a sum of money across the table on the vacant card and won！ At this the
other players began to regard Clarence singularly； one or two of the
spectators smiled； and the boy； coloring； moved awkwardly away。 But
his sleeve was caught by the successful player； who； detaining him gently；
put three gold pieces into his hand。
〃That's YOUR share； sonny；〃 he whispered。
〃Sharefor what？〃 stammered the astounded Clarence。
〃For bringing me 'the luck；'〃 said the man。
Clarence stared。 〃Am Itoto play with it？〃 he said； glancing at the
coins and then at the table； in ignorance of the stranger's meaning。
〃No； no！〃 said the man hurriedly； 〃don't do that。 You'll lose it； sonny；
sure！ Don't you see； YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS； not to
yourself。 Keep it； old man； and run home！〃
〃I don't want it！ I won't have it！〃 said Clarence with a swift
recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning； and a sudden
distrust of all mankind。
〃There！〃 He turned back to the table and laid the money on the first
vacant card he saw。 In another moment； as it seemed to him； it was raked
away by the dealer。 A sense of relief came over him。
〃There！〃 said the man； with an awed voice and a strange； fatuous look
in his eye。 〃What did I tell you？ You see； it's allus so！ Now；〃 he added
roughly； 〃get up and get out o' this； afore you lose the boots and shirt off
ye。〃
Clarence did not wait for a second command。 With another glance
round the room； he began to make his way through the crowd towards the
front。 But in that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a woman
presiding over a 〃wheel of fortune〃 in a corner； whose face seemed
familiar。 He looked again； timidly。 In spite of an extraordinary head…
dress or crown that she wore as the 〃Goddess of Fortune；〃 he recognized；
twisted in its tinsel； a certain scarlet vine which he had seen before； in
spite of the hoarse formula which she was continually repeating； he
recognized the foreign accent。 It was the woman of the stage…coach！
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With a sudden dread that she might recognize him； and likewise demand
his services 〃for luck；〃 he turned and fled。
Once more in the open air； there came upon him a vague loathing and
horror of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this half…civilized
city。 It was the more powerful that it was vague； and the outcome of
some inward instinct。 He found himself longing for the pure air and
sympathetic loneliness of the plains and wilderness； he began to yearn for
the companionship of his humble associatesthe teamster； the scout
Gildersleeve； and even Jim Hooker。 But above all and before all was the
wild desire to get away from these maddening streets and their
bewildering occupants。 He ran back to the baker's； gathered his purchases
together； took advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them on his boyish
shoulders； slipped into a side street； and struck out at once for the
outskirts。
It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining district；
but the diminution of his small capital forbade that outlay； and he decided
to walk there by the highroad； of whose general direction he had informed
himself。 In half an hour the lights of the flat； struggling city； and their
reflection in the shallow； turbid river before it； had sunk well behind him。
The air was cool and soft； a yellow moon swam in the slight haze that rose
above the tules； in the distance a few scattered cottonwoods and
sycamores marked like sentinels the road。 When he had walked some
distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal supper from
the dry rations in his pack； but in the absence of any spring he was forced
to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a wayside tavern。 Here he
was good…humoredly offered something stronger； which he declined； and
replied to certain curious interrogations by saying that he expected to
overtake his friends in a wagon further on。 A new distrust of mankind
had begun to make the boy an adept in innocent falsehood； the more
deceptive as his careless； cheerful manner； the result of his relief at leaving
the city； and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and
nature； certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and poverty。
It was long past midnight； when； weary in body； but still hopeful and
happy in mind； he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling expanse of
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wild oats； with the same sense of security of rest as a traveler to his inn。
Here； completely screened from view by the tall stalks of grain that rose
thickly around him to the height of a man's shoul
