the american claimant-第20章

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say；　without　imitator　here　or　abroadand　with　a　most　bold　and　effective
touch；　a　touch　like　a　battering　ram；　and　a　manner　so　peculiar　and
romantic；　and　extraneous；　and　ad　libitum；　and　heart…searching；　that
thathehe　is　an　impressionist；　I　presume？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　captain　simply；　〃he　is　a　Presbyterian。〃

〃It　accounts　for　it　allallthere's　something　divine　about　his　art；
soulful；　unsatisfactory；　yearning；　dim　hearkening　on　the　void　horizon；
vague…murmuring　to　the　spirit　out　of　ultra…marine　distances　and　far…
sounding　cataclysms　of　uncreated　spaceoh；　if　heif；　hehas　he　ever
tried　distemper？〃

The　captain　answered　up　with　energy：

〃Not　if　he　knows　himself！　　But　his　dog　has；　and〃

〃Oh；　no；　it　vas　not　my　dog。〃

〃Why；　you　said　it　was　your　dog。〃

〃Oh；　no；　gaptain；　I〃

〃It　was　a　white　dog；　wasn't　it；　with　his　tail　docked；　and　one　ear　gone；
and〃

〃Dot's　him；　dot's　him！der　fery　dog。　　Wy；　py　Chorge；　dot　dog　he　would
eat　baint　yoost　de　same　like〃

〃Well；　never　mind　that；　now'vast　heavingI　never　saw　such　a　man。　　You
start　him　on　that　dog　and　he'll　dispute　a　year。　　Blamed　if　I　haven't　seen
him　keep　it　up　a　level　two　hours　and　a　half。〃

〃Why　captain！〃　said　Barrow。　　〃I　guess　that　must　be　hearsay。〃

〃No；　sir；　no　hearsay　about　ithe　disputed　with　me。

〃I　don't　see　how　you　stood　it。〃

〃Oh；　you've　got　toif　you　run　with　Andy。　　But　it's　the　only　fault　he's
got。〃

〃Ain't　you　afraid　of　acquiring　it？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　the　captain；　tranquilly；　〃no　danger　of　that；　I　reckon。〃

The　artists　presently　took　their　leave。　　Then　Barrow　put　his　hands　on
Tracy's　shoulders　and　said：

〃Look　me　in　the　eye；　my　boy。　　Steady；　steady。　　Thereit's　just　as　I
thoughthoped；　anyway；　you're　all　right；　thank　goodness。　　Nothing　the
matter　with　your　mind。　　But　don't　do　that　againeven　for　fun。　　It　isn't
wise。　　They　wouldn't　have　believed　you　if　you'd　been　an　earl's　son。
Why；　they　couldn'tdon't　you　know　that？　　What　ever　possessed　you　to　take
such　a　freak？　　But　never　mind　about　that；　let's　not　talk　of　it。　　It　was　a
mistake；　you　see　that　yourself。〃

〃Yesit　was　a　mistake。〃

〃Well；　just　drop　it　out　of　your；　mind；　it's　no　harm；　we　all　make　them。
Pull　your　courage　together；　and　don't　brood；　and　don't　give　up。　　I'm　at
your　back；　and　we'll　pull　through；　don't　you　be　afraid。〃

When　he　was　gone；　Barrow　walked　the　floor　a　good　while；　uneasy　in　his
mind。　　He　said　to　himself；　〃I'm　troubled　about　him。　　He　never　would　have
made　a　break　like　that　if　he　hadn't　been　a　little　off　his　balance。
But　I　know　what　being　out　of　work　and　no　prospect　ahead　can　do　for　a　man。
First　it　knocks　the　pluck　out　of　him　and　drags　his　pride　in　the　dirt；
worry　does　the　rest；　and　his　mind　gets　shaky。　　I　must　talk　to　these
people。　　Noif　there's　any　humanity　in　themand　there　is；　at　bottom
they'll　be　easier　on　him　if　they　think　his　troubles　have　disturbed　his
reason。　　But　I've　got　to　find　him　some　work；　work's　the　only　medicine　for
his　disease。　Poor　devil！　away　off　here；　and　not　a　friend。〃




CHAPTER　XVII

The　moment　Tracy　was　alone　his　spirits　vanished　away；　and　all　the　misery
of　his　situation　was　manifest　to　him。　　To　be　moneyless　and　an　object　of
the　chairmaker's　charitythis　was　bad　enough；　but　his　folly　in
proclaiming　himself　an　earl's　son　to　that　scoffing　and　unbelieving　crew；
and；　on　top　of　that；　the　humiliating　resultthe　recollection　of　these
things　was　a　sharper　torture　still。　　He　made　up　his　mind　that　he　would
never　play　earl's　son　again　before　a　doubtful　audience。

