the pit-第52部分

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　Sky；〃　and　〃Open　Thy　Lattice　to　Me。〃

When　at　length　she　paused；　he　nodded　his　head　with　pleasure。

〃That's　pretty；〃　he　said。　　〃Ah；　that　_is_　blame　pretty。　Honey；　it's　just　like　medicine　to　me；〃　he　continued；　〃to　lie　here；　quiet　like　this；　with　the　lights　low；　and　have　my　dear　girl　play　those　old；　old　tunes。　　My　old　governor；　Laura；　used　to　play　that　'Open　the　Lattice　to　me；'　that　and　'Father；　oh；　Father；　Come　Home　with　me　Now'used　to　play　'em　on　his　fiddle。〃　　His　arm　under　his　head；　he　went　on；　looking　vaguely　at　the　opposite　wall。　　〃Lord　love　me；　I　can　see　that　kitchen　in　the　old　farmhouse　as　plain！　　The　walls　were　just　logs　and　plaster；　and　there　were　upright　supports　in　each　corner；　where　we　used　to　measure　our　heightswe　children。　　And　the　fireplace　was　there；〃　he　added；　gesturing　with　his　arm；　〃and　there　was　the　wood　box；　and　over　here　was　an　old　kind　of　dresser　with　drawers；　and　the　torty…shell　cat　always　had　her　kittens　under　there。　　Honey；　I　was　happy　then。　　Of　course　I've　got　you　now；　and　that's　all　the　difference　in　the　world。　But　you're　the　only　thing　that　does　make　a　difference。　We've　got　a　fine　place　and　a　mint　of　money　I　suppose　and　I'm　proud　of　it。　　But　I　don't　know。。。。　　If　they'd　let　me　be　and　put　us　twojust　you　and　meback　in　the　old　house　with　the　bare　floors　and　the　rawhide　chairs　and　the　shuck　beds；　I　guess　we'd　manage。　　If　you're　happy；　you're　happy；　that's　about　the　size　of　it。　　And　sometimes　I　think　that　we'd　be　happieryou　and　I　chumming　along　shoulder　to　shoulder；　poor　an'　working　hard；　than　making　big　money　an'　spending　big　money；　whyoh；　I　don't　know　。。。　if　you're　happy；　that's　the　thing　that　counts；　and　if　all　this　stuff；〃　he　kicked　out　a　careless　foot　at　the　pictures；　the　heavy　hangings；　the　glass　cabinets　of　bibelots；　〃if　all　this　stuff　stood　in　the　way　of　itwellit　could　go　to　the　devil！　That's　not　poetry　maybe；　but　it's　the　truth。〃

Laura　came　over　to　where　her　husband　lay；　and　sat　by　him；　and　took　his　head　in　her　lap；　smoothing　his　forehead　with　her　long　white　hands。

〃Oh；　if　I　could　only　keep　you　like　this　always；〃　she　murmured。　　〃Keep　you　untroubled；　and　kind；　and　true。　This　is　my　husband　again。　　Oh；　you　are　a　man；　Curtis；　a　great；　strong；　kind…hearted　man；　with　no　little　graces；　nor　petty　culture；　nor　trivial　fine　speeches；　nor　false　sham；　imitation　polish。　　I　love　you。　　Ah；　I　love　you；　love　you；　dear！〃

〃Old　girl！〃　said　Jadwin；　stroking　her　hand。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　read　to　you　now？〃　she　asked。

〃Just　this　is　pretty　good；　it　seems　to　me。〃

As　he　spoke；　there　came　a　step　in　the　hall　and　a　knock。

Laura　sat　up；　frowning。

〃I　told　them　I　was　not　to　be　disturbed；〃　she　exclaimed　under　her　breath。　　Then；　〃Come　in；〃　she　called。

〃Mr。　Gretry；　sir；〃　announced　the　servant。　　〃Said　he　wished　to　see　you　at　once；　sir。〃

〃Tell　him；〃　cried　Laura；　turning　quickly　to　Jadwin；　〃tell　him　you're　not　at　homethat　you　can't　see　him。〃

〃I've　got　to　see　him；〃　answered　Jadwin；　sitting　up。　〃He　wouldn't　come　here　himself　unless　it　was　for　something　important。〃

〃Can　I　come　in；　J。？〃　spoke　the　broker；　from　the　hall。　And　even　through　the　thick　curtains　they　could　hear　how　his　voice　rang　with　excitement　and　anxiety。

〃Can　I　come　in？　　I　followed　the　servant　right　up；　you　see。　　I　know〃

〃Yes；　yes。　　Come　in；〃　answered　Jadwin。　　Laura；　her　face　flushing；　threw　a　fold　of　the　couch　cover　over　her　costume　as　Gretry；　his　hat　still　on　his　head；　stepped　quickly　into　the　room。

