For the first time in his life, Willyum was his own boss at actual labor4. The financial aspect of his travail5 had not yet arisen to trouble him. Naturally swift to comprehend things mechanical, he set himself to learn type, and succeeded more or less. He had found enough old job stuff set up to show him the use of the quoins, sticks, and furniture—although these names meant nothing to him—and after various attempts in which some type was sadly ruined, he managed to get the hang of the job press. The flatbed was a simpler proposition.
"Gee6!" he observed, standing7 in his doorway8 one noon with a fine air of proprietorship10, and watching the dusty stage roll in from the south. "Here's another stranger comin' to town. And the doc ain't back yet with Sandy! Well, I guess I'd better eat an' then begin to get out the first issue of the paper. We'll see who this stranger is, huh?"
He walked across to the hotel, where already most of Two Palms was assembling with avid11 curiosity to watch the debarkation12 of the new arrival. Bill Hobbs took one square look at the stranger, then he suddenly became inconspicuous.
The arrival was a tall man, well dressed, his luggage expensive and heavy. His features were very remarkable13; they were features, once seen, never to be forgotten. He seemed fairly young, virile14 and energetic. When he removed his straw hat to wipe the dust from his face, he displayed a high, narrow brow that was white with the pallor of the city.
Beneath this brow were straight black eyebrows15 like a bar across his face. The eyes, too, were black—an intense and glittering black, luminous16 as black crystal. A finely trimmed black vandyke shaded his mouth, but accentuated17 the high, thin lines of his countenance18. The whole face was undeniably aristocratic, very handsome in a mesmeric way, yet it held an indefinable hint of vulpine. The stranger's hands were long, white, powerful.
"I have a friend, a Mr. Lee," said the stranger to Piute Tomkins. His voice was smooth and very self-assured, pregnant with authority. "He has, I believe, engaged a room in advance of my coming?"
"He ain't," returned Piute, surveying the stranger. "But come in and eat, 'less ye want to miss dinner. I guess we can rustle19 a room somehow. We're havin' a treemenjous boom right now and all the bellhops is off to the gold rush, but I s'pose we can put ye up."
The spectators grinned at this elaborate irony20. The stranger, however, fastened his black eyes upon Piute, and after a few seconds Piute began to look uncomfortable.
"Ah, you are a very facetious21 gentleman!" said the stranger coolly. "May I inquire if Mr. Lee is stopping here?"
"Yep," said Piute, reddening a trifle. "He's up in his room with a busted22 leg—but ye'd better pile in to dinner 'fore23 seein' him. Dinner don't last long here."
"I hope not," said the stranger, going toward the hotel doorway, while the crowd guffawed24 at the confusion of Piute Tomkins.
Bill Hobbs, with incredulity in his eyes, slid into the hotel office and listened unashamedly while the stranger conversed25 with Piute. The conversation was largely concerned with Tom Lee, and Piute got some information which made his eyes widen. Willyum got the same information; and, when the stranger was gone from the office, he sidled up to the desk and inspected the register. He saw that the stranger had signed as "James Scudder, M.D." of San Francisco.
"Gee!" Bill Hobbs grinned suddenly. "He ain't even usin' a alleyas, huh? Gee! I got a real story to write up now——"
Forgetful of dinner, he turned and put for his office across the street in a burst of feverish26 energy. Once there, he seized a pencil and began to scribble27 down what he had overheard, and then grabbed a stick and turned to the nearest type-case. In another moment the butchery was going forward merrily.
In the meantime, Doctor Scudder finished a hasty meal and then was taken to the room of Tom Lee. Presently he was sitting beside the latter's bed and inquiring into the accident.
In the adjoining room sat Claire Lee, busy with some sewing; but there was a flutter of fear in her eyes, and from time to time her lips trembled, as though she were fighting down some inner repulsion, some frightful28 and unspeakable horror whose talons29 were gripping at her from that inner room. And yet the two men, whose conversation came clearly to her, were not speaking of her at all.
"You wired me that you had found the place—the place which exactly suited you," said Scudder calmly. "So I came right along."
"Good!" said Tom Lee, who was sitting up in bed. "Good! I am eager to get to work. Did you arrange for a contractor30 as I ordered?"
The doctor nodded.
"Yes. I stopped in Meteorite31 and got hold of a good man there. He's coming over this afternoon—drives his own car—and you can go over the plans with him to-night. Of course, you'll have to figure on expensive work, for men and supplies will have to be shipped from Meteorite by truck."
