Thestillnessoftheemptyhousewasonlybrokenbythehabituallysubduedvoicesofthechildrenattheirplay,whensuddenlytheharshstrokeofadistantbellcamethroughtheopenwindow。ButitwasnoSabbathbell,andMr。Breezeknewit。ItwasthetocsinoftheVigilanceCommittee,summoningthememberstoassembleattheirquartersforacapture,atrial,oranexecutionofsomewrongdoer。Tohimitwasequallyasummonstotheoffice——todistastefulnewsandexcitement。
Hethrewhisproofsasideindisgust,laiddownhispen,seizedhishat,andpausedamomenttolookroundforhisplaymates。Buttheyweregone!Hewentintothehall,lookedintotheopendooroftheirroom,buttheywerenotthere。Hetriedthedoorofthesecondroom,butitwaslocked。
Satisfiedthattheyhadstolendownstairsintheireagernesstoknowwhatthebellmeant,hehurrieddownalso,metRobertsinthepassage,——asingularlyunusualcircumstanceatthathour,——calledtohimtolookaftertherunaways,andhurriedtohisoffice。
Herehefoundthestaffcollected,excitedlydiscussingthenews。
OneoftheVigilanceCommitteeprisoners,anotoriousbullyandruffian,detainedasacriminalandawitness,hadcommittedsuicideinhiscell。Fortunatelythiswasallreportorialwork,andtheservicesofMr。Breezewerenotrequired。Hehurriedback,relieved,tohisroom。
Whenhereachedhislanding,breathlessly,heheardthesamequickrustlehehadheardthatmemorableevening,andwasquitesatisfiedthathesawafigureglideswiftlyoutoftheopendoorofhisroom。Itwasnodoubthisneighbor,whohadbeenseekingherchildren,andasheheardtheirvoicesashepassed,hisuneasinessandsuspicionswereremoved。
Hesatdownagaintohisscatteredpapersandproofs,finishedhiswork,andtookittotheofficeonhiswaytodinner。Hereturnedearly,inthehopethathemightmeethisneighboragain,andhadquitesettledhismindthathewasjustifiedinofferingacivil\"Good-evening\"toher,inspiteofhispreviousrespectfulignoringofherpresence。Shemustcertainlyhavebecomeawarebythistimeofhisattentiontoherchildrenandconsiderationforherself,andcouldnotmistakehismotives。Buthewasdisappointed,althoughhecameupsoftly;hefoundthefloorindarknessandsilenceonhisreturn,andhehadtobecontentwithlightinghisgasandsettlingdowntoworkagain。
Anearchurchclockhadstrucktenwhenhewasstartledbythesoundofanunfamiliaranduncertainstepinthehall,followedbyatapathisdoor。Breezejumpedtohisfeet,andwasastonishedtofindDick,the\"printer\'sdevil,\"standingonthethresholdwitharollofproofsinhishand。
\"Howdidyougethere?\"heaskedtestily。
\"Theytoldmeattherestauranttheyreckonedyoulivedyere,andthenightwatchmanatthedoorheadedmestraightup。WhenheknewwharIkemfromhewantedtoknowwhatthenewswas,butItoldhimhe\'dbetterbuyanextraandsee。\"
\"Well,whatdidyoucomefor?\"saidtheeditorimpatiently。
\"Theforemansaiditwasimportant,andhewantedtoknowaforehewenttopressefthisyercorrectionwasYOURS?\"
Hewenttothetable,unrolledtheproofs,and,takingouttheslip,pointedtoamarkedparagraph。\"Theforemansaysthereporterwhobroughtthenewsallowshegotitstraightfirst-hand!
Butefyou\'vecorrectedit,hereckonsyouknowbest。\"
Breezesawataglancethattheparagraphalludedtowasnotofhisownwriting,butoneofseveralnewsitemsfurnishedbyreporters。
Thesehadbeen\"setup\"inthesame\"galley,\"andconsequentlyappearedinthesameproof-slip。Hewasabouttosaycurtlythatneitherthematternorthecorrectionwashis,whensomethingoddinthecorrectionoftheitemstruckhim。Itreadasfollows:——
\"Itappearsthatthenotorious\'JimBodine,\'whoisinhidingandbadlywantedbytheVigilanceCommittee,hasbeentemptedlatelyintoarenewalofhisoldrecklessness。HewasseeninSacramentoStreettheothernightbytwoseparatewitnesses,oneofwhomfollowedhim,butheescapedinsomefriendlydoorway。\"
Thewords\"inSacramentoStreet\"werestrickenoutandreplacedbythecorrection\"ontheSaucelitoshore,\"andthewords\"friendlydoorway\"werechangedto\"friendlydinghy。\"Thecorrectionwasnothis,northehandwriting,whichwasfurtherdisguisedbybeinganimitationofprint。Astrangeideaseizedhim。
\"HasanyoneseentheseproofssinceIleftthemattheoffice?\"
\"No,onlytheforeman,sir。\"
Herememberedthathehadlefttheproofslyingopenlyonhistablewhenhewascalledtotheofficeatthestrokeofthealarmbell;
herememberedthefigurehesawglidingfromhisroomonhisreturn。Shehadbeentherealonewiththeproofs;sheonlycouldhavetamperedwiththem。
TheevidentobjectofthecorrectionwastodirectthepublicattentionfromSacramentoStreettoSaucelito,astheprobablewhereaboutsofthis\"JimmyBodine。\"ThestreetbelowwasSacramentoStreet,the\"friendlydoorway\"mighthavebeentheirown。
ThatshehadsomeknowledgeofthisBodinewasnotmoreimprobablethantheballetstory。Herstrangeabsences,themysterysurroundingher,allseemedtotestifythatshehadsomeconnection——perhapsonlyaninnocentone——withthesedesperatepeoplewhomtheVigilanceCommitteewerehuntingdown。Herattempttosavethemanwas,afterall,nomoreillegalthantheirattempttocapturehim。True,shemighthavetrustedhim,Breeze,withoutthistamperingwithhispapers;yetperhapsshethoughthewascertaintodiscoverit——anditwasonlyasilentappealtohismercy。Thecorrectionswereingeniousandnatural——itwastheactofanintelligent,quick-wittedwoman。
