Though stakes had flown high the game had failed to catch the interest of Rob McClure. He played his hand with a detachment that threw him open to heavy losses. So far he had escaped. His mind was the battle ground of a struggle he had not calculated on. Sykes watched him covertly2 all evening, striving to pierce the mask of his unsmiling face. It delighted him to trace the ruthless lines about the mouth. On the other hand it perturbed3 him not a little to see distinct evidences of indecision. With the deliberate purpose of fostering the reckless mood Sykes kept up a perpetual toasting. He toasted the pot, the queens and the aces4 all in turn, drinking lightly himself while McClure took copious5 draughts6. With all his apathy7 McClure won regularly while Sykes lost as steadily8. The double-plying of the farmer with the frequently recurring9 toast and an unswerving success in the game was fast realizing Sykes' purpose. He was growing reckless in his sullen10 vindictiveness11 while the inner struggle was evident in strange moments of aberration12. A gloominess was gathering13 in his befuddled14 brain. This greatly puzzled Sykes and alarmed him as well. He watched like a spider in his lair15.
Suddenly he leaned forward. A change had come over the farmer. McClure sat in his place, his head resting heavily upon his left hand. His cards lay upon the table before him face up. The game was forgotten. His eyes were reading the contents of a half-emptied glass with a stare repellent in its fierce amazement16. Holding the glass tightly in his right hand he trained bulging17 eyes on some sight within.
At that moment Rob McClure was a physical wreck18 rolling helplessly on a rough sea. At best the conscience of the man was atrophied19. Now it was incapable20 as well. The countenance21, spacious22 with a native bigness, was marred23 by the double bestiality of bibber and rogue24. The rudderless mind was mighty25 with unleashed26 desire. Amid the wreck of faculties27 sat the will, an ominous28 thing living, uncontrolled, with strength unimpaired, ready to strike adder-like in any direction.
Oblivious29 of the commotion30 of the game he beheld31 the figment of his drugged brain rising to view in the glass of drink. His face grew black with an anger horrible to behold32. Amid the gleam of the liquor two faces took nebulous shape, growing in definition the longer he watched. At length they rose into view through the bubbles and froth. They vanished magically only to reappear with a tripled vividness of shape. They were living faces, of beautiful women sorrowful with a gentle reproach that stirred some tender, sleeping thing within him, while at the same instant it bated the savage33 beast glaring out of his eyes. As he looked, one instant fearful, the next enraged34, the tender thing was suddenly crushed and the beast sprang from his lair. A wild vengefulness gleamed in his eyes as he sprang to his feet with a weird35 cry. Swinging his arm aloft he hurled36 the glass crashing upon the table before him.
"Ha!" he cried laughing horribly. "That will shut your blankety eyes."
Cunningly he searched the ring of startled faces. As he looked something clicked in the brain and the hallucination passed. His face resumed its normal expression, though an inkling of what he had just done remained dimly with him.
The others sprang to their feet in alarm, striking sudden attitudes of defense37. An instant's contemplation disclosed to all his drunken state. His eyes were fixed38 curiously39 upon the shivered glass. A chorus of raillery broke out. But McClure did not smile. His face was dark.
"What the ——?" jollied Snoopy Bill.
Stepping to the door he stooped down and yelled through the keyhole:
"Hi you, Louie! No more strong stuff for McClure. He's seeing 'em. Bring a tray of lemonade."
McClure was in an unfortunate mood for the jibe40. Stung by the roar of applause he leaped at Snoopy Bill in swift reprisal41. Gripping him savagely42 by the throat he applied43 a strangle clutch. Snoopy's head bobbed back and he sank to the floor with blackening face. With shouts of alarm the others sprang toward the two men. Tearing away McClure's deadly grasp they pinned him to the floor. The struggle aided him to recover his mental poise44. Looking up at them with a sane45 glance he said quietly:
"I'm through. Let me up."
Released, he regained46 his feet and resumed his chair.
Snoopy Bill's face was livid as he sank panting into his place. Into his eyes crept a vengeful light. He glanced sullenly47 about. He, too, had imbibed48 over freely. As he recovered the sense of outrage49 deepened and he proceeded to wreak50 immediate51 revenge. With the slyness of the inebriate52 he reached out and seized his glass. Fixing direful eyes on McClure he drew back his hand. But the murderous throw was interrupted. His wrist was suddenly caught in the vise-like grip of Sykes' long fingers.
"Better not, Bill," he admonished53 in a low voice. "Rob is dead drunk. Don't even know he fouled54 you. If you let him have that you'll be up against murder."
"He's a blankety coward," was the angry retort. "I'll get him yet. Watch me bust55 up this gang. By the blankety blank I'll tip Pullar himself."
Above the growls56 this threat produced rose the voice of Sykes roaring blasphemously57 at Swale who stood in the open door with mouth agape.
"You bottle washing smuggler58!" he cried. "Fill up a tray of your dummest swill59 and hand it out on the double quick. No more poison or we'll blow you up."
Satisfied that the brawl60 was over Swale disappeared with the desired alacrity61.
McClure's assault had tapped a smoldering62 mine. Though the game was resumed neither McClure nor Snoopy Bill evinced any interest, while the latter continued to breathe vengeance63. Beside him sat Ford64 who too was showing little interest in the cards.
"Come, Ford!" challenged Snoopy Bill in a stage whisper. "I'll stump65 you to split on the hounds. I'm quitting."
"Cut the ragging!" called Sykes appeasingly. "This bad stuff all comes from drinking Swale's rotten whiskey. Here comes the best ever."
Swale appeared with a loaded tray. The glasses were passed around.
"Keep it!" said Snoopy Bill. "I tell you I'm quitting."
"Me too," said Nick Ford, pushing his glass away. "I reckon I'm with Bill," said he rising. "This gang's never been right. But it hit the rocks good and hard about the time Hank Foyle blew in. I know I ain't a Sunday-school teacher but I've felt like a skunk66 since that steal of Pullar's farm. I've a sneaking67 idea there's some scurvy68 game on right now. Rolling an old man is bad enough but I draw the line at fouling69 a woman. I'm through."
Nick's words had a startling effect. The drinkers paused in their act of tossing the glass. There was a passage of swift glances between Sykes and McClure. The hush70 of a deep calm fell on the room, broken by a wild laugh from Snoopy Bill.
"Keep it up, old top!" he shouted, slapping Ford on the back. "Cough it out. Spit up the facts. We'll enjoy 'em."
Ford gave a knowing smirk71.
"No, Bill," was his insinuating72 reply. "I ain't telling all I know. I'll let it off at the regular time."
For McClure and Sykes his words had a disquieting73 significance. How much did Ford know? Beyond all doubt he had an inkling of the facts.
"None of this little party know what Nick is raving74 about," said Sykes. "Nick's had a peculiar75 dream. Louie's poison got him a little differently from Rob. Let us forget the gab76 and every man hit the bottom of his glass. There's a tankful left. Watch us touch the high spots in this little game."
He pointed77 to the cards.
There was a roar of applause.
"No you don't," said Nick determinedly78. "It's bye, bye, boys, for me. I'm taking a walk to myself."
"Take me along," cried Snoopy Bill, rising and joining him.
The gang watched the two delinquents79 lock arms and pass out into the barroom. No man made a move to obstruct80 them. Any such attempt would have been organized by either McClure or Sykes and for some reason they were silent.
With the game broken up the party went out.
"Come over to the office," whispered Sykes to McClure and Foyle. "Ford's next our game. We'll have to finish with a spurt81 if we are to pull off a win."
The interview lasted a long time. They had barely entered upon it when a shadow crept up and hung low near the window. With surprising temerity82 the stealthy visitant lighted a cigarette. In the light of the match appeared the dark visage of Nick Ford. He had sprung a bluff83 on the plotters, basing his charge on a phrase or two he had overheard. His guess had been shrewd. Satisfied that some conspiracy84 was afoot he decided85 to shadow the three men with the result that he now sat at the window listening with alert ears to the conversation going on within. He caught significant parts of their talk, enough to discover that some scheme was being concocted86 against the little school-teacher. He listened breathlessly in effort to learn complete details, but without success.
"Hang my ears!" was his impatient whisper. "Why can't I get it all?"
He had learned enough, however, to present him with a serious challenge.
"They've got me!" he whispered half fearfully. "Sykes has piles of money. If I chuck him he'll break me sure."
Hearing signs of a break-up of the party he stole away to his home debating the momentous87 demand the facts he had learned now suddenly made upon his conscience. It was easier to threaten to split on the gang than to come through with the threat, for Nick Ford was no squealer88. It was dawn before he arrived at a conclusion. Finally he decided.
"Ah, Brubbie!" he breathed softly. "For her sake I'll do it. She saved you from the wolves. Yes, I'll do it. I'll let Ned Pullar know all."
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1
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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aces
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| abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率；aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅；automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 )；精于…的人；（ 网球 ）（对手接不到发球的）发球得分；爱司球 | |
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copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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7
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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8
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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9
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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10
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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vindictiveness
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| 恶毒；怀恨在心 | |
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12
aberration
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| n.离开正路，脱离常规，色差 | |
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13
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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14
befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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15
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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17
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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18
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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19
atrophied
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| adj.萎缩的，衰退的v.（使）萎缩，（使）虚脱，（使）衰退( atrophy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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22
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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23
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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24
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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25
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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26
unleashed
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| v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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28
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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29
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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30
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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31
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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32
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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33
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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34
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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35
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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36
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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37
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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38
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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39
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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40
jibe
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| v.嘲笑，与...一致，使转向；n.嘲笑，嘲弄 | |
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41
reprisal
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| n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠 | |
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42
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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43
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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44
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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45
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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46
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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47
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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48
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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49
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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50
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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51
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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52
inebriate
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| v.使醉 | |
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53
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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54
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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55
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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56
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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57
blasphemously
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58
smuggler
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| n.走私者 | |
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59
swill
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| v.冲洗；痛饮；n.泔脚饲料；猪食；（谈话或写作中的）无意义的话 | |
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60
brawl
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| n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂 | |
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61
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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62
smoldering
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
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63
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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64
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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65
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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66
skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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67
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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68
scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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69
fouling
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| n.（水管、枪筒等中的）污垢v.使污秽( foul的现在分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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70
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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71
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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72
insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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73
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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74
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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75
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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76
gab
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| v.空谈，唠叨，瞎扯；n.饶舌，多嘴，爱说话 | |
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77
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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78
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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79
delinquents
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| n.（尤指青少年）有过失的人，违法的人( delinquent的名词复数 ) | |
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80
obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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81
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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82
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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83
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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84
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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85
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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86
concocted
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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87
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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88
squealer
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| 发出尖叫声的人；雏鸽；小松鸡；小鹌鹑 | |
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