the twins of table mountain-第12章

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game　eye；　three　fingers　on　his　right　hand；　and　a　consumptive　cough。
Being　unable；　naturally；　to　back　himself；　he　leaves　things　to　me。
So；　for　the　sake　of　argument；〃　continued　Hamlin；　suddenly　laying
down　his　cue；　and　fixing　his　wicked　black　eyes　on　the　speaker；　〃say
it's　ME！〃

I　am　afraid　that　this　story；　whether　truthful　or　not；　did　not　tend
to　increase　Peg's　popularity　in　a　community　where　recklessness　and
generosity　condoned　for　the　absence　of　all　the　other　virtues；　and
it　is　possible；　also；　that　Red　Dog　was　no　more　free　from　prejudice
than　other　more　civilized　but　equally　disappointed　matchmakers。
Likewise；　during　the　following　year；　she　made　several　more　foolish
ventures；　and　lost　heavily。　　In　fact；　a　feverish　desire　to　increase
her　store　at　almost　any　risk　seemed　to　possess　her。　　At　last　it　was
announced　that　she　intended　to　reopen　the　infelix　Rockville　Hotel；
and　keep　it　herself。

Wild　as　this　scheme　appeared　in　theory；　when　put　into　practical
operation　there　seemed　to　be　some　chance　of　success。　　Much；
doubtless；　was　owing　to　her　practical　knowledge　of　hotel…keeping；
but　more　to　her　rigid　economy　and　untiring　industry。　　The　mistress
of　millions；　she　cooked；　washed；　waited　on　table；　made　the　beds；
and　labored　like　a　common　menial。　　Visitors　were　attracted　by　this
novel　spectacle。　　The　income　of　the　house　increased　as　their
respect　for　the　hostess　lessened。　　No　anecdote　of　her　avarice　was
too　extravagant　for　current　belief。　　It　was　even　alleged　that　she
had　been　known　to　carry　the　luggage　of　guests　to　their　rooms；　that
she　might　anticipate　the　usual　porter's　gratuity。　　She　denied
herself　the　ordinary　necessaries　of　life。　　She　was　poorly　clad；　she
was　ill…fedbut　the　hotel　was　making　money。

A　few　hinted　of　insanity；　others　shook　their　heads；　and　said　a
curse　was　entailed　on　the　property。　　It　was　believed；　also；　from
her　appearance；　that　she　could　not　long　survive　this　tax　on　her
energies；　and　already　there　was　discussion　as　to　the　probable　final
disposition　of　her　property。

It　was　the　particular　fortune　of　Mr。　Jack　Hamlin　to　be　able　to　set
the　world　right　on　this　and　other　questions　regarding　her。

A　stormy　December　evening　had　set　in　when　he　chanced　to　be　a　guest
of　the　Rockville　Hotel。　　He　had；　during　the　past　week；　been　engaged
in　the　prosecution　of　his　noble　profession　at　Red　Dog；　and　had；　in
the　graphic　language　of　a　coadjutor；　〃cleared　out　the　town；　except
his　fare　in　the　pockets　of　the　stage…driver。〃　　〃The　Red　Dog
Standard〃　had　bewailed　his　departure　in　playful　obituary　verse；
beginning；　〃Dearest　Johnny；　thou　hast　left　us；〃　wherein　the　rhymes
〃bereft　us〃　and　〃deplore〃　carried　a　vague　allusion　to　〃a　thousand
dollars　more。〃　　A　quiet　contentment　naturally　suffused　his
personality；　and　he　was　more　than　usually　lazy　and　deliberate　in
his　speech。　　At　midnight；　when　he　was　about　to　retire；　he　was　a
little　surprised；　however；　by　a　tap　on　his　door；　followed　by　the
presence　of　Mistress　Peg　Moffat；　heiress；　and　landlady　of　Rockville
hotel。

Mr。　Hamlin；　despite　his　previous　defence　of　Peg；　had　no　liking　for
her。　　His　fastidious　taste　rejected　her　uncomeliness；　his　habits　of
thought　and　life　were　all　antagonistic　to　what　he　had　heard　of　her
niggardliness　and　greed。　　As　she　stood　there；　in　a　dirty　calico
wrapper；　still　redolent　with　the　day's　cuisine；　crimson　with
embarrassment　and　the　recent　heat　of　the　kitchen　range；　she
certainly　was　not　an　alluring　apparition。　　Happily　for　the　lateness
of　the　hour；　her　loneliness；　and　the　infelix　reputation　of　the　man
before　her；　she　was　at　least　a　safe　one。　　And　I　fear　the　very
consciousness　of　this　scarcely　relieved　her　embarrassment。

〃I　wanted　to　say　a　few　words　to　ye　alone；　Mr。　Hamlin；〃　she　began；
taking　an　unoffered　seat　on　the　end　of　his　portmanteau；　〃or　I
shouldn't　hev　intruded。　　But　it's　the　only　time　I　can　ketch　you；　or
you　me；　for　I'm　down　in　the　kitchen　from　sunup　till　now。〃