Mr。Breezewaspromptinactinguponhisintuition,whetherrightorwrong。Hetookuphispen,wroteonthemarginoftheproof,\"Printascorrected,\"saidtotheboycarelessly,\"Thecorrectionsareallright,\"anddismissedhimquickly。
Thecorrectedparagraphwhichappearedinthe\"Informer\"thenextmorningseemedtoattractlittlepublicattention,thegreaterexcitementbeingthesuicideoftheimprisonedbullyandtheeffectitmighthaveupontheprosecutionofothersuspectedparties,againstwhomthedeadmanhadbeenexpectedtobearwitness。
Mr。BreezewasunabletoobtainanyinformationregardingthedesperadoBodine\'sassociatesandrelations;hiscorrectionoftheparagraphhadmadetheothermembersofthestaffbelievehehadsecretandsuperiorinformationregardingthefugitive,andhethuswasestoppedfromaskingquestions。ButhefelthimselfjustifiednowindemandingfullerinformationfromRobertsattheearliestopportunity。
Forthispurposehecamehomeearlierthatnight,hopingtofindthenightwatchmanstillonhisfirstbeatinthelowerhalls。Buthewasdisappointed。Hewasamazed,however,onreachinghisownlanding,tofindthepassagepiledwithnewluggage,someofthatrudertypeofrolledblanketandknapsackknownasa\"miner\'skit。\"
Hewasstillmoresurprisedtohearmen\'svoicesandthesoundoflaughterproceedingfromtheroomthatwasalwayslocked。Asuddensenseofuneasinessanddisgust,heknewnotwhy,cameoverhim。
Hepassedquicklyintohisroom,shutthedoorsharply,andlitthegas。Buthepresentlyheardthedoorofthelockedroomopen,aman\'svoice,slightlyelevatedbyliquorandopposition,saying,\"I
knowwhat\'sduefromonegen\'lemanto\'nother\"——aquerulous,objectingvoicesaying,\"Holeon!notnow,\"andafainterfeminineprotest,allofwhichwerefollowedbyaraponhisdoor。
Breezeopenedittotwostrangers,oneofwhomlurchedforwardunsteadilywithoutstretchedhand。Hehadahandsomefaceandfigure,andacertainconsciousnessofitevenintheabandonofliquor;hehadanaggressivetreacherousnessofeyewhichhispotationshadnotsubdued。HegraspedBreeze\'shandtightly,butdroppeditthenextmomentperfunctorilyasheglancedroundtheroom。
\"ItoldthemIwasboundtocomein,\"hesaid,withoutlookingatBreeze,\"andsay\'Howdy!\'tothemanthat\'sbinapaltomywomenfolksandthekids——andactedwhiteallthrough!IsaidtoMame,\'IreckonHEknowswhoIam,andthatIkinbehigh-tonedtothemthat\'shigh-toned;kinreturnshakeforshakeandshotforshot!\'
Aye!that\'sme!SoIwasboundtocomeinlikeagen\'leman,sir,andhereIam!\"
HethrewhimselfinanunprofferedchairandstaredatBreeze。
\"I\'mafraid,\"saidBreezedryly,\"that,nevertheless,Ineverknewwhoyouwere,andthatevennowIamignorantwhomIamaddressing。\"
\"That\'sjustit,\"saidthesecondman,withaquerulousprotest,whichdidnot,however,concealhisadmiringvassalagetohisfriend;\"that\'swhatI\'mallustellingJim。\'Jim,\'Isays,\'howisfolkstoknowyou\'rethemanthatshotKernelBaxter,anddroppedthreeo\'themMariposaVigilants?Theydidn\'tseeyoudoit!Theyjustlookatyourfancystyleandthemmustachesofyours,andallowyemightbedeathonthegirls,buttheydon\'tknowye!An\'
thismanyere——he\'sascribeinthempapers——writeswhatthebosseditortellshim,andlivesupyereontheroof,\'longsideyerwifeandthechildren——what\'sheknowin\'aboutYOU?\'Jim\'sallrightenough,\"hecontinued,ineasyconfidencetoBreeze,\"buthe\'stoofresh\'bouthimself。\"
Mr。JamesBodineacceptedthistributeandcriticismofhishenchmanwithacomplacentlaugh,whichwasnot,however,withoutacertaincontemptforthespeakerandthemanspokento。Hisbold,selfisheyeswanderedroundtheroomasifinsearchofsomeotheramusementthanhiscompanionsoffered。
\"Ireckonthisistheroomwhichthathoundofalandlord,Rakes,allowedhe\'dfixupforourpokerclub——theclubthatDanSimmonsandmegotup,withafewothersports。Itwastobeaslap-upaffair,rightundertheroof,wheretherewasnochanceofthepoliceraidingus。ButthecurweakenedwhentheVigilantsstartedouttomakewaronanygameagen\'lemanmighthevthatwasn\'tintheirgummy-bag,saltporktrade。Well,it\'sgettin\'alongtimebetweendrinks,gen\'lemen,ain\'tit?\"Helookedroundhimsignificantly。
Onlythethoughtofthewomanandherchildreninthenextroom,andtheshamethathebelievedshewasenduring,enabledBreezetokeephistemperorevenashowofcivility。
\"I\'mafraid,\"hesaidquietly,\"thatyou\'llfindverylittleheretoremindyouoftheclub——noteventhewhiskey;forIusetheroomonlyasabedroom,andasIamaworkingman,andcomeinlateandgooutearly,Ihaveneverfounditavailableforhospitality,eventomyintimatefriends。Iamveryglad,however,thatthelittleleisureIhavehadinithasenabledmetomakethefloorlesslonelyforyourchildren。\"
Mr。Bodinegotupwithanaffectedyawn,turnedanembarrassedyetdarkeningeyeonBreeze,andlungedunsteadilytothedoor。\"AndasIonlyhappenedintodothereg\'larthingbetweenhigh-tonedgen\'lemen,Ireckonwekinsay\'Quits。\'\"Hegaveacoarselaugh,said\"Solong,\"nodded,stumbledintothepassage,andthenceintotheotherroom。
