the american claimant-第23章

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sins　and　crimes　committed　by　ancestors　four　generations　back　that　hadn't
anything　to　do　with　them；　and　so　it's　only　fair　to　turn　the　rule　around
and　make　it　work　both　ways。〃

The　Colonel　was　struck　with　the　strong　logic　of　this　position。　　He　strode
up　and　down；　and　thought　it　painfully　over。　　Finally　he　said：

〃There's　reason　in　it；　yes；　there's　reason　in　it。　　And　so；　although　it
seems　a　piteous　thing　to　sweat　this　poor　ancient　devil　for　a　burglary　he
hadn't　the　least　hand　in；　still　if　duty　commands　I　suppose　we　must　give
him　up　to　the　authorities。〃

〃I　would；〃　said　Hawkins；　cheered　and　relieved；　〃I'd　give　him　up　if　he　was
a　thousand　ancestors　compacted　into　one。〃

〃Lord　bless　me；　that's　just　what　he　is；〃　said　Sellers；　with　something
like　a　groan；　〃it's　exactly　what　he　is；　there's　a　contribution　in　him
from　every　ancestor　he　ever　had。　　In　him　there's　atoms　of　priests；
soldiers；　crusaders；　poets；　and　sweet　and　gracious　womenall　kinds　and
conditions　of　folk　who　trod　this　earth　in　old；　old　centuries；　and
vanished　out　of　it　ages　ago；　and　now　by　act　of　ours　they　are　summoned
from　their　holy　peace　to　answer　for　gutting　a　one…horse　bank　away　out　on
the　borders　of　Cherokee　Strip；　and　it's　just　a　howling　outrage！〃

〃Oh；　don't　talk　like　that；　Colonel；　it　takes　the　heart　all　out　of　me；　and
makes　me　ashamed　of　the　part　I　am　proposing　to〃

〃Wait…I've　got　it！〃

〃A　saving　hope？　　Shout　it　out；　I　am　perishing。〃

〃It's　perfectly　simple；　a　child　would　have　thought　of　it。　　He　is　all
right；　not　a　flaw　in　him；　as　far　as　I　have　carried　the　work。　　If　I've
been　able　to　bring　him　as　far　as　the　beginning　of　this　century；　what's　to
stop　me　now？　　I'll　go　on　and　materialize　him　down　to　date。〃

〃Land；　I　never　thought　of　that！〃　said　Hawkins　all　ablaze　with　joy　again。
〃It's　the　very　thing。　　What　a　brain　you　have　got！　　And　will　he　shed　the
superfluous　arm？〃

〃He　will。〃

〃And　lose　his　English　；accent？〃

〃It　will　wholly　disappear。　　He　will　speak　Cherokee　Stripand　other　forms
of　profanity。〃

〃Colonel；　maybe　he'll　confess！〃

〃Confess？　　Merely　that　bank　robbery？〃

〃　Merely？　　Yes；　but　why　'merely'？〃

The　Colonel　said　in　his　most　impressive　manner：　〃Hawkins；　he　will　be
wholly　under　my　command。　　I　will　make　him　confess　every　crime　he　ever
committed。　　There　must　be　a　thousand。　　Do　you　get　the　idea？〃

〃Wellnot　quite。〃

〃The　rewards　will　come　to　us。〃

〃Prodigious　conception！　　I　never　saw　such　ahead　for　seeing　with　a
lightning　glance　all　the　outlying　ramifications　and　possibilities　of　a
central　idea。〃

〃It　is　nothing；　it　comes　natural　to　me。　　When　his　time　is　out　in　one　jail
he　goes　to　the　next　and　the　next；　and　we　shall　have　nothing　to　do　but
collect　the　rewards　as　he　goes　along。　　It　is　a　perfectly　steady　income　as
long　as　we　live；　Hawkins。　　And　much　better　than　other　kinds　of
investments；　because　he　is　indestructible。〃

〃It　looksit　really　does　look　the　way　you　say；　it　does　indeed。〃

〃Look？why　it　is。　　It　will　not　be　denied　that　I　have　had　a　pretty　wide
and　comprehensive　financial　experience；　and　I　do　not　hesitate　to　say　that
I　consider　this　one　of　the　most　valuable　properties　I　have　ever
controlled。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃

〃I　do；　indeed。〃

〃O；　Colonel；　the　wasting　grind　and　grief　of　poverty！　　If　we　could　realize
immediately。　　I　don't　mean　sell　it　all；　but　sell　part…enough；　you　know；
to〃

〃See　how　you　tremble　with　excitement。　　That　comes　of　lack　of　experience。
My　boy；　when　you　have　been　familiar　with　vast　operations　as　long　as　I
have；　you'll　be　different。　　Look　at　me；　is　my　eye　dilated？　do　you　notice
a　quiver　anywhere？　　Feel　my　pulse：　plunk…plunk…plunksame　as　if　I　were
asleep。　　And　yet；　what　is　passing　through　my　calm　cold　mind？　　A
procession　of　figures　which　would　make　a　financial　novice　drunk　just　the
sight　of　them。　　Now　it　is　by　keeping　cool；　and　looking　at　a　thing　all
around；　that　a　man　sees　what's　really　in　it；　and　saves　himself　from　the
novice's　unfailing　mistakethe　one　you've　just　suggestedeagerness　to
realize。　　Listen　to　me。　　Your　idea　is　to　sell　a　part　of　him　for　ready
cash。　　Now　mine　isguess。〃

