As he approached the end, the Judge had been diligent¹ in organizing his affairs. The important records were in his study and easily found.
They went through his mahogany desk first. One drawer
had ten years' worth of bank statements, all arranged nearly in chronological² order. His tax returns were in another. There were thick ledger³ books filled with entries of the donations he'd made to everybody who'd asked. The largest drawer was filled with letter-size manila files, dozens of them. Files on property taxes. medical records, old deeds and titles, bills to pay, judicial⁴ conferences, letters from his doctors, his retirement⁵ fund. Ray flipped⁶ through the row of files without opening them, except for the bills to pay. There was one - $13.80 to Wayne's Lawnmower Repair -  dated a week earlier.
"It's always weird⁷ going through the papers of someone who just died," Harry⁸ Rex said. "I feel dirty, like a peeping Tom."
"More like a detective looking for clues," Ray said. He was on one side of the desk, Harry Rex the other, their ties off and sleeves rolled up, with piles of evidence between them. Forrest was his usual helpful self. He'd drained half a six-pack for dessert after lunch, and was now snoring it off in the swing on the front porch. But he was there, instead of lost in one of his patented binges. He had disappeared so many times over the years. If he'd blown off his father's funeral, no one in Clanton would’ve been surprised. Just another black mark against that crazy Atlee boy, another story to tell.
In the last drawer they found personal odds⁹ and ends - pens, pipes, pictures of the Judge with his cronies at bar conventions, a few photos of Ray and Forrest from years ago, his marriage

点击收听单词发音  

1 diligent
adj.勤勉的，勤奋的
参考例句：
He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。 She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

2 chronological
adj.按年月顺序排列的，年代学的
参考例句：
The paintings are exhibited in chronological sequence.这些画是按创作的时间顺序展出的。 Give me the dates in chronological order.把日期按年月顺序给我。

3 ledger
n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿
参考例句：
The young man bowed his head and bent over his ledger again.那个年轻人点头应诺，然后又埋头写起分类帐。 She is a real accountant who even keeps a detailed household ledger.她不愧是搞财务的，家庭分类账记得清楚详细。

4 judicial
adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的
参考例句：
He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。 Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

5 retirement
n.退休，退职
参考例句：
She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。 I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

6 flipped
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥
参考例句：
The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。 The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

7 weird
adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的
参考例句：
From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。 His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

8 harry
vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼
参考例句：
Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。 Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

9 odds
n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别
参考例句：
The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。 Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

10 license
n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许
参考例句：
The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。 The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

11 obituary
n.讣告，死亡公告；adj.死亡的
参考例句：
The obituary records the whole life of the deceased.讣文记述了这位死者的生平。 Five days after the letter came,he found Andersen s obituary in the morning paper.收到那封信五天后，他在早报上发现了安德森的讣告。

12 delta
n.（流的）角洲
参考例句：
He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。 The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

13 squat
v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的
参考例句：
For this exercise you need to get into a squat.在这次练习中你需要蹲下来。 He is a squat man.他是一个矮胖的男人。

14 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

15 doling
救济物( dole的现在分词 )； 失业救济金
参考例句：
"What are you doling?'she once demanded over the intercom. 有一次他母亲通过对讲机问他：“你在干什么？ 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史 Many scrollbars are quite parsimonious in doling out information to users. 很多滚动条都很吝啬，给用户传递的信息太少。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

16 friction
n.摩擦，摩擦力
参考例句：
When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。 Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

17 spine
n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊
参考例句：
He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。 His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

18 perch
n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于
参考例句：
The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。 Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

19 grudge
n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做
参考例句：
I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。 I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

20 contractor
n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌
参考例句：
The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。 The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

21 rumored
adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷
参考例句：
It is rumored that he cheats on his wife. 据传他对他老婆不忠。 来自《简明英汉词典》 It was rumored that the white officer had been a Swede. 传说那个白人军官是个瑞典人。 来自辞典例句

22 bucks
n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃
参考例句：
They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。 They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 buddies
n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人
参考例句：
We became great buddies. 我们成了非常好的朋友。 来自辞典例句 The two of them have become great buddies. 他们俩成了要好的朋友。 来自辞典例句

24 appraisal
n.对…作出的评价；评价，鉴定，评估
参考例句：
What's your appraisal of the situation?你对局势是如何评估的？ We need to make a proper appraisal of his work.对于他的工作我们需要做出适当的评价。

25 appraiser
n.评价者，鉴定者，估价官
参考例句：
The certification is invalid without the signature of appraiser, checker and approver. 鉴定书无主检、审核、批准签字无效。 来自互联网 The "quasi-balance" appraiser is the people and the historical development. “准平衡”的评判者是人民大众和历史发展。 来自互联网