Jadwin　met　him　half　way；　and　Laura　from　her　place　on　the　couch　heard　the　rapidly　spoken　words　between　the　general　and　his　lieutenant。

〃Now　we're　in　for　it！〃　Gretry　exclaimed。

〃Yeswell？〃　Jadwin's　voice　was　as　incisive　and　quick　as　the　fall　of　an　axe。

〃I've　just　found　out；〃　said　Gretry；　〃that　Crookes　and　his　crowd　are　going　to　take　hold　to…morrow。　　There'll　be　hell　to　pay　in　the　morning。　　They　are　going　to　attack　us　the　minute　the　gong　goes。〃

〃Who's　with　them？〃

〃I　don't　know；　nobody　does。　　Sweeny；　of　course。　　But　he　has　a　gang　back　of　himbesides；　he's　got　good　credit　with　the　banks。　　I　told　you　you'd　have　to　fight　him　sooner　or　later。〃

〃Well；　we'll　fight　him　then。　　Don't　get　scared。　Crookes　ain't　the　Great　Mogul。〃

〃Holy　Moses；　I'd　like　to　know　who　is；　then。〃

〃_I_　am。　　And　he's　got　to　know　it。　　There's　not　room　for　Crookes　and　me　in　this　game。　　One　of　us　two　has　got　to　control　this　market。　　If　he　gets　in　my　way；　by　God；　I'll　smash　him！〃

〃Well；　then；　J。；　you　and　I　have　got　to　do　some　tall　talking　to…night。　　You'd　better　come　down　to　the　Grand　Pacific　Hotel　right　away。　　Court　is　there　already。　　It　was　him；　nervy　little　cuss；　that　found　out　about　Crookes。　　Can　you　come　now；　at　once？　　Good　evening；　Mrs。　Jadwin。　　I'm　sorry　to　take　him　from　you；　but　business　is　business。〃

No；　it　was　not。　　To　the　wife　of　the　great　manipulator；　listening　with　a　sinking　heart　to　this　courier　from　the　front；　it　was　battle。　　The　Battle　of　the　Streets　was　again　in　array。　　Again　the　trumpet　sounded；　again　the　rush　of　thousands　of　feet　filled　all　the　air。　　Even　here；　here　in　her　home；　her　husband's　head　upon　her　lap；　in　the　quiet　and　stillness　of　her　hour；　the　distant　rumble　came　to　her　ears。　　Somewhere；　far　off　there　in　the　darkness　of　the　night；　the　great　forces　were　manoeuvring　for　position　once　more。　　To…morrow　would　come　the　grapple；　and　one　or　the　other　must　fall　her　husband　or　the　enemy。　　How　keep　him　to　herself　when　the　great　conflict　impended？　　She　knew　how　the　thunder　of　the　captains　and　the　shoutings　appealed　to　him。　　She　had　seen　him　almost　leap　to　his　arms　out　of　her　embrace。　　He　was　all　the　man　she　had　called　him；　and　less　strong；　less　eager；　less　brave；　she　would　have　loved　him　less。

Yet　she　had　lost　him　again；　lost　him　at　the　very　moment　she　believed　she　had　won　him　back。

〃Don't　go；　don't　go；〃　she　whispered　to　him；　as　he　kissed　her　good…by。　　〃Oh；　dearest；　don't　go！　This　was　my　evening。〃

〃I　must；　I　must；　Laura。　　Good…by；　old　girl。　　Don't　keep　mesee；　Sam　is　waiting。〃

He　kissed　her　hastily　twice。

〃Now；　Sam；〃　he　said；　turning　toward　the　broker。

〃Good　night；　Mrs。　Jadwin。'；

〃Good…by；　old　girl。〃

They　turned　toward　the　door。

〃You　see；　young　Court　was　down　there　at　the　bank；　and　he　noticed　that　checks〃

The　voices　died　away　as　the　hangings　of　the　entrance　fell　to　place。　　The　front　door　clashed　and　closed。

Laura　sat　upright　in　her　place；　listening；　one　fist　pressed　against　her　lips。

There　was　no　more　noise。　　The　silence　of　the　vast　empty　house　widened　around　her　at　the　shutting　of　the　door　as　the　ripples　widen　on　a　pool　with　the　falling　of　the　stone。　　She　crushed　her　knuckles　tighter　and　tighter　over　her　lips；　she　pressed　her　fingers　to　her　eyes；　she　slowly　clasped　and　reclasped　her　hands；　listening　for　what　she　did　not　know。　　She　thought　of　her　husband　hurrying　away　from　her；　ignoring　her；　and　her　love　for　him　in　the　haste　and　heat　of　battle。　　She　thought　of　Corthell；　whom　she　had　sent　from　her；　forever；　shutting　his　love　from　out　her　life。

