第 43 节
作者:白寒      更新:2021-04-30 16:59      字数:9321
  the wharf the _Fly by Night_ shot out of the dock。
  PART 2
  In the wintry afternoon sunlight Beauchamp and Alice were playing a
  match     of  shuffleboard     against   Jeff  and   the  daughter    of  a  Honolulu
  missionary。 The game had reached an exciting and critical stage when they
  noticed    that  the  ship   was   no  longer   quivering    from   the  throb   of  the
  engines。
  〃A steam  yacht;   probably from Verden;〃 the ship   purser remarked to
  the first mate as they passed。
  The   players   gave   up   their   game   to   watch   the   boat   that   was   being
  lowered from the deck of a yacht close at hand。 Into it stepped five men in
  addition to the crew。 Presently Jeff; leaning against the rail; borrowed the
  glasses of a man near。 After Alice had looked she handed them to Farnum。
  He gave a little exclamation of surprise。
  〃I beg your pardon?〃 the girl beside him murmured。
  〃They are my friends; Miss Frome。 Come to meet   me; I expect。 The
  little man in gray with one arm is Captain Chunn。〃
  She was all excitement at once。 〃Then they must have received your
  message?〃
  〃Probably。〃
  Jeff was the first man to meet Captain Chunn as he walked up the steps。
  The gray little man gave a whoop of joy。
  〃David!〃
  Their hands gripped。
  Rawson      fell  on  Farnum   from   behind     and   pounded     him   jubilantly。
  Instantly the editor was the center of a group of eager; urgent wellwishers。
  Alice   explained   to   Captain   Barclay   what   it   was   all   about   and   stood
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  back smiling while questions and answers flew back and forth。
  〃What about our  bill?〃 Jeff inquired   as soon as the  first hubbub had
  quieted。
  〃Dead as a door nail。 Your cousin has substituted H。 B。 I7。 They will
  pass it to…morrow or the next day。〃
  A swift sickness ran through Farnum。 〃James gone back on us?〃
  〃That's what。 He's double…crossed us。〃 Rawson snapped the words out
  bitterly。
  〃Whywhysurely not James。〃 Jeff's mind groped for some possible
  explanation。
  〃Says    our   bill  was   lost  anyhow      and   it  was  a  question    of  getting
  through Garman's bill or none。〃
  〃But   Garman's   bill   was   framed   by   Ned   Merrill。   It   doesn't   give   us
  anything。〃
  Rawson nodded grimly。 〃That's the idea。 We're to get nothing; but it's
  to be wrapped up like a Christmas present so as to fool us。〃
  〃And isn't there any chance at all for our bill?〃
  〃Just   this   one   chance。〃   Rawson   leaned   forward   and   spoke   in   a   low
  voice;   driving   his   hand   down   on   the   deck   railing。   〃That   you've   got   a
  charge of dynamite up your sleeve to throw into their camp。 If you can't
  stampede them we're down and out。〃
  Jeff and his allies presently moved away together to hold a conference
  of ways and means。 The boat crew pulled back to the yacht。 The engines
  began   to   throb   once   more。   The   _Bellingham_   gathered   momentum   and
  was soon plunging forward at full speed。
  PART 3
  With   a   queer   little   surge   of   pride   in   him Alice   watched   Jeff   and   his
  friends move away。 They depended on him。 Unless he could save it their
  fight was lost。 To her he was a prophet of the better civilization that would
  some   day  rise   on   the   ruins   of   an   Individualism  grown   topheavy。   But   he
  was neither a dreamer nor a weakling。 His idealism was sane and practical;
  and he would fight to the last ditch when he must。
  And     this  was    another    strange    thing   about    him;   that   though    his
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  democracy was a faith; vital and ardent; it was tempered with the liberal
  spirit。   He   could   make   allowances;   held   no   grudges;   would   laugh   away
  insults at which another man would have raged。 Out of her very limited
  experience Alice decided that he was a great man。 That he was so warm
  and human with it all was one of his seizing charms。 No boy could have
  been more interested in winning the shuffleboard game than he。