Hiscompanionwatchedhimpassoutwitharelievedyetprotectingair,andthen,closingthedoorsoftly,drewnearertoBreeze,andsaidinhuskyconfidence,——
\"Yeain\'tseein\'himathisbest,mister!He\'sbindrinkin\'toomuch,andthisyernewshasupsethim。\"
\"Whatnews?\"askedBreeze。
\"Thisyersuicideo\'IrishJack!\"
\"Washehisfriend?\"
\"Friend?\"ejaculatedtheman,horrifiedatthemeresuggestion。
\"Notmuch!Why,IrishJackwastheonlymanthatcouldhevhungJim!Nowhe\'sdead,incoursetheVigilantsain\'tgotnoproofaginJim。Jimwantstofaceitoutnowan\'stayhere,buthiswifeandmedon\'tseeitnoways!Sowearetakingadvantageo\'thelullaginhimtogethimoffdownthecoastthisverynight。That\'swhyhe\'sbeenoffhisheaddrinkin\'。Yesee,whenamanhasbeenforweekshidin\'——parto\'thetimeinthatroomandparto\'thetimeonthewharf,wherethemVigilantshasbeenwatchin\'everyshipthatleftinordertoketchhim,he\'sinclinedtocelebratehischanceo\'gettingaway\"——
\"Partofthetimeinthatroom?\"interruptedBreezequickly。
\"Sartin!Don\'tyesee?Healluskeminasyouwentout——sabe!——
andgotawaybeforeyoukemback,hiswifeallthetimejusta-
hoverin\'betweenthetwoplaces,andkeepingwatchforhim。Itwaskillin\'toher,yousee,forshewasn\'tbroughtuptoit,whilesJimdidn\'tkeer——hadtworevolversandkalkilatedtokilladozenVigilantsaforehedropped。Butthat\'sovernow,andwhenI\'vegothimsafeonthat\'plunger\'downatthewharfto-night,andputhimaboardtheschoonerthat\'slyingofftheHeads,he\'sallrightagin。\"
\"AndRobertsknewallthisandwasoneofhisfriends?\"askedBreeze。
\"Robertsknewit,andRoberts\'swifeusedtobeakindofservanttoJim\'swifeintheSouth,whenshewasagirl,butIdon\'tknowezRobertsishisFRIEND!\"
\"Hecertainlyhasshownhimselfone,\"saidBreeze。
\"Ye-e-s,\"saidthestrangermeditatively,\"ye-e-s。\"Hestopped,openedthedoorsoftly,andpeepedout,andthencloseditagainsoftly。\"It\'ssing\'lar,Mr。Breeze,\"hewentoninasuddenyetembarrassedburstofconfidence,\"thatJimthar——amanthetcanshootstraight,andhezfrequent;amanthetknowseveryskingamegoin\'——thatTHETmanJim,\"veryslowly,\"hezn\'treally——got——anyfriends——\'ceptme——andhiswife。\"
\"Indeed?\"saidMr。Breezedryly。
\"Sure!Why,youyourselfdidn\'tcottontohim——IcouldseeTHET。\"
Mr。Breezefelthimselfreddenslightly,andlookedcuriouslyattheman。Thisvulgarparasite,whomhehadsetdownasaworshiperofshamheroes,undoubtedlydidnotlooklikeanassociateofBodine\'s,andhadacertainseriousnessthatdemandedrespect。Ashelookedcloserintohiswide,roundface,seamedwithsmall-pox,hefanciedhesaweveninitsfatuousimbecilitysomethingofthathauntingdevotionhehadseenontherefinedfeaturesofthewife。
Hesaidmoregently,——
\"Butonefriendlikeyouwouldseemtobeenough。\"
\"Iain\'twhatIusterbe,Mr。Breeze,\"saidthemanmeditatively,\"andmebbeyedon\'tknowwhoIam。I\'mAbeShuckster,ofShuckster\'sRanch——oneofthebiggestinPetalumy。Iwasarichmanuntilayearago,whenJimgotintertrouble。Whatwithmortgagesandinterest,payin\'upJim\'sfriendsandbuyingoffsomeezwassetaginhim,tharain\'tmuchleft,andwhenI\'vesettledthatbillfortheschoonerlyingofftheHeadsthereIreckonI\'maboutplayedout。ButI\'veallusashantyatPetalumy,andmebbewhenthingsisfrozeoverandJimgetsback——you\'llcomeandseehim——foryouain\'tseenhimathisbest。\"
\"Isupposehiswifeandchildrengowithhim?\"saidBreeze。
\"No!He\'saginit,andwantsthemtocomelater。Butthat\'sallright,foryouseeshekingobacktotheirownhouseattheMission,nowthattheVigilantsaregivin\'upshadderin\'it。Solong,Mr。Breeze!We\'restartin\'aforedaylight。Sorryyoudidn\'tseeJimincondition。\"
HegraspedBreeze\'shandwarmlyandslippedoutofthedoorsoftly。
ForaninstantMr。Breezefeltinclinedtofollowhimintotheroomandmakeakinderadieutothepair,butthereflectionthathemightembarrassthewife,who,itwouldseem,hadpurposelyavoidedaccompanyingherhusbandwhenheentered,withheldhim。Andforthelastfewminuteshehadbeendoubtfulifhehadanyrighttoposeasherfriend。Besidethedevotionofthemanwhohadjustlefthim,hisownscantkindnesstoherchildrenseemedridiculous。
Hewenttobed,buttosseduneasilyuntilhefanciedheheardstealthyfootstepsoutsidehisdoorandinthepassage。Eventhenhethoughtofgettingup,dressing,andgoingouttobidfarewelltothefugitives。Butevenwhilehewasthinkingofithefellasleepanddidnotwakeuntilthesunwasshininginathiswindows。
Hesprangtohisfeet,threwonhisdressing-gown,andpeeredintothepassage。Everythingwassilent。Hesteppedoutside——thelightstreamedintothehallfromtheopendoorsandwindowsofbothrooms——thefloorwasempty;notatraceoftheformeroccupantsremained。Hewasturningbackwhenhiseyefelluponthebatteredwoodendollsetuprightagainsthisdoorjamb,holdingstifflyinitsjointedarmsabitofpaperfoldedlikeanote。Openingit,hefoundafewlineswritteninpencil。
Godblessyouforyourkindnesstous,andtrytoforgivemefortouchingyourpapers。ButIthoughtthatyouwoulddetectit,knowWHYIdidit,andthenhelpus,asyoudid!Good-by!
