AndwhenPupkincouldn’tanswertheargumentshewasquitecrossandsilentallthewayhome。
WhatwasPeterPupkindoing，then，ateighthundreddollarsinabankinMariposa？Ifyouaskthat，itmeansthatyouknownothingofthelifeoftheMaritimeProvincesandthesturdytemperofthepeople。I
supposetherearenopeopleintheworldwhohateluxuryandextravaganceandthatsortofthingquiteasmuchastheMaritimeProvincepeople，and，ofthem，noonehatedluxurymorethanPupkinsenior。
Don’tmistaketheman。Heworealongsealskincoatinwinter，yes;
butmarkyou，notasamatterofluxury，butmerelyasaquestionofhislungs。Hesmoked，Iadmitit，athirty—fivecentcigar，notbecausehepreferredit，butmerelythroughadelicacyofthethoraxthatmadeitimperative。Hedrankchampagneatlunch，Iconcedethepoint，notintheleastfromtheenjoymentofit，butsimplyonaccountofapeculiaraffectionofthetongueandlipsthatpositivelydictatedit。Hisownlonging——andhiswifesharedit——wasforthesimple，simplelife——anislandsomewhere，withbirdsandtrees。Theyhadboughtthreeorfourislands——oneintheSt。
Lawrence，andtwointheGulf，andoneoffthecoastofMaine——lookingforthissortofthing。PupkinsenioroftensaidthathewantedtohavesomeplacethatwouldremindhimofthelittleoldfarmuptheAroostookwherehewasbroughtup。Heoftenboughtlittleoldfarms，justtotrythem，buttheyalwaysturnedouttobesonearacitythathecutthemintorealestatelots，withoutevenhavinghadtimetolookatthem。
But——andthisiswheretheemphasislay——inthematterofluxuryforhisonlyson，Peter，PupkinseniorwasaMaritimeProvincemanrighttothecore，withallthehardihoodoftheUnitedEmpireLoyalistsingrainedinhim。Noluxuryforthatboy！No，sir！Fromhischildhood，Pupkinseniorhadundertaken，attheleastsignofluxury，to\"tanitoutofhim，\"afterthefashionstillinvogueintheprovinces。Thenhesenthimtoanold—fashionedschooltogetit\"thumpedoutofhim，\"andafterthathehadputhimforayearonaNovaScotiaschoonertogetit\"knockedoutofhim。\"If，afterallthat，youngPupkin，evenwhenhecametoMariposa，worecameopinsanddaffodilblazers，andbrokeoutintoribbedsilksaffrontiesonpayday，itonlyshowsthattheoldAdamstillneedsfurthertanningevenintheMaritimeProvinces。
YoungPupkin，ofcourse，wastohavegoneintolaw。Thatwashisfather’scherisheddreamandwouldhavemadethefirmPupkin，Pupkin，Pupkin，andPupkin，asitoughttohavebeen。ButyoungPeterwaskeptoutofthelawbythefoolsystemofexaminationsdevisedsincehisfather’stime。Hencetherewasnothingforitbuttoslinghimintoabank;\"slinghim\"was，Ithink，theexpression。SohisfatherdecidedthatifPupkinwastobeslung，heshouldbeslunggoodandfar——cleanintoCanada（youknowthewaytheyusethatwordintheMaritimeProvinces）。AndtoslingPupkinhecalledintheservicesofanoldfriend，amanafterhisownheart，justasviolentashimself，whousedtobeatthelawschoolinthecitywithPupkinseniorthirtyyearsago。Sothisfriend，whohappenedtoliveinMariposa，andwhowasaviolentman，saidatonce：\"Edward，byJehoshaphat！
sendtheboyuphere。\"
SothatishowPupkincametoMariposa。Andif，whenhegotthere，hisfather’sfriendgavenosign，andtreatedtheboywithroughnessandincivility，thatmayhavebeen，forallIknow，acontinuationofthe\"tanning\"processoftheMaritimepeople。
DidImentionthatthePepperleighfamily，generationsago，hadtakenuplandneartheAroostook，andthatitwasfromtherethejudge’sfathercametoTecumsehtownship？Perhapsnot，butitdoesn’tmatter。
ButsurelyaftersuchreminiscencesasthesetheawfulthingsthatareimpendingoverMr。Pupkinmustbekeptforanotherchapter。
NINE
TheMariposaBankMysterySuicideisathingthatoughtnottobecommittedwithoutverycarefulthought。Itofteninvolvesseriousconsequences，andinsomecasesbringspaintoothersthanoneself。
Idon’tsaythatthereisnojustificationforit。Thereoftenis。
Anybodywhohaslistenedtocertainkindsofmusic，orreadcertainkindsofpoetry，orheardcertainkindsofperformancesupontheconcertina，willadmitthattherearesomeliveswhichoughtnottobecontinued，andthatevensuicidehasitsbrighteraspects。
Buttocommitsuicideongroundsofloveisatthebestaverydubiousexperiment。IknowthatinthisIamexpressinganopinioncontrarytothatofmosttrueloverswhoembracesuicideontheslightestprovocationastheonlyhonourableterminationofanexistencethatneveroughttohavebegun。
Iquiteadmitthatthereisaglamourandasensationaboutthethingwhichhasitscharm，andthatthereisnothinglikeitforcausingagirltorealizethevalueoftheheartthatshehasbrokenandwhichbreathedforgivenessuponherattheverymomentwhenitheldinitshandthehalf—pintofprussicacidthatwastoterminateitsbeatingforever。
Butapartfromthegeneralmeritsofthequestion，Isupposetherearefewpeople，outsideoflovers，whoknowwhatitistocommitsuicidefourtimesinfiveweeks。
YetthiswaswhathappenedtoMr。Pupkin，oftheExchangeBankofMariposa。
EversincehehadknownZenaPepperleighhehadrealizedthathisloveforherwashopeless。Shewastoobeautifulforhimandtoogoodforhim;herfatherhatedhimandhermotherdespisedhim;hissalarywastoosmallandhisownpeopleweretoorich。
