the three partners-第22部分

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prospered。〃



〃He　built　this　railroad　and　this　hotel。　　The　bank　owns　both　now。

He　didn't　care　to　keep　money　in　them　after　they　were　a　success；

said　he　wasn't　an　engineer　nor　a　hotel…keeper；　and　drew　it　out　to

find　something　new。　　But　here　he　comes；〃　he　added；　as　a　horseman

dashed　into　the　drive　before　the　hotel。　　〃Question　him　yourself。

You　know　you　and　he　always　get　along　best　without　me。〃



In　another　moment　Barker　had　burst　into　the　room；　and　in　his　first

tempestuous　greeting　of　Demorest　the　latter　saw　little　change　in

his　younger　partner　as　he　held　him　at　arm's　length　to　look　at　him。

〃Why；　Barker　boy；　you　haven't　got　a　bit　older　since　the　day　when

you　rememberyou　went　over　to　Boomville　to　cash　your　bonds；　and

then　came　back　and　burst　upon　us　like　this　to　tell　us　you　were　a

beggar。〃



〃Yes；〃　laughed　Barker；　〃and　all　the　while　you　fellows　were　holding

four　aces　up　your　sleeve　in　the　shape　of　the　big　strike。〃



〃And　you；　Georgy；　old　boy；〃　returned　Demorest；　swinging　Barker's

two　hands　backwards　and　forwards；　〃were　holding　a　royal　flush　up

yours　in　the　shape　of　your　engagement　to　Kitty。〃



The　fresh　color　died　out　of　Barker's　cheek　even　while　the　frank

laugh　was　still　on　his　mouth。　　He　turned　his　face　for　a　moment

towards　the　window；　and　a　swift　and　almost　involuntary　glance

passed　between　the　others。　　But　he　almost　as　quickly　turned　his

glistening　eyes　back　to　Demorest　again；　and　said　eagerly；　〃Yes；

dear　Kitty！　　You　shall　see　her　and　the　baby　to…morrow。〃



Then　they　fell　upon　the　supper　with　the　appetites　of　the　Past；　and

for　some　moments　they　all　talked　eagerly　and　even　noisily　together；

all　at　the　same　time；　with　even　the　spirits　of　the　Past。　　They

recalled　every　detail　of　their　old　life；　eagerly　and　impetuously

recounted　the　old　struggles；　hopes；　and　disappointments；　gave　the

strange　importance　of　schoolboys　to　unimportant　events；　and　a

mystic　meaning　to　a　shibboleth　of　their　own；　roared　over　old　jokes

with　a　delight　they　had　never　since　given　to　new；　reawakened

idiotic　nicknames　and　bywords　with　intense　enjoyment；　grew　grave；

anxious；　and　agonized　over　forgotten　names；　trifling　dates；　useless

distances；　ineffective　records；　and　feeble　chronicles　of　their

domestic　economy。　　It　was　the　thoughtful　and　melancholy　Demorest

who　remembered　the　exact　color　and　price　paid　for　a　certain　shirt

bought　from　a　Greaser　peddler　amidst　the　envy　of　his　companions；　it

was　the　financial　magnate；　Stacy；　who　could　inform　them　what　were

the　exact　days　they　had　saleratus　bread　and　when　flapjacks；　it　was

the　thoughtless　and　mercurial　Barker　who　recalled　with　unheard…of

accuracy；　amidst　the　applause　of　the　others；　the　full　name　of　the

Indian　squaw　who　assisted　at　their　washing。　　Even　then　they　were

almost　feverishly　loath　to　leave　the　subject；　as　if　the　Past；　at

least；　was　secure　to　them　still；　and　they　were　even　doubtful　of

their　own　free　and　full　accord　in　the　Present。　　Then　they　slipped

rather　reluctantly　into　their　later　experiences；　but　with　scarcely

the　same　freedom　or　spontaneity；　and　it　was　noticeable　that　these

records　were　elicited　from　Barker　by　Stacy　or　from　Stacy　by　Barker

for　the　information　of　Demorest；　often　with　chaffing　and　only　under

good…humored　protest。　　〃Tell　Demorest　how　you　broke　the　'Copper