His　father's　answer　was　a　blow　he　could　not　understand。　　At　times　he
thought　his　father　imagined　he　could　get　work　to　do　in　America　without
any　trouble；　and　was　minded　to　let　him　try　it　and　cure　himself　of　his
radicalism　by　hard；　cold；　disenchanting　experience。　　That　seemed　the　most
plausible　theory；　yet　he　could　not　content　himself　with　it。　　A　theory
that　pleased　him　better　was；　that　this　cablegram　would　be　followed　by
another；　of　a　gentler　sort；　requiring　him　to　come　home。　　Should　he　write
and　strike　his　flag；　and　ask　for　a　ticket　home？　　Oh；　no；　that　he　couldn't
ever　do。　　At　least；　not　yet。　　That　cablegram　would　come；　it　certainly
would。　　So　he　went　from　one　telegraph　office　to　another　every　day　for
nearly　a　week；　and　asked　if　there　was　a　cablegram　for　Howard　Tracy。
No；　there　wasn't　any。　　So　they　answered　him　at　first。　　Later；　they　said
it　before　he　had　a　chance　to　ask。　　Later　still　they　merely　shook　their
heads　impatiently　as　soon　as　he　came　in　sight。　　After　that　he　was　ashamed
to　go　any　more。

He　was　down　in　the　lowest　depths　of　despair；　now；　for　the　harder　Barrow
tried　to　find　work　for　him　the　more　hopeless　the　possibilities　seemed　to
grow。　　At　last　he　said　to　Barrow：

〃Look　here。　　I　want　to　make　a　confession。　　I　have　got　down；　now；　to　where
I　am　not　only　willing　to　acknowledge　to　myself　that　I　am　a　shabby
creature　and　full　of　false　pride；　but　am　willing　to　acknowledge　it　to
you。　　Well；　I've　been　allowing　you　to　wear　yourself　out　hunting　for　work
for　me　when　there's　been　a　chance　open　to　me　all　the　time。　　Forgive　my
pridewhat　was　left　of　it。　　It　is　all　gone；　now；　and　I've　come　to
confess　that　if　those　ghastly　artists　want　another　confederate；　I'm　their
manfor　at　last　I　am　dead　to　shame。〃

〃No？　　Really；　can　you　paint？〃

〃Not　as　badly　as　they。　　No；　I　don't　claim　that；　for　I　am　not　a　genius；
in　fact；　I　am　a　very　indifferent　amateur；　a　slouchy　dabster；　a　mere
artistic　sarcasm；　but　drunk　or　asleep　I　can　beat　those　buccaneers。〃

〃Shake！　　I　want　to　shout！　　Oh；　I　tell　you；　I　am　immensely　delighted　and
relieved。　　Oh；　just　to　workthat　is　life！　　No　matter　what　the　work　is
that's　of　no　consequence。　　Just　work　itself　is　bliss　when　a　man's　been
starving　for　it。　　I've　been　there！　　Come　right　along；　we'll　hunt　the　old
boys　up。　　Don't　you　feel　good？　　I　tell　you　I　do。〃

The　freebooters　were　not　at　home。　　But　their　〃works〃　were；　displayed　in
profusion　all　about　the　little　ratty　studio。　　Cannon　to　the　right　of
them；　cannon　to　the　left　of　them；　cannon　in　frontit　was　Balaclava　come
again。

〃Here's　the　uncontented　hackman；　Tracy。　　Buckle　todeepen　the　sea…green
to　turf；　turn　the　ship　into　a　hearse。　　Let　the　boys　have　a　taste　of　your
quality。〃

The　artists　arrived　just　as　the　last　touch　was　put　on。　　They　stood
transfixed　with　admiration。

〃My　souls　but　she's　a　stunner；　that　hearse！　　The　hackman　will　just　go　all
to　pieces　when　he　sees　that　won't　he　Andy？〃

〃Oh；　it　is　sphlennid；　sphlennid！　　Herr　Tracy；　why　haf　you　not　said　you
vas　a　so　sublime　aartist？　　Lob'　Gott；　of　you　had　lif'd　in　Paris　you　would
be　a　Pree　de　Rome；　dot's　votes　de　matter！〃

The　arrangements　were　soon　made。　　Tracy　was　taken　into　full　and　equal
partnership；　and　he　went　straight　to　work；　with　dash　and　energy；　to
reconstructing　gems　of　art　whose　accessories　had　failed　to　satisfy。
Under　his　hand；　on　that　and　succeeding　days；　artillery　disappeared　and
the　emblems　of　peace　and　commerce　took　its　placecats；　hacks；　sausages；
tugs；　fire　engines；　pianos；　guitars；　rocks；　gardens；　flower…pots；
landscapeswhatever　was　wanted；　he　flung　it　in；　and　the　more　out　of
place　and　absurd　the　required　object　was；　the　more　joy　he　got　out　of
fabricating　it。　　The　pirates　were　delighted；　the　customers　applauded；　the
sex　began　to　flock　in；　great　was　the　prosperity　of　the　firm。　　Tracy　was
obliged　to　confess　to　himself　that　there　was　something　about　work；even
such　grotesque　and　humble　work　as　thiswhich　most　pleasantly　satisfied　a
something　in　his　nature　which　had　never　been　satisfied　before；　and　also
gave　him　a　strange　new　dignity　in　his　own　private　view　of　himself。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

