CHAPTER XXX. PACKARD'S HOME AT RED GULCH.

 Mr. Packard's cattle ranch¹ was located in one of the extensive parks for which Colorado is noted². It included several square miles of territory. The cattleman had erected³ a dwelling⁴, covering a good deal of ground, but only one story high. While it was comfortable, it was easy to see that it was the home of a bachelor.

 

He had as housekeeper⁵ the widow of a herdsman, or perhaps I may say, cowboy, who had died a year before. She cooked and took care of the house.

 

"Well, Rupert," he said, "this is my home. Mrs. Jones, get ready two rooms for my friends here. Uncle John, you are the oldest and shall have the choice."

 

"Any room will do for me, Giles," said the old man modestly.

 

[Pg 276]

 

"You shall have as good a one as the house affords."

 

"You treat me differently from Eben Jackson. He gave me a small room in the attic⁶."

 

"And did his wife allow that?"

 

"She had very little to say. Her husband's will is law in that household."

 

"I am sorry for her. She deserved a better fate. As a girl she was good-hearted and had a cheerful disposition⁷."

 

"She is greatly changed. I am afraid her husband has taught her to be selfish. She seemed to have little more consideration for me than Eben."

 

Rupert found that Mr. Packard was a cattle owner on a large scale. He had a great number of cowboys in his employ, over whom he exercised supervision⁸.

 

"Is all your property in cattle, Giles?" asked his uncle.

 

"No. I have mining interests. The money I have made in the cattle business I have invested, at least partially⁹, in mines and mining claims. I don't believe in having all my eggs in one basket."

 

[Pg 277]

 

"You seem to have done well in coming out West."

 

"Yes, when I came out here I probably was not worth over two thousand dollars all told. Now I am worth somewhere from seventy-five to one hundred thousand."

 

"I should think you would marry."

 

Giles Packard shook his head.

 

"When a man reaches the age of forty-five unmarried," he said, "he had better remain so. After that, marriage is a lottery¹⁰."

 

Mr. Packard's guests found that he lived in a generous style. His housekeeper was an excellent cook, and his table was well supplied. But the days seemed long without employment. Rupert was supplied with a saddle-horse, and rode far and wide with his host, but John Plympton had reached an age when a man enjoys home comforts better than out-of-door exercise.

 

"Giles," he said, on the third day, "I am tired of doing nothing. Suppose you bring out your books and give me something to do."

 

"I will, Uncle John. When I was in Denver I bought some new books, and I will[Pg 278] commission you to transfer my accounts from the old ones. I never was much of a bookkeeper, and I am not sure whether you can understand my entries. However, you will be able to refer to me when you get puzzled."

 

The old man felt quite happy when set to work in his old business. As Mr. Packard's books covered a period of over fifteen years he found the task by no means a short one, but this pleased him all the more.

 

"I like to feel that I am earning my living," he said.

 

"What do you think of me as a bookkeeper, Uncle John?"

 

"I think you would find it hard to obtain a position in any first-class house," answered the old man, smiling.

 

"I have no doubt you are right. However, I never was ambitious to become a bookkeeper. What salary were you accustomed to earn?"

 

"A hundred dollars a month."

 

"You couldn't get rich on that. I have done better than that. Every man to his trade, as some wise man has said."

 

[Pg 279]

 

"Are you fond of hunting, Rupert?" asked Giles Packard one day.

 

"When I lived in the country I used to go gunning sometimes."

 

"We have some very good hunting here. I should like to go with you, but at present my business will not permit. I think, however, that I can find you a companion, if you would like to try it."

 

"I should," answered Rupert, promptly¹¹.

 

"There is a man who lives about three miles from me, in a small house near the river. He is a shiftless sort of fellow, but he is a good hunter. I will offer him pay to go with you, and his living during the trip. You will find it pleasant to stay about a week. I suppose you won't mind roughing it?'

 

"No, that is what I shall like."

 

"Then I shall send for Ben—his name is Ben Boone—and you can start bright and early Monday morning."

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

4 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

5 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

6 attic   

n.顶楼，屋顶室

参考例句：

• Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
• What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

7 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

8 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

9 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

10 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

11 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。