〃I　haven't　an　idea。　　What　is　it？〃

〃Stock　himof　course。〃

〃Well；　I　should　never　have　thought　of　that。〃

〃Because　you　are　not　a　financier。　　Say　he　has　committed　a　thousand
crimes。　　Certainly　that's　a　low　estimate。　　By　the　look　of　him；　even　in
his　unfinished　condition；　he　has　committed　all　of　a　million。　　But　call　it
only　a　thousand　to　be　perfectly　safe；　five　thousand　reward；　multiplied　by
a　thousand；　gives　us　a　dead　sure　cash　basis　ofwhat？　　Five　million
dollars！〃

〃Waitlet　me　get　my　breath。〃

〃And　the　property　indestructible。　　Perpetually　fruitfulperpetually；　for
a　property　with　his　disposition　will　go　on　committing　crimes　and　winning
rewards。〃

〃You　daze　me；　you　make　my　head　whirl！〃

〃Let　it　whirl；　it　won't　do　it　any　harm。　　Now　that　matter　is　all　fixed
leave　it　alone。　　I'll　get　up　the　company　and　issue　the　stock；　all　in　good
time。　　Just　leave　it　in　my　hands。　　I　judge　you　don't　doubt　my　ability　to
work　it　up　for　all　it　is　worth。〃。

〃Indeed　I　don't。　　I　can　say　that　with　truth。〃

〃All　right；　then。　　That's　disposed　of。　　Everything　in　its　turn。　　We　old
operators；　go　by　order　and　systemno　helter…skelter　business　with　us。
What's　the　next　thing　on　the　docket？　　The　carrying　on　of　the
materializationthe　bringing　it　down　to　date。　　I　will　begin　on　that　at
once。　　I　think

〃Look　here；　Rossmore。　　You　didn't　lock　It　in。　　A　hundred　to　one　it　has
escaped！〃

〃Calm　yourself；　as　to　that；　don't　give　yourself　any　uneasiness。〃

〃But　why　shouldn't　it　escape？〃

〃Let　it；　if　it　wants　to？　　What　of　it？〃

〃Well；　I　should　consider　it　a　pretty　serious　calamity。〃

〃Why；　my　dear　boy；　once　in　my　power；　always　in　my　power。　　It　may　go　and
come　freely。　　I　can　produce　it　here　whenever　I　want　it；　just　by　the
exercise　of　my　will。〃

〃Well；　I　am　truly　glad　to　hear　that；　I　do　assure　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　shall　give　it　all　the　painting　it　wants　to　do；　and　we　and　the
family　will　make　it　as　comfortable　and　contented　as　we　can。　　No　occasion
to　restrain　its　movements。　　I　hope　to　persuade　it　to　remain　pretty　quiet；
though；　because　a　materialization　which　is　in　a　state　of　arrested
development　must　of　necessity　be　pretty　soft　and　flabby　and
substanceless；　anderby　the　way；　I　wonder　where　It　comes　from？〃

〃How？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

The　earl　pointed　significantlyand　interrogatively　toward　the　sky。
Hawkins　started；　then　settled　into　deep　reflection；　finally　shook　his
head　sorrowfully　and　pointed　downwards。

〃What　makes　you　think　so；　Washington？〃

〃Well；　I　hardly　know；　but　really　you　can　see；　yourself；　that　he　doesn't
seem　to　be　pining　for　his　last　place。〃

〃It's　well　thought！　　Soundly　deduced。　　We've　done　that　Thing　a　favor。
But　I　believe　I　will　pump　it　a　little；　in　a　quiet　way；　and　find　out　if　we
are　right。〃

〃How　long　is　it　going　to　take　to　finish　him　off　and　fetch　him　down　to
date；　Colonel？〃

〃I　wish　I　knew；　but　I　don't。　　I　am　clear　knocked　out　by　this　new　detail
this　unforeseen　necessity　of　working　a　subject　down　gradually　from　his
condition　of　ancestor　to　his　ultimate　result　as　posterity。　　But　I'll　make
him　hump　himself；　anyway。〃

〃Rossmore！〃

〃Yes；　dear。　　We're　in　the　laboratory。　　ComeHawkins　is　here。　　Mind；　now
Hawkinshe's　a　sound；　living；　human　being　to　all　the　familydon't
forget　that。　　Here　she　comes。〃

〃Keep　your　seats；　I'm　not　coming　in。　　I　just　wanted　to　ask；　who　is　it
that's　painting　down　there？〃

