the american claimant-第16章

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〃Don't　trouble　the　young　fellow；　I　can　tell　you　what　would　happen。〃

〃Oh；　you　can；　can　you？　　Boys；　Johnny　Bull　can　tell　us　what　would　happen
if　I　was　to　snatch　this　chump's　cap　off　and　slap　him　in　the　face　with　it。
Now　you'll　see。

He　snatched　the　cap　and　struck　the　youth　in　the　face；　and　before　he　could
inquire　what　was　going　to　happen；　it　had　already　happened；　and　he　was
warming　the　tin　with　the　broad　of　his　back。　　Instantly　there　was　a　rush；
and　shouts　of：

〃A　ring；　a　ring；　make　a　ring！　　Fair　play　all　round！　　Johnny's　grit；　give
him　a　chance。〃

The　ring　was　quickly　chalked　on　the　tin；　and　Tracy　found　himself　as　eager
to　begin　as　he　could　have　been　if　his　antagonist　had　been　a　prince
instead　of　a　mechanic。　　At　bottom　he　was　a　little　surprised　at　this；
because　although　his　theories　had　been　all　in　that　direction　for　some
time；　he　was　not　prepared　to　find　himself　actually　eager　to　measure
strength　with　quite　so　common　a　man　as　this　ruffian。　　In　a　moment　all　the
windows　in　the　neighborhood　were　filled　with　people；　and　the　roofs　also。
The　men　squared　off；　and　the　fight　began。　　But　Allen　stood　no　chance
whatever；　against　the　young　Englishman。　　Neither　in　muscle　nor　in　science
was　he　his　equal。　　He　measured　his　length　on　the　tin　time　and　again；
in　fact；　as　fast　as　he　could　get　up　he　went　down　again；　and　the　applause
was　kept　up　in　liberal　fashion　from　all　the　neighborhood　around。
Finally；　Allen　had　to　be　helped　up。　　Then　Tracy　declined　to　punish　him
further　and　the　fight　was　at　an　end。　　Allen　was　carried　off　by　some　of
his　friends　in　a　very　much　humbled　condition；　his　face　black　and　blue　and
bleeding；　and　Tracy　was　at　once　surrounded　by　the　young　fellows；　who
congratulated　him；　and　told　him　that　he　had　done　the　whole　house　a
service；　and　that　from　this　out　Mr。　Allen　would　be　a　little　more
particular　about　how　he　handled　slights　and　insults　and　maltreatment
around　amongst　the　boarders。

Tracy　was　a　hero　now；　and　exceedingly　popular。　　Perhaps　nobody　had　ever
been　quite　so　popular　on　that　upper　floor　before。　　But　if　being
discountenanced　by　these　young　fellows　had　been　hard　to　bear；　their
lavish　commendations　and　approval　and　hero…worship　was　harder　still　to
endure。　　He　felt　degraded；　but　he　did　not　allow　himself　to　analyze　the
reasons　why；　too　closely。　　He　was　content　to　satisfy　himself　with　the
suggestion　that　he　looked　upon　himself　as　degraded　by　the　public
spectacle　which　he　had　made　of　himself；　fighting　on　a　tin　roof；　for　the
delectation　of　everybody　a　block　or　two　around。　　But　he　wasn't　entirely
satisfied　with　that　explanation　of　it。　　Once　he　went　a　little　too　far　and
wrote　in　his　diary　that　his　case　was　worse　than　that　of　the　prodigal　son。
He　said　the　prodigal　son　merely　fed　swine；　he　didn't　have　to　chum　with
them。　　But　he　struck　that　out；　and　said　〃All　men　are　equal。　　I　will　not
disown　my　principles。　　These　men　are　as　good　as　I　am。〃

Tracy　was　become　popular　on　the　lower　floors　also。　　Everybody　was
grateful　for　Allen's　reduction　to　the　ranks；　and　for　his　transformation
from　a　doer　of　outrages　to　a　mere　threatener　of　them。　　The　young　girls；
of　whom　there　were　half　a　dozen；　showed　many　attentions　to　Tracy；
particularly　that　boarding　house　pet　Hattie；　the　landlady's　daughter。
She　said　to　him；　very　sweetly；

〃I　think　you're　ever　so　nice。〃

And　when　he　said；　〃I'm　glad　you　think'　so；　Miss　Hattie；〃　she　said；　still
more　sweetly；

〃Don't　call　me　Miss　Hattie…call　me　Puss。〃

Ah；　here　was　promotion！　　He　had　struck　the　summit。　　There　were　no　higher
heights　to　climb　in　that　boarding　house。　　His　popularity　was　complete。

In　the　presence　of　people；　Tracy　showed　a　tranquil　outside；　but　his　heart
was　being　eaten　out　of　him　by　distress　and　despair。