Crushed；　broken；　Laura　laid　herself　down　among　the　cushions；　her　face　buried　in　her　arm。　　Above　her　and　around　her　rose　the　dimly　lit　gallery；　lowering　with　luminous　shadows。　　Only　a　point　or　two　of　light　illuminated　the　place。　　The　gold　frames　of　the　pictures　reflected　it　dully；　the　massive　organ　pipes；　just　outlined　in　faint　blurs　of　light；　towered　far　into　the　gloom　above。　　The　whole　place；　with　its　half…seen　gorgeous　hangings；　its　darkened　magnificence；　was　like　a　huge；　dim　interior　of　Byzantium。

Lost；　beneath　the　great　height　of　the　dome；　and　in　the　wide　reach　of　the　floor　space；　in　her　foolish　finery　of　bangles；　silks；　high　comb；　and　little　rosetted　slippers；　Laura　Jadwin　lay　half　hidden　among　the　cushions　of　the　couch。　　If　she　wept；　she　wept　in　silence；　and　the　muffling　stillness　of　the　lofty　gallery　was　broken　but　once；　when　a　cry；　half　whisper；　half　sob；　rose　to　the　deaf；　blind　darkness：

〃Oh；　now　I　am　alone；　alone；　alone！〃



IX


〃Well；　that's　about　all　then；　I　guess；〃　said　Gretry　at　last；　as　he　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose　from　the　table。

He　and　Jadwin　were　in　a　room　on　the　third　floor　of　the　Grand　Pacific　Hotel；　facing　Jackson　Street。　　It　was　three　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　Both　men　were　in　their　shirt…sleeves；　the　table　at　which　they　had　been　sitting　was　scattered　over　with　papers；　telegraph　blanks；　and　at　Jadwin's　elbow　stood　a　lacquer　tray　filled　with　the　stumps　of　cigars　and　burnt　matches；　together　with　one　of　the　hotel　pitchers　of　ice　water。

〃Yes；〃　assented　Jadwin；　absently；　running　through　a　sheaf　of　telegrams；　〃that's　all　we　can　dountil　we　see　what　kind　of　a　game　Crookes　means　to　play。　　I'll　be　at　your　office　by　eight。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　broker；　getting　into　his　coat；　〃I　guess　I'll　go　to　my　room　and　try　to　get　a　little　sleep。　I　wish　I　could　see　how　we'll　be　to…morrow　night　at　this　time。〃

Jadwin　made　a　sharp　movement　of　impatience。

〃Damnation；　Sam；　aren't　you　ever　going　to　let　up　croaking？　　If　you're　afraid　of　this　thing；　get　out　of　it。　　Haven't　I　got　enough　to　bother　me？〃

〃Oh；　say！　　Say；　hold　on；　hold　on；　old　man；〃　remonstrated　the　broker；　in　an　injured　voice。　　〃You're　terrible　touchy　sometimes；　J。；　of　late。　　I　was　only　trying　to　look　ahead　a　little。　　Don't　think　I　want　to　back　out。　　You　ought　to　know　me　by　this　time；　J。〃

〃There；　there；　I'm　sorry；　Sam；〃　Jadwin　hastened　to　answer；　getting　up　and　shaking　the　other　by　the　shoulder。　　〃I　_am_　touchy　these　days。　　There's　so　many　things　to　think　of；　and　all　at　the　same　time。　　I　do　get　nervous。　　I　never　slept　one　little　wink　last　nightand　you　know　the　night　before　I　didn't　turn　in　till　two　in　the　morning。〃

〃Lord；　you　go　swearing　and　damning　'round　here　like　a　pirate　sometimes；　J。；〃　Gretry　went　on。　　〃I　haven't　heard　you　cuss　before　in　twenty　years。　　Look　out；　now；　that　I　don't　tell　on　you　to　your　Sunday…school　superintendents。〃

〃I　guess　they'd　cuss；　too；〃　observed　Jadwin；　〃if　they　were　long　forty　million　wheat；　and　had　to　know　just　where　every　hatful　of　it　was　every　second　of　the　time。　It　was　all　very　well　for　us　to　whoop　about　swinging　a　corner　that　afternoon　in　your　office。　　But　the　real　thingwell；　you　don't　have　any　trouble　keeping　awake。　Do　you　suppose　we　can　keep　the　fact　of　our　corner　dark　much　longer？〃

〃I　fancy　not；〃　answered　the　broker；　putting　on　his　hat　and　th