round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第39章
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The situation was a painful one。 The Marshal glared at the
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committee。 Peter Stulpnagel grinned and rubbed his hands。 The
engineers scratched their heads。 The bald…headed prisoner revolved his
arm and looked pleased。
〃I think that one more shock〃 began the chairman。
〃No； sir；〃 said the Marshal 〃we've had foolery enough for one morning。
We are here for an execution； and a execution we'll have。〃
〃What do you propose？〃
〃There's a hook handy upon the ceiling。 Fetch in a rope； and we'll
soon set this matter straight。〃
There was another awkward delay while the warders departed for the
cord。 Peter Stulpnagel bent over Duncan Warner； and whispered
something in his ear。 The desperado started in surprise。
〃You don't say？〃 he asked。
The German nodded。
〃What！ Noways？〃
Peter shook his head； and the two began to laugh as though they
shared some huge joke between them。
The rope was brought； and the Marshal himself slipped the noose over
the criminal's neck。 Then the two warders； the assistant and he swung
their victim into the air。 For half an hour he hunga dreadful sightfrom
the ceiling。 Then in solemn silence they lowered him down； and one of
the warders went out to order the shell to be brought round。 But as he
touched ground again what was our amazement when Duncan Warner put
his hands up to his neck； loosened the noose； and took a long； deep breath。
〃Paul Jefferson's sale is goin' well；〃 he remarked； 〃I could see the
crowd from up yonder；〃 and he nodded at the hook in the ceiling。
〃Up with him again！〃 shouted the Marshal； 〃we'll get the life out of
him somehow。〃
In an instant the victim was up at the hook once more。
They kept him there for an hour； but when he came down he was
perfectly garrulous。
〃Old man Plunket goes too much to the Arcady Saloon；〃 said he。
〃Three times he's been there in an hour； and him with a family。 Old man
Plunket would do well to swear off。〃
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It was monstrous and incredible； but there it was。 There was no
getting round it。 The man was there talking when he ought to have been
dead。 We all sat staring in amazement； but United States Marshal
Carpenter was not a man to be euchred so easily。 He motioned the others
to one side； so that the prisoner was left standing alone。
〃Duncan Warner；〃 said he； slowly； 〃you are here to play your part； and
I am here to play mine。 Your game is to live if you can； and my game is
to carry out the sentence of the law。 You've beat us on electricity。 I'll
give you one there。 And you've beat us on hanging； for you seem to
thrive on it。 But it's my turn to beat you now； for my duty has to be
done。〃
He pulled a six…shooter from his coat as he spoke； and fired all the
shots through the body of the prisoner。 The room was so filled with
smoke that we could see nothing； but when it cleared the prisoner was still
standing there； looking down in disgust at the front of his coat。
〃Coats must be cheap where you come from；〃 said he。 〃Thirty
dollars it cost me； and look at it now。 The six holes in front are bad
enough； but four of the balls have passed out； and a pretty state the back
must be in。〃
The Marshal's revolver fell from his hand； and he dropped his arms to
his sides； a beaten man。
〃Maybe some of you gentlemen can tell me what this means；〃 said he；
looking helplessly at the committee。
Peter Stulpnagel took a step forward。
〃I'll tell you all about it；〃 said he。
〃You seem to be the only person who knows anything。〃
〃I AM the only person who knows anything。 I should have warned
these gentlemen； but； as they would not listen to me； I have allowed them
to learn by experience。 What you have done with your electricity is that
you have increased this man's vitality until he can defy death for
centuries。〃
〃Centuries！〃
〃Yes； it will take the wear of hundreds of years to exhaust the
enormous nervous energy with which you have drenched him。
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Electricity is life； and you have charged him with it to the utmost。
Perhaps in fifty years you might execute him； but I am not sanguine about
it。〃
〃Great Scott！ What shall I do with him？〃 cried the unhappy Marshal。
Peter Stulpnagel shrugged his shoulders。
〃It seems to me that it does not much matter what you do with him
now；〃 said he。
〃Maybe we could drain the electricity out of him again。 Suppose we
hang him up by the heels？〃
〃No； no； it's out of the question。〃
〃Well； well； he shall do no more mischief in Los Amigos； anyhow；〃
said the Marshal； with decision。 〃He shall go into the new gaol。 The
prison will wear him out。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Peter Stulpnagel； 〃I think that it is much more
probable that he will wear out the prison。〃
It was rather a fiasco and for years we didn't talk more about it than we
could help； but it's no secret now and I thought you might like to jot down
the facts in your case…book。
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THE DOCTORS OF HOYLAND。
Dr。 James Ripley was always looked upon as an exceedingly lucky
dog by all of the profession who knew him。 His father had preceded him
in a practice in the village of Hoyland； in the north of Hampshire； and all
was ready for him on the very first day that the law allowed him to put his
name at the foot of a prescription。 In a few years the old gentleman
retired； and settled on the South Coast； leaving his son in undisputed
possession of the whole country side。 Save for Dr。 Horton； near
Basingstoke； the young surgeon had a clear run of six miles in every
direction； and took his fifteen hundred pounds a year； though； as is usual
in country practices； the stable swallowed up most of what the consulting…
room earned。
Dr。 James Ripley was two…and…thirty years of age； reserved； learned；
unmarried； with set； rather stern features； and a thinning of the dark hair
upon the top of his head； which was worth quite a hundred a year to him。
He was particularly happy in his management of ladies。 He had caught
the tone of bland sternness and decisive suavity which dominates without
offending。 Ladies； however； were not equally happy in their
management of him。 Professionally； he was always at their service。
Socially； he was a drop of quicksilver。 In vain the country mammas
spread out their simple lures in front of him。 Dances and picnics were
not to his taste； and he preferred during his scanty leisure to shut himself
up in his study； and to bury himself in Virchow's Archives and the
professional journals。
Study was a passion with him； and he would have none of the rust
which often gathers round a country practitioner。 It was his ambition to
keep his knowledge as fresh and bright as at the moment when he had
stepped out of the examination hall。 He prided himself on being able at a
moment's notice to rattle off the seven ramifications of some obscure
artery； or to give the exact percentage of any physiological compound。
After a long day's work he would sit up half the night performing
iridectomies and extractions upon the sheep's eyes sent in by the village
butcher； to the horror of his housekeeper； who had to remove the debris
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next morning。 His love for his work was the one fanaticism which found
a place in his dry； precise nature。
It was the more to his credit that he should keep up to date in his
knowledge； since he had no competition to force him to exertion。 In the
seven years during which he had practised in Hoyland three rivals had
pitted themselves against him； two in the village itself and one in the
neighbouring hamlet of Lower Hoyland。 Of these one had sickened and
wasted； being； as it was said； himself the only patient whom he had treated
during his eighteen months of ruralising。 A second had bought a fourth
share of a Basingstoke practice； and had departed honourably； while a
third had vanished one September night； leaving a gutted house and an
unpaid drug bill behind him。 Since then the district had become a
monopoly； and no one had dared to measure himself against the
established fame of the Hoyland doctor。
It was； then； with a feeling of some surprise and considerable curiosity
that on driving through Lower Hoyland one morning he perceived that the
new house at the end of the village was occupied； and that a virgin brass
plate glistened upon the swinging gate which faced the high road。 He
pulled up his fifty guinea chestnut mare and took a good look at it。
〃Verrinder Smith； M。 D。；〃 was printed across it in very neat； small
lettering。 The last man had had letters half a foot long； with a lamp like a
fire… station。 Dr。