In　a　little　while　he　should　be　out　of　money；　and　then　what　should　he　do？
He　wished；　now；　that　he　had　borrowed　a　little　more　liberally　from　that
stranger's　store。　　He　found　it　impossible　to　sleep。　　A　single　torturing；
terrifying　thought　went　racking　round　and　round　in　his　head；　wearing　a
groove　in　his　brain：　What　should　he　doWhat　was　to　become　of　him？　　And
along　with　it　began　to　intrude　a　something　presently　which　was　very　like
a　wish　that　he　had　not　joined　the　great　and　noble　ranks　of　martyrdom；　but
had　stayed　at　home　and　been　content　to　be　merely　an　earl　and　nothing
better；　with　nothing　more　to　do　in　this　world　of　a　useful　sort　than　an
earl　finds　to　do。　　But　he　smothered　that　part　of　his　thought　as　well　as
he　could；　he　made　every　effort　to　drive　it　away；　and　with　fair　keep　it
from　intruding　a　little　　success；　but　he　couldn't　now　and　then；　and　when
it　intruded　it　came　suddenly　and　nipped　him　like　a　bite；　a　sting；　a　burn。
He　recognized　that　thought　by　the　peculiar　sharpness　of　its　pang。　　The
others　were　painful　enough；　but　that　one　cut　to　the　quick　when　it　calm。
Night　after　night　he　lay　tossing　to　the　music　of　the　hideous　snoring　of
the　honest　bread…winners　until　two　and　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；
then　got　up　and　took　refuge　on　the　roof；　where　he　sometimes　got　a　nap　and
sometimes　failed　entirely。　　His　appetite　was　leaving　him　and　the　zest　of
life　was　going　along　with　it。　　Finally；　owe　day；　being　near　the　imminent
verge　of　total　discouragement；　he　said　to　himselfand　took　occasion　to
blush　privately　when　he　said　it；　〃If　my　father　knew　what　my　American　name
is；hewell；　my　duty　to　my　father　rather　requires　that　I　furnish　him　my
name。　　I　have　no　right　to　make　his　days　and　nights　unhappy；　I　can　do
enough　unhappiness　for　the　family　all　by　myself。　　Really　he　ought　to　know
what　my　American　name　is。〃　　He　thought　over　it　a　while　and　framed　a
cablegram　in　his　mind　to　this　effect：

〃My　American　name　is　Howard　Tracy。〃

That　wouldn't　be　suggesting　anything。　　His　father　could　understand　that
as　he　chose；　and　doubtless　he　would　understand　it　as　it　was　meant；　as　a
dutiful　and　affectionate　desire　on　the　part　of　a　son　to　make　his　old
father　happy　for　a　moment。　　Continuing　his　train　of　thought；　Tracy　said
to　himself；　〃Ah；　but　if　he　should　cable　me　to　come　home！　　IIcouldn't
do　thatI　mustn't　do　that。　　I've　started　out　on　a　mission；　and　I　mustn't
turn　my　back　on　it　in　cowardice。　　No；　no；　I　couldn't　go　home；　atat
least　I　shouldn't　want　to　go　home。〃　　After　a　reflective　pause：　〃Well；
maybeperhapsit　would　be　my　duty　to　go　in　the　circumstances；　he's　very
old　and　he　does　need　me　by　him　to　stay　his　footsteps　down　the　long　hill
that　inclines　westward　toward　the　sunset　of　his　life。　　Well；　I'll　think
about　that。　　Yes；　of　course　it　wouldn't　be　right　to　stay　here。　　If　I
well；　perhaps　I　could　just　drop　him　a　line　and　put　it　off　a　little　while
and　satisfy　him　in　that　way。　　It　would　bewell；　it　would　mar　everything
to　have　him　require　me　to　come　instantly。〃　　Another　reflective　pause
then：　〃And　yet　if　he　should　do　that　I　don't　know　butoh；　dear　mehome！
how　good　it　sounds！　and　a　body　is　excusable　for　wanting　to　see　his　home
again；　now　and　then；　anyway。〃

He　went　to　one　of　the　telegraph　offices　in　the　avenue　and　got　the　first
end　of　what　Barrow　called　the　〃usual　Washington　courtesy；〃　where　〃they
treat　you　as　a　tramp　until　they　find　out　you're　a　congressman；　and　then
they　slobber　all　over　you。〃　　There　was　a　boy　of　seventeen　on　duty　there；
tying　his　shoe。　　He　had　his　foot　on　a　chair　and　his　back　turned　towards
the　wicket。　　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　took　Tracy's　measure；　turned
back；　and　went　on　tying　his　shoe。　　Tracy　finished　writing　his　telegram
and　waited；　still　waited；　and　still　waited；　for　that　performance　to
finish；　but　there　didn't　seem　to　be　any　finish　to　it；　so　finally　Tracy
said：