  The fat pork packer from Chicago came wheezing toward her。 He took
  the steamer chair beside Alice and jerked his head toward the spot where
  Jeff had disappeared。
  〃Now if you want my notion; Miss Frome; that's the kind of a man that
  breeds anarchy。 I've seen his paper。 He fills it full of stuff that makes the
  workingman discontented with his lot。 A trouble maker; that's what he is。
  Stops the wheels of industry。 Gets in the road of the boosters to croak hard
  times。〃
  Alice observed the thick rolls of purple fat that bulged over his collar。
  〃Progress   now;〃   he   went   on。  〃I'm  for   progress。   Develop the   country。
  That gives work to the laborers and keeps them contented。 But men like
  Farnum   are   always   hampering   development   by   annoying   capital。   Now
  that's foolish because capital employs labor。〃
  The    young     woman      suggested     another    possibility。   〃Or   else   labor
  employs capital。〃
  〃What!〃   The   fat   little   man   sat   bolt   upright   in   surprise。   〃I   guess   you
  never heard your Uncle Joe Powers talk any such foolishness。〃 He snorted
  indignantly。 〃Hmp! The best friend labor has got is capital。 If I had the say
  so    I'd  crush   every   labor   unionfor    the   good   of   the  working     people
  themselves。〃
  Alice decided that the mental indigestion of the rich sat heavily upon
  him。   She   felt   her   temper   rising   and   took   advantage   of   the   approach   of
  Beauchamp to leave quickly。
  〃Oh; Lieutenant! Have you seen Valencia?〃
  The   Englishman   showed   surprise。   It   happened   that Alice   had   at   that
  moment a view of Mrs。 Van Tyle stretched on a deck chair some thirty feet
  away。
  Miss    Frome     hurried   him    along。   Presently;   with   a  low    laugh;   she
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  explained。 〃I wanted to get away from him。 Carelessly; I dropped a new
  idea there。 It's likely to go off。 You know how dangerous they are。〃
  〃To   people   who   haven't   many。   Had   it   anything   to   do   with   making
  money?〃
  〃Not directly。〃
  〃Then     you   needn't   be  alarmed    on   our  stout   friend's  account。    He's
  immune to all ideas not connected with that subject。〃
  The double blast of a trumpet invited them to dinner down stairs。
  PART 4
  Dunn     was   sitting   in  the  smoking     room    writing    his  story   of  the
  kidnapping when a ruddy young Englishman stopped opposite him。
  〃You're Mr。 Dunn; are you not? Reporter for the _World?_〃
  〃Yes。〃    The   newspaper     man    looked    him   over   with   a  swift;  trained
  attention。
  〃A   young     lady  would    like  to  see   you   for  a  few   minutes。    She   is
  interested in this shanghaing of Mr。 Farnum。〃
  Dunn's black gimlet eyes searched Beauchamp's face。
  〃All right。 Glad to see her。〃 Dunn's story was being transferred to his
  pocket as he rose。
  He   followed   his   guide   to   the   ladies'   writing   room。 A  slender   young
  woman was standing in front of the bookcase。 She turned as they entered。
  Beauchamp   introduced   the   reporter   to   her;   but   Dunn   failed   to   catch   the
  name of this rather remarkable looking young lady。
  〃You are to write the story of Mr。 Farnum's adventure?〃 she asked。
  The reporter's eyes narrowed very slightly。 〃What story?〃
  〃The account of the shanghaing。 Oh; I know all about it。 Have you all
  the facts?〃
  〃I'll be glad to hear what you know; Miss〃
  She answered his hesitation by mentioning her name。
  Dunn     grew    more    wary。   〃Miss    Alice   Frome;    daughter    of   Senator
  Frome?〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃Anything you have to say I'll be pleased to hear; Miss Frome。〃
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  To    his  surprise   she   broke    through    the  hedge    of  reserve    he   had
  withdrawn behind。
  〃You distrust me。 You think because I'm Senator Frome's daughter that
  I must be against Mr。 Farnum。 Is that it?〃
  〃I didn't say that;〃 he sparred。
  〃I'm   not   against   him。   It's   because   I'm   anxious   to   see   him