He did not go into a Pullman, for that would cost more money. Instead, he sauntered up to the smoking car, rolling a cigarette as he went. For this occasion he had abandoned his “swellest” clothes, being simply clad in a black-and-white, shiny-buttoned suit that shrieked3 aloud, a plain orange-and-white necktie, and a pair of patent-leather shoes with green uppers. Bully desired to avoid all prominence4 during his stay in Fardale, and so had picked out his meekest5 raiment for the trip.
He found the smoking car fairly well filled, and with his mind still occupied with the subject of raising some money with which to bet for himself, he dropped into a seat beside a small, dried-up little man.
Now, there are many people who gauge6 other people’s importance by their clothes, and who do so without any regard for taste. Ezra Hostetter had run a laundry all his life, and he was the simplest-hearted person that ever ironed a collar. Being of extremely dull taste as regarded his own[228] attire7, he entertained an unlimited8 admiration9 for those fortunate men who could afford and carry off gorgeous apparel with perfect ease.
Consequently, he directed one startled glance at Bully’s glorious harmony of colors, and was lost. With honest longing10 stamped on his face, he directed sly but highly admiring side looks that feasted on everything from the green-topped shoes to the scarlet-and-blue hatband incasing Bully’s purple felt hat.
To be sure, the eye patch slightly detracted from Bully’s appearance. Ezra Hostetter began to swell2 with importance at sitting next this ornate personage. Possibly it was a prize fighter, or, at the very least, a follower11 of sports!
Not being a judge of character, the little man stole further worshiping glances as Bully grandly lighted his cigarette and snapped the match away. Being an excellent judge of character and delighting in posing, Bully was not slow to detect the point-blank admiration of his seatmate, and to delight in it.
“Fine weather, ain’t it?” he remarked condescendingly. “Goin’ to Fardale?”
“Yes, I’m going to buy a laundry there, Mr.—— Mr.——”
“Carson,” prompted Bully, settling his thumbs[229] in his vest and leaning back. “Ed Carson, of Carsonville. I’m glad to meet you, Mr.——”
“Hostetter, Ezra Hostetter,” said the dried-up little laundryman.
Bully positively14 basked16 during the next few moments. He had had little opportunity to do any basking17 around home, of late, and the chance was too good to be missed. And since he could also be very genial18 when he chose, he soon fell into a conversation with Hostetter which was extremely pleasant on both sides.
He did not uncase his splendor19 all at once, however. Having seen the simplicity20 of his companion’s heart, he began to take a keen delight in letting him discover his grandeur21 by degrees.
It seemed that Hostetter had heard of Colonel Carson, and, upon discovering that he was talking with that famous man’s son, his admiration eclipsed all bounds. After a little he ventured a timid query22 as to Bully’s profession.
“I’m a ball player,” announced Bully, with quiet dignity. “Not a professional, y’ understand, though I may consider an offer from the Giants this summer.”
This was the final straw. Poor Hostetter, blinded by the limitations of his own experience, carried away by the glamour23 of Bully’s wondrous24 raiment, positively groveled. And Bully continued to bask15 in open-mouthed admiration of[230] the other, until it occurred to him that he had better account for his black eye.
“I got this in my last game,” and he lightly touched the patch. “I was pitching, and the batter25 hit out a liner at me. I tried to stop it, but the ball broke through my hands and struck my eye. Even so, I caught it before it reached the ground, and so won the game.”
He reeled off this fabrication with amazing ease. Across the aisle26 was seated a man who had got on at Carsonville, and who knew nothing of how Bully had really obtained that injured optic. He grinned, and nudged the man beside him. Bully did not notice it, however.
Presently the conversation became even more personal. Bully discovered that his companion was proceeding27 to Fardale to invest in a laundry there, which was for sale. After a cautious glance around, Hostetter pulled forth28 a long black wallet and opened it out.
“Look at this!” he exclaimed proudly, anxious to prove to the great man that he, too, had symptoms of nobility. “There’s a thousand dollars in cash—in cash, mind you! I’m going to buy that laundry with it.”
Bully leaned over. At sight of the ten hundred-dollar bills his senses reeled, and sparks danced before his eyes. A thousand dollars in cash!
“By glory!” he gasped29 inwardly. “If I only[231] had that much, what a clean-up I’d make on this Fardale game!”
He was more cautious in expressing his thoughts aloud, however.
“Why didn’t you get a draft? You could ’a’ cashed it at Fardale in the morning. Ain’t you afraid some one will hold you up?”
“It’s kind o’ risky,” admitted the little man, replacing the wallet. “But I don’t like to trust to banks, Carson. I had a bank bust30 on me once, in Chicago, and I ain’t never going to trust ’em again. I guess no one’s going to hold me up, though.”