MAMIEBODINE。
Mr。Breezelaiddownthepaperwithaslightaccessionofcolor,asifitspurporthadbeenironical。Howlittlehadhedonecomparedtothedevotionofthisdelicatewomanorthesacrificesofthatroughfriend!Howdesertedlookedthisnestundertheeaves,whichhadsolongborneitsburdenofguilt,innocence,shame,andsuffering!Formanydaysafterwardsheavoideditexceptatnight,andeventhenheoftenfoundhimselflyingawaketolistentothelostvoicesofthechildren。
Butoneevening,afortnightlater,hecameuponRobertsinthehall。\"Well,\"saidBreeze,withabruptdirectness,\"didhegetaway?\"
Robertsstarted,utteredanoathwhichitispossibletheRecordingAngelpassedtohiscredit,andsaid,\"Yes,HEgotawayallright!\"
\"Why,hasn\'thiswifejoinedhim?\"
\"No。Never,inthisworld,Ireckon;andifanywhereinthenext,Idon\'twanttogothere!\"saidRobertsfuriously。
\"Ishedead?\"
\"Dead?Thatkinddon\'tdie!\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"
Roberts\'slipswrithed,andthen,withastrongeffort,hesaidwithdeliberatedistinctness,\"Imean——thatthehoundwentoffwithanotherwoman——that——was——in——thatschooner,andleftthatfoolShucksteradriftintheplunger。\"
\"Andthewifeandchildren?\"
\"ShuckstersoldhisshantyatPetalumatopaytheirpassagetotheStates。Good-night!\"
HOWREUBENALLEN\"SAWLIFE\"INSANFRANCISCO
ThejuniorpartnerofthefirmofSparlow&Kane,\"DruggistsandApothecaries,\"ofSanFrancisco,wasgazingmeditativelyoutofthecornerofthewindowoftheirlittleshopinDupontStreet。HecouldseethedimlylitperspectiveofthenarrowthoroughfarefadeoffintothelevelsandwastesofMarketStreetontheoneside,andplungeintothehalf-excavatedbulkofTelegraphHillontheother。HecouldseetheglowandheartherumbleofMontgomeryStreet——thegreatcentralavenuefartherdownthehill。Abovethehousetopswasspreadthewarmblanketofsea-fogunderwhichthecitywasregularlylaidtosleepeverysummernighttothecoollullabyoftheNorthwestTrades。Itwasalreadyhalf-pasteleven;
footstepsonthewoodenpavementweregettingrarerandmoreremote;thelastcarthadrumbledby;theshutterswereupalongthestreet;theglareofhisownredandbluejarswastheonlybeaconlefttoguidethewayfarers。Ordinarilyhewouldhavebeengoinghomeatthishour,whenhispartner,whooccupiedthesurgeryandasmallbedroomattherearoftheshop,alwaysreturnedtorelievehim。Thatnight,however,aprofessionalvisitwoulddetainthe\"Doctor\"untilhalf-pasttwelve。Therewasstillanhourtowait。Hefeltdrowsy;themysteriousincenseoftheshop,thatcombinedessenceofdrugs,spice,scentedsoap,andorrisroot——whichalwaysremindedhimoftheArabianNights——wasaffectinghim。Heyawned,andthen,turningaway,passedbehindthecounter,tookdownajarlabeled\"Glycyrr。Glabra,\"selectedapieceofSpanishlicorice,andmeditativelysuckedit。Notreceivingfromitthatdiversionandsustenanceheapparentlywasseeking,healsovisited,inanequallyfamiliarmanner,ajarmarked\"Jujubes,\"andreturnedruminatinglytohispreviousposition。
IfIhavenotinthisincidentsufficientlyestablishedtheyouthfulnessofthejuniorpartner,Imayaddbrieflythathewasjustnineteen,thathehadearlyjoinedtheemigrationtoCalifornia,andafteroneortwopreviouslight-heartedessaysatotheroccupations,forwhichhewassingularlyunfitted,hehadsavedenoughtoembarkonhispresentventure,stilllesssuitedtohistemperament。Inthoseadventurousdaystradesandvocationswerenotalwaysfilledbytrainedworkmen;itwasextremelyprobablethattheexperiencedchemistwasalreadymakinghissuccessasagold-miner,withalawyerandaphysicianforhispartners,andMr。Kane\'sinexperiencedpositionwasbynomeansanovelone。AslightknowledgeofLatinasawrittenlanguage,anAmericanschoolboy\'sacquaintancewithchemistryandnaturalphilosophy,weredeemedsufficientbyhispartner,aregularphysician,forpracticalcooperationinthevendingofdrugsandputtingupofprescriptions。Heknewthedifferencebetweenacidsandalkaliesandthepeculiarresultswhichattendedtheirincautiouscombination。Buthewasexcessivelydeliberate,painstaking,andcautious。Thelegendwhichadornedthedeskatthecounter,\"Physicians\'prescriptionscarefullyprepared,\"wasmorethanusuallytrueasregardedtheadverb。Therewasnodangerofhispoisoninganybodythroughhasteorcarelessness,butitwaspossiblethatanurgent\"case\"mighthavesuccumbedtothediseasewhilehewasputtinguptheremedy。Norwashiscautionentirelypassive。Inthosedaysthe\"heroic\"practiceofmedicinewasinkeepingwiththeabnormaldevelopmentofthecountry;therewere\"record\"dosesofcalomelandquinine,andhehadonceortwiceincurredthefuryoflocalpractitionersbysendingbacktheirprescriptionswithamodestquery。