〃That？　　Oh；　that's　a　young　artist；　young　Englishman；　named　Tracy；　very
promisingfavorite　pupil　of　Hans　Christian　Andersen　or　one　of　the　other
old　mastersAndersen　I'm　pretty　sure　it　is；　he's　going　to　half…sole　some
of　our　old　Italian　masterpieces。　　Been　talking　to　him？〃

〃Well；　only　a　word。　　I　stumbled　right　in　on　him　without　expecting　anybody
was　there。　　I　tried　to　be　polite　to　him；　offered　him　a　snack〃（Sellers
delivered　a　large　wink　to　Hawkins　from　behind　his　hand）；　〃but　he
declined；　and　said　he　wasn't　hungry〃　（another　sarcastic　wink）；　〃so　I
brought　some　apples〃　（doublewink）；　〃and　he　ate　a　couple　of〃

〃What！〃　and　the　colonel　sprang　some　yards　toward　the　ceiling　and　came
down　quaking　with　astonishment。

Lady　Rossmore　was　smitten　dumb　with　amazement。　　She　gazed　at　the　sheepish
relic　of　Cherokee　Strip；　then　at　her　husband；　and　then　at　the　guest
again。　　Finally　she　said：

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Mulberry？〃

He　did　not　answer　immediately。　　His　back　was　turned；　he　was　bending　over
his　chair；　feeling　the　seat　of　it。　　But　he　answered　next　moment；　and
said：

〃Ah；　there　it　is；　it　was　a　tack。〃

The　lady　contemplated　him　doubtfully　a　moment；　then　said；　pretty
snappishly：

〃All　that　for　a　tack！　　Praise　goodness　it　wasn't　a　shingle　nail；　it　would
have　landed　you　in　the　Milky　Way。　　I　do　hate　to　have　my　nerves　shook　up
so。〃　　And　she　turned　on　her　heel　and　went　her　way。

As　soon　as　she　was　safely　out；　the　Colonel　said；　in　a　suppressed　voice：

〃Comewe　must　see　for　ourselves。　　It　must　be　a　mistake。〃

They　hurried　softly　down　and　peeped　in。　　Sellers　whispered；　in　a　sort　of
despair

It　is　eating！　　What　a　grisly　spectacle！　　Hawkins　it's　horrible！　　Take　me
awayI　can't　stand

They　tottered　back　to　the　laboratory。




CHAPTER　XX。

Tracy　made　slow　progress　with　his　work；　for　his　mind　wandered　a　good
deal。　　Many　things　were　puzzling　him。　　Finally　a　light　burst　upon　him　all
of　a　suddenseemed　to；　at　any　rateand　he　said　to　himself；　〃I've　got
the　clew　at　lastthis　man's　mind　is　off　its　balance；　I　don't　know　how
much；　but　it's　off　a　point　or　two；　sure；　off　enough　to　explain　this　mess
of　perplexities；　anyway。　　These　dreadful　chromos　which　he　takes　for　old
masters；　these　villainous　portraitswhich　to　his　frantic　mind　represent
Rossmores；　the　hatchments；　the　pompous　name　of　this　ramshackle　old　crib
Rossmore　Towers；　and　that　odd　assertion　of　his；　that　I　was　expected。　　How
could　I　be　expected？　that　is；　Lord　Berkeley。　　He　knows　by　the　papers　that
that　person　was　burned　up　in　the　New　Gadsby。　　Why；　hang　it；　he　really
doesn't　know　who　he　was　expecting；　for　his　talk　showed　that　he　was　not
expecting　an　Englishman；　or　yet　an　artist；　yet　I　answer　his　requirements
notwithstanding。　　He　seems　sufficiently　satisfied　with　me。　　Yes；　he　is　a
little　off；　in　fact　I　am　afraid　he　is　a　good　deal　off；　poor　old
gentleman。　　But　he's　interestingall　people　in　about　his　condition　are；
I　suppose。　　I　hope　he'll　like　my　work；　I　would　like　to　come　every　day　and
study　him。　　And　when　I　write　my　fatherah；　that　hurts！　　I　mustn't　get　on
that　subject；　it　isn't　good　for　my　spirits。　　Somebody　comingI　must　get
to　work。　　It's　the　old　gentleman　again。　　He　looks　bothered。　　Maybe　my
clothes　are　suspicious；　and　they　arefor　an　artist。　　If　my　conscience
would　allow　me　to　make　a　change；　but　that　is　out　of　the　question。
I　wonder　what　he's　making　those　passes　in　the　air　for；　with　his　hands。
I　seem　to　be　the　object　of　them。　　Can　he　be　trying　to　mesmerize　me？
I　don't　quite　like　it。　　There's　something　uncanny　about　it。〃

The　colonel　muttered　to　himself；　〃It　has　an　effect　on　him；　I　can　see　it
myself。　　That's　enough　for　one　time；　I　reckon。　　He's　not　very　solid；　yet；
I　suppose；　and　I　might　disintegrate　him。　　I'll　just　put　a　sly　question　or
two　at　him；　now；　and　see　if