roads of destiny-第15部分

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〃She　cut　the　mustard；〃　he　said；　〃all　right。　I　reckon　they're　goin'　to　buy　Lon's　steer。　I　ain't　right　much　on　the　parlyment'ry；　but　I　gather　that's　what　the　signs　added　up。　But　she　seems　to　me；　Lonny；　the　argyment　ran　principal　to　grandfather；　instead　of　paint。　It's　reasonable　calculatin'　that　you　want　to　be　glad　you　got　the　Briscoe　brand　on　you；　my　son。〃

That　remarked　clinched　in　Lonny's　mind　an　unpleasant；　vague　suspicion　to　the　same　effect。　His　reticence　increased；　and　he　gathered　grass　from　the　ground；　chewing　it　pensively。　The　picture　as　a　picture　had　been　humiliatingly　absent　from　the　Senator's　arguments。　The　painter　had　been　held　up　as　a　grandson；　pure　and　simple。　While　this　was　gratifying　on　certain　lines；　it　made　art　look　little　and　slab…sided。　The　Boy　Artist　was　thinking。

The　hotel　Lonny　stopped　at　was　near　the　Capitol。　It　was　near　to　the　one　o'clock　dinner　hour　when　the　appropriation　had　been　passed　by　the　Senate。　The　hotel　clerk　told　Lonny　that　a　famous　artist　from　New　York　had　arrived　in　town　that　day　and　was　in　the　hotel。　He　was　on　his　way　westward　to　New　Mexico　to　study　the　effect　of　sunlight　upon　the　ancient　walls　of　the　Zunis。　Modern　stones　reflect　light。　Those　ancient　building　materials　absorb　it。　The　artist　wanted　this　effect　in　a　picture　he　was　painting；　and　was　traveling　two　thousand　miles　to　get　it。

Lonny　sought　this　man　out　after　dinner　and　told　his　story。　The　artist　was　an　unhealthy　man；　kept　alive　by　genius　and　indifference　to　life。　He　went　with　Lonny　to　the　Capitol　and　stood　there　before　the　picture。　The　artist　pulled　his　beard　and　looked　unhappy。

〃Should　like　to　have　your　sentiments；〃　said　Lonny；　〃just　as　they　run　out　of　the　pen。〃

〃It's　the　way　they'll　come；〃　said　the　painter　man。　〃I　took　three　different　kinds　of　medicine　before　dinnerby　the　tablespoonful。　The　taste　still　lingers。　I　am　primed　for　telling　the　truth。　You　want　to　know　if　the　picture　is；　or　if　it　isn't？〃

〃Right；〃　said　Lonny。　〃Is　it　wool　or　cotton？　Should　I　paint　some　more　or　cut　it　out　and　ride　herd　a…plenty？〃

〃I　heard　a　rumour　during　pie；〃　said　the　artist；　〃that　the　state　is　about　to　pay　you　two　thousand　dollars　for　this　picture。〃

〃It's　passed　the　Senate；〃　said　Lonny；　〃and　the　House　rounds　it　up　to…morrow。〃

〃That's　lucky；〃　said　the　pale　man。　〃Do　you　carry　a　rabbit's　foot？〃

〃No；〃　said　Lonny；　〃but　it　seems　I　had　a　grandfather。　He's　considerable　mixed　up　in　the　colour　scheme。　It　took　me　a　year　to　paint　that　picture。　Is　she　entirely　awful　or　not？　Some　says；　now；　that　the　steer's　tail　ain't　badly　drawed。　They　think　it's　proportioned　nice。　Tell　me。〃

The　artist　glanced　at　Lonny's　wiry　figure　and　nut…brown　skin。　Something　stirred　him　to　a　passing　irritation。

〃For　Art's　sake；　son；〃　he　said；　fractiously；　〃don't　spend　any　more　money　for　paint。　It　isn't　a　picture　at　all。　It's　a　gun。　You　hold　up　the　state　with　it；　if　you　like；　and　get　your　two　thousand；　but　don't　get　in　front　of　any　more　canvas。　Live　under　it。　Buy　a　couple　of　hundred　ponies　with　the　moneyI'm　told　they're　that　cheapand　ride；　ride；　ride。　Fill　your　lungs　and　eat　and　sleep　and　be　happy。　No　more　pictures。　You　look　healthy。　That's　genius。　Cultivate　it。〃　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Twenty　minutes　to　three。　Four　capsules　and　one　tablet　at　three。　That's　all　you　wanted　to　know；　isn't　it？〃