Thefar-offclatterofcarriagewheelspresentlyarrestedhisattention;lookingdownthestreet,hecouldseethelightsofahackneycarriageadvancingtowardshim。Theyhadalreadyflashedupontheopencrossingablockbeyondbeforehisvaguecuriositychangedintoanactiveinstinctivepresentimentthattheywerecomingtotheshop。Hewithdrewtoamorebecominganddignifiedpositionbehindthecounterasthecarriagedrewupwithajerkbeforethedoor。
Thedriverrolledfromhisboxandopenedthecarriagedoortoawomanwhomheassisted,betweensomehystericalexclamationsonherpartandsomeequallyincoherentexplanationsofhisown,intotheshop。Kanesawataglancethatbothwereundertheinfluenceofliquor,andone,thewoman,wasdisheveledandbleedingaboutthehead。Yetshewaselegantlydressedandevidentlyenfete,withoneortwo\"tricolor\"knotsandribbonsmingledwithherfinery。
Hergoldenhair,mattedanddarkenedwithblood,hadpartlyescapedfromherFrenchbonnetandhungheavilyoverhershoulders。Thedriver,whowassupportingherroughly,andwithafamiliaritythatwaspartoftheincongruousspectacle,wasthefirsttospeak。
\"MadameleBlank!yeknow!GotcutabouttheheaddownatthefeteatSouthPark!Triedtodanceuponthetable,androlledoveronsomechampagnebottles。See?Wantsplasteringup!\"
\"Ahbrute!Hog!Nozzingofzekine!Whywillyoulie?Idance!
Zecowards,fools,traitorszereupsetzetableandIfall。Iamcut!Ah,myGod,howIamcut!\"
Shestoppedsuddenlyandlapsedheavilyagainstthecounter。AtwhichKanehurriedaroundtosupportherintothesurgerywiththeonefixedideainhisbewilderedmindofgettingheroutoftheshop,and,suggestively,intothedomainandundertheresponsibilityofhispartner。Thehackman,apparentlyrelievedandwashinghishandsofanyfurthercomplicityinthematter,noddedandsmiled,andsaying,\"IreckonI\'llwaitoutside,pardner,\"retreatedincontinentlytohisvehicle。ToaddtoKane\'shalf-ludicrousembarrassmentthefairpatientherselfslightlyresistedhissupport,accusedthehackmanof\"abandoningher,\"anddemandedifKaneknew\"zeereasonofzeesaffair,\"yetshepresentlylapsedagainintothelargereclining-chairwhichhehadwheeledforward,withopenmouth,half-shuteyes,andastrangePierrettemaskofface,combinedofthepalloroffaintnessandchalk,andtherougeofpaintandblood。AtwhichKane\'scautiousnessagainembarrassedhim。Alittlebrandyfromthebottlelabeled\"ViniGalli\"seemedtobeindicated,buthisinexperiencecouldnotdetermineifherrelaxationwasfrombloodlessnessorthereactingdepressionofalcohol。Inthisdilemmahechoseamediumcourse,witharomaticspiritsofammonia,andmixingadilutedquantityinameasuring-glass,poureditbetweenherwhitelips。Astart,astruggle,acough——avolleyofimprecatoryFrench,andtheknockingoftheglassfromhishandfollowed——butshecameto!Hequicklyspongedherheadofthehalf-coagulatedblood,andremovedafewfragmentsofglassfromalonglacerationofthescalp。Theshockofthecoldwaterandtheappearanceoftheensanguinedbasinfrightenedherintoamomentarypassivity。ButwhenKanefounditnecessarytocutherhairintheregionofthewoundinordertoapplytheadhesiveplaster,sheagainendeavoredtoriseandgraspthescissors。
\"You\'llbleedtodeathifyou\'renotquiet,\"saidtheyoungmanwithdoggedgravity。
Somethinginhismannerimpressedherintosilenceagain。Hecutwholelocksawayruthlessly;hewasdeterminedtodrawtheedgesofthewoundtogetherwiththestripofplasterandstopthebleeding——
ifhecroppedthewholehead。Hisexcessivecautionforherphysicalconditiondidnotextendtohersuperficialadornment。
Heryellowtresseslayonthefloor,herneckandshouldersweresaturatedwithwaterfromthespongewhichhecontinuallyapplied,untiltheheatedstripsofplasterhadclosedthewoundalmosthermetically。Shewhimpered,tearsrandownhercheeks;butsolongasitwasnotbloodtheyoungmanwassatisfied。
Inthemidstofitheheardtheshopdooropen,andpresentlythesoundofrappingonthecounter。Anothercustomer!