Ifyouaddtoallthatthathecameuptothejudge’shouseonenightandfoundapoetrecitingversestoZena，youwillunderstandthesuicideatonce。Itwasoneofthoseregularpoetswithasolemnjackassface，andlankpartedhairandeyeslikepuddlesofmolasses。
Idon’tknowhowhecamethere——upfromthecity，probably——buttherehewasonthePepperleighs’verandahthatAugustevening。Hewasrecitingpoetry——eitherTennyson’sorShelley’s，orhisown，youcouldn’ttell——andabouthimsatZenawithherhandsclaspedandNoraGallagherlookingattheskyandJocelynDronegazingintoinfinity，andalittletubbywomanlookingatthepoetwithherheadfallingoversideways——infact，therewasawholegroupofthem。
Idon’tknowwhatitisaboutpoetsthatdrawswomentotheminthisway。Buteverybodyknowsthatapoethasonlytositandsawtheairwithhishandsandreciteversesinadeepstupidvoice，andallthewomenarecrazyoverhim。Mendespisehimandwouldkickhimofftheverandahiftheydared，butthewomensimplyraveoverhim。
SoPupkinsatthereinthegloomandlistenedtothispoetrecitingBrowningandherealizedthateverybodyunderstooditbuthim。HecouldseeZenawithhereyesfixedonthepoetasifshewerehangingontoeverysyllable（shewas;sheneededto），andhestooditjustaboutfifteenminutesandthenslidoffthesideoftheverandahanddisappearedwithoutevensayinggood—night。
HewalkedstraightdownOneidaStreetandalongtheMainStreetjustashardashecouldgo。Therewasonlyonepurposeinhismind，——suicide。HewasheadingstraightforJimEliot’sdrugstoreonthemaincornerandhisideawastobuyadrinkofchloroformanddrinkitanddierightthereonthespot。
AsPupkinwalkeddownthestreet，thewholethingwassovividinhismindthathecouldpictureittotheremotestdetail。Hecouldevenseeitallintype，inbigheadingsinthenewspapersofthefollowingday：
APPALLINGSUICIDE。PETERPUPKINPOISONED。
HeperhapshopedthatthethingmightleadtosomekindofpublicenquiryandthatthequestionofBrowning’spoetryandwhetheritisaltogetherfairtoallowofitsgeneralcirculationwouldbefullyventilatedinthenewspapers。
Thinkingofthat，Pupkincametothemaincorner。
OnawarmAugusteveningthedrugstoreofMariposa，asyouknow，isallablazeoflights。Youcanhearthehissingofthesoda—waterfountainhalfablockaway，andinsidethestorethereareeversomanypeople——boysandgirlsandoldpeopletoo——alldrinkingsarsaparillaandchocolatesundaesandlemonsoursandfoamingdrinksthatyoutakeoutoflongstraws。Thereissuchalaughingandatalkingasyouneverheard，andthegirlsareallinwhiteandpinkandcambridgeblue，andthesodafountainisofwhitemarblewithsilvertaps，andithissesandsputters，andJimEliotandhisassistantwearwhitecoatswithredgeraniumsinthem，andit’sjustasgayasgay。
ThefoyeroftheoperainParismaybeafinesight，butIdoubtifitcancomparewiththeinsideofEliot’sdrugstoreinMariposa——forrealgaietyandjoyofliving。
ThisnightthestorewasespeciallycrowdedbecauseitwasaSaturdayandthatmeantearlyclosingforallthehotels，except，ofcourse，Smith’s。Soasthehotelswereshut，thepeoplewereallinthedrugstore，drinkinglikefishes。ItjustshowsthefollyofLocalOptionandtheTemperanceMovementandallthat。Why，ifyoushutthehotelsyousimplydrivethepeopletothesodafountainsandthere’smoredrinkingthanever，andnotonlyofthemen，too，butthegirlsandyoungboysandchildren。I’veseenlittlethingsofeightandninethathadtobelifteduponthehighstoolsatEliot’sdrugstore，drinkinggreatgobletsoflemonsoda，enoughtoburstthem——broughttherebytheirownfathers，andwhy？Simplybecausethehotelbarswereshut。
What’stheuseofthinkingyoucanstoppeopledrinkingmerelybycuttingoffwhiskeyandbrandy？Theonlyeffectistodrivethemtotakinglemonsourandsarsaparillaandcherrypectoralandcarokacordialandthingstheywouldn’thavetouchedbefore。Sointhelongruntheydrinkmorethanever。Thepointisthatyoucan’tpreventpeoplehavingagoodtime，nomatterhowhardyoutry。Iftheycan’thaveitwithlagerbeerandbrandy，they’llhaveitwithplainsodaandlemonpop，andsothewholegloomyschemeofthetemperancepeoplebreaksdown，anyway。
ButIwasonlysayingthatEliot’sdrugstoreinMariposaonaSaturdaynightisthegayestandbrightestspotintheworld。
Andjustimaginewhatafoolofaplacetocommitsuicidein！
Justimaginegoinguptothesoda—waterfountainandaskingforfivecents’worthofchloroformandsoda！Well，yousimplycan’t，that’sall。
That’sthewayPupkinfoundit。Yousee，assoonashecamein，somebodycalledout：\"Hello，Pete！\"andoneortwootherscalled：
\"Hullo，Pup！\"andsomesaid：\"Howgoesit？\"andothers：\"Howareyoutoughingit？\"andsoon，becauseyouseetheyhadallbeendrinkingmoreorlessandnaturallytheyfeltjollyandglad—hearted。
Sotheupshotofitwasthatinsteadoftakingchloroform，Pupkinsteppeduptothecounterofthefountainandhehadabromo—seltzerwithcherrysoda，andafterthathehadoneofthoseaeratedseltzers，andthenacoupleoflemonseltzersandabromo—phizzer。
Idon’tknowifyouknowthementaleffectofabromo—seltzer。
Butit’sahardthingtocommitsuicideon。
Youcan’t。
Youfeelsobuoyant。
