He stared at him in bewilderment and alarm, but said nothing, such was his surprise.
“Well, boy,” said Marlowe, growing impatient, “why are you staring at me so hard? Don’t you know me?”
“Yes,” said Julius, the spell broken, “you are Dan Marlowe.”
“Did you see me downstairs?”
“Yes.”
“I wish I had known it,” thought Julius. “I should have been on my guard.”
“It is some time since we met,” said Marlowe.
“Yes, it is.”
“And I suppose,” he added, sneeringly7, “you wish it had been longer.”
“You are right there; I didn’t care to see you again,” returned Julius, boldly.
“I don’t wonder at that, after your base treachery, you rascally8 hound!” said Marlowe, furiously. “Do you know how Jack and me spent the last two years?”
“In prison?” said Julius, hesitating.
“Yes; in prison, and we have you to thank for it. You might as well have turned against your own father as against Jack.”
“No,” said Julius, firmly. “I am sorry for Jack. I wouldn’t have gone against him, if there was any other way of saving Paul. Paul had been kind to me when I needed it. What did Jack ever do for me? We lived together when he was out of prison, but it was I that brought him all my earnings9. I paid my own way and more, too, even when I was a boy of eight. I owe Jack nothing. But I am sorry for him all the same. I wish he could get free.”
“And what about me?” asked Marlowe, sneeringly. “Are you glad I am free?”
“No, I’m not,” said Julius, boldly. “I never liked you as well as Jack. He’s bad enough, but you’re worse. Though he didn’t take care of me, he was generally kind to me. Even if I owe him something, I owe you nothing.”
“But I owe you something, my chicken,” said Marlowe, between his teeth. “Do you know why I am here? No? Well, I’ll tell you. I met Ned Sanders soon after I got out, and he told me the tricks you played on him. I found out from him that you had come out West, and that’s why I came here. I hadn’t forgotten who sent me up. I swore, at the time, I’d be revenged, and now I’ve got the chance.”
The man looked so malicious—so possessed10 by the spirit of evil—that Julius could not help shuddering11 as he met his baleful gaze.
“What do you mean to do to me?” he asked, feeling helpless, as he realized that in spite of his increased strength he was no match for the stalwart ruffian.
“I mean to kill you,” said Marlowe, fiercely.
“What do you mean?” quickly asked Marlowe, taking it as a threat.
“You will be hung.”
“They must catch me first,” said he, coolly. “But first you must answer me a question. How much money have you?”
“I can’t tell without counting.”
“Don’t dare to trifle with me, boy!”
“I am telling you the truth.”
It may be mentioned that, apart from his personal apprehension13, Julius was anxious about his money. He had in a wallet six hundred dollars belonging to Mr. Taylor, which he had collected in various places. He was ambitious to justify14 his benefactor15’s confidence, and carry it to him in safety; but Marlowe threatened to take both the money and his life. He was only a boy, but emergencies make men out of boys. He had been provided by Mr. Taylor with a revolver, not with any supposition that he would need it, but as a safeguard in case robbery should be attempted on the road. He had forgotten to put it under his pillow, but it was in the pocket of his coat, and that coat was hanging over a chair on the opposite side of the bed from that on which Marlowe was standing16. He could only obtain possession of it by stratagem17.
“Give me your money,” said Marlowe, fiercely.
“I cannot promise,” said Marlowe; “but I will assuredly kill you at once unless you give me the money.”
“Then wait till I get it for you,” said Julius.
He jumped out of bed, Marlowe suspecting nothing, and put his hand in the pocket of his coat. He drew out, not a pocketbook, but the revolver, which he deliberately19 pointed20 at Marlowe.
“Dan Marlowe,” he said, quietly, “you are stronger than I, but this pistol is loaded, and I know how to use it. Come toward me, and I fire.”
“Confusion!” exclaimed the burglar, furiously, and his impulse was to spring upon Julius. But there was something in the boy’s resolute21 tone which made him pause.
“He wouldn’t be so cool if it wasn’t loaded,” he thought.
A doubt in the mind of Julius was solved. Marlowe had no pistol, or he would have produced it. Disagreeable as it was, the burglar stopped to parley22. He could postpone23 his revenge, and only exact money now.
“Put up your pistol,” he said. “I only wanted to frighten you a bit. You’ve done me a bad turn, and you owe me some return. Give me all the money you have with you, and I’ll say quits.”
“I can’t do that,” said Julius, “for the money isn’t mine.”
“Whose is it?”
