"I take it for granted, Mr. Travers," said the colonel, after their potation, "that you are ready to undertake a job if there is money in it."
"That's as true as you live," said Travers emphatically.
"Am I also right in concluding that you are not squeamish as to how the money is earned? You are not overburdened with conscientious2 scruples3, eh?"
"Not much! They're all nonsense," returned Travers.
"Good! I see you are the sort of a man I took you for. Now you must, to begin with, promise that you will regard as confidential4 what I am about to say to you."
"Tom Travers can be relied upon, colonel. He's safe every time."
"Good again! Then I shall not hesitate to[Pg 144] unfold to you my little plan. I believe you have a bank in the village?"
"Yes; but, colonel, I am a stranger here. I only know one person here—my friend Brandon."
"Is he—the same kind of a man as yourself?" inquired Johnson.
"The same identical kind, colonel. What is it Shakespeare, or some other poet, says:
"'Two flowers upon a single stalk,
Two hearts that beat as one.'"
"I compliment you on your knowledge of poetry, Mr. Travers. I didn't think it was in you."
Travers looked complimented.
"I've had an education, colonel," he said complacently5, "though circumstances have been against me for the last four years. As for my friend Brandon, he's one you can rely upon."
"I shall probably require his services as well as yours," said Johnson. "Now let me proceed. You agree with me that bank capitalists are grasping monopolists, that they grind down the poor man, and live in luxury at the expense of the poor laborer7."
"Just my notion, colonel!"
[Pg 145]
"And whatever we can get out of them is what they richly deserve to lose?"
"Just so!"
"Well and good! I see you agree with me. And now, friend Travers, I will tell you what I have in view, and why it is that I need the services of two gentlemen like you and your friend. The fact is"—here Johnson dropped the mask, being assured of the character of his listener—"there's a good haul to be made within three days—a haul which, if successful, will make all three of us easy in our circumstances for years to come."
"Go ahead, colonel. I'm with you, and my friend Brandon, too. I'll answer for him. We both need a lift mightily8."
"I learn—no matter how"—said Johnson, lowering his voice, "that a messenger from the bank goes to Boston day after to-morrow with a package of thirty thousand dollars in government bonds. He's to carry them to the Merchant's National Bank in Boston. These bonds are not registered, but coupon9 bonds, and can easily be sold. They are at a premium10 of fifteen or sixteen per cent., which would bring up the value to nearly or quite thirty-five thousand dollars."
Travers listened with eager interest. He [Pg 146]began to understand the service that was expected of him, but it did not apparently shock him.
"Well?" he said.
"My plan," continued Colonel Johnson, "is for you and your friend to follow this bank messenger, and between here and Boston to relieve him of this package. You will meet me at a spot agreed upon in or near the city, and I will take the package."
"You will take the package?" repeated Travers blankly.
"Yes, but I will reward you liberally for your service. You and Brandon will each receive from me, in case the affair succeeds, the sum of five thousand dollars."
"I thought we would share and share alike," said Travers, in a tone of disappointment.
"Nonsense, man! Isn't it my plan? Am I to reap no benefit from my own conception? Besides, shall I not have the care and responsibility of disposing of the bonds? This will involve danger."
"So will our part involve danger," objected Travers.
"That is true, but your hazard is small. There will be two of you to one bank messenger. Besides, I take it for granted that you[Pg 147] will be adroit11 enough to relieve the messenger without his knowing anything about it. When he discovers his loss you will be out of sight. It strikes me you will be rewarded very handsomely for the small labor6 imposed upon you."
Travers made a further effort to secure better terms, but his new acquaintance was firm in refusing them. The result was, that Travers unconditionally12 accepted for himself and Brandon.
"When shall you see your friend Brandon, as you call him?" inquired the colonel.
"Good! I like your promptness."
"That is, if I can," continued Travers, a shade doubtfully, for he remembered the summary manner in which he had been ejected from the house of his congenial companion and friend.
"Very well. Then we will postpone14 further debate till you have done so. I shall stay at the tavern15 here, and you can readily find me."
"I will stay there, too. I was staying with my friend Brandon, but his wife and her son did not treat me well, and I left them. They want to separate us—old friends as we are."
[Pg 148]
"They are jealous of you," suggested Johnson, smiling.
"Just so, but I'll euchre them yet."
The two walked together to the road, and there they separated, Johnson suggesting that it might be prudent16 for them not to be seen together too much.
Travers assented17, and turned back in the direction of the house he had recently left under rather mortifying18 circumstances.
"The boy'll be gone to his boat," he thought, "and I don't care for the old lady. She doesn't like me, but I can stand that. I must see my friend Brandon, if I can."
Although Travers decided19 that Grit20 had returned to his boat, he approached the house cautiously. He thought it possible that Grit might still be on guard with the formidable pistol which he had pointed21 at him an hour or more earlier, and he did not like the looks of the weapon.
"It might go off!" he thought. "That plaguy boy is awfully22 reckless, and he wouldn't mind shooting a gentleman, if he felt like it. I'd like to pitch him into the water, pistol and all," he ejaculated fervently23, in conclusion.
As I have said, Travers approached the little cottage with cautious steps. Drawing near,[Pg 149] he listened to see if he could hear any sound of voices that would betray the presence of the boy he wished to avoid.
All was still. Nothing was to be heard but the deep breathing of Brandon, who still lay on the floor in a stupor24. Grit was back at his boat, and Mrs. Brandon had already left the house and gone to spend the remainder of the afternoon with her neighbor. Brandon was, therefore, the only occupant of the cottage.
"I hear my friend Brandon," said Travers to himself. "I can hear nothing of the boy. He must be away."
By way of ascertaining25 definitely, Travers moved round to the window and peered in. He caught sight of the prostrate26 figure of Brandon, but could see no one else.
"It's all right," he said to himself, in a satisfied tone.
He tried the door, and found it unlocked.
He entered, and stooping over, seized Brandon by the shoulder, and called him loudly by name.
"I say, Brandon, wake up!"
"It isn't Grit. It's I—your friend Travers," said that gentleman.
[Pg 150]
"Thought my friend Travers was gone," muttered Brandon, opening his eyes.
"So I did go, but I've come back. I want to see you on important business."
"'Portant business?" repeated Brandon.
"Yes, very important business. Do you want to earn five thousand dollars?"
"Then rouse yourself, and I'll tell you all about it. Here, let me bring you some water, and you can dip your face in it. It will bring you to yourself sooner than anything else."
Travers proceeded to unfold his plan, after learning that Mrs. Brandon was out; but he had a listener he did not know of. Grit had come home for something he had forgotten, and, with his ear to the keyhole, heard the whole plot. He listened attentively30. When all was told, he said to himself:
"I'll foil them, or my name isn't Grit!"
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收听单词发音
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1
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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2
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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3
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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4
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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5
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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6
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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7
laborer
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| n.劳动者，劳工 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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9
coupon
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| n.息票，配给票，附单 | |
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10
premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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11
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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12
unconditionally
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| adv.无条件地 | |
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13
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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14
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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15
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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16
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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17
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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19
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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20
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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21
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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22
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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24
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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25
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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27
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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28
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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29
acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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