the pit-第62部分

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ofound　than　any　he　had　yet　known；　a　hollow　distant　bourdon　as　of　the　slipping　and　sliding　of　some　almighty　and　chaotic　power。

It　was　the　Wheat；　the　Wheat！　It　was　on　the　move　again。　From　the　farms　of　Illinois　and　Iowa；　from　the　ranches　of　Kansas　and　Nebraska；　from　all　the　reaches　of　the　Middle　West；　the　Wheat；　like　a　tidal　wave；　was　rising；　rising。　　Almighty；　blood…brother　to　the　earthquake；　coeval　with　the　volcano　and　the　whirlwind；　that　gigantic　world…force；　that　colossal　billow；　Nourisher　of　the　Nations；　was　swelling　and　advancing。

There　in　the　Pit　its　first　premonitory　eddies　already　swirled　and　spun。　　If　even　the　first　ripples　of　the　tide　smote　terribly　upon　the　heart；　what　was　it　to　be　when　the　ocean　itself　burst　through；　on　its　eternal　way　from　west　to　east？　　For　an　instant　came　clear　vision。　What　were　these　shouting；　gesticulating　men　of　the　Board　of　Trade；　these　brokers；　traders；　and　speculators？　　It　was　not　these　he　fought；　it　was　that　fatal　New　Harvest；　it　was　the　Wheat；　it　wasas　Gretry　had　saidthe　very　Earth　itself。　　What　were　those　scattered　hundreds　of　farmers　of　the　Middle　West；　who　because　he　had　put　the　price　so　high　had　planted　the　grain　as　never　before？　　What　had　they　to　do　with　it？　Why　the　Wheat　had　grown　itself；　demand　and　supply；　these　were　the　two　great　laws　the　Wheat　obeyed。　　Almost　blasphemous　in　his　effrontery；　he　had　tampered　with　these　laws；　and　had　roused　a　Titan。　　He　had　laid　his　puny　human　grasp　upon　Creation　and　the　very　earth　herself；　the　great　mother；　feeling　the　touch　of　the　cobweb　that　the　human　insect　had　spun；　had　stirred　at　last　in　her　sleep　and　sent　her　omnipotence　moving　through　the　grooves　of　the　world；　to　find　and　crush　the　disturber　of　her　appointed　courses。

The　new　harvest　was　coming　in；　the　new　harvest　of　wheat；　huge　beyond　possibility　of　control；　so　vast　that　no　money　could　buy　it；　so　swift　that　no　strategy　could　turn　it。　　But　Jadwin　hurried　away　from　the　sound　of　the　near　roaring　of　the　Pit。　　No；　no。　　Luck　was　with　him；　he　had　mastered　the　current　of　the　Pit　many　times　beforehe　would　master　it　again。　　The　day　passed　and　the　night；　and　at　nine　o'clock　the　following　morning；　he　and　Gretry　once　more　met　in　the　broker's　office。

Gretry　turned　a　pale　face　upon　his　principal。

〃I've　just　received；〃　he　said；　〃the　answers　to　our　cables　to　Liverpool　and　Paris。　　I　offered　wheat　at　both　places；　as　you　know；　cheaper　than　we've　ever　offered　it　there　before。〃

〃Yeswell？〃

〃Well；〃　answered　Gretry；　looking　gravely　into　Jadwin's　eyes；　〃wellthey　won't　take　it。〃

。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。

On　the　morning　of　her　birthdaythe　thirteenth　of　the　monthwhen　Laura　descended　to　the　breakfast　room；　she　found　Page　already　there。　　Though　it　was　barely　half…　past　seven；　her　sister　was　dressed　for　the　street。　　She　wore　a　smart　red　hat；　and　as　she　stood　by　the　French　windows；　looking　out；　she　drew　her　gloves　back　and　forth　between　her　fingers；　with　a　nervous；　impatient　gesture。

〃Why；〃　said　Laura；　as　she　sat　down　at　her　place；　〃why；　Pagie；　what　is　in　the　wind　to…day？〃

〃Landry　is　coming；〃　Page　explained；　facing　about　and　glancing　at　the　watch　pinned　to　her　waist。　　〃He　is　going　to　take　me　down　to　see　the　Board　of　Tradefrom　the　visitor's　gallery；　you　know。　　He　said　this　would　probably　be　a　great　day。　　Did　Mr。　Jadwin　come　home　last　night？〃

Laura　shook　her　head；　without　speech。　　She　did　not　choose　to　put　into　words　the　fact　that　for　three　days　with　the　exception　of　an　hour　or　two；　on　the　evening　after　that　horrible　day　of　her　visit　to　the　Cresslers；　houseshe　had　seen　nothing　of　her　husband。