“Is he rich?”
“Yes.”
“Then he can spare it. Tell him it was stolen from you.”
“I shall do no such thing,” said Julius, firmly. “It hasn’t been stolen yet, and won’t be, as I believe.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Marlowe, furiously, making a dash toward our hero.
“Hold!” shouted Julius. “One step farther and I fire.”
There is a popular impression that men of violence are brave; but it is a mistaken one. Marlowe had not the nerve to carry out his threat, while covered by a pistol in the hands of a resolute antagonist24. There was another reason also. The partitions were thin, and the noise had aroused the gentleman sleeping in No. 9. He came out into the entry, and knocked at the door of No. 8.
“Put up your pistol, boy,” said Marlowe, hurriedly, “and I will open the door.”
The visitor was an elderly man in his nightclothes.
“How do you expect a man to sleep?” he said, peevishly26, “when you are making such an infernal noise?”
“I beg your pardon,” said Marlowe, politely, “but I am just leaving my friend here, and shall retire at once. You won’t hear any more noise.”
“Is it, really?” said Marlowe. “I did not think it so late. Good-night, Julius.”
“Good-night,” said our hero.
The visitor retired28, and so did Marlowe. But Julius, distrusting his neighbor, not only locked, but barricaded29 the door, and put the revolver under his pillow. But he had no further visit from Marlowe. The latter, for prudential reasons, postponed30 the revenge which he still meant to take.
In the morning Julius looked for his enemy, but he was nowhere to be seen. Inquiring in a guarded way, he ascertained31 that Marlowe had taken an early breakfast and had gone away. It might be that he feared Julius would cause his arrest. At any rate, he was gone.
Julius never saw him again, but read in a newspaper, not long afterward32, the closing incidents in the career of this dangerous ruffian. He made his way to Milwaukee, and resumed his old business. While engaged in entering a house by night, he was shot dead by the master of the house, who had heard him enter. It was a fitting end to a misspent life. From a boy he had warred against society, and now he had fallen at the hands of one of his intended victims.
* * * * * * * * *
But little remains33 to be told—too little for a separate chapter. Julius has redeemed34 the promise of his youth, and now in his early manhood possesses the respect and attachment35, not only of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, but of all who know him. His real estate speculation36 has turned out favorably. The property for which he paid fifteen hundred dollars is now worth three times that sum, owing to the rapid growth and increasing population of Brookville; but as it is likely to become still more valuable, he has decided37 not to sell yet. He has repaid Mr. Taylor the amount of the mortgage out of his earnings, and is now sole proprietor38. He has assumed the management of Mr. Taylor’s large farm, and is likely in time to grow rich. It is reported that he is engaged to be married to a niece of Mrs. Taylor, who recently came from the East to visit her aunt; and it is not unlikely that the report is true. Though he can boast no proud lineage, and is even indebted to strangers for a name, the Taylors feel that the good qualities which he possesses will compensate39 for these deficiencies.
He has once visited New York. Last year he went to the East on business for Mr. Taylor, and sought out some of his old haunts. Among other places, he visited the Newsboys’ Lodging40 House, and, at the request of Mr. O’Connor, made a short speech to the boys, a portion of which will conclude this story:
“Boys,” he said, “it is but a few years since I was drifting about the streets like you, making my living by selling papers and blacking boots, ragged41, and with a dreary42 prospect43 before me. I used to swear and lie, I remember very well, as I know many of you do. If I had stayed in the city I might be no better off now. But in a lucky moment I was induced by Mr. O’Connor to go West. There I found kind friends and a good home, and had a chance to secure a good education. Now I carry on a large farm for my benefactor, and second father, as I consider him, and I hope in time to become rich. I tell you, boys, it will pay you to leave the city streets and go out West. You may not be as lucky as I have been in finding rich friends, but it will be your own fault if you don’t get along. There are plenty of homes waiting to receive you, and plenty of work for you to do. If you want to prosper44 and grow up respectable, I advise you to come out as soon as you get the chance.”
THE END.
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1
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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2
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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5
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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7
sneeringly
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| 嘲笑地，轻蔑地 | |
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8
rascally
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| adj. 无赖的，恶棍的 adv. 无赖地，卑鄙地 | |
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9
earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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10
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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11
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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12
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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14
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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16
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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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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22
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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23
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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24
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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27
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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28
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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29
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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30
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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31
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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33
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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34
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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35
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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36
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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37
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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38
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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39
compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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40
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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41
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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42
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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43
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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44
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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