Tom Lee waved his hand negligently32, as though the question of expense were one to be waived33 altogether.
"That goes without saying," he responded. "But I am glad that you came; I need you very badly. The allowance of opium34 that you gave me ran out four days ago."
Scudder laughed, and relaxed in his chair.
"And how are you doing without it?" he inquired. "Can you get along?"
"Not here in bed," he rejoined. "If I were outside, actively35 engaged, at work upon our plans, I think that the activity would help me tremendously. When I was busy with Claire looking up the place, I found this to be true."
Scudder's black eyes narrowed very slightly, as though inwardly he were a bit astonished. But his words gave the lie to this supposition.
"That's exactly what I calculated on," he returned easily, "and it proves that my theories have been correct. Fortunately, I brought along a good supply. By the way, I'm interested in this fellow who fixed36 you up—did you say his name was Murray? What did he look like?"
"By George!" he exclaimed. "Do you know, that's very remarkable!"
"What?" demanded Tom Lee, gazing at him with heavy-lidded calm.
"You know him, then?"
"No, but I know of him. Why, that fellow was one of the greatest surgeons in the country until a year ago! He went all to pieces in a hurry and dropped out of sight; it was more or less hushed up, of course, but in professional circles the truth is known. It was caused by morphia; the poor fellow; must have been a hopeless victim."
"He does not look it now," said Tom Lee. His features contracted slightly. "Morphia! And that goes back to opium again. All the more need of our getting to work without further delay, Doctor Scudder! You will remain here for a time?"
Scudder's eyes went for an instant to the door of the other room.
"Yes, as long as you want me," he rejoined. "In fact, I think I'll remain here until things shape up right, then return to San Francisco for my things, and come back here for good. I'll want to keep an eye on the building work."
Silently, without a word, Tom Lee took from a table beside the bed a little round cup of horn. Once it had contained a brownish substance, but now it was scraped clean inside, scraped down to the very horn. Silently, he held it out to the doctor. It was an opium toy.
Scudder smiled and nodded as he took the little cup. "I'll attend to it at once," he said, and rose. "Do you like this desert country as much as you expected?"
"Yes," said Tom Lee gravely. "It is wonderful; it is ideal! I like it for itself, no less than for our purpose. I am an American; I love this country, I am part of it—and this desert is to me like the great wilderness40 of my own Shensi, the very heart of the ancient land, full of great unguessed things and strange powers! Yes, I like this desert."
Scudder, shrugging his shoulders as though to indicate that it was all a matter of choice, turned away. At the door of the other room, Claire halted him.
"Doctor! Is it true—what you said about Doctor Murray?"
For a moment Scudder looked into her eyes as though reading what lay behind her eagerness, her compassionate41 words. Beneath his beard, his lips tightened42.
"Yes," he said. "I'm sorry to say that's quite true, Miss Lee. Of course, this Murray may not be the same man. I'm delighted by your father's improvement; I think this country is going to do wonders for him! If you'll excuse me, I'll get him a little opium now. It'll help him greatly and put him in shape to go over things with the contractor tonight."
He left for his own room, which was across the hall. When the door had closed behind him, Claire Lee stood motionless, both hands at her breast. In her eyes was a numbed43, wondering look, the look of one who was inwardly fluttering with fear of the unknown and the intangible. Then, as Tom Lee called her, the look vanished and she turned to the other room.
Tom Lee looked up at her, then held out his hand. She took it, silently, and his strong fingers closed upon hers in a mutely significant gesture. It was an endearment44, that quiet touching45 of the hands, but it was more than an endearment. From the massive personality of the man there went out to the girl a quiet force, a compellant for poise46; a reassurance47 of strength and faith and love unassailable.
"You are not glad he has come?" asked Tom Lee, watching her eyes.
"No," she answered simply. "I do not believe in him!" A wistful smile came to her lips, as she touched his coarse black hair with caressing48 fingers.
"My dear," said Tom Lee gravely, "he has done great things for me; his treatment is helping49 me tremendously. He is efficient, that man!"
Claire said no more. She turned away and opened a box that lay upon the table. From it she took a lamp, filled the bowl with peanut oil—which is odorless—and lighted it. She laid out a bamboo opium pipe, a needle, a set of the simple, but ingenious scales, and then turned again as Doctor Scudder knocked and entered the room.