She　stopped　awkwardly；　as　if　to　listen　to　the　wind；　which　was
rattling　the　windows；　and　spreading　a　film　of　rain　against　the
opaque　darkness　without。　　Then；　smoothing　her　wrapper　over　her
knees；　she　remarked；　as　if　opening　a　desultory　conversation；
〃Thar's　a　power　of　rain　outside。〃

Mr。　Hamlin's　only　response　to　this　meteorological　observation　was　a
yawn；　and　a　preliminary　tug　at　his　coat　as　he　began　to　remove　it。

〃I　thought　ye　couldn't　mind　doin'　me　a　favor；〃　continued　Peg；　with
a　hard；　awkward　laugh；　〃partik'ly　seein'　ez　folks　allowed　you'd
sorter　bin　a　friend　o'　mine；　and　hed　stood　up　for　me　at　times　when
you　hedn't　any　partikler　call　to　do　it。　　I　hevn't〃　she　continued；
looking　down　on　her　lap；　and　following　with　her　finger　and　thumb　a
seam　of　her　gown；〃I　hevn't　so　many　friends　ez　slings　a　kind　word
for　me　these　times　that　I　disremember　them。〃　　Her　under　lip
quivered　a　little　here；　and；　after　vainly　hunting　for　a　forgotten
handkerchief；　she　finally　lifted　the　hem　of　her　gown；　wiped　her
snub　nose　upon　it；　but　left　the　tears　still　in　her　eyes　as　she
raised　them　to　the　man；　Mr。　Hamlin；　who　had　by　this　time　divested
himself　of　his　coat；　stopped　unbuttoning　his　waistcoat；　and　looked
at　her。

〃Like　ez　not　thar'll　be　high　water　on　the　North　Fork；　ef　this　rain
keeps　on；〃　said　Peg；　as　if　apologetically；　looking　toward　the
window。

The　other　rain　having　ceased；　Mr。　Hamlin　began　to　unbutton　his
waistcoat　again。

〃I　wanted　to　ask　ye　a　favor　about　Mr。aboutJack　Folinsbee；〃
began　Peg　again　hurriedly。　　〃He's　ailin'　agin；　and　is　mighty　low。
And　he's　losin'　a　heap　o'　money　here　and　thar；　and　mostly　to　YOU。
You　cleaned　him　out　of　two　thousand　dollars　last　nightall　he
had。〃

〃Well？〃　said　the　gambler　coldly。

〃Well；　I　thought　ez　you　woz　a　friend　o'　mine；　I'd　ask　ye　to　let　up
a　little　on　him；〃　said　Peg；　with　an　affected　laugh。　　〃You　kin　do
it。　　Don't　let　him　play　with　ye。〃

〃Mistress　Margaret　Moffat；〃　said　Jack；　with　lazy　deliberation；
taking　off　his　watch；　and　beginning　to　wind　it　up；　〃ef　you're　that
much　stuck　after　Jack　Folinsbee；　YOU　kin　keep　him　off　of　me　much
easier　than　I　kin。　　You're　a　rich　woman。　　Give　him　enough　money　to
break　my　bank；　or　break　himself　for　good　and　all；　but　don't　keep
him　forlin'　round　me　in　hopes　to　make　a　raise。　　It　don't　pay；
Mistress　Moffatit　don't　pay！〃

A　finer　nature　than　Peg's　would　have　misunderstood　or　resented　the
gambler's　slang；　and　the　miserable　truths　that　underlaid　it。　　But
she　comprehended　him　instantly；　and　sat　hopelessly　silent。

〃Ef　you'll　take　my　advice；〃　continued　Jack；　placing　his　watch　and
chain　under　his　pillow；　and　quietly　unloosing　his　cravat；　〃you'll
quit　this　yer　forlin'；　marry　that　chap；　and　hand　over　to　him　the
money　and　the　money…makin'　that's　killin'　you。　　He'll　get　rid　of　it
soon　enough。　　I　don't　say　this　because　I　expect　to　git　it；　for；
when　he's　got　that　much　of　a　raise；　he'll　make　a　break　for　'Frisco；
and　lose　it　to　some　first…class　sport　THERE。　　I　don't　say；　neither；
that　you　mayn't　be　in　luck　enough　to　reform　him。　　I　don't　say；
neitherand　it's　a　derned　sight　more　likely！that　you　mayn't　be
luckier　yet；　and　he'll　up　and　die　afore　he　gits　rid　of　your　money。
But　I　do　say　you'll　make　him　happy　NOW；　and；　ez　I　reckon　you're
about　ez　badly　stuck　after　that　chap　ez　I　ever　saw　any　woman；　you
won't　be　hurtin'　your　own　feelin's　either。〃

The　blood　left　Peg's　face　as　she　looked　up。　　〃But　that's　WHY　I
can't　give　him　the　moneyand　he　won't　marry　me　without　it。〃

Mr。　Hamlin's　hand　dropped　from　the　last　button　of　his　waistcoat。
〃Can'tgivehimthemoney？〃　he　repeated　slowly。

〃No。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Becausebecause　I　LOVE　him。〃