At　three　o'clock　the　cowpunchers　rode　up　for　Lonny；　bringing　Hot　Tamales；　saddled。　Traditions　must　be　observed。　To　celebrate　the　passage　of　the　bill　by　the　Senate　the　gang　must　ride　wildly　through　the　town；　creating　uproar　and　excitement。　Liquor　must　be　partaken　of；　the　suburbs　shot　up；　and　the　glory　of　the　San　Saba　country　vociferously　proclaimed。　A　part　of　the　programme　had　been　carried　out　in　the　saloons　on　the　way　up。

Lonny　mounted　Hot　Tamales；　the　accomplished　little　beast　prancing　with　fire　and　intelligence。　He　was　glad　to　feel　Lonny's　bowlegged　grip　against　his　ribs　again。　Lonny　was　his　friend；　and　he　was　willing　to　do　things　for　him。

〃Come　on；　boys；〃　said　Lonny；　urging　Hot　Tomales　into　a　gallop　with　his　knees。　With　a　whoop；　the　inspired　lobby　tore　after　him　through　the　dust。　Lonny　led　his　cohorts　straight　for　the　Capitol。　With　a　wild　yell；　the　gang　endorsed　his　now　evident　intention　of　riding　into　it。　Hooray　for　San　Saba！

Up　the　six　broad；　limestone　steps　clattered　the　broncos　of　the　cowpunchers。　Into　the　resounding　hallway　they　pattered；　scattering　in　dismay　those　passing　on　foot。　Lonny；　in　the　lead；　shoved　Hot　Tamales　direct　for　the　great　picture。　At　that　hour　a　downpouring；　soft　light　from　the　second…story　windows　bathed　the　big　canvas。　Against　the　darker　background　of　the　hall　the　painting　stood　out　with　valuable　effect。　In　spite　of　the　defects　of　the　art　you　could　almost　fancy　that　you　gazed　out　upon　a　landscape。　You　might　well　flinch　a　step　from　the　convincing　figure　of　the　life…size　steer　stampeding　across　the　grass。　Perhaps　it　seemed　thus　to　Hot　Tamales。　The　scene　was　in　his　line。　Perhaps　he　only　obeyed　the　will　of　his　rider。　His　ears　pricked　up；　he　snorted。　Lonny　leaned　forward　in　the　saddle　and　elevated　his　elbows；　wing…like。　Thus　signals　the　cowpuncher　to　his　steed　to　launch　himself　full　speed　ahead。　Did　Hot　Tamales　fancy　he　saw　a　steer；　red　and　cavorting；　that　should　be　headed　off　and　driven　back　to　the　herd？　There　was　a　fierce　clatter　of　hoofs；　a　rush；　a　gathering　of　steely　flank　muscles；　a　leap　to　the　jerk　of　the　bridle　rein；　and　Hot　Tamales；　with　Lonny　bending　low　in　the　saddle　to　dodge　the　top　of　the　frame；　ripped　through　the　great　canvas　like　a　shell　from　a　mortar；　leaving　the　cloth　hanging　in　ragged　sheds　about　a　monstrous　hole。

Quickly　Lonny　pulled　up　his　pony；　and　rounded　the　pillars。　Spectators　came　running；　too　astounded　to　add　speech　to　the　commotion。　The　sergeant…at…arms　of　the　House　came　forth；　frowned；　looked　ominous；　and　then　grinned。　Many　of　the　legislators　crowded　out　to　observe　the　tumult。　Lonny's　cowpunchers　were　stricken　to　silent　horror　by　his　mad　deed。

Senator　Kinney　happened　to　be　among　the　earliest　to　emerge。　Before　he　could　speak　Lonny　leaned　in　his　saddle　as　Hot　Tamales　pranced；　pointed　his　quirt　at　the　Senator；　and　said；　calmly：

〃That　was　a　fine　speech　you　made　to…day；　mister；　but　you　might　as　well　let　up　on　that　'propriation　business。　I　ain't　askin'　the　state　to　give　me　nothin'。　I　thought　I　had　a　picture　to　sell　to　it；　but　it　wasn't　one。　You　said　a　heap　of　things　about　Grandfather　Briscoe　that　makes　me　kind　of　proud　I'm　his　grandson。　Well；　the　Briscoes　ain't　takin'　presents　from　the　state　yet。　Anybody　can　have　the　frame　that　wants　it。　Hit　her　up；　boys。〃

Away　scuttled　the　San　Saba　delegation　out　of　the　hall；　down　the　steps；　along　the　dusty　street。