Late that afternoon, two other men drifted into Two Palms. One came from the north, and this was Deadoak Stevens. He tramped disconsolately50 into the hotel and sought out Piute Tomkins, with whom he was closeted for some time. The two men emerged from their talk with an air of hopelessness; Piute had chewed at his ragged51 mustache until it had become a wisp.
The other arrival was the Meteorite contractor, by name Patrick Hennesy. He greeted Piute jovially52; a brawny53, red-faced man, and registered for the night. Then he inquired for Doctor Scudder, and was directed to the latter's room. As he turned from the register, he was frowning.
"What's this?" he said, beckoning54 to Piute and pointing with one stubby finger to the register. "Who's this guy Mackintavers? He don't go by the front name o' Sandy, I suppose?"
Piute assented55 with a trace of surprise. Patrick Hennesy broke into a lurid56 oath and inquired as to the whereabouts of said Mackintavers. When informed that Sandy was then somewhere to northward57, he doubled up one huge fist.
"What's bitin' you?" inquired Piute with interest. "Know him, do you?"
"Know him?" Hennesy glared for a minute, then relaxed. "Well, I used to know him—and I sure want to see if he comes back to-night! If he don't—then don't say nothin' about me, savvy58? I'll connect with that cuss later."
Piute assented, not knowing just what to make of all this. He felt too hopeless over the report of Deadoak Stevens, however, to push his inquiries59 into the matter.
Bill Hobbs, in the interim60, was working feverishly61 through the hot afternoon in his printing office across the street. He had already evolved some principles of type setting, and now he was alternately cursing and blessing62 the implements63 to his hand, as he set up a grotesque64 and fearful array of words.
Toward sunset he viewed his labors65 with a marvelling66 satisfaction. The late proprietor9 had left a front-page form already in shape to receive news articles, and Bill Hobbs hung over the stone with an admiring eye as he studied the news article which he had supplied in part.
"Gee!" Willyum sucked in his breath admiringly. "I'll break off for supper, then do some more. Tomorrow I'll have her done. Gee! Ain't she great!"
That evening he continued his labors by lamplight.
In the room of Tom Lee across in the hotel, Patrick Hennesy was that evening poring over blue prints and architect's plans, discussing them with Tom Lee and Doctor Scudder, while Claire listened and made occasional comments. Hennesy looked completely stumped67 and extremely mystified. He was unable to arrive at the purpose of the buildings which Tom Lee wished him to erect68, and the probable cost of them staggered him. But when Tom Lee calmly extended him a check which ran into four large figures, and told him to take it on account, he was forced to accept matters.
"Then I'll be back later," he said in conclusion. "I'll run out to that place soon's you got the deed, and see just what gradin' will have to be done, and git a shovel69 to work."
Early in the morning, the contractor departed back to Meteorite, repulsing70 all efforts of Piute and Deadoak to penetrate71 his mysterious business with Tom Lee.
Through the morning, Bill Hobbs slaved in his printing office. At noon, he announced jubilantly to Piute and other citizens of Two Palms, over the dinner table, that his forms were locked and on the press, and that he'd run off a newspaper that afternoon that would sure make 'em sit up some when they read it!
At two o'clock, after some slight delays incidental to inking and other complicated matters, the Helngon Star went to press.
"Gee!" exclaimed Willyum as he drew the first sheet away and looked it over with humble72 devotion in his eyes. "Gee! Ain't that wonderful, now?"
He was right. It was wonderful.
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收听单词发音
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1
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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travail
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| n.阵痛；努力 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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proprietorship
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| n.所有（权）；所有权 | |
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avid
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| adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的 | |
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debarkation
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| n.下车，下船，登陆 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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17
accentuated
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| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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18
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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21
facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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guffawed
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| v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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scribble
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| v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文 | |
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28
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
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meteorite
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| n.陨石；流星 | |
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negligently
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33
waived
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| v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
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opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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38
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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41
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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42
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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43
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
endearment
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| n.表示亲爱的行为 | |
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45
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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46
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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47
reassurance
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| n.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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48
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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49
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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50
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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51
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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52
jovially
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| adv.愉快地，高兴地 | |
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53
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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54
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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55
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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57
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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58
savvy
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| v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的 | |
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59
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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60
interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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61
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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62
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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63
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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64
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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65
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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66
marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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67
stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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68
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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69
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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70
repulsing
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| v.击退( repulse的现在分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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71
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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72
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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