Anyway，whatwiththephizzingoftheseltzerandthelightsandthegirls，Pupkinbegantofeelsofinethathedidn’tcareacussforalltheBrowningintheworld，andasforthepoet——oh，toblazeswithhim！What’spoetry，anyway？——onlyrhymes。
So，wouldyoubelieveit，inabouttenminutesPeterPupkinwasoffagainandheadingstraightforthePepperleighs’house，poetornopoet，and，whatwasmoretothepoint，hecarriedwithhimthreegreatbricksofEliot’sicecream——ingreen，pinkandbrownlayers。
HestrucktheverandahjustatthemomentwhenBrowningwasgettingtoostaleanddrearyforwords。Hisbrainwasallsizzlingandjollywiththebromo—seltzer，andwhenhefetchedouttheicecreambricksandZenarantogetplatesandspoonstoeatitwith，andPupkinwentwithhertohelpfetchthemandtheypickedoutthespoonstogether，theyweresolaughingandhappythatitwasjustamarvel。Girls，youknow，neednobromo—seltzer。They’refullofitallthetime。
Andasforthepoet——well，canyouimaginehowPupkinfeltwhenZenatoldhimthatthepoetwasmarried，andthatthetubbylittlewomanwithherheadonsidewayswashiswife？
Sotheyhadtheicecream，andthepoetateitinbucketsful。Poetsalwaysdo。Theyneedit。AndafteritthepoetrecitedsomestanzasofhisownandPupkinsawthathehadmisjudgedtheman，becauseitwasdandypoetry，theverybest。ThatnightPupkinwalkedhomeonairandtherewasnothoughtofchloroform，anditturnedoutthathehadn’tcommittedsuicide，butlikealllovershehadcommutedit。
Idon’tneedtodescribeinfullthelatersuicidesofMr。Pupkin，becausetheywereallconductedonthesameplanandrestedonsomethingthesamereasonsasabove。
Sometimeshewouldgodownatnighttotheofficesofthebankbelowhisbedroomandbringuphisbankrevolverinordertomakeanendofhimselfwithit。This，too，hecouldseeheadedupinthenewspapersas：
BRILLIANTBOYBANKERBLOWSOUTBRAINS。
Butblowingyourbrainsoutisanoisy，racketyperformance，andPupkinsoonfoundthatonlyspecialkindsofbrainsaresuitedforit。Sohealwayssneakedbackagainlaterinthenightandputtherevolverinitsplace，decidingtodrownhimselfinstead。YeteverytimethathewalkeddowntotheTrestleBridgeovertheOssawippihefounditwasquiteunsuitablefordrowning——toohigh，andthewatertooswiftandblack，andtherushestoogruesome——infact，notatallthekindofplaceforadrowning。
Farbetter，herealized，towaitthereontherailroadtrackandthrowhimselfunderthewheelsoftheexpressandbedonewithit。
Yet，thoughPupkinoftenwaitedinthiswayforthetrain，hewasneverabletopickoutapairofwheelsthatsuitedhim。Anyhow，it’sawfullyhardtotellanexpressfromafastfreight。
Iwouldn’tmentiontheseattemptsatsuicideifoneofthemhadn’tfinallyculminatedinmakingPeterPupkinaheroandsolvingforhimthewholeperplexedentanglementofhisloveaffairwithZenaPepperleigh。Incidentallyitthrewhimintotheverycentreofoneofthemostimpenetrablebankmysteriesthateverbaffledtheingenuityofsomeofthefinestlegaltalentthateveradornedoneofthemostenterprisingcommunitiesinthecountry。
Ithappenedonenight，asIsay，thatPupkindecidedtogodownintotheofficeofthebankandgethisrevolverandseeifitwouldblowhisbrainsout。ItwasthenightoftheFiremen’sBallandZenahaddancedfourtimeswithavisitorfromthecity，amanwhowasinthefourthyearattheUniversityandwhokneweverything。ItwasmorethanPeterPupkincouldbear。MalloryTompkinswasawaythatnight，andwhenPupkincamehomehewasallaloneinthebuilding，exceptforGillis，thecaretaker，wholivedintheextensionattheback。
Hesatinhisroomforhoursbrooding。Twoorthreetimeshepickedupabook——herememberedafterwardsdistinctlythatitwasKant’sCritiqueofPureReason——andtriedtoreadit，butitseemedmeaninglessandtrivial。Thenwithasuddenaccessofresolutionhestartedfromhischairandmadehiswaydownthestairsandintotheofficeroomofthebank，meaningtogetarevolverandkillhimselfonthespotandletthemfindhisbodylyingonthefloor。
Itwasthenfaroninthenightandtheemptybuildingofthebankwasasstillasdeath。Pupkincouldhearthestairscreakunderhisfeet，andashewenthethoughtheheardanothersoundliketheopeningorclosingofadoor。Butitsoundednotlikethesharpordinarynoiseofaclosingdoorbutwithadullmufflednoiseasifsomeonehadshuttheirondoorofasafeinaroomundertheground。
ForamomentPupkinstoodandlistenedwithhisheartthumpingagainsthisribs。Thenhekickedhisslippersfromhisfeetandwithoutasoundstoleintotheofficeonthegroundfloorandtooktherevolverfromhisteller’sdesk。Ashegrippedit，helistenedtothesoundsontheback—stairwayandinthevaultsbelow。
IshouldexplainthatintheExchangeBankofMariposatheofficesareonthegroundfloorlevelwiththestreet。Belowthisisanotherfloorwithlowdarkroomspavedwithflagstones，withunusedofficedesksandwithpilesofpapersstoredinboxes。Onthisfloorarethevaultsofthebank，andlyinginthemintheautumn——thegrainseason——thereisanythingfromfiftytoahundredthousanddollarsincurrencytiedinbundles。Thereisnootherlightdowntherethanthedimreflectionfromthelightsoutonthestreet，thatliesinpatchesonthestonefloor。