Mr。　Hamlin　rebuttoned　his　waistcoat；　and　sat　down　patiently　on　the
bed。　　Peg　arose；　and　awkwardly　drew　the　portmanteau　a　little　nearer
to　him。

〃When　Jim　Byways　left　me　this　yer　property；〃　she　began；　looking
cautiously　around；　〃he　left　it　to　me　on　CONDITIONS；　not　conditions
ez　waz　in　his　WRITTEN　will；　but　conditions　ez　waz　SPOKEN。　　A
promise　I　made　him　in　this　very　room；　Mr。　Hamlin；this　very　room；
and　on　that　very　bed　you're　sittin'　on；　in　which　he　died。〃

Like　most　gamblers；　Mr。　Hamlin　was　superstitious。　　He　rose　hastily
from　the　bed；　and　took　a　chair　beside　the　window。　　The　wind　shook
it　as　if　the　discontented　spirit　of　Mr。　Byways　were　without；　re…
enforcing　his　last　injunction。

〃I　don't　know　if　you　remember　him；〃　said　Peg　feverishly。　　〃he　was　a
man　ez　hed　suffered。　　All　that　he　lovedwife；　fammerly；　friends
had　gone　back　on　him。　　He　tried　to　make　light　of　it　afore　folks；
but　with　me；　being　a　poor　gal；　he　let　himself　out。　　I　never　told
anybody　this。　　I　don't　know　why　he　told　ME；　I　don't　know；〃
continued　Peg；　with　a　sniffle；　〃why　he　wanted　to　make　me　unhappy
too。　　But　he　made　me　promise；　that；　if　he　left　me　his　fortune；　I'd
NEVER；　NEVERso　help　me　God！never　share　it　with　any　man　or　woman
that　I　LOVED；　I　didn't　think　it　would　be　hard　to　keep　that　promise
then；　Mr。　Hamlin；　for　I　was　very　poor；　and　hedn't　a　friend　nor　a
living　bein'　that　was　kind　to　me；　but　HIM。〃

〃But　you've　as　good　as　broken　your　promise　already；〃　said　Hamlin。
〃You've　given　Jack　money；　as　I　know。〃

〃Only　what　I　made　myself。　　Listen　to　me；　Mr。　Hamlin。　　When　Jack
proposed　to　me；　I　offered　him　about　what　I　kalkilated　I　could　earn
myself。　　When　he　went　away；　and　was　sick　and　in　trouble；　I　came
here　and　took　this　hotel。　　I　knew　that　by　hard　work　I　could　make　it
pay。　　Don't　laugh　at　me；　please。　　I　DID　work　hard；　and　DID　make　it
paywithout　takin'　one　cent　of　the　fortin'。　　And　all　I　made；
workin'　by　night　and　day；　I　gave　to　him。　　I　did；　Mr。　Hamlin。　　I
ain't　so　hard　to　him　as　you　think；　though　I　might　be　kinder；　I
know。〃

Mr。　Hamlin　rose；　deliberately　resumed　his　coat；　watch；　hat；　and
overcoat。　　When　he　was　completely　dressed　again；　he　turned　to　Peg。
〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you've　been　givin'　all　the　money　you　made
here　to　this　A　1　first…class　cherubim？〃

〃Yes；　but　he　didn't　know　where　I　got　it。　　O　Mr。　Hamlin！　he　didn't
know　that。〃

〃Do　I　understand　you；　that　he's　bin　buckin　agin　Faro　with　the　money
that　you　raised　on　hash？　　And　YOU　makin'　the　hash？〃

〃But　he　didn't　know　that；　he　wouldn't　hev　took　it　if　I'd　told　him。〃

〃No；　he'd　hev　died　fust！〃　said　Mr。　Hamlin　gravely。　　〃Why；　he's　that
sensitiveis　Jack　Folinsbeethat　it　nearly　kills　him　to　take
money　even　of　ME。　　But　where　does　this　angel　reside　when　he　isn't
fightin'　the　tiger；　and　is；　so　to　speak；　visible　to　the　naked　eye？〃

〃Hehestops　here；〃　said　Peg；　with　an　awkward　blush。

〃I　see。　　Might　I　ask　the　number　of　his　roomor　should　I　be　a
disturbing　him　in　his　meditations？〃　continued　Jack　Hamlin；　with
grave　politeness。

〃Oh！　then　you'll　promise？　　And　you'll　talk　to　him；　and　make　HIM
promise？〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Hamlin　quietly。

〃And　you'll　remember　he's　sickvery　sick？　　His　room's　No。　44；　at
the　end　of　the　hall。　　Perhaps　I'd　better　go　with　you？〃

〃I'll　find　it。〃

〃And　you　won't　be　too　hard　on　him？〃

〃I'll　be　a　father　to　him；〃　said　Hamlin　demurely；　as　he　opened　the
door　and　stepped　into　the　hall。　　But　he　hesitated　a　moment；　and
then　turned；　and　gravely　held　out　his　hand。　　Peg　took　it　timidly。
He　did　not　seem　quite　in　earnest；　and　his　black　eyes；　vainly
questioned；　indicated　nothing。　　But　he　shook　her　hand　warmly；　and
the　next　moment　was　gone。

He　found　t