Ring；'〃　from　the　admiring　Barker；　or；　〃Tell　Demorest　how　your　dd

foolishness　in　buying　up　the　right　and　plant　of　the　Ditch　Company

got　you　control　of　the　railroad；〃　from　the　mischievous　Stacy；　were

challenges　in　point。　　Presently　they　left　the　table；　and；　to　the

astonishment　of　the　waiters　who　removed　the　cloth；　common　brier…

wood　pipes；　thoughtfully　provided　by　Barker　in　commemoration　of　the

Past；　were　lit；　and　they　ranged　themselves　in　armchairs　before　the

fire　quite　unconsciously　in　their　old　attitudes。　　The　two　windows

on　either　side　of　the　hearth　gave　them　the　same　view　that　the　open

door　of　the　old　cabin　had　made　familiar　to　them；　the　league…long

valley　below　the　shadowy　bulk　of　the　Black　Spur　rising　in　the

distance；　and；　still　more　remote；　the　pallid　snow…line　that　soared

even　beyond　its　crest。



As　in　the　old　time；　they　were　for　many　moments　silent；　and　then；　as

in　the　old　time；　it　was　the　irrepressible　Barker　who　broke　the

silence。　　〃But　Stacy　does　not　tell　you　anything　about　his　friend；

the　beautiful　Mrs。　Horncastle。　　You　know　he's　the　guardian　of　one

of　the　finest　women　in　Californiaa　woman　as　noble　and　generous　as

she　is　handsome。　　And　think　of　it！　　He's　protecting　her　from　her

brute　of　a　husband；　and　looking　after　her　property。　　Isn't　it　good

and　chivalrous　of　him？〃



The　irrepressible　laughter　of　the　two　men　brought　only　wonder　and

reproachful　indignation　into　the　widely　opened　eyes　of　Barker。　　HE

was　perfectly　sincere。　　He　had　been　thinking　of　Stacy's　admiration

for　Mrs。　Horncastle　in　his　ride　from　Boomville；　and；　strange　to

say；　yet　characteristic　of　his　nature；　it　was　equally　the　natural

outcome　of　his　interview　with　her　and　the　singular　effect　she　had

upon　him。　　That　he　（Barker）　thoroughly　sympathized　with　her　only

convinced　him　that　Stacy　must　feel　the　same　for　her；　and　that；　no

doubt；　she　must　respond　to　him　equally。　　And　how　noble　it　was　in

his　old　partner；　with　his　advantages　of　position　in　the　world　and

his　protecting　relations　to　her；　not　to　avail　himself　of　this

influence　upon　her　generous　nature。　　If　he　himselfa　married　man

and　the　husband　of　Kittywas　so　conscious　of　her　charm；　how　much

greater　it　must　be　to　the　free　and　INEXPERIENCED　Stacy。



The　italics　were　in　Barker's　thought；　for　in　those　matters　he　felt

that　Stacy　and　even　Demorest；　occupied　in　other　things；　had　not　his

knowledge。　　There　was　no　idea　or　consciousness　of　heroically

sacrificing　himself　or　Mrs。　Horncastle　in　this。　　I　am　afraid　there

was　not　even　an　idea　of　a　superior　morality　in　himself　in　giving　up

the　possibility　of　loving　her。　　Ever　since　Stacy　had　first　seen　her

he　had　fancied　that　Stacy　liked　her；indeed；　Kitty　fancied　it；

too；and　it　seemed　almost　providential　now　that　he　should　know　how

to　assist　his　old　partner　to　happiness。　　For　it　was　inconceivable

that　Stacy　should　not　be　able　to　rescue　this　woman　from　her

shameful　bonds；　or　that　she　should　not　consent　to　it　through　his

（Barker's）　arguments　and　entreaties。　　To　a　〃champion　of　dames〃　this

seemed　only　right　and　proper。　　In　his　unfailing　optimism　he

translated　Stacy's　laugh　as　embarrassment　and　Demorest's　as　only

ignorance　of　the　real　question。　　But　Demorest　had　noticed；　if　he

had　not；　that　Stacy's　laugh　was　a　little　nervously　prolonged　for　a

