As a result of Jode Lenning’s clever work during that game, he won over all the ball players, and made many friends among the spectators; but the one man Merry and Darrel had wished to reconcile with Lenning became angry at what he termed Lenning’s deception1, and seemed more bitterly set against the young fellow than ever. That one man was Colonel Hawtrey.
Lenning, happy in the thought that many of the friends he had lost had been regained2, returned with a light heart to his work at the Ophir Mine. At the Ophir House, directly after the baseball game, Mr. Bradlaugh, president of the Ophir Athletic3 Club and general manager for the syndicate that operated the gold mine, had labored4 hard with Colonel Hawtrey to soften5 him in his attitude toward Lenning. He had not been very successful, but he had given Frank a tip that, Monday forenoon, he and the colonel were to play a game of golf on the Ophir club links, and he suggested that Frank appear personally and speak a good word for Lenning.
What the ball game had failed to accomplish, Frank might succeed in bringing about by explaining that, whatever duplicity Lenning had used in the game, had been at the suggestion and by the advice of Merriwell himself and of Darrel.
It was a delicate mission, this that was taking Frank to the golf links that forenoon, and he had every reason
244
to consider it, as he had observed to Clancy, “one of the hardest jobs he had ever tackled.”
The club links lay to the south of the clubhouse, and Merry and Clancy had hardly reached the clubhouse door before they glimpsed two white-clad figures and two diminutive6 lads with bags out on the course. One of the white-clad figures was on its knees, building a tee.
“There they are, Clan,” remarked Merriwell soberly.
“Sure thing, Chip,” laughed Clancy, a little uneasily. “Let’s mosey over and have our little interview.”
Perhaps it was not an opportune7 moment in which to interrupt two golf enthusiasts8, but Merry reflected that he and Clancy were there by invitation of Mr. Bradlaugh, and it seemed the part of wisdom to get their interview with the colonel over as soon as possible.
It was the colonel’s first drive, and he was carefully weighing his driver in his hands as the boys came up.
“Hello, Merriwell,” he called out genially9; “and here’s Clancy, too. Did you come out to see me get the better of Bradlaugh? This,” he laughed, “is going to be one time when Gold Hill puts Ophir down and out.”
Mr. Bradlaugh nodded to the boys, and gave Merry a suggestive wink10. That wink said, as plain as words, that Merriwell had better chip in with his word for Lenning while the colonel was feeling in such an amiable11 mood.
“I don’t want to butt12 in here, colonel,” said Frank, “but Clancy and I didn’t come to see your match with Mr. Bradlaugh, but to have a bit of a talk with you.”
A look of surprise crossed the colonel’s face, and then his brows lowered with just a shade of suspicion. He tucked his driver under his arm, gave a regretful look at the waiting ball, and then pushed his hands resignedly into his trousers pockets.
“Go ahead, Merriwell,” said he. “I wouldn’t allow
245
many young fellows to stand between me and the ball I’m going to put over that bunker, I can tell you. I realize, though, that I’m vastly indebted to you in a good many ways. What’s on your mind?”
“There’s just one thing, colonel,” returned Merriwell earnestly, “which I’d like to see accomplished13 before Clancy, Ballard, and I pull up stakes and quit southern Arizona.”
“Only one thing, eh?” said the colonel, with a faint smile. “Well, what is it?”
Frank was brought right up to the critical point, first crack out of the box. He had steeled himself for the ordeal14, however, and answered calmly:
“It’s about Jode Lenning, colonel. I’d—I’d like to see you take down the bars a little, and be friends with him.”
The faint smile had passed from Hawtrey’s face. The brows lowered again.
“Be friends with that young ne’er-do-well?” he observed. “That’s the thing you’d like to see accomplished before you leave Arizona?”
“Yes, sir,” Frank answered hopefully.
“When do you expect to leave?”
Frank’s hopes continued to grow. Why all this talk if the colonel was not inclined to be in a receptive mood regarding his cast-off nephew?
“Why, we’re going to leave just as soon as Professor Borrodaile receives his check from Mr. Bradlaugh’s syndicate for the mine in the Picketpost Mountains. Just when that will be I don’t know.”