IthinkasPeterPupkinstood，revolverinhand，intheofficeofthebank，hehadforgottenallaboutthemaudlinpurposeofhisfirstcoming。Hehadforgottenforthemomentallaboutheroesandloveaffairs，andhiswholemindwasfocussed，sharpandalert，withtheintensityofthenight—time，onthesoundsthatheheardinthevaultandontheback—stairwayofthebank。
Straightaway，Pupkinknewwhatitmeantasplainlyasifitwerewritteninprint。Hehadforgotten，Isay，aboutbeingaheroandheonlyknewthattherewassixtythousanddollarsinthevaultofthebankbelow，andthathewaspaideighthundreddollarsayeartolookafterit。
AsPeterPupkinstoodtherelisteningtothesoundsinhisstockingedfeet，hisfacedshowedgreyasashesinthelightthatfellthroughthewindowfromthestreet。Hisheartbeatlikeahammeragainsthisribs。ButbehinditsbeatingswasthebloodoffourgenerationsofLoyalists，andtherobberwhowouldtakethatsixtythousanddollarsfromtheMariposabankmusttakeitoverthedeadbodyofPeterPupkin，teller。
Pupkinwalkeddownthestairstothelowerroom，theonebelowthegroundwiththebankvaultinit，withasfineastepasanyofhisancestorsshowedonparade。Andifhehadknownit，ashecamedownthestairwayinthefrontofthevaultroom，therewasamancrouchedintheshadowofthepassagewaybythestairsattheback。Thisman，too，heldarevolverinhishand，and，criminalornot，hisfacewasasresoluteasPupkin’sown。Asheheardtheteller’ssteponthestair，heturnedandwaitedintheshadowofthedoorwaywithoutasound。
Thereisnoneedreallytomentionallthesedetails。TheyareonlyofinterestasshowinghowsometimesabanktellerinacordedsmokingjacketandstockingedfeetmaybeturnedintosuchaheroaseventheMariposagirlsmightdreamabout。
Allofthismusthavehappenedataboutthreeo’clockinthenight。
ThismuchwasestablishedafterwardsfromtheevidenceofGillis，thecaretaker。Whenhefirstheardthesoundshehadlookedathiswatchandnoticedthatitwashalf—pasttwo;thewatchheknewwasthree—quartersofanhourslowthreedaysbeforeandhadbeengainingsince。TheexacttimeatwhichGillisheardfootstepsinthebankandstarteddownstairs，pistolinhand，becameanicepointafterwardsinthecross—examination。
Butonemustnotanticipate。Pupkinreachedtheirondoorofthebanksafe，andkneltinfrontofit，feelinginthedarktofindthefractureofthelock。Asheknelt，heheardasoundbehindhim，andswungroundonhiskneesandsawthebankrobberinthehalflightofthepassagewayandtheglitterofapistolinhishand。Therestwasoverinaninstant。Pupkinheardavoicethatwashisown，butthatsoundedstrangeandhollow，callout：\"Dropthat，orI’llfire！\"andthenjustasheraisedhisrevolver，therecameablindingflashoflightbeforehiseyes，andPeterPupkin，juniortellerofthebank，fellforwardonthefloorandknewnomore。
Atthatpoint，ofcourse，Ioughttoclosedownachapter，orvolume，or，atleast，strikethereaderovertheheadwithasandbagtoforcehimtostopandthink。Incommonfairnessoneoughttostophereandcountahundredorgetupandwalkroundablock，or，atanyrate，picturetooneselfPeterPupkinlyingonthefloorofthebank，motionless，hisarmsdistended，therevolverstillgraspedinhishand。ButImustgoon。
Byhalf—pastsevenonthefollowingmorningitwasknownalloverMariposathatPeterPupkinthejuniortelleroftheExchangehadbeenshotdeadbyabankrobberinthevaultofthebuilding。ItwasknownalsothatGillis，thecaretaker，hadbeenshotandkilledatthefootofthestairs，andthattherobberhadmadeoffwithfiftythousanddollarsincurrency;thathehadleftatrailofbloodonthesidewalkandthatthemenwereouttrackinghimwithbloodhoundsinthegreatswampstothenorthofthetown。
This，Isay，anditisimportanttonoteit，waswhattheyknewathalf—pastseven。Ofcourseaseachhourwentpasttheylearnedmoreandmore。Ateighto’clockitwasknownthatPupkinwasnotdead，butdangerouslywoundedinthelungs。Ateight—thirtyitwasknownthathewasnotshotinthelungs，butthattheballhadtraversedthepitofhisstomach。
Atnineo’clockitwaslearnedthatthepitofPupkin’sstomachwasallright，butthatthebullethadstruckhisrightearandcarrieditaway。Finallyitwaslearnedthathisearhadnotexactlybeencarriedaway，thatis，notpreciselyremovedbythebullet，butthatithadgrazedPupkin’sheadinsuchawaythatithadstunnedhim，andifithadbeenaninchortwomoretotheleftitmighthavereachedhisbrain。This，ofcourse，wasjustasgoodasbeingkilledfromthepointofviewofpublicinterest。
Indeed，bynineo’clockPupkincouldbehimselfseenontheMainStreetwithagreatbandagesidewaysonhishead，pointingoutthetracesoftherobber。Gillis，thecaretaker，too，itwasknownbyeight，hadnotbeenkilled。Hehadbeenshotthroughthebrain，butwhethertheinjurywasseriousornotwasonlyamatterofconjecture。Infact，byteno’clockitwasunderstoodthatthebulletfromtherobber’ssecondshothadgrazedthesideofthecaretaker’shead，butasfarascouldbeknownhisbrainwasjustasbefore。I
shouldaddthatthefirstreportaboutthebloodstainsandtheswampandthebloodhoundsturnedouttobeinaccurate。Thestainsmayhavebeenblood，butastheyledtothecellarwayofNetley’sstoretheymayhavealsobeenmolasses，thoughitwasargued，tobesure，thattherobbermightwellhavepouredmolassesoverthebloodstainsfromsheercunning。
