the game-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



school；　vear　good　clothes；　haf　better　pread　an'　meat；　der　mudder　lif

fat；　dere　iss　joy　in　der　eye；　an'　she　iss　proud　of　her　good　boy　Joe。



〃But　he　haf　der　beautiful　bodyach；　Gott；　der　beautiful　body！

stronger　as　der　ox；　k…vicker　as　der　tiger…cat；　der　head　cooler　as

der　ice…box；　der　eyes　vat　see　eferytings；　k…vick；　just　like　dat。　　He

put　on　der　gloves　vit　der　boys　at　Hansen's　loft；　he　put　on　der

gloves　vit　de　boys　at　der　varehouse。　　He　go　before　der　club；　he

knock　out　der　Spider；　k…vick；　one　punch；　just　like　dat；　der　first

time。　　Der　purse　iss　five　dollarvat　he　do？　　He　bring　it　home　to

der　mudder。



〃He　go　many　times　before　der　clubs；　he　get　many　pursesten　dollar；

fifty　dollar；　one　hundred　dollar。　　Vat　he　do？　　Tell　me　dat！　　Quit

der　job　at　Hansen's？　　Haf　der　good　time　vit　der　boys？　　No；　no；　he

iss　der　good　boy。　　He　vork　efery　day。　　He　fight　at　night　before　der

clubs。　　He　say；　'Vat　for　I　pay　der　rent；　Silverstein？'to　me；

Silverstein；　he　say　dat。　　Nefer　mind　vat　I　say；　but　he　buy　der　good

house　for　der　mudder。　　All　der　time　he　vork　at　Hansen's　and　fight

before　der　clubs　to　pay　for　der　house。　　He　buy　der　piano　for　der

sisters；　der　carpets；　der　pictures　on　der　vall。　　An'　he　iss　all　der

time　straight。　　He　bet　on　himselfdat　iss　der　good　sign。　　Ven　der

man　bets　on　himself　dat　is　der　time　you　bet　too〃



Here　Mrs。　Silverstein　groaned　her　horror　of　gambling；　and　her

husband；　aware　that　his　eloquence　had　betrayed　him；　collapsed　into

voluble　assurances　that　he　was　ahead　of　the　game。　　〃An'　all　because

of　Joe　Fleming；〃　he　concluded。　　〃I　back　him　efery　time　to　vin。〃



But　Genevieve　and　Joe　were　preeminently　mated；　and　nothing；　not　even

this　terrible　discovery；　could　keep　them　apart。　　In　vain　Genevieve

tried　to　steel　herself　against　him；　but　she　fought　herself；　not　him。

To　her　surprise　she　discovered　a　thousand　excuses　for　him；　found　him

lovable　as　ever；　and　she　entered　into　his　life　to　be　his　destiny；

and　to　control　him　after　the　way　of　women。　　She　saw　his　future　and

hers　through　glowing　vistas　of　reform；　and　her　first　great　deed　was

when　she　wrung　from　him　his　promise　to　cease　fighting。



And　he；　after　the　way　of　men；　pursuing　the　dream　of　love　and

striving　for　possession　of　the　precious　and　deathless　object　of

desire；　had　yielded。　　And　yet；　in　the　very　moment　of　promising　her；

he　knew　vaguely；　deep　down；　that　he　could　never　abandon　the　Game；

that　somewhere；　sometime；　in　the　future；　he　must　go　back　to　it。　　And

he　had　had　a　swift　vision　of　his　mother　and　brothers　and　sisters；

their　multitudinous　wants；　the　house　with　its　painting　and

repairing；　its　street　assessments　and　taxes；　and　of　the　coming　of

children　to　him　and　Genevieve；　and　of　his　own　daily　wage　in　the

sail…making　loft。　　But　the　next　moment　the　vision　was　dismissed；　as

such　warnings　are　always　dismissed；　and　he　saw　before　him　only

Genevieve；　and　he　knew　only　his　hunger　for　her　and　the　call　of　his

being　to　her；　and　he　accepted　calmly　her　calm　assumption　of　his　life

and　actions。



He　was　twenty；　she　was　eighteen；　boy　and　girl；　the　pair　of　them；　and

made　for　progeny；　healthy　and　normal；　with　steady　blood　pounding

through　their　bodies；　and　wherever　they　went　together；　even　on

Sunday　outings　across　the　bay　amongst　people　who　did　not　know　him；

eyes　were　continually　drawn　to　them。　　He　matched　her　girl's　beauty

with　his　boy's　beauty；　her　grace　with　his　strength；　her　delicacy　of

line　and　fibre　with　the　harsher　vigor　and　muscle　of　the　male。

Frank…faced；　fresh…colored；　almost　ingenuous　in　expression；　eyes

blue　and　wide　apart；　he　drew　and　held　the　gaze　of　more　than　one