26 sip
v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量
参考例句：
She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。 Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

27 holly
n.[植]冬青属灌木
参考例句：
I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree.最近我从一棵冬青树上弄了些木料。 People often decorate their houses with holly at Christmas.人们总是在圣诞节时用冬青来装饰房屋。

28 lumbered
砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
A rhinoceros lumbered towards them. 一头犀牛笨重地向他们走来。 A heavy truck lumbered by. 一辆重型卡车隆隆驶过。

29 mumbled
含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。 George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。

30 gulped
v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住
参考例句：
He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. 他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。 She gulped nervously, as if the question bothered her. 她紧张地咽了一下，似乎那问题把她难住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 peeked
v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出
参考例句：
She peeked over the top of her menu. 她从菜单上往外偷看。 来自《简明英汉词典》 On two occasions she had peeked at him through a crack in the wall. 她曾两次透过墙缝窥视他。 来自辞典例句

32 reassuring
a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的
参考例句：
He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。 With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

33 ass
n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人
参考例句：
He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。 An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。

34 Nazi
n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的
参考例句：
They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。 Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

35 stink
vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭
参考例句：
The stink of the rotten fish turned my stomach.腐烂的鱼臭味使我恶心。 The room has awful stink.那个房间散发着难闻的臭气。

36 referee
n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人
参考例句：
The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。 The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。

37 intimidate
vt.恐吓，威胁
参考例句：
You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？ The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

38 bodyguards
n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Brooks came to Jim's office accompanied—like always—by his two bodyguards. 和往常一样，在两名保镖的陪同下，布鲁克斯去吉姆的办公室。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Three of his bodyguards were injured in the attack. 在这次袭击事件中，他有3名保镖受了伤。 来自辞典例句

39 intimidated
v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的
参考例句：
We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。 The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

40 conspiracy
n.阴谋，密谋，共谋
参考例句：
The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。 He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

41 shrugged
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。 She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 shrug
v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)
参考例句：
With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩，走出了房间。 I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。

43 squinted
斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看
参考例句：
Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩，眯起眼睛瞄准。 I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。

44 gambling
n.赌博；投机
参考例句：
They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。 The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

45 dice
n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险
参考例句：
They were playing dice.他们在玩掷骰子游戏。 A dice is a cube.骰子是立方体。

46 sneak
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行
参考例句：
He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。 I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

47 guts
v.狼吞虎咽，贪婪地吃，飞碟游戏（比赛双方每组5人，相距15码，互相掷接飞碟）；毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的第三人称单数 )；取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 )；内脏；消化道的下段；肠
参考例句：
I'll only cook fish if the guts have been removed. 鱼若已收拾干净，我只需烧一下即可。 Barbara hasn't got the guts to leave her mother. 巴巴拉没有勇气离开她妈妈。 来自《简明英汉词典》

48 sneaked
v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状
参考例句：
I sneaked up the stairs. 我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。 She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. 她偷偷看了一眼手表。

49 sluggish
adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的
参考例句：
This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。 Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

50 contemplated
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式
参考例句：
The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。 The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

51 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

52 inventory
n.详细目录，存货清单
参考例句：
Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。 We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

53 plowed
v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过
参考例句：
They plowed nearly 100,000 acres of virgin moorland. 他们犁了将近10万英亩未开垦的高沼地。 来自辞典例句 He plowed the land and then sowed the seeds. 他先翻土，然后播种。 来自辞典例句

54 ledgers
n.分类账( ledger的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The ledgers and account books had all been destroyed. 分类账本和账簿都被销毁了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The ledgers had all been destroyed. 账簿都被销毁了。 来自辞典例句

55 blurted
v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止，她已脱口而出。 He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相，说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

56 joint
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。 We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

57 catfish
n.鲶鱼
参考例句：
Huge catfish are skinned and dressed by hand.用手剥去巨鲇的皮并剖洗干净。 We gigged for catfish off the pier.我们在码头以鱼叉叉鲶鱼。

58 shack
adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚
参考例句：
He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。 The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

59 jutting
v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出
参考例句：
The climbers rested on a sheltered ledge jutting out from the cliff. 登山者在悬崖的岩棚上休息。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The soldier saw a gun jutting out of some bushes. 那士兵看见丛林中有一枝枪伸出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

60 batter
v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员
参考例句：
The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。 Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。

61 conjure
v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法
参考例句：
I conjure you not to betray me.我恳求你不要背弃我。 I can't simply conjure up the money out of thin air.我是不能像变魔术似的把钱变来。