Mr。Kanecalledout,\"Waitamoment,\"andcontinuedhisministrations。
Afterapausetherappingrecommenced。Kanewasjustsecuringthelaststripofplasterandpreservedapreoccupiedsilence。Thenthedoorflewopenabruptlyandafigureappearedimpatientlyonthethreshold。Itwasthatofaminerrecentlyreturnedfromthegolddiggings——sorecentlythatheevidentlyhadnothadtimetochangehisclothesathisadjacenthotel,andstoodthereinhishighboots,ducktrousers,andflannelshirt,overwhichhiscoatwasslunglikeahussar\'sjacketfromhisshoulder。Kanewouldhaveutteredanindignantprotestattheintrusion,hadnottheintruderhimselfasquicklyrecoiledwithanastonishmentandcontritionthatwasbeyondtheeffectofanyreproval。Heliterallygaspedatthespectaclebeforehim。Ahandsomelydressedwomanreclininginachair;laceandjewelryandribbonsdependingfromhersaturatedshoulders;tressesofgoldenhairfillingherlapandlyingonthefloor;apailofruddywaterandaspongeatherfeet,andapaleyoungmanbendingoverherheadwithaspiritlampandstripsofyellowplaster!
\"\'Scuseme,pard!Iwasjustdroppingin;don\'tyouhurry!Ikinwait,\"hestammered,fallingback,andthenthedoorclosedabruptlybehindhim。
Kanegathereduptheshornlocks,wipedthefaceandneckofhispatientwithacleantowelandhisownhandkerchief,threwhergorgeousoperacloakoverhershoulders,andassistedhertorise。
Shedidso,weaklybutobediently;shewasevidentlystunnedandcowedinsomemysteriouswaybyhismaterialattitude,perhaps,orhersuddenrealizationofherposition;atleastthecontrastbetweenheraggressiveentranceintotheshopandhersubduedpreparationforherdeparturewassoremarkablethatitaffectedevenKane\'spreoccupation。
\"There,\"hesaid,slightlyrelaxinghisseveredemeanorwithanencouragingsmile,\"Ithinkthiswilldo;we\'vestoppedthebleeding。Itwillprobablysmartalittleastheplastersetscloser。Icansendmypartner,Dr。Sparlow,toyouinthemorning。\"
Shelookedathimcuriouslyandwithastrangesmile。\"AndzeesDoctorSparrlow——eezhelikeyou,M\'sieu?\"
\"Heisolder,andverywellknown,\"saidtheyoungmanseriously。
\"Icansafelyrecommendhim。\"
\"Ah,\"sherepeated,withapensivesmilewhichmadeKanethinkherquitepretty。\"Ah——heezolder——yourDoctorSparrlow——butYOUarestrong,M\'sieu。\"
\"And,\"saidKanevaguely,\"hewilltellyouwhattodo。\"
\"Ah,\"sherepeatedagainsoftly,withthesamesmile,\"hewilltellmewhattodoifIshallnotknowmyself。Datezgood。\"
Kanehadalreadywrappedhershornlocksinapieceofspotlesswhitepaperandtieditupwithnarrowwhiteribboninthedaintyfashiondeartodruggists\'clerks。Ashehandedittohershefeltinherpocketandproducedahandfulofgold。
\"WhatshallIpayforzees,M\'sieu?\"
Kanereddenedalittle——solelybecauseofhisslowarithmeticalfaculties。Adhesiveplasterwascheap——hewouldliketohavechargedproportionatelyfortheexactamounthehadused;butthedivisionwasbeyondhim!Andhelackedthetrader\'sinstinct。
\"Twenty-fivecents,Ithink,\"hehazardedbriefly。
Shestarted,butsmiledagain。\"Twenty-fivecentsforallzees——zemedicine,zestripsforzehead,zehaircut\"——sheglancedatthepaperparcelhehadgivenher——\"itisonlytwenty-fivecents?\"
\"That\'sall。\"
Heselectedfromheroutstretchedpalm,withsomedifficulty,theexactamount,thesmallestcoinitheld。Sheagainlookedathimcuriously——halfconfusedly——andmovedslowlyintotheshop。Theminer,whowasstillthere,retreatedasbeforewithagaspinglyapologeticgesture——evenflatteninghimselfagainstthewindowtogivehersweepingsilkflouncesfreerpassage。Asshepassedintothestreetwitha\"Merci,M\'sieu,gooda\'night,\"andthehackmanstartedfromthevehicletoreceiveher,theminerdrewalongbreath,andbringinghisfistdownuponthecounter,ejaculated,——
\"B\'gosh!She\'sastunner!\"
Kane,agooddealrelievedatherdepartureandthesuccessofhisministration,smiledbenignly。
Thestrangeragainstaredaftertheretreatingcarriage,lookedaroundtheshop,andevenintothedesertedsurgery,andapproachedthecounterconfidentially。\"Lookyer,pardner。IkemstraightfromSt。Jo,Mizzorri,toGoldHill——wharI\'vegotaclaim——andI
reckonthisisthefirsttimeIeverstruckSanFrancisker。I
ain\'tuptotownywaysnohow,andIallowthatmebbeI\'mrathergreen。Sowe\'llletthatpass!Nowlookyer!\"headded,leaningoverthecounterwithstilldeeperandevenmysteriousconfidence,\"Isupposethisyerkindo\'thingistheregulargohere,eh?