woman　far　above　him　in　the　social　scale。　　Of　such　glances　and　dim

maternal　promptings　he　was　quite　unconscious；　though　Genevieve　was

quick　to　see　and　understand；　and　she　knew　each　time　the　pang　of　a

fierce　joy　in　that　he　was　hers　and　that　she　held　him　in　the　hollow

of　her　hand。　　He　did　see；　however；　and　rather　resented；　the　men's

glances　drawn　by　her。　　These；　too；　she　saw　and　understood　as　he　did

not　dream　of　understanding。







CHAPTER　III







Genevieve　slipped　on　a　pair　of　Joe's　shoes；　light…soled　and　dapper；

and　laughed　with　Lottie；　who　stooped　to　turn　up　the　trousers　for

her。　　Lottie　was　his　sister；　and　in　the　secret。　　To　her　was　due　the

inveigling　of　his　mother　into　making　a　neighborhood　call　so　that

they　could　have　the　house　to　themselves。　　They　went　down　into　the

kitchen　where　Joe　was　waiting。　　His　face　brightened　as　he　came　to

meet　her；　love　shining　frankly　forth。



〃Now　get　up　those　skirts；　Lottie；〃　he　commanded。　　〃Haven't　any　time

to　waste。　　There；　that'll　do。　　You　see；　you　only　want　the　bottoms　of

the　pants　to　show。　　The　coat　will　cover　the　rest。　　Now　let's　see　how

it'll　fit。



〃Borrowed　it　from　Chris；　he's　a　dead　sporty　sportlittle；　but　oh；

my！〃　he　went　on；　helping　Genevieve　into　an　overcoat　which　fell　to

her　heels　and　which　fitted　her　as　a　tailor…made　over…coat　should　fit

the　man　for　whom　it　is　made。



Joe　put　a　cap　on　her　head　and　turned　up　the　collar；　which　was

generous　to　exaggeration；　meeting　the　cap　and　completely　hiding　her

hair。　　When　he　buttoned　the　collar　in　front；　its　points　served　to

cover　the　cheeks；　chin　and　mouth　were　buried　in　its　depths；　and　a

close　scrutiny　revealed　only　shadowy　eyes　and　a　little　less　shadowy

nose。　　She　walked　across　the　room；　the　bottom　of　the　trousers　just

showing　as　the　bang　of　the　coat　was　disturbed　by　movement。



〃A　sport　with　a　cold　and　afraid　of　catching　more；　all　right　all

right；〃　the　boy　laughed；　proudly　surveying　his　handiwork。　　〃How　much

money　you　got？　　I'm　layin'　ten　to　six。　　Will　you　take　the　short

end？〃



〃Who's　short？〃　she　asked。



〃Ponta；　of　course；〃　Lottie　blurted　out　her　hurt；　as　though　there

could　be　any　question　of　it　even　for　an　instant。



〃Of　course；〃　Genevieve　said　sweetly；　〃only　I　don't　know　much　about

such　things。〃



This　time　Lottie　kept　her　lips　together；　but　the　new　hurt　showed　on

her　face。　　Joe　looked　at　his　watch　and　said　it　was　time　to　go。　　His

sister's　arms　went　about　his　neck；　and　she　kissed　him　soundly　on　the

lips。　　She　kissed　Genevieve；　too；　and　saw　them　to　the　gate；　one　arm

of　her　brother　about　her　waist。



〃What　does　ten　to　six　mean？〃　Genevieve　asked；　the　while　their

footfalls　rang　out　on　the　frosty　air。



〃That　I'm　the　long　end；　the　favorite；〃　he　answered。　　〃That　a　man

bets　ten　dollars　at　the　ring　side　that　I　win　against　six　dollars

another　man　is　betting　that　I　lose。〃



〃But　if　you're　the　favorite　and　everybody　thinks　you'll　win；　how

does　anybody　bet　against　you？〃



〃That's　what　makes　prize…fightingdifference　of　opinion；〃　he

laughed。　　〃Besides；　there's　always　the　chance　of　a　lucky　punch；　an

accident。　　Lots　of　chance；〃　he　said　gravely。



She　shrank　against　him；　clingingly　and　protectingly；　and　he　laughed

with　surety。



〃You　wait；　and　you'll　see。　　An'　don't　get　scared　at　the　start。　　The

first　few　rounds'll　be　something　fierce。　　That's　Ponta's　strong

point。　　He's　a　wild　man；　with　an　kinds　of　punches；a　whirlwind；

and　he　gets　his　man　in　the　first　rounds。　　He's　put　away　a　whole　lot

of　cleverer　and　better　men　than　him。　　It's　up　to　me　to　live　through

it；　that's　all。　　Then　he'll　be　all　in。　　Then　I　go　after　him；　just