Halfway　to　the　San　Saba　country　they　camped　that　night。　At　bedtime　Lonny　stole　away　from　the　campfire　and　sought　Hot　Tamales；　placidly　eating　grass　at　the　end　of　his　stake　rope。　Lonny　hung　upon　his　neck；　and　his　art　aspirations　went　forth　forever　in　one　long；　regretful　sigh。　But　as　he　thus　made　renunciation　his　breath　formed　a　word　or　two。

〃You　was　the　only　one；　Tamales；　what　seen　anything　in　it。　It　/did/　look　like　a　steer；　didn't　it；　old　hoss？〃



VII

PHOEBE

〃You　are　a　man　of　many　novel　adventures　and　varied　enterprises；〃　I　said　to　Captain　Patricio　Malone。　〃Do　you　believe　that　the　possible　element　of　good　luck　or　bad　luckif　there　is　such　a　thing　as　luck　has　influenced　your　career　or　persisted　for　or　against　you　to　such　an　extent　that　you　were　forced　to　attribute　results　to　the　operation　of　the　aforesaid　good　luck　or　bad　luck？〃

This　question　（of　almost　the　dull　insolence　of　legal　phraseology）　was　put　while　we　sat　in　Rousselin's　little　red…tiled　cafe　near　Congo　Square　in　New　Orleans。

Brown…faced；　white…hatted；　finger…ringed　captains　of　adventure　came　often　to　Rousselin's　for　the　cognac。　They　came　from　sea　and　land；　and　were　chary　of　relating　the　things　they　had　seennot　because　they　were　more　wonderful　than　the　fantasies　of　the　Ananiases　of　print；　but　because　they　were　so　different。　And　I　was　a　perpetual　wedding…guest；　always　striving　to　cast　my　buttonhole　over　the　finger　of　one　of　these　mariners　of　fortune。　This　Captain　Malone　was　a　Hiberno…Iberian　creole　who　had　gone　to　and　fro　in　the　earth　and　walked　up　and　down　in　it。　He　looked　like　any　other　well…dressed　man　of　thirty…five　whom　you　might　meet；　except　that　he　was　hopelessly　weather…tanned；　and　wore　on　his　chain　an　ancient　ivory…and…gold　Peruvian　charm　against　evil；　which　has　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　this　story。

〃My　answer　to　your　question；〃　said　the　captain；　smiling；　〃will　be　to　tell　you　the　story　of　Bad…Luck　Kearny。　That　is；　if　you　don't　mind　hearing　it。〃

My　reply　was　to　pound　on　the　table　for　Rousselin。

*　*　*　*　*

〃Strolling　along　Tchoupitoulas　Street　one　night；〃　began　Captain　Malone；　〃I　noticed；　without　especially　taxing　my　interest；　a　small　man　walking　rapidly　toward　me。　He　stepped　upon　a　wooden　cellar　door；　crashed　through　it；　and　disappeared。　I　rescued　him　from　a　heap　of　soft　coal　below。　He　dusted　himself　briskly；　swearing　fluently　in　a　mechanical　tone；　as　an　underpaid　actor　recites　the　gypsy's　curse。　Gratitude　and　the　dust　in　his　throat　seemed　to　call　for　fluids　to　clear　them　away。　His　desire　for　liquidation　was　expressed　so　heartily　that　I　went　with　him　to　a　cafe　down　the　street　where　we　had　some　vile　vermouth　and　bitters。

〃Looking　across　that　little　table　I　had　my　first　clear　sight　of　Francis　Kearny。　He　was　about　five　feet　seven；　but　as　tough　as　a　cypress　knee。　His　hair　was　darkest　red；　his　mouth　such　a　mere　slit　that　you　wondered　how　the　flood　of　his　words　came　rushing　from　it。　His　eyes　were　the　brightest　and　lightest　blue　and　the　hopefulest　that　I　ever　saw。　He　gave　the　double　impression　that　he　was　at　bay　and　that　you　had　better　not　crowd　him　further。

〃'Just　in　from　a　gold…hunting　expedition　on　the　coast　of　Costa　Rica；'　he　explained。　'Second　mate　of　a　banana　steamer　told　me　the　natives　were　panning　out　enough　from　the　beach　sands　to　buy　all　the　rum；　red　calico；　and　parlour　melodeons　in　the　world。　The　day　I　got　there　a　syndicate　named　Incorporated　Jones　gets　a　government　concession　to　all　minerals　from　a　given　point。　For　a　next　choice　I　take　coast　fever　and　count　green　and　blue　lizards　for　six　weeks　in　a　grass　hut。　I　had　to　be　notified　when　I　was　well；　for　the　reptiles　were　ac