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CHAPTER XI THE MAN FROM DAKOTA
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 The man who had just entered the reading-room was no other than Detective Green.
He nodded pleasantly to Walter.
“So you have put up here,” he said. “Well, it is a good place. And is this gentleman a friend of yours?” indicating the man in the white hat.
“I bought the watch from him.”
“Ha! I thought so. I see you know me, Steve Ashton.”
“Yes, sir,” answered Ashton, nervously1. “I hope you are well.”
“You are very kind. Then you really hope I am well?”
“Of course. Why shouldn't I?”
“Well, there are some of your companions, I hear, who are not so cordial—Jim Beckwith, for instance. By the way, you have some business arrangements with Jim Beckwith?”
“I know him, sir,” answered Astern, hesitatingly. “You know him well, I suspect. So you sold my young friend here a watch?”
“Yes, sir.”
“At a remarkable2 sacrifice?”
“Yes, sir. It was worth more than he paid for it.”
“And yet it seemed likely to be a losing bargain for him. It would have been—but for me.”
Ashton looked at Walter inquiringly. The latter smiled.
“You gave me credit for being smarter than I was,” said Walter. “Mr. Green, here, came to my assistance.”
“I think, Mr. Ashton,” said Detective Green, with suavity3, “that you have a wife and family in Dakota?”
“I, sir—”
“Yes; and it was to obtain money to join them that you sold your watch on the train?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Ashton, faintly.
“I am going to give you a bit of advice. It will be wise for you to go to Dakota, as you planned. This is a wicked city—in spots—and I am afraid you have been keeping bad company. How long have you known Beckwith?”
“About six months.”
“And he drew you into this business?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I thought so. You are new to the profession. Still, I knew you. I make it a point to get acquainted with the new men. Is the watch honestly yours?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get it back from Beckwith, and then drop his acquaintance. If necessary, leave Chicago. Have you a trade?”
“Yes, sir. I am a machinist.”
“It is a good trade. Go back to it. Is that advice friendly?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Ashton, with more confidence. “I didn't expect to get friendly advice from Detective Green.”
“Perhaps not. You didn't know me, that was all. You looked upon me as an enemy, I suppose?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I am an enemy to those who are incurably4 bad. I think you were meant for an honest man.”
“So I was, sir. I should be still if I hadn't met with Jim Beckwith.”
“Have done with him, then. If you follow my advice you need not fear meeting with me again.”
The detective went up to the desk, bought a cigar and then left the room, with a nod to Ashton and Walter.
“Will you follow his advice?” asked Walter.
“Yes, I will. Hereafter I will depend upon honest work for an honest livelihood5. What is your name?”
“Walter Sherwood.”
“Then, Walter Sherwood, I am glad I did not succeed in robbing you. Yet I am glad I met you. It will lead to my reformation. Will you give me your hand?”
“Willingly.”
Steve Ashton shook the proffered6 hand energetically.
“If I can do you a favor at any time I shall be glad to do so.”
“Perhaps you can. I cannot afford to live at a hotel. Can you recommend me to some respectable but modest-priced boarding-house?”
“Yes. The widow of a machinist who used to be employed in the same shop as myself keeps a few boarders. I think she would take you for six dollars a week, or five if you have a friend to room with you.”
“Can you show me the place after supper—that is, unless you are in a hurry to start for Dakota?” He added, with a smile.
“I never was in Dakota in my life,” said Ashton. “I told you a lie.”
“I was beginning to think so.”
“But I shall drop all that. From this time on you can trust me.”
After supper Walter went round with Ashton to a house in Harrison Street—the boarding-house referred to. The door was opened by a careworn7 woman of middle age.
“How do you do, Mr. Ashton?” she said, with an inquiring look.
“Very well, thank you, Mrs. Canfield. Have you any rooms vacant?”
“Are you asking for yourself?”
“No, for my young friend here, Mr. Sherwood.”
“Do you want a large room or a small one?” asked Mrs. Canfield, brightening up a little.
“That depends a little on the price,” answered Walter.
“I can give you a hall bedroom and board for five dollars and a half a week.”
“Can you show me the room?”
“Be kind enough to follow me.”
Walter followed the landlady8 up a narrow staircase, or rather two of them, and was shown a hall bedroom, which seemed to be uncomfortably full, though it only contained a bedstead, a chair, a very small bureau and a washstand. There was scarcely room for him to stand unless he stood on the bed. It was indeed vastly different from his nice college room and from his comfortable chamber9 at home.
“I should like to see a larger room,” said Walter, not venturing to make any comment on the hall room.
He was shown an adjoining apartment, about ten feet by twelve. It was small, but decidedly preferable to the other.