nothin\'newtoYOU!incourseno!Buttome,pard,it\'sjustfetchin\'me!Liftsmeclearoutermybootseverytime!Why,whenIpoppedintothattharroom,andsawthatlady——allgold,furbelows,andspangles——attwelveo\'clockatnight,sittin\'inthatcheerandyoua-cuttin\'herh\'randswabbin\'herheado\'
blood,andkinderprospectin\'for\'indications,\'sotospeak,anddoin\'itsokamandindifferentlike,Iseztomyself,\'Rube,Rube,\'sezI,\'thisyer\'slife!citylife!SanFranciskerlife!andb\'gosh,you\'vedroppedintoit!Now,pard,lookyar!don\'tyouanswer,yeknow,efitain\'tsquareandaboveboardformetoknow;
Iain\'taskin\'youtogivetheshowaway,yeknow,inthematterofhigh-tonedladieslikethat,but\"(verymysteriously,andsinkinghisvoicetothelowestconfidentialpitch,asheputhishandtohisearasiftocatchthehushedreply),\"whatmouthevbinhappening,pard?\"
Considerablyamusedattheman\'ssimplicity,Kanerepliedgood-
humoredly:\"Dancedamongsomechampagnebottlesonatableataparty,fellandgotcutbyglass。\"
Thestrangernoddedhisheadslowlyandapprovinglyasherepeatedwithinfinitedeliberateness:\"Dancedonchampagnebottles,champagne!yousaid,pard?atapahty!Yes!\"(musinglyandapprovingly)。\"Ireckonthat\'saboutthegaittheytake。SHE\'Ddoit。\"
\"IsthereanythingIcandoforyou?sorrytohavekeptyouwaiting,\"saidKane,glancingattheclock。
\"OME!Lord!yeneedn\'tmindme。Why,Ishouldwaitforanythin\'
o\'thelikeo\'that,andbejustproudtodoit!Andyesee,I
sorterhelpedmyselfwhileyouwarbusy。\"
\"Helpedyourself?\"saidKaneinastonishment。
\"Yes,outerthatbottle。\"Hepointedtotheammoniabottle,whichstillstoodonthecounter。\"Itseemedtobehandyandpopular。\"
\"Man!youmighthavepoisonedyourself。\"
Thestrangerpausedamomentattheidea。\"SoImout,Ireckon,\"
hesaidmusingly,\"that\'sso!pizinedmyselfjestezyouwaslookin\'arterthathigh-tonedcase,andkinderbotheredyou!It\'slikeme!\"
\"Imeanitrequireddiluting;yououghttohavetakenitinwater,\"
saidKane。
\"Ireckon!ItDIDsorterh\'istmeovertothedoorforalittlefreshairatfirst!seemedraytherscaldytothelips。ButwotofitthatGOTTHAR,\"heputhishandgravelytohisstomach,\"didmepow\'fulgood。\"
\"Whatwasthematterwithyou?\"askedKane。
\"Well,yesee,pard\"(confidentiallyagain),\"Ireckonit\'ssuthin\'
alongo\'myheart。Timesitgetstopoundin\'awaylikeaquartzstamp,andthenitstopssuddentlike,andkinderleavesMEouttoo。\"
Kanelookedathimmoreattentively。Hewasastrong,powerfullybuiltmanwithacomplexionthatbetrayednothingmoreseriousthantheeffectsofminingcookery。Itwasevidentlyacommoncaseofindigestion。
\"Idon\'tsayitwouldnothavedoneyousomegoodifproperlyadministered,\"hereplied。\"IfyoulikeI\'llputupadilutedquantityanddirections?\"
\"That\'sme,everytime,pardner!\"saidthestrangerwithanaccentofrelief。\"Andlookyer,don\'tyoustopatthat!Yejustputmeupsomesampleslikeofanythin\'youthinkmoutbelikelytohit。
I\'llgoinforafairshow,andthenmeanderineverynowandthen,betwixttimes,toletyouknow。Yedon\'tmindmydriftinginhere,doye?It\'saboutezlikelyaplaceezIstrucksinceI\'velefttheSacramentoboat,andmyhotel,justroundthecorner。Yejustsamplemeabito\'everythin\';don\'tmindtheexpense。I\'lltakeYOURwordforit。Thewayyou——ayoungfellow——jeststucktoyourworkinthar,coolandkamasawoodpecker——notmindinghowhigh-
tonedshewas——northejeweleryandspanglesshehadon——jestgotme!Iseztomyself,\'Rube,\'sezI,\'whatever\'swrongo\'YOUR
insides,youjeststicktothatfellertosetyeright。\'\"
Thejuniorpartner\'sfacereddenedasheturnedtohisshelvesostensiblyforconsultation。Consciousofhisinexperience,thehomelypraiseofeventhisignorantmanwasnotungrateful。Hefelt,too,thathistreatmentoftheFrenchwoman,thoughsuccessful,mightnotbeconsideredremunerativefromabusinesspointofviewbyhispartner。Heaccordinglyacteduponthesuggestionofthestrangerandputuptwoorthreespecificsfordyspepsia。Theywerereceivedwithgratefulalacrityandthecasualdisplayofconsiderablegoldinthestranger\'spocketintheprocessofpayment。Hewasevidentlyasuccessfulminer。
Afterbestowingthebottlescarefullyabouthisperson,heagainleanedconfidentiallytowardsKane。\"Ireckonofcourseyouknowthishigh-tonedlady,beinginthewayofseein\'thatkindo\'
folks。Isupposeyouwon\'tmindtellingme,ezastranger。But\"
(headdedhastily,withadeprecatorywaveofhishand),\"perhapsyewould。\"
Mr。Kane,infact,hadhesitated。HeknewvaguelyandbyreportthatMadameleBlancwastheproprietressofafamousrestaurant,overwhichshehadroomswhereprivategamblingwascarriedontoagreatextent。Itwasalsoallegedthatshewasprotectedbyafamousgamblerandasomewhatnotoriousbully。Mr。Kane\'scautionsuggestedthathehadnorighttoexposethereputationofhischancecustomer。Hewassilent。