〃Landry　says；〃　continued　Page；　〃that　it　is　awfuldown　there；　these　days。　　He　says　that　it　is　the　greatest　fight　in　the　history　of　La　Salle　Street。　　Has　Mr。　Jadwin；　said　anything　to　you？　　Is　he　going　to　win？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　Laura；　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　it；　Page。〃

She　was　wondering　if　even　Page　had　forgotten。　　When　she　had　come　into　the　room；　her　first　glance　had　been　towards　her　place　at　table。　　But　there　was　nothing　there；　not　even　so　much　as　an　envelope；　and　no　one　had　so　much　as　wished　her　joy　of　the　little　anniversary。　She　had　thought　Page　might　have　remembered；　but　her　sister's　next　words　showed　that　she　had　more　on　her　mind　than　birthdays。

〃Laura；〃　she　began；　sitting　down　opposite　to　her；　and　unfolding　her　napkin；　with　laborious　precision。　〃LauraLandry　and　IWell　。。。　　we're　going　to　be　married　in　the　fall。〃

〃Why；　Pagie；〃　cried　Laura；　〃I'm　just　as　glad　as　I　can　be　for　you。　　He's　a　fine；　clean　fellow；　and　I　know　he　will　make　you　a　good　husband。〃

Page　drew　a　deep　breath。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　glad　you　think　so；　too。　　Before　you　and　Mr。　Jadwin　were　married；　I　wasn't　sure　about　having　him　care　for　me；　because　at　that　timewell〃　Page　looked　up　with　a　queer　little　smile；　〃I　guess　you　could　have　had　himif　you　had　wanted　to。〃

〃Oh；　that；〃　cried　Laura。　　〃Why；　Landry　never　really　cared　for　me。　　It　was　all　the　silliest　kind　of　flirtation。　　The　moment　he　knew　you　better；　I　stood　no　chance　at　all。〃

〃We're　going　to　take　an　apartment　on　Michigan　Avenue；　near　the　Auditorium；〃　said　Page；　〃and　keep　house。　We've　talked　it　all　over；　and　know　just　how　much　it　will　cost　to　live　and　keep　one　servant。　　I'm　going　to　serve　the　loveliest　little　dinners；　I've　learned　the　kind　of　cooking　he　likes　already。　　Oh；　I　guess　there　he　is　now；〃　she　cried；　as　they　heard　the　front　door　close。

Landry　came　in；　carrying　a　great　bunch　of　cut　flowers；　and　a　box　of　candy。　　He　was　as　spruce　as　though　he　were　already　the　bridegroom；　his　cheeks　pink；　his　blonde　hair　radiant。　　But　he　was　thin　and　a　little　worn；　a　dull　feverish　glitter　came　and　went　in　his　eyes；　and　his　nervousness；　the　strain　and　excitement　which　beset　him　were　in　his　every　gesture；　in　every　word　of　his　rapid　speech。

〃We'll　have　to　hurry；〃　he　told　Page。　　〃I　must　be　down　there　hours　ahead　of　time　this　morning。〃

〃How　is　Curtis？〃　demanded　Laura。　　〃Have　you　seen　him　lately？　　How　is　he　getting　on　withwith　his　speculating？〃

Landry　made　a　sharp　gesture　of　resignation。

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　guess　nobody　knows。　We　had　a　fearful　day　yesterday；　but　I　think　we　controlled　the　situation　at　the　end。　　We　ran　the　price　up　and　up　and　up　till　I　thought　it　would　never　stop。　If　the　Pit　thought　Mr。　Jadwin　was　beaten；　I　guess　they　found　out　how　they　were　mistaken。　　For　a　time　there；　we　were　just　_driving_　them。　　But　then　Mr。　Gretry　sent　word　to　us　in　the　Pit　to　sell；　and　we　couldn't　hold　them。　　They　came　back　at　us　like　wolves；　they　beat　the　price　down　five　cents；　in　as　many　minutes。　　We　had　to　quit　selling；　and　buy　again。　　But　then　Mr。　Jadwin　went　at　them　with　a　rush。　　_Oh；　it　was　grand！_　We　steadied　the　price　at　a　dollar　and　fifteen；　stiffened　it　up　to　eighteen　and　a　half；　and　then　sent　it　up　again；　three　cents　at　a　time；　till　we'd　hammered　it　back　to　a　dollar　and　a　quarter。〃