Itwasremembered，too，thattherewerenobloodhoundsinMariposa，although，mindyou，thereareanyamountofdogsthere。
Soyouseethatbyteno’clockinthemorningthewholeaffairwassettlingintotheimpenetrablemysterywhichiteversinceremained。
Notthattherewasn’tevidenceenough。TherewasPupkin’sownstoryandGillis’sstory，andthestoriesofallthepeoplewhohadheardtheshotsandseentherobber（somesaid，thebunchofrobbers）gorunningpast（otherssaid，walkingpast），inthenight。ApparentlytherobberranupanddownhalfthestreetsofMariposabeforehevanished。
ButthestoriesofPupkinandGilliswereplainenough。Pupkinrelatedthatheheardsoundsinthebankandcamedownstairsjustintimetoseetherobbercrouchinginthepassageway，andthattherobberwasalarge，hulking，villainouslookingman，wearingaheavycoat。Gillistoldexactlythesamestory，havingheardthenoisesatthesametime，exceptthathefirstdescribedtherobberasasmallthinfellow（peculiarlyvillainouslooking，however，eveninthedark），wearingashortjacket;butonthinkingitover，Gillisrealizedthathehadbeenwrongaboutthesizeofthecriminal，andthathewasevenbigger，ifanything，thanwhatMr：Pupkinthought。
Gillishadfiredattherobber;justatthesamemomenthadMr。
Pupkin。
Beyondthat，allwasmystery，absoluteandimpenetrable。
Byeleveno’clockthedetectiveshadcomeupfromthecityunderordersfromtheheadofthebank。
IwishyoucouldhaveseenthetwodetectivesastheymovedtoandfroinMariposa——finelooking，stern，impenetrablementhattheywere。Theyseemedtotakeinthewholetownbyinstinctandsoquietly。TheyfoundtheirwaytoMr。Smith’sHoteljustasquietlyasifitwasn’tdesignatallandstoodthereatthebar，pickingupscrapsofconversation——youknowthewaydetectivesdoit。
Occasionallytheyallowedoneortwobystanders——confederates，perhaps，——tobuyadrinkforthem，andyoucouldseefromthewaytheydrankitthattheywerestilllisteningforaclue。IftherehadbeenthefaintestclueinSmith’sHotelorintheMariposaHouseorintheContinental，thosefellowswouldhavebeenatitlikeaflash。
Toseethemmovingroundthetownthatday——silent，massive，imperturbable——gaveoneagreatideaoftheirstrange，dangerouscalling。Theywentaboutthetownalldayandyetinsuchaquietpeculiarwaythatyoucouldn’thaverealizedthattheywereworkingatall。TheyatetheirdinnertogetheratSmith’scafeandtookanhourandahalfoverittothrowpeopleoffthescent。Thenwhentheygotthemoffit，theysatandtalkedwithJoshSmithinthebackbartokeepthemoff。Mr。Smithseemedtotaketothemrightaway。Theyweremenofhisownsize，ornearit，andanywayhotelmenanddetectiveshaveageneralaffinityandshareinthesameimpenetrablesilenceandintheirconfidentialknowledgeoftheweaknessesofthepublic。
Mr。Smith，too，wasofgreatusetothedetectives。\"Boys，\"hesaid，\"Iwouldn’tasktoocloseastowhatfolkswasoutlateatnight：inthistownitdon’tdo。\"
Whenthosetwogreatbrainsfinallyleftforthecityonthefive—thirty，itwashardtorealizethatbehindeachgrand，impassiblefaceaperfectvortexofclueswasseething。
Butifthedetectiveswereheroes，whatwasPupkin？Imaginehimwithhisbandageonhisheadstandinginfrontofthebankandtalkingofthemidnightrobberywiththatpeculiarfalsemodestythatonlyheroesareentitledtouse。
Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverbeenahero，butforsheerexhilarationthereisnothinglikeit。AndforMr。Pupkin，whohadgonethroughlifethinkinghimselfnogood，tobesuddenlyexaltedintotheclassofNapoleonBonaparteandJohnMaynardandtheChargeoftheLightBrigade——oh，itwaswonderful。BecausePupkinwasabravemannowandheknewitandacquiredwithitallthebraveman’smodesty。Infact，Ibelievehewasheardtosaythathehadonlydonehisduty，andthatwhathedidwaswhatanyothermanwouldhavedone：thoughwhensomebodyelsesaid：\"That’sso，whenyoucometothinkofit，\"Pupkinturnedonhimthatquietlookofthewoundedhero，bittererthanwords。
AndifPupkinhadknownthatalloftheafternoonpapersinthecityreportedhimdead，hewouldhavefeltmoreluxuriousstill。
ThatafternoontheMariposacourtsatinenquiry，——technicallyitwassummonedininquestonthedeadrobber——thoughtheyhadn’tfoundthebody——anditwaswonderfultoseethemliningupthewitnessesandholdingcross—examinations。Thereissomethinginthecross—examinationofgreatcriminallawyerslikeNivens，ofMariposa，andinthecounterexaminationsofpresidingjudgeslikePepperleighthatthrillsyoutothecorewiththeastutenessofit。
TheyhadHenryMullins，themanager，onthestandforanhourandahalf，andtheexcitementwassobreathlessthatyoucouldhaveheardapindrop。Nivenstookhimonfirst。
\"Whatisyourname？\"hesaid。
\"HenryAugustMullins。\"
\"Whatpositiondoyouhold？\"
\"IammanageroftheExchangeBank。\"
\"Whenwereyouborn？\"
\"December30，1869。\"
Afterthat，NivensstoodlookingquietlyatMullins。Youcouldfeelthathewasthinkingprettydeeplybeforeheshotthenextquestionathim。
\"Wheredidyougotoschool？\"