man　of　his　temperament；　and　that　he　had　cast　a　very　keen　glance　at

Barker。　　A　messenger　arriving　with　a　telegram　brought　from

Boomville　called　Stacy　momentarily　away；　and　Barker　was　not　slow　to

take　advantage　of　his　absence。



〃I　wish；　Phil；〃　he　said；　hitching　his　chair　closer　to　Demorest；

〃that　you　would　think　seriously　of　this　matter；　and　try　to　persuade

Stacywho；　I　believe；　is　more　interested　in　Mrs。　Horncastle　than

he　cares　to　showto　put　a　little　of　that　determination　in　love

that　he　has　shown　in　business。　　She's　an　awfully　fine　woman；　and　in

every　way　suited　to　him；　and　he　is　letting　an　absurd　sense　of　pride

and　honor　keep　him　from　influencing　her　to　get　rid　of　her

impossible　husband。　　There's　no　reason；〃　continued　Barker　in　a

burst　of　enthusiastic　simplicity；　〃that　BECAUSE　she　has　found　some

one　she　likes　better；　and　who　would　treat　her　better；　that　she

should　continue　to　stick　to　that　beast　whom　all　California　would

gladly　see　her　divorced　from。　　I　never　could　understand　that　kind

of　argument；　could　you？〃



Demorest　looked　at　his　companion's　glowing　cheek　and　kindling　eye

with　a　smile。　　〃A　good　deal　depends　upon　the　side　from　which　you

argue。　　But；　frankly；　Barker　boy；　though　I　think　I　know　you　in　all

your　phases；　I　am　not　prepared　yet　to　accept　you　as　a　match…maker！

However；　I'll　think　it　over；　and　find　out　something　more　of　this

from　your　goddess；　who　seems　to　have　bewitched　you　both。　　But　what

does　Mistress　Kitty　say　to　your　admiration？〃



Barker's　face　clouded；　but　instantly　brightened。　　〃Oh；　they're　the

best　of　friends；　they're　quite　like　us；　you　know；　even　to　larks

they　have　together。〃　　He　stopped　and　colored　at　his　slip。　　But

Demorest；　who　had　noticed　his　change　of　expression；　was　more

concerned　at　the　look　of　half　incredulity　and　half　suspicion　with

which　Stacy；　who　had　re…entered　the　room　in　time　to　hear　Barker's

speech；　was　regarding　his　unconscious　younger　partner。



〃I　didn't　know　that　Mrs。　Horncastle　and　Mrs。　Barker　were　such

friends；〃　he　said　dryly　as　he　sat　down　again。　　But　his　face

presently　became　so　abstracted　that　Demorest　said　gayly：



〃Well；　Jim；　I'm　glad　I'm　not　a　Napoleon　of　Finance！　　I　couldn't

stand　it　to　have　my　privacy　or　my　relaxation　broken　in　upon　at　any

moment；　as　yours　was　just　now。　　What　confounded　somersault　in

stocks　has　put　that　face　on　you？〃



Stacy　looked　up　quickly　with　his　brief　laugh。　　〃I'm　afraid　you'd　be

none　the　wiser　if　I　told　you。　　That　was　a　pony　express　messenger

from　New　York。　　You　remember　how　Barker；　that　night　of　the　strike；

when　we　were　sitting　together　here；　or　very　near　here；　proposed

that　we　ought　to　have　a　password　or　a　symbol　to　call　us　together　in

case　of　emergency；　for　each　other's　help？　　Well；　let　us　say　I　have

two　partners；　one　in　Europe　and　one　in　New　York。　　That　was　my

password。〃



〃And；　I　hope；　no　more　serious　than　ours；〃　added　Demorest。



Stacy　laughed　his　short　laugh。　　Nevertheless；　the　conversation

dragged　again。　　The　feverish　gayety　of　the　early　part　of　the

evening　was　gone；　and　they　seemed　to　be　suffering　from　the

reaction。　　They　fell　into　their　old　attitudes；　looking　from　the

firelight　to　the　distant　bulk　of　Black　Spur　without　a　word。　　The

occasional　sound　of　the　voices　of　promenaders　on　the　veranda　at

last　ceased；　there　was　the　noise　of　the　shutting　of　heavy　doors

below；　and　Barker　rose。