“I can tell you, my boy,” struck in Mr. Bradlaugh. “I had a telegram from New York yesterday, saying the check would be here in to-day’s mail. The stage will bring it this forenoon.”
246
“That means, then,” said Merriwell, “that we’ll probably get away to-morrow.”
“Too soon.” scowled15 the colonel. “You’re not giving me time enough.”
“About how much time do you want, Hawtrey,” queried16 Mr. Bradlaugh, “in order to show a merciful and forgiving spirit toward your own flesh and blood?”
Colonel Hawtrey faced Mr. Bradlaugh slowly and looked him full in the eyes.
“About fifty years,” he answered harshly, “and then some.” His tone changed a little as he turned back to Merriwell. “I’m sorry, my lad,” he went on. “I suppose you’ll think I’m a hard-hearted old wretch17, but this matter that seems so simple to you is really quite complicated. As I’ve said before, Jode has made his own bed, and now he must lie in it.”
“I’d like to explain,” Frank continued gloomily, “that Jode got into the ball game because Darrel and I begged him to. If there was any deception, Darrel and I are responsible for it.”
“I suppose that Jode is sending you to me with all this talk,” commented the colonel. “It would be like him.”
“He has nothing to do with it, colonel,” protested Frank. “In fact, he says he doesn’t want to curry18 any favor with you. He says you did exactly right to set him adrift, and that, from now on, he intends to make his own way in the world and stand on his own feet. He doesn’t want any help from you.”
“That’s a very laudable purpose—if Jode really means what he says. But—you never can tell about that. I’ve had enough of the young cub19.”
“He means what he says now, colonel,” averred20 Frank earnestly, hating to give up championing Lenning’s cause.
“It’s my opinion that you’re wrong in thinking that.
247
It’s also my opinion that you’re showing very poor judgment21, as well as a very generous and forgiving nature, by having anything whatever to do with Jode. You’ll be sorry, I fear, before you’re done with that scapegrace.”
“Merriwell’s judgment,” suggested Mr. Bradlaugh, “has proved to be pretty good since he has been with us.”
“I’ll agree with you there, Brad,” nodded the colonel; “but,” and he laughed, “there’s always got to be a first time when a fellow’s judgment goes wrong.”
“You ought to make Merriwell feel good over this Lenning affair before he leaves Ophir, colonel,” observed Mr. Bradlaugh casually22. “It wouldn’t cost you much but a little pinch in your pride.”
“It’s a matter of principle, not pride, with me,” growled23 Hawtrey. “I’d do a good deal for you, my boy,” he added, turning to Frank, “but you could hardly expect me to break a principle just to make you ‘feel good,’ as Bradlaugh puts it.”
“Lenning is trying to do right,” Mr. Bradlaugh persisted. “He’s as steady as a clock, out at the mine.”
“Glad to hear it. You can’t depend on him, though, Bradlaugh. He’s liable to go wrong again at any time. Lenning’s my nephew, and I hate to say it, but there’s nothing to be gained by shying at the truth.”
Colonel Hawtrey, as though he considered these words final, put himself in position and let drive at the ball. The white sphere went arching magnificently across the bunker.
“Beautiful!” murmured Mr. Bradlaugh. “You’re in great form to-day, Hawtrey.”
The colonel laughed good-humoredly. Turning, he slapped Merriwell affectionately on the shoulder.
“Don’t fret24 about Lenning,” said he, “for you’ll find that——”
248
The colonel was interrupted by a man on a horse, who galloped25 up and came to a quick stop at that moment. It was Burke, the superintendent26 at the mine.
“Hello, Burke!” exclaimed Bradlaugh, who was just getting ready to make his drive. “What’s on your mind this beautiful morning?”
“We’ve got to have a new night watchman at the cyanide plant,” Burke answered.
Everybody’s attention was captured on the instant.
“Where’s Lenning?” demanded the general manager.
“He went away yesterday and hasn’t come back,” said the superintendent.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
deception
|
|
| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
labored
|
|
| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
soften
|
|
| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
diminutive
|
|
| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
opportune
|
|
| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
enthusiasts
|
|
| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
genially
|
|
| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wink
|
|
| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
curry
|
|
| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
cub
|
|
| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
averred
|
|
| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fret
|
|
| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
superintendent
|
|
| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |