"Come, come, young man, you'd better keep a civil tongue in your head, or I'll jug1 you as it is. I've enough against you."
"Why don't you do it, then?" was Tom's defiant2 question; "I've learned enough during the last few minutes to understand my rights, and if you think I don't, now's the time to test it."
The officer went out muttering all sorts of things; and Tom, turning to his employer, his breast heaving with indignation, said,--
"They have been plotting against me ever since I've been on the road. They went with all kinds of stories to you, and now they've been trying to make it appear that I am in the counterfeit3 business."
"But there must have been something tangible4, or that detective would not have come here with the charge."
"There was something;" and thereupon Tom told the story of the six shining quarters.
His employer was angered, for he saw through it all; and from the description of the donor5, he recognized a worthless scamp who had been discharged for stealing some time before Tom went on the route. The detective was sent for, and the case laid before him. That night Mr. Dick Horton, who made the charge, was arrested, and in his rooms were found such proofs against him as a counterfeiter6 that, a few months later, he went to Sing Sing for ten years.
For a time succeeding this incident Tom was left undisturbed in the pursuit of his business, the occurrence becoming pretty generally known and causing much sympathy for him.
It was about a month subsequent that Tom missed his afternoon train down the river, and took another, which left later, not reaching New York till late at night.
It was a fierce drive.
It was a fierce drive.
As there was nothing for him to do, the train being in the hands of another newsboy, he sat down in the smoking-car, which was only moderately filled. Directly in front was a man who, he judged from his dress, was a Texan drover, or some returning Californian He was leaning back in the corner of his seat, with his mouth open and his eyes shut, in a way to suggest that he was asleep.
Seated next him was an individual who looked very much like the Italian who had shoved his head into the door of Tom's room some months before. This foreigner was watching the Californian--if such he was--as a cat watches a mouse.
"I believe he means to rob him," was Tom's conclusion, who, without being suspected by the scoundrel, was taking mental notes of the whole proceeding7.
The supposition was confirmed within five minutes, when the Italian, leaning over toward the other, in an apparently8 careless manner, began cautiously inserting his hand into his watch-pocket.
The instant Tom saw this, he bent9 forward and shook the Californian's shoulder so vigorously that he started up, and demanded in a gruff voice what was the matter. The Italian, of course, had withdrawn10 his hand like a flash, and was leaning the other way, with his eyes half-closed, like one sinking into a doze11.
"I saw that man there," said Tom, pointing to the Italian, "with his hand in your pocket, about to steal your watch, and I thought I'd best let you know."
"Is that so?" demanded the stranger, a giant in stature12, as he laid his immense hand on the shoulder of the other, who started up as if just aroused from sleep, and protested in broken English that he was not aware of being seated with the gentleman at all.
His vehement13 declarations seemed to raise a doubt in the mind of the Californian, who began an examination of his pockets. He found everything right, and so declared.
"He was just beginning operations," said Tom in explanation, "when I woke you."
"Bein' as he ain't took nothin', I won't knock the head off him," said the Californian, as he announced himself to be; "but he ain't any business to look so much like a sneaking14 dog, so I'll punch him on general principles."
Whereupon he gave the fellow such a resounding15 cuff16 that he flopped17 out of the seat, and, scrambling18 to his feet, hurried out of the car.
The Californian thanked Tom, and then resumed his nap.
In half an hour Tom found the tobacco-smoke so oppressive that he rose to go into the next car. On the platform stood the discomfited19 Italian, who seemed to be waiting for revenge.
"You lie of me," he muttered, before Tom suspected his danger. "I show you."
With a quick push he gave the lad a violent shove, thrusting him entirely20 off the platform and out upon the ground, fortunately clear of the rushing wheels.
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收听单词发音
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1
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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2
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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3
counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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4
tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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5
donor
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| n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体 | |
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6
counterfeiter
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| n.伪造者 | |
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7
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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8
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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9
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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10
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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12
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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13
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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17
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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18
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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19
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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