Mullinsansweredstraightoff：\"Thehighschooldownhome，\"andNivensthoughtagainforawhileandthenasked：
\"Howmanyboyswereattheschool？\"
\"Aboutsixty。\"
\"Howmanymasters？\"
\"Aboutthree。\"
AfterthatNivenspausedalongwhileandseemedtobedigestingtheevidence，butatlastanideaseemedtostrikehimandhesaid：
\"Iunderstandyouwerenotonthebankpremiseslastnight。Wherewereyou？\"
\"Downthelakeduckshooting。\"
YoushouldhaveseentheexcitementinthecourtwhenMullinssaidthis。Thejudgeleanedforwardinhischairandbrokeinatonce。
\"Didyougetany，Harry？\"heasked。
\"Yes，\"Mullinssaid，\"aboutsix。\"
\"Wheredidyougetthem？What？Inthewildricemarshpasttheriver？Youdon’tsayso！Didyougetthemonthesitorhow？\"
Allofthesequestionswerefiredoffatthewitnessfromthecourtinasinglebreath。Infact，itwastheknowledgethatthefirstducksoftheseasonhadbeenseenintheOssawippimarshthatledtotheterminationoftheproceedingsbeforetheafternoonwasaquarterover。MullinsandGeorgeDuffandhalfthewitnesseswereoffwithshotgunsassoonasthecourtwascleared。
ImayaswellstateatoncethatthefullstoryoftherobberyofthebankofMariposanevercametothelight。Anumberofarrests——mostlyofvagrantsandsuspiciouscharacters——weremade，buttheguiltoftherobberywasneverbroughthometothem。Onemanwasarrestedtwentymilesaway，attheother。endofMissinabacounty，whonotonlycorrespondedexactlywiththedescriptionoftherobber，but，inadditiontothis，hadawoodenleg。VagrantswithonelegarealwaysregardedwithsuspicioninplaceslikeMariposa，andwheneverarobberyoramurderhappenstheyarearrestedinbatches。
Itwasneverevenknownjusthowmuchmoneywasstolenfromthebank。
Somepeoplesaidtenthousanddollars，othersmore。Thebank，nodoubtforbusinessmotives，claimedthatthecontentsofthesafewereintactandthattherobberhadbeenfoiledinhisdesign。
ButnoneofthismatterstotheexaltationofMr。Pupkin。Goodfortune，likebad，nevercomesinsmallinstalments。Onthatwonderfulday，everygoodthinghappenedtoPeterPupkinatonce。Themorningsawhimahero。Atthesittingofthecourt，thejudgepubliclytoldhimthathisconductwasfittorankamongtheannalsofthepioneersofTecumsehTownship，andaskedhimtohishouseforsupper。Atfiveo’clockhereceivedthetelegramofpromotionfromtheheadofficethatraisedhissalarytoathousanddollars，andmadehimnotonlyaherobutamarriageableman。Atsixo’clockhestarteduptothejudge’shousewithhisresolutionnervedtothemostmomentousstepofhislife。
Hismindwasmadeup。
HewoulddoathingseldomifeverdoneinMariposa。HewouldproposetoZenaPepperleigh。InMariposathiskindofstep，Isay，isseldomtaken。Thecourseofloverunsonandonthroughallitsstagesoftennisplayinganddancingandsleighriding，tillbysheernotorietyofcircumstanceanunderstandingisreached。Toproposestraightoutwouldbethoughtpriggishandaffectedandissupposedtobelongonlytopeopleinbooks。
ButPupkinfeltthatwhatordinarypeopledarenotdo，heroesareallowedtoattempt。HewouldproposetoZena，andmorethanthat，hewouldtellherinastraight，manlywaythathewasrichandtaketheconsequences。
Andhedidit。
Thatnightonthepiazza，wherethehammockhangsintheshadowoftheVirginiacreeper，hedidit。Bysheergoodluckthejudgehadgoneindoorstothelibrary，andbyapieceofraregoodfortuneMrs。
Pepperleighhadgoneindoorstothesewingroom，andbyahappytrickofcoincidencetheservantwasoutandthedogwastiedup——infact，nosuchchainofcircumstanceswaseverofferedinfavourofmortalmanbefore。
WhatZenasaid——beyondsayingyes——Idonotknow。IamsurethatwhenPupkintoldherofthemoney，sheboreupasbravelyassofineagirlasZenawould，andwhenhespokeofdiamondsshesaidshewouldwearthemforhissake。
Theyweresayingthesethingsandotherthings——eversomanyotherthings——whentherewassucharoarandaclatterupOneidaStreetasyouneverheard，andtherecameboundinguptothehouseoneofthemostmarvellousLimousinetouringcarsthateverdrewupatthehomeofajudgeonamodestsalaryofthreethousanddollars。Whenitstoppedtheresprangfromitanexcitedmaninalongsealskincoat——wornnotfortheluxuryofitatallbutfromthesheerchillinessoftheautumnevening。Anditwas，asofcourseyouknow，Pupkin’sfather。Hehadseenthenewsofhisson’sdeathintheeveningpaperinthecity。Theydrovethecarthrough，sothechauffeursaid，intwohoursandaquarter，andbehindthemtherewastofollowaspecialtrainloadofdetectivesandemergencymen，butPupkinseniorhadcancelledallthatbytelegramhalfwayupwhenheheardthatPeterwasstillliving。
ForamomentashiseyerestedonyoungPupkinyouwouldalmosthaveimagined，hadyounotknownthathecamefromtheMaritimeProvinces，thatthereweretearsinthemandthathewasabouttohughissontohisheart。Butifhedidn’thugPetertohisheart，hecertainlydidwithinafewmomentsclaspZenatoit，inthatfinefatherlywayinwhichtheyclaspprettygirlsintheMaritimeProvinces。ThestrangestthingisthatPupkinseniorseemedtounderstandthewholesituationwithoutanyexplanationsatall。