watch。　　You'll　know　when　I　go　after　him；　an'　I'll　get'm；　too。〃



They　came　to　the　hall；　on　a　dark　street…corner；　ostensibly　the

quarters　of　an　athletic　club；　but　in　reality　an　institution　designed

for　pulling　off　fights　and　keeping　within　the　police　ordinance。　　Joe

drew　away　from　her；　and　they　walked　apart　to　the　entrance。



〃Keep　your　hands　in　your　pockets　whatever　you　do；〃　Joe　warned　her；

〃and　it'll　be　all　right。　　Only　a　couple　of　minutes　of　it。〃



〃He's　with　me；〃　Joe　said　to　the　door…keeper；　who　was　talking　with　a

policeman。



Both　men　greeted　him　familiarly；　taking　no　notice　of　his　companion。



〃They　never　tumbled；　nobody'll　tumble；〃　Joe　assured　her；　as　they

climbed　the　stairs　to　the　second　story。　　〃And　even　if　they　did；　they

wouldn't　know　who　it　was　and　they's　keep　it　mum　for　me。　　Here；　come

in　here！〃



He　whisked　her　into　a　little　office…like　room　and　left　her　seated　on

a　dusty；　broken…bottomed　chair。　　A　few　minutes　later　he　was　back

again；　clad　in　a　long　bath　robe；　canvas　shoes　on　his　feet。　　She

began　to　tremble　against　him；　and　his　arm　passed　gently　around　her。



〃It'll　be　all　right；　Genevieve；〃　he　said　encouragingly。　　〃I've　got

it　all　fixed。　　Nobody'll　tumble。〃



〃It's　you；　Joe；〃　she　said。　　〃I　don't　care　for　myself。　　It's　you。〃



〃Don't　care　for　yourself！　　But　that's　what　I　thought　you　were　afraid

of！〃



He　looked　at　her　in　amazement；　the　wonder　of　woman　bursting　upon　him

in　a　more　transcendent　glory　than　ever；　and　he　had　seen　much　of　the

wonder　of　woman　in　Genevieve。　　He　was　speechless　for　a　moment；　and

then　stammered：…



〃You　mean　me？　　And　you　don't　care　what　people　think？　or　anything？

or　anything？〃



A　sharp　double　knock　at　the　door；　and　a　sharper　〃Get　a　move　on

yerself；　Joe！〃　brought　him　back　to　immediate　things。



〃Quick；　one　last　kiss；　Genevieve；〃　he　whispered；　almost　holily。

〃It's　my　last　fight；　an'　I'll　fight　as　never　before　with　you　lookin'

at　me。〃



The　next　she　knew；　the　pressure　of　his　lips　yet　warm　on　hers；　she

was　in　a　group　of　jostling　young　fellows；　none　of　whom　seemed　to

take　the　slightest　notice　of　her。　　Several　had　their　coats　off　and

their　shirt　sleeves　rolled　up。　　They　entered　the　hall　from　the　rear；

still　keeping　the　casual　formation　of　the　group；　and　moved　slowly　up

a　side　aisle。



It　was　a　crowded；　ill…lighted　hall；　barn…like　in　its　proportions；

and　the　smoke…laden　air　gave　a　peculiar　distortion　to　everything。

She　felt　as　though　she　would　stifle。　　There　were　shrill　cries　of

boys　selling　programmes　and　soda　water；　and　there　was　a　great　bass

rumble　of　masculine　voices。　　She　heard　a　voice　offering　ten　to　six

on　Joe　Fleming。　　The　utterance　was　monotonoushopeless；　it　seemed

to　her；　and　she　felt　a　quick　thrill。　　It　was　her　Joe　against　whom

everybody　was　to　bet。



And　she　felt　other　thrills。　　Her　blood　was　touched；　as　by　fire；　with

romance；　adventurethe　unknown；　the　mysterious；　the　terribleas

she　penetrated　this　haunt　of　men　where　women　came　not。　　And　there

were　other　thrills。　　It　was　the　only　time　in　her　life　she　had　dared

the　rash　thing。　　For　the　first　time　she　was　overstepping　the　bounds

laid　down　by　that　harshest　of　tyrants；　the　Mrs。　Grundy　of　the

working　class。　　She　felt　fear；　and　for　herself；　though　the　moment

before　she　had　been　thinking　only　of　Joe。



Before　she　knew　it；　the　front　of　the　hall　had　been　reached；　and　she

had　gone　up　half　a　dozen　steps　into　a　small　dressing…room。　　This　was

crowded　to　suffocationby　men　who　played　the　Game；　she　concluded；

in　one　capacity　or　another。　　And　here　she　lost　Joe。　　But　before　the

real　personal　fright　could　soundly　clutch　her；　one　of　the　young

fellows　said　gruffly；　〃Come　along