〃Can't　you　take　my　telegram？〃

The　youth　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　said；　by　his　manner；　not　his
words：

〃Don't　you　think　you　could　wait　a　minute；　if　you　tried？〃

However；　he　got　the　shoe　tied　at　last；　and　came　and　took　the　telegram；
glanced　over　it；　then　looked　up　surprised；　at　Tracy。　　There　was　something
in　his　look　that　bordered　upon　respect；　almost　reverence；　it　seemed　to
Tracy；　although　he　had　been　so　long　without　anything　of　this　kind　he　was
not　sure　that　he　knew　the　signs　of　it。

The　boy　read　the　address　aloud；　with　pleased　expression　in　face　and
voice。

〃The　Earl　of　Rossmore！　　Cracky！　　Do　you　know　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Is　that　so！　　Does　he　know　you？〃

〃Wellyes。〃

〃Well；　I　swear！　　Will　he　answer　you？〃

〃I　think　he　will。〃

〃Will　he　though？　　Where'll　you　have　it　sent？〃

〃Oh；　nowhere。　　I'll　call　here　and　get　it。　　When　shall　I　call？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　knowI'll　send　it　to　you。　　Where　shall　I　send　it？　　Give　me
your　address；　I'll　send　it　to　you　soon's　it　comes。〃

But　Tracy　didn't　propose　to　do　this。　　He　had　acquired　the　boy's
admiration　and　deferential　respect；　and　he　wasn't　willing　to　throw　these
precious　things　away；　a　result　sure　to　follow　if　he　should　give　the
address　of　that　boarding　house。　　So　he　said　again　that　he　would　call　and
get　the　telegram；　and　went　his　way。

He　idled　along；　reflecting。　　He　said　to　himself；　〃There　is　something
pleasant　about　being　respected。　　I　have　acquired　the　respect　of　Mr。
Allen　and　some　of　those　others；　and　almost　the　deference　of　some　of　them
on　pure　merit；　for　having　thrashed　Allen。　　While　their　respect　and　their
deferenceif　it　is　deferenceis　pleasant；　a　deference　based　upon　a
sham；　a　shadow；　does　really　seem　pleasanter　still。　　It's　no　real　merit　to
be　in　correspondence　with　an　earl；　and　yet　after　all；　that　boy　makes　me
feel　as　if　there　was。〃

The　cablegram　was　actually　gone　home！　the　thought　of　it　gave　him　an
immense　uplift。　　He　walked　with　a　lighter　tread。　　His　heart　was　full　of
happiness。　　He　threw　aside　all　hesitances　and　confessed　to　himself　that
he　was　glad　through　and　through　that　he　was　going　to　give　up　this
experiment　and　go　back　to　his　home　again。　　His　eagerness　to　get　his
father's　answer　began　to　grow；　now；　and　it　grew　with　marvelous　celerity；
after　it　began。　　He　waited　an　hour；　walking　about；　putting　in　his　time　as
well　as　he　could；　but　interested　in　nothing　that　came　under　his　eye；　and
at　last　he　presented　himself　at　the　office　again　and　asked　if　any　answer
had　come　yet。　　The　boy　said；

〃No；　no　answer　yet；〃　then　glanced　at　the　clock　and　added；　〃I　don't　think
it's　likely　you'll　get　one　to…day。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Well；　you　see　it's　getting　pretty　late。　　You　can't　always　tell　where
'bouts　a　man　is　when　he's　on　the　other　side；　and　you　can't　always　find
him　just　the　minute　you　want　him；　and　you　see　it's　getting　about　six
o'clock　now；　and　over　there　it's　pretty　late　at　night。〃

〃Why　yes；〃　said　Tracy；　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that。〃

〃Yes；　pretty　late；　now；　half　past　ten　or　eleven。　　Oh　yes；　you　probably
won't　get　any　answer　to…night。〃




CHAPTER　XIV。

So　Tracy　went　home　to　supper。　　The　odors　in　that　supper　room　seemed　more
strenuous　and　more　horrible　than　ever　before；　and　he　was　happy　in　the
thought　that　he　was　so　soon　to　be　free　from　them　again。　　When　the　supper
was　over　he　hardly　knew　whether　he　had　eaten　any　of　it　or　not；　and　he
certainly　hadn't　heard　any　of　the　conversation。　　His　heart　had　been
dancing　all　the　time；　his　thoughts　had　been　faraway　from　these　things；
and　in　the　visions　of　his　mind　the　sumptuous　appointments　of　his　father's
castle　had　risen　before　him　without　rebuke。　　Even　the　plushed　flunkey；
that　walking　symbol