“How much do you charge for this room, Mrs. Canfield?”
“I shall have to charge you six dollars if you occupy it alone, but if you can get another young gentleman to occupy it with you I will say ten dollars for the two.”
“I will take it alone at first. Can I move in tomorrow morning?”
“I will have it ready for you by eleven o'clock.”
“That will do.”
“How do you like it?” asked Ashton, when they were in the street.
“I think I can make it do.”
“I suppose you have been used to something better?”
“Yes.”
“I can direct you to a better house.”
“Thank you, but six dollars a week is all I can afford at present. I have no income, but I shall look for a place at once.”
“You haven't any trade, have you?”
“No,” answered Walter, with a smile. Brought up as he had been, it seemed odd to be asked if he had a trade.
“Some trades pay very well. I have a nephew who is a bricklayer. He gets from three to four dollars a day.”
“I am afraid I should not like that business. Besides, it would take a good while to learn it.”
Walter smiled to himself as he pictured some of his aristocratic college friends seeing him laying bricks. He was not a snob10, nor would he have disdained11 to notice a friend or school companion filling such a position, but he felt that Providence12 must have something in store for him more congenial, though perhaps less lucrative13.
“I have a cousin who is a carpenter,” proceeded Ashton. “He makes two dollars and a half a day, and supports a wife and three children in comfort.”
“I wonder if I could support a family on fifteen dollars a week?” thought Walter. “Fortunately, I have only to support myself. I ought to be able to do that in a large city like Chicago.”
Reared in comfort, Walter knew very little of the competition and struggles of workingmen, and had an idea that he would be able easily to command a salary of ten dollars a week, though he was wholly disqualified for any special line of business. This he set down as the minimum. Paying six dollars a week for board, he calculated that he could get along on this salary with extreme economy. Fortunately, he was pretty well provided with clothing, or would be when he had sent for his trunk, and would not find it necessary for some time to come to purchase anything, except probably a pair of shoes, a necktie, or some trifle. Then probably his pay would soon be raised, and this would make him comfortable.
That evening Walter went to Hooley's Theater and occupied a dollar seat. It was hardly prudent14, but he had seventy dollars still, and that seemed to him a large sum. He enjoyed the play, and got a sound night's rest after it.
The next morning he settled his hotel bill, took his gripsack in his hand, and walked over to his new boarding-house.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
2 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
3 suavity 0tGwJ     
n.温和;殷勤
参考例句:
  • He's got a surface flow of suavity,but he's rough as a rasp underneath.他表面看来和和气气的,其实是个粗野狂暴的恶棍。
  • But the well-bred,artificial smile,when he bent upon the guests,had its wonted steely suavity.但是他哈着腰向宾客招呼的那种彬彬有礼、故意装成的笑容里,却仍然具有它平时那种沉着的殷勤。
4 incurably d85x2     
ad.治不好地
参考例句:
  • But young people are incurably optimistic and women have a special knack of forgetting their troubles. 可是青年人,永远朝着愉快的事情想,女人们尤其容易忘记那些不痛快。
  • For herself she wanted nothing. For father and myself she was incurably ambitious. 她为她自己并无所求,可为父亲和我,却有着无法遏制的野心。
5 livelihood sppzWF     
n.生计,谋生之道
参考例句:
  • Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
  • My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。
6 proffered 30a424e11e8c2d520c7372bd6415ad07     
v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身,伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句
7 careworn YTUyF     
adj.疲倦的,饱经忧患的
参考例句:
  • It's sad to see the careworn face of the mother of a large poor family.看到那贫穷的一大家子的母亲忧劳憔悴的脸庞心里真是难受。
  • The old woman had a careworn look on her face.老妇脸上露出忧心忡忡的神色。
8 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东,女地主
参考例句:
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
9 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
10 snob YFMzo     
n.势利小人,自以为高雅、有学问的人
参考例句:
  • Going to a private school had made her a snob.上私立学校后,她变得很势利。
  • If you think that way, you are a snob already.如果你那样想的话,你已经是势利小人了。
11 disdained d5a61f4ef58e982cb206e243a1d9c102     
鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做
参考例句:
  • I disdained to answer his rude remarks. 我不屑回答他的粗话。
  • Jackie disdained the servants that her millions could buy. 杰姬鄙视那些她用钱就可以收买的奴仆。
12 providence 8tdyh     
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝
参考例句:
  • It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
  • To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事,是违背上帝的意志的。
13 lucrative dADxp     
adj.赚钱的,可获利的
参考例句:
  • He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
  • It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。
14 prudent M0Yzg     
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的
参考例句:
  • A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
  • You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。


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