〃But　Curtis　himself；〃　inquired　Laura；　〃is　he　all　right；　is　he　well？〃

〃I　only　saw　him　once；〃　answered　Landry。　　〃He　was　in　Mr。　Gretry's　office。　　Yes；　he　looked　all　right。　　He's　nervous；　of　course。　　But　Mr。　Gretry　looks　like　the　sick　man。　　He　looks　all　frazzled　out。〃

〃I　guess；　we'd　better　be　going；〃　said　Page；　getting　up　from　the　table。　　〃Have　you　had　your　breakfast；　Landry？　Won't　you　have　some　coffee？〃

〃Oh；　I　breakfasted　hours　ago；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　you　are　right。　　We　had　better　be　moving。　　If　you　are　going　to　get　a　seat　in　the　gallery；　you　must　be　there　half　an　hour　ahead　of　time；　to　say　the　least。　　Shall　I　take　any　word　to　your　husband　from　you；　Mrs。　Jadwin？〃

〃Tell　him　that　I　wish　him　good　luck；〃　she　answered；　〃andyes；　ask　him；　if　he　remembers　what　day　of　the　month　this　isor　no；　don't　ask　him　that。　　Say　nothing　about　it。　　Just　tell　him　I　send　him　my　very　best　love；　and　that　I　wish　him　all　the　success　in　the　world。〃

It　was　about　nine　o'clock；　when　Landry　and　Page　reached　the　foot　of　La　Salle　Street。　　The　morning　was　fine　and　cool。　　The　sky　over　the　Board　of　Trade　sparkled　with　sunlight；　and　the　air　was　full　of　fluttering　wings　of　the　multitude　of　pigeons　that　lived　upon　the　leakage　of　grain　around　the　Board　of　Trade　building。

〃Mr。　Cressler　used　to　feed　them　regularly；〃　said　Landry；　as　they　paused　on　the　street　corner　opposite　the　Board。　　〃Poorpoor　Mr。　Cresslerthe　funeral　is　to…morrow；　you　know。〃

Page　shut　her　eyes。

〃Oh；〃　she　murmured；　〃think；　_think_　of　Laura　finding　him　there　like　that。　　Oh；　it　would　have　killed　me；　it　would　have　killed　me。〃

〃Somehow；〃　observed　Landry；　a　puzzled　expression　in　his　eyes；　〃somehow；　by　George！　she　don't　seem　to　mind　very　much。　　You'd　have　thought　a　shock　like　that　would　have　made　her　sick。〃

〃Oh！　Laura；〃　cried　Page。　　〃I　don't　know　her　any　more　these　days；　she　is　just　like　stonejust　as　though　she　were　crowding　down　every　emotion　or　any　feeling　she　ever　had。　　She　seems　to　be　holding　herself　in　with　all　her　strengthfor　somethingand　afraid　to　let　go　a　finger；　for　fear　she　would　give　way　altogether。　　When　she　told　me　about　that　morning　at　the　Cresslers'　house；　her　voice　was　just　like　ice；　she　said；　'Mr。　Cressler　has　shot　himself。　　I　found　him　dead　in　his　library。'　She　never　shed　a　tear；　and　she　spoke；　oh；　in　such　a　terrible　monotone。　　Oh！　_dear；_〃　cried　Page；　〃I　wish　all　this　was　over；　and　we　could　all　get　away　from　Chicago；　and　take　Mr。　Jadwin　with　us；　and　get　him　back　to　be　as　he　used　to　be；　always　so　light…hearted；　and　thoughtful　and　kindly。　　He　used　to　be　making　jokes　from　morning　till　night。　　Oh；　I　loved　him　just　as　if　he　were　my　father。〃

They　crossed　the　street；　and　Landry；　taking　her　by　the　arm；　ushered　her　into　the　corridor　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　Board。

〃Now；　keep　close　to　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　see　if　we　can　get　through　somewhere　here。〃

The　stairs　leading　up　to　the　main　floor　were　already　crowded　with　visitors；　some　standing　in　line　close　to　the　wall；　others　aimlessly　wandering　up　and　down；　looking　and　listening；　their　heads　in　the　air。　　One　of　these；　a　gentleman　with　a　tall　white　hat；　shook　his　head　at　Landry　and　Page；　as　they　pressed　by　him。

〃You　can't　get　up　there；〃　he　said；　〃even　if　they　let　you　in。　　They're　packed　in　like　sardines　already。〃

But　Landry　reassured　Page　with　a　knowing　nod　of　his　head。

〃I　told　the　guide　up　in　the　gallery　to　reserve　a　seat　for　you。　　I