JudgePepperleigh，Ithink，wouldhaveshakenbothofPupkinsenior’sarmsoffwhenhesawhim;andwhenyouheardthemcalloneanother\"Ned\"and\"Phillip\"itmadeyoufeelthattheywereboysagainattendingclassestogetherattheoldlawschoolinthecity。
IfPupkinthoughtthathisfatherwouldn’tmakeahitinMariposa，itonlyshowedhisignorance。Pupkinseniorsatthereonthejudge’sverandahsmokingacorncobpipeasifhehadneverheardofHavanacigarsinhislife。InthethreedaysthathespentinMariposathatautumn，hewentinandoutofJeffThorpe’sbarbershopandEliot’sdrugstore，shotblackducksinthemarshandplayedpokereveryeveningatahundredmatchesforacentasifhehadneverlivedanyotherlifeinallhisdays。Theyhadtosendhimtelegramsenoughtofillasatcheltomakehimcomeaway。
SoPupkinandZenainduecourseoftimeweremarried，andwenttoliveinoneoftheenchantedhousesonthehillsideinthenewerpartofthetown，whereyoumayfindthemtothisday。
YoumayseePupkinthereatanytimecuttingenchantedgrassonalittlelawninasgaudyablazerasever。
Butifyoustepuptospeaktohimorwalkwithhimintotheenchantedhouse，praymodulateyourvoicealittlemusicalthoughitis——forthereissaidtobeanenchantedbabyonthepremiseswhosesleepmustnotlightlybedisturbed。
TEN
TheGreatElectioninMissinabaCountyDon’taskmewhatelectionitwas，whetherDominionorProvincialorImperialorUniversal，forIscarcelyknow。
Itmust，ofcourse，havebeengoingoninotherpartsofthecountryaswell，butIsawitallfromMissinabaCountywhich，withthetownofMariposa，was，ofcourse，thestormcentreandfocuspointofthewholeturmoil。
Ionlyknowthatitwasahugeelectionandthatonitturnedissuesofthemosttremendousimportance，suchaswhetherornotMariposashouldbecomepartoftheUnitedStates，andwhethertheflagthathadwavedovertheschoolhouseatTecumsehTownshipfortencenturiesshouldbetrampledunderthehoofofanalieninvader，andwhetherBritonsshouldbeslaves，andwhetherCanadiansshouldbeBritons，andwhetherthefarmingclasswouldprovethemselvesCanadians，andtremendousquestionsofthatkind。
Andtherewassucharoarandatumulttoit，andsuchawavingofflagsandbeatingofdrumsandflaringoftorchlightsthatsuchpartsoftheelectionasmayhavebeengoingonelsewherethaninMissinabacountymusthavebeenquiteunimportantanddidn’treallymatter。
Nowthatitisallover，wecanlookbackatitwithoutheatorpassion。Wecansee，——it’splainenoughnow，——thatinthegreatelectionCanadasavedtheBritishEmpire，andthatMissinabasavedCanadaandthatthevoteoftheThirdConcessionofTecumsehTownshipsavedMissinabaCounty，andthatthoseofuswhocarriedthethirdconcession，——well，there’snoneedtopushitfurther。Weprefertobemodestaboutit。Ifwestillspeakofit，itisonlyquietlyandsimplyandnotmorethanthreeorfourtimesaday。
Butyoucan’tunderstandtheelectionatall，andtheconventionsandthecampaignsandthenominationsandtheballoting，unlessyoufirstappreciatethepeculiarcomplexionofpoliticsinMariposa。
Letmebeginatthebeginning。EverybodyinMariposaiseitheraLiberaloraConservativeorelseisboth。SomeofthepeopleareorhavebeenLiberalsorConservativesalltheirlivesandarecalleddyed—in—the—woolGritsorold—timeToriesandthingsofthatsort。
Thesepeoplegetfromlongtrainingsuchaswiftpenetratinginsightintonationalissuesthattheycandecidethemostcomplicatedquestioninfourseconds：infact，justassoonastheygrabthecitypapersoutofthemorningmail，theyknowthewholesolutionofanyproblemyoucanputtothem。Thereareotherpeoplewhoseaimitistobebroad—mindedandjudiciousandwhovoteLiberalorConservativeaccordingtotheirjudgmentofthequestionsoftheday。IftheirjudgmentofthesequestionstellsthemthatthereissomethinginitfortheminvotingLiberal，thentheydoso。Butifnot，theyrefusetobetheslavesofapartyorthehenchmenofanypoliticalleader。
Sothatanybodylookingforhencheshasgottokeepawayfromthem。
ButtheonethingthatnobodyisallowedtodoinMariposaistohavenopolitics。Ofcoursetherearealwayssomepeoplewhosecircumstancescompelthemtosaythattheyhavenopolitics。Butthatiseasilyunderstood。TakethecaseofTrelawney，thepostmaster。
LongagohewasalettercarrierundertheoldMackenzieGovernment，andlaterhewasalettersorterundertheoldMacdonaldGovernment，andafterthataletterstamperundertheoldTupperGovernment，andsoon。Trelawneyalwayssaysthathehasnopolitics，butthetruthisthathehastoomany。
So，too，withtheclergyinMariposa。Theyhavenopolitics——
absolutelynone。YetDeanDroneroundelectiontimealwaysannouncesashistextsuchaverseas：\"Lo！istherenotonerighteousmaninIsrael？\"or：\"Whatho！isitnottimeforachange？\"AndthatisasignalforalltheLiberalbusinessmentogetupandleavetheirpews。
SimilarlyoveratthePresbyterianChurch，theministersaysthathissacredcallingwillnotallowhimtotakepartinpoliticsandthathissacredcallingpreventshimfrombreathingevenawordofharshnessagainsthisfellowman，butthatwhenitcomestotheelevationoftheungodlyintohighplacesinthecommonwealth（thismeans，ofcourse，thenominationoftheConservativecandidate）thenhe’snotgoingtoallowhissacredcallingtopreventhimfromsayingjustwhathethinksofit。Andbythattime，havingprettywellclearedthechurchofConservatives，heproceedstoshowfromthescripturesthattheancientHebrewswereLiberalstoaman，exceptthosewhoweredrownedinthefloodorwhoperished，moreorlessdeservedly，inthedesert。