The　Unqualified　Member　from　Cherokee　Strip　was　in　a　state　of　deep
dejection。　　For　a　good　while；　now；　he　had　been　leading　a　sort　of　life
which　was　calculated　to　kill；　for　it　had　consisted　in　regularly
alternating　days　of　brilliant　hope　and　black　disappointment。　　The
brilliant　hopes　were　created　by　the　magician　Sellers；　and　they　always
promised　that　now　he　had　got　the　trick；　sure；　and　would　effectively
influence　that　materialized　cowboy　to　call　at　the　Towers　before　night。
The　black　disappointments　consisted　in　the　persistent　and　monotonous
failure　of　these　prophecies。

At　the　date　which　this　history　has　now　reached；　Sellers　was　appalled　to
find　that　the　usual　remedy　was　inoperative；　and　that　Hawkins's　low
spirits　refused　absolutely　to　lift。　　Something　must　be　done；　he
reflected；　it　was　heart…breaking；　this　woe；　this　smileless　misery；
this　dull　despair　that　looked　out　from　his　poor　friend's　face。　　Yes；　he
must　be　cheered　up。　　He　mused　a　while；　then　he　saw　his　way。　　He　said　in
his　most　conspicuously　casual　vein：

〃Eruhby　the　way；　Hawkins；　we　are　feeling　disappointed　about　this
thingthe　way　the　materializee　is　acting；　I　meanwe　are　disappointed；
you　concede　that？〃

〃Concede　it？　　Why；　yes；　if　you　like　the　term。〃

〃Very　well；　so　far；　so　good。　　Now　for　the　basis　of　the　feeling。　　It　is
not　that　your　heart；　your　affections　are　concerned；　that　is　to　say；　it　is
not　that　you　want　the　materializee　Itself。　　You　concede　that？〃

〃Yes；　I　concede　that；　toocordially。〃

〃Very　well；　again；　we　are　making　progress。　　To　sum　up：　The　feeling；　it　is
conceded；　is　not　engendered　by　the　mere　conduct　of　the　materializee；　it
is　conceded　that　it　does　not　arise　from　any　pang　which　the　personality　of
the　materializee　could　assuage。　　Now　then；　〃said　the　earl；　with　the　light
of　triumph　in　his　eye；　〃the　inexorable　logic　of　the　situation　narrows　us
down　to　this：　our　feeling　has　its　source　in　the　money…loss　involved。
Comeisn't　that　so？〃

〃Goodness　knows　I　concede　that；　with　all　my　heart。〃

〃Very　well。　　When　you've　found　out　the　source　of　a　disease；　you've　also
found　out　what　remedy　is　requiredjust　as　in　this　case。　　In　this　case
money　is　required。　　And　only　money。〃

The　old；　old　seduction　was　in　that　airy；　confident　tone　and　those
significant　wordsusually　called　pregnant　words　in　books。　　The　old
answering　signs　of　faith　and　hope　showed　up　in　Hawkins's　countenance；
and　he　said：

〃Only　money？　　Do　you　mean　that　you　know　a　way　to〃

〃Washington；　have　you　the　impression　that　I　have　no　resources　but　those
I　allow　the　public　and　my　intimate　friends　to　know　about？〃

〃Well；　Ier〃

〃Is　it　likely；　do　you　think；　that　a　man　moved　by　nature　and　taught　by
experience　to　keep　his　affairs　to　himself　and　a　cautious　and　reluctant
tongue　in　his　head；　wouldn't　be　thoughtful　enough　to　keep　a　few　resources
in　reserve　for　a　rainy　day；　when　he's　got　as　many　as　I　have　to　select
from？〃

〃Oh；　you　make　me　feel　so　much　better　already；　Colonel！〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　in　my　laboratory？〃

〃Why；　no。〃

〃That's　it。　　You　see　you　didn't　even　know　that　I　had　one。　　Come　along。
I've　got　a　little　trick　there　that　I　want　to　show　you。　　I've　kept　it
perfectly　quiet；　not　fifty　people　know　anything　about　it。　　But　that's　my
way；　always　been　my　way。　　Wait　till　you're　ready；　that's　the　idea；　and
when　you're　ready；　zzip！let　her　go！〃

〃Well；　Colonel；　I've　never　seen　a　man　that　I've　had　such　unbounded
confidence　in　as　you。　　When　you　say　a　thing　right　out；　I　always　feel　as
if　that　ends　it；　as　if　that　is　evidence；　and　proof；　and　everything　else。〃

The　old　earl　was　profoundly　pleased　and　touched。

〃I'm　glad　you　believe　i