Bully pulled down his hat over his eyes. He knew that they were glittering covetously31, and he desired to hide the glitter from his companion.
A thousand dollars in cash! The words drove through his brain over and over, and fitted themselves into a refrain that chimed with the click and clatter32 of the wheels underneath33 him.
He had visions of himself nonchalantly sauntering through the grand stand, waving those hundred-dollar bills and petrifying34 the Fardale fans with his grandeur. The more he thought it over, the more the idea appealed to him, and the more he mentally condemned35 his father for a tightwad.
“He’s just rolling in money,” he thought sullenly36, “and here I am almost without a cent! I’ll have to run close to the wind to make this eight[232] dollars last me, at that. If I only had that thousand in cash, I guess I’d cut a swath in Fardale!”
Bitter and black thoughts filled his mind during the remainder of the journey. Little by little his mind edged to the conviction that he was a badly injured person, and that he was quite justified37 in resenting the injury in any manner possible. After all, he had warned his father quite fairly that he intended to raise some money, and if his father refused to take the warning—so much the worse for him!
“What hotel do you patronize here, Mr. Carson?” asked Hostetter, as the train was pulling into Fardale.
“Me?” responded Bully, with careless magnificence. “Oh, I usually frequent the Dobbs Hotel. Are you going there?”
“Well—well, to tell the truth, I—I think I will,” said Hostetter. “It ain’t expensive?”
Bully grinned to himself, fingering his eight dollars.
“Not ’specially so. I’d be glad to have your company, old man.”
“Thank you!” and the other glanced about nervously38. “You see, Carson, I’d feel a little bit safer if I had a friend in the vicinity. Of course there’s no danger, only I can’t transact39 my business till the morning, and——”
“Give your money to the hotel proprietor,” suggested Bully.
[233]
“Not me! I’ll keep it right on me all the time, and if I lose it, it’s my own fault. I wouldn’t trust any hotel man that ever lived!”
“Well, I dunno’s you’re wrong,” said Bully, nodding sagely40. “Come along—we’ll get supper at a restaurant, if you like, then go up to the hotel.”
At this proposal the little man fluttered with conscious pride. They left the train and entered a restaurant together. Here, Bully found that his raiment created a sensation, that was highly soothing41 to his spirits. After supper they went to the Dobbs Hotel and registered, being given rooms directly across the hall from each other.
Bully Carson had already sent a message to Randall, informing him of his arrival and stating that he wanted to see him that evening at the hotel. He knew that his cousin would have little difficulty in evading42 the academy regulations about being out of the grounds after taps.
However, Bully’s thoughts were still running on that thousand dollars in cash. Reaching his room before Hostetter arrived, for the latter had paused to telephone the men with whom he was to do business, Bully covertly43 took the key from his own door and tried it in that across the hall.
The key worked both locks!
A few moments later the little man arrived at the room which had been assigned to him. He[234] soon came over and knocked on Carson’s door, entering with a worried expression on his face.
“The bolt on my door is broken,” he exclaimed. “Do you think it’ll be quite safe there, or had I better get another room?”
“Oh, you’re all right,” Bully said carelessly. “Lock the door and put the key in your pocket—don’t leave it in the door, or it can be turned from outside. Then shove that wallet under your pillow, and you’re safer’n if you was locked up in a vault44. It’s a cinch, old man!”
“Well, I’ll take your advice,” said Hostetter, with a relieved air. “Much obliged to you, I’m sure!”
Saying good night, he vanished. Bully could hear him lock his door and withdraw the key.
Carson sat smoking until the room was so full of smoke that he was forced to open the window, much against his will. A thousand dollars in cash! The words seemed to burn into his brain. He walked up and down, trying to fling off the black thoughts that filled him, but finally he paused and brought down one fist on the table.
“I’ll do it!”
At that instant there came a soft knock at the door. Bully started, and swung around. The door opened.
“Oh, it’s you!” he cried, and laughed a little. “Come in, Bob. I was waiting for you.”
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收听单词发音
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1
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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2
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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3
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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meekest
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的最高级 ) | |
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6
gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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7
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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8
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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9
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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10
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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12
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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bask
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| vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于 | |
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16
basked
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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17
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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18
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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19
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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22
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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24
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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25
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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26
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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27
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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30
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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covetously
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| adv.妄想地，贪心地 | |
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32
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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33
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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34
petrifying
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| v.吓呆，使麻木( petrify的现在分词 )；使吓呆，使惊呆；僵化 | |
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35
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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36
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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38
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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39
transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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40
sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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41
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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42
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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43
covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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44
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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