Thereare，Isay，somepeoplewhoareallowedtoclaimtohavenopolitics，——theofficeholders，andtheclergyandtheschoolteachersandthehotelkeepers。Butbeyondthem，anybodyinMariposawhosaysthathehasnopoliticsislookeduponascrooked，andpeoplewonderwhatitisthatheis\"outafter。\"
Infact，thewholetownandcountyisahiveofpolitics，andpeoplewhohaveonlywitnessedgatheringssuchastheHouseofCommonsatWestminsterandtheSenateatWashingtonandneverseenaConservativeConventionatTecumsehCornersoraLiberalRallyattheConcessionschoolhouse，don’tknowwhatpoliticsmeans。
SoyoumayimaginetheexcitementinMariposawhenitbecameknownthatKingGeorgehaddissolvedtheparliamentofCanadaandhadsentoutawritorcommandforMissinabaCountytoelectforhimsomeotherpersonthanJohnHenryBagshawbecausehenolongerhadconfidenceinhim。
Theking，ofcourse，isverywellknown，veryfavourablyknown，inMariposa。EverybodyremembershowhevisitedthetownonhisgreattourinCanada，andstoppedoffattheMariposastation。Althoughhewasonlyaprinceatthetime，therewasquiteabigcrowddownatthedepotandeverybodyfeltwhatashameitwasthattheprincehadnotimetoseemoreofMariposa，becausehewouldgetsuchafalseideaofit，seeingonlythestationandthelumberyards。Still，theyallcametothestationandalltheLiberalsandConservativesmixedtogetherperfectlyfreelyandstoodsidebysidewithoutanydistinction，sothattheprinceshouldnotobserveanypartydifferencesamongthem。Andhedidn’t，——youcouldseethathedidn’t。
TheyreadhimanaddressallaboutthetranquillityandloyaltyoftheEmpire，andtheypurposelyleftoutanyreferencetothetroubleoverthetownwharforthebigrowtherehadbeenaboutthelocationofthenewpost—office。Therewasageneraldecentfeelingthatitwouldn’tbefairtodisturbtheprincewiththesethings：lateron，asking，hewould，ofcourse，havetoknowallaboutthem，butmeanwhileitwasbettertoleavehimwiththeideathathisempirewastranquil。
Sotheydeliberatelycouchedtheaddressintermsthatwerejustasreassuringaspossibleandtheprincewassimplydelightedwithit。I
amcertainthathesleptprettysoundlyafterhearingthataddress。
Why，youcouldseeittakingeffectevenonhisaides—de—campandthepeopleroundhim，soimaginehowtheprincemusthavefelt！
IthinkinMariposatheyunderstandkingsperfectly。Everytimethatakingoraprincecomes，theytrytomakehimseethebrightsideofeverythingandlethimthinkthatthey’reallunited。JudgePepperleighwalkedupanddownarminarmwithDr。Gallagher，theworstGritinthetown，justtomaketheprincefeelfine。
SowhentheygotthenewsthatthekinghadlostconfidenceinJohnHenryBagshaw，thesittingmember，theyneverquestioneditabit。
Lostconfidence？Allright，they’delecthimanotherrightaway。
They’delecthimhalfadozenifheneededthem。Theydon’tmind;
they’delectthewholetownmanaftermanratherthanhavethekingworriedaboutit。
Inanycase，alltheConservativeshadbeenwonderingforyearshowthekingandthegovernor—generalandmenlikethathadtoleratedsuchamanasBagshawsolong。
MissinabaCounty，Isay，isaregularhiveofpolitics，andnotthemiserable，crooked，money—riddenpoliticsofthecities，butthestraight，realold—fashionedthingthatisanhonourtothecountryside。Anymanwhowouldoffertotakeabribeorsellhisconvictionsformoney，wouldbeanobjectofscorn。Idon’tsaytheywouldn’ttakemoney，——theywould，ofcourse，whynot？——butiftheydidtheywouldtakeitinastraightfearlesswayandsaynothingaboutit。
Theymight，——it’sonlyhuman，——acceptajoboracontractfromthegovernment，butiftheydid，restassureditwouldbeinabroadnationalspiritandnotforthesakeoftheworkitself。No，sir。
Notforaminute。
AnymanwhowantstogetthevotesoftheMissinabafarmersandtheMariposabusinessmenhasgottopersuadethemthathe’stherightman。Ifhecandothat，——ifhecanpersuadeanyoneofthemthatheistherightmanandthatalltherestknowit，thenthey’llvoteforhim。
Thedivision，Irepeat，betweentheLiberalsandtheConservatives，isintense。Yetyoumightliveforalongwhileinthetown，betweenelections，andneverknowit。Itisonlywhenyougettounderstandthepeoplethatyoubegintoseethatthereisacrossdivisionrunningthroughthemthatnothingcaneverremove。Yougraduallybecomeawareoffinesubtledistinctionsthatmissyourobservationatfirst。Outwardly，theyareallfriendlyenough。Forinstance，JoeMilliganthedentistisaConservative，andhasbeenforsixyears，andyethesharesthesameboat—housewithyoungDr。Gallagher，whoisaLiberal，andtheyevenboughtamotorboatbetweenthem。PeteGloverandAlfMcNicholwereinpartnershipinthehardwareandpaintstore，thoughtheybelongedondifferentsides。
Butjustassoonaselectionsdrewnear，thedifferencesinpoliticsbecameperfectlyapparent。LiberalsandConservativesdrewawayfromoneanother。JoeMilliganusedthemotorboatoneSaturdayandDr。