Thestranger\'sfacebecameintenselysympatheticandapologetic。
\"Isee!——notanotherword,pard!Itain\'tthesquarethingtobegivin\'heraway,andIoughtn\'ttohevasked。Well——solong!I
reckonI\'lljestdriftbacktothehotel。Iain\'tbeeninSanFranciskermor\'\'nthreehours,andIcalkilate,pard,thatI\'vejestseenaboutezsquareasampleofhigh-tonedlifeasfellersezhazbinhereayear。Well,hastermanyanner——eztheGreaserssay。
I\'llbedroppin\'into-morrow。Myname\'sReubenAlleno\'Mariposa。
Iknowyours;it\'sonthesign,anditain\'tSparlow。\"
Hecastanotherlingeringglancearoundtheshop,asifloathtoleaveit,andthenslowlysaunteredoutofthedoor,pausinginthestreetamoment,intheglareoftheredlight,beforehefadedintodarkness。Withoutknowingexactlywhy,KanehadaninstinctthatthestrangerknewnooneinSanFrancisco,andafterleavingtheshopwasgoingintouttersilenceandobscurity。
AfewmomentslaterDr。Sparlowreturnedtorelievehisweariedpartner。Apushing,activeman,helistenedimpatientlytoKane\'saccountofhisyouthfulpracticewithMadameleBlanc,without,however,dwellingmuchonhismethods。\"Yououghttohavechargedhermore,\"theeldersaiddecisively。\"She\'dhavepaidit。SheonlycameherebecauseshewasashamedtogotoabigshopinMontgomeryStreet——andshewon\'tcomeagain。\"
\"Butshewantsyoutoseeherto-morrow,\"urgedKane,\"andItoldheryouwould!\"
\"Yousayitwasonlyasuperficialcut?\"queriedthedoctor,\"andyouclosedit?Umph!whatcanshewanttoseeMEfor?\"Hepaidmoreattention,however,tothecaseofthestranger,Allen。\"Whenhecomeshereagain,managetoletmeseehim。\"Mr。Kanepromised,yetforsomeindefinablereasonhewenthomethatnightnotquiteaswellsatisfiedwithhimself。
Hewasmuchmoreconcernedthenextmorningwhen,afterrelievingthedoctorforhisregularmorningvisits,hewasstartledanhourlaterbytheabruptreturnofthatgentleman。Hisfacewasmarkedbysomeexcitementandanxiety,whichneverthelessstruggledwiththatsenseoftheludicrouswhichCaliforniansinthosedaysimportedintomostsituationsofperplexityorcatastrophe。
Puttinghishandsdeeplyintohistrouserspockets,heconfrontedhisyouthfulpartnerbehindthecounter。
\"HowmuchdidyouchargethatFrench-woman?\"hesaidgravely。
\"Twenty-fivecents,\"saidKanetimidly。
\"Well,I\'dgiveitbackandaddtwohundredandfiftydollarsifshehadneverenteredtheshop。\"
\"What\'sthematter?\"
\"Herheadwillbe——andamassofit,inaday,Ireckon!Why,man,youputenoughplasteronittoclotheandpaperthedomeoftheCapitol!Youdrewherscalptogethersothatshecouldn\'tshuthereyeswithoutclimbingupthebed-post!Youmowedherhairoffsothatshe\'llhavetowearawigforthenexttwoyears——andhandedittoherinabeau-ti-fulsealedpackage!Theytalkofsuingmeandkillingyououtofhand。\"
\"Shewasbleedingagreatdealandlookedfaint,\"saidthejuniorpartner;\"IthoughtIoughttostopthat。\"
\"Andyoudid——bythunder!ThoughitmighthavebeenbetterbusinessfortheshopifI\'dfoundheracrumblingruinhere,thanlathedandplasteredinthisfashion,overthere!However,\"headded,withalaugh,seeinganangrylightinhisjuniorpartner\'seye,\"SHEdon\'tseemtomindit——thecursingallcomesfromTHEM。
SHEratherlikesyourstyleandpraisesit——that\'swhatgetsme!
Didyoutalktohermuch,\"headded,lookingcriticallyathispartner。
\"Ionlytoldhertositstillorshe\'dbleedtodeath,\"saidKanecurtly。
\"Humph!——shejabberedsomethingaboutyourbeing\'strong\'andknowingjusthowtohandleher。Well,itcan\'tbehelpednow。I
thinkIcameintimefortheworstofitandhavedrawntheirfire。
Don\'tdoitagain。Thenexttimeawomanwithacutheadandlonghairtacklesyou,fillupherscalpwithlintandtannin,andpackherofftosomeofthebigshopsandmakeTHEMpickitout。\"Andwithagood-humorednodhestartedofftofinishhisinterruptedvisits。
Withavaguesenseofremorse,andyetaconsciousnessofsomeinjusticedonehim,Mr。Kaneresumedhisoccupationwithfiltersandfunnels,andmortarsandtriturations。Hewassogloomilypreoccupiedthathedidnot,asusual,glanceoutofthewindow,orhewouldhaveobservedtheminingstrangerofthepreviousnightbeforeit。Itwasnotuntiltheman\'sbowedshouldersblockedthelightofthedoorwaythathelookedupandrecognizedhim。Kanewasinnomoodtowelcomehisappearance。Hispresence,too,activelyrecalledthelastnight\'sadventureofwhichhewasawitness——albeitasympathizingone。Kaneshrankfromtheillusionswhichhefelthewouldbesuretomake。Andwithhispresentillluck,hewasbynomeanssurethathisministrationseventoHIM
hadbeenanymoresuccessfulthantheyhadbeentotheFrenchwoman。